Steven leads the way at Wick
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Gordon Steven jnr ended at two over par.
GORDON Steven jnr led the way in the first round of the club championship held at Wick on Wednesday, May 25, with a two-over-par 71 which was an excellent effort in tricky scoring conditions.
Steven made a great start with birdies at the first and third holes to go two under par but bogeyed the sixth hole to go out in one-under-par 34. He played fine golf to stand one-under-par after 15 holes but, playing into the wind, he bogeyed the last three holes to come back in 37.
Next with a three-over-par 72 was 2009 club champion Ron Taylor. Taylor was the model of consistency on the first nine which he covered in level-par 35, which included a birdie at the first and a bogey at the seventh. He came back in 37 with bogeys at the 10th, 17th and 18th holes.
David Nicolson has been playing well in recent weeks and continued this fine form to return a 73, the third best scratch score. Out in 36 with a birdie at the third, Nicolson came back in 37 which included a super birdie at the 12th hole with his only blemish being a double bogey at the 16th. Other leading scratch scores came from current club champion Nicky Klimas and Martin MacDonald with 74s, and former club champion Chris Taylor with a 75.
The best handicap score was returned by young Adam McAllan (9) with a superb nett 67, some four strokes better than the CSS of 71 and beating Martin MacDonald (7) on a better inward half.
McAllan played solid golf going out in 37 and back in 39 and on this form he must have a great chance of qualifying for the scratch knockout stages.
MacDonald has had some good scores recently and continued this rich vein of form by going out in level-par 35, which included a birdie at the third, and coming back in 39.
The dreadful weather continued for the Stableford played on Sunday with a very strong westerly wind and heavy rain later in the day.
Despite the conditions 22 players entered the competition with Mike Steven (13) emerging the winner with a terrific score of 39 points, which equates to a nett 66.
Steven amassed an amazing 23 points on the way out with a superb birdie at the fifth hole but could not maintain his momentum into the wind on the back nine, scoring 16 points.
Second with 35 points was James Howden (8) who played steady golf, scoring 19 points on the way out and 16 points on the way in. Third with 35 points were John Young (11) and David Nicolson (4), both scoring 19 points on the front nine and 16 points on the back nine.
Nicolson had no fewer than four birdies in his round, at the first, third, ninth and 11th holes. Next on 33 points were Colin Coghill (5), Forbes Sinclair (8) and Elliot Cormack (10).
The next competition is the second Stableford of the season which is being played on Sunday, followed on Wednesday by the final qualifying round of the club championship.
