Winter Tournaments - Season 2005-2006

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Stableford 12 (Final Resut) - 26 March 06
Consistent play does it for Bruce...

1st - Bruce Mackay

After a long winter campaign where we lost 4 rounds due to the weather 8 rounds were successfully completed. The best 4 scores out of 8 went towards the aggregate score for the trophy.

In 5^th place was David Dunbar the Club Champion on 147 points from 35, 36, 38 and 38. Colin Stewart picked up 4^th place on 149 from rounds of 35, 37, 41 and 36. There was a tie for second place between Lee Parnell and John Nicolson with both amassing a total of 153 each. Lee lost on countback and his four rounds were 37, 40, 38, and 38 and he had to settle for third place. John Nicolson has played particularly well only joining the Club in January and his rounds of 38, 33, 42 and 40 for a total of 153 were particularly commendable in half the season.

The winner could only be one man and after playing so consistently well throughout the winter it is congratulations to Bruce Mackay on 159 points from his four best rounds of 42, 38, 40 and 39. It is worth noting that Bruce had decided after a poor summer he was not going to play this winter but an excellent round at Durness with the North Golf Alliance in the first weekend of the winter season was enough to convince him to keep going. Many will wish he had put his clubs away for the winter as he has played so consistently well he is the only member of the Club to get a handicap reduction, oh and he has picked up a few trophies as well.

2nd - John Nicolson	3rd - Lee Parnell
4th - Colin Stewart	5th - David Dunbar

Stableford 11 - 18 March 06
Pride of place to John...

John Disbury

The penultimate round was played in reasonably pleasant conditions and the statistics showed 19 birdies with the third hole playing the hardest followed by the fourth with the 13^th giving up four birdies the easiest. Worth noting the 16^th gave up 5 birdies.

Birdies came at the 14^th for George Prince and Jim McLean and at the 16^th there were birdies for Chris Hobson, Jock Eunson and Donald Mowat. Mojo also got a further birdie at the very tough 4^th hole. Andy Mackay went under par at the 11^th with a fine birdie and Gavin Sutherland is beginning to come back into form with a birdie at the 13^th. John O'Brien not firing on all cylinders still managed a nice birdie at the sixth.

Colin Stewart had a very fine steady round with two birdies at the 13^th and the 16^th and strolled round in par figures for 36 points. Club Champion David Dunbar managed a birdie at the 6^th and an impressive 38 points. Sharing 38 points was Lee Parnell making a late challenge and an impressive tally of three birdies coming at the 13^th, 16^th and the difficult 17^th. On 39 points with a tidy birdie at the 13^th was non other than Bruce Mackay snatching fourth place from Alex Mackay on the countback who also had an excellent 39 points.

In impressive form was John Nicolson our relative newcomer this winter settling in nicely and picking up a whopping 40 points with two birdies at the 6^th and the 16^th. John looks like a challenger for silverware in the summer and should lose a couple of shots of his handicap before long but had to settle for third place. Also with a massive 40 points was old timer Ian Sutherland showing a clean pair of heels on the back 9 as he fired his way home in 24 points and clearly took second place from John Nicolson. Pride of place this week goes to John Disbury slotting home a birdie on the 11^th and safely negotiating his way round to a total of 41 points and thoroughly enjoying a rich streak of good form. John had a super round playing of a 20 handicap with a round equating to 5 under par and getting a bit of interest from the handicap Secretary.

The Trophy will be decided over the best 5 scores from 9 rounds and at present Bruce Mackay has a comfortable lead on 196 points over Lee Parnell with 188 points. Colin Stewart is lurking on 182 points and John Nicolson is on 181 points.

Stableford 10 - 18 February 06
Ian blitzzz' back nine...

Ian MackIntosh

There was some excitement with 28 birdies and an eagle to report. The first hole was the hardest followed by the second and the easiest turned out to be the 16^th. There were 5 birdies at the 6^th and four birdies at the 14^th.

