Duff House Royal boys win Felicity Trophy

during Centenary Year


By JAMES CAMERON
Duff House Royal juniors made it a year to remember for the Banff club by defeating Oldmeldrum Golf Club to lift the Felicity Trophy during the club's Centenary Year.
The win was secured when local lad Daniel Sleigh secured a halved matche, remarkably coming back from four down with four holes to play! A superb bunker shot led to a par 4 at the 18th, and with his opponent taking a 6, this resulted in the overall win for Duff House Royal - with jubilant scenes thereafter.
DHR Junior Convener Colin Milne said: “I can’t praise the boys highly enough. The Felicity Trophy is a prestigious scratch match play competition which all the clubs in the North-east play in. It was a tremendous team performance to lift the trophy, as we have had to defeat Turriff, Strathlene (who were last year’s winners) and Elgin all home and away, and finally Oldmeldrum here today.
"Each player has contributed along the way and the camaraderie has been excellent. We’re all proud of them and really chuffed with the win."
The Duff House Royal club recognised the achievement by providing each of the eight-boy team with special Centenary polo shirts for the Final, and the investment certainly paid off as the team clinched a 4.5 to 3.5 win, with Team Captain Lewis Mutch lifting the Trophy.
Club Captain Abby Milne said: “The junior section has really flourished under Junior Convenor Colin Milne and he deserves to be congratulated on guiding the juniors to this outstanding win. It was a nice touch that the Captain, Lewis acknowledged the role Colin has played in this win during his speech and stated that all the juniors hoped Colin would have a long stint as Junior Convenor.
"Colin is the humble type that wouldn’t want to be congratulated, but leading the team to the Felicity Trophy for the first time in 35 years, during the Centenary Year, is a significant achievement.”
The competition started in 1974, with the first winners Duff House Royal who won again in 1975 – however this was the last time it was won by DHR.
“It has been a long wait to lift the Trophy - hopefully it won’t be another 35 year wait and we can retain it next year!” added Colin.


Caption for the above picture: (from left to right): Craig McKay, Luke Sutherland, Kerr Baptie, Lewis Mutch, Kieran Milne, Daniel Sleigh, Lewis West, Grant McDonald.

Back: DHR Professional Gary Holland, Junior Convenor Colin Milne, Matchday Assistant Gary Mutch, Club Captain Abby Milne.