Mens Tournaments - Season 2009-2010

Donald Campbell Open - 06 September 09
Ali just beats Kenny on countback

With all three burns that wend their way across the Reay Links having burst their banks and spewed their peaty waters across fairway, green and bridge alike, Saturday's September Medal had to be postponed.

However, thanks to the hard work of the green staff, some volunteers and a pump or two, the Reay Links was declared fit for the Donald Campbell Open on Sunday. A truly international assembled, with golfers from as far a field as the Netherlands and Sweden taking part.

With no run on the normally dry fairways all players found the going tough as the course played as long as it ever has. The CSS for the day reflected the tough conditions as it rose to 71.

In category two only one player managed to match the CSS, namely Grant Coghill, no doubt many Easter trips to the emerald isle standing him in good stead in the damp conditions.

Things didn't look good for Grant early doors with a pair of crooked stick 7s to open his round. In fact Grant used up the majority of his 14 handicap up on the front nine. An excellent back nine of 39, however, including a quality birdie at the 14th, saw Grant post a category 2 winning score of 85(14)71.

Running Grant close was Richard Thain. Richard also struggled on the front nine, but fought bravely back on the homeward stretch carding very different halves of 49 and 40 for a total of 89(17)72.

Third place in category two was keenly fought between Thurso club mates and skins specialists Jack Johnstone and Alf Williamson, with Jack coming out on top by a single shot in recording a net 76.

The scoring was slightly better in category one with a net 71 only good enough for a dust up for the minor placings.

Three players managed to match the CSS, with John O'Brien and William Thain being pipped into third by Donald (Mojo) Mowat on countback; a birdie two back into the wind at the 15th proving to be the defining moment.

Second in Category one went to Murray McGlasson. Murray, like many a West Indian Batsman, normally performs best with the sun on his back, however he is having an autumnal hot streak. After getting a handicap cut for his performance last week at Wick, he proved it was no flash in the pan with a very steady 78(8)70.

Winner of Category one in the Donald Campbell Open this year was Kenny Chalmers.

Occasionally a victim of all that is to the left of the first hole, Kenny got off to a flyer in this round by parring the evil opener. And this was all the encouragement he required to reach the turn in a superb 37 blows, including a birdie 4 at the potentially card wrecking 6th. Kenny's form continued as he parred the first 3 holes of the back nine. And this gave him the cushion he needed to nurse his card back home for a handicap beating 80(12)68.

The only other player to beat his handicap on the day was scratch winner Ali MacKay. Getting off to the best possible start by birdying the 236 yard par 3 first, Ali reached the turn in 36. Further birdies on the first hole of the back nine and the 14th helped MacKay home in 37 strokes for a scratch winning score of 73; three clear of John O'Brien and the rest of the field. This gave Ali a net 68 tying Kenny Chalmers.

After a closer inspection of the cards and some countback calculations, Ali MacKay was declared the winner of the 2009 Donald Campbell Open.

Nearest the pin at 18th was won by Richard Thain with 3.37m; no mean feat with such a tricky pin placement.

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