AFTER an enthralling week of match play knock-out golf with the course in fantastic condition and the weather gods staying fairly generous, Peebles Golf Club held its club championship finals on Saturday.

The Men’s Club Championship was retained by Jamie Morris, who lifted his eighth title after beating Allan Turnbull 3&2 in an excellent match. Former Scotland international Turnbull led by one hole at the halfway stage, but Morris turned the match around with a fine display of golf in the evening round.

Having overcome the challenges of Mark Hosker, Andrew Flannery and Steven Waldie en-route to the final, Jamie maintained his stranglehold over the rest of the club’s category one golfers with yet another final victory and few would bet against him become the club championship record holder with time on his side.

1st round: J. Morris bt M. Hosker; A. Flannery bt C Brown; S. Waldie bt R. Duncan; D. Howie bt D. Thorburn; M. Bain bt C. Fraser; N Forsyth bt K. McKay; J. Lamb bt A. Aiken; A. Turnbull bt D. Wells.

2nd round: Morris bt Flannery; Waldie bt Howie; Forsyth bt Bain; Turnbull bt Lamb.

Semi-Finals: Morris bt Waldie 5&4; Turnbull bt Forsyth 5&4.

Some forty-eight years since winning her first title, Sheila Cuthbertson lifted the Ladies Championship trophy for the 18th time, beating June-Anne Clark 7&6, achieved in the year of her 70th birthday. Sheila had been in imperious form in the semi-finals against Val McKean, reaching the turn in a scintillating 32, with Val conceding the match at that point. In the other semi-final, June-Anne beat Patricia Wood by one hole to reach her first final.

Meanwhile, Harry Beat took the B Championship for the third time after surviving a storming fightback in the final against Alan McCarley. Harry, who had been close to quitting the game through injury last season, found himself four up with five holes to play, but was made to fight all the way as McCarley levelled the match on the final hole to take the game into extra holes. Peat called on his vast experience to take the match on the 19th and credit goes to both players for a fantastic final.

The C Championship was won by James Waugh for the first time, who edged out veteran Ian Mewatt in the final. Waugh qualified as top seed in the category and had come through against Ian Connor, David Bortherstone and Moray MacLeod in earlier rounds to face the challenge of Mewatt, who needed an extra morning to see off Ian Pemberton in the quarter-finals after extra holes.

Rising star Steven Findlay was crowned Junior Champion after an imperious performance against David Lindsay. The 17-year-old took the match 7&6 and will have his sights set on a challenge in the Club Championship next season – watch out Jamie!

The Laverock Cup was a more closely contested affair with Betty Scott, playing in her first final, beating the defending Bronze Division Champion, Martha Shortreed 2&1.

The action returns to stroke play this weekend with the Rowland Wyer Rosebowl on Saturday, sponsored by DcR Computer, while the ladies contest the SLGA Brooch. The Belhaven Best sponsored Peebles Open takes place on Sunday, with a full field contesting one of the club’s most coveted prizes.