Club President Alf Mackay produced the excitement with an outstanding eagle. A good drive short of the fairway bunker was followed by a towering wedge shot into the heart of the green and with one wee hop the ball settled into the hole to record a score of two on a par four. It certainly smartened the card up and with a birdie two at the 5^th Alf had a pair of two's on his card and a great 38 points which only sadly gave him 5^th place.

The 6^th hole was birdied by Ian Ritchie, Alex Mackay, Pete McCartney and Gavin Sutherland. Alistair Gunn had a birdie at the 11^th. The 14^th was birdied by Grant Coghill and also by Donald Mowat. The pressure must be getting to Bruce Mackay as the winter season begins to wind down as he had a very poor day at the office but still birdied the 6^th and the 14^th to keep up his challenge.

Jock Eunson was grandstanding again getting a birdie two at the 18^th. Also with a two was Willie Young who managed it at the hardest hole on the course the 7^th. Throwing in a two was Michael Williamson making a rare appearance and dropping his putt at the short 15^th. Fred Groves and Murdo MacDonald both birdied the 13^th and Evan Sutherland broke par at the 16^th with birdie. Young Brent Munro was on good form with a pair of birdies at the 3^rd and the 16^th.

On level par with 36 points were the veteran pair Sandy Chisholm and George MacDonald. Alex Mackay with the help of his birdie at the 6^th carded 37 points. Three players shared 38 points the 5^th best total led by Alf Mackay and Ian Ritchie. The pick of the bunch was Club Champion David Dunbar with four birdies in his 38 points. David had a great streak birdying three holes on the trot at 13^th, 14^th and a two at the 15^th and also the grandstand finish with another birdie two at the 18^th.

Third place went to Ian Sutherland on 39 points who edged out John O'Brien on the countback. John at least had the consolation of two birdies and some sweep money with a nice two at the 5^th and a birdie at the 11^th giving him fourth place.

The winning score was a terrific 42 points and this was shared by John Nicolson and Ian Mackintosh. John had a wonderful three birdies in his round going under par at the 3^rd, a two at the 9^th and the third birdie at the treacherous 17^th. Coming home in 19 points meant John lost the countback and had to settle for second place. The man from up West Ian Mackintosh blitzed the back nine in 25 points and secured pole position and a fine winner of round 10 of the Stableford. Bruce Mackay is still leading the league but is being reeled in slowly and his lead whilst still comfortable is beatable.

Stableford 9 - 11 February 06
Colin in late push...

Colin Stewart

Round nine of the winter league Stableford was played on a perishing cold day with a definite breeze and conditions were difficult. Nevertheless scoring was good and there were 13 birdies. The 17^th hole played the hardest and the easiest turned out to be the 13^th which produced 3 birdies.

First in with a birdie was David Mackay at the 8^th. Grant Coghill was also on the birdie trail making good at the 6^th. Lee Parnell wasn't scoring so well but racked up a grand tally of 3 birdies in a fine purple patch at the turn with putts dropping in at the 10^th and a brace at the 12^th and 13^th in his total of 30 points. Peter McCartney managed a fine birdie two at the short 5^th.

Donald Mowat usually good for at least one birdie didn't disappoint and holed out for his birdie at the 13^th. George Prince left it till late in the round and ever the showman had a grandstand finish with a birdie two on the 18^th and a total of 32 points. John O'Brien meanwhile was quietly going about his business with a nice 35 points and a haul of three birdies starting at the 6^th and then two on the back 9 at the 14^th and the 16^th to secure fourth place.

Three men broke par and with a total of 37 points making a rare appearance came Sandy Chisholm in third place including a fine birdie in his card at the long 4^th hole which is no mean feat. With a wonderful 40 points and a birdie at the 13^th despite a chop from the handicap Secretary was the intrepid Bruce Mackay to claim second place. In blistering form, however, to win the round was Colin Stewart with immaculate golf scoring a stunning 41 points and trying to put a bit of late season pressure on Bruce Mackay. Colin had halves of 21 points out and 20 points home despite a double bogey start and just played sound steady golf thereafter.

