RANFURLY CASTLE JUNIORS RETAIN

NEWTON SHIELD TROPHY

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY RENFREWSHIRE GOLF UNION
Ranfurly Castle’s young team, the holders of the title, travelled to an immaculate Elderslie course to face Ralston in the final of the Junior Newton Shield.
The team captain, Jamie Binning, set the tone in the lead match with an exciting one-hole victory.
Then Josh Bogle recorded a 2 and 1 win to give Ranfurly Castle a clear lead. The early edge was soon negated as Andrew Cunningham and Greg Paterson lost their matches.
Young Tom Binning had a fine victory and finals debutante Ben Adamson was left out on the course to complete the job. He was up to the task and his victory at the 17th hole meant that the trophy returned to Bridge of Weir.
The squad, with the exception of Jamie Binning, is aged 16 or under and they have set their sights on winning three in a row – a record currently held by Paisley Golf Club.


RENFREWSHIRE’S GOLFERS IN WITH A CHANCE
Last year, Renfrewshire Golf Union’s A Team made it through to the final of the Scottish Area Team Championship and just failed to win the trophy which they last won in 2005. This year, team captain Murdo Carmichael and team manager Derek McGlynn are determined to go all the way and the season started well with a solid win over Argyll & Bute.
Last week’s match was away to a Fife team which included Scott Crichton, runner up in the Scottish Youths and Peter Latimer fresh from a great performance at the Scottish Amateur at Troon. The team selected was:
Matthew Clark, David Miller and Andrew Farmer – Kilmacolm
Ronnie Clark – Erskine
Craig Watson – East Renfrewshire
Gordon Stevenson - Whitecraigs

The day started badly with Matthew and Ronnie Clark beaten 5 and 4 and things got worse when the pairing of David Miller and Gordon Stevenson found themselves three down after only six holes. The brave duo fought back and managed to scrape a halved match.
The final morning match saw Andrew Farmer and Craig Watson face the top pairing of Scott Crichton and Peter Latimer. This was a tight match all the way and it was only when Craig drove the green at the par four sixteenth that Renfrewshire looked to be in control and they won 3 and 1.
It was all to play for in the afternoon singles. Craig Watson faced Michael Main who won convincingly – 4 and 3. Then Matthew Clark again squared the match with a one up win over James White of Lundin Links who is number three in this year’s Order of Merit.
Gordon Stevenson narrowly lost to Peter Latimer and David Miller was unable to cope with an in form Scott Crichton losing 4 and 3. Needing two wins for a valuable away point, attention swung to Andrew Farmer battling it out against Colin Martin, Fife’s Match Play Champion and Ronnie Clark against Scott Michie, Fife’s 2008 Stroke Play Champion and a member of the host club Thornton.
Andrew was always in control and a birdie at the 13th from a nigh impossible position knocked the wind out of the sails of his opponent allowing him to coast to a 3 and 2 victory. Could Ronnie Clark save a valuable away point? Again it was the thirteenth which was the crucial hole with a birdie from Ronnie taking him two up. This was reduced to one at the sixteenth but a birdie at seventeen was enough for a 2 and 1 win.
The final qualifying match is at Erskine Golf Club on 20th September and a win over Clackmannanshire will be enough to see Renfrewshire through to the semi finals to be played at Crail in October.

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