Captain vs Vice Captain

Golfers at Reay gathered on Saturday in glorious weather to compete in the annual Captains v Vice Captains match. In the final analysis it was the Vice Captain’s team, led by Grant Coghill who triumphed over Captain Graeme Dunnett’s charges, by a score of 3.5 points to 2.5 points.

In the top tie, Dunnett accompanied by Ladies Captain Morag Mackay, secured the first point of the day with a fine victory over Coghill and his partner Carol Cameron. Gavin Gunn and Andy Bain combined well to secure a further point for the Captains team, with a narrow victory over Alex Mackay and Bob Earnshaw. Sandy Chisholm and Kenny Farmer prevailed over George Macdonald and Fraser Organ, to secure the first point for the Vice Captains team, and this was soon added to by Hugh Millar who defeated John Disbury. Jock Eunson and Simon Harper came back from 3 down with 3 to play to secure an unlikely half point for the Vice Captains team in their match against Colin Munro and Colin Paterson, and the comeback was complete when Ian Ritchie and Ian A Mackay triumphed on the final green against Stuart Grieg and Bill Budding.

RJ Macleod Open

On Sunday players from all over the county and beyond contested the RJ Macleod Open in sunny and cool conditions. The scratch prize went to Colin Paterson with an excellent round of 72. His two very steady halves of 37 and 35 included a single birdie at the 13th hole. Gregor Munro continued his rich vein of form by taking the Category One prize on countback from Tom Ross and John Nicolson, after all three players carded scores of nett 68. Munro’s gross score of 74 included birdies at the 6th and 17th holes, Nicolson managed a single birdie at the 17th hole during his round of 77, while Ross managed no less than three birdies at the 4th, 9th and 16th holes during his round of 76.

In Category Two, Alex Mackay took the spoils on countback following a superb round of nett 63. After an outward half of 41, he really turned up the heat during an inward 38 which included a pair of birdies at the 10th and 13th holes. The unfortunate player edged in to second place was John Sim after he also carded a nett 63 courtesy of a steady round of 80. However, Sim was able to gain some consolation after his splendid tee shot at the 18th was good enough to take the prize for nearest the pin.

George Coupar Challenge

Securing the trophy by a single point was youngster Gregor Munro who has started the season in blistering form. The highlight of an excellent opening half of 36 was a birdie at the 9th. He bagged further birdies at the 13th and 15th holes during an inward half of 35, which was good enough to give him a gross score of 71 and 41 stableford points.

John O’Brien took second place on 40 points following a fine round of 72. A birdie at the tough 1st ensured a flying start to his round and he reached the turn in 37. Better was to follow with an inward half of 35, which included a spectacular eagle 2 at the 16th.

Cammie Ross took third place on 38 points, with a brace of birdies at the 6th and 7th holes the highlights of his round. Colin Munro took fourth spot, a point further back on 37.

Spring Texas Scramble I

The Early Spring Open Scramble was also a keenly fought affair, but in the final analysis it was the Reay trio of Efemey, Lee Parnell, and Murray McGlasson who bagged the victory. Their nett score of 58.2, courtesy of a blistering gross score of 62, was good enough to secure victory by a margin of 3 clear shots from the Thurso team of Pat Valentine, Stanley Ross and Ewan Sutherland. Another Reay trio, comprising Ian Ross, Pete McCartney and John Disbury took third place on 62.2.

Winter Eclectic Final Results

The Winter Eclectic competition reached its conclusion at the end of March at Reay Golf Club, with a number of excellent scores recorded during the sixth and final round. Topping the leaderboard was David Mackay following a superb nett 66. An indifferent start was soon forgotten as Mackay reeled off a string of pars to reach the turn in 40. He continued in a similar vein during his inward half which he covered in a mere 36 strokes to card a fine gross score of 76. The runners-up spot was bagged by Ian Sutherland following a steady round of nett 68, the highlight of which was a fine birdie 2 at the 15th hole. Steve Efemey was edged in to third place on countback after he also recorded at nett 68. Efemey also managed a solitary birdie at the 14th hole. Dougie Thorburn carded the lowest gross score of the day, with a fine round of 74.

In the overall Eclectic standings winter member David Dunbar finished at the top of the leaderboard with a tally of 61.12. Mackay’s heroics were good enough to leave him on a score of 61.25, with Ian Ritchie finishing on 61.62.

