THURSO'S DOUGIE THORBURN WINS ALLIANCE AT ROYAL DORNOCH

By ROBIN WILSON

The North Golf Alliance could not have picked a better venue or weather for its two top players from last season to renew their rivalry over the North circuit of courses through the coming winter months.

Last season's winner of the Alliance Scratch Quaich, Thurso's Dougie Thorburn, in his first meeting against the previous trophy holder, Tain's Munro Ferries, drew first blood in an encouraging entry  of 58 over Sutherland's world rated Royal Dornoch golf course, Thorburn finishing two shots in front with a one under par 69 to Ferries's 71.

The conditions could not have been better, no wind and under a lovely November sunny sky  Thorburn struck at the very first hole, a birdie 3, only to give it back to the course two holes later, but still he made his way out to the turn in level par 35.

His second dropped shot came at the tenth but it was recovered two holes later with birdie on the 12th. His second dropped shot came at the 10^th hole but it was quickly recovered at the par five twelfth hole with birdie four. Then he went below par once again after after driving close to the 15th green for another three. Par was matched over the finishing three holes for an inward 34 to relegate his Tain adversary to second place.

Ferries, after the short crossing of the Dornoch Bridge, led for most of the day although he struggled on the outward half with his driver. Two errant tee shots, at the fourth and eighth holes, cost him double bogey figures in an outward  count of 38. 

As the sun rose nearer to it's mid-day high the Tain champion forced his way home in a superb two under par 33 with birdies at the 13th and 15th.

Tain were the prominent club when sorting out the Class 1 handicap scores.   

Mike Sangster also holed a birdie putt on the 13th green to help him to an inward count of 36 and when added to his outward 37 his gross 73 reduced to nett 70 to win this section.

The scratch winner from the Durness fixture, David Dunbar (Thurso) arrived in second place with nett 72, off 5, to drop Tain's Andrew Watt down into third position. While in the Class 2 group it was Thurso members who topped the rankings

Stanley Ross led them home with net 70, off 13,  and into second place came club mate Steve Osbourne with nett 73, off 20, his position claimed by virtue of a better last six holes over Alister McGowan (Durness)

There is no fixture this weekend and Tain has the next date, November 18th.  

LEADING SCORES AT DORNOCH

Scratch

69 D Thorburn (Thurso)

71 M Ferries (Tain)

73 M Sangster (Tain).

77 D Dunbar (Thurso). 

Handicap

Class 1 – M Sangster (Tain) (30) 70; D Dunbar (Thurso) (5) 72; A Watt (Tain) (8) 73. 

Class 2 -  S Ross (Thurso) (13) 70; S Osbourne (Thurso) (20) 73; A McGowan (Durness) (12), A Melville (Tain) (13) 73.

The North Scottish Golfer's Alliance fixture, due last  Saturday at Boat of Garten was postponed due to an overnight  frost warning, and their fixtures resume this weekend at Forres.