NEWS FROM THE NORTH

MATHESON REPEATS SINCLAIR CUP SUCCESS

A nightmare ninth hole in the second round by local club champion Jimmy Gunn let clubmate Kevin Matheson in to repeat his 2004 success in the Sinclair Cup 36-hole open at Royal Dornoch on Saturday (writes Robin Wilson).
Matheson, who earlier in the month won at Golspie, continued his consistent run of form with scores of 71 and 70 for 141 against Gunn's 69 and 75 for 144.
Gunn had eagled the par-5 ninth hole in the first round but, after a visiting the beach from the ninth tee in afternoon, there was a six-shot difference in his two scores.
Royal Aberdeen's Mark Halliday,  who won last year after a course-equalling record score of 65, finished in third place with scores of 73 and 75. 
Details (CSS 74 74)
Scratch (All Dornoch unless stated)
K. Matheson (71 70) 141; J M Gunn (69 75) 144; M. Halliday (Royal Aberdeen) (73 75) 148; J Macleod (Tain) (75 74) 149; R  Macleod (Tain) (78,76) 154. Handicap - J. Cunningham (Tain) (4), K Sinclair (4) 144; B. Nicholson (2), J. Edgecombe (Duddingston) (4) 146; S A Massie (Fraserburgh) (9) 147.
Individual scratch round - J Shepherd 74.
Individual handicap round - R Parkinson (Preston) (8) 70.