Chris Mailley wins Royal Dornoch Carnegie Shield for seventh time
ROYAL Dornoch's famous Carnegie Shield has been captured by well-known Highland golfer Chris “Chippie” Mailley for a seventh time.
The Brora and Dornoch member capped a success-strewn season by defeating defending champion Ewan Cuthbert 4&3 over the Championship Course.
University of the Highland and Islands student and former Inverness Academy pupil Ewan was one of the youngest winners of the trophy, but his determined bid to retain the trophy fell at the final hurdle.
Chris (42), a +3.3 handicapper whose first Shield win was back in 2009, had already secured his 9th Sutherland County Cup and Royal Dornoch’s Club Championship for the 8th time this season.
The Shield was gifted to the club in 1901 by entrepreneur Andrew Carnegie, when he lived at nearby Skibo Castle.
Dornoch resident Chris, who headed north with the family from Dumbarton when he was four, is the golf and grounds manager at The Carnegie Club at Skibo.
He is eyeing-up the record of 10 Shield triumphs set by fellow Brora member Jimmy Miller between 1965 and 1983.
“Jimmy is a legend in these parts. His name is plastered all over the boards of clubs in the Highlands.
“But that record is definitely in the back of my mind now, if the body holds up!” said Chris, whose last Shield victory was pre-Covid.
“The wins don’t come any easier as the years go by, especially playing younger guys like Ewan. It is a tough week, a bit of a grind, and you’re running on adrenaline by Friday and Saturday.”
Ewan birdied the first to take the lead but the balance swung in his rival’s favour around the turn.
“The 12th was a big one for me, with a 20-foot birdie putt to go three up,” said Chris.
The 300-strong field had to battle the elements over the week.
“Usually, you get a day or two when it’s blowy, but it was windy pretty much every day,” said Chris.
“One day I was hitting a five iron off the 10th for a 135-yard tee shot!
“That suits me though. The windier the better. I think it bothers the other players more than me.”
The Davidson Trophy was won by Newmachar’s Ian Morrison and the EC Fraser Cup was captured by Royal Dornoch Struie member David Dietz.
