Thorburn tees up for course record
The course was in good condition resulting in numerous low scores, despite a south-easterly breeze making scoring difficult over the last nine holes. The CSS was 71 for both home players and visitors. All the prizewinners, apart from two, came from the host club.
Dougie Thorburn of Reay recently played for the North District and he demonstrated his class with the best scratch score of the day – a fantastic course record four-under-par 65 – beating Ron Taylor by an amazing seven strokes.
Thorburn had pars at the first two holes and then played scintillating golf, having an eagle at the par-five third followed by birdies at the fourth, seventh and eighth holes to reach the turn in five-under-par 30. He then started back with birdies at the 10th and 11th to stand on the 12th tee seven under par, but unfortunately faltered with bogeys at the 15th, 17th and 18th holes to come back in one-over-par 35.
This is the only time so far this season that Taylor has played second best, although he made a great start with a birdie at the first hole followed by another birdie at the third but then ran up a double bogey at the fourth followed by bogeys at the fifth and sixth before making some amends with another birdie at the eighth to go out in 36. He started the inward half with bogey, birdie, bogey to come back in 36.
The overall handicap was won by veteran George Johnson (20) with a magnificent nett 66, beating David Walker (19) on a better inward half. Johnson was the model of consistency, going out in 41 and back in 45 with his only blips coming at the 13th and 15th where he ran up a double bogey and a triple bogey.
Alan Forbes (5) won handicap category one (0 to 12) with a nett 68. He went out in 37, which included a birdie at the second, and played fine golf into the wind to come back in 36.
Second was Michael McAllan (10) with a nett 69. He reached the turn in 40 despite having a double bogey at the eighth and came back in 39, finishing in style with a birdie at the 18th hole.
Next were Mike Steven (12) and Adam McAllan (10) with nett 70s, with Steven taking third on a better inward half. Steven had halves of 40 and 41 and McAllan halves of 39 and 41.
Walker (19) had the consolation of winning handicap category two (13 to 28) with a nett 66. He performed like a single-handicap player, reaching the turn in an astonishing three-over-par 38, but struggled back into the wind taking double bogeys at the 10th and 17th holes and a quadruple bogey at the 12th to come back in 47.
Second was Russell Angus (13) with a nett 68, going out in 41 and back in 40. Graham Hay (20) was third, beating Iain Boyd (17) of Thurso on a better inward half.
Hay played well to reach the turn in 40 but will be disappointed to finish with double bogeys at the last two holes to come back in 47. Boyd also reached the turn in 40 but unfortunately had a triple bogey at the 13th to come back in 46.
Winner of a bottle of Old Pulteney for nearest the pin at the 14th hole was R. Harper of Thurso.
The first round of the club championship was played on Wednesday, May 23, and not unexpectedly Ron Taylor led the way with a superb level-par score of 69.
He played solid golf to go out in 36 and then stepped up a gear to come back in 33 with birdies at the 13th and 14th holes. Next with a four-over-par 73 was Colin Coghill who went out in 37, which included a birdie at the fourth hole, and back in 36. Leading handicap scores came from Gary Davidson (10) and Wullie McLean (16) with super nett 66s followed by Greg Shearer (9) with a nett 68.
The next competition is a medal which is due to be played on Sunday followed on Wednesday by the third round of the club championship.