Good scores at a premium in Reay Men’s Open
A busy week of golf at Reay culminated in the Men’s Open sponsored by M2 Procurement and Commercial Services on Saturday.
A stiff breeze and some squally showers made for some difficult conditions, with good scores at a premium.
Winner of the handicap competition with a super round of 77 for nett 62 was Fred Groves. Excellent halves of 38 and 39, which included a birdie at the 14th, gave Groves victory by a margin of six shots.
Equally impressive was Brent Munro, who won the scratch competition with a fantastic score of 69. His only bogey of the day came at the first hole, which was offset by a birdie at the eighth, with pars at the other 16 holes to give him his winning score.
Denis Harvey of Stromness Golf Club took second place in the scratch competition on 73, with birdies at the 12th and 14th helping him to his tally. Tom Ross was edged into third place on countback after he also carded a round of 73, with birdies at the sixth, 10th and 14th providing the highlights of his round.
Thurso Golf Club’s Steve Spargo took top spot in Division One after a round of 74, which included a birdie at the 14th, gave him a nett 68. Halves of 39 and 36 helped Euan Munro to second place after a round of 75 for nett 70.
Another Thurso player, Alan Coghill, won Division Two as halves of 41 and 42 gave him a round of 83 for nett 69. His clubmate Sid Campbell had to settle for second place on countback after he also fired a round of 83 for nett 69.
Nearest-the-pin prizes were won by Alan Coghill, Gavin Sutherland, Ian Ross and Brent Munro.
The Men’s Strokeplay Championship also came to its conclusion. Round four was won by Kenny Farmer Jnr after an excellent round of 84 for nett 64.
A red-hot start featuring birdies at the first, second, third and sixth helped Tom Ross to a super round of 68 for nett 66 and second place, while a birdie at the seventh helped Gavin Gunn take third place on nett 68.
Andrew Taylor took fourth on nett 69, ahead of Dougie Thorburn who also set the course alight with no fewer than five birdies, at the second, fourth, seventh, 10th and 11th, on his way to a tremendous round of 68 for nett 69.
In the overall standings, the scratch competition was won by Brent Munro on a two-round aggregate score of 139, ahead of Gregor Munro on 141 and Tom Ross on 142. Kenny Farmer Jnr took the handicap prize on an excellent score of 131, ahead of Kenny Farmer Snr on 138 and Andrew Taylor on 139.
In the latest North Point Distillery Senior Stableford action Jock Eunson topped the standings on 35 points, ahead of Colin Struthers on 34, and Willie Williamson and Stuart Greig who finished on 33.
In round seven of the Ladies’ Summer Stableford competition Carol Paterson topped the standings on an excellent score of 39 points, ahead of Julie Minchin on 36 and Pauline Craig on 35. Alison Ross and Carole Cameron were next best after both finished on 34.
The women take centre stage this Saturday with the club hosting its annual Ladies’ Open. Reay will also be sending a team comprising Brent Munro, Tom Ross, Gregor Munro and Michael Smith to Shetland to defend their Wilson Cup trophy against teams from Caithness, Orkney and Shetland.
