All smiles at the Northern Counties girls' championship at Tain

Everybody's happy after the Northern Counties' girls' championship at Tain Golf Club on Monday. The tournament was very generously sponsored by MacKenzie & Cormack, Solicitors & Estate Agents (Tain & Beauly). The sponsors' representative, Lawson Keir, is the man in the picture.
"I'd like to thank they very much for their very generous sponsorship," said Northern Counties girls organiser, Magi Vass.
Karen MacKay (Durness), on the left, was the winner of the scratch trophy with a 90.
Eleanor Tunn (Reay), on the right, was the handicap champion with a net score of 78 off 13.

ROBIN WILSON WRITES:
Northern Counties whose area covers the whole of the North of Scotland and the islands beyond have for years being trying to spread their name throughout their vast area. They got their reward this week when their junior girls champion for 2009 came from Durness Golf club, the furthermost northwesterly golf course on the Scottish mainland.
The championship, was played over the Tain Golf Course, home of Northern counties junior secretary, Magi Vass, herself a former County Junior and women's champion and where her two talented daughters, Sammy and Julie, were expected to excel.
But with Sammy not in the field and Julie running up double figures at one hole, Karen Mackay from Durness come through to cause an upset and claim the title.
Eighteen-year-old Karen has just finished her secondary education as dux at Kinlochbervie High School and is now looking to continue her education and golfing career at Strathclyde University.
She joined Eleanor Tunn from Reay Golf Club on the Pentland Firth, the handicap winner, as the furthermost travelled winners to the championship which was generously sponsored by Tain club member Lawson Keir from the firm of Tain and Beauly Solicitors, Mackenzie & Cormack.
Mackay's winning scratch score was 90 and Tunn's nett 78 was from handicap 13.

Picture line-up above: left to right, back row – Danna Stoddart (Royal Dornoch), Julie Vass (Tain), Eleanor Tunn (Reay), Lawson Keir, Karen MacKay (Durness) , Natalie Britovsek (Nairn Dunbar), Annabelle Brown (Nairn Dunbar). Front – Tammy Moore (Moray), Jasmine Lau (Royal Dornoch), Rebecca Riddell (Royal Dornoch).