Eleanor takes scratch victory twice in a row
REAY Golf Club's junior club champions received their medals last week in recognition of their outstanding achievements.
The resurgence of junior golf in the Reay club has meant that both a scratch and handicap club championship could be run for the second year in a row.
In the past few years 12 juniors, aged from 12 to 17, have come out of the clubgolf programme with senior handicaps allowing matchplay knockout championships to be held in both categories.
Fourteen-year-old Ian Mackay, from Halkirk, emerged as handicap champion out of an eight-player draw, four of whom are now part of the North District training programme.
In the scratch championship, Eleanor Tunn emerged victorious for the second year.
The 16-year-old three-handicap player continues to make progress in what has been a great year for her, having broken the long-standing Reay senior ladies' course record by two shots this summer.
Both players received their medals in a presentation ceremony last Friday evening.
Ian received his medal from Ann Morris and Eleanor from Janette Wallace, both ladies having been longtime supporters of junior golf at Reay and in the Caithness & North Sutherland Junior Golf Partnership.
Evan Sutherland, Reay's junior coach, is delighted so many have managed to acquire a senior handicap and been able to perform well as senior golfers.
He said: "The challenge over the next couple of years will be to bring more golfers up to the same standard.
"It requires a lot of commitment from the kids to reach these levels of performance, however, we also have a dedicated team of coaches working with all age groups in order to try and achieve this in a fun environment."