Harburn Seniors Win Lothians Champion of Champions.
They won the final at Dalmahoy yesterday and have been crowned Inter District Champions 2026. What a game it was, taking the phrase ‘going to the wire’ to a new level.
The match results were as follows :-
1. N Henderson & W Heeps lost 1 down
2. W Saunders & A Bathgate lost 4&2
3. A Henderson & J Stewart won 6&5
4. J Davidson & R Stuart won 2up
5. D Heeps & M Cassaly halved match
Sudden death play off
A Henderson & N Henderson won on first extra hole
Going through the front nine the games were going our way nicely with three teams leading by 3 holes and two sitting on halved matches and with Jim Stewart and Alistair Henderson posting a 6&5 victory early doors the match was looking for all the world to be a foregone conclusion. The victory speech was being prepared and then torn up as The Merchants came back with a vengeance, miraculously winning game one and fairly comfortably winning game two.
Jim Davidson and Ronnie Stuart had to work hard to beat their higher handicap opponents on the last green. With the match now sitting finely balanced on two games all it was imperative Harburn got something from the last game. David Heeps and Michael Cassaly were one down standing on the 18th tee so the best we could hope for was a halved game to keep us in the match. Winning the hole was essential. The last at Dalmahoy is a par five and there were no shots given either way in the game. Both Michael and David hit great drives and second shots just short of the green. One of The Merchants players had fluffed a shot but the other like our lads had played two good shots. He was further away and played first. His pitch hit the green, rolled towards the pin but turned away and rolled off the green. Advantage Harburn! David played a good pitch to 12 feet but Michael played an outstanding pitch to 4 feet which ultimately won the hole with the merchant’s lads finishing with a six. Hole won and match halved.
On to extra time and penalties!
Prior to the match two players were selected to represent the team in the event of a tie. Our representatives for the sudden death play off were Nicky and Alistair Henderson. Off we went to the first tee, another par five. Both our lads hit excellent tee shots bettering our opponents. Both Merchants players hit decent second shots but both were short of the green. Up pops Nicky with the shot of the match to hit the green in two, a super putt to six inches and a tap in birdie to win the game. A fitting end to a great season.
Great golf, Great entertainment and well done everyone involved throughout the season.
This is the second time Harburn have won the inter district the first time being back in 2018 and we are the first Linlithgowshire team to win the trophy twice. Jim Stewart, Alex Bathgate, David Heeps, Michael Cassaly and Alistair Henderson, Bob Stokes all played that day at Bathgate Golf Club alongside the now deceased Poddy Leitch.
What a season
