Thorburn and Chisholm take honours in first NC500 Links Open
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Wick and Reay golf clubs co-hosted the inaugural NC500 Links Open at the weekend. A fantastic entry of 112 included players from the home clubs along with representatives from no fewer than 13 other clubs covering the Highlands, Orkney, the central belt and even one player from the Oakridge club in Nuneaton.
Round one, held in Wick and sponsored by Castletown and North Coast Butchers, saw the early starters having to contend with a thick haar. But visibility improved as the day warmed up, and scoring was good in the calm conditions.
The leaderboard for the scratch competition saw a logjam of six players tied at the top after rounds of 71. Ali Mackay was joined at the head of proceedings by Wick clubmates Gary Davidson, Gordie Steven Jnr, Dougie Thorburn and Alan Larnach, with Reay’s Tom Ross matching their scores. Brent Munro, also of Reay, was next best after his round of 72.
David Brims had the distinction of posting the best nett score of the day after an excellent round of 83 was good enough for nett 63.
In Division One, Owen Cormack led the way after a round of 73 gave him a nett 64, with Gary Davidson leading the chasing pack on nett 66, one ahead of Ali Mackay on nett 67. With no fewer than six players carding scores of nett 68, and another two on nett 69, several were in contention at the halfway stage.
It was a similar story in Division Two, with Robert Darling of Ravelston Golf Club leading after his excellent round of 80 gave him a nett 64. Two Thurso players, Stephen Macdonald and Moira McBeath, led the chasing pack after both carded nett 68s, and with a further seven players within six strokes of the leader there was still all to play for going into round two.
Round two at Reay was sponsored by CS Drilling Services and was played in blazing sunshine, with the firm and fast conditions providing a stern test for the field.
In the scratch competition Dougie Thorburn showed his class to post the best score of the day in the shape of a two-under-par round of 67, comprising 16 pars with a brace of birdies at the 13th and 14th holes. Denis Harvey, who had made the trip across the water from Stromness, was next best after a round of 69 which included a hat-trick of birdies at the seventh, 10th and 15th holes.
Gordie Steven Jnr also managed three birdies, at the third, 12th and 13th, in his round of 71. Tom Ross was best performer from the home club with a solid round of 72, with Brent Munro and Jordan Youngson both posting scores of 74.
Sandy Chisholm put his local knowledge to good use to post the best nett score of the day in the shape of an excellent 64 courtesy of a fine round of 79 which included birdies at the second and 14th holes.
Denis Harvey headed the Division One standings on nett 65, ahead of Gavin Gunn and Carol Paterson, who both posted fine rounds of nett 66. Jordan Youngson was next best on nett 67.
In Division Two, Jock Eunson topped the standings with an excellent nett 65, ahead of Kenny Farmer Snr on nett 66, Stromness’s Gerard O’Conner on nett 67 and Forbes Sinclair on nett 68.
In the overall standings, Thorburn clinched the scratch prize with an excellent aggregate score of 138, finishing four ahead of clubmate Gordie Steven Jnr on 142. Tom Ross finished third on 143.
The overall nett prize was won by Sandy Chisholm with a fine aggregate tally of 135, with Carol Paterson edged out on countback after she matched Chisholm’s tally.
However, Paterson did have the consolation of taking the Division One prize, ahead of Pam Bain and Owen Cormack, who finished on 136.
John O’Brien took fourth on countback ahead of Fortrose and Rosemarkie’s Michael Thorburn after both finished on 139. Gavin Gunn took sixth place on 140.
Division Two was won by Steven Macdonald of Thurso on 136, one ahead of Robert Darling. Kenny Farmer Snr took third on countback, with Forbes Sinclair fourth, Andrew Taylor fifth and Moira McBeath sixth after all four players finished on 138.
Outwith the main prizes, David Brims won the prize for the best nett score at Wick following his 63, with Denis Harvey taking the prize for Reay after his nett 65. Eleanor Tunn won the ladies' 36-hole prize with a tally of 142.
Nearest-the-pin prizes were won by Rodney Grant, Steven Macdonald, Brent Munro and Colin Davidson.
After a plethora of positive comments from visitors about the condition of both courses, the hospitality on offer and the excellent organisation of the event, plans are already under way for a repeat performance in 2022 when it is hoped even greater numbers can be attracted to play.
