It’s a family affair in Thurso ladies’ championship finals
The ladies’ scratch and handicap championship finals at Thurso Golf Club saw three generations of one family coming together.
They were granny Anne Simmonite, daughter Laura Durrand and granddaughter Rachel Durrand, while Mollie O’Brien was the fourth finalist.
Mollie and Laura contested the scratch championship final in testing conditions with strong winds and sporadic showers.
Mollie got off to the better start with steady pars over the first four holes to establish a two-hole advantage. With Mollie continuing her par golf, Laura had to produce birdies on the sixth and eighth to level the match after eight holes.
An excellent tee shot to three metres on the ninth allowed Laura to take the one-hole advantage at the turn.
Mollie immediately fought back to win the 10th, and with the 11th and 12th halved the match was level on the 13th tee.
Laura played two excellent shots to two metres and rolled the putt in for her birdie. Mollie’s tee shot found the bunker and she was unable to get up and down, with Laura taking the slenderest of leads.
Again Mollie fought back with a tap-in three on the 14th to level the match.
Both players played excellent drives on 15, with Laura taking advantage by putting her second shot to two metres and rolling in her fourth birdie of the round to take a one-hole advantage going into the last three holes.
The 16th and 17th were halved, with Laura holding a one-hole advantage on the 18th tee. Both found the fairway with their tee shots but into the strong wind neither player could find the green in two.
Mollie’s chip was inside Laura’s and, with Laura missing her putt for par, Mollie had a chance to extend the match. Her putt was on line but, unfortunately for Mollie, it stopped on the edge of the hole.
With the hole halved, Laura won the match by one hole and retained the title of Thurso ladies’ club champion.
The handicap championship final was between Anne Simmonite and her youngest granddaughter Rachel Durrand. There was a difference of one between their handicaps, meaning Rachel would get one shot at the 11th hole.
It was a nervy start for both and they halved the first two holes. Rachel was first to settle down and produced a lovely chip to just a few yards off the hole to win the third.
Anne pulled herself together to win the next hole, despite going in the ditch with her second shot, to put them back to all square after four holes.
Both played the next few holes well but Rachel’s bigger hitting gave her the advantage and saw her go three up at the halfway point.
Anne wasn’t giving up but Rachel was on a roll and didn’t look as though she was going to lose her momentum. Some fabulous putting meant she won the 10th, 11th and 12th.
Rachel was six up with six holes left to play, so Anne had to give it everything she had. She looked to be making a comeback when Rachel put her second shot in the bunker but it wasn’t to be.
Rachel hit a fine shot out the bunker to within a few yards of the hole, popping it in for a four.
Anne also finished with a four to halve the hole but it was not enough as Rachel became the new handicap champion.
