ALL four county clubs had one of their worst records in many years playing in the 100th Northern Counties Cup competition at the Moray Golf Club, Lossiemouth last week.
Two of the Ross-shire clubs left the double foursome format competition in their first match on the Moray links.
Double winners in the eighties, Muir of Ord were first to go home when Brora, whom they had beaten in the two years when they lifted the cup, gained an avenging first round three-hole win. Brora took inspiration from the result to progress to the final after beating Muir of Ord (S Forbes, J Whittet, S Johnson, I Johnstone) by three holes.
Fortrose and Rosemarkie had a much changed line-up from their previous two wins in 1991 and 2006. Unavailable to play due to representing the club and the North District in the Scottish Club Team championship finals at Falkirk Tryst, where they finished in joint tenth place, were club secretary Michael MacDonald, Chris Gaittens and Lewis Reid. Going into their first game at Lossiemouth and losing to a strong Cruden Bay quartet at the first extra hole of sudden death were Peter Cameron, John Fair, Steven Kinnaird and Bruce Main.
Tain, who had received a first round walk-over against Duff House Royal, came up against the hosts' first team for their first game. Munro Ferries, Alan Everett, Billy Ferries and Dave Pearson's stay was abruptly cut short when they lost by two holes.
Earlier in the first round Strathpeffer Spa (G Ross, Michael McNab, R Carr and Mike Bartlett) lost by one hole to Nairn Dunbar.
Brora had their head greenkeeper and club champion James MacBeath in charge of a very young and inexperienced team but Euan Polson (24), Liam MacDonald (20) and junior member Iain Stewart (16) were impressive in taking the scalps of three other former winning clubs on the way to the final - Royal Aberdeen, Cruden Bay and Moray. In the final the Brora four put up a good fight against the holders, Newmacher, who retained the cup with a four-hole win, both their couples winning by two holes.
The competition next year will be played at Royal Aberdeen, scene of Muir of Ord's first win in 1996.
Bonar Bridge
THE annual ladies open competition was held on Saturday, September 24 after two weeks of rainy days. The greenkeeper, Caroline Munro, had been working long hours to try to make the course playable and 78 players arrived to attempt to win the trophies. The scores were higher than usual but there was lots of good golf and very creditable scores under the wet conditions.
Silver division Scratch prize Eileen Manson, Thurso 79 (Renton Finlayson Rosebowl).
Handicap 1 Jacqueline Sutherland, Bonar Bridge/ Ardgay (19) 70 (Ledmore Trophy); 2 Hazel Flynn, Inverness (19) 73; 3 Angela Grant, Brora (18) 73; 4 Jane Borley, Invergordon (16) 75.
Bronze Division one Scratch Fiona More, Golspie 98 (Grant Trophy).
Handicap 1 Barina Little, Brora (26) 76 (Gledfield Millennium Trophy); 2 Liz Smith, Nairn Dunbar (23) 77; 3 Rona Smith, Abernethy (23) 77; 4 Susan Hawes, Reay (22) 78.
Bronze Division 2 1 Kathleen Mackenzie, Royal Dornoch (36) 70 ( Ladies Salver); 2 Jane Mason, Royal Dornoch (36) 74; 3 Yvonne Lowe, Bonar Bridge (36) 74; 4 Deidre Wlodorczyk, Tain (29) 75.
The last open of the season at Bonar will be an Open Texas Scramble. Entries from any combination of men/ ladies/ juniors with a Congu handicap in groups of three, welcome.
Tain
Alan Stein Senior Open Division 1 1 C Kennedy (Nairn Dunbar) (8) 39 points; 2 P Jackson (Keswick) (12) 37; 3 L Rockwell (Mission GC) (13) 32.
Division 2 1 M Anderson (15) 37; 2 J Ryan (11) 36; 3 J Alford (15) 35.
Division 3 1 P MacPherson (Alness) (24) 35; 2 J Hosie (Invergordon) (15) 35; 3 K Anderson (13) 32.
Winner of the Alan Stein Trophy C Kennedy.
Muir Of Ord
Ladies Arthritis Care (CSS 73 reductions only) C Mackay (23) 31 points; H Stuart (11) 30; D Mackay (22) 2; S Campbell (20) 29.
Gents Midweek Stableford (CSS 68) Graeme Mellis (2) 41; A Paul (21) 36; D Paul (10) 36; M Macmillan (27) 34; H Steele (14) 34.
Seniors Stableford (CSS 67) N Mckay (17) 36; R Pollock (25) 36; P Maclaren (13) 34; C D Mackenzie (12) 34.
Gents Club Tankard (CSS 68) Scratch Section J R Mackay 70; Scott Forbes 70.
Handicap Section E Macpherson (8) 62; S Macdonald (11) 62; A Imrie (8) 63; R Mackenzie (12) 65; A Hercher (17) 65.
Gents Carn a Chlarsair Open (CSS 68 members 68 visitors)
Scratch Section J Forbes 67; S Mcintosh 68; I Cameron 69
Handicap Section 0-13 A Mackenzie (6) 65; B Weatherall (3) 65; P Cadden (Torvean) (11) 66; V Tillman (5) 66; A Philip (10) 66; J Colquhoun (Torvean) (12) 66.
Handicap Section 14-28 Kerr Mackenzie (16) 63; R Pollock (25) 64; W Chisholm (Loch Ness) (27) 65; B Mackie (Torvean) (14) 65; J Cameron (Inverness) (16) 65; G Simpson (15) 65.
Fortrose and Rosemarkie
The club are holding the Ross-shire Golf Clubs Four Man Team Event for The Baco Trophy tomorrow, Saturday, October 1. Players go out in groups of three at eight minute intervals with the best three scores from the four players counting for an aggregate total.
If there are any late entries or withdrawals please telephone the golf shop on (01381) 620733. Players from the home club unless otherwise stated. Abbreviations: L Lochcarron; MOO Muir of Ord; S Strathpeffer.
10.30am K Gaittens, S McIntosh (MOO), M MacDonald; E D Skinner, B Charles (MOO), C Gaittens; S Bassindale, G Mellis (MOO), L Reid; K Fowler, I Cameron (MOO), J Fair.
11.02am G Ross (S), J Whittet (MOO), D Lackie; D Krzyzanowski (S), A Begg (MOO), J Lackie; P Bannerman (S), S Johnson (MOO), D Robson; M Wilson (S), S Forbes (MOO), I Morrison.
11.34am A MacArthur, T MacKenzie (L), C Fraser; L MacLeman, G Murray (L), A Gray; K Patience, S MacKenzie (L), G Gill; J W Grant, I Matheson (L), B Catto.
12.06pm C Young, P L Taylor, D Patterson; A Fraser, A Tait, S Lindsay; J Jack, D Chisholm, C Skelton; R MacLeman, G Moore, R Nixon.
