Superb effort at Wick from Angus Mackay
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WICK golfers have not enjoyed the best of weather of late so it was a pleasant surprise for the morning starters in Sunday’s June Medal (June 12) to start on a fine morning with little or no wind.
However, Caithness weather is fickle and the heavens opened when most players were out on the course with an hour or so of torrential rain resulting in 22 out of the 36 competitors having no returns, which must be something of a record for Wick Golf Club.
Only one competitor got the better of the conditions – Angus Mackay (14) who returned a nett 63, a superb effort, to win the competition by an amazing nine strokes, which may also be a record for the club. Although Mackay had no birdies he played well below his handicap going out in 39 and back in 38.
Second with a nett 72 was David Samuel (9), a fine score in the conditions. Samuel has been playing well this season and continued this rich vein of form with halves of 39 and 42.
Old stager Harry Cormack (18) was third with a nett 73 beating James Howden (8) on a better inward half. Cormack played very steady golf, going out in 44 and back in 47, but will be disappointed to finish with a triple bogey at the 18th hole.
Howden continued his good form and played fine golf to go out in 38, which included a birdie at the ninth, and came back in 42.
Next with nett 74s were veteran Jocky Durrand (15) and Ian Coghill (8) with Durrand claiming fifth place on a better inward half. Durrand went out in 46 and back in 43. Coghill had halves of 40 and 42 which included a birdie at the first.
The final qualifying round of the club championship was played on Wednesday, June 8.
Ron Taylor yet again demonstrated that he is Wick’s best player having the best scratch score, a three-over-par 72. Taylor led the scratch qualifiers with a two-round total of 142, one stroke ahead of Gordon Steven jnr.
Unfortunately Taylor, for the second year in a row, is unable to take part in the matchplay stages of the championship.
Young Greg Shearer (14) confirmed his potential with a magnificent nett 64 and it was no surprise that he led the handicap qualifiers. Other fine scores came from James Howden (7) and veteran William Murray (5) with nett 69s.
The matchplay stages of the championship are under way with the semi-finals scheduled for Monday. But due to a horrendous weather forecast they were postponed until Wednesday with the final on today. The tee will be reserved for the finals from 5pm to 6.30pm.
The next competition is the ever-popular Wick veterans sponsored by D. Sutherland & Son on Saturday, June 18, with the tee being reserved from noon until 2.30pm. This is followed by the third round of the Summer League on Sunday and a Stableford on Wednesday.
