Preview of Northern Counties women's championship
Cara Gruber favourite to regaintitle over the links at Brora
By ROBIN WILSON
After several recent years competing on the international scene and eyeing up a place on the Ladies European Pro Tour, Strathpeffer scratch golfer Cara Gruber, club champion and course record holder at Royal Dornoch, now firmly based at home in the family business, returns to the Northern Counties Association's women's golf championship scene at Brora this weekend.
The championship arrives on the Brora links for the first time in its history and Gruber, picture right by courtesy of Cal Carson Golf Agency, all rights reserved, is a firm favourite to take the title for a second time. She has the pedigree to go the distance. Long and strong from the tee, Brora will suit her game and she has every opportunity to cut into the existing course record score of 69, in existence since 1997.
Gruber has been in three county finals from 2000 to 2002, winning in 2001. After losing in the 2000 final at Royal Dornoch to the present Brora course record holder Lesley Mackay, a former club mate at Dornoch, Gruber triumphed the following year at Duff House Royal, only to lose her grip on the trophy a year later to Liz McKinnon (Nairn).
Both McKinnon and Mackay are now in the professional ranks and it is to Mackay's younger sister Pamela, also a Dornoch member, that Gruber will have to keep a watchful eye on this weekend.
Pam Mackay's handicap at Royal Dornoch is 2, the same as the defending champion from Elgin, Jenny Milne. Milne became a first-time winner at Dornoch 12 months ago.
Unfortunately missing the championship for a second year, after becoming one of its youngest winners on two occasions, is Nairn Dunbar's Kelsey MacDonald who has accepted an invitation from the Ladies European Tour to play at The Carrick on Loch Lomond this weekend.
But MacDonald's teenage feats in the championship could be equalled by Tain's Sammy Vass. Already a junior international, this 15-year-old has a three handicap and for additional support will have all her family alongside her.
Younger sister Julie, aged13, will be defending the handicap section cup won last year at Dornoch.
Also in the draw are the teenagers' mother, Maggie Vass, their aunt Mary Smith, both past champions, and their aunt Anne Ryan, a past NCGA team captain and player. Not leaving any of the family at home, granny Jean Russell, who is still a Silver Division golfer, is also playing.
In golfing lore The Northern Counties Women's Golf Association are a relatively new body. The Association emerged in 1967 from a previous body formed in 1930 that only admitted women golfers from clubs within the old counties of Banff, Moray and Nairn.
In 1967 the boundaries were extended to encompass Inverness-shire northwards and the Orkneys and Shetlands under a new name and become the Northern Division of the Scottish Ladies Golf Association.
Mrs Nina MacTavish of Nairn became their first Captain in 1967 and Mrs Drakard of Royal Dornoch the first modern day Northern Counties champion. The current captain is Mrs Jan Scott of Duff House Royal who succeeded Mrs Mairi Orr, Tain at the beginning of this season.
After Saturday's 18 hole medal play the top 16 players will compete under match play rules until a winner is found on Monday afternoon.
By ROBIN WILSON
After several recent years competing on the international scene and eyeing up a place on the Ladies European Pro Tour, Strathpeffer scratch golfer Cara Gruber, club champion and course record holder at Royal Dornoch, now firmly based at home in the family business, returns to the Northern Counties Association's women's golf championship scene at Brora this weekend.
The championship arrives on the Brora links for the first time in its history and Gruber, picture right by courtesy of Cal Carson Golf Agency, all rights reserved, is a firm favourite to take the title for a second time. She has the pedigree to go the distance. Long and strong from the tee, Brora will suit her game and she has every opportunity to cut into the existing course record score of 69, in existence since 1997.
Gruber has been in three county finals from 2000 to 2002, winning in 2001. After losing in the 2000 final at Royal Dornoch to the present Brora course record holder Lesley Mackay, a former club mate at Dornoch, Gruber triumphed the following year at Duff House Royal, only to lose her grip on the trophy a year later to Liz McKinnon (Nairn).
Both McKinnon and Mackay are now in the professional ranks and it is to Mackay's younger sister Pamela, also a Dornoch member, that Gruber will have to keep a watchful eye on this weekend.
Pam Mackay's handicap at Royal Dornoch is 2, the same as the defending champion from Elgin, Jenny Milne. Milne became a first-time winner at Dornoch 12 months ago.
Unfortunately missing the championship for a second year, after becoming one of its youngest winners on two occasions, is Nairn Dunbar's Kelsey MacDonald who has accepted an invitation from the Ladies European Tour to play at The Carrick on Loch Lomond this weekend.
But MacDonald's teenage feats in the championship could be equalled by Tain's Sammy Vass. Already a junior international, this 15-year-old has a three handicap and for additional support will have all her family alongside her.
Younger sister Julie, aged13, will be defending the handicap section cup won last year at Dornoch.
Also in the draw are the teenagers' mother, Maggie Vass, their aunt Mary Smith, both past champions, and their aunt Anne Ryan, a past NCGA team captain and player. Not leaving any of the family at home, granny Jean Russell, who is still a Silver Division golfer, is also playing.
In golfing lore The Northern Counties Women's Golf Association are a relatively new body. The Association emerged in 1967 from a previous body formed in 1930 that only admitted women golfers from clubs within the old counties of Banff, Moray and Nairn.
In 1967 the boundaries were extended to encompass Inverness-shire northwards and the Orkneys and Shetlands under a new name and become the Northern Division of the Scottish Ladies Golf Association.
Mrs Nina MacTavish of Nairn became their first Captain in 1967 and Mrs Drakard of Royal Dornoch the first modern day Northern Counties champion. The current captain is Mrs Jan Scott of Duff House Royal who succeeded Mrs Mairi Orr, Tain at the beginning of this season.
After Saturday's 18 hole medal play the top 16 players will compete under match play rules until a winner is found on Monday afternoon.
Eight handicap qualifiers will commence their matchplay rounds on Sunday and also conclude on Monday.
Labels: Amateur Ladies
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