NC500 Links Open sees more than 70 compete for prizes at Wick and Reay
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The weekend saw the return of one of the most eagerly anticipated events in the Caithness golfing calendar in the shape of the NC500 Links Open.
Day one was played at Wick Golf Club, with sponsorship from Hugh Simpson (Contractors) Ltd, with the second and final round played at Reay with sponsorship from CS Drilling Services.
Both courses were in fantastic condition thanks to the efforts of the respective green staff and volunteers, with more than 70 players competing for a fine array of prizes.
A strong easterly wind blowing across the Reiss links on Saturday made for some tricky conditions, and the later starters were also treated to a couple of heavy rain showers for good measure.
Given the weather, it came as no surprise to see that good scores were at a premium, with a couple of notable exceptions. Reay’s Graham Harness played very steadily to card a best-of-the-day nett 64 after a round of 87, while Perry Mackenzie of Wick also put in a very creditable nett 66 following a round of 85.
Jordan Youngson fired an excellent round of 75 for nett 69 to take the lead in the scratch competition, with his nett tally also the best division one score posted. Owen Cormack also fired a round of 75 to share the lead in the scratch competition, ahead of a stacked leaderboard which included David Dunbar, Nicky Klimas and Tom Ross on 76.
In division one, John Harper and Iain Dunnett were in contention after fine rounds gave them both nett 70, with Stewart Ross a shot further back after a solid nett 71.
In division two, the chasing pack was led by Thurso’s Willie Mackay after a fine round of 88 gave him nett 69, with Alan Farquhar, Ian Farquhar, Pauline Craig and Alex Anderson also in the hunt on nett 70.
The wind abated slightly for round two at Reay but it was still breezy enough to give players plenty to ponder on a fast and firm course.
In all categories day two saw several players from the chasing pack surge up the leaderboard, with some of the overnight pacesetters fading.
Reay’s Willie Steven was a case in point after he fired a sublime second-round 76 for nett 64 to charge up the leaderboard and secure the overall nett prize on a very impressive aggregate score of 138.
It was a similar story in the scratch competition where Gregor Munro applied his home course knowledge to great effect to fire a sublime round of 67 for an overall score of 146.
Gary Davidson of Wick also climbed up the leaderboard to finish three shots behind Munro after an excellent round of 72. Thurso’s Tyler Gordon also fired a fine round of 72 to take the final podium place on 151.
A photo finish was required to determine the winner of division two after Ian Farquhar and Alan Farquhar were unlucky to be edged out on countback in the overall nett competition by Steven. After the numbers had been crunched it was Ian who got the nod from Alan after both finished on tremendous aggregate scores of 138.
First-round leader Graham Harness took fourth place on an excellent 140, ahead of Pam Bain on 141, and Ross McAdie and Alex Anderson who both performed well to finish on 144.
Countback was also required to find a winner in division one with an excellent second round of nett 69 at home club Reay giving Andy Mowat the nod ahead of Stewart Ross and Jordan Youngson after all finished on an impressive score of 142.
Christopher Taylor took fourth after a fine nett 69 at Reay gave him 143, ahead of Lee Malcolm who fired a pair of excellent nett 72s to finish on 144. Colin Munro managed to sneak into the prizes, pairing a nett 75 at Wick with an improved nett 70 at Reay to finish on 145.
Outwith the 36-hole prizes, Perry Mackenzie won the best nett score at Wick for his excellent nett 66, while Reay greenkeeper Jason Norwood maintained his rich vein of form to take the 18-hole prize at his home course with a nett 69.
Sanders Harper left the Reay clubhouse in raptures after he expertly drilled his tee shot below the wind at the final hole to take the nearest-the-pin prize, donated by Wolfburn whisky, with his ball nestling a mere 50cm from the hole.
Doug Mackenzie picked up the nearest-the-pin prize at Wick, with longest-drive prizes going to Jordan Youngson, Bruce Mackay and Dee Macangus.
It was a busy week of club competitions at Reay, with Malcolm Thomson birdieing the sixth and eighth on his way to 40 points and the win in the latest North Point Senior Stableford competition. A birdie at the 18th helped Sandy Chisholm to 39 points and second place, with a trio of players, Fred Groves, Alex Anderson and Jock Eunson, next best on 37.
Jane Mackenzie put in a consistent performance to win round four of the ladies' Stableford competition with an excellent haul of 38 points, with Jacqui Greig finishing a point behind on a solid score of 37. Her best work came on the inward half.
Heather Campbell got off to a fast start with a three at the tough first hole, and she built on that to take third on 37. Pauline Craig finished strongly to finish on 35 points, a tally matched by Rebecca Munro, who birdied the 13th, and Nicola Campbell, who was helped by a three at the tricky seventh hole.
In the latest Abbott Risk Consulting Summer Stableford action, Ian Farquhar birdied the 17th on his way to an excellent 40 points. Jordan Youngson fired birdies at the sixth, 14th and 17th to finish on 38, a score matched by Lee Malcolm who managed his own birdies at the seventh and 14th.
Colin Paterson and John O’Brien were next best on 37 points.
In the early overall standings Colin Paterson and Jack Johnstone share the lead on a four-round aggregate score of 141, ahead of Andy Bain on 140.
This week will see the gents competing in the Ross Bogey, the ladies will play for the Hamilton Trophy, and teams of ladies and gents will also be able to secure some silverware in the Tennent's Cup Texas Pairs.
Wick ladies' golf competitions: Thursday, May 4 – Championship qualifier 2, medal 3, SL round 1: Fiona Harper, 104 (34) 70. Thursday, May 11 – Silver Purse, medal 4: 1 Fiona Harper, 99 (34) 65; 2 Dee Macangus, 79 (9) 70; 3 Maureen Johnson, 104 (26) 78. Thursday, May 25 – Mrs Aubrey Shield, medal 5: 1 Fiona Harper, 109 (32); 77; 2 Dee Macangus, 87 (8) 79 (BIH); 3 Angela Williamson, 102 (23) 79.
