Club champions decided at Inverness
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THIS season’s Club Championships at Inverness climaxed last weekend when Kerri Harper and Stuart Connell proved themselves the best golfers this year on the Culcabock course.
Women’s champion Kerri Harper is no stranger to the title — her last triumph coming in 2009 — but after taking a break from competitive play, she came back this year to claim her fifth victory in the competition with a comfortable 6 and 5 win in the final against June Nicol.
Harper overcame Alison Gowie at the semi-final stage, while in her last four encounter Nicol caused a surprise when defeating former champion Marion Howieson on the final green.
In his last year as a teenager Connell lost the men’s 2009 final, but this year and with impressive results against Inverness County champion John Forbes and club secretary Ewan Forbes in the earlier knockout rounds, Connell progressed into his second final and immediately impressed the small gallery from the first tee by finding the green 308 yards away for an opening winning birdie against the two-time former champion Bruce Thomson.
Thomson, who had claimed his first North District title on the same course last month, took a long route to the final requiring all 18 holes to beat David Joel in the quarters and Graeme Daun in the semis.
After losing the first hole, Thomson then found himself two behind following a bogey at the par three second hole.
His experience, however, soon came to the fore and this resulted in him producing a strong comeback to finish the first 18 holes one in front.
Thomson might have had the upper hand, albeit slightly, but we would not have been expecting the onslaught from Connell in the rain delayed second round.
His opponent again birdied the first hole then won four holes in succession from the fifth to the eighth.
Connell shrugged off losing the ninth and 10th holes to birdies by winning the 11th and with the impetus of sharing the 12th hole in birdie threes, claimed his first men’s club champion crown two holes later courtesy of a 5 and 4 result.
Three other finals were played out on the same day. Sandra Campbell won the women’s handicap final beating Hazel MacNeil 5 and 4, Ian Ross was the men’s handicap winner with a 2 and 1 triumph over Ben Anderson, while the junior champion is Rory MacPherson, who beat Ross Lyle in the final 4 and 3.
Meanwhile, Joel recovered from his quarter-final exit at Inverness to break par with an opening round 68 in the James Braid Open at Brora Golf Club.
To his first round nett 65, he then added a second round nett 71 to win the Kidd Cup in the category one section of the competition.
Joel was just a stroke away from winning the Royal Marine Hotel Trophy, but this went to another three handicapper with a resurgence to form by local teenager Calum Stewart.
Displaying the type of golf that had led to him capturing the North of Scotland Boys championship last season, Stewart grossed 73 and 68 for a nett 135.
Also appearing on the Brora prize list were Muir of Ord’s Darren Hexley, who had a third place in the scratch section with rounds of 69 and 75, while Castle Heather’s John Innes, a nine handicapper, took fifth place in category one with nett 139. Local green keeper James MacBeath led the scratch returns, twice breaking 70 with rounds of 69 and 68.
The club championship at Fortrose and Rosemarkie has taken place as well with reigning Inverness Golf Club Four Day champion Alan Cameron beating his nephew and defending champion Lewis Reid after 16 holes.
