Reay's Mackay disqualified despite huge score
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
LAST Saturday brought calm conditions and bright skies as the golfers of Reay teed up for the August Medal.
Despite the favourable weather, scoring was more steady than spectacular, largely due to the fierce rough which lines many of the fairways at present.
Taking the glory in category two with the lowest nett score of the day was Andy Bain.
After showing some great form over the winter months, Bain has had a relatively quiet summer by his standards, but he rediscovered his touch to record a splendid nett 66.
His round comprised two very steady halves of 40 and 39, with a double bogey at the tricky eighth the only blight on an otherwise very tidy card.
Runner-up in category two was young Andrew Adamson after posting a nett 67. His round comprised matching halves of 41, with the highlight arriving courtesy of a birdie at the par-four 16th. Sharing third place, following nett 71s, were Murdo Macdonald and Tony Wratten who has enjoyed a recent spell of fine form.
Category one should have been all about a stunning victory for Steven Mackay, after he carded an incredible nett 61.
He had matching halves of 36, with a single birdie at the fifth, to give him his best-ever gross score of 72.
But, disastrously, Mackay forgot to include himself on the entry sheet for the competition and, sadly, had to be disqualified.
The man to benefit from Mackay’s misfortune was Lee Parnell who carded a nett 69.
Parnell had a very topsy-turvy round, with birdies at the fourth, ninth, 15th and 16th holes offset by double bogeys at the second, third and seventh holes.
Parnell’s inward half of 34 was just good enough to pip Richard McDonald who also recorded a nett 69. Four players – Colin Munro, Ewan Crawford, Gregor Munro and Grant Maxwell – finished a shot off the pace after recording nett 70s.
On Sunday Reay hosted its annual mixed open. Conditions were far from ideal with grey skies and steady rain, but this did not dampen the spirits of the 15 couples who entered the event.
Claiming overall victory with an outstanding nett 66 were Simon Place and Hannah McLean, from Wick. Finishing in second place after a nett 71.5 were Reay pair Colin Munro and Alison Ross, who just pipped Ian Ross, of Reay, and Alison Campbell, of Thurso, after their nett 72.
The scratch winners were Reay’s Donald Mowat and Val Balfour, who had made the long trip from Haddington to compete. Mowat is proving to be something of an open specialist at Reay this year following his recent victory in the men’s open.
The ladies’ prize for longest drive at the third went to Alison McKenzie, with Ian Ross taking the honours for longest drive at the fourth.
This weekend sees a number of Reay members competing at Thurso in their annual 36-hole open. Reay will host the Achshebster Road Sweep tomorrow for those not playing at Thurso, while on Sunday the youngsters take centre stage as Reay hosts its junior open.
