EDINBURGH & EAST OF SCOTLAND ALLIANCE AGM

The Edinburgh and East of Scotland Golfers Alliance annual general meeting will be held on Wednesday (April 16) - 7 for 7.30pm - at the Merchants of Edinburgh Golf Club.
A buffet will be served before the meeting.

ALYTH ASSISTANT RAE WINS MIDLAND
ALLIANCE CHAMPIONSHIP
The final event of the 2007-2008 Midland Golfers' Alliance season, the Rennies of Dunfermline Championship, was held at Crail Golfing Society, Fife in cold, wet and windy conditions.
Alyth assistant professional Michael Rae triumphed with scores of 72 and 71 for a total of 142 and a two-shot victory from Pitreavie pro Paul Brookes and Ladybank assistant Alan Lockhart.
Winner of the Handicap Championship was Lindsay Cargill (Arbroath). Playing off four, he had a net total of 142.
FINAL TOTALS
Craighead Links am, Balcomie Links pm
LEADING SCRATCH
143 M Rae (Alyth) ap 72 71.
145 P Brookes (Pitreavie) p 74 71, A Lockhart (Ladybank) ap 74 71.
146 K McGowan (Burntisland) ap 78 68, B Mason (Drumoig) p 73 73.
148 H Wong (Burntisland) ap 74 74.
149 C Matheson (Falkirk Tryst) ap 79 70.
150 L Cargill (Arbroath) 77 73, G McLeod (Monifieth) p 79 71.
LEADING HANDICAP
142 L Cargill (Arbroath) (4) 73 69.
145 W Crosbie (Blairgowrie (6) 73 72.
146 A Mason (Thornton) (7) 73 73.
147 K Rattray (Ladybank) (2) 74 73, J Milne (Drumoig) (11) 77 70.

THURSO'S DON MACKAY WINS
NORTH ALLIANCE TITLE
AT WICK

By ROBIN WILSON
Tain's scratch golfer, three times a runner up, was denied a first Quaich victory in the North Golf Alliance season when Thurso's Don MacKay came from three shots behind to sweep to a four shot success with a brilliant four under par winning score at Wick.
Mackay who only came into contention with his third winning score of the year at the Brora fixture three weeks ago went into the 72 hole aggregate lead after a superb first nine holes of 30 at Wick, five birdies, 1st, 3rd, 6th 8th and ninth holes.
He finished with a four under par 65 which reduced his previous 72 hole aggregate to a winning 275 to relegate the previous joint leaders, Ferries and Ron Taylor (Wick) to second place. Ferries took the runner's up prize with his 279 total as a result of his “away” scores bettering those of Taylor, who had held the Quaich for the past three seasons.
The Thurso member, who has a handicap of two, then saw his nett 72 hole aggregate of 267 lift the MacKintosh Salver and relegate another three times previous runner up in this competition, Seann Sutherland (Bonar-Bridge – Ardgay) to second place.

Sutherland's nett total of 268 had lead by three from the Holder Mike Keay (Tarbat) going into the final fixture but when MacKay's nett 63 from Wick was added to his three other best nett returns from the year he went a shot ahead of Sutherland.

There was a small consolation for Ferries when he helped his club win the team trophy. With such a poor entry only four clubs could put forward four players each to complete the team scoring. Thurso dropped out when one of their four members did not return a card and this just left Tain, Wick and Durness with four scores to call upon. With a winning nett of 66, in the Class 1 section Raymond Lockie led Tain to the team victory with a total of 289. Tain's other nett scorers were Billy Ferries 70, Munro Ferries 76 and Ali Melville 77, to win by six shots from Hosts, Wick.
Results.
Scratch – 65 D. A. MacKay (Thurso). 71 R. W. Taylor (Wick). 72 B. Ferries (Tain). 75 R. J. Wilson (Brora). 76 S. Sutherland (Thurso), D. C. Mackay (Royal Dornoch), M. Keay (Tarbat), R. Lockie (Tain), M. Ferries (Tain).
Handicap
Class 1 – R. Lockie (Tain) (10) 66. S. MacDonald (Thurso (8), D. C. MacKay (Royal Dornoch) (8), B. Suttar (Thurso) (10) 68.
Class 2 - A. McCowan (Durness) (12) 66. J. Disbury (Reay) (21) 70, J. Morrison (Durness) (16) 70.

