Back row (left to right): Ewan Forbes, Colin Harrison (sponsors' representative), Alan Cameron. Front row: Michael Manson, Kevin Fowler (Robin Wilson image).Michael (15) wins handicap trophy
in Black Isle Foursomes
By ROBIN WILSON
Michael Manson, aged 15, a promising junior golfer from the Fortrose & Rosemarkie Golf Club,emerged alongside a former Scottish international at the winners' table when, with the help and guidance of local head greenkeeper Kevin Fowler, together they won the handicap trophy in the ICR Solutions Black Isle Foursomes competition.
Inverness Golf Club secretary Ewan Forbes held a regular presence in the Scottish team from 1996 to 2001 and one of two caps in the Fortrose event, which every year grows in status on the North golf calendar, he won the scratch trophy for a second time with his Inverness club member Alan Cameron as a partner.
Master Manson currently plays to a handicap of nine but up against lower handicap players and tough conditions he held his own with them over the two days of play. Already possessing a good technical swing, his handicap is almost certain to drop by the the end of the season.
Through 17 holes in the final in not easy conditions, a stiff cold wind from the east, young Michael was the equal of a Glasgow four-handicapper he and Fowler came up against in the final.
In the semi final Manson was the player who held his nerve on the final tee to find the green with a three-wood and win this hole against a Brora pair of Ken Lorimer and Tony Gill who were reeling from a previous two hole birdie barrage from the locals.
The four handicapper in the final was Stephen Sawers from the Cawder club, near Bishopbriggs and his partner Richard Shepherd (North Berwick) who had their best spell around the turn, winning the eighth and ninth holes to level the score.
After winning the 12th hole, Fowler and Manson reinstated their two-hole lead with the only birdie of the game on the next hole and, holding a dormie two position, the locals won 3 and 1 when the visiting couple three-putted the 17th green.
A well proven partnership of Colin Taylor (Kinloss) and Neil Hampton (Nairn) were seeking a fifth scratch win after earning the second qualifying place in the match-play draw with Saturday's rounds of 72 and 74.
But in Sunday morning's match play they were almost out of the competition when one down on the final tee against the third placed qualifying couple Neil McWilliam and Barry Cruickshank (Garmouth & Kingston).
The former champions took the tie to extra holes with a par-3 at the last hole and then a birdie 3 on the first extra hole.
Leading qualifiers by four shots after round of 68 and 74, Forbes and Cameron enjoyed an easier semi-final win on the 15th green over Carnegie club greenkeepers Chris Mailley (Royal Dornoch) and James MacBeath (Brora).
The biting wind from the east prevented these top four players show their best form. As early as the second hole they were struggling and the hole was halved in double bogey 6s. But at the par-5 sixth hole Hampton did show his true quality with a superb bunker shot to five feet which Taylor holed for birdie to go one up.
Hampton's sand save was matched by Forbes at the next hole after Cameron found a fairway bunker from the tee. And with a par-3 on the ninth hole, Cameron and Forbes led for the first time. Scrappy play continued, most of the difficulty coming on the greens which were lacking Spring growth due to the prolonged cold spell and easterly winds.
Cameron and Forbes held their one-hole lead to the 17th tee and from the drives the second shots of Forbes and Hampton were short of the pin. Taylor raced his putt five feet past while Cameron rolled his close to the hole and when Hampton missed the return putt Cameron and Forbes added to their previous wins of 1999 and 2004.
Results:
Black Isle Open Foursomes
Scratch Qualifiers
142 E Forbes (Inverness) & R A L Cameron (Inverness) 68 74.
146 C Taylor (Kinloss) & N D Hampton (Nairn) 72 74, N McWilliam & B Cruickshank (Garmouth & Kingston) 71 75).
150 J MacBeath (Brora) & C Mailley (Royal Dornoch) 75 75.
Semi-Finals
Forbes & Cameron bt MacBeath & Mailley 4 and 3.
Taylor & Hampton bt McWilliam & Cruickshank at 19th.
Final
Forbes & Cameron bt Hampton & Taylor 2 and 1.
Handicap Qualifiers
143 B MacKay & B Catto (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) (10) 73 70; A J Gill (Brora) & K Lorimer (Brora) (6.5) 69.5 73.5.
145 K Fowler & M Manson (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) (7.5) 67.5 77.5.
146 S Sawers (Cawder) & R Shepherd (North Berwick) (9) 74 72.
Semi-Finals
Sawers & Shepherd bt MacKay & Catto 4 and 3.
Fowler & Manson bt Gill & Lorimer 1 hole.
