Senior Tournaments - Season 2006-2007

Reay Seniors Open - 30 July 06
Second Senior trophy in a row

Alistair Gunn (Winner)

There was fine weather in general for the Senior Open sponsored by Big House Lodge with a spell of torrential rain but nothing to dampen the spirits of the enthusiastic field. The Course was immaculate and the greens running fast and true. The CSS fell at 69 with 8 birdies and the treacherous 6^th hole ruining a few cards as the hardest par and the 5^th as the easiest. The tee shot at the 6^th is intimidating and out of bounds waits all the up the left of the hole and round behind the green.

Donald Jack of Thurso was defending the Culaine Rose Bowl for the best scratch score and made birdie at the 14^th but sadly left his best form behind and only managed a 91. Sandy Stewart also of Thurso had a birdie at the 5^th and a two always smartens up the card. Ian Ritchie, Don C.Mackay and Fred Groves all shared a great score of 78 but Alistair Gunn with a fine birdie at the 13^th was the in form man shooting a 77 and saved the need for a countback. Alistair Gunn wins the Ian Ritchie Trophy and is the Senior Open Champion for 2006 winning yet another piece of silverware for the season.

In Division one with a birdie at the 4^th Bob Earnshaw carded 81-11-70 to secure third place. Ian Ritchie missed out on a birdie which is unusual for him but his 78-9-69 was a par round and good enough to take second place. Ian Ross had a birdie at the 13^th and with equal halves of 40 wins in Division one with 80-12-68.

Meanwhile in Division Two scoring was a bit more dramatic. Jim Youngson of Thurso GC made a two at the 5^th to tidy up his card. John Disbury and Jerry Abbott both finished with a par round of Nett 69. Kenny Farmer finding some form after a string of unwelcome no returns had a cracking birdie at the 3^rd for 83-15-68 which was the fourth best score and gets third place in the Division. Grant Coghill and Peter McCartney both tied for lowest gross of 80 and identical scores of 80-13-67. Grant ends up in second place and Peter McCartney gets first with a fantastic defence of the title he won last year. Grabbing the Ian Ritchie Trophy for the best Nett score was Ali Simpson of the Thurso Golf Club 84-18-66 and a very tidy effort to secure victory.

Donald Jack (Thurso GC)	Ian Ross
Peter McCartney	Sandy Stewart (Thurso GC)

Thurso Senior Open - 05 July 06
Alistair is triumphant in Thurso Senior open

Alistair Gunn

There was encouraging support from all of the Caithness clubs and also representatives from Brora, Golspie and Durness for last week's Seniors' Open sponsored by Thor Fishing. It was a case of the last out coming first as Reay's Alistair Gunn had the day's best nett and scratch rounds, his gross 72 earning 32 points and the Seniors' Open Trophy.

Pat Valentine won the lower handicap category with 38 points, with Brora's Bill Ballantyne a further point back. Les King was top dog in the higher handicap category on 37 points, one ahead of Donald Farquhar, Jim Johnston and Jim Youngson, who finished in that order after countback.

End-of-Document