FITZPATRICK BEGINS DEFENCE

OF NE ALLIANCE TITLE

ON WEDNESDAY AT BANFF

The North-east Golfers' Alliance championship starts on Wednesday with the first round at Duff House Royal. The second and final round will be played a week on Wednesday at Fraserburgh.

Ryan Fitzpatrick, staff professional at Inchmarlo Golf Centre is the defending champion. He beat Gary Esson (Portlethen) in a held-over play-off for the title after they had tied at the end of 36 holes last year.

The play-off was played before the pro-am foursomes tournament began the following week.
Looking back through the list of winners of the Uniroyal Quaich is like reading a "Who's Who" of the great and the good golfers in the North-east over the last 70-odd years.

NORTH-EAST ALLIANCE CHAMPIONS

Uniroyal Quaich winners and home club

1935 James Forrester (Cruden Bay).
1936 John Campbell (Balnagask).
1937 Pat Flynn (Elgin).
1938 William Don (Duff House Royal).
1939 William Don (Duff House Royal).
1940-48 No championship.
1949 Tom McNaughton (Banchory).

1950 Ian Macpherson (Elgin).
1951 Jack Pressley (Fraserburgh).
1952 Bill McHardy (Royal Aberdeen).
1953 Jack Booth (Murcar).
1954 Tom McNaughton (Murcar).
1955 Jack Booth (Murcar).
1956 Gordon Durward (Deeside).
1957 Jack Booth (Murcar).
1958 Jack Hall (Royal Aberdeen).
1959 David Shepherd (Turriff).

1960 A Shand (Murcar).
1961 David Shepherd (Turriff).
1962 Joe Little (Murcar).
1963 Dick Cradock (Fraserburgh).
1964 Maurice Moir (Royal Aberdeen).
1965 Jock Brown (Peterhead).
1966 Ian Smith (Hazlehead).
1967 Harry Bannerman (Royal Aberdeen).
1968 Harry Bannerman (Royal Aberdeen).
1969 Robin Bremner (Murcar).

1970 John Grant (Royal Aberdeen).
1971 John Johnston (Aberdeen University).
1972 Harry Bannerman (Banchory).
1973 Harry Bannerman (Banchory).
1974 Bob Strachan (Fraserburgh).
1975 Graham Everett (Deeside).
1976 Hugh Adam (Royal Aberdeen).
1977 Harry Bannerman (Cruden Bay).
1978 Sandy Pirie (Hazlehead).
1979 Harry Bannerman (Cruden Bay).

1980 Bob Strachan (Duff House Royal).
1981 Alex Cruickshank (Caledonian).
1982 Peter Smith (Hazlehead).
1983 Peter Smith (Hazlehead).
1984 Harry Bannerman (Cruden Bay).
1985 Peter Smith (Murcar).
1986 Fraser Bann (Ballater).
1987 Frank Coutts (Murcar).
1988 Lee Vannet (Balleter).
1989 Paul Lawrie (Banchory).

1990 Gary Forbes (Deeside).
1991 Paul Lawrie (King’s Links).
1992 Fraser Mann (Ballater).
1993 Ronnie McDonald (Westhill).
1994 Gary Forbes (Aberdeen Petroleum Club).
1995 Glenn Taylor (Hazlehead).
1996 Graeme McInnes (Murcar).
1997 Colin Nelson (Hazlehead).
1998 Patrick Lovie (Newmachar).
1999 Gary Forbes (Murcar).

2000 Colin Nelson (Hazlehead).
2001 Graeme McInnes (Murcar).
2002 Steven Murray (Kemnay).
2003 Bill Urquhart (Murcar).
2004 Andy Cooper (Auchmill).
2005 Terry Mathieson (Murcar Links).
2006 *Ryan Fitzpatrick (Inchmarlo)
*bt Gary Esson (Portlethen) in play-off