Senior Northern Counties Cup starts at Elgin tomorrow with a bleak future, says organiser

The Senior Northern Counties Cup tournament tees off tomorrow (Wednesday) at Elgin Golf Club and finishes on Friday.
Organiser Gary Abel is pessimistic about the future of this event for players aged 55 years and over. He says:
"Sadly, it is the lowest entry that I have experienced which does not bode well for the future.
"I think it is down to the hard times golf clubs are having with reduced membership numbers and the cost of sending a team with the overnight accommodation to be paid for them."

    Last year's winning Murcar Links team at Cruden Bay. Left to right: Mike Lornie, Brian Holbrook, Alistair Fiddes and Derek Allan.

Murcar Links beat Inverness in last year's final and these are the only two seeded teams in the draw which is:

WEDNESDAY

FIRST ROUND

8.30 Nairn Dunbar 1 v Elgin 2

8.45 Royal Dornoch 1 v Duff House Royal 2

9.00 Cruden Bay v Forres.

SECOND ROUND

1.00 Murcar Links v Nairn Dunbar 2.

1.15 Deeside v Brora

1.30 Elgin v Nairn Dunbar 1 or Elgin 2.

1.45 Royal Dornoch 1 or Duff House Royal 2 v Cruden Bay or Forres

2.00 Royal Aberdeen v Boat of Garten.

2.15 Duff House Royal 1 v Eriskay Whisky Galore.

2.30 Royal Dornoch 2 v Nairn.

2.45 Moray v Inverness.

THURSDAY

QUARTER-FINALS

8.30, 8.45, 9.00 and 9.15

SEMI-FINALS

1.15 and 1.30

FRIDAY

FINAL
9.15