Mens Tournaments - Season 2008-2009

JGC Open - 15 June 08
Shine on Harvey beats partner by a couple

There was a good turn out of players from visiting clubs for the JGC Open, sponsored by the Harpsdale based firm, at Thurso Golf Club on Sunday. Although the weather was a bit mixed, golfing conditions were good with overnight rain having taken the fire out the landing areas.

Regular playing partners Harvey Cowe and Walter Rutherford, both 12 handicap players, would have enjoyed their rounds on Sunday as they were both scoring well with only a shot here and there separating them.

Cowe was out in 38, three over par, and lead by a shot at the turn. Rutherford fell a further two shots back with a seven at the tenth hole but fought back well to get home in another 39 shots for a very good nett 66. Cowe wasn't to be outdone though as he repeated his outward nine score to turn in a gross 76, nett 64, to win the JGC Trophy by a couple of shots from Rutherford.

Steve Osbourne (centre), representing sponsors JGC Engineering, is pictured with trophy winner Harvey Cowe (third left) and other prize winners.

Those two occupied the top places in Category 1 with Nicky Doherty earning third place after also scoring a gross 76 for a nett 66.

Jim Meiklejohn, with a nett 68, and Trevor Henderson and Ronnie Dunnet, with nett 69's were next best in the lower handicap category.

Ewan Mackenzie and playing partner Dave Lyall also enjoyed a good contest, albeit in terms of nett scores, with an edgy five at the last earning Lyall the bragging rights with a nett 66, one ahead of Mackenzie.

There was ample compensation for Mackenzie, Thurso's Match Secretary, as his gross 73 was the best of the day and earned him the scratch award by a couple of shots from Reay's Alistair Gunn.  Mackenzie only had one birdie in his round with a four at the seventh in an outward one over par 36. Despite having his only birdie at the second hole, Gunn scored better on the inward nine with 36 shots.

Lyall came close to being out of bounds twice on his opening hole but got away with a scrappy six and had three more sixes on the card but a good few pars got him home in the nett 66 to win Category 2 by a couple of shots from Alan 'Kinser' Mackenzie who was going well on the inward nine with a birdie at the thirteenth before faltering over the final three holes.

Wick's Eain Steven had an even worse first hole than the category winner but didn't let it put him off as he returned a nett 69 for third place.

Steven's clubmate, John Young and the home club's Ronnie Mowat also had nett 69's but lost out on count back.

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