Final
Fowler & Manson bt Sawers & Shepherd 3 and 1.
in Black Isle Foursomes
By ROBIN WILSON
Michael Manson, aged 15, a promising junior golfer from the Fortrose & Rosemarkie Golf Club,emerged alongside a former Scottish international at the winners' table when, with the help and guidance of local head greenkeeper Kevin Fowler, together they won the handicap trophy in the ICR Solutions Black Isle Foursomes competition.
Inverness Golf Club secretary Ewan Forbes held a regular presence in the Scottish team from 1996 to 2001 and one of two caps in the Fortrose event, which every year grows in status on the North golf calendar, he won the scratch trophy for a second time with his Inverness club member Alan Cameron as a partner.
Master Manson currently plays to a handicap of nine but up against lower handicap players and tough conditions he held his own with them over the two days of play. Already possessing a good technical swing, his handicap is almost certain to drop by the the end of the season.
Through 17 holes in the final in not easy conditions, a stiff cold wind from the east, young Michael was the equal of a Glasgow four-handicapper he and Fowler came up against in the final.
In the semi final Manson was the player who held his nerve on the final tee to find the green with a three-wood and win this hole against a Brora pair of Ken Lorimer and Tony Gill who were reeling from a previous two hole birdie barrage from the locals.
The four handicapper in the final was Stephen Sawers from the Cawder club, near Bishopbriggs and his partner Richard Shepherd (North Berwick) who had their best spell around the turn, winning the eighth and ninth holes to level the score.
After winning the 12th hole, Fowler and Manson reinstated their two-hole lead with the only birdie of the game on the next hole and, holding a dormie two position, the locals won 3 and 1 when the visiting couple three-putted the 17th green.
A well proven partnership of Colin Taylor (Kinloss) and Neil Hampton (Nairn) were seeking a fifth scratch win after earning the second qualifying place in the match-play draw with Saturday's rounds of 72 and 74.
But in Sunday morning's match play they were almost out of the competition when one down on the final tee against the third placed qualifying couple Neil McWilliam and Barry Cruickshank (Garmouth & Kingston).
The former champions took the tie to extra holes with a par-3 at the last hole and then a birdie 3 on the first extra hole.
Leading qualifiers by four shots after round of 68 and 74, Forbes and Cameron enjoyed an easier semi-final win on the 15th green over Carnegie club greenkeepers Chris Mailley (Royal Dornoch) and James MacBeath (Brora).
The biting wind from the east prevented these top four players show their best form. As early as the second hole they were struggling and the hole was halved in double bogey 6s. But at the par-5 sixth hole Hampton did show his true quality with a superb bunker shot to five feet which Taylor holed for birdie to go one up.
Hampton's sand save was matched by Forbes at the next hole after Cameron found a fairway bunker from the tee. And with a par-3 on the ninth hole, Cameron and Forbes led for the first time. Scrappy play continued, most of the difficulty coming on the greens which were lacking Spring growth due to the prolonged cold spell and easterly winds.
Cameron and Forbes held their one-hole lead to the 17th tee and from the drives the second shots of Forbes and Hampton were short of the pin. Taylor raced his putt five feet past while Cameron rolled his close to the hole and when Hampton missed the return putt Cameron and Forbes added to their previous wins of 1999 and 2004.
Results:
Black Isle Open Foursomes
Scratch Qualifiers
142 E Forbes (Inverness) & R A L Cameron (Inverness) 68 74.
146 C Taylor (Kinloss) & N D Hampton (Nairn) 72 74, N McWilliam & B Cruickshank (Garmouth & Kingston) 71 75).
150 J MacBeath (Brora) & C Mailley (Royal Dornoch) 75 75.
Semi-Finals
Forbes & Cameron bt MacBeath & Mailley 4 and 3.
Taylor & Hampton bt McWilliam & Cruickshank at 19th.
Final
Forbes & Cameron bt Hampton & Taylor 2 and 1.
Handicap Qualifiers
143 B MacKay & B Catto (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) (10) 73 70; A J Gill (Brora) & K Lorimer (Brora) (6.5) 69.5 73.5.
145 K Fowler & M Manson (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) (7.5) 67.5 77.5.
146 S Sawers (Cawder) & R Shepherd (North Berwick) (9) 74 72.
Semi-Finals
Sawers & Shepherd bt MacKay & Catto 4 and 3.
Fowler & Manson bt Gill & Lorimer 1 hole.
Final
Fowler & Manson bt Sawers & Shepherd 3 and 1.
Labels: Amateur Men
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Monday, April 21, 2008
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