Mackay adapts best in Reay's Donald Campbell Open
Saturday saw Reay hosting the rescheduled Donald Campbell Open, which doubled up as this season’s county championship.
Conditions were made tricky as players had to deal with occasional showers and a breeze from the north-east which manifested itself as a crosswind on most of the holes.
Bruce Mackay adapted best to the conditions, posting a fine round of 79 for nett 65 to win the open. After a solid but unspectacular front nine of 43, Mackay found another level as he came home in 36 blows, with a birdie at the 17th proving crucial in the final analysis.
Reay greenkeeper Jason Norwood put the knowledge he is acquiring every day on the course to excellent use to post the best scratch score of the day which secured him the runner-up spot in the open and first place in the county championship.
After an outward half of 38, Norwood stormed home in 35 to post an excellent round of 73 for nett 66, with a birdie at the long 14th thrown in for good measure.
Willie Paton continues to have a fine season and he finished third in the overall standings on nett 67, after halves of 43 and 48 were good enough for a round of 91.
Three players finished tied on nett 69, with Donald Mowat taking fourth place on countback after a fine round of 84 which included a birdie at the fifth hole. Murdo Macdonald was fifth, with Adam Gunn taking sixth spot.
Round 11 of the Summer Cup was won by the in-form Jack Johnstone with a fine tally of 39 points courtesy of a round of 93. Youngster Dylan Mackenzie continued his fine debut season in the senior ranks to take second place on 36 points, while Ian Ross birdied the 14th on his way to 35 points and a share of third place with James Meiklejohn.
In the overall Summer Cup standings Joe Wilson retains a narrow lead on 215, ahead of Jack Halliday and Michael Smith, who are on 213, and Steve Efemey on 212.
In the July round of the Senior Stableford Eclectic competition, Murdo Macdonald topped the standings with a haul of 36 points in wet conditions. Fred Groves was next best on 32, with three players, Sandy Chisholm, Jack Johnstone and Peter Barker, sharing third place on 27.
This Saturday the gents will be competing in the August Medal, while the ladies will be competing in the latest round of the Summer Stableford.