Winter Season Update 2

Golfers at Reay have been hitting the fairways over the past few weeks with a number of winter competitions reaching their climax in March. Winner of the March Medal was youngster James Hawes who made light of the poor conditions to post a blistering round of nett 63. A couple of double-bogeys in the first four holes gave little indication of what was to follow as Hawes reached the turn 39 following a steady run of pars. He continued in a similar vein with an inward half of 36 which included a birdie at the 13th hole. His spectacular round of 75 was the lowest gross score of the day and was good enough to secure a handicap reduction of two shots. Ian Ritchie finished a distant second after a steady round of nett 70, with Tim Hawes taking third place on nett 71.

Ritchie had some consolation however, as he secured the Donald Carmichael Trophy, awarded to the most consistent performer over the course of the six winter Monthly Medals. His aggregate score, taken from his four best counting scores, of 281 was good enough to secure victory by the handsome margin of 7 strokes over his nearest challenger, Cammie Ross who finished on 288. Fred Groves took third place on 290, with Lee Parnell fourth on 292.

Round five the Winter Eclectic was a closely fought affair with several excellent scores posted in calm conditions. John Nicolson secured victory on the day with a superb nett 66 which included birdies at the 6th and 16th holes. Stuart Greig was edged in to second place on countback after he also posted a nett 66 with a birdie at the 6th the highlight of his round. Parnell finished a stroke further back in third place on 67, and he also had the distinction of recording the lowest gross score of the day with his 71.

The weather affected Winter League Stableford has also reached its conclusion with Alex Mackay the clear winner on a four round aggregate score of 157. Kenny Farmer finished a distant second on 145, with Nicolson third on 142.

9 Putts Into One Hole

Winter Season Update

Golfers at Reay have continued to endure a stuttering winter season, with the weather playing havoc with the fixture list. However, on the weekends when conditions have remained favourable a number of excellent scores have been registered.

After a trophy-less 2012, Colin Munro returned to the winners’ enclosure in style, by bagging the February Medal in testing conditions. After a steady start, a pair of double-bogeys at the 8th and 9th holes took the wind out of his sails, and he reached the turn in 41. However a spectacular inward half of 36 which included a birdie at the final hole was good enough for a nett 69 to give him victory by a single shot. Munro also had the distinction of recording the lowest gross score of the day with his 77.

Taking the runners-up spot was Ian Ross, following a fine round of nett 70. His halves of 40 and 41 included a solitary birdie at the short 5th hole. Andy Bain claimed third place on countback, edging Murdo Macdonald in to fourth after both carded nett 71s.

In round four of the Eclectic winter member David Dunbar topped the standings after a superb round of nett 66. A blistering outward half of 37 was followed by an even better inward 34, which included no less than three birdies at the 14th, 15th and 17th holes. Leslie Malcolm took second place on the day with a fine round of nett 67, edging Walter Rutherford in to third spot on countback.

In round seven of the Winter League Stableford it was Steve Efemey who finished top of the pile after posting a score of 36 points. After an outward half of 41, he turned up the heat with an inward half of 35. Birdies at the 8th and 16th holes provided the highlights of his round. Kenny Farmer was edged in to second place on countback after he also accumulated a tally of 36 points. Alex Mackay finished a point adrift in third place on 35 points.

Winter League Stableford Round 5

The standings for Round Five of the Winter League Stableford were topped by youngster James Hawes with 38 points. The highlight of a fine round of gross 79 was a birdie at the 6th hole. Colin Munro took the runners-up spot after claiming 37 points from his round of 77 which included birdies at the 6th and 10th holes. Tim Hawes took third spot with a total of 35 points.

Winter League Stableford Round 4

Round Four of the Winter League Stableford was claimed by Tim Hawes after he accumulated a fine tally of 38 points. A shaky start was soon forgotten after a birdie at the 6th, but Hawes amassed the majority of his points during a magnificent inward half of 39 which included a further birdie at the 13th hole. Second place on the day was shared by Alan Paul and the in-form Farmer after both players posted totals of 37 points. Paul managed a brace of birdies during his round at the 5th and 8th holes, with Farmer recording his solitary birdie at the 5th.