Big hitters Harvey and Brown first Doyen Shield winners
Dunaverty Golf Club members remembered a golf-writing great at the club’s inaugural Jock MacVicar Memorial Open.
Jock, who died last year, was a Southend boy and championed Dunaverty all over the world in his role as golf reporter for several large publications and is missed by everyone who knew him.
Sixty-two pairs arrived at a very windy Dunaverty last Saturday to compete in a combined Stableford competition with the aspiration of winning the magnificent Doyen Shield, which was crafted by Wee Toon Carver John Brown.
On a course beautifully presented by greenkeepers Jonathan Barbour and Campbell MacBrayne, scoring for the day was fairly low due to the 25-30mph wind that blew across fairways.
Only three of the 124 players managed to score more than 40 individual points which showed how tough the conditions were.
Early pace-setters were Neil Barlow and Harry MacLean, who carded a creditable 67 points, but this was soon passed by the pair of Alex Arkell and Neil Brodie, who returned a 70-point total.
However, only four matches later, Raymond Harvey and John Brown – the bus driver, not the woodworker – set the bar higher with a fine 73 points, a total which proved elusive for all who followed through the day.
They held on for the win to have their names engraved as the first winners of the superb new trophy.
‘Thanks go to Rona Burton and all at The Tea Box for looking after our members and visitors on the day,’ said a club spokesperson.
‘Also to Jock’s friends and colleagues, Martin Dempster, golf writer for The Scotsman and Edinburgh Evening News, and Nick Rodger, golf correspondent for The Herald, for making the long trip to Southend and to our very own Belle Robertson MBE for being our honoured guests for the day.’
Results:
1 Raymond Harvey and John Brown, 73 pts; 2 Jamie O’May and Douglas Whyte, 72 pts (best individual score); 3 Sandy Watson and Mary Wilson, 72 pts; 4 Mark McKenzie and Scott Burnett, 71 pts; 5 Alex Arkell and Neil Brodie, 70 pts; 6= Robert Irvine and Alistair McConnachie, 69 pts, and Ross Sinclair and Tom Campbell, 69 pts; 8 Darren McGillivray and Bobby Dalziel, 68 pts; 9 Neil Barlow and Harry MacLean, 67 pts; 10 James Finlay and John Galbraith, 66 pts (best individual score).