Munro beats brother on his way to sixth Tain title
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The women’s section of the club has a new champion in Claire Ross who defeated the holder Sammy Vass in the final.
The men’s event was considered the strongest in recent years. The defending champion lead the qualifiers with a gross of 149 and eight of the 16 qualifiers who went forward to the matchplay stages held handicaps of two and under. The four seeds were Ferries with 149, Lyle McAlpine 150, Davie Vass 150 and Shaun Hogg 153.
McAlpine, who had lost by 3&2 the previous weekend in the final of the Invergordon club championship to the experienced Alan Gilmour, went out by the same margin in the Tain semis to Graeme McIntosh.
Previous five-time winner Ferries had a ding-dong battle, sharing nine birdies with his elder brother Billy before booking his place in the final.
McIntosh was making his first appearance in the final and when it seemed he had made a nerve-free start of halving the first three holes, he was then hit by a barrage of pars and birdies from his experienced opponent to lose the next five holes.
Turning for home with his five-hole lead, Ferries eased to his sixth title on the 15th green.
Claire Ross has enjoyed an excellent season at Tain. Following on from qualifying for the matchplay stages of the Scottish Women’s Championships in May and then being selected for the Northern Counties women’s team, she met Sammy Vass, the defending champion, in the women’s final.
It was a close game through the first 15 holes with Ross just one ahead but Vass levelled by winning the 16th. The holder might have taken a one-hole lead to the 18th but a short miss with the putter allowed Ross a half.
A mis-hit approach by Ross to the final green again gave Vass the advantage but a three-putt allowed Ross to win her first championship with a long putt for par four to win the hole and the game.
The men’s handicap final was a contest of two joiners, Raymond Lockie (8) and Alan Mackenzie (6).
Lockie was one ahead after nine holes. After winning the Alps hole and then the 14th with his second stroke, Lockie was now three up and he secured his first championship cup with a half on the 16th green.
The winner will look back at his semifinal win as an escape route into the final when he was four down with five holes to play but won them all to beat Davie MacLeod on the final green.
The women’s handicap championship final was won by Morag Sutherland who met club secretary Maggie Vass (8) in the final.
Result of the SLGA Brooch — 1 Claire Ross (4) 71; 2 Mary Smith (2) 75; 3 Lorraine Mackay (17) 77.
Muir of Ord
HAVING taken his first swing on the Muir of Ord golf course, 17-year-old Jamie Whittet, who will be 18 next month, put his local knowledge to good use to emerge a seven-shot winner of the Bain Trophy in the North District Boys’ Championship last Sunday.
The host club’s junior champion golfer for the past two years, Whittet now holds a handicap of two which he brought down even lower after a first round three under par score of 65 which spread-eagled the field and made his second round task much simpler.
Easing to a second round 71, his 36-hole total of 136 left Mark Dingwall (Forres) in his slipstream. Dingwall returned cards of 70 and 73 for second place on 143.
Results: Bain Trophy Scratch (CSS 69,68) — 136 Jamie Whittet (Muir of Ord) 65/71; 143 Mark Dingwall (Forres) 70/73; 144 Jordan Shaw (Kingussie) 71/73; 149 Calum MacMillan (Inverness) 72/77; 150 Andrew Burgess (Nairn) 77/73; 154 Jonathon Keith (Inverness) 82/72.
Under 16 Scratch — 144 Rory Franssen (Inverness) 75/69; 147 Cameron Kerr (Elgin) 71/76; 151 Cameron Franssen (Inverness) 77/74.
Handicap — Euan Gill (Fortrose and Rosemarkie) (18) 126; Euan Innes (Nairn Dunbar) (27) 136; Finlay Asher (The Nairn) (10) 137.
* RECENT results from the club:
Ladies Club Championship round 3 and Extra Medal (CSS 73).
Silver — P Morrison (12) 73; C Dingwall (13) 74.
Bronze — F Graham (26) 74; Y Martin (29) 75.
Midweek Stableford (CSS 68) — J Hazle (20) 45 points; D Stuart (6) 41; J Shields (28) 39; H Milne (16) 39; R Fraser (14) 39; E Macpherson (4) 39.
Senior Open (CSS 67)
Scratch — B Nicholson 70.
Division 1 — B Mackie (7) 65; A G Morrison (13) 66; C D Mackenzie (12) 66.
Division 2 — M Hooker (18) 60; J Finlay (26) 63; B Blake (16) 64.
July Monthly Medal
Scratch — J Forbes 66.
0-9 Handicap Section — S Johnson (5) 64; S Forbes (3) 66.
10-18 Handicap Section — J Kirkwood (11) 64; P Brindle (11) 65.
19-28 Handicap Section — M Fraser (21) 62; T Speirs (22) 64.
* LATE entries will be accepted on 01463 871311 for the Gents Three Ball Open tomorrow (Saturday).
Competitors, from the host club unless stated, tee off in groups of three at 10-minute intervals. Abbreviations: F, Forres; FR, Fortrose and Rosemarkie; I, Invergordon; K, Kings Knowe; N, Nairn; S, Strathpeffer; T, Torvean.
7.30am — S Johnson, S Forbes and P Brindle.
8 — K Gordon (I), G Thomson (I) and D Robertson (S); H Steele and G Knapp; P C Green, N Telford and P Garrity.
8.30 — A Gow, F Lewis and N Fraser (N); B Roberts, B Aspinall and G Flynn.
9 — D C Gray (T), N Thomson (T) and G Young (T); J Robertson, P Tripp and C McMaster; A Pollock and B Syms.
