Thirteen-year-old Tyler wins county golf championship
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Thurso Golf Club's Tyler Gordon has made history by becoming county champion – at 13 years of age.
The Thurso High School first-year pupil is believed to be the youngest player ever to win the title.
He secured the championship with a superb gross score of 73 in the event held at Thurso.
Tyler's dad, Warren Gordon, said: “We are so proud of what Tyler has achieved."
Warren – himself a keen golfer since his teenage years – started taking the youngster up to the course when he was three. His hand-eye coordination was excellent and even at such a young age he showed potential in being able to strike the ball well.
Tyler would ask to go to the golf club at every opportunity. Father and son made good use of the indoor facility at the club, allowing Tyler to hit a lot of balls and work on his technique.
Tyler progressed to playing a few holes out on the course and learning how to select clubs. When he was six, he won his first three-hole competitions at the Thurso Junior Open and Reay Junior Open.
The following year, aged seven, he won the seven-hole Thurso Junior Open and the three-hole (main course) Reay Junior Open.
By the age of eight he was playing a full round of 18 holes off the junior blue tees and had joined Thurso Golf Club's junior section.
He won the 18-hole competition off the blue tees at the Thurso Junior Open with a gross 77 and the following year, aged nine, he won with a gross 71 which was three under par.
Tyler got his first adult handicap (18) when he was 10 and he started playing in adult competitions.
Aged 11, Tyler won the first medal of the season and placed third in the Bert Loomes Memorial during the same weekend.
Last year Tyler won the Ulbster Cup, which is played over two rounds, with a nett 64 and and nett 67.
He has been receiving monthly coaching from Lesley Mackay, a pro who lectures at the Dornoch campus of UHI North Highland and travels to Thurso to offer coaching every month.
He made a promising start this year, coming fourth in the Comm Open (77, nett 68), second in the Bert Loomes Memorial (75, nett 67) and fifth in the Stewart Cup (79, nett 71) and achieved his first hole in one at the first hole at Reay.
His handicap soon dropped and he was playing off eight when he entered the county championship.
Tyler made a great start with six consecutive pars. On the seventh he pulled his drive left into the semi-rough in between trees.
He managed to chip out onto the fairway and recovered with a bogey six. He then birdied the eighth and got a par at the ninth to remain one over on the outward nine.
On the inward nine he had five bogeys, two pars and two birdies to come back in 37 (three over par). With a gross 73, Tyler lifted the title of county champion 2022 at 13 years of age.
Warren said: “To be able to play alongside my son and watch him get better and better at the game is an honour.
"Tyler has a lovely natural swing and he is now giving me a run for my money and consistently hits the ball further than me. Tyler loves playing golf and plays at every opportunity, sometimes two rounds in one day.
"He loves to play golf at different courses both in the UK and abroad and hopes to pursue a career in golf.”
Reay's Lee Parnell was runner-up in the championship, with Jim Sangster (Thurso) third.
Brian Hossack (handicap 31) was the winner of round seven in Thurso Golf Club's Summer League, sponsored by A&A Mackay Builders, with a total of 41 points. This was one ahead of James Moodie (29).
Jim Macleod (13), Christopher Bacon (27) and Scott Gray (17) all had 38 points. Alan Coghill (11) was on his own with 37 points, with Chris Sinclair (17), Ian MacDonald (13) and Iain Dunnett (6) a point behind.
Paul Foulkes birdied the second as he won the Ulbster Cup on Sunday with a gross 92, nett 62. The runner-up was Mark Foubister with 96 (29) 67. Next best was Alan Coghill with a nett 72.
