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Tain golfer wins North District Matchplay Championship


By Will Clark

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TAIN Golf Club’s Sean Kennedy won the North District Matchplay Championship at The Nairn Golf Course.

Sean Kennedy claimed the title.
Sean Kennedy claimed the title.

The 20-year-old lifted the Robin Thomson Cup after beating Dougie Thorburn from Wick by four and three.

The final was tied at the first seven holes as Kennedy who went ahead on the eighth with a conceded birdie saw Thorburn lose his composure over the next five holes.

A pulled wedge from semi-rough missed the ninth green and a wild drive and lost ball from the 10th tee put the Wick greenkeeper three behind.

The Wick golfer’s birdie chance on the short 11th hole was missed and when he found a bunker with his approach to the 12th green he was four down with six to play.

Fighting a fade with woods and irons, Kennedy over corrected from the 13th tee and lost a ball to the left to concede his first inward hole and after both parred the par three 14th the end came at the next hole.

After drives their second shots were just wedges away from the green, but as Kennedy came up short from his semi rough lie Thorburn pitched to four feet leaving a very good birdie chance.

But he raced his first putt then missed the return to allow Kennedy a tap in winning par to take the title.

At the semi-final stages of the competition, Kennedy defeated Fraser Fotheringham from Nairn.

Kennedy was one behind at the 18th when he forced an extra hole after Fotheringham missed an eagle winning putt.

At the 19th Fotheringham missed the green with his second shot and Kennedy’s par four saw him through to the final.

Thorburn had a straightforward semi final when he defeated Liam MacDonald-MacLeod from Inverness Golf Club.

Thorburn won his last four clash two and one after a late surge when he won holes on the 15th and 16th holes before the half on the 17th to secure his place in the final.


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