Championships get under way at Dunaverty
Dunaverty Golf Club’s Championships got off to a fine start last Saturday, with light rain and a fair breeze.
In round one the quest for the handicap championship was a very close contest with Donald Brown (Southend) posting a superb nett 57 to lead from new member Eric Dunlea by one shot, with Donald Hardman and Donald McNeil both on 59.
The race to become the club scratch champion was very tight with the top six contenders separated by two strokes.
George MacMillan, with multiple titles to his name, was first to tee off and recorded an excellent scratch total of 67 which was matched by 2018 champion Greg Watson.
Former champion Duncan Watson III and Donald MacNeill, playing in the same afternoon group, had a ‘ding dong’ battle, with Donald covering the front nine in 31 strokes to Duncan’s 33 but Donald slipped to 35 on the homeward half while Duncan recorded another 33. Both of these players are now joint leaders for the senior championship.
While no player can win both scratch and handicap championships, the senior championship is a separate event and could be won as well as one of the other titles.
Round one result: Scratch: 1 Duncan Watson III 66, 2 Donald MacNeill 66, 3 George MacMillan 67, 4 Greg Watson 67, 5 Keith Crawford 68, 6 Eric Dunlea 68.
Handicap: 1 Donald Brown 76-19=57, 2 Eric Dunlea 6810=58, 3 Donald Hardman 74-15=59(bih), 4 Donald McNeill 66-7=59, 5 Duncan Watson III 66-5=61, 6 Keith Crawford 68-5=63.
Seniors: 1 Duncan Watson III 66, 2 Donald McNeill 66, 3 Keith Crawford 68, 4 Eric Dunlea 68, 5 Campbell MacBrayne 71.
CSS for the day was 63. Round two, played on Sunday, was beset by strong winds and heavy showers but George MacMillan, again out in the first group, set about chasing his 21st victory and, despite the conditions, had a superlative round of 65. Greg Watson, with five bogeys on his card, still managed an excellent 67 and finished three strokes ahead of Duncan Watson III and Donald McNeill.
Bobby Dalziel had a great round in the handicap section with a nett 63, one clear of David MacBrayne and Donald McNeill, one adrift of David. Donald Brown continued his quest by carding a 66.
The senior championship looks to be a battle between Duncan Watson III, looking for his seventh title, and last year’s champion, Donald
McNeill. Keith Crawford and Campbell MacBrayne have also moved into contention and the final two rounds this weekend promise to have close finishes in all three categories.
Scratch scores from both rounds: 1 George MacMillan 67+65=132, 2 Greg Watson 67+68=135, 3= Duncan Watson III 66+72=138, Donald McNeill 66+72=138, 5= Campbell MacBrayne 71+74=145, Keith Crawford 68+77=145.
Handicap: 1 Donald Brown 57+66=123, 2 Donald McNeill 59+65=124, 3 Eric Dunlea 58+68=126, 4 Bobby
Dalziel 65+63=128, 5 David MacBrayne 64+64=128, 6 Duncan Watson III 61+67=128.
Seniors: 1 Duncan Watson III 66+72=138, 2 Donald McNeill 66+75=141, 3 Keith Crawford 68+77=145, 4 Campbell MacBrayne 71+74=145, 5 Eric Dunlea 68+78=146. CSS for the day was 65.