November 24th 2007
JOHNSONS CONSOLIDATE AT TOP OF LEAGUE.
With so many par threes on the new course layout, one would have expected an abundance of twos being scored last Saturday, however this proved not to be the case as the weather , once again ( yes, deja’ vu ) made playing conditions very difficult .
Fresh from capturing a title never before held by a club member, and one he would surely have been remembering fondly given the differing conditions, newly crowned P.&.O. Antiguan Open Champion, Sweeney MacSween , partnered Kenneth MacKenzie Jubilee Trophy holder ( not quite the same “exotic” ring to it?), John Fraser to joint top points at the weekend.
Whether it be mosquitoes biting your neck, 90 degree humidity and sweltering temperatures in the Caribbean, or crows stealing your golf balls, lashing rain and a gale in Stornoway, Sweeney proved that no-matter the situation, the location, or the aggravation, Hearach tenacity and ability still traverse the Clisham and the Atlantic with as much success today as they have done over the centuries. Buoyed by Mr MacSween’s fantastic overseas win, the Scottish pairing of Colin Montgomerie and Marc Warren also overcame stiff international competition to win the World Cup of Golf in China after a play-off last weekend. His success on the global stage has reverberated from Stornoway to Shanghai.
Well done to Sweeney and John, and also to Ian “Todd” MacKenzie & D.J.”Zebo” MacLeod who shared top spot and also scored 14 points to rocket themselves into clear second place at the top of the table. Meeting them as they came off the course on completion of their round, and asking how they had fared; safe in the knowledge that they had a “decent” score in their pockets, and fearful of my unwarranted attention affecting the end results and their prospects, I was politely wished “Good luck” on the way to my own tee-off time, and advised to mind my own business. Well it sounded like “Good luck”, but it was very windy.
The round of the day, however, belonged to the irrepressible Johnson twins Murdo and Magnus, who, unbelievably, managed to shoot par (gross) on one of the hardest scoring days of the year. This included a bogey at the last hole which had Magnus muttering with disappointment in the locker-room, the stroke being the difference between joint second and joint first place. Their eight-point haul does, however, stretch their lead at the top of the table to six points although their success has seen their handicap reduced to a mere 1 stroke. They will score points of less.
Many of those who shot par, or slightly better, on Saturday may have felt somewhat aggrieved at picking up so few points on a day when they may have expected to move up the “rankings”. Three under won on Saturday, the week before it was nine under. Three under didn’t even make it into the points.
Sometimes golf can be very cruel.
Just ask Donald Taylor and Mike Butterworth. Six shots ahead of their opponents Alan “Biddley” MacLeod and Kenny”5” MacIver with four holes to go, and with both of the opposition looking for lost balls on the difficult par-3 “Ditch”, they must have thought they were about to claim an easy £1. Not so. Kenny has been the subject of several unflattering comments as to his aversion to “inclement” weather of late, but he is nothing if not a fighter when confronted with the possibility of making the notes for all the wrong reasons once again. Back to the tee to play a provisional ball, and his” third” shot, he must have despaired when he found the hazard and contemplated the loss of more hard-earned cash. Kenny dug deep, though, and rescued a brilliant bogey with a stunning chip shot, straight into the hole. They then proceeded to claw back the six shots, and scrape a creditable draw with the up-and-coming, and ever dangerous, Donald and Mike. The relief on both their faces in the clubhouse after was obvious to all.
The senior’s league continues to thrive, and I asked Norrie Munro to provide this week’s latest news for which I am grateful.
“Despite the mixed weather several seniors managed four rounds of golf this week (including the “real” Winter League on Saturday). In view of Saturday’s abysmal conditions this was considered by some to be one round too many!
The new shorter course is much more suited to senior golf although reaching the green on both the Long Miller and the Manor requires more than two hefty blows with the largest club in the bag. One person who took a liking to the new layout was Norrie MacKenzie who carded 27 points on Monday followed by 25 points on Wednesday to scoop the sweep. Scores below.
Both Norrie MacLean and Norrie MacKenzie have played one round less than the trio above them in the table, so a couple of half decent rounds could leapfrog them to the top. Several of the usual contenders have played very little golf in recent weeks but should be making their presence felt by the turn of the year.
So it’s goodbye from me . . . .
. . . . And it’s goodbye from him !
Scores Saturday 24.10.07 Gross H/C Nett Points
Ian" Todd" MacKenzie & D.J."Zebo"MacLeod 50 10 40 14
Donald"Sweeney" Macsween & John Fraser 49 9 40 14
Magnus & Murdo Johnson 43 2 41 8
Robert Rankin & Liam McGeoghegan 50 9 41 8
Jamie Duncan & George Macaskill 49 8 41 8
DJ Smith & David"Spider" Macleod 48 7 41 8
Cal Robertson & Richard Galloway 43 4 42 4
Donnie Murray & Duncan Maclean 54 12 42 4
Andrew Sim & SK Shetty 48 6 42 4
Roddy Martin & Norrie"Eggs" Mackenzie 50 8 42 4
Arthur Macintosh 50 7 43 1
Hugh Lloyd & Marten James 51 8 43 1
Norrie" T" Macdonald & Neil Mackenzie 48 5 43 1
DJ Macleod & Andrew Reeves 49 6 43 1
Murdo O'Brien & Murdo Fraser 47 4 43 1
Murty Macdonald & Iain Macritchie 50 7 43 1
League Leaders Points
Murdo & Magnus Johnston 52
Ian" Todd" MacKenzie & D.J."Zebo"MacLeod 46
David & Black & Murdo MacLennan 41
Ali Nicolson & Al"Greens"MacLeod 41
Norrie"T"MacDonald & Neil MacKenzie 39
Seniors Scores last Week Points
Norrie MacKenzie 27
Henk Graauwmans 25
Duncan MacLean 25
Top of Table Points
Robbie MacRae 149
Norrie Munro 144
D.R. MacArthur 141
Norrie MacLean 133
Norrie MacKenzie 128
Donald “Zebo” Macleod & Iain “Tod” Mackenzie
Norrie Mackenzie
Donald Macsween & “Big” John Fraser