STUART COUTTS and Robin Gall took the top prize in the latest round of the Tennent’s Winter League at Helensburgh Golf Club – even though they only finished the day’s play in third place.

The competition rules mean players aren’t allowed to win a prize twice, and since the top two pairs on Sunday – Ben Armstrong and Craig Bonthrone and Mark Birnie and Alan Bernie – had already finished top in previous rounds, it was Stuart and Robin who took the honours.

Those three pairs were among four who tied for top place with excellent scores of 30 stableford points and who had to be separated by a countback, with Mark and Alan first (but taking the second prize) and Ben and Craig second (but having to settle for third prize).

The weather again played a big part, with heavy rain dominating the conditions for the first two and a half hours and the contest again reduced to 11 holes..

Gary Potter, Sandy Bulloch, Tommy Tynan, Robin Gall and Billy Greene scored twos at the day’s nominated holes, the 11th and 16th, each receiving six Srixon Z Stars golf balls per pair, while Peter Mundie won the lotto bonus ball card and Craig Bonthrone the lucky scorecard draw – the latter after several attempts, since the winner has to be present at the day’s prize-giving to claim the prize.

With one week to go, Don Griffin’s team leads the teams competition, 13 points ahead of that of Stuart Coutts, while the eclectic competition is currently headed by Gary Potter and Lewis Slee, Andy Herd and Kevin McGurk, and Don Griffin and Tim Hughes, all on 55 stableford points.