Eleanor retains junior title at Reay
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THIRTY-nine juniors turned out to contest Reay Golf Club’s junior open last Sunday.
Once again there was a good number of visitors with representatives from Lossiemouth, Brora and the other local clubs, together with three competitors from Paris.
In the main competition – 18 holes off medal tees – senior club champion Ross Munro just pipped Ruari McCartney by one shot to take the scratch prize and win the AEA Trophy with a gross 80.
But Ruari had a two shot margin over his nearest rival in the handicap section of the competition to win the Northern Heating Supplies Trophy.
A nett 69 pushed young Etienne Ygorra, from Golf Nationale in Paris, into second place, just ahead of Ian A Mackay, Euan Munro, Tom Ross and Ben Graham.
The 18-hole competition, played off the junior tees, resulted in some spectacular scoring, with five competitors finishing under par.
The winner with a handicap-reducing nett 61 was Grant Ross from Brora who took home the Begg Cup as leading player in this category. Two shots adrift in second was Jamie Mackay from Reay with Benjamin Ygorra second, followed closely by Mark O’Brien, Reay, and James Griffiths, Brora.
In the girls’ competition, Reay’s Lauren Ross defended the trophy for the best nett return which she won last year with a 79. Not far behind was Sarah Meiklejohn, from Thurso GC.
Reay member Eleanor Tunn played out of her skin to win the overall competition and the girls’ gross competition. Her gross 75 was only five over par and well clear of everyone else in the race to retain the junior championship.
A busy schedule has seen her compete all over Scotland and a recent visit to St Andrews where she went round in one over par underlines her burgeoning talent.
A new nine-hole competition was introduced this year for the juniors moving up from six holes but not quite able to complete a full round.
Three strokes covered the top three, with Connor Ross just pipping Tom Mackenzie and Ewan Adamson, with Nyomi Day just a few strokes behind.
The younger members took part in the “Birdie Baggers” section played over six holes. Scoring was very tight, with James Tunn from Reay just pipping Murray Mackenzie, Reay, and George Mackenzie, Brora. James won the Alec and Don Mackay Shield as winner of the section, with Parisian Marie Ygorra collecting the trophy for leading girl.
The “Fairway Ferrets” section for the youngest players was played over both the small three-hole course and the main course. On the big course, scoring was close but the winner with an excellent score of 26 was Kyle Macleod, ahead of Machaela Mackay. On the smaller course, Owen Bain held on to a slender lead to win from Emma Day, Abbey McAdie and Katy Gunn. Kyle won the Dunnett Shield for his win and Owen the 3 Hole Cup as leading player in his section.
The prizes were presented by Reay Golf Club captain Graeme Dunnett.
Sponsors were: W & D Ross, Mrs. J. Wallace, D.C. Mowat, O’Brien Construction, Nuvia, Inverness Golf Centre and Mr Alistair Giles.
