D M Hall Scottish Mid-Amateur Championship

Defending champion

Ross Coull through

to last four again

By ROSS DUNCAN
Scottish Golf Union staff man
Defending champion Ross Coull (Edzell), pictured, remained on track for a second successive DM Hall Scottish Mid-Amateur Championship title after storming through to the semi-finals at Royal Burgess today.
The Angus man, who won at Dundonald Links 12 months ago, eased past Steven Armstrong (Turnhouse) by 4 and 3 before fighting back from three holes down in his quarter-final against Charlie Simpson (Bruntsfield Links) to win at the final hole.
Coull will now face former British mid amateur champion Andrew Farmer who also won a closely fought quarter-final contest by one hole. The Renfrewshire star was never behind in his match against Colin Peddie (Kirkintilloch) but needed a birdie three at the last to book his place in the last four.
The second semi-final will be between Craigie Hill’s Nicky Barr and Robert Jenkins from Crow Wood. Barr, who along with Farmer had led the opening day qualifiers, knocked out the host club’s John Yuille in the morning before edging past USA-based Scot Russell Thornton in a thrilling quarter-final tie.
The duo shared eleven birdies in their match and Barr was never ahead until the fifteenth but he held onto his lead for the final three holes.
Jenkins also came from behind to seal his place in the semi-finals, defeating Workington’s William Bowe by one hole. Bowe was three up through seven, however a stunning fight back which included six birdies gave Jenkins the narrowest of wins on the final green.
Monday’s semi-finals commence at 8.30am with the Farmer v Coull match, while Jenkins tee up against Barr at 8.45am. The final of the 2009 DM Hall Scottish Mid Amateur Championship starts at 12.45pm on the Royal Burgess course.
Match-play results:
FIRST ROUND
Andrew Farmer (Kilmacolm) bt Nicky Bell (Carlistle) 4 and 2.
Colin Peddie (Kirkintilloch) bt Michael Grunwell (Powfoot) 3 and 2.
Charlie Simpson (Bruntsfield Links) bt James White (Leven Thistle) 3 and 2.
Ross Coull (Edzell) bt Steven Armstrong (Turnhouse) 1 hole.
William Bowe (Workington) bt Clark Riddick (Southerness) 2 and 1.
Robert Jenkins (Crow Wood) bt Barry Brooks (Meldrum House) 1 hole.
Russell Thornton (US) bt Brian Erskine (Ladybank) 4 and 3.
Nicky Barr (Craigie Hill) bt John Huille (Royal Burgess) 3 and 2.
QUARTER-FINALS
Farmer bt Peddie 1 hole.
Coull bt Simpson 1 hole.
Jenkins bt Bowe 1 hole.
Barr bt Thornton 1 hole.