Busby’s new putter pays dividends
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CLUB treasurer Stewart Busby (17) led the way with an excellent total of 39 points in the Wick seniors’ open contest, beating Jocky Durrand (15) on a better inward half.
Busby recently invested in a new putter and it paid dividends as he had no fewer than six nett birdies to go out in 42 to score 20 points and back in 41, scoring 19 points, with Durrand second.
The open, sponsored by D. Sutherland & Son was played last Saturday with 32 golfers entering the Stableford contest which was played off the yellow tees.
For a change the weather was good with no rain and a light easterly wind making for favourable scoring conditions. All the prizewinners, bar one, were from the host club.
Durrand has been playing well this season and continued this fine run of form going out in 40 to score 21 points and back in 41, scoring 18 points.
Third was Gerry O’Brien (24), winner of last year’s competition, with 37 points.
He went out in 46 and back in 46. The highlight of his round came at the fifth hole where he had a nett eagle to score four points at that hole.
Sponsor of the competition Rob Sutherland (17) was fourth with 36 points. He has had an inconsistent season but found his form on the front nine amassing 22 points, which included a nett eagle at the seventh, but he struggled over the back nine scoring only 14 points.
W. Allan (15), of Reay, was fifth with 35 points. Allan played well over the first nine holes to score 21 points but a no score at the 15th proved costly and he could only muster 14 points on the back nine.
Other scores worthy of note came from Jacko Harper (17), Alistair Grant (25) and Raymond Taylor (5), of Reay, all scoring 34 points. The CSS was 69 which equates to 36 points.
The weather took a turn for the worse due to heavy rain which resulted in the August Medal scheduled to be played on Sunday being postponed. It will now be played on Sunday, August 28.
The next competition is a Stableford which is being played on Sunday with the Wick mixed open, sponsored by Ackergill Tower, also being played on Sunday.
The tee will be reserved from 11.45am to 3pm for the mixed open.
The following weekend is the Old Pulteney Open which is played on both Saturday and Sunday.
There are separate competitions on each day with additional prizes for the players having the best scratch and handicap scores over the two rounds.