John Duff looks to have a lock on £75 prize for winner of NE Alliance Scratch Order of Merit

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Only three counting events to go before the North-east Alliance Order of Merit tables, sponsored by Brimmond Bistro @ Craibstone Golf Club, reach a climax at the second round of the Alliance championship at Craibstone on March 16.
The final 1-2-3 in each of the three tables - scratch and two handicap classes - will earn prizes to the value of £75, £50 and £25 (money if professionals; vouchers to amateurs) - donated by the Brimmond Bristro.
Newmachar attached pro John Duff looks to have put a lock on the £75 first prize in the scratch table with his win at Spey Bay on Wednesday while his arch-rival and No 2 in the table, Kevin Duncan (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) had a bad day at the office and finished well down the scoreboard.
Duff has 7,332pt, almost 600 ahead of Duncan who would have just about to win weekly tournaments at least twice over the closing weeks to have a chance of dislodging John. 
Third-placed Greg McBain (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) has 5,119pt so little chance of him catching up to take second place. 
 Scott Mackie ( Kemnay), leader by about 600pt in the Handicap Class 1 table, is hot favourite for the £75 winner's voucher even though Brian Ritchie (Inverallochy) soared up from No 5 to No 2 last week.
Keen competition for the third spot with the present occupant, David Leslie (Bon Accord), well within striking distance of the three players immediately beneath him in the table.
Stephen Ross (Hazlehead) has all but wrapped up the £75 voucher for winning Class 2. He had 3,943pt - 1,600pt ahead of second placed Raymond Brown (Tarland). 
Big mover in Class 2 is Nigel Parker whose up-and-down form saw him beaten only by the inward half countback at Spey Bay. Nigel has moved up from No 7 to No 4 but the best he might be able to achieve is third place at the expense of Jim Stewart (Banchory).

NORTH-EAST ALLIANCE

ORDER OF MERIT  

Sponsored by Brimmond Bistro

@ Craibstone Golf Club  

+Points totals updated by Joel Hopwood                                                 

                                                                                                LAST WEEK'S 

                                                                                                       POSITION

1.      John Duff (Newmachar)                                7333                     1

2.      Kevin Duncan (Paul Lawrie GC)                   6779                     2

3.      Greg McBain (PLGC)                                    5119                     3

4.      Phil McLean (PLGC)                                     4747                     4

5.      Sean Lawrie (PLGC)                                      4166                     5

6.      Craig Lawrie (PLGC)                                    3804                     6

7.      Terry Mathieson (Murcar Links)                   3520                     7

8.      Joel Hopwood (Royal Aberdeen)                  3437                     11

9.      Kris Nicol (PLGC)                                         3361                     9

10.   Laura Murray (PLGC)                                   3226                     8

11.   Sam Kiloh (PLGC)                                         3197                     10

12.   Brian Ritchie (Inverallochy)                          2782                     13

13.   Stewart Finnie (Royal Aberdeen)                  2489                     17

14.   Alan Stuart (PLGC)                                       2425                     12

15.   Greg Hutcheon (PLGC)                                 2334                     14

16.   David Brown (Kemnay)                                2311                     15

17.   Paul Lawrie (Carnegie Club)                         2278                     16

18.   Keil Beveridge (Kippie Lodge)                      2202                     24

19.   David Leslie (Bon Accord)                            2200                     19

20.   Chris Lamb (Newmachar)                             2138                     18

21.   Adam Dunton (McDonald Ellon)                  2043                     20

22.   Scott Mackie (Kemnay)                                 1966                     22

23.   Brian Nicolson (Hazlehead)                 1855                     21

24.   Kamran Zeynalov (Portlethen)                     1820                     23

25.   Gary Esson (Portlethen)                                1792                     25

26.   Fergus Bisset (Banchory)                             1660                     29

27.   Colin Nelson (Mackenzie Club)                   1617                     NEW

28.   Graeme Riley (Craibstone)                            1598                     29

29.   Billy Fyfe (PLGC)                                         1592                     26

30.   Alan Gall (Deeside)                                       1577                     27

NORTH EAST ALLIANCE

HANDICAP ORDER OF MERIT                      

CLASS 1                                                                                           LAST WEEK'S 

                                                                                                         POSITION

1.      Scott Mackie (Kemnay)                                 3104                     1

2.      Brian Ritchie (Inverallochy)                          2456                     5

3.      David Leslie (Bon Accord)                             2381                     2

4.      Gavin Chalmers (Alford)                                2222                     3

5.      David Lane (Deeside)                                     2191                     4

6.      Les Fowler (Royal Aberdeen)                       2183                     7

7.      Manson Merchant (Newmachar)                  1862                     6

8.      Harry Roulston (Stonehaven)                       1733                     8

9.      Fergus Bisset (Banchory)                             1675                     10

10.   Richard Blackmore (Tarland)                       1650                     9

11.   Mark Lawrie (Kemnay)                                1569                     13

12.   Alan Gall (Deeside)                                      1563                     11

13.   John Borthwick (Craibstone)                        1524                     12

14.   Steve Shand (Kemnay)                                 1497                     NEW

15.   Gary Esson (Portlethen)                                1383                     14

16.   Graeme Riley (Craibstone)                            1350                     16

17.   John Nicolson (Hazlehead)                           1332                     15

18.   Donny Adam (Kemnay)                                1308                     17

19.   Ritchie Davidson (Caledonian)                     1306                     18

20.   Charlie Cassie (Nigg Bay)                             1290                     19

CLASS 2                                                                              LAST WEEK'S 

                                                                                                        POSITION

1.      Stephen Ross (Hazlehead)                             3943                     1

2.      Raymond Brown (Tarland)                            2393                     2

3.      Jim Stewart (Banchory)                                 2195                     3

4.      Nigel Parker (Murcar Links)                         1900                     7

5.      Gary Homer (Bon Accord)                            1884                     5

6.      Mike Brown (Kemnay)                                  1858                     4

7.      Stuart Davidson (Northern)                          1708                     6

8.      Donald Lawrie (Aboyne)                              1600                     8

9.      Richard Ruddiman (Royal Aberdeen)          1583                     9

10.   Jim Murray (Banchory)                                  1449                  10

11.   David Bisset (Banchory)                                1401                     12

12.   Peter Walker (Cruden Bay)                           1392                     11

13.   Tom Boyle (Portlethen)                                 1325                     13

14.   Doug Booth (Tarland)                                    1285                     16

15.   Peter Cheyne (Northern)                               1278                     14

16.   Michael Rendall (Stonehaven)                     1261                     15

17.   William Beattie (Craibstone)                        1197                     17

18.   Robbie Duncan (Deeside)                              1189                     18

19.   Lenny Duncan (Craibstone)                          1153                     19

20.   David McKay (Caledonian)                          1102                     20