Houston – we have a fog problem

Thick fog delayed the start of play by nearly two hours in the Grampian Houston Junior Trip Fund pro-am - one of the richest on the Tartan Tour with over £11,000 in prize money - at Royal Aberdeen Golf Club.

So that the later starters could finish in daylight, it was decided, in consultation with Tournament Controller Roy Murray,  to reduce the round to 15 holes by cutting out those out at the far end of the course, the eighth (par 3), the ninth (par 4) and the 10th (par 3).

Aberdonian Scott Henderson (Kings Links) and James McGhee (unattached) tied for victory on four-under-par 56. Henderson (above) birdied the second, had an eagle at the sixth and a birdie at the 11th in "halves" of 26 and 30.

McGhee had and an eagle at the second and birdies at the sixth and 14th, also with scores of 26 for the first seven holes and 30 for the last eight. 

They earned £1,900 each. 

Jason McCreadie (Buchanan Castle) and Chris Kelly (Cawder) finished joint third on 57 and earned £1,100 each.

The pro-am, followed by a golf memorabilia auction dinner is staged annually to help raise funds to send a party of promising young Grampian golfers, every second year, to play courses in and around Houston, Texas.

The Grampian Houston Junior Trip was the brainchild of Banchory-born Bruce Davidson who became the Director of Golf at River Oaks Country Club, near Houston.

Fittingly, Davidson steered the River Oaks No 1 amateur trio of Ben Davidson (handicap 6), Peter Fluor (7) and Peter Fluor junior (handicap 16) to victory in the pro-am team event at Balgownie with a net better-ball of 10-under-par 50.