Thorburn edges victory to retain Alliance trophy
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The cold weather kept the entry down to only 26 and so few were the cards returned by each club that none could provide the requisite four scores to complete the team competition, so the Alliance Shield was not awarded.
Despite the difficult conditions, Thorburn was in super form and went to the turn in two under par 33 after birdies at the second and third holes. After getting to three under par with a starting home birdie, he then went off the boil and bogeyed the next three holes before completing his remaining five holes in par for an inward 36.
The Reay player’s 69 enabled him to complete a four-score aggregate of 281 to win the Alliance Quaich for a second year with Hexley runner-up on 285. Hexley had the consolation of winning the MacKintosh Salver with his nett aggregate total of 278, with Brora’s Robert MacDonald in second place on 284.
Hexley and Forbes had almost inseparable 71s, Hexley halves of 35 and 36 and Forbes the same order, with Hexley given the second scratch position on a last six-hole count.
So well did the low handicapper contend with the conditions that Forbes, even with his plus 1 handicap, ended up with first handicap prize in Category 1, ahead of two local members, greenkeeper James Taylor and Gordon Steven jnr.
The trip over the Ord for Invergordon’s Davie Duncan was rewarded with first place in Class 2, nett 72, off 13, beating off the challenge from Thurso pair Pat Valentine (10) 76 and Stanley Ross (13) 77.
Wick results – Scratch 69 D. Thorburn (Reay) (33/36). 71 D. Hexley (Golspie) (35/36), J. Forbes (Muir of Ord) (35/36). 74 G. Steven (Wick) (34/40). 76 T. Gill Brora) (36/40). 77 R.W. Taylor (Wick) (36/41), B. Ferries (Tain) (38/39). 79 J. Taylor (Wick) (39/40). R. MacDonald (Brora) (37/43).
Handicap – Class 1 – J. Forbes (Muir of Ord) (+1), J. Taylor (Wick) (7), G. Steven (Wick) (2) 72. Class 2 – D. Duncan (Invergordon) (13) 72. P. Valentine (Thurso) (10) 76. S. Ross (Thurso) (13) 77.