Out on his own at the moment with a healthy lead in the hunt for the trophy is none other than Bruce Mackay. With three rounds left trying to catch Bruce are Lee Parnell, Terry Grace and Colin Stewart as the trio best placed to reel him in. This weekend it's the Stableford round 10 on Saturday and on Sunday its 4BBB.

Stableford 8 - 21 January 06
Still no stopping the Winter man...

Bruce Mackay

Once again perfect golfing weather with dry conditions underfoot despite poor weather throughout the week. We are very lucky with the weather for the time of year. The 11^th hole was the hardest with only two making par and last week's flurry of birdies dissipated with only 16 birdies being surrendered by the course. The 6^th hole took a bit of a caning as the easiest hole and gave up 7 birdies, normally a problem from the medal tee but the winter league is played off the box tees and this makes the initial tee shot on the 6^th less traumatic and the green reachable in two.

John Disbury was having another tough day at the office but he had the satisfaction of a lovely birdie at the 16^th to keep his card going. Alistair Gunn was having an unusual off day but a birdie two at the short 15^th put some gloss on his round as he managed 30 points. Neil McDonald making a rare appearance showed he still has the birdie touch with an easy birdie at the 6^th for 33 points a feat shared by new boy John Nicolson. Mike Browne was also on the Birdie trail sinking his 12 foot putt for a two on the short 5^th following a towering 7 wood tee shot into the heart of the green.

Seasoned veteran Ian Ritchie was another who took advantage and made birdie at the 6^th producing a good front 9 but a bit careless on the back 9 with a double bogey at the 15^th to return 35 points. Colin Stewart was another to master the 6^th with a birdie and also birdied the par five 14^th to go under par with a total of 37 points. Colin was out in 20 points on the front 9 but dropped three shots on the back 9 with the birdie at the 14^th making the difference to cling on for 17 points. This earned Colin 5^th place.

Three players shared 38 points and the countback was enforced to separate them. With the second best score of the day of 38 points Terry Grace unfortunately found himself back in 4^th place but had the consolation of a tidy and workmanlike birdie at the 6^th. Losing out also was Lee Parnell who came home in 18 points which is level par making birdie at the 6^th and a superb two at the 18^th. Lee has the consolation off getting some sweep money for his 38 points and the third berth.

Making the difference with a back 9 of 20 points was Donald Mowat courtesy of two birdies at the 12^th and the 16^th and an earlier third birdie which he claimed at the 6^th to tidy up his front 9. Mojo's 38 points was the equivalent of a score of 2 under par which is good shooting.

Back to back birdies at the 13^th and the 14^th brought Bruce Mackay home in 19 points with a couple of dropped shots but an excellent front 9 of 20 points gave him a grand total of 39 points and victory in round 8. Bruce has been in outstanding form in recent weeks and has now come under the Handicap Secretary's knife earning a two shot reduction in his handicap from 11 to 9.

The leader so far in the race for the silverware is Bruce Mackay with the best aggregate of 121 points. Lee Parnell is second on 115 points and Terry Grace is not far away on 111 points. A lot can still happen with 4 rounds to go and Mike Browne, Colin Stewart, Ian Ritchie and Donald Mowat can still hit a purple patch and throw in some late good scores.

Ian Ritchie	Lee Parnell
Donald Mowat	Terry Grace

Stableford 7 - 14 January 06
George is Prince on day...

George Prince

Once again we had a glorious day for golf with clear blue skies, but a definite chilly start until the sun got up, so there was no excuse for poor golf and we got plenty birdies and some outstanding scoring. As usual the second was the hardest hole followed by the 10^th which was no surprise as the sun was blinding which is a strange thing to say in January. The 13^th was playing the easiest. 25 birdies was a great haul with two getting 4 apiece, the 6^th gave up 5 birdies and 13 and 14 gave up four each.

