Golf: Host pro Wardell breaks par to claim Paterson Medal

HOST professional Paul Wardell was the only player in a field of 95 to break par in winning the season's penultimate Edinburgh & East of Scotland Alliance outing at Whitekirk.

The former Longniddry man carded a solid one-under 71 to claim the Paterson Medal by virtue of a better inward half from Glenbervie one-handicapper Richard Johnston.

They finished a shot ahead of another Whitekirk entrant, David Jeffrey, and Royal Burgess' Ian Taylor. In the scratch section, Wardell finished a shot in front of Glencorse amateur Sean McGarvey, with professionals Stuart Callan (Bathgate), Scott Catlin (Greenburn), Alan Reid (West Lothian) and amateur trio Derek Fish (Glenbervie), Colin Fraser (Peebles) and Jamie Morris (Peebles) sharing third spot on 73.

The trainee and seniors' prizes were both shared, Terry Mathieson (Dunbar) and Daniel Wood (Eyemouth) the former with 74s and David McKean (Cardrona, 6) and Stuart Wardlaw (Harburn, 10) the latter.

Catlin's finish saw him take over as the new leader in the scratch order of merit with 534 points. Harrison's Justin White extended his lead in the handicap event after being the only player in the top five to pick up points.

Edinburgh & East of Scotland Alliance (at Whitekirk). Paterson Medal: P Wardell (Whiterkirk). Scratch: 71 P Wardell (Whitekirk). 72 S McGarvey (Glencorse). 73 S Callan (Bathgate), S Catlin (Greenburn), D Fish (Glenbervie), C Fraser (Peebles), J Morris (Peebles), A Reid (West Lothian). Handicap: 71 R Johnston (Glenbervie). 72 D Jeffrey (Whitekirk), I Taylor (Royal Burgess). 73 G Black (Torwoodlee), J White (Harrison). Trainees: 74 T Mathieson (Dunbar), D Wood (Eyemouth). Seniors: 74 D McKean (Cardrona), S Wardlaw (Harburn).

Scratch Order of Merit: 534pts S Catlin (Greenburn), 517 C Morris (Kingsknowe), 507.5 M Thomson (Torwoodlee), 491.5 S Callan (Bathgate), 487 A Marshall (Houston DR) 487.

Handicap Order of Merit: 133.5 J White (Harrison), 111 S Brown (Glencorse), 103.5 G Johnston (Glenbervie), 95 G Wither (Lothianburn), 94 A Young (Lochend) 94.