DUFF HOUSE ROYAL GC MEN'S FIVE-DAY OPEN TOURNAMENT

The annual tournament at Duff House Royal served up another thrilling championship.
In tough conditions, Justin Duff led the way in the Qualifying Rounds on Monday and Tuesday with a superb 135.
Those scratch semi finals on Friday represented 3 DHR members including the evergreen Ian Angus. The DHR stalwart had lifted the title a record 5 times going into the tournament and went on to make it 6 this year after defeating John McWilliams of West Linton.
No other player has won the tournament as many times as Ian and his fine week was capped by defeating DHR Club Champion and favourite David Morrison, who was himself fresh from the lifting the 4 Day open at Buckpool last week – by a score of 7 and 5.
The other two local, defeated semi finalists were Luke Sutherland and Craig Young, both of whom have overcome serious injuries in recent times and bounced back well.
The low handicap section almost had a brotherly final, with Ryan and Andrew Lovie kept apart in the semi’s. However both were defeated and Eric Capocci from Lochgilphead went on to lift the title. Michael Kelly from Strathclyde won the High Handicap Section by defeating Jamie Illingworth (Shipley), who has been playing in the tournament for 15 years but had only qualified for the matchplay stages twice.
Amidst emotional scenes, the club announced it would re-name the 14th hole ‘Duncan Kennedy’ in honour of the club legend during the Prizegiving ceremony.
Duncan died during the club Centenary year at the age of 92 and was a significant figure at the helm of the club through most of its key developments over a long period of time. He was the only Club President in the clubs history. Duncan ’s two sons, Alan and Ken and his wife Avril were at the club to unveil the new tee sign presented by Club Captain Albert Milne, and to accept a framed mount of the hole.