Scottish Seniors Golfing Society Autumn 

Meeting at Nairn Dunbar this week

 By GORDON THOMSON

The Scottish Seniors Golfing Society circuit moves to Nairn Dunbar Golf Club on Thursday and Friday for the Autumn Meeting, sponsored by McCrea Financial Services, which is the penultimate event in the season.

There is a good entry with a mix of ages and handicaps and all are looking forward to the challenge of playing one of the best courses in the North of Scotland. Most of the senior international team miss the event in advance of next week’s European Senior Team Championship in Slovenia but there is still plenty of strength in the field with eight +1 handicappers.

Excellent performances in July and in the Seniors Open Amateur Championship at Formby mean that the Order of Merit race can now only be won by either the holder, Ronnie Clark (Erskine), or Graham Bell (Downfield). Both are missing this week as they prepare for next week’s international trip but they will be involved in an exciting shoot-out in Finals Day at Blairgowrie on September 8.

Their absence provides an opportunity for the likes of John Fraser (Royal Burgess), Nick Robson (Meldrum House), David Shields (Glenearn), Robert Smith (Nairn) and Duncan Hamilton (Mortonhall) to move up the rankings.

Andrew Stracey (Denham) leads the Handicap Order of Merit race with Neil McGarva (Kilmacolm) in second place just ahead of Lindsay Blair (Grangemouth) in third place.

Gordon MacDonald (Glenbervie) leads the Super Seniors (over 65) Order of Merit with Bob Stewart (Tulliallan) and Jim McArthur (St Andrews New) in close pursuit.