Kevin Duncan wins NE Alliance at Montrose with a flawless 66

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Winner of the Scottish Golfers Alliance at Boat of Garten two weeks ago, Cruden Bay tour pro Kevin Duncan continued in good form at today's (Wed) North-east Alliance competition at sunny Montrose Links.

He shot a bogey-free, five-under-par 66 to finish three strokes clear at the head of 92 competitors, the biggest field of the season so far.

Duncan, pictured, hitting the ball long and straight off the tee and putting well, birdied the second, fifth, sixth, seventh and 12th in halves of 32 (four under par) and 34 (one under) to win the £140 first scratch prize.

Joint runners-up on the 69 mark were Royal Montrose's schoolboy international, Ewan Wheat (35-34), and professional Craig Dempster (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre), 34-35.
Wheat birdied the second, eighth, 12th, 13th and 15th but bogeyed the ninth, 14th and 17th.
Dempster birdied the third, sixth, seventh and 11th and had an eagle 3 at the 15th to cancel out a double bogey at the 10th.

Best outward half of the day on a course which was in excellent condition was a 33 by Cruden Bay professional Murray Paterson. Sadly he took 42 strokes for the inward journey for a 75.
In contrast,

NORTH-EAST GOLFERS ALLIANCE
Montrose Links
par 71

66 K Duncan (Cruden Bay) 32-34 p.
69 E Wheat (Royal Montrose) 35-34, C Dempster (Paul Lawrie GC) 34-35 p.
70 J Calder (Newmachar) 36-34, R Mitchell (Paul Lawrie GC) 35-35 p, S Hanson (Kemnay) 36-34 p.
71 P McLean (Peterhead) 36-35 p, K Zeynalov (Portlethen) 37-34 p.
72 J Duff (Newmachar) 36-36 p
74 S Finnie (Caledonian) 38-36, S Kiloh (Portlethen) 35-39 p.
75 J Nicolson (Newmachar) 38-37, D Craigie (Kemnay) 39-36, J Emslie (Royal Aberdeen) 41-34, P Craig (Kemnay) 38-37, M Merchant (Newmachar) 37-38, M Patterson (Cruden Bay) 33-42 p, B Nicolson (Newmachar) 38-37, B Murray (Portlethen) 37-38, C Duffus (Royal Aberdeen) 36-39.
76 K Bedborough (Deeside) 36-40, M Findlay (Cullen)37-39
77 B Ritchie (Inverallochy) 40-37, D Adam (Kemnay) 37-40, D McLean (Kemnay) 39-38, L Buck (Peterculter) 36-41
78 P McKenna (Portlethen) p 36-42, S McWilliam (Royal Aberdeen) 40-38, D Leslie (Bon Accord) 37-41, W Skene (Deeside) 39-39.
79 A Smith (Duff House Royal) 40-39, R Bruce (Edzell) 39-40.
80 R Reid (Tarland) 37-43, I Birnie (Deeside) 40-40, G McLaggan (Bon Accord) 40-40, I Esslemont (Paul Lawrie GC) 39-41
81 P Morrison (Newmachar) 38-43, J Chalmers (Kemnay) 40-41, G Somers (Bon Accord) 40-41, S Moore (Kemnay) 41-40, R Denning (Inverurie) 43-38, G Esson (Portlethen) 47-34
82 D Templeton (Murcar Links), P Cheyne (Northern), M Duncan (Murcar Links), C Angus (Kemnay), M Forster (Cruden Bay), N Watt (Cullen)
83 S Davidson (Northern), N Stewart (Northern) G Cochrane (Kemnay), R Ruddiman (Royal Aberdeen), G Thom (Murcar Links)
84 T Boyle (Portlethen), M Fraser (Longside)
85 D Booth (Tarland), R Davidson (Caledonian), C Craig (Kintore), S Shand (Kemnay), G Allan (Hazlehead)
86 M Denholm (Deeside), P Cornfield (Newmachar), D Fleming (Portlethen), P Morrison (Portlethen)
87 C Cassie (Nigg Bay), D Cassie (Nigg Bay), D Nelson (Aboyne). 
88 D Bisset (Banchory)
89 J Hosie (Hazlehead)
91 B Munro (Newmachar), N Chisholm (Kemnay), R Coupar (Duff House Royal), A Clark (Newmachar), P Low (Craibstone).
92 M MacKay (Kemnay), G Burnett (Westhill), M Brown (Kemnay)
93 R Brown (Kemnay)
94 A Sorley (Newmachar)
95 G Leslie (Deeside), J Forrest (Northern), B Lumsden (Northern), R Mathieson (Auchmill)
98 S Allison (Bon Accord) 
100 G Travis (Auchmill) 
No Returns:
 R Wright (Northern), D Lawrie (Deeside), R Lamb (Newmachar), R McKen (Trump International), R Duncan (Deeside), N Hardie (Kintore), S Wallace (Portlethen)

PRIZEWINNERS
SCRATCH
66 K Duncan (Cruden Bay)

69 E Wheat (Montrose Golf Links), C Dempster (Paul Lawrie GC)

70 S Hanson (Kemnay), R Mitchell (Paul Lawrie GC)

HANDICAP
Class 1

68 P Craig (Kemnay) bih, C Duffus (Royal Aberdeen)

69 J Calder (Newmachar) bih, M Merchant (Newmachar)

70 D Craigie (Kemnay)

Class 2
69 R Denning (Inverurie)

70 N Stewart (Northern)

71 G Thom (Murcar Links) bih, S Davidson (Northern) bih, I Birnie (Deeside)