Douggie Rolles Qualifier

Daimien McConnell is probably unique among Cirencester Golf Club members in being able to boast a competition victory at St Andrews on his playing CV, writes Danny Hall.

On Saturday, McConnell proved yet again that he can occasionally dismantle the Bagendon course with a sensational nett 61 to score a runaway victory in the Douggie Rolles qualifier.

In 2015, McConnell won a Mercedes owners’ competition at the home of golf which earned him a place at the World Final in Stuttgart.

McConnell was also a winner of the Winter Fourball League at the club in 2017, and when he is hot, he is scalding. He showed it again at the weekend with some scintillating scoring including birdies at the 3rd and 16th holes.

His 21 handicap has now been slashed to 18.3.

His nearest chasers, John Maw (63) and Nick Vincent (64), must have thought they had done enough to win the prize, while Tom Waller’s consistent run of recent form at least earned him the lowest gross score of 71 and a creditable nett 66.

He also pulled off the formidable feat of hitting birdies at a trio of the par threes (9, 11 and 18).

Glos county player Jess Brown headed the ladies with a 67 and there were plenty of in-form names among the total of 16 players who now go forward to the Knockout element of the Douggie Rolles.

MAY MIDWEEK MEDAL

CHRIS YEATES, who safely qualified for the Douggie Rolles Knockout, warmed up for the event four days earlier by winning the May Midweek Medal with a nett 63.

That gave him a victory by one shot over Simon Byrne who hit a very commendable 64.

The pair were followed home by Dan Gregory (66), Dave Bamford (68) and Toby Harris (69).

And a special mention for Mike Margrave who is comfortably into his 80s and yet scored a marvellous nett 69 off his handicap of 20 for sixth place.

Nine twos were recorded, two of them from Gregory – on the 2nd and 13th.