ARGYLL & BUTE MATCH-
PLAY TITLE NO. 5
FOR GRAHAM
BOLTON AT
MACHRIHANISH

Graham Bolton from Bute secured his fifth Argyll & Bute match-play championship over a windswept Machrihanish links last by defeating Millport's Les Pirie 4 and 3 in the final.
Strong easterly windows and fast firm greens made the exposed links a stern test. Despite this there was some good golf played with most of the matches going down to the wire.
However it was veterans Bolton and Pirie who emerged from the pack to face each other in the final.
Bolton took the early initiative with gains at the first, third and fourth holes.
Pirie battled back bravely, but some inspired putting from Bolton kept Pirie at bay, closing him out with a 4ft par putt at the 15th hole.
Results:
FIRST ROUND
Ross Currie ( Machrihanish) bt Calum McMillan (Machrihanish) 3 and 2.
Gordon Tyre (Cowal) bt Donald Standaloft (Port Bannatyne) 3 and 2.
Ian McNab (Glencruitten) bt David Graham ( Machrihanish) at 20th.
Les Pirie (Millport) bt Greg Watson (Machrihanish) 1 hole.
Graham Bolton ( Bute) bt Matthew McAulay (Lochgilphead) 5 and 3.
George Reynolds (Rothesay) bt Stuart Campbell ( Machrihanish) 1 hole.
Chris Timms (Rothesay bt Steven Kelly ( Machrihanish) 4 and 3.
Allan Mckie (Glencruitten) bt Michael Fraser (Glencruitten) 9 and 7.
QUARTER-FINALS
Currie bt Tyre 1 hole.
Pirie bt McNab 1 hole.
Bolton bt Reynolds 1 hole.
McKie bt Timms 2 and 1.
SEMI-FINALS
Pirie bt Currie 2 and 1.
Bolton bt McKie 2 and 1.
FINAL (18 holes)
Bolton bt Pirie 4 and 3.


Argyll & Bute executive committee would like to thank Machrihanish Golf club for again hosting the event and commend them on its course and its impeccable condition.
The next Area event is the Spring Meeting at Glencruitten on May 3.
Entries should be submitted to Area Secretary Richard Biggart by Friday, April 25.
Late entries on the day may be taken if space permits.


Picture above shows Graham Bolton receiving his trophy from Machrihanish captain Jim Innes.