TWO Ross-shire golfers were rewarded with second place prizes at the North Golf Alliance fixture at Wick Golf Club last Sunday.
Tain's Mike Sangster, who already this season has a first scratch prize at a Caithness venue, Thurso, had the best of the inward half scores at Wick which rewarded him with the runner-up spot to Thurso's Dougie Thorburn, while Tarbat greenkeeper Mike Keay's gross 75 for nett 69 saw him finishing in second place in the Category 1 section.
Before the sun lowered in the sky, Thorburn had already set up back-to-back scratch wins from his outward half score. Two birdies, the first and sixth holes, carried him to the turn in two under par 33, but the annoying sun and ever rising breeze contributed to his inward 38 for 71 to finish one better than Sangster. The Tain member's three over par 72 came from halves of 37 and 35.
Local member John Hunter, also with a 72 from two halves of 36, missed his chance of the a scratch win after losing a ball from his drive on the 16th hole and running up a double bogey six but his four handicap net 68 was good enough to finish one ahead of Tarbat's Mike Keay.
Sangster will now be aiming for another low score when the next fixture is played over his home course on December 4, the last of the individual events before the three ball team fixture at Brora on December 18.
Wick Results
Scratch 71 D Thorburn (Thurso); 72. M Sangster (Tain), J Hunter (Wick); 73 J Sangster (Thurso); 74 J Harper (Wick).
Handicap Class 1 J Hunter (Wick) (4) 68; M Keay (Tarbat) (6) 69; S Place (Wick) (9) 70; J Sangster (Thurso) (2) 71.
Handicap Class 2 G Davidson (Wick) (11) 68; F R M Keith (Durness) (12) 69; W McLean (Wick) (15), A Gunn (Reay) (11) , K Lorimer (Brora) (11) 71.
North Scottish Alliance
FORTROSE and Inverness Golfer Alan Cameron has had his second win on the North Scottish Alliance circuit. Playing over the Moray New course last Saturday scratch golfer Cameron had three birdies and fifteen pars to register a winning score of 66.
Club mates from Fortrose and Rosemarkie, Willie Donnelly and Michael MacArthur finished down the field with cards of 81. Alan Imrie (Muir of Ord ) was one better with 80.
THE great news for North golf fans last week was the confirmation from The European Tour that the Scottish Open will retain its customary position on the golf calendar, the week prior to the Open, and remain at Castle Stuart Golf Course.
The tournament's future was cast in doubt following the withdrawal of main sponsor Barclays last September. The 2010 tournament was moved to the new Castle Stuart links between Nairn and Inverness after being held at Loch Lomond from 1996.
The European Tour has also guaranteed that prize money for the event will remain at the same level as 2010.
"While the Tour is still in discussion with sponsors, we can also be sure the total prize money will be the same as this year, and that is £3m," said chief operating officer Keith Waters.
After Barclays's surprise withdrawal, a number of other tournament administrators were keen to secure the event's place on the calendar but Waters confirmed the Highland course will host the tournament from July 12-15.
World number one Luke Donald was the initial winner at Castle Stuart which has hit by bad weather and curtailed to 54 holes.
But the European Officials have held faith in the venue as will it is sure the fans after a total of over 50,000 turned up to support the event over the three days last July.
