Birdie finish proves a boon for Osborne at Thurso
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THE weather remained fine on Saturday at Thurso for the third round of the Winter League.
The best last six holes score was required to separate Steve Osborne and Terry Mackay after each scored 38 points.
Both players reached the turn with 20 points with Mackay having an eagle two at the eighth hole. On the inward nine Osborne failed to score at two holes but a good par, bogey, birdie finish helped him pip Mackay for first place.
Ronnie Gray took third spot with 37 points, also scoring 20 points in the first half, despite a no-score at the third hole.
Three players scored 35 points and finished in the order of Bob Black, Harvey Cowe and Gavin Souter.
On Sunday there was a sweep. Cowe played excellent golf, scoring two or more points at every hole apart from the 14th, where he managed a single point to win by four shots from his nearest challenger.
Second place went to Stanley Ross with 35 points, two ahead of the ever-steady Pat Valentine who scored on every hole.
On another windy Tuesday, Alan Simmonite breezed his way to the turn in 23 points to set up a win in round seven of the EGGS Winter Stableford for the Wallace Trophy.
His outward total was encouraged by a four-point birdie at the third hole. There were to be no more birdies on his back nine but consistent play gained 18 more points for a total of 41 points for the round.
Jim Buchan, despite a blank at the seventh, was out in 19 points and went on to return the best inward nine of the day of 20 points to earn second place with 39 points, two ahead of the consistent Valentine.
Valentine was only two over par at the turn for 20 points but a little tree trouble at the 15th perhaps took a little of the gloss off his round.
Ronald Mackay and Bob Black both had 35-point returns with Frances Allan, Jim Johnston and new EGG the colourful Peter Knight all a further point away.
As the competition moves into its second half no-one has created a clear lead so there is still everything to play for.
