Reay Golf Club: Ace for O’Brien as Mowat secures Ross Bogey
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It was another action-packed week on the links at Reay with a couple of holes-in-one and some excellent scoring on show.
The ladies' June Medal turned out to be a day to remember for youngster Mollie O’Brien, who fired a fantastic ace at the tough par-three seventh hole during her round of 82 for nett 77.
However, a number of good scores on the day meant she was not among the podium places. Michelle Smith continued her impressive progress in the sport to take top spot after a fine round of nett 66, with a cool par at the tricky 17th hole being crucial to her win.
Alison Ross had an impressive outward nine of 42 on her way to a score of nett 68 and second place, with four players – Jane Mackenzie, Carole Cameron, Heather Campbell and Rebecca Munro – all finishing on nett 70. Munro managed a fine birdie at the long second hole during her round.
In the gents' section, players were vying for silverware in the Ross Bogey – a competition in which their handicaps were used in a matchplay format of scoring against the course. Donald Mowat maintained his excellent recent form to take the victory, finishing an impressive 4 up on the course after a round of 80 which included a birdie at the third.
Simon Harper also birdied the third on his way to a fine round of 75 to finish on a score of 3 up. Gavin Gunn likewise finished on 3 up, helped on his way by a hat-trick of birdies at the sixth, 13th and 17th holes.
Evan Sutherland and Andrew Taylor both put together solid rounds to finish on 2 up.
Round one of the gents' Strokeplay Championship was also a low-scoring affair, with Leslie Malcolm, Ian Farquhar and Donald Mowat leading the way after all posted rounds of nett 66. Malcolm got the nod on countback ahead of Farquhar after both had gross scores of 81, with Mowat managing a birdie at the short fifth during his round of 80.
Alistair Gunn and Sandy Chisholm are both handily placed after carding rounds of nett 67.
In the scratch competition Tom Ross is the early pacesetter after a fine round of 70 made up of halves of 35, with a birdie at the fifth thrown in for good measure. Jason Norwood birdied the 14th to take second place after a 73, while a brace of birdies at the 16th and 17th helped Michael Smith to a round of 74 and third place in the early overall standings.
In the latest action in the North Point Distillery Senior Stableford competition Kenny Farmer Snr fired a fine round of 83 to top the standings on an impressive 40 points. Peter Barker took second on 39 points, and it could have been even better were it not for a couple of non-scoring holes.
Sandy Chisholm birdied the third on his way to 36 points and third place.
Kenny Farmer Snr repeated the feat to win the Tennent's Texas Pairs competition along with his son Kenny Jnr. An excellent round of 74 for nett 65, which included birdies at the fifth, 14th and 17th holes, was good enough to take the trophy on countback ahead of Jimmy Meiklejohn and Jack Johnstone, who also carded a nett 65 which included a solitary birdie at the fourth hole.
David R Craig and Pauline Craig combined nicely to take third place after a round of 78 for nett 68.
Jean Clasper and Malcolm Clasper also fired a nett 68 for fourth place, helped by a birdie at the 16th, edging out Graeme Fryett and Simon Harper who managed birdies at the third, 10th and 18th holes on their way to a matching round of nett 68.
Outwith the competitive action, Graeme Dunnett registered the seventh hole in one of his golfing career with an ace at the fifth hole. He was partnered by Alex Anderson.
This Saturday the focus is on the ladies as the course hosts its annual Ladies' Open sponsored by Bighouse Melvich. On Sunday the gents will be playing in their version of the June Medal, while on Wednesday (June 14) the club will host its annual Senior Open.
