Early season delight for Urquhart as he scoops Millicent Bowl
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THE nucleus of the triumphant Royal Dornoch team who the previous weekend took victory in the Dornoch Firth League dominated Sutherland’s first 36 hole open stroke-play event of the season played over the Golspie Golf Course last Saturday which was sponsored by local firm Charles Stewart Builder.
Brian Urquhart’s early golf years were spent as a junior member in Golspie and since he moved to Dornoch he has become a competent one handicap golfer which was rewarded with his first major success outside his home club. His gross and nett aggregate cards won both the Campbell Shield (gross 72/74) and Millicent Bowl (nett71/73).
The event was the first in the North District’s 2016 Order of Merit Tour but the host club will be disappointed it did not attract more players from south of the Kessock Bridge. However Urquhart’s Campbell Shield win with his 72 & 74 will immediately project him to the head of the points table on 100 points and hopefully have the district’s desired effect of encouraging him and his club mates to play in further merit events through the season.
Other Royal Dornoch members who finished in the top ten and will receive points were, Alex MacDonald 90, second scratch after a 74 & 73, Craig MacKay 80, third with two 75’s, Kevin Matheson 60 points from his tied fourth place with Jonathan Keith 60 (Inverness) and Darren Hexley 60 (Golspie). Craig Sutherland 25 (RDGC) and Neil Munro 25 (RDGC).
Urquhart’s nett total from his one handicap was not the lowest of the competition, this was returned by Connor Hall (Alness) a nett 142 (69/73) from his seven handicap but as the Duchess of Millicent Bowl is confined to members of Sutherland clubs, Hall had to be content with the leading nett handicap voucher in his section.
Winner of the high handicap section was local Sam Sutherland who coped better in the windy afternoon conditions than he did in the morning and improved four shots on his first round nett 76 for an aggregate of 148, off 19.
Results; Scratch scores – 146 B Urquhart (RDGC) (72/74). 147 A MacDonald (RDGC) (74/73). 150 C J MacKay (RDGC) (75/75). 154 J Keith Inverness) (78/76), D Hexley (Golspie) (77/77), K Matheson (RDGC) (76/78). 156 C Hall (Alness) (76/80). 158 C Sutherland (RDGC) (76/82), N Munro (RDGC) (75/83). Handicap Class 1 – C Hall (Alness) (7) 142. B Urquhart (RDGC) (1) 144. J Keith (Inverness) (3) 148. N Munro (RDGC) (4) 150. Class 2 – S Sutherland (Golspie) (19) 148. D Norrie (Brora) (10) 151. D Doogan (Golspie) (12) 153.
