Ronald secures 2009 Club Championship

This year's men's club championship climaxed with Helmsdale based member Ronald Sutherland winning the championship and Johnstone Cup for the third time.

Forty-three -year-old Sutherland who last won in 2000 and previously in 1996 led by seven shots after his first two rounds, then by eight over the defending champion James MacBeath when they went into the final round.

Greenkeeper Andrew Wilson who had been closest to Sutherland after 36 holes lost ground in a windy Saturday third round taking 78 blows. Sutherland and MacBeath were playing partners for the last round where MacBeath handed an early fright to the leader over the first first two holes and slicing three shots off Sutherland's lead with an opening eagle two, holing his second shot from below the green, followed up with a long birdie putt for three at the next hole. Sutherland had begun 4,4, but when they both took double bogey sixes at the third hole the pressure had eased and the closest MacBeath then ever got was four shots behind after fifteen holes. With a closing bogey for 70 (35/35) against Sutherland's safe 73 (35/38) the new champion won by five, 284 to 289 with Liam Macdonald-Macleod finishing third on 297.

The handicap championship for the handicap Ross Cup ended in a three way tie Stuart Sim, John Bray and Andrew Wilson, the latter falling back to third place as a result of his worst score of the championship, a final card 82, nett 77. This allowed Portlethen based Sim and local member Bray make up the ground with closing nett 69's. The cards compared showed five handicapper Sim the more consistent scorer and winner with an inward half of 37, for nett inward 34.5 against Bray's torrid start to the back nine of 7,6,7 for 44 and nett 36.5.



Story courtesy of Robin Wilson and the Northern Times