October Medal

Alex Mackay became the latest player to feel the wrath of the handicap secretary’s chopper, after a spectacular performance at Reay on Saturday. Even the most optimistic of forecasters could not have predicted the calm and dry weather that met the players in the morning, and these conditions coupled with some favourable tee locations allowed several competitors to shoot low scores.

Mackay took the prize with a nett 62 which belied his handicap of 16. A solid front 9 of 41 was founded on par 3s at the tricky 1st, 7th, and 9th holes. Mackay really turned on the style over the back nine and was level par from the 10th to the 16th, with a birdie at the 13th offsetting a bogey at the tough 11th. Mackay completed his round with a couple of nervous bogeys at the 17th and 18th, to record a brilliant gross 78. 

Finishing a distant four strokes behind following a fine nett 66 was Sandy Chisholm. After a slow start, his round sprung to life with a run of three birdies from the 4th hole. After this burst of excitement, Chisholm recorded double-bogeys at the 7th and 9th holes, to reach the turn in 38. A steady inward half of 39 was made up of a string of 4s and 5s, giving an excellent gross score of 77.

Taking third place on countback was Steve Efemey, after a nett 67. Despite an ugly 8 at the 3rd hole, he steadied the ship to reach the turn in 40 following a run of pars. Efemey continued to play some excellent golf on the inward half, compiling a score of 36 which included a birdie 2 at the short 15th. Also finishing with nett 67s were Ian Ritchie and Danny O’Hagan. Earlier on in the week Ritchie had recorded a hole-in-one at the par 3 5th playing a practice round on his own, but he showed that he had not used up all his good shots during his practice with another consistent display. 

Lowest gross score of the day was recorded by Lee Parnell who celebrates his 40th birthday this week. Parnell has been in fine form in recent weeks and his gross 72 comprised birdies at the 2nd and 16th holes.