CHAMPION CRAIG STEPHEN ALSO LEADING
MONEY-WINNER ON NE ALLIANCE CIRCUIT

New North-east Golfers' Alliance champion Craig Stephen (Meldrum House) was the leading money-winner, by a considerable margin, on the 2007-2008 circuit which ended at Cruden Bay on Wednesday.
As an amateur, Stephen cannot accept money so he received £760 in prize vouchers during the season.
MacKenzie Club professional Colin Nelson came next with £507 in winnings, followed by two amateurs, Philip McLean (Peterhead), £500, and Anthony Bews (Murcar Links), £431.
Stephen also won the Scratch section of the Order of Merit with an average score - 10 events to count - of minus 0.6 under the standard scratch score per round.
John Nicholson, the consistent Auchmill three-handicapper, won Class 1 with a net average score of minus 0.1 under SSS.
Another Auchmill player, Paul Cornfield, who plays off 10, won Class 2 of the Order of Merit with a net average score of 0.5 over SSS.
LEADING STATISTICS 2007-2008
MONEY/VOUCHERS
1 C Stephen (Meldrum House) £760.
2 C Nelson (MacKenzie Club) £507.
3 P McLean (Peterhead) £500.
4 A Bews (Murcar Links) £431.
5 G McInnes (Murcar Links) £330.
6 J Nicolson (Auchmill) £327.
6 W S Urquhart (Murcar Links) £311.
8 R Cameron (McDonald Ellon) £285.
9 A K Pirie (Hazlehead) £268.
10 G Bruce (Westhill) £240.
11 D Law (Hazlehead) £237.
12 G Esson (Portlethen) £230.
13 S Finnie (Caledonian) £229.
14 F Bisset (Banchory) £210.
14 G Forbes (Murcar Links) £210.
16 A Styles (Caledonian) £207.
17 S Scott (Auchmill) £200.
18 D Read (Banchory) £194.
19 N Reid (Deeside) £180.
19 S Garden (Hazlehead) £180.
19 W Main (Murcar Links) £180.
22 D Bisset (Banchory) £175.
22 J Mooney (Turriff) £175.
22 S Lawrie (Portlethen) £175.
25 D Nelson (Aboyne) £170.
25 C Hood (Alford) £170.
27 S Davidson (Banchory) £160.
28 J M Hamilton (Murcar Links) £156.
29 I Bratton (Newburgh) £150.
30 P Anderson (Deeside) £145.
30 D Corkey (Murcar Links) £145.
30 G Mitchell (Braemar) £145.
33 P Cornfield (Auchmill) £144.
34 C Alexander (Murcar Links) £151.
35 D Moir (Murcar Links) £140.
36 A Grant (Portlethen) £135.
37 C Buchanan (Hazlehead) £134.
37 M F R Rogers (Kemnay) £134.
39 R L Nicoll (Murcar Links) £129.
40 D Randall (Banchory) £126.
41 G H Paterson (Northern) £125.
42 D Garrett (Huntly) £120.
43 R McDonald (Inchmarlo) £112.
45 B Bavidge (Murcar Links) £110.
45 C Carnegie (Kemnay) £110.
47 P Lovie (Inchmarlo) £109.
48 W Forbes (Murcar Links) £107.
49 J Wilson (Deeside) £105.
50 D McDowell (Aberdeen Council) £100.
ORDER OF MERIT - Scratch
Average of best 10 gross scores in relation to CSS
1 C Stephen (Meldrum House) -0.6.
2 C Nelson (MacKenzie Club) 0.2.
3 A Bews (Murcar Links) 0.6.
4 A Campbell (Deeside) 1.5.
4 G Bruce (Westhill) 1.5.
6 P Lovie (Inchmarlo) 2.1.
7 S Finnie (Caledonian) 2.3.
8 S Davidson (Banchory) 2.4.
8 W S Urquhart (Murcar Links) 2.4.
8 D Garrett (Huntly) 2.4.
11 A K Pirie (Hazlehead) 2.5
12 G H Paterson (Northern) 2.6.
13 R Fitzpatrick (Inchmarlo) 1.8.
14 J Nicolson (Auchmill) 2.9.
15 A Styles (Caledonian) 3.1.
16 J Mooney (Turriff) 3.2.
17 R McDonald (Inchmarlo) 3.4.
18 D Corkey (Murcar Links) 3.6.
19 F Bisset (Banchory) 4.3.
20 S Scott (Auchmill) 4.6.
21 N Reid (Deeside) 4.7.
22 C Carnegie (Kemnay) 4.9.
23 D Clark (Duff House Royal) 5.1.
24 D Read (Banchory) 5.5.
25 S Pert (Huntly) 5.6.
26 M Jenkins (Duff House Royal) 5.7.
27 C Alexander (Murcar Links) 6.3.
28 D Wilson (Duff House Royal) 6.8.
29 J M Hamilton (Murcar Links) 6.9.
30 A Graham (Portlethen) 7.2.
31 R L Nicoll (Murcar Links) 74.
32 A Innes (Murcar Links) 7.5.
33 M Lawrie (Kemnay) 7.6.
34 H Roulston (Stonehaven) 8.0.
35 l Tayulor (Auchmill) 8.3.
36 J Dalgarno (Hazlehead) 8.9.
36 C Hood (Alford) 8.9.
38 D Nelson (Aboyne) 9.4.
39 J Murray (Banchory) 9.5.
40 I D Smith (Hazlehead) 9.6.
41 F G Gray (Deeside) 9.7.
42 B Shaw (Banchory) 9.9.
43 P Farnan (Royal Aberdeen) 10.0.
43 R M Grant (Caledonian) 10.0
45 N Parker (Murcar Links) 10.1.
46 D Leighton (Northern) 10.4.
47 S Lawrie (Portlethen) 10.7.
48 D Bisset (Banchory) 10.9.
ORDER OF MERIT - Class 1
Average of 10 best net scores in relation to CSS
Handicap in brackets.
1 J Nicolson (Auchmill) (3) -0.1.
2 W S Urquhart (Murcar Links) (2) 0.5
2 A K Pirie (Hazlehead) (2) 0.5
4 S Scott (Auchmill) (4) 0.6.
5 J M Hamilton (Murcar Links) (6) 0.9.
6 C Hood (Alford) (7) 1.1.
7 S Finnie (Caledonian) (1) 1.3
8 C Stephen (Meldrum House) (+2) 1.4.
9 D Read (Banchory) (4) 1.5.
9 C Alexander (Murcar Links) (4) 1.5.
11 D Corkey (Murcar Links) (2) 1.6.
12 R L Nicoll (Murcar Links) (5) 1.7.
12 J Murray (Banchory) (8) 1.7.
14 D Wilson (Duff House Royal) (4) 1.8.
15 C Carnegie (Kemnay) (3) 1.9.
15 J Dalgarno (Hazlehead) (7) 1.9.
17 D Nelson (Aboyne) (7) 2.0.
18 C Cassie (Nigg Bay) (8) 2.1.
19 A Graham (Portlethen) (5) 2.2.
20 A Campbell (Deeside) (+1) 2.3.
21 D Garrett (Huntly) (scr) 2.4.
21 N Parker (Murcar Links) (7) 2.4.
23 G H Paterson (Northern) (scr) 2.6.
23 M Lawrie (Kemnay) (5) 2.6.
25 B Shaw (Banchory) (7) 2.8.
26 K Minty (Turriff) (8) 3.1.
27 A Styles (Caledonian) (scr) 3.2.
27 F Bisset (Banchory) (1) 3.2.
27 D McKay (Caledonian) (8) 3.2.
30 H Roulston (Stonehaven) (4) 3.3.
30 L Taylor (Auchmill) (5) 3.3.
32 I( D Smith (Hazlehead) (6) 3.4.
33 A Bews (Murcar Links) (+3) 3.6.
33 S Pert (Huntly) (2) 3.6.
35 M Jenkins (Duff House Royal) (2) 3.7.
36 D Clark (Duff House Royal)( (1) 4.1.
37 P Farnan (Royal Aberdeen) (5) 4.2.
38 D Leightonh (Northern) (6) 4.4.
39 R M Grant (Caledonian) (5) 5.0.
40 A Innes (Murcar Links) (2) 5.3
40 D MacKay (Newmachar) (7) 5.3.

ORDER OF MERIT - Class 2
Handicaps in brackets.
1 P Cornfield (Auchmill) (10) 0.5.
2 I Strachan (Royal Aberdeen) (11) 1.5.
2 M F R Rogers (Kemnay) (13) 1.5.
4 S Lawrie (Portlethen) (9) 1.7.
4 D Randall (Banchory) (15) 1.7.
6 D Bisset (Banchory) (9) 2.0.
7 J Forrest (Northern) (9) 2.2.
8 W Forbes (Murcar Links) (12) 2.5.
9 R Brown (Craibstone) (13) 2.6.
10 F Barclay (Kintore) (9) 2.8.
11 D Moir (Murcar Links) (13) 3.09.
12 B Bavidge (Murcar Links) (10) 3.1
12 D Wood (Newburgh) (14) 3.1
14 G Kelly (Peterculter) (11) 3.3.
15 S Youngson (Turriff) (14) 3.4.
16 M Ord (Royal Aberdeen) (11) 3.5.
17 T Collie (Kemnay) (10) 3.7.
17 W D Rae (Kemnay) (13) 3.7.
19 S Garden (Hazlehead) (9) 3.8.
20 S Higgins(Royal Aberdeen) (10) 3.9.
20 G Homer (Lumphanan (12) 3.9.
22 J Penny (Huntly) (11) 4.3.
23 H McNaughton (Cruden Bay) (10) 4.9.
23 J Wilson (Deeside) (10) 4.9.
25 M Brown (Craibstone) (17) 5.0.
26 N Chisholm (Kemnay) (10) 5.2.
26 R Alison (Deeside) (13) 5.2.
28 R Lumsden (East Aberdeenshire) (18) 5.4.
20 J Jessiman (Oldmeldrum) (14) 5.6.
30 J Robb (Turriff) (10) 6.0.
31 B Lumsden (Northern) (13) 6.1.
32 C Adie (Murcar Links) (14) 6.4.
32 J Jones (Craibstone) (17) 6.4.
34 D Lawrie (Inchmarlo) (13) 7.7.
35 A Buchan (Northern) (9) 10.1.

