Tain pro Morrison shines at Alliance fixture

Four new members were encouraged to join and play in the fixture by their North District golf coach, Tain professional Stuart Morrison. Three of them were from Reay’s talented junior section, brothers Gregor and Euan Munro, and Tom Ross. The fourth member of the district’s coaching squad, Graeme Bethune used his Royal Dornoch membership as he is the grandson of Royal Dornoch president Dennis Bethune.

Scottish PGA tour professional Morrison then set an example to his pupils by getting the best score of the fixture. He returned a three over par card of 72 (35/37). Morrison began his round by almost holing his second shot to the first for the easiest of birdies but his bogey on the seventh took his card to one over par 35. After a birdie four at the 13th hole he faced a blinding low sun when playing into the 14th green, causing a lost ball and a triple bogey seven, before parring the remaining holes for an inward 37.

The expectant threat for the leading scratch prizes was from Morrison’s local members, but the morning clubhouse lead was set by two Muir of Ord golfers, John Forbes and Darren Hexley. Plus one handicapper Forbes led for most of the day with a 73 (37/36) which featured a birdie two on the penultimate hole.

Following his outward half of 36, left-hander Hexley dropped shots at the 13th and 14th holes, a double followed by a triple bogey, to raise his inward count to 39 for 75.

The best local score, 77, came from Billy Ferries and, from neighbouring Tarbat, Davie Mackay grossed 76.

Mackay’s matching halves of 38 reduced to a nett 69 to win the Class 1 handicap section and his Tarbat companion Hamish Skinner was a shot more, but beaten into third place on countback by Golspie’s Alister Bell.

Score of the day came in Class 2 from Invergordon’s Allan Murray, a gross 75. He had an outward count of 38 and on the more difficult second half hit a superb 37 for a nett 65.

But even this score was only one better than Francis Keith from Durness. Despite a couple of double bogeys, Keith hit a gross 78, nett 66, off 12.

Golspie Golf Course is next on the rota on Sunday, December 2nd.

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