Super Sunday started with five of the six clubs with a chance still to win the trophy and there was even an outside possibility of a sudden death play-off between three clubs depending how results went.

Nairn though were in the driving seat at the start of the day with a one point lead over four clubs. Victory over Forres, the defending champions, would render calculators redundant.  Nairn got off to the best possible start by winning the first four games through David Wickenden (snr) and Tom Scott with Eric MacCaskill and Donald Shaw recording last hole victories.

The next two matches went Forres’ way before Pat Sylvester and team captain John McGinlay secured the necessary points for a 6-2 win and the title. Nairn had won the trophy in the first two years in which it was played but it had taken a further 16 years for them to record their third success this year!

Moray and Hopeman both had serious ambitions to win should Nairn have faltered. The final score line was also 6-2 but the margin of victory was unexpected given Moray were on home soil. Hopeman, however, were in top form and ran out worthy winners to finish as runners-up.

In a match where pride was at stake Elgin came out ahead of Nairn Dunbar by the narrowest of margins.

Super Sunday also saw the use for the second time at the Handicap league finale of  Live Scoring with up to date scores being texted in from the course and displayed in the clubhouse as well as on the Internet showing not only the scores but projected league tables. New developments which further enhanced the League for all concerned.

The weather: clearing skies at lunchtime meant perfect golfing conditions with warm sunshine and a light breeze. The last game finished at 18.50 and photographs were taken of the victorious Nairn team along with all the players at that time. It was just as well this was done before the dinner and prizegiving as 40 minutes later the weather had dramatically changed!

Nairn clinched their first Handicap league title for 16 years with a strong perfromance over Forres to finish a point clear of Hopeman. See Super Sunday for fuller report.

In the last round of matches before Super Sunday, Hopeman’s strong victory over Elgin boosted their position to second place in the league having won more games than the other clubs on 4 points, and it now means that the Elgin club can no longer win the league in 2013. Nairn Dunbar’s narrow defeat of reigning champions, Forres, keeps them in the hunt going into the final series of matches at Moray Golf Club, Lossiemouth on Sunday, August 25, 2013. Although Nairn may start the day as favourites, any of five teams can still be crowned champions. Live scoring on the website will be available on the day, from early in the afternoon.

Nairn secured an emphatic 6-2 win over Moray which ensures that no matter what happens in the two remaining fixtures before Super Sunday that a win on that day over current champions Forres will give them their first title for 16 years. However, anything less than that and any of the other clubs could theoretically still win when everyone gathers for the finale at Lossiemouth. Time will tell!

Summer arrived for the July doubleheader! Elgin needing to win to maintain an interest in this year’s competition did so with a narrow win against Nairn with four of the matches going to the final green before Alistair Hay secured the winning point in the last game on the course.

Moray defeated champions Forres to replace them at the top of the table but only on individual games won. It will take the four games remaining to get a clear picture of who is favourite for Super Sunday but at the moment all six teams still can have title aspirations.

Hopeman capitalised on their first home match to record a convincing win over Nairn Dunbar to ensure their chances to win the league remain alive. If the three games before Super Sunday go with the home team then Super Sunday at Moray will be one of the closest yet.

The second Sunday doubleheader was just as close as the first and produced similar results a 5-3 win and a 4-4 draw. Forres, the holders, were made to fight all the way before getting the better of Hopeman. Nairn Dunbar for the second match running shared the points but had to come from behind by winning the last two games on the course to do so against their local rivals Nairn.

Nairn now have the advantage of that away point gained but Hopeman should not be discounted as having lost their two away games they did secure a good number of individual games won which could still be important come Super Sunday. Two home wins and they will definitely be back in contention.

Forres showed their determination to make a strong defence of the title with a comprehensive win over Elgin at home. After winning both their home games taking something from away fixtures at Moray or Nairn Dunbar would go along way to achieving their goal.

2003 was the only year until now when three matches were drawn…until now. Elgin hosted Moray and the visitors left with a share of the spoils when the last game on the course went their way. The League is now halfway to Super Sunday: no-one can be counted out and will we see a new record of 4-4 draws this year?

In the opening games Nairn secured the points against Hopeman but Moray and Nairn Dunbar were evenly matched with four games going to the final green before the spoils were shared.

Forres after their success last year on the final day of the season, will be hoping to retain the Handicap League Trophy although know it will not be easy given how close the competition is , going down to the last games on Super Sunday in six of the past seven years.

So Super Sunday at Moray in August will probably start with more then one team in contention but there will be a lot of competive golf to be played first before knowing what team or teams will have genuine title aspirations on Super Sunday.