STEWART v SHIELDS IN SOUTH AFRICAN MATCH-PLAY FINAL

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

 Colin@scottishgolfview.com

The Scottish Golf Union Elite Squad's extended break in South Africa is paying off big time.

The final of the South African amateur match-play championship at Vaal de Grace will be contested by two Scots - Scottish champion Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck), pictured left, and Paul Shields, from Kirkhill Golf Club, Cambuslang,  pictured below.

In an action replay of the Allied Surveyors Scottish championship final at Gullane last summer, Stewart beat former British boys champion Jordan Findlay at the 19th while Shields beat the last surviving South Africa, Jacques Kruyswijk by 4 and 2.

A couple of weeks ago David Law (Hazlehead) led almost throughout before being beaten in a play-off for the South African open amateur stroke-play title.
 Stewart v Findlay was a classic match-play tie with Fraserburgh's Findlay, the Scottish Alliance champion, going two up after five holes. Stewart won back the ninth to be one down at the turn but Findlay looked to have taken a grip on the outsome when he won the 12th and 13th to be three up on the 14th tee.
But Stewart is not Scottish match-play champion for nothing! He won the 14th, 16th and 18th to square the match, then the 19th for victory.
Shields, winner of the North of Scotland open amateur stroke-play championship at Inverness last season - his biggest win todate after twice being beaten finalist in the Scottish boys' match-play championship, lost only one hole, the fifth, in his semi-final against Kruyswijk.
All square after five, Shields won the eighth, 10th and 15th to establish a three-hole lead, winning the match on the 16th green.

The Stewart v Shields final will be a repeat of the 2008 Scottish boys' championship final at Southerness where Michael won the title with an 8 and 7 victory.

Today's results:

QUARTER-FINALS

Jacques Kruyswijk (S Africa) bt Stephen Pienaar (S Africa) 4 and 2.

Paul Shields (Scotland) bt Audrey Barnard (S Africa) at 22nd.

Michael Stewart (Scotland) bt Muzi Methunzwi (S Africa) 3 and 2.

Jordan Findlay (Scotland) bt D J Du Plessis (S Africa) 2 holes.

SEMI-FINALS

Shields bt Kruyswijk 3 and 2.

Stewart bt Findlay at 19th.