Sunday, August 17, 2008

Scots seniors overpowered by
Irish in European final

Scotland were well beaten by Ireland in the final of the European seniors amateur team golf championship at Shannon Golf Club. The Irish retained the title by a 4 1/2-1/2 margin after the Scots had done well to beat England 3-2 in the semi-finals while Ireland beat Germanmy 3 1/2-1 1 1/2.
Portmarnock’s Adrian Morrow, the current Irish and European seniors individual champion got off to a flying start and by the turn had a three-hole advantage on Scots' new cap Derek Murphy from Kinross. The match ended on the 16th with a win for the towering Dubliner by 3 and 2.
Ireland's former Walker Cup player Arthur Pierse made short work of Edinburgh teacher and former Newtonmore shinty star John Fraser (Royal Burgess). The Tipperary man was four holes to the good after nine and closed out the Scot on the 16th, also by a 3/2 margin.
There were wins too for Liam MacNamara from Woodbrook, who saw off Scottish seniors champion Robert Stewart (Tulliallan) convincingly while John Carroll and Hugh Smyth set the ball rolling for the Irish by enjoying a comfortable win against Gordon MacDonald and Alexander Pirie in the only foursomes tie.
Killeen’s Maurice Kelly was in control of his match against the four time Walker Cup star, and captain of the Scottish side, Ian Hutcheon but was called in off the course to halve the match after the Irish had established a winning lead in the other ties.
Ireland will go in search of three titles in a row next year at Ascona in Switzerland. It has to be said that they are favourites already to carry on where they left off on home turf at Shannon.
Results:

FINAL
IRELAND 4 1/2, SCOTLAND 1/2
Foursome: J Carroll & H Smyth bt G MacDonald & A K Pirie 3 and 1 (1-0).
Singles: A Morrow bt D Murphy 3 and 2, A Piersse bt J Fraser 3 and 2, M Kelly halved with I C Hutcheon, L MacNamara bt R Stewart 4 and 3 (3 1/2-1/2).

SEMI-FINALS

IRELAND 3 1/2, GERMANY 1 1/2
SCOTLAND 3, ENGLAND 2.

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