Reay players dominate main prizes in Senior Open
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Golfers at Reay have been enjoying bright skies during the latest rounds of competition with some red-hot scoring matching the June weather.
The annual Senior Open saw a good entry of players from across the county and beyond, but the main prizes were dominated by golfers from the home course. Graham Harness took the victory on a fantastic Stableford score of 46 points, covering the front nine in an impressive 38 shots on his way to the trophy.
Pete McCartney birdied the eighth on his way to a fine round of 80 for 40 points and second place. Fred Groves produced solid matching halves of 40 on his way to 38 points and third place, with Thurso’s Michael Forbes edging out Evan Sutherland for fourth after both mustered 37 points.
The following day Pete McCartney went one better to win the latest round of the North Point Distillery Senior Stableford competition on 35 points, with birdies at the fourth and fifth helping him on the way.
David A Craig had to settle for second place on countback after he also scored 35 points, with a non-scoring hole at the 14th proving costly.
Pete Barker finished strongly to take third place on 34, a tally equalled by Fred Groves who birdied the tough seventh hole during his round. Alistair Gunn claimed a bottle from the sponsors for his nearest-the-pin effort at the 18th.
In the ladies' section, Pauline Craig fired an excellent round of 87 for nett 64 to win the Cnoc Stanger Trophy, with a birdie at the 13th helping ease the path to victory.
A good start by Heather Campbell, which included pars at the long second and fourth holes, set her up for a nice round of nett 69 and second place.
Eleanor Tunn hit the birdie trail at the fourth, 13th and 14th during an excellent round of 73 for nett 70, with Michelle Smith also posting a nett 70 after a strong finish to take fourth place on the day.
The gents' Banks Medal was also a low-scoring affair, with Donald Mowat shooting a sublime round of 76 for nett 64 and the win, with a birdie at the third providing the icing on the cake.
David Mackay fired a brace of birdies at the second and sixth holes on his way to a fine round of 79 for nett 67. Joe Wilson also managed a couple of birdies, at the ninth and 13th, as he went round in 82 for nett 68 and third place.
Andy Bain took fourth on nett 69 following a round of 77, while Aly Mackay posted the best gross score of the day, a fine round of 73 which was also good enough for nett 69, with a birdie at the sixth providing the highlight.
Leslie Malcolm fired a rare eagle at the sixth hole during round three of the Strokeplay Championship on his way to a great round of 78 for nett 64. David R Craig was also a man in fine form, firing a solid round of 81 for nett 65 and second place.
Lee Parnell combined halves of 36 and 37 for a round of 73 for nett 68, a score matched by Andy Bain courtesy of his round of 76. Gregor Munro’s excellent round of 71 was the best gross score on the day.
In the overall standings, which comprise a two-round aggregate score, Lee Parnell and Tom Ross lead the way in the scratch competition on 144, ahead of Michael Smith on 145 and Jason Norwood on 146.
In the handicap section Leslie Malcolm heads the field on 130, ahead of Sandy Chisholm on 132, Lee Parnell on 133 and Alistair Gunn on 134.
This week will see the gents competing in the President's Salver, with the ladies in summer Stableford action. The weekend also sees Thurso hosting the Wilson Cup, where the Reay team of Tom Ross, Brent Munro, Jason Norwood and Michael Smith will be hoping to take back the trophy.
