THE second Pro Am to be played at Duff House Royal, last Wednesday, proved a massive hit, with low scoring, favourable weather and headline entertainment from Dougie Donnelly ensuring another sell-out, with 40 teams taking part.
Club manager James Cameron said: "The bi-annual Pro-Am tournament was a tremendous success. The weather was fantastic, and as a result, scoring was good.
"It was quite amusing that a team consisting three Duff House Royal members won it, meaning there will be a lot of banter around the clubhouse for two long years.
"More seriously, they are to be congratulated for an excellent team performance.
The amateurs - Glenn Jex, Malcolm McAuslin, J. Barrie Evans - were delighted with their well-deserved win
Professional Patrick Walker, of Ballumbie Castle, clearly brought out the best in Jex, McAuslin and Evans, but conversely Walker will have benefited from the trio's knowledge of the course which goes back decades.
"Off the course, the clubhouse was packed to hear the hilarious after-dinner speaker Alan Tait.
"The main act, Dougie Donnellym was equally entertaining and funny."
Club captain Brian Sutherland said: "Tribute has to go to Gordon Leslie and his team for preparing the course, the caterer Lesley Allan for coping with the avalanche of meals, and our head steward Kenny White for keeping the clubhouse in good spirits.
"I am also grateful to James Cameron and his office staff, for organising the tournament, the booklets and sponsorship etc.
"I would like to thank all the Duff House Royal members who took part in the qualifiers to be able to play in the Pro Am; this raised around £250 for charity, which will be donated in due course to a worthy cause.
"This was a memorable event and we look forward to repeating it in 2014 along without our main sponsor, Gordon & MacPhail, and of course the PGA."
Winners: Celebrations of Turriff 121 (amateurs - Glenn Jex, Malcolm McAuslin, J. Barrie Evans). Professional - Patrick Walker (Ballumbie Castle).
Runners-up: Morrison Motors 122 (amateurs - Douglas Shand, Graham Fraser, Mike Singer).
Professional - Nathan Keast (Renaissance).
Third: White Heather Hotel 122 (amateurs - Rennick S. Stephen, Ellis Dugiud, Billy Walker).
Professional - Ross Dixon (Renaissance).
Fourth: Deveron Coaches 122 (amateurs - Albert Milne, James W. Robertson, Callum Bruce).
Professional - Greig Hutcheon (Banchory).
Best professional performance: Scott Henderson (Kings Links).
