Mens Tournaments - Season 2007-2008

MacRobert Thistle Open - 30 September 07
Cammie wins after just coming back from broken leg

Cammie Ross

Sadly summer is over with traditionally the last Open of the season in the MacRobert Thistle taking place at Reay on Sunday. The irony was that it was probably the best day weather wise all summer which contributed to superb golfing conditions with the course in pristine condition. The CSS was at 69 so the course was playing fair and again the second was the one that sorted the men out from the boys as the hardest par. Strangely the 13th played as the easiest par but favourable conditions meant it was in reach for the big hitters. The 6th gave up three birdies.

Stuart Sutherland made the trip up from Bonar Bridge and Ardgay GC and had the satisfaction of a pair of birdies at the 15th and the 17th in a strong finish. Another visitor was Brian Henderson 76-2-74 of the St.Andrews Golf Club making birdie at the 6th and he was hugely impressed with the quality of the course particularly the greens vowing to return next year and to bring a party from St.Andrews. Yet another visitor but this time local was Dougie Thorburn of Thurso GC in a rare appearance at Reay who shot the lowest gross of the day of 72. Dougie made birdie at the 11th in a very fine round of golf and with a plus shot had to add one to his score 72+1-73.

The top five positions were dominated by home golfers all producing excellent golf in favourable conditions. Andrew Crawford 75-6-69 had a steady par round to finish in 5th place. The dreaded count back was required to separate Brad Smith 73-5-68 making birdie at the fourth and Grant Maxwell 74-6-68 who made birdie at the 6th. Both played very well but it was Brad who got the nod for third and Grant had to settle for fourth.

Second place fell to Alistair Gunn 74-7-67 who was on a real hot streak starting at the 5th where he made that magical score - one. His hole in one came courtesy of a six iron landing at the front of the green and rolling all the way home. Alistair then birdied the next hole the 6th and cruised round making another birdie at the 13th. It was a great round for his first career ace. Also on a very hot streak was Open Winner Cammie Ross 73-9-64 on the way back from suffering a broken leg which has clearly mended well. Out in 40 Cammie made a triple bogey at the treacherous second but got to the 10th tee relatively intact to tackle the back nine. It was a great back nine of 33 being two under par gross and included no less than four birdies. The first birdie came at the 10th, then back to back at the 12th and 13th and finally the grandstand flourish for the gallery with a great two at the last and an unbeatable score. A great Champion Golfer in Cammie Ross and an ace from Alistair Gunn was a magnificent way to bring the curtain down on the 2007 season at Reay.

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