Mens Tournaments - Season 2008-2009

Donald Campbell Open - 07 September 08
Ian battles to win trophy

Ian Ross

Sunday saw golfers assemble from the far reaches of the county to show their respect to one of Reay Golf Club's finest servants and partake in the Donald Campbell Open.

In stark contrast to Saturday's slog, no fewer than a third of the field managed to avoid the utter humiliation of having their handicap up-rated by the traditional point one. Net 68's from Messrs Parnell and (Mojo) Mowat and Net 69's from Messrs Earnshaw and Abbott were but an irrelevant side-show in the final reckoning.

Carrying forward his form from the September Medal was Alastair Gunn. A very steady round containing a plethora of pars saw Gunn round in 75 blows for a net 67. Narrowly pipping Alistair on the better inward half was Thurso Golfer Bryan Ronald. His score of 71, including a blitz of three birdies in the space of just five holes on the back nine, secured him the lowest gross.

The battle for the Donald Campbell Trophy went right down to the wire, with Steve Efemey and Club Captain Ian Ross both going low.

An early mishap of the snowman variety at the fourth by Ross handed the early initiative to Efemey, who duly turned the screw on the following hole.

Having scuffed his tee shot at the fifth, Efemey produced some seriously long range texas wedge magic to record a birdie two. But Ross, wasn't about throw his gratuitously sponsored golf towel in yet. A steady finish to the front nine, including a birdie at the awkward 6th saw him out in 40. The pressure began to tell on Efemey as he put one on what is widely considered the wrong side of the out-of-bounds fence at the 8th, registering a double bogey, to be out in 38 off his 9 handicap.

Following his double trouble at 8, Efemey then settled down and reeled off five pars in a row. His run ended in style at the 14th as he rolled a tricky one down the slope for birdie.

Meanwhile, Ian Ross was on the good ship 'steady' himself, taking an impressive 39 shots on the back nine off a handicap of 13, giving him a fantastic overall total of 79 net 66.

Despite struggling a touch on Reay's demanding last few holes, Efemey managed to match the low handicap score of the day, back in only 37 strokes to record a gross of 75 for a net 66. And as fate would have it, it was the aforementioned tricky holes that settled the matter; Ian Ross lifting the trophy, decided on a count-back of half dozen holes.

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