Fortrose and Rosemarkie Golf Club’s pairing of Mike MacDonald and John Jack are celebrating after producing a superb better-ball score of 63 (9 under par) to storm to a four-shot victory in today’s Belhaven Best Captains & Secretaries Championship final at Crail’s Craighead Links.
Mike, who is Club Secretary, and Match and Handicap convener John, dovetailed to perfection as the Highland club took the title for the first time, finishing four shots clear of the Turnhouse duo of Douglas Sime and Lindsay Gordon, who combined for a net 67.
Strathaven took third place with a 68, edging out former champions Duddingston courtesy of the better inward half, on a glorious sunny and calm day in the East Neuk of Fife, with the speedy greens of the Craighead course at golf’s seventh oldest club providing a testing challenge for the field.
It was an extra special day for Mike given he was competing in his fourth Captain and Secretaries final and now finally getting to savour a victory pint of Belhaven’s.
And he attributed Fortrose and Rosemarkie’s success to the consistency shown by he and John throughout the round on the Gil Hanse designed Craighead Links course.
“We gelled really well out there today and it helped having a practice round yesterday to get to know the course,” said Mike.
“We were both in play on nearly every hole so we gave ourselves good chances, and I managed to knock in quite a few birdies.
Fortrose and Rosemarkie’s Mika MacDonald (right) and Match and Handicap Secretary John Jack celebrate their victory on the Craighead Links course at Crail.
“I’ve been to a few Captains and Secretaries finals so its nice to finally win one – it must be down to my partner John! We only just scraped through the regional final so probably weren’t expecting to win, but it’s great to be crowned champion of what is a great national event on a superb golf course.”
The win caps a fine year for Fortrose & Rosemarkie, who’s fantastic work in developing grass roots golf in their community earned them the title of RBS Junior Club of the Year at the Scottish Golf Awards back in February.
Belhaven’s Director of Sales, Graham Baird, said: “We are delighted to continue our sponsorship of the Belhaven Best Captains & Secretaries Championship through our SGU partnership. Golf clubs have been at the heart of the Belhaven Best success story and it’s great to support those who do so much hard work at club level by staging this championship.
“Congratulations to all 40 teams who reached the final from our hugely popular regional final series and well done to Fortrose & Rosemarkie who deservedly take the title of Scotland’s Best.”
FOOTNOTE –
Members of the European Tour golfing media also extend their congratulations to Fortrose and Rosemarkie.
For three years running up to an including 2013 Mike MacDonald kindly arranged for those reporting on the Scottish Open at Castle Stuart to compete in a friendly Ryder Cup Singles like competition on the eve of the Scottish Open.
It has been a great opportunity to get away from the Media Center and to meet the members of Fortrose and Rosemarkie for a game on the splendid James Braid designed course laid out at Chanonry Point along the shores of the Moray Firth.
And the club caps what has always been an enjoyable outing with the opportunity after the golf to sit down to dinner and drinks in the clubhouse.
So congratulations again to Fortrose and Rosemarkie on their Captain and Secretaries success.
The European Tour golfing media look forward to our 2016 match with the club.
