Trio are cream of the crop
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THEY say that cream comes to the top and this is certainly is the case after the second round of the club championship played at Wick Golf Club last Wednesday (June 1).
The three best scratch scores were returned by Wick’s three best players with Ron Taylor leading the way with a one-over-par 70, which was a tremendous effort in very difficult conditions due to a strong south-easterly wind.
Taylor covered the front nine in one-over-par 36 and played super golf to come back in 34, finishing in style with a birdie at the 18th hole.
Gordon Steven jnr had the second-best scratch score, a three-over-par 72. Steven, who had the best scratch score in the first round, continued this fine form with halves of 37 and 35 which included a birdie at the 13th hole.
Next with a 75 was Nicky Klimas, the current club champion. Klimas started with a birdie but lost ground with a double bogey at the sixth to go out in 38. Another double bogey followed at the 10th but he recovered well to come back in 37.
Best handicap score came from young Steven McAllan (9) with a nett 69, a great score in the conditions. McAllan, who won the handicap section last year, struggled to the turn in 41 and then played fine golf to come back in 37.
The final qualifying round of the championship is due to be played on Wednesday with the two best scores out of three counting towards qualifying. The leading eight scratch scores and eight handicap scores will qualify for the matchplay stages.
Already assured of qualifying for the scratch matchplay stages are Taylor with a two-round total of 142, Steven on 143 and Klimas on 149.
Vice-captain Hamish McLean (16) made a return to winning ways scoring 38 points, which equates to a nett 67, to take first spot in the Stableford played on Sunday.
McLean has been in the doldrums so far this season but found his form, scoring 18 points on the way out with nett birdies at the first, second and fifth holes and 20 points on the way in which included seven nett pars and a nett birdie at the 13th.
Veteran Farquhar MacGregor was second with 36 points, scoring 18 points on both halves which included nett birdies at the first, second, 11th and 15th holes.
Third with 34 points was Mike Steven (12) beating Ali Mackay (10) on a better inward half. Steven has been playing exceptionally well in recent weeks and continued this rich vein of form by scoring 16 points on the way out and 18 points on the way in.
Mackay scored 18 points on the front nine but faltered to score 16 points on the way back. Next on 33 points were Jacko Harper (17), Alan Shearer (15), Keith Dougan (10) and Alistair McDonald (11).
The next competition is the June Medal which is being played on Sunday followed by the semi-finals of the club championship on Monday and the finals on Wednesday.
