Summer Cup & Strokeplay Championship - Season 2005 - 2006

Summer Cup Round 6 & Strokeplay Championship Rnd 1 - 07 June 05
Davidson Ace leads Birdie assault on Reay Links

Bill McIntosh

Beautiful blue skies and a gentle sea breeze saw the start of the 1st round of the Strokeplay Championship which also doubles up as round 6 of the Summer Cup on an immaculate well presented course get off to a flying start. Evan Sutherland out first meant serious business with a birdie 2 at the 5^th and another birdie at 14 to finish 75 (10) 65 and start a scoring frenzy which saw 15 of the field of 49 go under par and three make par. Closely followed by Bob Earnshaw with 78 (11) 67 also tucking away a superb birdie at 16^th after missing a very short putt at 15 which could have been very costly. Bill McIntosh hitting some form at last produced a steady 83 (16) 67 to lead the way in Division two.

The late starters in the afternoon certainly knew how to score and sent figures tumbling and the CSS down to 68. Beginning with Brian Davidson who hit a majestic eagle on the 7^th the hardest hole on the course to hole out in One using a 4 iron off the tee. This is Brian's second Ace on the course and as is often the case didn't see it go in as he was looking for his tee peg. After the excitement Brian could only manage level par with 92 (23) 69 a good score nevertheless. Elsewhere in Division 2 George MacDonald was returning fine figures of 90 (22) 68 and Simon Spencer was tearing round in 93 (27) 66 and may need surgery applied to his handicap as he has only recently got his handicap. Late starter Colin Earnshaw was busy building a tidy round to pip Simon Spencer with 80 (14) 66 and sneak into second spot. The Clear winner fresh from burning up courses in the USA was none other than Les Patrick who birdied the 4^th and the difficult 10^th with the best gross in the Division 2 of 77 and goes into pole position in the Strokeplay Championship handicap section with 77 (13) 64. The Nett 64 from Les also wins Round 6 of the Summer Cup.

Young Don Mackay got things off to a good start in Division 1 with three birdies at the 4^th, 7^th and 13^th in the morning with 71 (1) 70 and to get back on track after a disappointing County Championship and a welcome return to the form we expect from him. With selection beckoning for the forthcoming Wilson Cup a few players were challenging for team places and this was evident with the scores in Division 1 as players try to catch the selector's eye. David MacKay was snapping away again with a fine birdie at the 3^rd and a respectable 74 (5) 69. Andy MacKay birdied the 14^th to return fine par figures of 81 (12) 69 and regain some consistent form. Our rising star Gavin Sutherland also had a fine round of 74 (5) 68.

Raymond Taylor was another who bounced back from a poor County Championship by showing he also could get back on track with three birdies, these were at the 6^th and back to back birdies at 12^th and 13^th to finish up 73 (5) 68. Colin Paterson playing well recently didn't drop a shot on his front 9 and took a birdie 4 at the 14^th to end up with 73 (5) 68. Three players tied on 67 and they were Andy Bain a steady 79 (12) 67, Steve Lucas also 79 (12) 67 and James Henderson with the lowest gross of the day of 70 continuing fine form after a long injury lay off with 70 (3) 67. Just the one birdie in the round at the 14^th but leading the Strokeplay Championship by one shot. Richard McDonald amassed three birdies in his round of steady golf at the 3^rd, 10^th and 14^th to challenge with 73 (7) 66. The winner in Division one was Bruce Mackay out late in the day and bringing up the rear of the field but consistent figures especially on the back 9 saw him get ahead of Evan Sutherland on the count back and pinch the top spot with 76 (11) 65.

Photos

Andy Bain	Alan Paul
Colin Earnshaw	Cammie Ross & John O'Brian
Danny O'Hagan	Eric Fram Taylor
Kenny Farmer & Willie Williamson	Ian MacIntosh, Bruce Mackay & Andy Bain
-	Willie Steven
Keith Buxton

End-of-Document