+Scottishgolfview is indebted to North-east Golfers' Alliance secretary Ron Menzies for the above treasure trove of statistics.

Midlands Alliance

Wind-tamer Alan Lockhart at Crieff

Ladybank assistant professional Alan Lockhart won today's Midlands Golfers' Alliance meeting at Crieff with a creditable 71 in very windy conditions.
James Milne, who plays off 12 at Drumoig, won the handicap section with a net 68.

LEADING SCRATCH
71 A Lockhart (Ladybank) ap.
72 M Rae (Alyth) ap, A J Webster (Edzell) p, L Vannet (Carnoustie) p, M Brown (Monifieth).
73 M Pirie (Pitlochry) p, S Smith (Ladybank) p.
74 I Bell (Vicars Ford) p.
75 D M Cameron (Pitlochry).
76 G McLeod (Monifieth).
LEADING HANDICAP
68 J Milne (Drumoig) (12).
71 M Brown (Monifieth) (1).
72 D M Cameron (Pitlochry) (3).
73 W Crosbie (Blairgowrie) (6).
74 M Niven (Alloa) (3), I D Henderson (Craigiehill) (7), I Watson (King James VI) (13), D Fordyce (Dun Ochil) (12).

Edinburgh & East of Scotland Alliance

Edinburgh & East of Scotland Alliance leading scores from competition at Glencorse Golf Club.
SCRATCH
1st £100 David Patrick (Mortonhall) 60.
2nd £50 Craig Gordon (Edinburgh Golf Centre) 66.
2nd £50 Gordon Law (Uphall) 66.
2nd £50 Steven Neilson (Dunbar) 66.
2nd £50 Alan Reid (West Lothian) 66.

HANDICAP
1st £90 voucher Alan Brown (West Linton) (14) 61.
1st £90 voucher Tom Lewis (West Lothian) (13) 61.
3rd £20 voucher Keith Cowie (Newbattle) (8) 63.
3rd £20 voucher Alistair Anderson (Peebles) (4) 63.
3rd £20 voucher Kenny Bisset (Prestonfield) (6) 63.
3rd £20 voucher Steve Cameron (Peebles) (12) 63.
3rd £20 voucher Gavin Clark (Duddingston) (6) 63.
3rd £20 voucher Stewart Downing (Duddingston) (9) 63.
3rd £20 voucher David Graham (Lochend) (5) 63.
Trainee Professional Prize.
£20 Ewan Hogarth (Peebles) 67.
£20 Alan Martin (Dunbar) 67.

DRAW FOR NE ALLIANCE FOURSOMES

Draw for the North-east Alliance pro-am foursomes at Murcar Links next Thursday:

Evening Express Shield - First round

+Scratch match-play

9.30 R McDonald (Inchmarlo), S Pert (Huntly) v G McInnes (Murcar Links), W S Urquhart (Murcar Links).

9.40 J Mooney (Turriff), A J Smith (Turriff) v N Reid (Deeside), A K Pirie (Hazlehead).

9.50 S Davidson (Banchory), C Stephen (Meldrum House) v R Cameron (McDonald Ellon), A Bews (Murcar Links).

10.0 R Fitzpatrick (Inchmarlo), D Law (Hazlehead) v G Bruce (Westhill), D Garrett (Huntly).

Press and Journal Shield - First round

+Handicap match-play
10.10 C Buchanan (Hazlehead) (8), M F R Rogers (Kemnay) (13) v A Nelson (Banchory) (7), P Cornfield (Auchmill) (10).
10.20 N Parker (Murcar Links) (10), J Penny (Huntly) (11) v S Scott (Auchmill) (4), J Wilson (Deeside) (10).
10.30 L Taylor (Auchmill) (5), S Higgins (Royal Aberdeen) (10) v K Minty (Turriff) (8), D Moir (Murcar Links) (13).
10.40 D MacKay (Newmachar) (7), W D Rae (Kemnay) (13) v F G Gray (Deeside) (4), T Collie (Kemnay) (10).

Semi-finals to be played on Thursday afternoon; finals in both competitions on the Friday morning at 9.30 and 9.45am.

Classy Craig Stephen

wins North-east

Alliance title by five

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Leading Meldrum House amateur Craig Stephen lived up to his +2 handicap rating in winning the North-east Golfers' Alliance championship by five strokes today.

Stephen, pictured right by Cal Carson Golf Agency, followed up a 70 at Duff House Royal in last week's first round with a brilliant three-under-par 67 in windy conditions – the best second-round score by four strokes in a field of 83 - at Cruden Bay today for a one-under-par total 137.

He won the Uniroyal Quaich by five shots from Scotland youth cap Philip McLean (Peterhead) who, as leading amateur with a pair of 71s for 142, earned the J K Hall Quaich.

Deeside assistant professional Nick Reid, first-round leader with a 68, putted his way out of the picture with a 81 for 150. He had three double-bogey 6s in halves of 42 and 39: at the third, fifth and 14th.

Stephen, in contrast, swears by a new putter, even though he three-putted the 10^th and 16^th – "tough pin placings rather than poor putting" - in halves of 33 and 34. Driving long and straight, he birdied the third, fifth, seventh, 12^th and 14^th.

Craig missed the green at the first but saved his par with a sand wedge and a single putt. From that "escape" he went on to cover the next eight holes in three under par with a two-putt birdie 3 after driving the green with a three wood; then reducing the fifth to a birdie 3 with a drive, five-iron and a 20ft putt and the eighth to a drive and two putts for a birdie 3.

He was 20ft past the hole with his second to the 10th and took three putts to get down for the first of two bogeys.

A three wood and a pitch-and-putt gave him his fourth birdie at the 12th and he got the last of his five birdies at the 15th where he had "a good drive and two putts from off the green."

His only deviation from pat over the last four holes was a three-putt bogey at the 16th from 25 yards.

Stephen, 48, works for a living in the car trade - Huntly Motors - but young McLean is a full-time amateur who will play the 72-hole national circuit in the new season.

