NORTH GOLF ALLIANCE REPORT FROM TARBAT, EASTER ROSS

FROM ROBIN WILSON

Golspie's Darren Hexley was beaten into second place by a blistering nine hole count of 29 from his travelling companion John Forbes (Muir of Ord) in last Sunday's North Golf Alliance fixture over Portmahomack's Tarbat golf course in Easter Ross.

The second fixture of the season featured most of the the members who will figure in the race  towards the end of season scratch aggregate Quaich Trophy and  four of them bettered the par of 68 (34/34) with last season's Quaich runner-up runner, John Forbes (Muir of Ord) leading the way with a three under par 65.

Forbes had an indifferent first round over the nine hole circuit, a bogey at the first hole and a double bogey on the sixth hole for a two over par count of 36.  But his problem hole, the 389 yard 6^th and 15^th  on his second round was bettered by three shots in his second round mazy run of, 3,2,3,3,3,3 from the 13^th to 18^th that brought him home in 29 for a card of 65 and first place in front of Hexley.

One handicapper Hexley who was also three under par with halves of 32 and 33 was last season's MacKintosh Salver handicap winner was elevated to first handicap place in Class 1 with nett 64 and so has an early interest in both trophies. Brora's Ken Lorimer had the better inward half for second place ahead of Ronnie Matheson (Thurso) after they shared nett 65's.

Three time Quaich winner, Tain's Munro Ferries  had matching halves of 33 for 66 and his score was equalled by current Quaich holder Caithness's Dougie Thorburn (32/34) now a member at Tain.  

Thirteen members from Durness Golf Club made the journey to Portmahomack to swell the numbers to 53 so it was no surprise they had the lion's share of the prizes in the Class two handicap section. With a nett 62 from his handicap of 20 this section was won by Connor Munro followed on a card count back for second place by local Donald Urquhart over another Durness member Billy McBain, both nett 63's.

The venues swing back to Caithness this weekend when  Thurso Golf Club host a fixture.

Tarbat Results; Scratch;  65 J Forbes (Muir of Ord) (36/29), D Hexley (Golspie) (32/33). 66  M Ferries (Tain) (33/33), D Thorburn (Tain) (32/34). Handicap Class 1 – D Hexley (Golspie) (1) 64. K Lorimer (Brora) (8) 65, R Matheson (Thurso) (6) 65. M Ferries (Tain) (+1) 67. D Dunbar (Thurso) (8) 68. Class 2 – C Munro (Durness) (20) 62. D Urquhart (Tarbat) (11) 63, B McBain (Durness) (17) 63. J Mackenzie (Durness) (15) 64. R Hamblin (Tain) (18) 65.

Brora's Autumn Open won by Alness Member

Sponsored by the Golspie firm of accountants, Mackay and Co., Alness Golf Club member David  Kernaghan playing with a handicap of ten returned a four over par card of 74 to win the  Autumn Quaich  with a four shot winning nett score of 64 from the scratch local winner Robert MacDonald whose gross card reduced to 68.

MacDonald collected one of the two scratch vouchers ahead of  his noted club mate Jim Miller after his halves of 38 and 35 beat off Miller's 37 and 36 on count back.

Leading Nett Returns-(All Brora unless stated);  A Stewart (5) 68, C Connorton (Fortrose & Rosemarkie). (13) 68, R MacLean (12) 69, K Lorimer (8) 69. M Bonner (Golspie (6) 70, G MacLean (14) 70, R Woods (Alness) 70.