Date:- 16/05/2008
Time:- 11:04:08
Time:- 11:04:08
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 Club Championship & Monthly Medals - Season 2007-2008
Club Championship - Finals -
01 July 07
It was very disappointing that the weather was so poor for the Club Championship finals with more or less constant rain. The greens had been cut early in the morning but with the rain were a bit slow instead of being lightning fast; however, the conditions were the same for everybody and there were a fair number of spectators to offer encouragement and support. In the senior section Alistair Gunn needed and extra hole to beat Danny O'Hagan to make the Final. Don Mackay had to overcome Hugh Millar. The handicap section saw Allyn Sutherland progress at the expense of Donald Mowat whilst David Mackay overcame David J.Mowat. In the scratch section it was Lee Parnell who beat the much fancied Raymond Taylor and John O'Brien had his wits about him to beat the tenacious Grant Maxwell. The Handicap Final saw David Mackay pitted against the youngster Allyn Sutherland and Snapper was always going to find it tough giving 13 shots. Allyn immediately went into a quick lead being two up after two holes which was then pared back at the third. Allyn again won the fourth and there was a see saw effect of wins and losses as David Mackay tried very hard to redress the balance but never got better than one down. Allyn was two up going down the 16th and really battling bravely when an error by David gave Allyn the hole and a win by 3&2. Allyn Sutherland is the 2007 Handicap Champion and at 14 years old is easily the youngest winner and expected to improve and challenge for the Club Championship in years to come.
The senior final was as expected a tough battle between two very determined and seasoned veterans in Don Mackay Snr and Alistair Gunn. The first blow came at the first as Alistair went one up and promptly won the second as well to establish an early lead. This became a commanding lead at the fifth as Alistair went three up. Alistair was in all sorts of trouble at the 6th and Don pegged him back and held him at 2 up through the 7th. It was Don's turn to err at the 8th and Alistair was able to re-establish his three hole margin up to the 10th. The gallery expected a gritty fight back from old Don and it came with back to back wins at 11 and 12 and the lead was pruned to only one hole. Alistair Gunn had to dig deep to hang on, ever mindful of Don's reputation for being dangerous when down, and the nerves were definitely jangling. The 13th and 14th were halved as Alistair fired in a terrific shot to the 15th and had a good chance of birdie. The adrenalin was flowing and Don fired his tee shot through the green and took three to get down badly misjudging the speed of the greens. Alistair now had the advantage of being two up with three to play and despite a great effort from Don on the 16th Alistair won the hole and became the Senior Champion for 2007 with a 3&2 victory. What ever happened there would be a new name on the Honours Board for 2007 with a brand new champion waiting to be crowned. Lee Parnell assumed the mantle of favourite having disposed of Raymond Taylor and Don Mackay Jnr to claim his place in the final. John O'Brien was also ready having beaten the pre Championship favourite Brad Smith and then Grant Maxwell.
In driving rain both Lee and John opened up with immaculate par golf over the first three holes to stand all square on the fourth. John O'Brien then established his authority and a firm grip on the match in a fine purple patch winning three holes on the trot which included a superbly taken birdie two at the short 5th with a very measured putt snaking into the hole. Lee was reeling a bit but gathered composure to begin a brave fight back winning the 7th halving the 8th and then winning the 9th with a par. Both players were pleased to have impressive figures with John reaching the turn in 35 and Lee in 37 and only one hole between them. The10th was halved with pars and then John made birdie at the 11th to stretch to two up and establish a comfort zone. Both players then reverted to par figures halving the next three holes and matching each other very well. The killer blow came at the aptly named Vikings Grave the short par three where John stuck his tee shot pin high and only inches away. Lee was also pin high but had one of 'those' to putt albeit an up hill putt and agonisingly missed leaving John a tap in to win the hole. This was really where the match ended as John was three up with three to play and the tee shot proved to be devastating as John collected his third birdie of the day. Lee had a good attempt at fighting back and that determination saw him overshoot the green at 16 with John comfortably on the dance floor. A par was good enough for a 4&2 win and to see the quiet man from the west John O'Brien crowned as the 2007 Reay Golf Club Champion golfer. All three finals were played with great spirit and wonderful sportsmanship all round and by coincidence all matches ended on the 16th hole. The weather in the end did not dampen the enthusiasm which was carried into the Clubhouse where Ian Ross the Club Captain presented the new Champions with their respective trophies. The new name on the honours board is John O'Brien as 2007 Club Champion.
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