McLean's 71 included a triple bogey 7 at the fifth. Birdies at the fourth, 10^th and 12^th highlighted halves of 38 and 33.

Gary Esson (Portlethen), beaten in a play-off for the NE Alliance championship in 2006 and again last year, had a No Return at Cruden Bay.

Bill Urquhart (Murcar Links), winner of the Class 1 handicap title and with it the Chapper's Pot, holed from 75yd distance for an eagle 2 at the 389yd 14th in halves of 39 and 32 for a 71. He three-putted the last for his only bogey at the eighth.

Michael Rogers (Kemnay) won the Major's Pot as the Class 2 handicap champion.

Former Walker Cup player Sandy Pirie (Hazlehead) won the Veterans' Pot for the best over-60s' gross 36-hole total.

+NE Alliance stalwart Archie McInnes is in a BRISTOL hospital and about to have an operation for a broken hip. Obviously the news made it difficult for son Graeme, the defending champion, to concentrate and he had a No Return at Cruden Bay today.

CHAMPIONSHIP SCORES

First round Duff House Royal, Second round Cruden Bay.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS

Par 138 (Par 68 + 70)

SCRATCH

137 C Stephen (Meldrum House) 70 67.

142 P McLean (Peterhead) 71 71.

143 R Cameron (McDonald) 70 73, W S Urquhart (Murcar Links) 72 71, A Bews (Murcar Links) 71 72; A Styles (Caledonian) 71 72.

145 A K Pirie (Hazlehead) 71 74, R Fitzpatrick (Inchmarlo) 72 73.

149 D Garrett (Huntly) 72 77, G Bruce (Westhill) 76 73.

150 A Campbell (Deeside) 75 75, N Reid (Deeside) 69 81, R McDonald (Inchmarlo) 73 77.

151 C Nelson (MacKenzie Club) 80 71.

152 S Pert (Huntly) 74 78.

153 D Law (Hazlehead) 80 73.

154 A J Smith (Turriff) 78 76.

156 S Scott (Auchmill) 79 77.

157 S Davidson (Banchory) 81 76.

158 D MacKay (Newmachar) 75 83, R Pirie (Caledonian) 80 78.

159 H Roulston (Stonehaven) 79 80, C Buchanan (Hazlehead) 83 76, F G Gray (Deeside) 82 77, A Nelson (Banchory) 77 82, C Alexander (Murcar Links) 77 82.

160 L Taylor (Auchmill) 79 81.

161 M Lawrie (Kemnay) 77 84.

HANDICAP

Class 1 – W S Urquhart (Murcar Links) (2) 70 69; C Stephen (Meldrum House) (+2) 72 69, A I Pirie (Hazlehead) (2) 69 72 141; C Buchanan (Hazlehead) (8) 75 68, A Styles (Caledonian) (scr) 71 72, D Leighton (Northern) (6) 72 71 143; D Mackay (Newmachar) (7) 68 76 144; A Nelson (Banchory) (7) 70 75 145; P McLean (Peterhead) (+2) 73 73 146; S Scott (Auchmill) (4) 75 73, S Pert (Huntly) (2) 72 76, A J Smith (Turriff) (3) 75 73, D Nelson (Aboyne) (7) 75 73 148; D Garrett (Huntly) (scr) 72 77, K Minty (Turriff) (8) 75 74, A Bews (Murcar Links) (+3) 74 75 149; L Taylor (Auchmill) (5) 74 76 150.

Class 2 – M F R Rogers (Kemnay) (13) 75 72, D Moir (Murcar Links) (13) 71 76 147; B Bavidge (Murcar Links) 73 76, D Randall (Banchory) (15) 77 72 149; P Cornfield (Auchmill) (10) 76 74, W D Rae (Kemnay) (13) 72 78, J Wilson (Deeside) (10) 74 76, S Higgins (Royal Aberdeen) (10) 77 73 150; T Collie (Kemnay) (10) 74 77, D Bisset (Banchory) (9) 75 76 151; M Ord (Royal Aberdeen) (11) 74 78; P Anderson (Deeside) (11) 78 75, R Brown (Craibstone) (13) 79 74 153.

CRUDEN BAY SCORECARD: PAR 70

OUT: 4-4-4-3-4-5-4-4-4--36. IN: 4-3-4-5-4-3-3-4-4--34.

CRAIG STEPHEN: 67

OUT: 4-4-3-3-3-5-4-3-4--33. IN: 5-3-3-5-3-3-4-4-4--34

PHILIP McLEAN: 71

OUT: 4-4-4-2-7-5-4-4-4--38. IN: 3-3-3-5-4-4-3-4-4--33.

COLIN NELSON: 71

OUT: 5-4-3-4-4-5-3-3-4--35. IN: 4-3-5-5-4-3-3-4-5--36.

BILL URQUHART: 71

OUT: 4-5-4-3-5-6-3-5-4--39. IN: 4-2-4-5-2-3-3-4-5--32.

+Note from Colin Farquharson: I am off on Friday for three weeks of a holiday before a busy golf season starts, so I won't be able to provide any updates for Scottishgolfview.com until late in the second week of April. This means no news about next week's NE Alliance foursomes ... except in your Press and Journal.

FERRIES AND TAYLOR NECK AND

NECK AS NORTH ALLIANCE

SEASON CLIMAXES AT WICK

By ROBIN WILSON
The North Golf Alliance season will climax at Wick on Sunday with Tain's Munro Ferries and Wick's Ronnie Taylor going neck and neck for the individual Scratch Quaich held by Taylor for the past three seasons.
Two other trophies will be decided at Wick. Bonar Bridge's Seann Sutherland carries north a three-shot lead over the holder, Mike Keay (Tarbat), in the race for the handicap Mackintosh Salver.

The third trophy to be contested at Wick is the Team Shield of which Durness are the holders. A change in the rules this year allows any four scores from the handicap categories to count. That will help the other clubs who do not put forward so many players in the higher category.
Following the fixture at Brora last Sunday the four score aggregate totals of Taylor and Ferries are the same.

Taylor has the advantage of the final fixture being played over his home course. He must be ranked favourite to lower his now running total of 279. At the the final remaining Sutherland fixture at Brora last Sunday the Wick scratch man missed his last chance to improve on his “away” rounds of 67 at Golspie and 72 at Struie while on home turf he will be banking to better his two counting Caithness scores at Reay (69) and Wick (71) to retain the trophy.
Ferries, with a 76 at Brora last Sunday, gave up his last opportunity to lower his South counting scores of Struie (68) and Tain (73) and he will have to show a return to form to better his two current Caithness scores, both from visits to Reay, a 70 and 68, that make up his total of 279. The only slight advantage Ferries holds is that if he and Taylor remain tied after Wick on Sunday the Tain member has the better “away” record, his two score “away” total of 138 from Reay beating Taylor's “away” total of 139 from Golspie and Struie.
Mike Keay, the holder of the handicap Mackintosh Salver, will try to make up the three shots on Sutherland by lowering his last October net 71 at Wick while Sutherland can relax in the knowledge that his work in Caithness is done with a 66 and a 67 already banked from the Reay fixtures.

