The Reay Open

Saturday saw Reay play host to its annual 36-hole Open. A field of 43 players gathered to test their skills against the course in the hope of travelling home with some of the silverware which was up for grabs.

Club Championships & The Parry Trophy

Club Championships

Sunday saw the finals of the Club Championship at Reay Golf Club contested in overcast conditions, with a slight breeze from the south-west. The scratch final was a meeting between the two form players at the club in the shape of Gavin Sutherland and defending champion Don Mackay, who qualified for the knock-out stages in first and second places respectively. Given the skills of the Sutherland and Mackay, the final was always going to be a close-run affair, and so it proved with extra holes required to determine the outcome. Sutherland looked to have things wrapped up as he stood on the 16th tee 3up with 3 to play, however Mackay demonstrated why he has won the title on numerous occasions in the past with a spirited comeback to square the match at the 18th and force a sudden death play-off. Sutherland held his nerve and eventually emerged victorious at the second extra hole. 

County Championships

Saturday saw the sun-bathed Reay links play host to the Caithness County Championship. The small field of players enjoyed warm, calm conditions and some impressive scores were recorded during the 36 hole event.

June Medal, Gleeds Gala Open & Ladies Results

After nearly 2 years in the golfing wilderness with no prizes to his name, Reay’s Colin Munro came roaring back to life to win Category 1 of the June medal over the sun-soaked links on Saturday. Munro signalled his intentions early with a birdie at the tough 1st hole and he maintained this early momentum with another birdie at the 4th following a splendid pitch-in. Reaching the turn in 37 Munro continued to play steady golf until the 15th where a disastrous out-of bounds approach shot led to an ugly 7. However, Munro steadied himself to birdie the 15th and 17th holes to come home in 38 for a nett 66. Losing out on count-back after also scoring nett 66 was the in form Ian Ross. Ross has been at the top of the leaderboard on a number of occasions recently and he compiled another very steady round with halves of 38 and 39. Taking the final place on the category 1 podium was John O’Brien with a nett 67. O’Brien’s round was one of very contrasting halves after a disappointing outward 40 was soon forgotten with an inward half of 33 which included birdies at the 12th, 13th and 16th holes.

In Category 2 Willie Williamson also made a welcome return to the winner’s enclosure with a nett 68 following a solid round. Williamson’s inward nine was marginally better than Willie Allan who finished in 2nd place on count-back following his own nett 68. The evergreen Keith Buxton took 3rd place in Category 2 with a fine round of nett 70.

On Sunday Reay hosted the inaugural Gleeds Walk On Open. Top of the class following a fabulous nett 65 was Thurso player David Dunbar. Dunbar produced halves of 34 and 36 with a solitary birdie coming at the par 4 8th hole. Dunbar’s nett 65 was good enough to pip Ian Ritchie to second place on nett 66, with Grant Maxwell a further shot back. Category 2 was won by Gregor Munro following another spectacular round of nett 63. Munro’s handicap has come tumbling down in recent weeks, and he has secured another cut following his victory. Four shots back in second and third places were Willie Allan and Ian Sutherland respectively. 

Recent results from the Ladies section below:

April Medal 

Winner Morag Mackay 101-32-69, R/up Pam Bain 83-13-70.

3 Club Competition

Winner Karen Campbell 114-36-78, R/up Carole Cameron 92-14-78.

MacKenzie Cup

Winner Morag Mackay 37 points, R/up Alison Ross 31 points.

May Medal

Winner Patricia McDonald 85-15-70, R/up Susan Hawes 96-22-74.

Coronation Foursomes

Winners Karen Campbell and Carole Cameron, R/up Pat Owen and Susan Hawes.

1st Round Club Championship Qualifier

Winner Pam Bain, 81-13-68, R/up Patricia Mcdonald 91-16-75.

Quinlan Spring Trophy

Winner Carole Cameron 85-14-71, R/up Pam Bain 85-12-73.

June Medal/2nd Round Club Championship Qualifier

Winner Patricia Mcdonald 86-16-70, R/up Moira McPake 103-30-73.