Jennifer Laidlaw proudly presents the trophy named in honour of her late brother to Mike Aitken

Generosity, goodwill, and outbreaks of good golf ensured nine AGW members and three guests did justice to the memory of Renton Laidlaw in the contest to win the Quaich bearing his name.

The event, the first in this year’s AGW’s ETIQUS Road to Hoylake series, was staged at Drumoig, the renowned broadcaster and journalist’s home course which features a hole named after him – the par four 18th.

So, it was fitting the tussle for the Quaich that went beyond the final hole and with Mike Aitken prevailing on count back after he, Martin Vousden and Nick Rodger finished level on 33 points.

Rodger was eliminated due to posting the lowest points total of the trio on the back nine and Vousden’s tally of 10 from the final six holes was eclipsed by Aitken’s high-octane finish that, featuring three birdies, amassed 15 points.

AGW guest Keir DiBlaise, and working with the Links Trust, with Jennifer Laidlaw presenting him with a bottle of whisky for his effort in being nearest-to-the pin in two at the closing hole named after Renton Laidlaw

Aitken was presented with the Quaich by Jennifer Laidlaw, Renton’s sister, who proved a delightful and generous hostess by paying for the post-golf meal of fish ‘n’ chips and ice cream – her late brother’s favourite.

In addition to receiving the quaich, Aitken won a bottle of whisky as did Keir DiBlaise for finishing nearest to the pin in two on the 18th, Renton Laidlaw named hole. Playing off 16, DiBlaise, a recent addition to the St Andrews Links Trust marketing department and standing in for David Connor, also posted the best score of the day – 38 points.

Both bottles of scotch were very generously donated by Ian Menzies, Drumoig’s Director of Golf, as were four whisky tumblers won by the winning quartet of Martin Dempster, Adrian Milledge, Rodger and DiBlaise

Jennifer Laidlaw with the winning group – Keit DiBlaise, Martin Dempster, Adrian Milledge and Nick Rodger

The day’s other prize, a goody bag donated by the Links Trust, was won by another guest, Darren Hodgkinson, for landing his tee shot nearest the pin on the 11th.

Cliché it may be but all 12 of us were winners, privileged to play a venue that, close to St Andrews can be overshadowed by its illustrious neighbours, was in superb condition.

Moreover, we were treated royally by Jennifer, Ian and his team.

AGW Golf Captain Adrian Milledge presents Jennifer with flowers on behalf of all her friends at the AGW

An ice-cream toast to Renton and with Jennifer proudly holding flowers presented to her by all her friends at the Association.

Thank you to all involved.

Adrian Milledge, AGW Golf Captain.

ETIQUS – AGW Golfer of the Year Scores from Drumoig

33 – Mike Aitken, Martin Vousden, Nick Rodger

32 – Martin Dempster

31 – David Facey

29 – Dave Edwards

27 – Brian McLaughlin

18 – Gordon Bannerman

Guest scoring:
Keir DiBlaise (38), Colin Stephens (29), Darren Hodgkinson 27

Team scores

Dempster, Rodger, Milledge, DiBlaise 88
Facey, McLaughlin, Hodgkinson, Stephens 83
Edwards, Vousden, Aitken, Bannerman 81