JAMIE AITKEN IS NEW CLACKMANNAN COUNTY
MATCH-PLAY CHAMPION
By HUGH HUNTER
Jamie Aitken moved his golf game to the next level when he took the Clackmannan county match-play title after a close game with the experienced Ian Ross in the all-Alloa final.
Over the Tulliallan course in cold conditions, the match started in a pretty average way with holes changing hands until the ninth, when suddenly the game ignited with a brilliant four-iron to 8ft by Aitken.
This gave him a one-hole lead which immediately increased when Ross found sand trouble to the left of the 10th green.
Halves at the next four holes, including birdies at the 11th and 14th, put Aitken in the strong position of two up with four to play.
On the 15th green, Ross’s hopes of reducing the lead were dashed when Aitken holed from 12 yards for a half. Undaunted, Ross holed from a similar distance on the 16th to reduce the lead to one hole.
The tight 17th is always a good test in the closing stages of a golf match, and Ross pulled off an amazing half from a tangled mass of tree branches after a stray tee shot to the right. Again, Ross visited the trees down the last hole, but this time the ball disappeared, and left Aitken as the 2007 Clackmannan county match-play champion.
In the semi-final matches at Braehead, former Alloa club champion Ian Ross gave a classy three-under-par performance in defeating the current Alloa champion David Milloy, while Jamie Aitken dashed Craig O’Connor’s hopes of retaining his title.
MATCH-PLAY CHAMPION
By HUGH HUNTER
Jamie Aitken moved his golf game to the next level when he took the Clackmannan county match-play title after a close game with the experienced Ian Ross in the all-Alloa final.
Over the Tulliallan course in cold conditions, the match started in a pretty average way with holes changing hands until the ninth, when suddenly the game ignited with a brilliant four-iron to 8ft by Aitken.
This gave him a one-hole lead which immediately increased when Ross found sand trouble to the left of the 10th green.
Halves at the next four holes, including birdies at the 11th and 14th, put Aitken in the strong position of two up with four to play.
On the 15th green, Ross’s hopes of reducing the lead were dashed when Aitken holed from 12 yards for a half. Undaunted, Ross holed from a similar distance on the 16th to reduce the lead to one hole.
The tight 17th is always a good test in the closing stages of a golf match, and Ross pulled off an amazing half from a tangled mass of tree branches after a stray tee shot to the right. Again, Ross visited the trees down the last hole, but this time the ball disappeared, and left Aitken as the 2007 Clackmannan county match-play champion.
In the semi-final matches at Braehead, former Alloa club champion Ian Ross gave a classy three-under-par performance in defeating the current Alloa champion David Milloy, while Jamie Aitken dashed Craig O’Connor’s hopes of retaining his title.
+Hugh Hunter's picture above shows county president Sam Kinnaird presenting the championship trophy to Jamie Aitken.
Results:
Semi-finals - Ian Ross (Alloa) bt David Milloy (Alloa) 7 and 5, Jamie Aitken (Alloa) bt Craig O'Connor 4 and 3.
Final - Aitken bt Ross one hole.
Traditionally, the Clackmannan county match-play champion has gone on to represent the county in the Champion of Champions' tournament at Leven the following season, and Jamie will be hoping that this will continue in 2008 when he would have a chance of competing against the top golfers in Scotland.
Labels: Amateur Men
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Friday, June 15, 2007
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