 By COLIN FARQUHARSON
More than half the field of 87 had No Returns, but the links drained well and the course remained open. After the rainstorm passed over, it was an afternoon of glorious autumn sunshine with still a bit of a "Buchan breeze," to keep the scores on the high side.
Aberdeen University student John Duff, pictured, who plays off +3 at Newmachar, won the Ron Menzies Memorial Scratch Quaich, donated by Paul Lawrie, with a three-over-par round of 73, played mostly in the worst of the downpour.
Out in 40, Duff played really well to cover the last nine holes in one-under-par 33 with eight pars and a birdie at the 12th.
He won with four shots to spare from the leading professional competitor, Patrick Lovie (P1 Corporate). Patrick was two ahead of Duff with an outward 38 but bogeyed the 10th, 11th, 12th, 14th and 16th in an inward 39.
Martin Forster (Cruden Bay), playing off seven, won the Ron Menzies Memorial Quaich for the Class 1 handicap section with a net 72 while Mike Rogers (Kemnay) earned the Ron Menzies Memorial Quaich for Class 2 with a net 78 off 14.
TALKING POINTS
+Messrs Lawrie, Law and McLean later played the No 2 St Olaf's Course. It is understood that McLean was level par for the six holes he completed on the No 1 course.
Writing on his website, Paul Lawrie says:
"I was at Cruden Bay this morning for the North East Alliance. I played with David Law and Philip McLean but only for six holes. We had a bit of a delay before teeing off as thunder and lightning had flooded the course. Then after two really heavy downpours we decided to walk in at the 6th hole, soaked through.
"While we were having lunch the weather cleared and it was really nice so we decided to play 13 holes on the wee course, which was good fun. I'm always banging on to the boys that you should never have a No Return so today I suppose was pretty poor but it was extremely wet but it's no excuse....we should have played on."
+The Cruden Bay greenkeeping staff did a great job squeejing water off the worst-affected greens during a 35min suspension of play at the height of the rainstorm.
+By common consent, the Cruden Bay course was in the best condition that anyone could remember for a North-east Alliance. Take a bow, lads!
+The memory of Ron Menzies, secretary of the North-east Alliance for many years until his death on October 26 last year, will be celebrated each year on the nearest Wednesday to that date in future years with the competition for the Ron Menzies Memorial Quaichs on an annual basis.
When Paul Lawrie was told of the plan by joint secretaries Dave Wilson and Dave Mackay, his offer to pay for the scratch quaich was gratefully accepted.
The cost of the two quaichs for the handicap sections was met from NE Alliance funds. They will be engraved with the names of today's winners and presented to them at next week's NE Alliance fixture at Montrose.
One over-55 who shall remain nameless suggested that there should also be a Ron Menzies Memorial Quaich for the best score by a senior. Now there's a topic for discussion.
Two views of the Ron Menzies Memorial Quaichs which will be played for annually at North-east Alliance fixtures on the anniversary of Ron's death on October 26, 2010
+The North-east Alliance lags behind the Edinburgh and East of Scotland as well as the Midland Alliance in having trophies to be won at various midweek competitions. The enterprising Midland Alliance also have team events or pro-ams every so often to break up the individual stroke-play routine. Perhaps the Ron Menzies Memorial Quaichs signal that the North-east Alliance is moving in that direction.
+Not quite senior age yet but obviously having difficulty in rememberng things - Craibstone Golf Club general manager Billy Sim. He bought a new rainsuit from Nevada Bob's to play his first NE Alliance competition in more than 20 years - and left it at home when he set off for Cruden Bay! Billy will play host to the Alliance in December when Craibstone is the venue.
+Cruden Bay GC steward John Roberts, a supporter of the Alliance from way back, did not play in today's fixture at his home course. In fact, he has not played golf at all since April. That's when he broke several bones in his left wrist playing out of thick rough at Cruden Bay.
Something to remember for all golfers - Rory McIlroy included - when you are contemplating such a shot. If in doubt about the risk of damaging your wrists, declare the ball unplayable and take a lift and drop under penalty.
+Scott Larkin had to have an operation after he too suffered a wrist injury many months ago and the 2011 season has been a write-off for this talented player. He has his name down to make a comeback at the Montrose fixture next Wednesday.
+Golf can be such a humbling game and more so just when you think you've cracked it. Last Wednesday Aboyne's Paul Simpson had the joint best score (64) of the day alongside a former Open champion, Paul Lawrie, at the Alliance fixture at Ballater. Today, Paul took 43 blows to reach the turn before running up a 10 at the 13th. He picked up at the 14th. In fairness to Paul, the weather had a lot to do with his No Return.
LEADING SCRATCH
Par 70. Yardage 6,287
73 John Duff (Newmachar) 40-33.
77 Patrick Lovie (P1 Corporate) 38-39.
78 Euan Kennedy (Newmachar) 38-40.
79 David Brown (Kemnay) 41-38, Martin Forster (Cruden Bay) 39-40, John Nicolson (Auchmill) 42-37, Stewart Finnie (Caledonian) 42-37.
