Spectacular final hole separates leading trio
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AFTER the postponement of the first fixture due at Thurso the previous weekend, the North Golf Alliance winter season got under way over the Durness golf course on Sunday.
With an entry on par with previous fixtures at this venue, 44 members turned up to enjoy the north-west Sutherland experience over a course in fine autumnal condition and no signs of the soft fairways that had caused the postponement at Thurso.
In a repeat of last year’s fixture, Thurso’s Bryan Ronald and Tain’s Munro Ferries were again locked at the top of the scratch leader board and on Sunday joined by another Tain member, Mike Sangster.
Durness’s spectacular final hole separated the trio, Ronald finishing in style with a birdie two for an inward 34 and gross 71, while defending Alliance Quaich champion Ferries was 37 and 35 for 72.
Sangster reversed the Ferries scorecard, halves of 35 and 37 for his 72 and with a nett 69 was the class one handicap winner by three shots from David Dunbar (Thurso). In third place was Mike Moran (Invergordon) with nett 74, off seven.
Veteran alliance golfer from the host club Francis Keith led the class two section which was dominated by local members John MacKenzie, Gerald Klein and Davie Ross, who occupied the next three places.
Thurso Golf Club will host its postponed fixture on Sunday, and then the alliance moves to Brora on November 6.
Results – Scratch: 71 B. Ronald (Thurso); 72 M. Ferries (Tain). Handicap class one: M. Sangster (Tain) (3) 69; D. Dunbar (Thurso) (5) 72; M. Moran (Invergordon) (7) 74. Class two: F.R.M. Keith (Durness) (12) 69; J. Mackenzie (Durness) (16) 70; G. Klein (Durness) (20) 72; D. Ross Durness) (14) 73.