GOLSPIE GC MEMBER WINS IN TESTING WIND AT ROYAL DORNOCH

 
Left to right: George Gunn (Royal Dornoch captain), Alastair Stoddart (handicap winner), Hamish Sutherland of Dornoch, winner 50 years ago,  Darren Hexley (county champion) and Neil Hampton (bronze medallist).

LEFT-HANDER DARREN HEXLEY WINS 

SUTHERLAND COUNTY CUP

By ROBIN WILSON

In the 87 years from 1922 that there has been a competition for the Sutherland County Cup, Golspie Golf Club has had 10 winners, their most recent Darren Hexley at Royal Dornoch last Saturday, when he beat a loaded field of local favourites for a first time win.

Since leaving his native village at the end of a junior membership 28-year-old Hexley took up a career in greenkeeping at Muir of Ord, where he still holds a membership, but now works on Inverness's Torvean course. 

He has retained his Golspie membership which permits him entry into the Sutherland championship.

What distinguishes Hexley from all the other 86 winners there has been is that he plays golf left handed and there is no other mention in the records of a "lefty" winning the cup since it was gifted by Royal Dornoch to the County Association in 1922.

Like most left-handers, he carries a strong short game and this enabled him to open with a 75. His only first round blip was a bunker recovery at the fifth hole which led to a double bogey 6, partially repaired with the first of three 2s on his card during the two rounds.

Not unexpectedly the first-round pace was set by the host's leading contender, Chris Mailley, whose two-over-par 72 featured birdies at the 10^th and 13^th holes. 

Golspie's defending champion  and greenkeeper, Alex MacDonald, was a shot further back on 73 (39-34) . On 75 was another former Golspie junior member and now a Dornoch local, Bryan Urquhart 38-37.

In an increasing afternoon wind all the competitors struggled with the outward holes and few improved on their morning cards. One to do so was the Dornoch club's general manager, Neil Hampton who came home in 35 to post a second round 75 which would, at the end of play, reward him with the runner's up bronze medal.

Hexley also did not manage to break 40 on his outward second half but key to his eventual win was his birdie 2 at the first inward hole and a second 2 at the 13^th  followed by a key birdie putt on the 17^th green,  which gave him a cushion over Hampton and a last nine hole count of 35 for 76 and  a 151 posted total.

Mailley carried six penalty shots in his afternoon outward card of 46 before gaining some respectability with an inward 36 for 82 while the defending champion also lost his way and his title over the first nine holes of his second round. MacDonald's outward card rose to 43. before a recovering inward 37 allowed him finish in third place.   

With the Dornoch course standard scratch score rising by two to 74 for both home and visiting players it was no surprise all three handicap vouchers were won by local members Alastair Stoddart topped the nett aggregate with 145 (73 72) from his six handicap from his better second round score against club mate David MacKay.

Welcoming a good representation of contestants to the prize giving was George Gunn, the Royal Dornoch captain, who recalled the winning Dornoch member of 50 years ago, Hamish Sutherland in 1964 at Golspie, who was then invited him to make the presentation of the cup and silver medal to this year's winner.

Leading Scratch Totals

 (all Royal Dornoch unless stated)

151 D Hexley (Golspie) 75 76. 

153 N D Hampton 78 75, A MacDonald (Golspie) 73 80. 

154 B Urquhart 75 79, C Mailley 72 82. 

155 K Matheson 79 76. 

157 L McAlpine 83 74), C Mackay (Golspie) 81 76

Handicap Prizewinners

 (All Royal Dornoch) 

A Stoddart (6), D Mackay (6) 145; B Urquhart (3) 148