The leaders' current totals are: Sutherland 268 and Keay 271. After the Invergordon fixture Alister McCowan (Durness) came into the frame on 273 and could still be a threat.
The members were welcomed to Brora last Sunday by a course decked out in its summer finery and a new medal tee at the 11th hole brought into use for stroke play competition for the first time.

With all other 17 medal tees in use the course yardage was extended close to 6150 yards. March also brought with it the first cold north/north-east wind of spring accompanied by a customary fifteen minute squally shower that swept down from the surrounding hills to wreck many a card.
Given the opportunity to play to their full strength, Caithness duo Don Mackay (Thurso), picture above by courtesy of Robin Wilson, and Ronnie Taylor (Wick) stood out above the remainder of the field and both returned very good scratch scores of 72 from which, after a card comparison, Mackay shrugged of his three times bridesmaid tag and was credited with his first scratch win of the season.
The two-handicap Thurso member was the only player not to be put out of his stride by the sudden squall. A former Quaich winner in season 2003/04, he was the only player to make any adjustment to his scratch aggregate four score total and his winning 72 brings him within sight of Taylor and Ferries, now just two behind on 281 from Reay 66 and 71, Struie 72 and Brora 72.
Taylor was the halfway leader at Brora but was fizzing after a three putt on the ninth green dropped his excellent outward half card back to a one under par 34, he had birdied the first and fourth holes.

The lashing rain caught up with him on the tenth tee and his start to the inward half was 6,5 against the par of 4,4. He warmed up again with a closing birdie 2 but it came too late as his inward card mounted up to 38 to lose first place to Mackay who came home in 35 for his untroubled 72.
So high did the scores soar that even scratch player Ferries got a handicap place with his net 76, but standing out in the Class one Section was a remarkable nett 66, off 7, in the tough conditions from Reay's Richard MacDonald, after halves of 38 and 35.

His highlights were three birdies, at the 8th, 12th and 14th holes, for him to finish five ahead of Hamish Skinner (Tarbat).

In the Class Section local member Peter Etheridge also stuck to his task to win with a net 69 for what is the biggest winning margin of the year, ten ahead of William Thain (Wick). Etheridge drove the ball very well all day and just when the rain was beginning to fall he brightened up his inward card with a birdie 3 at the 14th hole only to let it slip with a three putt on the 17th green. So tough was the full length Brora course that even a nett 83 came into the prize list!
Results:

SCRATCH

72 D A Mackay (Thurso) 37-35, R W Taylor (Wick) 34-38).

73 R MacDonald (Reay).

79 H Skinner (Tarbat).

HANDICAP

Class 1 - R. MacDonald (Reay) (7) 66; H Skinner (Tarbat (8) 71; L Parnell (Reay) (5) 75; W Murray (Wick) (6) 75; M Ferries (Tain) (scr) 76.

Class 2 – P Etheridge (Brora) (11) 69; W Thain (Wick) (13) 79; A McCowan (Durness) (12) , D A Matheson (Brora) (15) 83.

Midland Alliance hit by bad weather

Lee Vannet strikes again at Burntisland

By LEE SUTHERLAND
Ballumbie Castle Golf Club professional
The Midland Golfers Alliance's D Smith MBE & E. Sherry Pro Am at Burntisland Golf House Club suffered awful conditions of gale-force winds with hail storms thrown in.
Continuing his recent dominance was Carnoustie Links professional Lee Vannet with a superb, one-under-par 69 to win the scratch prize by three strokes.
Best team of the day was led by local assistant professional Eric Walker with Joe Scally, Harry Haldane and Gil Muir. They had a score of 131.
LEADING SCRATCH
69 L Vannet (Carnoustie Links) p.
72 D McKay (Wellsgreen) p.
73 A J Webster (Edzell) p.
75 J Stevenson (Braehead) p, D West (Burntisland).
76 P Brookes (Pitreavie) p.
77 E Walker (Burntisland) ap, P Wytrazek (Burntisland) p.
LEADING TEAMS
131 E Walker (Burntisland) ap, J Scally (Burntisland), H Haldane (Burntisland), J Scally (Burntisland), G Muir (Burntisland).
133 A J Webster (Edzell) p, K Bruce (Edzell), A Smith (Edzell), I Milne (Edzell).
135 P Brookes (Pitreavie) p, J Rennie (Dunfermline), C Westland (Alloa), J Young (Dunfermline).
Next Week's Competition:
Thursday, March 20 at Crieff Golf Club (tee reserved: 8.30 to 12.30).

Deeside assistant carries over one-shot advantage

Reid nicks first-
round lead in
North-east
Alliance
championship

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

colin@scottishgolfview.com

Nick Reid, pictured right, leads the North-east Golfers' Alliance championship at the halfway stage after a one-over-par 69 by the Deeside assistant professional in difficult conditions for the first round at Duff House Royal Golf Club today.
Heavy rain delayed the start for the field of 97 and the combination of a muddy course, a cold wind and sanded greens - normal winter conditions on the circuit - were all against good scoring.

There were some competitors who thought that the Banff course was too wet for play but surely Alliance golf is Alliance golf.
What do they expect in the second week of March at any course in the North-east?
Reid deviated from par only twice. He drove the green at the 310yd first hole and two-putted for his only birdie in halves of 34 and 35. He was within sight of the clubhouse when he had his only bogey – a bunker visit at the 17^th.
Otherwise it was par after par after par.
"I had only one save that I can recall. That was a good up and down from a bunker for a fourth at the fifth. I almost holed out from the sand," said Nick.
"I've been playing well over the last few weeks and today was more of the same - hitting fairways, hitting greens. I didn't hole any putts but I don't think many putts of any length were holed. There was a lot of sand on some of them."
Nick knows he still has a lot of work in next Wednesday's final round at Cruden Bay to win the Uniroyal Quaich for the first time.
NARROW LEAD

He leads by only one shot fellow pro Ross Cameron (McDonald Ellon) - who has been there or thereabouts for the past two or three Alliance meetings - and the consistent and classy amateur Craig Stephen, who plays off +2 at Meldrum House.

Cameron birdied the first and 12th but dropped a shot at the seventh and then ran up a double bogey at the 10th before dropping his fourth shot of the round at the 14th. He had halves of 34 and 36 for his 70.

Stephen was on course for a sub-par score when he stood one under par with six to play, having birdied the first, 10th and 12th and dropped shots "only" at the fourth and seventh.

But, like many others, he came to grief over the last six holes. Why were they so difficult today?

Craig bogeyed the 13th, 15th and 17th for 35 home and his two-over 70.

