Reay Golf Club: Taylor takes top place by finest of margins
Despite the windy weather, Reay’s golfers still managed to get some competitive golf in over the past week.
Ian Ross coped best with the difficult conditions to win the latest round of the North Point Distillery Senior Stableford competition, after a solid round of 83 which included a birdie at the sixth helped him to a score of 34 points.
Colin Struthers was pipped into second place on 33 points, with a birdie at the sixth helping him along the way. He also had the distinction of bagging the nearest-the-pin prize courtesy of the sponsors.
Alex Anderson and David R Craig both birdied the 14th as they finished tied for third place on 32. Malcolm Thomson took fifth place on 31.
The sixth and final round of the gents' winter eclectic saw a spectacular performance from Steve Efemey who fired a hat-trick of birdies at the fifth, 13th and 17th holes on the way to a winning score of 73 for nett 64.
Kenny Farmer Snr finished in second place on nett 68 following a solid round of 88. A birdie at the seventh helped Leslie Malcolm to a round of 83 for nett 69 and third place.
Malcolm Thomson, with a birdie at the 17th, and Stuart Greig, with a birdie at the 14th, were next best after both finished on nett 70.
In the final overall standings Andrew Taylor was the winner by the finest of margins after he and Stuart Greig both finished on a score of 59.7. In the final analysis Taylor got the nod courtesy of a better inward half on his eclectic score.
Leslie Malcolm took third on 61.3, with Lee Parnell fourth on 62.3 and Gavin Gunn fifth on 62.6.
Round five of the ladies' Winter Stableford also saw some excellent scores, with Michelle Smith taking the win with a fine tally of 36 points.
Heather Campbell and Sarah Meiklejohn, who have both been in fine form of late, shared second place on 33 points, with Pam Bain next best on 31. Alison Ross was fifth on 30.
The Winter League Stableford competition has also been completed, with Jimmy Meiklejohn finishing well ahead of the chasing pack with a winning six-round aggregate score of 219.
Donald Mowat finished runner-up on 208, with Jack Johnstone third on 200. Graeme Fryett (on 191) and Pauline Craig (on 190) took fourth and fifth places respectively.
This Saturday sees the start of the summer season with the traditional Captain versus Vice Captain match in which Carol Paterson’s charges will face the challenge from Steve Efemey and his team.
Ross Naismith was crowned the overall winner of the North Golf Winter Alliance for the 2023/24 season.
The Brora member claimed victory with a score of 276. Allan Cameron (Royal Dornoch) finished in second place with a score of 281, while Billy Ferries (Tain) was third on 290.
Golspie's Darren Hexley won the section one category with a score of 270. Ian Ross (Reay) was second with 281 and Thurso's Steven Lowe took third place on 282.
Jimmy Nimmons of Portmahomack won section two with 280, ahead of second-placed Ally Melville (Tain) on 281 and Ali Simpson (Thurso) who was third with 282.
Sarah Meiklejohn of Reay was the ladies' champion with a score of 283, ahead of Thurso duo Eileen Manson on 295 and Laura Durrand with 305.
Team champions were Reay.
