Crines and Dernie aim to make co-incidence count on home soil

Gerry Crines hopes the stars are aligned when he teams up with Blairgowrie Golf Club PGA Professional Charles Dernie for the Lombard Trophy qualifying round.

The pair were born just three days apart in 1955 and will play at their home course on June 20.

They will be aiming to book a trip to Portugal for the £41,450, Coca-Cola and Pestana Resorts supported, National Pro-Am grand final which will be played at the Vila Sol resort in the Algarve between September 20-21.

And although amateur Crines has never played alongside Dernie before, he hopes that the co-incidence of being born within 72 hours of each other means they can also share a winning display at the Perthshire venue.

“It’s interesting that we’re both very close in age, I think was born three days before me,” said Glasgow-born Crines, who plays off a handicap of 11.

“It was obviously a good year! We both turned 63 in April.

“Fingers crossed it works out, but I’ve not played with Charles before. I’m a bit nervous but looking forward to the occasion and seeing how the professionals play the game.

“I’ve been playing golf a few years now but I feel I’m learning all the time.”

Perth-based Crines, a retired IT manager, has been a member at Blairgowrie for three years.

“Charles is from England but he’s been up here now for about 20 years now,” he added.

“But he enjoys it and think he’s almost a bona fide Scot now. He’s settled into the way of life here which is maybe a little slow than down south.

“My goal now is to get my handicap down to single figures which is what I had when I was younger. That’s a work in progress.”


Other teams taking part at Blairgowrie include:    Gordon Stewart/Steven Hendy (Cawder Golf Club);     Andrew Skinner/Connor Mackay (Royal Dornoch);  Steven Dunsmore/John Ogg (Falkirk Tryst); Fraser Dunlop/Graeme Somers (Aboyne Golf Club); Steohen Rennie/Hugh Daggerty (Brechin Golf Club)

For more information on the event at Blairgowrie click here.