Black Isle Foursomes' 2008

winners repeat their success

By ROBIN WILSON
(Images by courtesy of Robin)

It was a case of “As you were” at Fortrose & Rosemarkie Golf Club where both pairings in the Black Isle Foursomes retained the ICR Solutions trophies, the first time it can be recalled this has happened in the 29-year history of the competition.
Inverness and the home club provided the eight golfers in the two finals. In the scratch final the holders, Ewan Forbes and Allan Cameron, defended against clubmates John Forbes and David Sanderson and in the handicap final, the holders, Kevin Fowler and Michael Manson, played clubmates Steven Bassingdale and Ewen Skinner
Despite fine sunny weather, the scratch scoring to get a place in Sunday's match-play draw was a bit higher than expected. Forbes and Sanderson were the leading qualifiers with 74 and 72 for 146, followed by Forres pair Bryan Fotheringham and Robert McKerron on 149 (72 and 77).
The holders got through with 76 & 74 for 150 as did the only home pairing, Morty Ross and Lewis Reid.
For teenagers Ross & Reid it was their first venture into the scratch section after becoming handicap trophy winners in 2006 and in the step up against two North District players, Forbes and Sanderson they put up a plucky show going under 3 and 1.
The second semi final was a show piece. Fotheringham and McKerron had three birdies over the first five holes but were then hit by five over the next six holes from the champions that put them ahead and their place in the final with a 2 and 1 result.
The lack of any spring rain is beginning to dry up the Fortrose fairways but Kevin Fowler's greens have stood the test although losing finalists might not share that view for they did not get their share of putts. They lost two outward holes to three-putt greens and the Cameron and Forbes birdie putt on the third green put the holders in charge and three ahead at the turn for home.
Forbes and Sanderson did hole out for a birdie 3 on the 10th green to pull one back but immediately had a three-putt on the next and when they repeated the error on the 14th they fell four behind. The trophy was retained by the holders on the next green. After a delicate approach over the bunker from Sanderson his partner failed to convert from three feet to keep the game alive.
The home club provided all four handicap qualifiers. David Lackie and Ian Morrison led the qualifying scores with nett 138, followed by Bassingdale and Skinner on 144. Sharing the next two places on 145 were Graham Stewart and Colin Harrison and the holders, Manson and Fowler.
Bassingdale and Skinner booked their place in the final with a 3 and 2 win over Stewart and Colin while Manson and Fowler found a higher gear to record a 6 and 4 win over No 1 seeds Lackie and Morrison.
After nine holes in the handicap final Fowler and Manson held a one- hole advantage but made a significant move over the next five. They took the 10th and 11th holes to move three ahead then when Skinner raced his first putt past the pin on the 14th and his partner missed the return the holders were four in front with just five to play.
The head greenkeeper and his young partner, still in good form after reaching the fourth round of the Scottish boys at Royal Aberdeen, took the short walk back to the clubhouse from the 16th tee after to pick up the trophy for a second time after securing the necessary half on the 15th green.

Qualifying Rounds
Scratch
146 J Forbes and D Sanderson (Inverness) 74 72.
149 B Fotheringham and R McKerron (Forres) 72 77.
150 A Cameron and J Forbes (Inverness) 76 74, M Ross and L Reid (F&R) 75 75.
Handicap
138 D Lackie and I Morrison (13).
144 S Bassingdale and E. Skinner (5).
145 G Stewart and C Harrison (13), K Fowler and M Manson (5).

Match-play results:
SCRATCH
Semi-finals - Cameron and E Forbes bt Fotheringham and McKerron 2 and 1, J Forbes and Sanderson bt Ross and Reid 3 and 1 .
Final – Cameron and E Forbes bt J Forbes and Sanderson 4 and 3.
HANDICAP
Semi-finals - Fowler and Manson bt Lackie and Morrison 6 and 4, Bassingdale and Skinner beat Harrison amd Stewart 3 and 2.
Final – Fowler and Manson bt Bassingdale and Skinner 4 and 3.

Pictured above: Fortrose line up – left to right – Kevin Fowler, Colin Harrison (Sponsor ICR) Michael Manson Allan Murray (Captain Fortrose & Rosemarkie), Allan Cameron and Ewan Forbes.,


Dornoch Junior Open

With a three-birdie inward half of 32 (three under par) Strathlene junior Ryan Bain (pictured above with trophy) won the Royal Dornoch junior open with a final card of two under par 68.
Scratch handicapper holder Bain birdied the 12th, 15th and 16th holes to finish four ahead of Freddie Brown (Nairn Dunbar).
The outstanding score of the day came from Ross Black (Inverness) whose gross 73 converted to a nett 62 to win the over 15 age section.
Results:
CSS 70.
Scratch
68 R Bain (Strathlene).
72 F Brown ( Nairn Dunbar) 72.
73 R Black (Inverness), S Burgess (Nairn), L McAlpine (Invergordon & Dornoch).
75 P Sangster (Thurso) .
Handicap
Over 15 years - R. Black (Inverness) (11) 62; N Macleod (Royal Dornoch) (18) 64; C Burnett (Royal Dornoch) (21) 65; S Burgess (Nairn) (6), S Ednie (Inverness) (21) 67.
Under 14 years - N. Sutherland (Muir of Ord) (17), Eleanor Tunn (Reay) (19) 63; C Oram (Nairn) (26) 67; L Hogg (Alness) (11) 68; N Brennan (Muir of Ord) (19) 70.
Matheson & Phimster Trophies – S. Clark (Royal Dornoch) (24) 62.