Irvine wins April Medal as season hots up at Thurso Golf Club
The summer season is now in full swing at Thurso Golf Club, with several experienced members tasting victory in the latest batch of competitions.
The first Monthly Medal of the season was played on Saturday, April 19, and attracted a large entry in favourable conditions.
Mick Ross got off to a great start and, despite a poor finish, took the early clubhouse lead with 87(18)69. Conversely, Callum Mauchlen got off to a poor start, dropping several shots early on but he rallied and came home with a fine 89(21)68 to take the lead from Mick.
However, they were both pipped by Davie Irvine. Davie, who had a great early season last year, continued the trend and his super steady round of 88(21)67 won him the medal. Jim Sangster had the best gross score of the day with 77 and also earned the shot of the day as he holed his shot from the middle of the 17th fairway.
April Medal results: 1 D Irvine 88(21)67; 2 C Mauchlen 89(21)68; 3 M Ross 87(18)69.
The following day, Sunday 20th, saw the Rugby Club Cup taking place. This is a four-ball better ball competition and always produces some excellent scoring. This year was no exception with Terry Mackay and James Taylor taking a two-stroke victory over Jocky Begg and Donald Sutherland with a superb nett 61. Ronnie Gray and Gary Leonard took third place with a nett 65.
Rugby Club results: 1 T Mackay/J Taylor 61; 2 J Begg/D Sutherland 63; 3 R Gray/G Leonard 65.
Next up, on Saturday, April 26, was the William Simpson Memorial competition, an 18-hole stroke play competition.
Alan Simmonite’s 95(27)68 was good enough to take third place. Stuart Bell went one better, his 89(22)67 taking the runner up spot. The winner was Ronnie Gray, whose winning score was largely due to a fantastic front nine of 37 which included a birdie at the 8th. A steady back nine followed, giving Ronnie the winning score of 82(16)66.
Wm Simpson Memorial results: 1 R Gray 82(16)66; 2 S Bell 89(22)67; 3 A Simmonite 95(27)68.
The first round of the ever popular Summer League was played on Sunday, April 27. Once again the weather was kind, and the scoring was good. The ever-steady Steve Osborne shot a level par 36 points, including a birdie 3 at the difficult 11th, to finish in third place.
Runner up was Alan Sparling, also with 36 points but with his superior back nine just pipping Steve.
The winner was Callum Mauchlen, who is showing some excellent early season form. Callum has been getting some coaching from local professional Calum Satterly recently and the lessons certainly seem to be paying off with a winning score of 38 points, despite a rather poor finish.
Summer League round1 results: 1 C Mauchlen, 38 points; 2 A Sparling, 36; 3 S Osborne, 36.
The next fixtures to be played at Thurso are the second round of the Summer League on Thursday, May 1, and the Stewart Cup on Saturday
