Wick gala contest winners celebrate

THERE was a good entry for the Wick Gala Open played last Thursday with 58 men entering the competition.

A very strong north-westerly wind, hard fairways and fast greens made for testing conditions.

Winner of the gala trophy was veteran Drew Robertson (10), of Wick, with a superb nett 67, beating captain Ian Thomson (6) over the last six holes.

Playing into the wind, Robertson displayed some excellent golf to reach the turn in 39 strokes and played solidly to come back in 38 which included a birdie at the 17th hole.

Despite dropping a stroke at the first, Thomson went out in two-over-par 37, a great effort in the conditions, and came back in 36 with a birdie at the 10th.

Young Alan Larnach, of Lybster, won the scratch with a terrific three-over-par 72. Larnach likes playing in the gala open as he won the gala shield in 2008 and last year.

He reached the turn in two-over-par 37 and came back in one-over-par 35, the best inward half of the day, finishing in style with a birdie at the 18th. Second scratch went to Thomson with a 73.

Former Wick member Alan Forbes (5), of Lybster, claimed first spot in handicap category one (zero to 12) with a nett 69.

He went out in one-over-par 36 which included a birdie at the ninth but ran up a double bogey at the 15th to come back in 38.

Second and third were brothers Steven McAllan (8) and Adam McAllan (9), of Wick, with younger brother Steven claiming second place with a nett 70.

Steven has been playing well all season and continued this fine form, going out in 41 and back in 37.

Adam has also been playing well but struggled to the turn in 44 strokes and then played some great golf to come back in 36.

Another former Wick member, Michael MacDougall (17), of Lybster, was first in handicap category two (13 to 28), with a nett 69, beating Glyn Reid (16), of Wick, by virtue of a better inward half.

MacDougall covered the first nine holes in 41 strokes, a super effort, but faltered on the back nine with a triple bogey at the 10th to come back in 45.

Reid played well to go out in 40 with a birdie at the ninth but struggled on the back nine, having three double bogeys in a row from the 15th to the 17th holes, to come back in 45. Veteran George Johnson (20), of Wick, was third with a nett 71.

He went out in 49, despite a nine at the third hole, and played steady golf to come back in 42. The CSS was 71.

In the ladies’ section, Hannah Mclean (20), of Wick, returned the best handicap score, a nett 71, to win the gala shield. Scratch winner was Marion Mackay, of Wick, with an 87.

Yet again the weather was poor for the Clyne Medal played last Sunday due to a very strong south-easterly wind and rain so it was no surprise scoring was high with Michael McAllan (12) winning the competition with a nett 72. He had halves of 41 and 43.

Senior member Allan Munro (6) was second with a nett 73. Munro started with a birdie at the first and then played excellent golf to reach the turn in one-over-par 36.

But he found it tough playing back into the wind and rain, taking 43 shots on the back nine.

Another senior member, Farquhar MacGregor (15), was third with a nett 74.

Veteran Alistair Grant had the first hole in one of the season at Wick, holing a four-iron at the second. He was partnered by Michael Mowat.

The next competition is the Wick Seniors’ Open sponsored by D. Sutherland & Son which is being played on Saturday – a Stableford – played from the yellow tee, followed on Sunday by the August Medal.

n A photo caption in last Friday’s John O’Groat Journal stated Hannah MacBeath was the winner of the Wick Golf Club ladies’ open handicap trophy.

It should have read Hannah Mclean.