Ian Ritchie had a steady round scoring three birdies at the 6^th, 14^th and the 16^th just to remind us he is still about. Colin Stewart was also on form at the par 5's birdying the 6^th and the 14^th. John O'Brien whilst not having his best round still managed a birdie at the 6^th hole. The short par 3 9^th hole was popular as Danny O'Hagan, Alistair Gunn and Steve Lucas all managed a birdie 2 to smarten up their cards.

Three tied on 36 points which equates to a level par round led by Club Champion David Dunbar with a birdie at the 11^th. Old Don Mackay was in the thick of it and had two birdies in his 36 points at the 5^th and the 13^th. With a wonderful haul of four birdies we had Donald Mowat with 36 points and his birdies came at the 3^rd, 6^th, 8^th and the 16^th as he went out in 20 points for a great start but faltered a bit on the back 9. Evan Sutherland took 6^th place with a very steady round for 37 points.

Our new boy John Nicolson is settling in well with a quality 6 iron into the back of the 6^th green for his second shot setting up a nice birdie and narrowly missing his eagle. John had equal halves of 19 to finish with a solid 38 points for 5^th place. Sharing the 38 point mark but edging out John on the countback as he came home in 21 points was George MacDonald, who produced a lovely birdie at the 13^th.

Second and third also needed the countback to separate the contenders. With a birdie at the 14^th Bruce Mackay unfortunately lost out to Lee Parnell as both amassed a superb 40 points. Bruce had to settle for third but in the race for the Stableford Trophy Bruce and Lee are neck and neck, again both tied on 112 points so this is shaping up to be an interesting tussle as both are in form. Lee Parnell came home in a whopping 23 points which is great shooting with four birdies on the back nine as putts fell at the 10^th, 13^th, 14^th and the 16^th. Lee was three under gross with one bogey at the 17^th for a total gross 70.

Pride of place goes to the Stornoway man George Prince who shot an incredible 42 points of his handicap of 12 which included birdies at the 8^th and also at the 13^th which his playing partners will hear about a plenty this week as he took their money and the sweep money. George went out in 20 points and back home in 22 points in an immaculate and tidy round.

George MacDonald	John Nicolson
Lee Parnell	Donald Mowat

Stableford 6 - 24 December 05
Cancelled due to weather

• Cancelled.

Stableford 5 - 10 December 05
Terry goes under par...

Terry Grace

After the disappointment of losing two rounds to the weather it was nice to get round five played. The stats showed the 17^th as the hardest hole closely followed by the fourth with one eagle at the 16^th and a total of 13 birdies.

In good form with two birdies was Fred Groves with a nice two at the 5^th and a further birdie at the 8th but finding it hard to turn the birdies into points. Also finding points hard to find was George Prince struggling down the field but a nice birdie at the 6^th was some consolation. The in form man was a bit out of sorts but Bruce Mackay had the highlight of the day with a superb eagle at the 14^th which was a super effort. Donald Mowat had a putt drop for a birdie 2 at the 5^th playing with Andy Bain who birdied the 14^th. Also in the threeball was David Mackay who had a pair of birdies at the 8^th and the 13^th.

Scores were very bunched with 4 players on 30 points and three on 31. Tied with 32 points for 4^th place were another four players with Lee Parnell the pick of the bunch with an excellent triple birdie haul slotting home putts at the 3^rd, 6^th and 16^th. Sharing 32 points with Lee was Evan Sutherland who birdied the 14^th, Andy Mackay and Ian Sutherland who made a fine two at the 5^th.

