ABERDEEN LINKS CHAMPIONSHIPS

Matt Smith wins battle of the big hitters

By DAVID GRIEVE
In the Aberdeen Links Championship Handicap Shield competition last night there were wins for former scratch champion Scott Davidson (Northern) and Caley club captain David Forbes. David will now meet Matt Smith of Bon-Accord who won the battle of the big hitters against Northern's Craig Ross.
In the Murray Cup, Northern's Colin Taylor was the 'Iron Man,' returning to win his first round tie against Ryan Grieve (BA) at the 22nd hole. He then went on to beat his mate Gibby McDonald at the 19th. Elsewhere, title-holder Graeme Mackie (Caledonian) continued his defence with a two-hole win over Northern's Richard Jones. Last years quarter finalist, 14-year-old Mark Rimmer will hope to go at least one better after beating Bon-Accord's Calum Murphy, also 14 years old, by 5 and 4.
THURSDAY NIGHT RESULTS
Handicap Shield
C.Laing (Caledonian) (7) bt M.Taylor (Caledonian) (8) at 19th.
S.Davidson (Northern) (5) bt S.Murphy (Bon Accord) (6) 3 and 2.
A.Divers (Caledonian) (6) bt P.Angelo (Northern) (7) 1 hole.
C.Johnstone (Norhern) (8) bt A.Stewart (C) (5) 1 hole.
D.Forbes (Caledonian) (6) bt EM.Leslie (Bon Accord) (7) 4 and 3.
M.Smith (Bon Accord) (6) bt C.Ross (Northern) (5) 3 and 2.
W.Shand (Bon Accord) (8) bt R.Stewart (Bon Accord) (9) 1 hole.
R.Allerton (Bon Accord ) (5) bt P.Cheyne (Northern) (8) 3 and 2.

Murray Cup
D.Barclay (BA) (14) bt G.Kidd (N) (16) 1 hole.
J.Hay (N) (12) bt D.Donaldson (BA) (22) 1 hole.
F.Kennedy (BA) (11) bt AG.Forbes (C) (13) 6 and 5.
I.Stewart (BA) (18) bt D.Coull (N) (10) 4 and 3.
M.Rimmer (C) (13) bt C.Murphy (BA) (14) 5 and 4.
C.Taylor (N) (12) bt G.McDonald (N) at 19th.
GW.Mackie (C) (10) bt R.Jones (N) (14) 2 holes.
J.Hosie (N) (11) bt B.Lumsden (N) (14) 2 and 1.

FRIDAY'S QUARTER FINALS
SCRATCH
5.0 B. Edmond (BA) v A. Doig (C)
5.06 S. Carmichael (C) v W. Ross or L. Morrice (C)
5.12 P. Boyce (N) v A. Cruickshank (C)
5.18 B Reid (C) v S. Murray (BA)
HANDICAP
5.24 C. Laing (C) (7) v S. Davidson (N) (5)
5.30 A. Divers (C) (6) v C. Johnstone (N) (8)
5.36 D. Forbes (C) (6) v M. Smith (BA) (6)
5.42 W. Shand (BA) (8) v R. Allerton (BA) (5)

MURRAY CUP
5.48 D. Barclay (BA) (14) v J .Hay (N) (12)
5.54 F. Kennedy (BA) (11) v I. Stewart (BA) (18)
6.00 M. Rimmer (C) (13) v C. Taylor (N) (12)
6.06 G W Mackie (C) (10) v J. Hosie (N) (11)