PICTURES: Forres Golf Club's five-day open with oldest scratch qualifier Albert Duffus (72) drawn against the youngest in William Stephen (18)

Published: 11:54, 28 July 2022

| Updated: 11:59, 28 July 2022

Age is just a number, as 72-year-old Forres golfer Albert Duffus proved at his home club’s five-day open this week.

72-year-old Albert Duffus plays down the 12th at Forres Golf Club's Five Day Open. Picture: Daniel Forsyth..

The veteran stormed through the opening two qualifying strokeplay rounds on Monday and Tuesday with his score good enough to make the knockout stages of the Grant Cup scratch competition.

In a quirk of fate, Duffus - who the club believes could be the oldest-ever scratch qualifier - was matched up with the youngest qualifier in 18-year-old William Stephen in the first round.

The oldest and youngest players were drawn together in the Grant Cup. 72-year-old Albert Duffus and 18-year-old William Stephen. Picture: Daniel Forsyth..

There was no fairytale ending as the 54-year age gap told and the contest ended at the 12th hole with Stephen progressing 7&6.

Jake Carpenter, who won the Forres five-day in 2020, was knocked out in the first round by Mark Jones, who triumphed by two holes.

See more pictures from the competition below.

Gallery1

Simon Bremner drives off the third tee. Picture: Daniel Forsyth..

Shaun Marwick on the third tee. Picture: Daniel Forsyth..

Playing down the first fairway is Rab Macnab. Picture: Daniel Forsyth..

Neil Curruthers plays on to the first green. Picture: Daniel Forsyth..

A solid putt from Mark Jones. Picture: Daniel Forsyth..

Jake Carpenter putts on the seventh green. Picture: Daniel Forsyth..

David Mackinnon on the eighth. Picture: Daniel Forsyth..

Playing down the eighth is Keith Rushton. Picture: Daniel Forsyth..

Sam Christie plays down the ninth. Picture: Daniel Forsyth..

Digging himself out of a bunker on the tenth is Graeme Hislop. Picture: Daniel Forsyth..

Last year's finalist Ronnie Macdonald on the 11th. Picture: Daniel Forsyth..

Reigning champ Marc Dingwall putts on the 13th. Picture: Daniel Forsyth..

Reigning champ Marc Dingwall qualified comfortably again and defeated Ian Dethink 6&5 to storm into the last sixteen on Thursday.

The man he defeated in last year’s final, Ronnie MacDonald was defeated on the 19th hole in the first round by Graeme Hislop.

The Grant Cup is the prize for the winning scratch golfer.

In the two handicap sections, the Fraser Cup and Capri Tray trophies will also draw to a conclusion tomorrow.

The semi-finals and final in all three sections are contested on Friday.

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Golf Craig Christie