Sangster making the game seem easy with 41-point haul in Summer League
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
The A&A Mackay Builders Summer League at Thurso Golf Club has now reached the halfway stage after rounds eight and nine were played last Thursday and Sunday respectively.
On Thursday, scoring was again excellent from the large field of 79 golfers.
Rory Hadden took fourth place with his 39 points, including an eagle two at the 13th hole, in a superb back nine of 22 points. This was his second good score in recent weeks, the only difference being that this time he remembered to sign his card!
Neil Rigg continued his fine form with 40 points for third place. Rigg also had an eagle at the 13th.
Runner-up was George Munro with 41 points. No eagles for Munro but some very steady play and a good reward for the practice he has been putting in lately.
There was also an eagle for Stephen Spargo, as he holed his second shot to the par-four sixth hole.
It came as no surprise that this week’s winner was, again, Peter Sangster.
Sangster is making the game seem very easy at the moment and his five-birdie round of 66, including two chip-ins, gave him 41 points and yet another handicap reduction.
Summer League round eight results: 1 Peter Sangster, 41 points; 2 George Munro, 41; 3 Neil Rigg, 40; 4 Rory Hadden, 39.
Saturday saw the July Medal played in conjunction with the fourth and final qualifying round for this year’s club championship, so many players had their “game faces” on as they attempted to qualify.
Conditions were, contrary to the local forecast, good and this was clearly evident in the scoring with no fewer than 18 players, from a field of 64, playing to par or better.
In fourth place was Ronnie Dunnett, who had 12 fours in his round of 77 (11) 66. This saw Dunnett clinch a place in the nett club championship final stages.
Third place was taken by Ian MacPhee, who also secured a championship place with his 77 (12) 65. MacPhee’s score was built on his front nine of two-over-par 37.
Adam Higgins took the silver medal spot with 81 (16) 65, his score bettering MacPhee’s due to an excellent back nine of 37.
The winner of the July Medal, in emphatic style, was Chris Sinclair.
Sinclair has not been showing any real form yet this season but that changed dramatically on Saturday. Playing off a handicap of 28, Sinclair got to the turn in a nett two-under-par 47.
The back nine is where the medal was won, coming home in only 42 shots (nett six under) for a superb winning score of 89 (28) 61.
July Medal / club championship round four results: 1 Chris Sinclair, 89 (28) 61; 2 Adam Higgins, 81 (16) 65; 3 Ian MacPhee, 77 (12) 65; 4 Ronnie Dunnett, 77 (11) 66.
The matchplay stages for the club championship are due to be played on Monday, Wednesday and Friday (August 3, 5 and 7).
Details of qualifiers for the scratch, nett and seniors competitions can be found on the Thurso Golf Club Facebook page and also at www.masterscoreboard.co.uk
The weather was changeable for Sunday’s round nine of the A&A Mackay Builders Summer League. Conditions varied from warm sunshine and a light breeze to a 30 mph wind and heavy rain showers, and lots in between.
Ross Sutherland took fourth place with a level-par 36 points. A steady opening nine of 17 points was followed by a poor start to the homeward nine, but Sutherland managed to step it up from 13 to 15 on his way to a 19-point back nine.
Jordan Youngson also had 36 points but pipped Sutherland thanks to a better homeward stretch, including a birdie at the difficult 11th hole. This was all the more impressive as Youngson played the 11th during the heaviest of the showers and had inadvertently left his brolly at home.
In second place was Alan Swanson, getting among the prizes for the first time this season. Swanson’s 37 points included eight threes and two double bogeys.
The winner, by virtue of his superior back nine, was Donald Sutherland, also with 37 points. Sutherland holed a 30-footer for a birdie at the second, only to miss a short one on the next hole to give the shot straight back.
Some steady play followed and a birdie three at the last clinched the win.
Sutherland’s round saw him rise to second place in the overall Summer League standings with 220 points. Chris Sutherland still leads the way on 227.
A full leader board can be seen on Facebook and masterscoreboard.
Summer League round nine results: 1 Donald Sutherland, 37 points; 2 Alan Swanson, 37; 3 Jordan Youngson, 36; 4 Ross Sutherland, 36.
There is only one official fixture this weekend, on Saturday, when the Dave Lyall Trophy is played for.
Dave was captain of the club for several seasons and a large turnout is expected.
