Tough wind provides a stern examination in NC500 Caithness Links Open
Wick and Reay golf clubs co-hosted the NC500 Caithness Links Open at the weekend.
Round one was played at Wick on Saturday, with sponsorship provided by Hugh Simpson Contractors (Ltd), with the second and final round at Reay on Sunday sponsored by CS Drilling Services.
A tough wind on both days provided a stern examination for the field of 60 players, but despite the conditions there were some excellent performances.
The overall handicap winner was David R Craig of Reay. After an impressive opening round of nett 69, he followed this up with an even better score of nett 65 on his home course to take the win on an aggregate score of 134.
Countback was required to determine the scratch winner, after Lybster’s Alistair Young and Alan Larnach of Wick both finished on 143. In the final analysis it was Young who took first place courtesy of a better score at Reay, an excellent round of 71, which was one better than Larnach’s score.
The scratch podium places were completed by Brent Munro of Reay who posted solid rounds of 72 and 74 for a tally of 146.
In Division One it was Graeme Henderson of Thurso who pipped Reay’s Michael Smith to first place after both finished on 137. Impressive rounds of nett 68 and 69 were good enough for Henderson to beat Smith on countback, the latter posting rounds of nett 66 and 71. Aly Mackay of Wick took third place on 139.
It was another Thurso player, Ross Williamson, who prevailed in Division Two after two excellent rounds of nett 68 gave him a winning tally of 136. Liam Crombie took second place ahead of his Wick clubmate Kyle Ross after both finished on 139.
Outwith the main prizes, a nett 69 gave Thurso’s Iain Boyd the best score on day one at Wick, while a nett 69 at Reay on day two saw Willie Paton take the prize at his home club.
Over the two days, nearest-the-pin prizes went to Liam Crombie and Eleanor Tunn, with longest-drive prizes bagged by Alan Larnach, Kyle Ross, David Nicolson and Sally Page.
In routine Reay club business, Ian Farquhar maintained his recent excellent form to take the latest round of the ARC Summer Cup after birdies at the 14th and 15th holes helped him to a winning score of 38 points. Steve Efemey finished in second place on 37, with Rodney Grant third on 34.
In the overall standings Farquhar leads on a five-round aggregate score of 181, ahead of Lee Parnell on 175 and Cammie Ross on 169.
An excellent inward half helped Michelle Smith to win the ladies’ Hamilton Trophy with a fine score of nett 68. Heather Campbell put in another steady performance to take second place on nett 71, edging out Pauline Craig on countback after she also finished on 71.
In the latest North Point Distillery Senior Stableford action, a round of 81 gave Alex Anderson a winning score of 36. Sandy Chisholm took second place on 35, with Fred Groves in third place a further point behind.
This weekend will see the Reay ladies competing in round five of their Summer Stableford competition, while the men will be competing for the Parry Trophy on Saturday and the June Medal on Sunday.