CARNOUSTIE LADIES CAPTAIN COULD HAVE BIGGEST GALLERY THERE ON SATURDEAY

 By BILL SHAW
The captain of Carnoustie Ladies Golf Club and a sergeant at Leuchars Royal Air Force base are holding their nerve in clocking up impressive team scores at this week's Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

Patricia Sawers and David Hindson were paired in the same four-ball in the second round at the Old Course in St Andrews as the tournament entered its second day.

Patricia secured her place on this year’s Alfred Dunhill Links through her association with Carnoustie Golf Links where she is Vice Chairman. She is also captain of Carnoustie Ladies Golf Club, the oldest ladies golf club in the world. 
An IT programme manager at Scottish Water, Patricia plays off a handicap of ten, her lowest ever, which she reached in the last two months.
Along with her pro playing partner, Stirling’s Craig Lee, they shot seven under today to finish day two of the tournament at 12-under.  
“I’m very happy with minus 12,” said Patricia. “We were minus five coming into today so we reckon getting at least ‘five a day’ is a good way to go forward.”

Although she’s an experienced amateur golfer, Patricia says that playing in a high profile pro-am event does play on the nerves to a degree. 
“I don’t think I’d be human if I wasn’t nervous playing here but Craig has been absolutely superb, charming, a true gentleman, very helpful with shots, putts, etcetera and has helped make me very relaxed throughout it. 
"He was especially helpful on some of the par fives, where he helped me get into position so that I had a shot to get in the green and a chance of still getting a four or, where I had a shot, at least a five, net four.

“I am excited about playing Carnoustie tomorrow. Obviously it’s my home club, I know all the places I should put the ball but I also know all the pitfalls of it as well. I need to try and keep family and friends quiet round there tomorrow. I did tell Craig that I could have the biggest gallery.”

Meanwhile, David Hindson, a sergeant, based locally at RAF Leuchars near St Andrews was also taking in his first-ever Alfred Dunhill Links experience. His opportunity to play in this year’s tournament came after the station commander, an annual invitee to the event, was unavailable to play. 
David, who is an active member of RAF Leuchars Golf Club, was then selected through a vote to be its representative. 
“I have never played an event like this in my life,” said David. “It’s been a great experience although it’s very hard on the nerves. You just have to try to block out the crowd and hit your shot. 
"It certainly worked well on the last hole today. I managed to make par and was happy with that in front of the crowd."

David and his pro partner, Andreas Harto from Denmark, ended today’s round on the Old Course at five-under, giving them a respectable six-under-par team score with the RAF man taking heart from his performance.

“I had three eagle putts today and one of them lipped out. To get an eagle would have been great but I took a birdie with a stroke on that hole so scored a net eagle. I also drove the ninth, had a putt for an eagle there but ended up with a birdie."

David says the initial nervousness of playing in front of spectators is slowly coming under control. “Yesterday I was very intimidated but today was much better,” he said.  “An event like this shows you what you’ve got to aim for, playing with the pros, seeing how good and consistent they are.

“I’m looking forward to watching the final day if don’t make the cut. Hopefully we’ll get it right at Carnoustie and we will make the cut but we have got the score well.”

Entrance to the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship is FREE on Saturday. A ticket price of £15 (concessionary £10) will be charged for the final day’s play over the Old Course on Sunday, October 7.  
Entry for under 16s and students is free. Tickets are available through the ticket hotline on 0870 010 9021 or at the entrance gates. 

 

To access the live scoring for the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, please direct your web browser to: http://www.alfreddunhilllinks.com and click on LIVE SCORING