Royal Dornoch favourites to regain Dornoch 

Firth League title from Tain

By ROBIN WILSON 

Royal Dornoch's 400 anniversary celebrations continue by hosting 

the Dornoch Firth League matches.

The host club has a strong pool of Category1 handicappers firmly established as favourites to regain the league title from the holders, Tain. 

Chris Mailley, Alex MacDonald Kevin Matheson, Bryan Urquhart, Neil Hampton, David Pearson, Craig MacKay, Gary Bethune, Daniel Holden and Mike Thomson, Kristian Sinclair and Neil Munro will make up the Dornoch team.

Tain's selection will come from Alan Everett, Munro Ferries, Dean O’Brien, Billy Ferries, Ross MacKenzie, Ewan MacPherson, Gary Tonge, David Clark. Kieran Mackay and James Cameron.

Invergordon – Steven Buchan, Bryan Ronald, Andrew Gilmour, Lee Simpson, Robert Benson, Ken Hearton, Ali MacKenzie, John Fraser, Angus Campbell Mike Moran. 

Brora – Jame MacBeath, Ewan Polson, Calum Stewart, Roddie Cameron, Robert MacDonald, Andy Stewart, Liam MacDonald- MacLeod, Dougie Thorburn, Owen Maclennan.

Golspie – Darren Hexley, Robert Bremner, Craig Sutherland, Alister MacDougall, Michael Bonner, Billy Melville, Colin Sutherland William MacBeath

MORAY AND NAIRN LEAGUE

The G R Thomson Shield, the scratch trophy for the winners of the Moray and Nairn Golf League has resided in the seaside town of Nairn for the past five years, four times won by The Nairn GC and once in 2014 by Nairn Dunbar GC.

This season's league programme commenced last night at Forres Golf Club and holders, Nairn, fielded five of the players who beat their opening opponents, Elgin, in last season's corresponding fixture at Moray.

Scotland's 2015 junior player of the year, Sandy Scott (17), headed the team with Sean Burgess, Fraser Fotheringham, Bruce Thomson, Robert Smith and Finlay Asher again in action against Elgin. Over the remaining weekend fixtures these five will be joined in ties against Forres, Moray, and Nairn Dunbar by Ewan Gordon, Alex Scott, George Asher and Sandy Ritchie.

Could Nairn's retention of the Shield come down to their last fixture on Sunday afternoon against rivalling neighbours Nairn Dunbar? Very possibly.

NORTH OF SCOTLAND SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP

Inverness's North District senior champion, Laurie Chancellor, bidding for a maiden win on the Scottish Senior Golf Society Tour was tied second after his first round 72 in the Spring Meeting at Monifieth last week. 

However, when, on the second day, the weather turned bitterly cold Chancellor's golf also froze and he lost ground in round two. Robert Smith (The Nairn) compiled cards of 76 and 75 for a tied fifth place finish. Chancellor's club mate Peter Sinclair was also at Monifieth as was Elgin pair Gary Abel and Steven Milne.

The Scottish Senior Tour arrived in Elgin yesterday for the North of Scotland Senior Championship where all the aforementioned players plus more from the North are playing.

THREE NORTH PAIRS ARE GLENBERVIE-BOUND

Three North Golf Club Secretaries and their Club Captains have qualified for the finals of the Bellhaven Best Secretaries and Captain's competition to be played at Glenbervie Golf Club in September.

A regional qualifying event was played over the Inverness Culcabock course on Tuesday of this week where the top four partnerships, playing better-ball scoring, went forward. 

Leading the way with a nett 65 were the officials of Boat of Garten, Gordon Hay (secretary) and Jamie Rogers. 

Second with a score of 68 were the Inverness secretary, Ewan Forbes and Gordon Fyfe, Joining them in the finals are Muir of Ord secretary John Forbes and Allan Pollock with a card of 70. The fourth pair earning a Glenbervie place represented Turriff Golf Club.

SENIOR NORTHERN COUNTIES CUP

Next week (May 18-20) the Inverness Golf Club senior team of Laurie Chancellor, Steve Barron, Jim Elliot and Fraser Urquhart travel to Royal Dornoch to defend the B D Fraser Senior Northern Counties Cup they won last year on their home course. 

With a bye into round two, their opening game is against the non course-owning club of Eriskay whose members play at Tain.