80 Clark Alexander (Murcar Links) 41-39.
81 David A Fleming (Portlethen) 43-38, Dave Leslie (Northern) 41-40, Fergus Bisset (Banchory) 36-45, Chris Brown (Kemnay) 41-40.
82 John Hamilton (Murcar Links) 42-40, Manson Merchant (Newmachar) 40-42, Brian Nicolson (Auchmill) 44-38.
83 Phil Murray (Kemnay).
84 Billy Sim (Craibstone), Duncan Clark (Duff House Royal), Keith Watson (Deeside), Charles Cassie (Nigg Bay).
86 Mike Duncan (Murcar Links).
87 Robert O'Donnell (Oldmeldrum), Joss Turner (Kemnay), David McKay (Caledonian).
90 Mike Booth (Kemnay).
91 David Bisset (Banchory).
92 Derek Randall (Banchory), Mike Rogers (Kemnay).
93 Nigel Parker (Murcar Links).
94 David Nelson (Aboyne), Dave Mackay (Newmachar), Brian Harper (Newburgh).
95 Jim Murray (Banchory).
96 Steve Kennedy (Craibstone), Les Roger (Royal Aberdeen), Gary Homer (Northern), Tommy Collie (Kemnay).
97 Paul Cornfield (Newmachar).
100 Ben Lumsden (Northern), Chris Brindley (Banchory).
LEADING HANDICAP
Class 1 – M Forster (Cruden Bay) (7) 72; C Alexander (Murcar Links) (6) 74; P Murray (Kemnay) (8), M Merchant (Newmachar) (7) 75; D A Fleming (Portlethen) (5) 76.
Class 2 – M Rogers (Kemnay) (14) 78; M Booth (Kemnay) (11), D Randall (Banchory) (13) 79; N K Parker (Murcar Links) (12) 81; P Cornfield (Newmachar) (15) 82.
BEST CARDS AT CRUDEN BAY:
Par 70. OUT - 4-4-4-3-4-5-4-4-4: 36. IN 4-3-4-5-4-3-3-4-4: 34
JOHN DUFF: 5-4-4-4-5-5-5-4-4: 40. IN 4-3-3-5-4-3-3-4-4: 33
PAT. LOVIE: 5-4-4-3-4-5-4-4-5: 38. IN 5-4-5-5-5-3-4-4-4: 39
TEE TIMES FOR NEXT WEDNESDAY AT MONTROSE LINKS
Check in and return scores at Montrose Mercantile clubhouse.
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08:15 Charlie Cassie, Brian Harper, Keith Watson
08:22 Donald McAndrew, Gordon Munro.
08:29 David Mackay, Graham Mitchell, Michael Holley
08:36 Ryan Fitzpatrick, Patrick Lovie, Albert Smith
08:43 Craig Carnegie, Phil Morrison, John Hosie
08:50 Lawrence Prouse, John Dalgarno, Colin Nelson
08:57 Jim Scott, George Paterson, Claire Prouse
09:04 Bryan Robson, Mike D Brown, John Forrest
09:11 ............................ ............................ ........
09:18 Harry Roulston, Michael Rendall, Paul McIntosh
09:25 John Hamilton, Jim Duncan, Hamish McNaughton
09:32 Manson Merchant, Robert Lamb, Euan Kennedy
09:39 Mike Brown, Raymond Brown, S Davidson
09:46 John Duff, ............................ .....................
09:53 ............................ ............................ ........
10:00 ............................ ............................ ........
10:07 Mike Duncan, Jackie Forrest, Norman Stewart
10:14 Mike Rogers, Stewart Finnie, Jim Gall
10:21 Ben Lumsden, Gary Homer, David Leslie
10:28 Les Fowler, Sandy Pirie, David Fleming
10:35 Alan Gall, Neish Chisholm, Steve Kennedy
10:42 Ian Grant, Mike Smith, Donald Lawrie
10:49 John Jessiman, Alister Petrie, Mike Booth
10:56 Derek Randall, Jim Murray, David Bisset
11:03 Fergus Bisset, Chris Brindley, Scott Larkin
11:10 David Brown, Tommy Collie, Mark Lawrie
11:17 Alan Ross, Gary Ross, Keith Ingram
11:24 Duncan Clark, Billy Sim, David Nelson
11:31 Philip McLean, David Law, Paul Simpson
11:38 Alister Graham, Willie McKenzie, Martin May
11:45 Joss Turner, Chris Brown, Martin Forster
11:52 Clark Alexander, Bill Urquhart, John Borthwick
11:59 Nigel Parker, George Stevely, Chris Adam
12:06 Brian Nicolson, Paul Cornfield, Colin Ord
12:13 David Wilson, Robert O'Donnell, Joel Hopwood
Labels: Alliance
