County Championship - REAY (36) - 04 June 05
Ronnie Taylor is GRE8T

Reay Golf Club was delighted to host the Caithness County Championship on Saturday despite the weather being very ominous and all forecasts predicting rain, 26 competitors came to contest the title of County Champion. The skies were depressing with dark clouds all around but thankfully the rain didn't materialise and the golfing conditions were very pleasant with a gentle breeze developing in the afternoon. The course was beautifully presented in excellent condition as befitting the occasion and thanks to James MacAdie (Greenkeeper) for all his outstanding efforts in preparing the course and to Evan Sutherland who got up at 4.00 am to cut the greens.

Taking advantage of an early start Bill McIntosh with a fighting 66 (17) which included an ugly 9 at the 6^th Braid's choice and the current in form Golfer at Reay Peter McCartney 69 (17) who fought back from putting three balls out of bounds on the first two holes set the early pace in the handicap competition. Gavin Sutherland later went even better with a 64 (6) but overtaken by Lee Parnell with a 63(6). Good net scores continued as the competition warmed up with a lot of scores coming in under par.

Photos

Ronnie & Lee receive their prizes from Bill McIntosh

On to the real contenders for top honours and the scratch title and John Harper of Wick led the charge with a 72 with nice back to back birdies at the 8^th and 9^th. This was followed by Gavin Sutherland of Reay the youngest competitor who had a very creditable 70 which included a nice birdie at the 13^th. Lee Parnell strangely soberly attired for a change and disappointingly not wearing his colourful Payne Stewart outfit clearly meant business. Not in his best form recently Lee knuckled down to produce a stunning 69 dropping a shot to par at the 3^rd but picking up a birdie at the par 5 14^th to return a near flawless first round 69 taking the lead and the best score of the morning. James Henderson (Birdie) a previous winner from Reay came out of a long retirement from the game having recovered from injury to stroll round in 71 with birdies at the 5^th and the 11^th. A welcome return to competitive golf.

You had to know there was a very serious defence of the Title coming up when you witnessed Ronnie Taylor of Wick stepping up to the long par 3 first (235 yards) and putting his tee shot stiff for an opening birdie 2 to set out his stall for the day. Ronnie followed this with further birdies at the difficult 4th and the 6^th but dropped shots at the 5^th, 9^th, 10^th and 14^th. Dougie Thorburn of Thurso was lurking in the wings quietly with a 72, club mate Steve Spargo had a 74 as did young Brent Munro also of Thurso. Reay Golf Club members were looking to Don Mackay the course record holder for inspiration but sadly he struggled on the greens to a 78, Colin Paterson gave some hope with a 75 and Raymond Taylor another previous winner was also struggling with a 79. Alistair Gunn had a 76 and 'Mojo' and John O'Brien shared 79's so it looked like Lee Parnell and Gavin Sutherland were left to try and bring the title to Reay. The challenge from Wick with Nicky Klimas was dented when he surprisingly produced a no return and John Hunter fell down the field with an 82.

The second round battle did not disappoint and once again Peter McCartney set a blistering pace in the handicap section returning an 81-17-64 which nobody else could compete with. Gavin Sutherland the great hope for the future at Reay fell away in the afternoon but still produced a worthy 74 for a grand total of 144 over the two rounds. It was nice to see Colin Paterson improve on his morning round with a 73 (148). James Henderson continued where he left off also improving and this time brought home a 70 (141) which included two birdies at the 6^th and the 16^th. Lee Parnell did not disappoint the home support and returned a swashbuckling 70 (139) which included three birdies at the 2^nd, 6^th and 16^th but sadly also four dropped shots to par.

Bringing up the rear of the field was Ronnie Taylor who had a tough opening nine on his second round with a bogey at the first this time and two other dropped shots to go out in 37. Being a seasoned campaigner and making experience count Ronnie knew you never give in. A cracking birdie at the 10^th was quickly followed by another dropped shot at the 11^th, but back to back birdies at the 14^th and a two at the 15^th turned the round in his favour and patience saw Ronnie finishing with a grandstand birdie 2 at the 18^th for the gallery and to record an excellent round of 69 (139) to match that of Lee Parnell in the morning. Ronnie now faced the prospect of yet another play off for the title as all the other challengers had fallen away.

Lee Parnell was already in the Clubhouse thinking he was out of contention and enjoying a well earned Guinness after his exertions when he was told sorry but you are in a play off. Lee won the toss and elected to go first but struggled off the tee and could only manage a 4 to Ronnie's comfortable par. Both players missed the fairway right off the 2^nd tee and both missed the green left, however, the wily old fox Ronnie got up and down to save par and Lee had to settle for a five. One sensed Ronnie with experience of being in play off's had the upper hand and the experience to count. Both players made par at the third with Lee very unlucky not to birdie with his chip onto the green which jumped out of the hole. Par was enough to give Ronnie Taylor the Title of Caithness County Champion for a record 8^th time and hope for the more senior players amongst us as not many can claim to be County Champion at 51 years young.

Warmest congratulations to Ronnie Taylor (70, 69 - 139) who won the Trophy, the Title and the SGU Silver Medal. Lee Parnell (69, 70 - 139) won the SGU's Bronze Medal as runner up and also James Henderson (71, 70 - 141) captured third place. The handicap prize was won by Gavin Sutherland (64, 68 - 132) and the runner up was none other than Peter McCartney (69, 64 - 133).

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