Brora win Senior Northern Counties Cup for fourth time
 

 

By ROBIN WILSON

For a third time the James Braid classic golf links at Brora hosted the Senior Northern Counties Cup from Wednesday to Friday last week where the host club added its name to the B D Fraser Cup for a fourth time, the two previous years being when the club last hosted the competition, 2006 and 2012, and in 2003 at Inverness.

Brora's first team of Roddy Cameron, Tony Gill, Charlie Tulloch and Norman Elliot met the Nairn team of Robert Smith, Peter Saggers, Pat Tomisson and Walter Morris, the cup holders, and with the same line-up that had also won in 2016.

In the double foursomes competition Brora had beaten Moray in their semi- final by a comfortable four holes, +3 and +1, and were then hoping for an all-Sutherland final against rival neighbours, Royal Dornoch who,  in their quarter-final tie against Nairn Dunbar, won at the 20^th but in their extended semi-final meeting with Nairn both of their couples lost the 19^th hole to miss a final with Brora.

It was touch and go as to whether the final would extend into extra holes. Brora's first string of Cameron and Gill took a two-hole lead to the final par three 18^th tee against Smith and Saggers who found the green from the tee to make a par.

Brora came up short from the tee but pitched close, leaving a putt for a half and hold their two-hole lead - but the putt was missed. The second couples watched from behind, knowing the pressure was back on them with their game level. 

Both final shots missed the green, Nairn through the back and Brora short in the deep hollow below the green. From the back of green Nairn chipped first but came up short of the pin.

From the hollow Tulloch (68) scuttled up the chip with a six-iron and got inside the Nairn ball. Morris's Nairn putt shaved the hole, leaving Elliot two putts for the half which he took for the cup and the gold medals that go with it.

Brora's defence next year will be at Nairn Dunbar Golf Club.