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 10th and 13th 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 13th followed by a key birdie putt on the 17th
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
Labels: Amateur Men