Only two shots behind pacemaker Reid on 71 in joint fourth place are five amateurs who will all fancy their chance of making a run at the title – former Walker Cup player Sandy Pirie (Hazlehead), "fresh" from finishing 10th in the Portuguese seniors open at the weekend, Scotland youth cap Philip McLean (Peterhead), Adrian Styles (Caledonian), Anthony Bews (Murcar Links) and Gary Esson (Portlethen).

PIRIE'S FOUR LATE BOGEYS

Pirie bogeyed the last four holes for his 71 from a one-under-par position on 15th tee.

Esson lost a play-off to Graeme McInnes (Murcar Links) for the play-off last year. McInnes had a 72 today, which means he is three shots off the pace. Graeme was inches from being out of bounds through the back of the 18th green and did well to one-putt to save par. Apparently, he came from five behind to force a play-off last year. I cannot remember that far back!

Duff House Royal's first hole is a very short par-4 hole but it would pay some players to play it as a two-shot par 4 rather than go for a big drive in the hope of starting with a birdie 3 or even an eagle 2.

Nick Reid did drive it and two-putted for a birdie. But David Corkey (Murcar Links) drove it ... and four-putted for a bogey 5.

Then there was young David Law (Hazlehead). At the weekend he was a member of the Scotland Under-18 squad who won a boys' quadrangular tournament title in France. Back down to earth at the first hole at Duff House Royal today for young David. He was bunkered greenside off his drive and took four shots to get out. On in 5, he two-putted for a triple bogey 7 for starters!

FOOTNOTE: Where have all the playing professionals in the North-east gone? Only nine played at Duff House Royal today, including the retired Ian Smith. A far cry from the days when to be North-east Alliance champion meant something to a North-east club professional.

Leading scores (par 68)
SCRATCH
69 N Reid (Deeside).
70 C Stephen (Meldrum House), R Cameron (McDonald Ellon).
71 A K Pirie (Hazlehead), P McLean (Peterhead), A Styles (Caledonian), A Bews (Murcar Links), G Esson (Portlethen).
72 D Garrett (Huntly), D Read (Banchory), W S Urquhart (Murcar Links), R Fitzpatrick (Inchmarlo), G McInnes (Murcar Links).
73 W Main (Murcar Links), R McDonald (Inchmarlo), D Corkey (Murcar Links).
74 S Pert (Huntly), A Fiddes (Deeside).
75 A Campbell (Deeside), D MacKay (Newmachar), S Finnie (Caledonian).
76 G Bruce (Westhill).
77 L Taylor (Auchmill), A Nelson (Banchory), C Alexander (Murcar Links), M Lawrie (Kemnay).
78 A J Smith (Turriff), D Clark (Duff House Royal), A Grant (Portlethen), P Morrison (Oldmeldrum), D Leighton (Northern), D Raitt (Royal Aberdeen), M Lees (Pine Lodge).
79 S Scott (Auchmill), H Roulston (Stonehaven), C Carnegie (Kemnay).
80 C Nelson (MacKenzie Club), L Roger (Royal Aberdeen), R Pirie (Caledonian), D Law (Hazlehead), M Jenkins (Duff House Royal), A Milne (Kemnay), A Graham (Portlethen).
81 J Dalgarno (Hazlehead), S Davidson (Banchory).
82 F G Gray (Deeside), R Grant (Caledonian), N Parker (Murcar Links), D Nelson (Aboyne).
HANDICAP
Class 1 – D Read (Banchory) (4), D MacKay (Newmachar) (6) 68; A K Pirie (Hazlehead) (2) 69; A Nelson (Banchory) (7), W S Urquhart (Murcar Links) (2) 70; A Styles (Caledonian) (scr), D Corkey (Murcar Links) (2) 71; W Main (Murcar Links) (1), L Taylor (Auchmill) (5), D Garrett (Huntly) (scr), S Pert (Huntly) (2), C Stephen (Meldrum House) (+2), A Grant (Portlethen) (6), M Lawrie (Kemnay) (5), P Morrison (Oldmeldrum) (6), D Leighton (Northern) (6) 72.
Class 2 – A Milne (Kemnay) (10) 70; D Moir (Murcar Links) 71; W D Rae (Kemnay) (13) 72; G Homer (Lumphanan (12), B Bavidge (Murcar Links) (10) 73; C Cassie (Nigg Bay) (9), N Chisholm (Kemnay) (11), J Wilson (Deeside) (10), M Ord (Royal Aberdeen) (11), T Collie (Kemnay) (10), G Thomson (East Aberdeenshire) (12) 74.

DUFF HOUSE ROYAL SCORECARD: Par 68
OUT: 4-4-4-4-4-3-4-4-3--34. IN: 4-3-5-3-4-4-3-4-4--34

Colour Code: Figures in red are birdies.
Figures in blue are bogeys
Figures in black are double bogeys.

NICK REID 69
OUT: 3-4-4-4-4-3-4-4-4--34. IN: 4-3-5-3-4-4-3-5-4-35
CRAIG STEPHEN 70
OUT: 3-4-4-5-4-3-4-5-3--35. IN: 3-3-4-4-4-5-3-5-4-35.
ROSS CAMERON 70
OUT: 3-4-4-4-4-3-5-4-3--34. IN: 6-3-4-3-5-4-3-4-4--36
PHILIP McLEAN 71
OUT: 3-4-4-5-4-3-4-4-3--34. IN: 4-3-5-4-5-4-3-5-4--37.
SANDY PIRIE 71
OUT: 5-4-3-4-3-3-5-4-3--34. IN: 4-3-4-3-4-5-4-5-5--37.

ANTHONY BEWS 71

OUT: 4-4-3-5-3-3-5-4-4--36. IN: 4-4-5-3-4-4-3-4--5--35

GARY ESSON 71

OUT: 3-5-4-4-4-3-5-5-3--36. IN: 4-3-4-3-5-5-3-5-3--35

ADRIAN STYLES 71

OUT: 3-4-4-5-4-3-6-5-3--37. IN: 3-3-5-3-4-4-4-4-4--34.

ANTHONY BEWS 71

OUT: 4-4-3-5-3-3-5-4-4--36. IN: 4-4-5-3-4-4-3-4-4--35.

