Kevin is up and down at last to land Kirkintilloch Shield

Windyhills Kevin Smyth receives the Kirkintilloch Shield trophy

The annual competition, resurrected a few years ago, alternates with Lenzie and Kirkintilloch Golf Club as the other venues.

This year, for the first time in many years, the field for the one-day, 36-hole event was full and included the likes of home internationalist Jamie Savage and Calum Fyfe along with multiple club champions from around the district.

The course was set up to in such a way to bring out the very best out of the players and conditions were perfect as the sun shone throughout the day.

It was the early starters who got off to a flyer with James Wilson of Balmore coming in with the day’s first sub par round, a one-under 69, only to be eclipsed by some scintillating golf from Kevin Smyth with a five under 65.

James matched his morning 69 with another - a score matched by Robert Jenkins of Crowwood and former Shield winner John Fowler, previously of Hayston GC.

But the stage was set for Kevin who, after coming up short of the tight pin on 18, came up with a mesmerising ‘up and down’ to shoot 72 for a three under total to take the tournament by a single shot.

Organiser Allan Shearer was delighted with the success of this year’s Shield.

He said: “A big thank you to all competitors and to our sister clubs Lenzie and Kirkintilloch for helping to drive this tournament back to being a top amateur event.”