SUPER SUNDAY 2011 REPORT

Super Sunday dawned with wind and rain to greet the teams. Added to that with earlier results over the season it was all over before a ball was struck……or was it?

Moray was firm favourites to win for only the second time in the 16 years of the event. They just had to avoid defeat to Forres who had only won one of the previous five encounters on Super Sunday between the clubs. Even if they lost they would have to do so heavily for Elgin to pip them but they themselves would need to win well against Hopeman, last year’s champions.

Moray shared their first two games with Forres but then the next four all went to Forres which opened the door for Elgin. It did not look as though Elgin were going to take advantage when the first two games of their own match went Hopeman’s way but in a reversal of fortunes they won the next four.

Roy Crane, Moray team captain on the day came in with a much needed win but even at that if Elgin could take both their final games and Moray were to lose their last, then the title would be going back to Elgin. 1½ out of 2 for Elgin plus a Moray loss would mean a tie both on points and individual games won necessitating a sudden death play-off!

However, Moray breathed a collective sigh of relief when Hopeman captain, Kevin McLaughlin beat Raymond Spence to put an end to the Elgin challenge. That became even more critical for Moray as the final two games were won by Forres and Elgin respectively so the league was tied  between Moray and Elgin on 7 points each but Moray won on a countback of individual games won 22 to 21½ ! It could not have been closer.

Forres took third place from Super Sunday hosts Nairn Dunbar, who had the satisfaction of finishing with a win over local rivals Nairn.

On the course Moray were worthy winners of the trophy for 2011 but the spirit in which all matches were played added to the competitiveness of all the teams only strengthened the place of the Handicap League in the golfing calendar.