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. 

In the handicap final Colin Munro secured a 2 and 1 victory over the evergreen Keith Buxton following another close match. Kenny Farmer took the spoils in the Seniors Championship by a similar margin following a see-saw battle with Pete McCartney.

Parry Trophy

The previous day, players teed up in bright conditions to compete for glory in the Parry Trophy. Going home with the silverware after a blistering nett 65 was youngster James Hawes. Hawes reached the turn in 42 despite blighting his card with double bogeys at the 6th and 8th holes, and improved his inward half by 2 shots to record a gross 82 and secure a well deserved handicap reduction. Beaten in to second place on countback following his own nett 65 was Ian Ritchie. Ritchie started well and a birdie at the tricky 3rd helped him to reach the turn in 36. Ritchie continued to cover the back 9 with some steady golf, but will be rueing an untidy 6 at the 17th which proved costly in the final analysis.

Captain Murray McGlasson continued his fine form this season to record a nett 66 for third place. McGlassons’ round comprised halves of 36 and 37 which included a birdie at the 13th. Just failing to make the podium on nett 67 were Ewan Crawford, Tim Hawes, and Graeme Dunnet whose 73 was the best gross score of the day.