Keir McNicoll clickety-clicks in third
round of Riversdale Cup

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Carnoustie's Keir McNicoll had a blistering round of six-under-par 66 to shoot up to joint eighth place with one round to go in the prestigious Riversdale Cup 72-hole tournament at Riversdale Golf Club, near Melbourne in Australia.
McNicoll's earlier rounds were 73 and 7 so he is on seven under par 209 after a bogey-free, six birdie halves of 33. Keir birdied the sixth, seventh, eighth, 12th, 13th and 15th.
Scott Henry from Cardross also had a very good third round - a 67 which lifted into the top 20, joint 18th to be precise, with earlier scores of 75 and 70 for a 54-hole tally of 212.
Scott bogeyed the fourth but birdied the sixth and seventh to turn in one-under 35. Then Henry had a superb run of four consecutive birdies from the 10th to the 13th. A bogey at the 17th was cancelled out by his seventh birdie of the round at the 18th for 32 home.
Callum Macaulay (Tulliallan) was in joint 21st place on 213 with scores of 70, 73 and 70. In the third round, Callum bogeyed the third and sixth but birdied the fourth and ninth to turn in level par 36. He then birdied the 10th, 11th and 13th with a bogey at the 12th sneaking in there. Like Henry, he bogeyd the 17th but birdied the 18th for 34 home.
Scottish match-play champion John Gallagher (Swanston New) has scored 74, 74 and 70 for 218 and a share of 46th place. John had an "iffy" start with bogeys at the first, second and eighth, intermingled with birdies at the sixth and ninth for 37 out.
Gallagher got his act together coming home with a bogey-free inward half of 33, studded with birdies at the 10th, 15th and 18th.
Wallace Booth matched the par of 72 in the third round but dropped back to a share of 56th place which shows how high the standard of scoring was. Wallace is on 219 with earlier rounds of 71 and 76. The Comrie man birdied the seventh and nine to be out in 34 - so far so good. Then he bogeyed the 15th and 17th for 38 home.
Scottish stroke-play champion Kevin McAlpine (Alyth) had by far his best round on the third day - a 70 after earlier scores of 79 and 74. He was sharing 59th place on 223. Kevin bogeyed the first and eighth but birdied the fourth and seventh to be out in level par 36. He started back with birdies at the 10th and 11th on his way to 34 home.
Must admit I am confused by the tournament website which has Fraser Fotheringham, the Nairn youngster, with the same three-round total of 223 at Kevin McAlpine but places him joint 96th instead of joint 59th. Fraser has scored 75, 73 and 75. It cannot be that Fotheringham missed the cut after 36 holes because his two-round total of 148 was better than McAlpine's 153.
But I cannot see Fotheringham's name in the draw for the fourth round.
Same goes for Tom Spencer (Inchmarlo) who has scored 83, 74 and 72 for 229 and joint 132nd place and also Stuart Burns (Auchterarder) with 78, 79 and 78 for 235 and a share of 151st place.
THIRD-ROUND TOTALS
Par 216 (3 x 72)
Players from Australia unless stated
202 Scott Arnold 65 69 68.
203 Kieran Pratt 70 65 68.
206 Danny Lee (NZ) 69 67 70, Brendan Smith 74 68 64.
207 Rhys McGovern 70 71 66.
208 Rohan Blizard 66 72 70, Peter Hall 71 68 69.
209 Keir McNicoll (Carnoustie) 73 70 66, Jason Scrivener 67 70 70, Ashley Umbers 71 70 68.
Other scores:
212 Scott Henry (Cardross) 75 70 67 (jt 18th).
213 Callum Macaulay (Tulliallan) 70 73 70 (jt 21st).
215 Adam Wainwright (England) 75 70 70 (jt 30th).
216 Jamie Abbott (England) 74 70 72 (jt 36th).
218 John Gallagher (Swanston New) 74 74 70 (jt 46th).
219 Wallace Booth (Comrie) 71 76 72 (jt 56th)).
223 Kevin McAlpine (Alyth) 79 74 70 (jt 59th).
Following scores are listed on the tournament website but the players do not figure in the fourth round draw:
223 Fraser Fotheringham (Nairn) 75 73 75.
229 Tom Spencer (Inchmarlo) 83 74 72.
235 Stuart Burns (Auchterarder) 78 79 78.

Midland Alliance Burntisland pro-am draw

Draw for the Midland Golfers Alliance Burntisland pro-am on Wednesday, March 12 is:

8.30 E Walker, H Haldane, G Muir, J Scally.
8.54 D McKay, W Smith, B Liddle, K Rattery.
9.02 C Matheson, D Redford, D Hutchison.
9.10 M Niven, P Callander, A MacDairmid, E Sterritt.
9.18 S Spence, R Redpath, R Beatt, N Henderson.
9.26 R Walker, K Fraser, M Fraser, S Herd.
9.34 R Ford, D Roberts, P Rhynd, R Lauchlan.
9.42 J Stevenson, J Barnet, J Stevenson, J Wilson.
9.58 S Harrod, J McCormack, I Mitchell, D Skinner.
10.06 D Mitchell, W Miller, G Paton, A Aitken.
10.14 D Chillas, R Taylor, G McCartney, F Thompson.
10.22 P Brookes, R Malcolm, J Rennie, C Westland.
10.30 A Webster, K Bruce, A Smith, I Milne.
10.38 H Salmond, J Irwin, A Douglas, G Wilkie.
10.46 L Vannet, F MacKay, J Milne, J Milne.
11.02 W Smeaton, I Henderson, J Gray, D Vicary.
11.10 J Leddy, A Cameron, R Lamont, D Black.
11.18 I Bell, D Sievwright, G Taylor, M Watkin.
11.26 K Salmoni, H Grant, H Cowborough, R Sinclair.
11.34 R Wallace, A Robertson, R Fairley, C Wallace.
11.42 Dunfermline.
12.06 B Smith, M Phillips, I McMurray, T Devaney.
12.46 D Adams, A Herd, J Ward, J Cree.
1.02 L Sutherland, D Smith, F Gemmell, G McGauchy.
1.10 P Wytrazek, D Adamson, I Edmiston, G White.

Midland Golfers' Alliance

WALKER AND VANNET TIE ON 69

IN KIRKCALDY GALE

By LEE SUTHERLAND
This week's Midland Golfers Alliance was held in gale-force conditions at Kirkcaldy Golf Club. There was a tie for the first scratch prize on two-under-par 69 between Eric Walker, the Burntisland assistant professional, and Lee Vannet, the Carnoustie Links professional.
Leading the way in the handicap section was James Milne (Drumoig) with a superb net score of 67 off 12.
LEADING SCRATCH
69 E Walker (Burntisland) ap, L Vannet (Carnoustie Links) p.
70 B Mason (Drumoig) p.
71 A Lockhart (Ladybank) ap.
74 A J Webster (Edzell) p.
75 G Tough (Letham Grange), P Brookes (Pitreavie) p.
76 P Wytrazyk (Burntisland) p, C Matheson (Falkirk Tryst) ap, B Galloway (Carnoustie).
78 D McKay (Wellsgreen) p, F McKay (Drumoig), L Sutherland (Ballumbie Castle) p.]
LEADING HANDICAP
67 J Milne (Drumoig) (12)
72 J Gray (Craigie Hill, 7)
73 I McMurray (Downfield) (9), F Gemmell (L. Grange) (14), F McKay (Drumoig) (5), B Galloway (Carnoustie) (3).
74 D Redford (Murrayshall) (9).
75 J Roy (Panmure) (5), M Watkin (Panmure) (10).
76 H Salmond (Tulliallan) (4), I Henderson (Craigie Hill) (7), R Lamont (Bathgate) (9), C Wallace (Caird Park) (11), R McDonald (Monifieth) (3).

