Smith and Asher top seeds at Black Isle

Foursomes match-play

 

By ROBIN WILSON

The Nairn partnership of Robert Smith and Finlay Asher lead the qualifiers into Sunday's match-play semi-finals of the Munro and Noble Black Isle Foursomes at Fortrose and Rosemarkie and will meet last year's losing finalists from Inverness, David Joel and Bruce Thomson, in the first semi-final.

Over a very breezy and at times cold Fortrose and Rosemarkie links, the Nairn duo were the only couple to match the par of 71, adding a second-round 74 for 145 to earn first seeding.

The pre-tournament favourites playing the event for the first time, Moray's Kyle Godsman (pictured in action today by Robin Wilson), and Jeff Wright ((Forres), who decided to stay at home rather than play in the Craigmiller Park Open 72-hole tournament, finished as second seeds on 148 (73-75).

They will meet former winners Alan Cameron (Fortrose) and Inverness Golf Club secretary Ewan Forbes in the other semi-final. Cameron and Forbes aggregated 149 ((73-76) while Joel and Thomson improved from a first round 77 to a 73 for a 150 total.

Local club secretary and winner for the past three years, Michael MacDonald was not so fortunate as he had to go out and find a new partner as Chris Gaittens has a broken arm from a recent ladder fall. MacDonald and new partner Darren Hexley (Golspie) missed the cut after an opening 82.

The line-up in the handicap match-play are all but one local golfers: Inverness's Andrew Simpson partners Colin Harrison against Rory Brese and Gregor Paterson.  The other local tie is George Paterson and Ross Currie v Del Newbigging and Robbie Williamson.