“Dunnett Has Done It Again” – and 44 year old Andy from Linlithgow BC was pocketing the high prestige Johnston Oils of Bathgate sponsored £1000 West Lothian Masters title- and with it the coveted Signature Green Jacket – for an impressive third time.
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Dunnett’s previous wins were achieved in 1999 as the inaugural Master under the Queensferry banner then in 2007 as a member of Kirkliston. The climax of the £4000 20th weeklong Masters event of the WLBA staged at a splendid East Calder venue pitched Dunnett the No 4 seed against his veteran Linlithgow club-mate 67 year old dark horse Alastair Stenhouse. The final outcome was a 21-14 triumph for the richly talented and highly competitive No 4 seed having pushed on from 13-9 to have the silverware firmly in his grip at 20-11 then trigger the victory salute with a single three ends later, the 22nd end.
“It’s the perfect ending for me at the end of a challenging 8 game campaign as I fought my way through an excellent field of 177 and it caps what has been yet another successful and memorable staging of the West Lothian Masters”. Stenhouse may not have basked in the limelight of the Masters applause but the beaten finalist won the admiration and respect of a busy watching banking that appreciated the massive demands on his stamina and consistency of skills having played three high pressure games on his Final Day schedule.
Stenhouse did come into the 20th WLM with previous form in the event having reached the quarterfinals last year and the Alto/Tenor Sax with the popular Linlithgow Reed Band reflected – “I feel both thrilled and satisfied by what I have achieved in the Masters”. Dunnett launched the Final Day against his Linlithgow colleague Martin Byrne and was forced to conjure up a magic 2, 3 finish to win a tough 21-17 battle in 19-ends.
Alec Allan (56) of Newbridge – finalist in 1991 and 2013 – presented the semi final opposition and looked every inch the winner at 15-9 up however Dunnett staged a thrilling escape to victory, carding 2, 2, 3, 4, 1 to win 21-15 in 22 ends.
Dunnett’s early pathway came via wins over Colin Little (Springgrove), 21-14; David Peel (West Calder), 21-9; Calum Black (East Calder), 21-10; Frank Dowling (Ratho), 21-9; and No 13 seed Glenn King (West Calder), 21-5.
Meanwhile 67 year old Stenhouse had launched his day as the underdog against No15 seed Darren Pearce of Kirkliston and upset the odds with the stronger finish from 15-14 to beat the 20 year old winning Hamilton Trophy star 21-19 over a testing 25-ends. Stenhouse then took to the green against his iconic club-mate Gary Smith and having never beaten him in their clashes on the domestic scene was massive odds against to capture the scalp of the 59 year old No3 seed. Smith – bidding to the reach his fourth final of the Masters – is in great form this season and was much fancied to emulate his 2010 title win – but the magic wand of The Masters was in the hands of Stenhouse. The banking marvelled at Stenhouse blazing an incredible 15-1 trail then sensed a dramatic transformation as Smith found his touch and closed menacingly to 11 however the underdog snapped back with a 1, 3 to 20 then clinched a 21-12 victory in 23-ends.
Stenhouse launched his campaign with nerve-tingling 21-20 win over young Hamilton Trophy winning star Jamie Edwards of Broxburn then accounted for Raymond Reid (Queensferry), 21-17; Derek Kerr (Armadale| 21-13, and Hamilton Trophy star Andrew Walker (Winchburgh), 21-14.
The other Final day results saw Alec Mann defeat No 8 seed Thomas (Newbridge), 21-9 in the Quarterfinals and Gary Smith finish on a double to clinch a 21-17 thriller against No 11 seed Raymond Logan of Kirkliston.
Friday nights Section Finals : Alex Allan 21 Cameron Fraser (Whitburn) 8; Thomas Mann 21 Scott McMaster (Brioxburn) 13; Martin Byrne 21 Robbie Cuthill (Kirkliston) 16; Andy Dunnett 21 Glenn King 13; Gary Smith 21 John Collins (Middleton Hall) 10; Raymond Logan 21 Ewan Shearer (Linlithgow) 12; Alastair Stenhouse 21 Andrew Walker 14; Darren Pearce 21 Walter McDougall (Glenmavis) 19. 20th WEST LOTHIAN MASTERS – HEADLINE SPONSOR – JOHNSTON OILS It is a unique feature of the West Lothian Masters that you can be an early loser – but still win, thanks to the special raffle draw confined to the first and second round Exiteers. Draw made by Gary Kain – President of East Calder BC. Prize 1. Dinner for 4 with wine at the Mercure Hotel, Livingston – winner Robert Jones of Watson Memorial. Prize 2. £40 Restaurant Voucher for The Hilcoft Hotel, Whitburn – winner Andi Gray of Kirkliston. Prize 3. A Table for 2 Voucher for The Fork & Field Restaurant, Mid Calder – winner David Ross of Glenmavis. Prize 4. A £20 Food Voucher for the Black Bull Inn, Mid Calder – winner Stuart Williamson of Linlithgow. Prize 5. A Voucher for the Pentland View Restaurant at Pumpherston Golf Club – winner Ryan Miller of Buchan Park. Prize 6. A Table for 2 Voucher at the Grapes Village Pub, East Calder – winner Ewan Sneddon of Bellsburn. Prize 7. A £10 Voucher for Sainsbury’s – winner Adam Gilliland of Bankton Mains. Prize 8. A £10 Voucher for Sainsbury’s – winner Falconer Crichton of East Calder. Prize 9. A Bottle of Rose Wine from The Oatridge Hotel, Uphall – winner Fraser Simpson of Linlithgow,
Donated by the company associated with each prize.
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