GOLF - Golfers from Nairn Golf Club, Nairn Dunbar Golf Club, Royal Dornoch Golf Club, Thurso Golf Club, Elgin Golf Club and Moray Golf Club help North become Scottish champions for first time in 16 years.
NORTH golfers have been crowned national champions for the first time in 16 years as they claimed victory at the Scottish Women’s County Finals.
The North team, which featured nine golfers from across the Highlands and Moray, won the title for the first time since 2009 at Alyth Golf Club in Perthshire.
The team, captained by Jenny Milne from Elgin Golf Club, featured Nairn Golf Club members Carinne Taylor and Sammy Fotheringham, along with Iona Reid and Kaci Robertson from Nairn Dunbar Golf Club, Caitlin Boa and Cara Thompson from Royal Dornoch Golf Club, Ellie Docherty from Moray Golf Club and Laura Durrand from Thurso Golf Club.
A hat-trick of match wins against Midlothian, Lanarkshire and Dumfriesshire clinched the silverware – the seventh time that the title has been won by the North in the event’s 116-year history.
Their success in the four-team round robin event was achieved in emphatic style.
On day one, they thrashed defending champions Midlothian with a convincing 8-1 win, taking two and a half points out of three in the morning foursomes and dropping only half a point in the six afternoon singles.
The day two result against Lanarkshire was just as commanding wining 7.5 -1.5.
A clean sweep of the three morning foursomes was followed by four wins and a halved match in the six afternoon singles.
Going into the final match, North knew that the destiny of the championship was in their own hands.
A win or a drawn match against Dumfriesshire would have guaranteed a win.
However, they achieved the victory in some style winning the morning foursomes dropping only half a point in the process before adding three wins and a half from the six afternoon singles to set the seal on a 6-3 scoreline.
Speaking about their win, Taylor said it was a monumental victory for women’s golf in the north.
She said: “We were all aware that the North had not won the title since 2009.
“We made the finals back in 2023 and that was the first time the north had been back in the finals since 2009.
“It was a big achievement to get to the final two years ago, but obviously an even bigger achievement to get over the line and win it.
“Beating Midlothian 8-1 in the first match was unexpected as they were defending champions and were such a strong team.
“It was very dominant from us, after we won the foursomes against Dumfries, we knew we had enough match points and we couldn’t be beaten even if we lost our final six singles matches.
“It was a dream tournament to win it the way that we did.
“This is amazing for women’s golf in the north as it shows that we can compete at that level.
“We have shown that we are right among the best in Scotland.”
Captain Milne said it was a proud moment to lead the North to the Scottish title.
She said: “It is a fantastic achievement for the north, we as a team have been so close in the previous two years and I am delighted that all of the players can say they are Scottish County Champions for 2025.
“We have a great team spirit on and off the course and that showed the whole weekend at Alyth.”
Docherty enjoyed a fantastic week on an individual level joining team-mate Robertson in claiming five and a half points from six matches.
But for the Moray golfer, the success was down to the team spirit fostered over a number of years.
She said: “I had a good feeling this week and it’s just been perfect.
“We’ve built on the group feeling through the jamborees and getting to the finals.
"We’ve become close off the course, we have a load of laughs and are proud of each other.
“It’s such a great team to be part of. I’m chuffed.”
The North team will now look at defending their Scottish title in 2026 with their regional qualifier set to take place at Nairn Dunbar Golf Club.
Taylor says after coming out on top this year, the target will be to try and retain their national title.
“Winning the Scottish championship has totally flipped things now we are no longer the underdogs.
“We are the ones to beat so that is quite cool we can say that.”
The North Men’s team reached the semi finals of the Scottish Men’s Area Team Championship in Elgin.
The men’s team featured Jordan Shaw (Boat of Garten), Lewis Reid (Fortrose & Rosemarkie), Ryan Copland (Moray Golf Club - Team Captain), David Joel (Inverness), Ross Naismith (Brora Golf Club) and David Sanderson (Kings Golf Club).
In their semi final against Renfrewshire, North started well and swept the morning foursomes 3–0, but Renfrewshire responded in dramatic fashion, winning five of their six singles matches in the afternoon for a 5-4 win.
Fife took the men’s title with a convincing win over Renfrewshire in the final.