Godsman and Wright win Black Isle Foursomes at first attempt

 

 

Left to right: Gordon MacKintosh representing sponsors Munro and Noble, scratch winners Kyle Godsman (Moray) and Jeff Wright (Forres), handicap winners Del Newbrigging and Robbie Williamson (Fortrose and Rosemarkie),  Chris Skelton (Fortrose and Rosemarkie GC captain.   

By ROBIN WILSON

Tournament favourites Kyle Godsman (Moray) and Jeff Wright (Forres), cruised to an overwhelming first time victory through 14 holes in the final of the Munro and  Noble (Inverness) Black Isle Foursomes at Fortrose and Rosemarkie Golf Club at the weekend.

 

Easter Sunday's weather had improved greatly on Saturday's pre -ualifying day when the outstanding score in the conditions was a level par 71 (36-35) from the Nairn partnership of Finlay Asher and North District senior champion Robert Smith.
Adding a second round 74 took the Nairn duo into the match-play stages as leading qualifiers.

 

Into the semi finals for a second year the Nairn duo were pitted against last year's losing finalists from Inverness, David Joel and Bruce Thomson, and beat them 2 and 1 with a birdie on the 17^th hole. Meanwhile Godsman and Wright who had qualified in second place with 148 (73-75), came up against former multiple winners, local Alan Cameron (Fortrose) and Inverness's Ewan Forbes who qualified with 149 (73/-6).

 

Godsman and Wright showed their quality scratch golf first in the semi-final against Cameron and Forbes. Dormie four in front, they closed out the opposition with a birdie on the 14^th green. Then, in the final against Finlay and Smith, Godsman and Wright reiterated their authority by winning at the same hole once again to lift the McKinlay Trophy for the first time on the Black Isle.

 

The handicap match-play ties were more keenly contested between four local couples. Del Newbrigging and Robbie Williamson were in semi-final action against a former scratch winner, George Patersonm and Ross Currie who lost a five-hole lead and were beaten on the last green.

 

In the other semi-final George Paterson's son, Gregor, partnering Rory Brese, beat Colin Harrison and Andrew Simpson by 4 and 2. Then, in the final, Newbrigging and Williamson were again taken to the last hole but, holding a one-hole lead, won the 18^th to win by two holes. 

 

 

Brora Win Jim Miller Quaich

 

With home advantage Brora Golf Club wrenched the Miller Quaich from Tain Golf Club by a margin of 31 points to win the inter-club Stableford competition at the Sutherland links on Easter Sunday.

 

With an individual best contribution of 40 stableford points from eighteen handicapper James Sutherland the Brora team sped to a 393 total leaving Tain, the holders, well behind in second place with 362 points. The best twelve cards from the teams of fourteen count.

 

Tain's top scorer was Martin Ryan with 38 points and Royal Dornoch's best was 34 points from Adrian Bagott to take Dornoch into third place on 359. Golspie were two members short and all their twelve scores added to 339 with their club captain William MacBeath having their their best individual 33 points.

 

Dornoch Junior Open

 

Jamie MacKintosh (The Nairn) and Jamie Penwright (Inverness) were separated on inward half counts to determine who won the overall scratch Matheson Trophy in Royal Dornoch's Junior Open last Sunday.

 

Both returned four over par cards of 74 but MacKintosh came home in 36 to Penwright's 40 to win the trophy.

 

But the star of the day was twelve year old junior girl Sophie Murphy who made the long journey from from Clydebank and District GC, who as all the girls in the combined field received a bonus reduction of five shots and her nett 71, off 33 reduced to 66 to win the overall handicap Matheson Trophy bettering the women's actual CSS of 76 by five.

 

Local Paddy Murray won the confined Phimster Trophy with his nett 72, off 15 while the other prize winners were, in the over 15 age group, Jamie Penwright (Inverness) 74; Handicap – Tommy McClenaghan (Invergordon) (9) 70, Grant Ross (Brora) (10) 71, Paddy Murray (Royal Dornoch)  (15) 72, Jack Roberts (Carrbridge) (21) 72. Under 14 age group – scratch Calum Daun (Inverness) 75. Handicap – Jack MacLean (Fortrose and Rosemarkie (15) 68, Kiernan McMillan (Turnhouse) (18) 69.  

 Dornoch Junior Open picture caption:

Back row, left to right: Jack MacLean (Fortrose and Rosemarkie) and right Kiernan MacMillan (Turnhouse). Front: Jamie Mackintosh (Nairn), Hamish Macrae (Royal Dornoch GC vice-president) and Sophie Murphy (Clydebank and District).