Taylor lifts top prize for eighth time
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
THE final of Wick’s club championship was played last Wednesday between Ron Taylor and Gordon Steven junior, with the former coming out on top.
It turned out to be another close match with Steven going one up at the second hole with a par but immediately losing the third to a birdie.
The next three holes were halved and Taylor took the initiative by winning the seventh and eighth, with Steven responding by taking the ninth to stand one down at the turn.
Taylor appeared to be well in control, being two up after 11 holes with another birdie at the 10th, but Steven rallied by winning the 12th with a par and the 13th with a birdie to go all square.
The turning point came at the 16th where Steven hit an enormous drive to within 60 yards of the green but, unfortunately, hit his second shot into a ditch. With Taylor safely on the green in two, he proceeded to win the hole with a par to go one up.
The 17th was halved in par and again Steven hit an enormous drive at the final hole but then put his second shot into a green-side bunker and a par was good enough for Taylor to win by two holes.
This win was Taylor’s eighth club championship title, having first won it in 1982, a tremendous record confirming he is Wick’s best golfer.
It was Steven’s third final – he is yet to win but there is little doubt he will triumph in years to come.
On the same night the Clyne Cup was played between Michael McAllan (10) and Robert Klimas (7).
Retired greenkeeper Klimas played exceptional golf to win by six and four, being only three over par when the match finished.
The team to represent Wick in the Wilson Cup, a competition between golf clubs from Caithness, Orkney and Shetland which is being played at Lybster on July 7 and 8, is Taylor, Nicky Klimas, Gordon Steven jnr and John Harper.
The April Medal – postponed due to bad weather – was played on Sunday with Michael Steven (12) winning with a magnificent nett 66. He played steady golf to go out in 42 and played superbly to come back in two over par 36 which included a birdie at the 14th.
Second with a nett 67 was Richard Wilson (25). He was the model of consistency, going out in 47 and back in 45, with his only blemish being a triple bogey at the 10th.
Veteran Harry Cormack (20) was third with a nett 68 with halves of 45 and 43. Gibby Banks (16) was fourth with a nett 69.
Taylor claimed first scratch with a three over par 72, going out in 38 and back in 34, finishing in style with birdies at the last two holes. Alan Forbes was second with a 75.
The next competition is the Achairn Energy Open which is being played on Sunday. The tee will be reserved for competitors from 7.30am to noon.
The June Medal is being played on Wednesday.
