CHEERS FOR HUNTLY PAIR AT FAIRMONT ST ANDREWS

MEDIA RELEASE FROM THE SGU
 Graham Nicol and Graeme Farquharson from Huntly Golf Club are the new Belhaven Best Scottish Club Handicap Champions after edging out Arbroath Artisans to lift the title at the Fairmont St Andrews Torrance course this afternoon
The North East duo, one the reigning Huntly club champion and one a former club champion, fired an excellent better ball four-under par 68 in breezy conditions on the Fife coast to top the leaderboard in Scotland’s biggest participation golf event.
They pipped the Arbroath Artisans pairing of Keith Ewart and Steve Cargill courtesy of the better inward half, with Huntly one shot better on the back nine.
Nicol, a 4-handicapper and Farquharson, playing off one, dovetailed to perfection and a steady round in testing winds was illuminated by birdies at the 3rd, 7th, 12th and 15th, with no dropped shots on a course which recently hosted the SSE Scottish Seniors Championship.
Stirlingshire club Earlsgate, represented by Brian Coyle and Colin McClure, clinched third spot with a three-under par 69, staving off Lothians clubs Castle Park and Turnhouse again by the better inward half.
Dalbeattie’s David Berry and Alan Learnmonth, winners of the South Regional Final at Eyemouth last month, looked set for a repeat win the national Final after storming to the turn in six-under par, but they were left to rue dropping six shots in the closing four holes to settle for a share of seventh place.
Nicol, 51, an insurance broker from Huntly, was delighted with the title success, after winning the coveted trophy together with a dream weekend golf break at the host venue among a great package of prizes:
“It feels tremendous to win the Championship, although we felt very fortunate to be here after just scraping through the regional final in tenth place. My golf’s not been great this season but I went to the driving range last night and managed to find something, which obviously worked today.
“The course was superb and in great condition, but the wind made it really tough. We played really steady golf and dovetailed well. We’re used to playing a shorter inland course so this was very different, but to come out on top of the 24,000 golfers who started the event is excellent.”
Farquharson, the younger of the duo at 28, paid tribute to his playing partner:
“The old man certainly led the way today and he played great! I contributed on a few holes but Graham’s golf was very good out there. It’s been a great event to play in and it’s fantastic that the SGU stages a championship that all golfers can take part in.”
Andrew Young (Turnhouse) took the Nearest the Pin prize (8th hole) while Alan Learnmonth (Dalbeattie) won the Longest Drive.

>> Results from the Belhaven Best Scottish Club Handicap Championship Final
 
Photo: Kenny Smith Photograph