Second place needed the dreaded countback to sort out Peter McCartney and Steve Efemey both on 33 points. Steve had a birdie two at the 9^th but had to settle for third place as Peter McCartney got the nod for second place by the margin of one point. The run away victor was Terry Grace who amassed a grand total of 39 points which equates to three under par. Terry went out in 20 points and came home with 19 only slipping up at the first with a double bogey but scored on every hole and used his handicap well.

Stableford 3 & 4 - 12 & 26 November 05
Both dates cancelled due to weather

• Cancelled.

Stableford 2 - 22 October 05
You just can't stop him...

Bruce Mackay

The second Winter Stableford was played on a nice sunny autumnal day with a fairly stiff breeze coming off the sea. The course statistics threw up the 8^th hole as the hardest and there were 10 birdies and one majestic eagle. The greens were in excellent condition for the time of year with the course shaping up very well to the winter conditions and the winter maintenance programme.

The eagle came courtesy of Alan Paul at the 6^th hole but sadly Alan didn't score well on the other holes. This did however give him 5 points on the hole. Bill McIntosh also floundering on the course managed a birdie at the long 4^th and David Dunbar having an unusual off day put a bit of gloss on his round with a birdie at the 13^th. Ian Sutherland drilled in a nice birdie two at the 15^th. Donald Mowat had a brace of birdies with putts falling for a two at the 9^th and a birdie putt at the 14^th. Bob Earnshaw celebrated his entry to the winter fixtures with a birdie two at the 5^th and Ian Thomson had the highlight of his round at the 6^th with a very good birdie four.

Five players tied with 36 points which is level par in this format and after the countback was applied third place was awarded to John Disbury with an excellent birdie at the 10^th narrowly pushing Billy Dunbar into fourth spot. Others on the 36 points mark were Cammie Ross, Mike Browne and Bob Earnshaw.

Enjoying a bit of leave from offshore Andy Whitelaw cruised into second place with 37 points which equates to one under par and maintains some good form from last week with a strong back 9 of 21 points logging four nett birdies.

Bruce Mackay hits a purple patch of form storming to victory with an outstanding haul of 42 points with a huge winning margin leaving the field trailing in his wake. Bruce tamed the treacherous 17^th with a nice birdie three and produced equal halves of 21 points.

The early front runners in the league are Bruce Mackay and Mike Browne with an aggregate of 70 points each but out in front with 72 points paving the way is Lee Parnell with 72 points. This weekend sees a return of the four ball better ball format on Saturday which has been popular and a Texas Scramble on Sunday.

Stableford 1 - 08 October 05
Lee sole man to break par

Lee Parnell

Once again we had a beautiful autumnal day with clear skies and a gentle breeze however the early starters did experience some seasonal rain. The course analysis threw up one eagle and 6 birdies and very strangely the 11^th hole which is stroke index two came out as the hardest hole for the first time closely followed by the third. This was unusual as the third was playing with the wind and the 11^th against the wind.

Birdies were not plentiful in good playing conditions but the 8^th hole was popular with Kenny Farmer and Bill McIntosh who both managed to birdie the hole. Donald Mowat fresh back from his holiday in Spain found the cup at the 13^th to make a birdie three. The Birdie king for the day was the sprightly George MacDonald who managed the feat twice also birdying the 13^th but making birdie at the 16^th as well.

Four players tied for fourth place with a total of 34 points. Sharing the Honours were Mike Browne, Chris Hobson, Donald Mowat and George MacDonald. Bringing up third place was Club Champion David Dunbar with 35 points. In second place was the veteran Ian Ritchie with a total of 36 points and the only player to equal par on the day.

On his own and the only player to break par was Lee Parnell with a grand total of 37 points to win the first round of the Winter Stableford. Lee struggled on the front nine making only 16 points and had a no return on the 6^th hole. The back 9 brought a terrific haul of 21 points and a purple patch with a birdie at the 13^th and a magnificent 5 point score on the 14th with an outstanding eagle three. A nice steady par finish saw Lee get his nose in front and take the lead after round one of the Winter Stableford.

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