Best score catapults Earnshaw to third overall
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PLAYERS were once again treated to clear skies and calm conditions as they teed up for the November round of the Winter Eclectic held at Reay Golf Club.
Early pacesetters Richard McDonald and Sandy Chisholm were out to improve on their first-round totals, but several other challengers emerged on a day of good scoring.
Best score of the day went to former club captain Bob Earnshaw after he carded a par-busting nett 65. Earnshaw’s round did not get off to the best of starts after a double-bogey five at the first, but he soon knuckled down to the task in hand, recording an impressive outward half of 38 which included an excellent birdie at the long fourth.
A steady inward half of 37 followed, which included seven pars and only two bogeys, giving Earnshaw a gross score of 75.
Taking second place was current vice-captain Lee Parnell with a nett 67. The format of the eclectic favours players who can get as many birdies on the board as possible, and Parnell did his chances no harm at all with no fewer than four, at the sixth, ninth, 12th and 16th holes. A triple-bogey six at the tricky seventh was the only blight on an otherwise very tidy card of gross 71.
In third place after recording the lowest gross score of the day of 70 was Graeme Dunnett.
His consistent scoring has ensured that has never been far away from the top of the eclectic leaderboard over the past few years, and this season looks like being no exception after impressive halves of 34 and 36 helped him to record a nett 67.
Dunnett also managed to card two birdies at the sixth and ninth holes.
Overall leader of the eclectic after two rounds is the ultra-consistent Ian Ross who has crept up the leaderboard unnoticed after producing a nett 69 in round two.
Richard McDonald occupies second place, with Earnshaw’s fine round seeing him catapulted up to third in the overall standings.
Parnell and Dunnett have also got themselves within striking distance of the leader, but with four rounds still to go there is plenty of time for other challengers to emerge from the pack.
This weekend sees players competing for the December medal tomorrow, while on Sunday the Winter Alliance fixture is hosted by Tain.