Qualifiers for the Midland Alliance Championship in April at Crail
P Wytrazyk (Burntisland) p.
B Galloway (Carnoustie) (3).

Next Meeting: Wednesday 12th March
D. Smith & E. Sherry Burntisland Pro Am
8.30 – 1.30

HOME-COURSE VICTORY FOR JOHN
McCLUSKEY AT CRAIGIELAW

John McCluskey, a 13-handicapper playing over his home course, was the overall winner of the Paterson Medal Edinburgh and East of Scotland Golfers' Alliance competition at Craigielaw.
John had a net score of 70 for a three-stroke victory.
Professionals Andrew Oldcorn (King's Acre) and David Patrick (Mortonhall) tied for the top scratch prize with rounds of 72 to earn £90 each.
Leading prizewinners:
SCRATCH
1 Andrew Oldcorn (King's Acre), David Patrick (Mortonhall) 72 (£90 each).
3 Stevie Lamb (Broomieknowe) 73 (£60).
4 Alan Reid (West Lothian) 74 (£40).
5 Norman Forsyth (Peebles), Gordon Law (Uphall) 76 (£10 each).
HANDICAP
1 John McCluskey (Craigielaw) (13) 70 (£100 voucher).
2 Tommy Wilson (Glenbervie) (3) 73 (£80 voucher).
3 Bob Allan (Cardrone) (8), Andrew Rothney (Deer Park) (1), Scott Walker (Ratho Park) (3), John Wilson (Niddry Castle) (12) 74 (£30 voucher each).

ORDER OF MERIT LEADERS
(after 10 events)
SCRATCH
558.5 Stevie Lamb.
404.5 Andrew Rothney.
468 David Patgrick.
461.5 Craig Imlah.
449.5 Gordon Law.
424 Andrew Marshall.
408.5 Derek Fish.
405 Ally MacKenzie.
402.5 Chris Morris.
395.1 Andrew Wight.
HANDICAP
135 Scott Walker.
131.50 Andrew Rothney.
122.54 Allan Robert.
122 M David Graham.
119 Harry Cartmill.
109 Steven Doyle.
98.84 William Laing.
98.50 Stuart Wardlaw.
91.74 Coilin Rae.
87 Derek Fish.

Better late than never for
Fraserburgh wind-
tamer Colin Nelson

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Mackenzie Club professional Colin Nelson, pictured right, is usually an early starter in North-east Alliance competitions. Just for a change, at the windswept Broch today, Colin was at the rear end of the field, helping to guide his former Hazlehead boss Ian Smith - "I've forgotten my glasses again" - round the lay-out which had the front nine holes played in the following sequence:
1-2-3 .... unchanged.
Then the ninth and eighth.
Then the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh.
Holes 10 to 18 unchanged.
One or two competitors did mention to me that they thought it helped the flow of players round the course. But the inside story from Fraserburgh Golf Club is that it is a temporary winter measure to spread the wear and tear away from the areas which carry most "traffic" during the normal golf season.
I digress. Back to Colin Nelson.
Apparently the wind, again from the west, was not quite as bad as the previous Wednesday at Newburgh. That seems to be confirmed by the number of No returns dropping from 29 at Newburgh to less than a dozen at Fraserburgh.
But it was a cross wind and, make no mistake, it was easy to lose the plot out there, very difficult to score unless you were a good player.
And Colin Nelson, revelling in his late start, when the windy was no easier than it had been all day, simply played his “best golf for ages” in mastering the conditions to head the field of 90 with a two-under-par 68.
Nelson, last but one to finish, pipped the long-time clubhouse leaders, Peterhead amateur Philip McLean and McDonald Ellon professional Ross Cameron, with a two-under-par 68, which represented very good golf indeed in the testing conditions.
Nelson birdied the first two holes, from five and 20ft.
He dropped a shot at the fifth but got on in two at the long eighth and two-putted for a third birdie to be out in two-under 33.
Four rock-solid pars after the turn led to a birdie 2 at the short 14th - "Colin hit a superb tee shot to within 10ft and holed the putt," said Ian Smith - and after pars at the next three, Colin three-putted the last.
"Colin was hitting the ball very well in the wind. It was a very good performance," said Ian Smith who doesn't throw his praise about.
Philip McLean, who is showing impressive improvement this year, and Cameron, in the same threesome, had a battle royal which Cameron was winning until he bogeyed the last while McLean birdied it for a two-stroke swing in the amateur's favour, both men finishing on 69.
The pin position at the short 17th caused all sorts of problems with balls running back down the slope, etc.
But there's always somebody who shows it can be done ... father and son Archie and Graeme McInnes both had birdie 2s there! Graeme, incidentally, just coming back to golf after working in the demolition business through the winter to finance his tournament golf trips.
No truth in the rumour that he was hitting his wedges 200 yards with rippling muscles.
Leading scores (Par 70):
SCRATCH
68 C Nelson (MacKenzie Club).
69 R Cameron (McDonald Ellon), P McLean (Peterhead).
72 A Campbell (Deeside), C Stephen (Meldrum House).
73 R Fitzpatrick (Inchmarlo), A Styles (Caledonian).
74 A Bews (Murcar Links), G McInnes (Murcar Links).
75 C Buchanan (Hazlehead), J Nicolson (Auchmill), R McDonald (Inchmarlo).
76 C Cassie (Nigg Bay), M Jenkins (Duff House Royal), C Carnegie (Kemnay).
77 B Harper (Newburgh), A McInnes (Murcar Links).
78 N Reid (Deeside).
79 S Scott (Auchmill), J M Hamilton (Murcar Links), J Wilson (Deeside), D Wilson (Duff House Royal), A Grant (Portlethen), W S Urquhart (Murcar Links), I D Smith (Hazlehead).
80 R L Nicoll (Murcar Links), D H Clark (Duff House Royal).
81 A Rodger (Fraserburgh), D McKay (Caledonian), H Roulston (Stonehaven), G Bruce (Westhill), C Hood (Alford), C Alexander (Murcar Links).
82 F Bisset (Banchory), N Chisholm (Kemnay), D Read (Banchory), B Shaw (Banchory)..
83 W Bavidge (Murcar Links).
84 P Farnan (Royal Aberdeen), D MacKay (Newmachar), F G Gray (Deeside), A Graham (Portlethen).
85 W Forbes (Murcar Links), J Jessiman (Oldmeldrum)..

HANDICAP
Class 1 – B Harper (Newburgh) (6), P McLean (Peterhead) (+2) 71; J Nicolson (Auchmill) (3), A McInnes (Murcar Links) (5) 72; A Campbell (Deeside) (+1), D McKay (Caledonian) (8), J H Hamilton (Murcar