May Medal

 Golfers competing in the May Medal at Reay on Saturday experienced the four seasons in the space of four hours as periods of bright sunshine were interrupted by several squally showers of snow and hail. Despite the less than ideal conditions a number of good scores were recorded in an event which also doubled up as the first qualifying round for the club championship.


Taking the prize in Category 1 was Evan Sutherland after a round of 73 gave him a nett score of 65. In a round of supreme consistency Sutherland covered the tricky front nine in 38, before reeling off nine straight pars to cover the back nine in 35. Taking second spot after posting a nett 67 was Colin Munro. An indifferent outward half of 40 was soon forgotten after an inward half of 35 which included a solitary birdie at the 15th. 

A shot further back after rounds of nett 68 were Lee Parnell and Dougie Thorburn. Parnell’s round of gross 73 was made up of halves of 36 and 37 with birdies at the 3rd and 6th holes. Thorburn playing off a handicap of +1 recorded a fabulous round of 67, made up of halves of 33 and 34, which included birdies at the 10th and 15th, and an eagle at the 6th hole. His round could have been even better were it not for a disappointing bogey at the final hole.

Category 2 was also won with a nett score of 65, courtesy of Kenny Farmer. After a shaky start Farmer reached the turn in 45, but he turned on the style with an inward half of 39 which included a birdie at the 18th. Taking second place after also recovering from a poor start was Pete McCartney who posted a nett 69. The highlight of an outward half of 42 was a birdie at the 6th hole, and he repeated the trick with a birdie at the 13th on his way to an inward half of 41. Tim Hawes took third spot with a nett 72.