Success for both Inverness and Nairn at Spey Valley
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
JUNIOR golfers from clubs throughout the region took part in the 10th Highland Junior Golf Championships at Spey Valley Golf Course, Aviemore.
Nairn Academy with a score of 158, won the Bruce Robertson Cup for the Highland Schools team event with Inverness Royal Academy in second place and Golspie High School third. Nairn’s counting players were Cameron MacLeod and Abbie McTavish, both members at Nairn Dunbar.
Jonathan Keith, of Millburn Academy and Inverness Golf Club, lifted the Duncan Allan Quaich for recording the lowest boys scratch score of 78 by virtue of a better inward half from Shaun Hogg (Alness Academy and Alness Golf Club).
The handicap section (nine to 18) for the clubgolf Trophy was won by Euan Munro, from Thurso High School and Reay Golf Club, with a nett 77 (89). Kyle MacLeod, Inverness Royal Academy and Loch Ness Golf Club took the runner-up spot with his nett 82 (92).
Carinne Taylor (Forres Academy and Elgin Golf Club) emerged as the winners of the Grant Trophy for the best girls scratch score with an 88.
Taylor was last year’s handicap winner, but she was succeeded this year by Abbie Cruden, of Nairn Academy and Nairn Dunbar Golf Club, who took home the Sutherland Cup.
For the seventh consecutive year the event was hosted and sponsored by Macdonald Aviemore Highland Resort with their golf professional Murray Urquhart, from Inverness, presenting the prizes.
"Macdonald Spey Valley Golf Course was delighted to host this event," he said. "We were lucky with the weather and the winning scores show that the standard of Highland junior golf is rising."
Wllie MacKay, of High Life Highland, who organised the event, hailed the championships a great success.
"It was a pleasure to witness the juniors take on the challenge of the Spey Valley championship course," he said. "Alec Glachan and his greens staff presented the course in fantastic condition for the juniors.
"The whole team at Spey Valley gave the juniors a warm and encouraging welcome and getting them into the swing with a warm-up on their excellent practice area and putting greens.
"The event went very smoothly with a big thank you to staff and volunteer helpers who made the day possible."
The leading results from the championships were:
Girls: Scratch (Grant Trophy) — 1 Carinne Taylor (Forres Academy and Elgin GC) 88, 2 Abbie Cruden (Nairn Academy and Nairn Dunbar) 101. Handicap (Sutherland Trophy) — 1 Abbie Cruden 81, 2 Eilidh McTavish (Elgin High School and Elgin Golf Club) 91.
Boys: Scratch (Duncan Allan Quaich) — 1 Jonathan Keith (Millburn Academy and Inverness Golf Club 78 (bih), 2 Lewis Daley (Forres Academy and Forres Golf Club) 78. Handicap (clubgolf Trophy) — 1 Euan Munro (Thurso High School and Reay Golf Club) 77 (89), 2 Kyle MacLeod (Inverness Royal Academy and Loch Ness Golf Club 82 (92)
Highland Best School Team (Bruce Robertson Cup) — 1 Cameron MacLeod and Abbie Cruden (Nairn Academy) 158, 2 Kyle MacLeod and Benjamin Anderson (Inverness Royal Academy) 165, 3 Michael MacLean and Kyle Sutherland (Golspie High School) 167.