9.30 — S Lemmon (S), W Giles (S) and B McKay (S); C Alexander (FR) and G Smith (FR).
10 — D Symon, J Vickers and W Marshall.
11 — D Hutchison (K), W Steven (K) and W Printie (I); C Stephen (F), D Campbell (F) and G Munro (F); B Rae, I Rae and C Speirs.
12pm — T Junor, D Hollinger and E Watson; D Marshall, K Mackenzie and P Mackenzie.
12.30pm —R Ewart, I Dickie and J O’Rawe; J Mackenzie, S Gillies and D Greenlees.
Ross Sutherland Senior Golf Society
AFTER a gap of 15 years, Bill Smith (20) from Bonar Bridge again won the Campbell/Lovell Targes, this time partnering Murray Mackay (14) from Muir of Ord at Bonar Bridge/Ardgay Golf Course on June 27.
Their outer half of 18 points was increased by a further 22 points on the inner nine, which put Colin Ritchie (13) from Golspie and George Kelman (23) from Tain, also with 40 points, into second place. The Strathpeffer pairing of Robert Fenwick (26) and Chris Hickson (19) came third with 38 points.
Strathpeffer Spa
RESULTS of the club championships:
Men: Scratch — 1 Kevin Bartlett; 2 Michael MacNab.
Handicap — 1 Barry Mackay; 2 Ian McKie.
Seniors — 1 Paul Burnell; 2 A John Thompson.
Women: Scratch — 1 Vivienne Morrison; 2 Gayle Anderson.
Handicap — 1 Sandra Anderson; 2 Jean Burnell.
Juniors: Scratch — 1 Blair Morrison; 2 Craig Morrison.
Handicap — 1 Jordan Grant; 2 James Elliot.
Other results from the club:
Women
Telecom Vase — 1 Nicola Bartlett; 2 Melonie Morrison; 3 Panja Bethune.
Men
18-Hole Open sponsored by Alexander & Mackay Garage, Muir of Ord
Scratch — 1 Gary Ross 69; 2 Mike Bartlett 70; 3 Dod Krzyzanowski 71,
Handicap — 1 Scott Duff 63; 2 Peter Bain 64 BIH; 3 G MacAllister 64.
Alness
Open Texas Scramble on Saturday, July 21, entrance fee £32 per team.
Junior Open on Tuesday, July 24, entrance fee £6 per player.
Ladies 3-Ball Better Ball Open on Saturday, July 28, entrance ree £24 per team.
Come and enjoy the picturesque course and friendly clubhouse atmosphere. Entry by contacting 01349 883877; Email: themanager@alnessgolfclub.co.uk or use the contact us page on www.alnessgolfclub.co.uk
The club is also holding a corporate charity event sponsored by the Commercial Hotel, Alness, on Friday, July 27, entrance fee £80 per team, in aid of the National Autistic Society.
Shotgun start at 2pm. Bacon rolls served at 1pm, meal served after the game then disco the night away — all included in the entry fee
Entry by contacting Gary Lister, PGA professional on 01349 883877.
Fortrose and Rosemarkie
THE Men’s Black Isle Open (36 Holes) sponsored by Ness Motors (Inverness) takes place tomorrow (Saturday). Free lunch and goody bag containing three Srixon Z-Star golf balls for all entrants. Players go out in threes at eight-minute intervals. 4¾ hours between the start of each round. If there are any withdrawals or late entries, please telephone the golf shop on 01381 620733. Players from the home club unless stated. Abbreviations: A Airdrie; C Cullen; CC Cathcart Castle; D Dalmahoy; DHR Duff House Royal; F Forres; GK Garmouth and Kingston; G Glasgow; H Hopeman; I Inverallochy; IV Inverness; M Moray; ME Mount Ellen; O Orkney; T Torvean; St A St Andrews; STR Strathlene.
7am/11.45am — L Patience, M Ross, P Schnier; M MacDonald, L Reid, S MacKenzie; J Fraser, M Manson, E Skinner; G Gill, D Jackson (G), A Tait.
7.32am/12.17pm — A Fraser, S Gammie, C Fraser; G Leonard, M M Brown, R Carey; R Edwards (H), P I Keith, T Gibson; M Dixon (GK), R MacLeman, A Gray.
8.04am/12.49pm — K Fowler, K Gaittens, I Mathie (CC); J Jack, F Mellis (IV), M Windsor; G Paterson (M), C Gaittens, P Cameron; C Harrison, R. Carr, M Chubb (A).
8.36am/1.21pm — D Mackenzie (ME), D Mowat (A), I McPhail; A MacArthur, J Junor, G Stewart; D Douglas, B Hastie, D Bryce (T).
9am/1.45pm — G Murray (STR), C Ross (C), B Moir (C); L MacLeman, A MacDonald (St. A), B Rennie (IV); P L Taylor, C MacLean, R Innes (T).
9.27am/2.12pm — B Henderson (St. A), C Stewart, W Rusk (T); Partners, Partners, Partners; G Fraser, W Duthie (I), R Goldie (DHR); Partners, Partners, Partners.
10.03am/2.48pm — B MacKay, S Braid (St. A), K Main (F); N Andersen (F), A McDonald, C Falconer (F); I Wilson (D), R McKerron (F), K MacKay (IV).
10.39am/3.24pm — J Buchanan, S Ryder, Partner; C Connorton, N Strachan (St. A), P Moodie; A Cowie (M), D Bridger, M Fleet (O); Partners, Partners, Partners.
