Over 100 tee off in highly successful Thurso Open
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
THE main event of the weekend at Thurso Golf Club was the Thurso Open played over two rounds.
A large field of over 100, including 41 visitors, found the course in great condition and the weather fine.
After the first round Jim Sangster was leading the scratch with 70. Two shots further back was Alan Swanson, with Peter Sangster and Dougie Thorburn a further couple of shots adrift. Don Mackay and Gavin Sutherland, from Reay, along with Steven Williamson, were on 76.
Bob Black was leading the handicap section with a nett 65 which included an eight at the 10th hole. Greg McEwan was also on 65 in a round that finished with five bogeys.
Graeme Henderson, Steven Fidler and Gavin Chessor, from Strathmore, were on 67. One shot in arrears was Ian McPhee with Stephen Bremner, Gordon Morris and Jim Rodgers, from Inverness, on 69.
In the second round Swanson had a good opening nine holes, going to the turn in three under par thanks to four birdies. There was only one birdie in a two-over-par back nine for a total of 68 and a two-round score of 140.
Jim Sangster went backwards after his opening round and took 73 shots for a 143 total.
There was a dramatic improvement for Thorburn in round two. Equal halves of 33, including five birdies, gave him a round of 66 and a two-round total of 140 to give him the overall scratch after countback.
Very few players improved on their first-round scores amongst the leading contenders. Cammy Ross, from Reay, had a big improvement of 11 shots with his 67 but failed to make the combined score prize list.
Swanson’s second-round nett 65 was the best score in the afternoon and coupled with his first-round nett 69 was good enough to win the overall handicap with 134.
Henderson maintained his form for a second round of 69 that gave him overall second handicap after countback from Chessor. Jim Sangster took overall second scratch.
In category one (handicap 1-12) McEwan added a 72 to his morning round for a total of 137 to take first place. Andy McGregor improved his score in the second round to 68 and with a total of 138 was second.
Two steady nett 70s from Peter Sangster was good enough for third spot with Sutherland a shot further back in fourth.
In category two Chessor took first place. Bremner added a 72 to his first-round score for a total of 141 and took second place after countback from McPhee. Terry Mackay came in under the radar with two rounds of 71 to take fourth.
On Sunday, the seventh round of the Ulbster Arms Challenge Shield was played.
Pat Valentine left the other players in his wake and returned a nett 67. Second place went to John Bain with 71. Four players tied on 73 and finished in the order of George Munro, Keith Dreaves, Bob Robertson and Bryan Ronald. Ronald had the best gross score of 75, one shot better than Valentine, in spite of taking a nine at the 10th hole.
Following the main event of the weekend, the EGGs played the seventh round of the Dave Spargo Trophy.
The course and weather conditions were excellent. Bob Black rediscovered his early form of Saturday and had matching halves of 21 points on his way to winning with 42.
Ronnie Mackay also played the first nine holes in 21 points and with 17 points on the inward half managed a total of 38.
His total was matched by Sandy Stewart whose inward nine holes for 20 points assured him of second spot with the better inward half. Both Mackay and Stewart had a no-scoring hole but Stewart had three birdies, one more than Mackay.
Three players had 36 points and finished in the order of Bob Robertson, Donald Jack and Jack Johnstone after respectively scoring 19, 18 and 16 on the inward nine holes. Alan Simmonite and Ian Manson were a shot further back.
On the previous Tuesday the ladies played for the August Extra Medal.
Winner was Eileen Manson with a nett 73. Eleanor Tunn took second spot beating Anne Simmonite with a better inward half after both scored 77.
This Tuesday the ladies played for the captain’s and vice-captain’s prizes. The competition was also the Cancer Relief event.
Eleanor Tunn prevailed again with a nett 70, winning the captain’s prize. Isobel Kirkpatrick took the vice-captain’s prize with a nett 76.
