Taylor beats the blast with superb effort at Wick

THE second open of the season, the Ricky Shearer Open, was held at Wick last Sunday.

Unfortunately, the weather turned nasty with a cold, near-gale-force south-westerly wind blowing across the course with the result that only 29 golfers entered the competition.

This was very disappointing as there is much work involved in organising an open and preparing the course.

All the prizewinners, apart from one, were Wick members. Best score of the day came from Ron Taylor with a two-over-par 71, which was a superb effort in the difficult conditions, beating Dougie Thorburn, of Reay, by one stroke.

Taylor got off to a great start and was two under par after four holes thanks to birdies at the first and fourth holes but then dropped a shot at the sixth to go out in one-under-par 34.

Playing back into the wind he displayed fine golf to be two under par after 12 holes with another birdie at the 11th hole but, unfortunately, ran up a double bogey at the 13th to come back in three-over-par 37. Taylor has had a tremendous start to the season having returned the best scratch score in every competition he has entered.

Thorburn also made a great start with birdies at the first and third holes followed by another birdie at the eighth to go out in 34.

He then played well against the wind to come back in four-over-par 38 which included a double bogey at the 15th for a three-over-par 72 – a tremendous score considering the weather.

Overall handicap went to Wullie McLean (16), with a nett 72, beating Lemmie Thain (15) on a better inward half.

McLean played steady golf to go out in 42 with his only blip coming at the eighth where he had a double bogey, and then played solid golf until the 17th where he had a triple bogey to come back in 46.

Keith Gowens (12) was first in handicap category one (zero to 12) with a nett 73, beating Thorburn on a better inward half. Gowens had halves of 41 and 44 with the highlight of his round being a birdie at the 14th.

Thain (15) claimed first in handicap category two (13 to 28) with a nett 72. Thain played well below his handicap to reach the turn in 39 but had the misfortune to run up a triple bogey at the 10th to come back in 48.

Second was James Sutherland (19) with a nett 73. Sutherland was the model of consistency going out in 44 and back in 48. Eann Steven won a bottle of Old Pulteney for nearest the pin at the second hole.

There was a poor entry for the May Medal, played on Wednesday, May 9, with only 11 golfers taking part. Winner was Gary Davidson (10) with a nett 72, beating John Gunn on a better inward half.

The next competition is a Stableford which is being played on Sunday followed on Wednesday by the first round of the club championship.