Thurso Junior Golfers Second In Championships

13th October 2011

Highland Junior Golf Championships at Spey Valley

More than 40 young golfers from golf clubs in Highland, Moray and Orkney took part in the ninth Highland Junior Golf Championships held at Spey Valley Golf Course, Aviemore, on Thursday 13 October 2011.

Nairn Academy won the Highland Schools Team event with Thurso High School last year's winners in second place. Forres Academy retained their Moray Schools' team title with Elgin Academy, runners-up.

Andrew Burgess, Rory Asher and Alasdair Baird were the three counting Nairn Academy players winning the Bruce Robertson Trophy with a net score of 222.

Forres Academy retained the Brian Anderson Shield for the best Moray school team with a net score of 233 with Marc Dingwall, Lewis Daley and Carinne Jay Taylor scores counting.

Marc Dingwall, Forres Academy won the Duncan Allan Quaich for recording the lowest boys' scratch score of 73. Runner-up was Andrew Burgess, Nairn Academy with a 77. Third was Lewis Daley, Forres Academy, with an 81.

Eleanor Tunn, Thurso High School, won the Grant Trophy for the best girls' scratch score, with a 78, and Carinne Jay Taylor, Forres Academy won the Sutherland Cup for the Girl's handicap section with a net 88.

Once again the event was hosted and sponsored by Macdonald Aviemore Highland Resort. Golf Management students from the Dornoch's North Highland College Campus scored the event and the prizes were presented by Councillor Sandy Park, Convener of The Highland Council.

Murray Urquhart, PGA Professional, at Spey Valley Golf Course, said: "Macdonald Spey Valley Golf Course is delighted to once again host the Highland Junior Golf Championships. I am sure that the juniors enjoyed the course which is in excellent condition and presented a stern but fair test to all the competitors. The scoring from the juniors continues to improve every year, testament to the excellent tuition and support provided throughout the Highlands."

Alan Fleming, lecturer and PGA Professional, at North Highland College UHI, said: "We are pleased to continue to support the Highland Juniors Championships at Spey Valley. The Golf Management students assisted in providing the scoring system by processing the scores and producing the results and statistics for the competition. This is useful experience for the students as they prepare for working in the golf industry."

Councilor Sandy Park, Convener of The Highland Council, said: "It was a pleasure to witness the juniors take on the challenge of Spey Valley in testing conditions. I was greatly impressed by the standard of play and the winning scores of 73 for the boys and girls 78 is golf of a high standard. On behalf of The Highland Council I thank Murray Urquhart and his staff and especially Macdonald Hotels for giving juniors across Highland a tremendous day's golf. The course was very well presented and the event ran like clockwork."

The leading scores were:
Girls' Scratch - The Grant Trophy: 1. Eleanor Tunn, Thurso High, 79.

Girls' Handicap - The Sutherland Cup: 1.Carinne Jay Taylor, Forres Academy, net 88.

Boys' Scratch - The Duncan Allan Quaich: 1. Marc Dingwall, Forres Academy, 73; 2. Andrew Burgess, Nairn Academy, 77; 3. Lewis Daley, Forres Academy, 81.

Boys' Handicap (0-9) - The Skibo Trophy: 1. Rory Asher, Nairn Academy 73 ; 2. Craig Black, Millburn Academy, 75 ; 3. Rory Franssen, Culloden Academy, 77.

Boys' Handicap (10-18) - Highland clubgolf Trophy: 1. Alasdair Baird, Nairn Academy, 73; 2. David McCormack (BIH), Invergordon Academy, 76; 3. Lee MacKenzie, Dornoch Academy, 76.

Highland School Team - Bruce Robertson Trophy: 1. Nairn Academy, net 222 (Rory Asher, 73; Alasdair Baird, 73; Andrew Burgess, 76). 2. Thurso High School 230 (Eleanor Tunn, 74; Tom Ross, 78; Euan Munro, 78).

Moray Schools Team - Brian Anderson Shield: 1. Forres Academy net 233 (Marc Dingwall, 70; Lewis Daley, 75; Carinne Jay Taylor, 88). 2. Elgin Academy net 239 (Mickey Paterson, 78; Cameron Kerr, 80; Vincent Clark, 81).