Rolling Back The Years To Capture The Title

ALEXANDER MacDonald turned back the clock to claim his second Royal Dornoch Club Championship. 

Ten years on from his first victory, he reacquainted himself with the silverware with scores of 74, 72, 77 & 73 and a 296 total (+16). 

In testing conditions, that was enough to win by three shots from Allan Cameron. Defending champion, Chris Mailley, was third on 305. 

It was shaping-up as a three-horse race from the start. 

Allan had led after round one with a tremendous one under par 69 but the following days were blighted by strong winds on the links.  

The third round proved particularly testing for competitors, with only three of the 25-strong field managing to break 80.  

Alexander shot 77 – joint best of the day with Chris – while Allan carded an 82, giving Alexander the lead.  

Long and consistent driving proved to be the key weapon in Alexander’s armoury as the breezy conditions showed no sign of abating. 

He also had his putting boots laced up on Sunday and got his hands on the trophy again with a best of the day 73. 

In the Handicap section, Cliff Martin of Scottsdale, Arizona, won the title by virtue of the better last round, with local man, Gary Bethune, the one to miss out. 

It wasn’t all doom and gloom for Gary as he picked up the Seniors title, contested over the first two rounds.  

The Seniors handicap was won by another out of town member, Billy Mitchell, who hails from Nashville, Tennessee. 

In challenging windy conditions on Sunday, Caitlin Boa won her third straight Ladies club championship, beating long-term US member Sandy Jackson, from New York, by 5&3 in the final. 

In the handicap section, new member Fran Robertson beat Fiona MacDonald by 4&2 to claim her first title.