Reay Golf Club News Blog: The Safari Open

The JF Nuclear Reay Safari Open lived up to its name as competitors had to contend with biting insects, tropical temperatures, thunderous downpours, and some exotic wildlife last Saturday. The 36 hole event was contested by teams of 4 players, with the 3 best nett scores in the morning and afternoon rounds counting towards the team total.

After Round One it was the ‘Tiger’s Wood’ team of Andy Mackay, Bill Budding, Colin Munro and Peterculter’s Simon Robb who led the way on a level par total of 207. This was largely thanks to the efforts of Robb who used his handicap of 10 to great effect to post a blistering 64, the lowest nett score of the day, and Mackay who recorded a fine 68.

One stroke behind were defending champions the ‘Haw Hawes’, comprising father and son Tim and James Hawes, along with youngsters Ian D. Mackay and Jack Fidler. Star performers for them in Round 1 were James Hawes with a superb 65 and Fidler who posted a round of 70.

Other notable scores in the first round included an excellent nett 65 from 3 handicapper Gavin Sutherland representing ‘The Reay Wickers’, whose gross 68 was the best of the day, nett 66s from Lee Parnell of the ‘3-Jab Monkeys’, and Pete McCartney of ‘Dizzy’s Rascals’. Other players to compile nett scores below 70 included Wick’s John Harper, Jock Eunson, Steve Efemey, and Scott Walker who was representing JF Nuclear.

With only 22 strokes separating the first placed and last placed teams there was still all to play for as players ventured out for their second round of the day.

As Round Two got underway it soon became apparent that two teams, the ‘3-Jab Monkey’s’ and ‘Rossy’s Giants’ were making decisive moves up the leaderboard. For the Giants Ross Munro and Harper both posted early nett 68s which were backed up by a solid 73 courtesy of John Hunter.

Despite the odd clap of thunder the ‘3-Jab Monkeys’ were also making excellent progress on the course, with Richard McDonald carding a 68, Murray McGlasson 70, and Parnell a nett 69. Steve Efemey could not improve the scores of his team-mates, and the Monkeys set a fine aggregate score of 4 over par 418 for the rest of the field to chase.

The final member of ‘Rossy’s Giants’, Evan Sutherland, posted a solid round of nett 71, to give a team total of 420, but it was not enough to catch the leaders, and the ‘3-Jab Monkeys’ secured their third Safari victory in seven years.

Other notable scores in Round 2 included 67s from youngsters Euan Munro, Allyn Sutherland and Ruari McCartney, a tally matched by Aly Mackay. Gregor Munro and Fidler carded nett 68s, with Donald Mowat also breaking 70 with his round of nett 69.

The Haw Hawes put up an excellent defence of their trophy to finish in third place on 422, with the ‘Reay Wickers’ team of Alistair Gunn, Gavin Gunn, Aly Mackay and Sutherland taking fourth on 424.

Outwith the team prizes, Sutherland gained some consolidation as he took the individual prize for the best scratch aggregate score, with Andy Mackay deservedly claiming the individual prize for the best nett aggregate score after two fine rounds.

The trophies for nearest the pin were secured by another father and son combination with Ian A. Mackay and Alex Mackay taking the spoils for their fine tee shots at the 5th and 18th holes respectively. Prizes were presented to the winning players by club captain Graeme Dunnett.