Farquhar is a worthy winner in Senior Open at Reay
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Strong winds and showers put paid to any prospects of golf at the weekend at Reay, but there was still plenty of action on the course during the week. The club hosted its annual Senior Open on Wednesday and several impressive Stableford scores were recorded by a field made up of players from across the Highlands.
Reay member Ian Farquhar finished as a worthy winner with an excellent haul of 42 points, helped on his way by birdies at the sixth, 13th and 15th holes.
Hugh Millar took second place on countback ahead of Thurso’s Gavin Souter after both accumulated 39 points. Millar managed a brace of birdies at the fourth and sixth holes during his round, while Souter paired halves of 40 and 41 for a solid round of 81.
John Mackenzie (Durness) took fourth place on countback on 38 points after a round of 87, ahead of Cammie Ross and Alex Anderson who also managed 38. Ross had a birdie at the 14th, with Anderson also mustering a single birdie at the fourth hole.
Rebecca Munro continued a fine few weeks on the course by bagging the Cnoc Stanger Trophy after a round of 83 that was the epitome of consistency. Her halves of 41 and 42 were good enough for a nett 69 and the win.
A good start and finish to her round were key to Jean Clasper taking second place after a score of 91 gave a nett 71. Alison Ross was edged into third place on countback after she also posted a nett 71 following a round of 94.
Eleanor Tunn posted the best scratch score of the day, a fabulous round of 73 which included birdies at the second and 13th, for nett 72. Lora Jane Kelly also finished on nett 72 after an excellent run on her final four holes.
In the latest action in the North Point Distillery senior Stableford competition, Billy Moore finished top of the standings after an excellent score of 38 points. Hugh Millar was edged into second place on countback after a birdie at the fifth helped him to 38 points too, with four players – David R Craig, Fred Groves, Evan Sutherland and Murdo Macdonald – finishing a stroke behind on 37.
In the overall standings Colin Struthers still leads the way on a six-round aggregate score of 223, ahead of Kenny Farmer Snr on 216 and Mike Halliday on 213.
The low scoring continued in strokeplay championship with Steve Efemey firing birdies at the fifth, 12th, 16th and 17th holes on his way to a round of 77 for nett 67. Iain Dunnett took second place ahead of Gregor Munro after both finished on nett 68.
Dunnett’s score came courtesy of a round of 73 which included birdies at the 10th and 14th holes, while Munro posted the best gross score of the day, a round of 69, which included birdies at the sixth, eighth, 12th and 14th holes.
Leslie Malcolm was next best after a round of nett 71, while a trio of players, Brent Munro, Jordan Youngson and Tom Ross, were next best after all carded rounds of nett 72.
The club is hosting its Gents' Open on Saturday. There will be both 18 and 36-hole competitions on the day with some great prizes as well as the usual silverware up for grabs.
