Wilson wins two titles in glorious 48 hours
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FOLLOWING his age category scratch win in the North District Senior’s Championship 48 hours earlier, local member Robin Wilson’s Indian summer weekend extended into last Sunday when he bettered his Friday score by six shots to win the Brora Links Apartment Owner’s end-of-season stableford tournament.
From heady days of holding a category one handicap, Wilson’s stroke allowance has crept up to seven but despite his 67 years, his putting and short game remains the envy of many.
Sand saves over the opening four holes and a birdie putt on the ninth meant Wilson covered the outward half in gross 36, his best card of the season, and in the stableford format converting to 21 points.
A nervy short miss on the 10th green for six and just one point was soon dispelled by par figures over the next two holes, and a second birdie at the 16th hole relieved the pressure facing him over Brora’s tough finish.
From his best two consecutive strikes of the round, Wilson was up against the fence surrounding the 17th green but, after taking the free relief, secured another valuable three points from his stroke allowance before safely settling for one more point on the final hole to add another 18 to his outward 21 and lift the trophy he last won in 1998.
Four competitors finished with 38 points and went into a count back on inward half points for placings after the winner.
Wilson’s club mate Donald Sutherland finished in second place with two halves of 19 points, his gross birdie and nett four points on the 16th green a decisive count.
Local Robert MacDonald made the costly error of marking a four on his card instead of his birdie three at the fourth hole. Had he put down his birdie three he would have won the trophy on a count back over Wilson.
Instead, he found himself slipping back to third place with two halves of 19 points, ahead of visitor Michael McInnes (Nairn Dunbar) 22 & 16, and before Alister MacDonald Snr with the best of the outward halves, 24 points, but only 14 for the next nine holes.
Wick’s top player Deirdre MacAngus won the women’s competition with 38 points. MacAngus made the bulk of her points on the outward half, 23; in contrast to the local runner up, Anne Clark, who managed 20 points coming home in her total of 36.
Local Lynda Mackay scored 19 points over her last nine holes to take third place on a count back over Susan Laing, Inverness.
The Links Apartment owners and the Royal Marine Hotel provided many supplementary prizes for best inward and outward halves, nearest to pins, and scores at par three holes. The winners of these were Michael Mackintosh, Lesley Beaney, Tony Barker, Mike Carter, Dean O’Brien, Dawn Powell, Margot Barr, and Morag Carter.
18 Hole Results: Gents – R J Wilson (Brora) (7) 39pts. D M Sutherland (Brora) (18), R N MacDonald (Brora) (6), M McInnes (Nairn Dunbar) (5), A MacDonald Snr. (Brora) (17), all with 38 points. Ladies – D MacAngus (Wick) (8) 38pts. A Clarke (Brora) (16) 36pts. L Mackay (Brora) (22) 35pts, S Laing (Inverness) (23) 35pts.
