Leading prizewinners at the conclusion of the Royal Dotnoch tournament. Left to right; Denis Bethune (president Royal Dornoch Golf Club), Campbell Thomson (winner of EC Fraser Shield), Alex MacDonald (Carnegie Shield winner) Hamish Macrae (captain Royal Dornoch GC), Craig Stewart (winner Davidson Trophy), Eileen Macrae (captain's wife). Image by Robin Wilson.

Alex MacDonald wins
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Carnegie Shield at

Royal Dornoch

By ROBIN WILSON
There has been sporting rivalry between the two communities for over a century so when the Carnegie Shield final at Royal Dornoch on Saturday afternoon threw up a final between two members, one local, Chris Mailley and from neighbouring Embo, Alex MacDonald, there was that extra edge to the showdown with both communities turning out in number to support their favourite sons.
The finalists are of similar backgrounds, both trained greenkeepers, MacDonald aged 29 having served his apprenticeship at Royal Dornoch then a period at Wentworth before taking charge of the Golspie course, and Mailley, a year younger, apprenticed at Skibo where he is still employed. Both have also been in one previous final, MacDonald a loser to Jimmy Gunn in 2006, and Mailley a first time winner last year.
To reach the semi finals the holder faced his sternest test in the quarters where he overcame the leading qualifier, former Scottish Internationalist Ian Brotherston (Dumfries and County) by 2 and 1 then to run up against Brotherston's travelling companion Ian Fraser. At three behind after the first nine holes of the semi-final against Fraser Mailley was on track to losing his hold of the Shield before the Borderer's game collapsed on the second nine and Mailley took his defence forward to the final with a 3&2 result.
In the lower half of the draw MacDonald saw the number three seed, Bruce Thomson (Inverness) fall at the first hurdle before he then put himself forward as a series contender with a quarter-final success over the holder of the lowest handicap (+4) in the event, American Scott Saal from Bayville, Virginia Beach. MacDonald won this tight tie at the 20th where the American fell foul of Dornoch's second hole bunkers.
In the last month the Golspie Head Greenkeeper has shown excellent form over the course he cares for, a course record and an Open 36 hole Sinclair Cup win, but still standing in his way to the final was the most successful American to have played in the Carnegie Shield, Andrew Biggadike, from the Olympic Club, San Francisco, winner of three finals in the past seven years and this year the first American to win the member's Silver Medal in the qualifying rounds with his two scores of 74.
Biggadike was number two seed in the draw.
The hard fought Biggadike/ MacDonald semi lasted over four hours and went to the first extra hole where Biggadike repeated his green-side error of the 18th hole when one up by again taking three again to get down at the 19th to hand MacDonald his place in the final.
Final, First Hole. With just thirty minutes before returning to the first tee and as his Embo supporters were still arriving MacDonald found the middle of the first fairway and Mailley his first errant drive which would become a feature of the next thirteen holes. MacDonald goes one up with birdie.
2nd and 3rd Holes. Mailley birdies the second and finds his only fairway drive of the game from the third tee. Hole halved in four. All square
4th and 5th holes. Mailley's first lost ball from pulled drive from 4th tee. Over corrects on next hole and finds bunker from tee. Escapes to next bunker and loses both holes. MacDonald two up.
6th hole. MacDonald makes birdie two – three up
7th hole. MacDonald loses ball from tee and Mailley from second shot. Half in six.
8th and 9th holes Out of bounds from 8th tee by Mailley and after MacDonald birdies the par five 9th hole his supporters are already preparing their celebrations in Embo's world famous Grannie's Heilan Hame.
10th and 11th holes MacDonald bunkered at ten and Mailley's three wins the hole but another ball goes into bushes from the Holder at the 11thand MacDonald reinstates his five hole lead.
12th and 13th holes. The end is nye for Mailley's' year as champion, when he loses the 12th to a par five, dormy six down, and MacDonald celebrates his first Carnegie Shield with the half in three on the 13th green. Result 6 and 5.
Ahead, the final of the Class 1 handicap Davidson Trophy was proceeding towards an expected home win for another local member. Gordon Sutherland ended the retention of the trophy by his young club mate Niall Campbell in the semi final and was two holes ahead of Craig Stewart (Dunbar GC), with just two holes remaining. Stewart finished the stronger. He won the 16th & 17th and went in front for the only time in the game when he holed a 12 foot putt on the final green for par four and win by one hole.
Already on its way out of Dornoch was the Class 2 handicap Ellis Fraser Shield. Strathpeffer's Campbell Thomson had as his caddy his partner and Royal Dornoch lady champion Cara Gruber and together they did not slip up over the closing stretch. Thomson's two hole early lead was lost to Lonniddry's Ron Nisbet at the 10th and 12th holes but in receipt of a stroke at the 14th Thomson went back into the lead and went dormy two ahead with a par four on the 16th. Nisbet lost a ball at the 17th to lose the hole and the match 3 and 1.
The new Captain's wife. Eileen Macrae presented the trophies and also in attendance was Royal Dornoch's new President, Denis Bethune, who succeeded the late Dr. John H Grant and the 97th winner of the Carnegie Shield gave the vote of thanks.