Irish set for senior title hat-trick at Crail

FROM THE SCOTTISH GOLF UNION WEBSITEIreland’s quest for a hat-trick of Seniors Home Internationals remained on course with a comfortable victory over Wales while Scotland’s title bid was blown away by England on the second day at a blustery Crail.
Barry Doyle’s Irish side powered past Wales 6½ - 2½ to make it two wins out of two and only a heavy defeat to the hosts tomorrow will prevent their continued dominance of the event.
Despite Maurice Kelly and Adrian Morrow losing the opening foursomes match in the morning, former walker Cup captain Garth McGimpsey and Seamus McParland notched their second successive 2 and 1 win to level the match while Tom Cleary and Michael Quirke put the Irish ahead with a 3 and 2 win over Nigel Evans and Robert Broad.
Kelly bounced back in style in the afternoon singles, storming to five-under par at the turn to race to a six hole lead before sealing his match 6&5, while newcomer McGimpsey continued his impressive Seniors’ debut with a 3 and 2 win over Jeff Thomas. Billy Donlon shared a half in a tight match with Keith Stimpson before Adrian Morrow’s 6 and 5 win over Paul Bloomfield sealed the points,

John Whitcutt grabbed a consolation win for Wales with a well earned 2 and 1 defeat of Tom Cleary but Michael Quirke put the icing on the Irish celebration cake with a one-hole win over Nigel Evans.

A delighted captain Doyle said:”We were very concerned with the wind this morning and thought that play might be in jeopardy. The club pro told me he expected the wind would die down this afternoon which it did and the guys coped extremely well with the conditions.”

“The result looks more comprehensive on paper but it was a tighter match in reality. There was some fantastic golf on show from both teams, none more so than Maurice (Kelly) who played superbly. His opponent was level par for the first nine holes and found himself six down!”

“Garth McGimpsey has also been a fantastic addition to the team and has brought great Walker Cup experience to the side, as well as his fantastic ability. It would be fantastic to get our third win in a row but Scotland will be tough opponents tomorrow." he added.

In the bottom match, European champions England proved just too strong for Scotland with a 5½ - 3½ victory to end the hosts hopes of a home soil victory. Ian Taylor and Colin Christy overcame Doug Arnold and Dave Jessup 2 and 1 to open Scotland’s account this morning, but England took the foursomes 2 – 1.

Tony Stafford notched his second consecutive singles win with a 3 and 2 defeat of Arnold, while Christy enjoyed his second win of the day with a narrow one hole victory over Andrew Carman. David Gardner however fell to Alan Squires in the opening match and national seniors champion Scott Macdonald lost to Roy Smethurst.

The final two matches went to the wire with the outcome in the balance, but Chris Reynolds clinched the match for England with a one-hole win over John McDonald before Edzell’s Jim Watt halved with Philip Slater.

With a hat-trick in their sights, Ireland play Scotland on the final day with England needing to post a huge win over Wales to give them a chance of victory.


Click here for today’s results.

Start of North-east Alliance 2010-2011 season

Brown and Clark share victory at Kemnay

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Home course professional David Brown marked his debut on the North-east Golfers’ Alliance circuit by sharing first place with fellow pro Colin Clark (Mackenzie Club) at bright and breezy Kemnay today (W
Both returned three-over-par 74s to head a field of 100 for the first fixture of the 2010-2011 Alliance season.
Brown and Clark both let chances to win the top prize outright slip away over the closing holes. Brown, who had a double bogey 6 at the seventh, bogeyed the 16th and 17th after birdies at the fifth, 13th and 15th in halves of 38 (two over par) and 36 (one over).
Clark had birdies at the 12th,13th and 15th but had a double bogey 6 at the 17th in halves of 39 and 35.
Hazlehead’s David Law was the leading amateur in third place on 75.
SCOREBOARD
Leading scratch
Par 71
74 Colin Clark (Mackenzie Club), David Brown (Kemnay).
75 David Law (Hazlehead).
76 George Paterson (Northern), Stewart Pert (Huntly), Kris Nicol (Fraserburgh).
78 Colin Nelson (Mackenzie Club), Steve Chalmers (Banchory), Craig Stewart (Kippie Lodge).
79 Craig Carnegie (Kemnay), Sean Lawrie (Portlethen), Euan McIntosh (Newmachar).
80 Philip Morrison (Oldmeldrum), Paul Pugh (Oldmeldrum), Gary Geddes (Auchmill), Jordan Calder (Murcar Links), Bryan Nicolson (Auchmill).
Leading handicap
Class 1 – S Pert (Huntly( (2) 74; C Carnegie (Kemnay) (4), P Morrison (Oldmeldrum) (5), C Duffus (Kemnay) (6), P Pugh (Oldmeldrum) (5), G Geddes (Auchmill) (5) 75.
Class 2 – T Collie (Kemnay) (10) 77; P Anderson (Deeside) (9), M Brown (Inverurie) (18), I Mundie (Newburgh) (4) 78.

Loch Lomond GC directors accept offer

from Committee of Members

NEWS STATEMENT ISSUED BY LOCH LOMOND GOLF CLUB
The Directors of Loch Lomond Golf Club have been working over the last several months to evaluate the various expressions of interest for the acquisition of Loch Lomond Golf Club and Dundonald Golf Course.
After careful consideration of all of the offers received, we are pleased to announce that the Directors have elected to move forward with an offer put forth by a Committee of Members on behalf of the membership body of Loch Lomond Golf Club.
Philip Gund and Stephen Marotta, the Directors of the Club, will be working with the Committee to finalise terms. In the interim, the courses continue to be in excellent shape and open to Members.
Further information will follow in due course.