Club Championship & Monthly Medals - Season 2006-2007

Club Championship Qualifiers - 15 June 06
ALL three titles are wide open

Some of the qualifiers from all sections of this seasons Club Championships.

The four qualifying rounds are complete, the dust has settled and the finalists are now known for 2006. The best two scores from the four rounds counted. The qualifiers all go into the Matchplay rounds now with the finals on the 11^th August. Competition has been intense and some well known faces haven't made it which is testament to the quality of golf played and the determination to make the finals.

In the Senior (Over 55's) section the leading qualifier is Ian Ritchie with two sub par rounds of 67 and 68 making an aggregate 135 and a good bet for the title as he is playing well just now. The second seed following a great round on Saturday is Chris Hobson 73/65 - 138 coming into form at the right time and a past winner of the Senior trophy. Third seed is Bob Earnshaw 73/69 - 142. Fourth seed is Murdo MacDonald playing consistently for 72/70 - 142.

The other qualifiers are Sandy Chisholm, Bill Budding, Ian Sutherland and Andy Mackay.

In the Handicap section Bill McIntosh qualified as the top seed with 69/62 - 131 a previous winner and probably the most surprised to be in such a position. The second seed making his debut is newcomer Jerry Abbott 71/66 - 137 after a very good round in the Reay School PTA Open. Third seed is the fancied dark horse Peter McCartney 67/70 - 137 who will be a strong contender. Fourth is Evan Sutherland again a previous winner on 67/70 - 137 and another who could scoop the title. The other qualifiers are Cammie Ross, Steve Efemey, Alec Anderson and Ian Mackintosh who are all strong contenders and all in fine form at present.

The race for the Title of Club Champion has produced a great field of 12 to contest the Matchplay rounds with a blend of seasoned campaigners and new faces all going for glory. The top seed is Don Mackay Jnr who produced two quality rounds of 68 for an aggregate 136 and having won the title four times already is in determined mood to win again. Seven times a winner Club Captain Graeme Dunnett also produced two polished performances in a remarkable comeback from injury of 71/73 - 144 to be the second seed. Third was Gavin Sutherland 75/70 -145 and the youngster is getting in much practice now his exams are over and will be a handful with youth on his side. Fourth seed and winner in 1993 is Colin Paterson 72/73 - 145 quietly going about the business of qualifying and well worth a bet for the title.

Title Holder and winner in 2005 David Dunbar 74/72 - 146 is well placed to defend the Championship and is also worth a good bet. The quiet man from the west John O'Brien 72/74 - 146 is also much fancied and has to be due a win before long. Raymond Taylor 71/76 - 147 a previous Champion no less than 5 times and as far back as 1977 when he won 4 years running is back in contention for a 6^th title. Lee Parnell with two steady 74's for 148 is another who on his day in Matchplay can be devastating. Richard McDonald 75/74 for 149 is another very strong player who can capture the title. Alistair Gunn 76/75 - 151 has just won the Reay Gala Open with a blistering nett 64 and is not there to make up the numbers. Congratulations to John Nicolson making his debut in his first season at Reay 73/78 - 151 and clearly is the most dangerous in the pack as nobody will be sure of what he can do so he can't be underestimated. The final qualifier James Henderson 78/74 - 152 who has won the title three times over the years is well versed in the intricacies and finer points of Matchplay.

All three sections are set up with strong fields and it is going to be cutthroat stuff in the matches ahead to determine the finalists for the 11^th August.

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