SANDY SCOTT WINS DUNCAN ALAN QUAICH WITH A 74

Highland Junior Golf Championships at Spey Valley 2014

 NEWS RELEASE

Macdonalds Spey Valley Championship Golf Course hosted the Highland Junior Golf Championships. 50 juniors had entered and enjoyed a great day of golf with the morning dew quickly dispelled and sunshine by midday, although still a chill in the air. 

The golf course was in great condition. Spey Valley greenstaff had put a great deal of work into preparing the course and setting it up for the best juniors in the North. Over 70% of the field had a single figure handicap and this was topped by Sandy Scott, Nairn Academy and Nairn Golf Club setting the standard with his +2 handicap and even with that added pressure returning a score of 74, one over par to win the Duncan Alan Quaich for winning scratch player.

Runner up in the scratch section was Andrew Moir of Elgin Academy and Elgin Golf Club with 76 and winning by a better inward half from Jake Carpenter, Forres Academy and Forres Golf Club.

Culloden Academy with a score of 224 won the Bruce Robertson Cup for the Highland Schools Team retaining their title and Nairn Academy second as in 2013 with 226 from their top scoring three players. Culloden’s counting players were Matthew Clark, Rory Cromarty and Logan Gillies..

The Handicap section (0-9) for the Skibo Cup was won by James Hawes, Thurso High School and Reay Golf Club with a nett 69 and finishing in style – birdie, eagle, over par 5 and par 4 holes.  This pushed Jake Carpenter into second place with his nett 70 and Andrew Moir took third with a nett 73.

The handicap section (10-18) for the ClubGolf Highland Shield saw Logan Gillies of Loch Ness Golf Club and Culloden Academy retain his title with a nett 67.  Gillies beat Fortrose Academy player Ruaridh Gray, Fortrose Academy and a member at Fortrose & Rosemarkie Golf Club. Rory Cromarty, Culloden Academy who plays his golf at Nairn Golf Club but had to settle for third spot with a good score of nett 75.

Abbie Cruden, Nairn Academy and Nairn Dunbar Golf Club won the Grant Trophy for the best girls' scratch score of 92 and Carinne Taylor came second with a score of 94. Emma Logie from Keith Grammar and Buckpool Golf Club won the Sutherland Cup as best handicap score with nett 87.

Spey Valley Professional, Murray Urquhart presented the prizes. He commented, "Macdonald Spey Valley Championship Golf Course are once again proud to host the Highland Junior Golf Championships for the ninth consecutive year. The excellent scoring reflects the high quality of junior golf in the Highlands. To see so many juniors from every corner of the Highlands to play the course and support the tournament is very encouraging.”

The event was run by Willie MacKay, ClubGolf’s Regional Manager, who said: “It was a pleasure to witness the juniors take on the challenge of the Spey Valley Championship Course and what tremendous condition it was in. Juniors from Northern Counties, North District and Scottish Golf Academy Squads were able to use their golfing skills and test their course management in perfect conditions.”

The leading results were:

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Girls SCRATCH - The Grant Trophy			School		Club	Score
Winner	Abbie Cruden		Nairn Dunbar		Nairn Academy	92
2nd	Carinne Taylor		Nairn GC		x	94
Girls Handicap –The Sutherland Trophy			School		Club	Score
Winner	Emma Logie		Keith Grammar		Buckpool GC	87
Boys Scratch –The Duncan Allan Quaich			School		Club	Score
Winner	Sandy Scott		Nairn Academy		Nairn GC	74
2nd	Andrew Moir		Elgin Academy		Elgin GC	76 BIH
3rd	Jake Carpenter		Forres Academy		Forres GC	76
Boys Handicap (0 to 9) - The Skibo Trophy			School		Club	Score
Winner	James Hawes		Thurso High School		Reay GC	69
2nd	Jake Carpenter		Forres Academy		Forres GC	70
3rd	Andrew Moir		Elgin Academy		Elgin GC	73
Boys Handicap (10 to 18) Highland ClubGolf Trophy			School		Club	Score
Winner	Logan Gillies		Culloden Academy		Loch Ness GC	72
2nd	Ruaridh Gray		Fortrose Academy		Fortrose & Rosemarkie GC	73
3rd	Rory Cromarty		Culloden Academy		Nairn GC	75
Highland Best School Team Bruce Robertson Cup      (lowest 2 nett scores)				Total Score	SCHOOL
Winners		M Clark 77, R Cromarty 75, L Gillies 72		224	Culloden Academy
2nd		S Scott 76, J Elder 73, M Britovsek 77		226	Nairn Academy

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