Macdonald has a ball with net 60

A REMARKABLE 27-shot improvement on his first round saw Gordon Macdonald comfortably make the top eight Royal Guernsey players to qualify for the Henderson Cup matchplay finals. After an average but understandable net 87 in gale force conditions on day one, Macdonald turned on the style in the second leg played in virtually still conditions.

Macdonald, playing off 18, shot a net 60 to climb to third overall, four shots behind the overall winner of qualifying, peter Durham.

The 20-handicap shot a second round 76 to ensure his safe passage through to the next stage.

There was not such good news for island champion Mick Marley who let slip an excellent first round position.

He dropped far too many shots over the opening five holes to recover and he relinquished his scratch handicap status, for the time being at least.

Like Marley, several others who were near the top of the leaderboard after round one found the calm second round conditions not to their liking. This opened the door to players such as Bill Landles (15) and green-keeper Mark Loveridge (19), who shot solid closing rounds in the 60s to make the last eight safely.

Crucial course maintenance work which led to some tricky putting conditions did not deter Frank Sidgwick's march to his maiden golfing honour.

With 41 Stableford points Sidgwick ran out a comfortable winner of the L'Ancresse club's Macleane Cup.

The retired police sergeant and now 15-handicapper compiled his five under tally mainly due to some solid play over the par four holes.

Despite not carding a point at the difficult ninth, two net birdies were quick to follow at the 10th and 11th and a gross birdie for four points at the short par four 13th set up Sidgwick's 22-point back nine haul.

The responsibility of being in his final year as club president is having little effect on Alan Mahy's (7-handicap) form.

He opened with four straight pars and closed with seven more to come in with 38 and only lose out to Andy Walden (6) on countback for runner-up.

Walden headed a group of five others who finished on the same total and they included Phil Rowe (12) who continues to reduce his handicap with some fine early season form

Martin Bisson (11) and Jason Savident also scored 38 points and the latter could take consolation in producing the day's lowest gross score of 73, one shot better than Walden.

Promising youngster Craig Shorto (15 handicap) finished with five closing gross pars to card 37 points and with it collected the junior prize.