Thursday, March 15, 2012

SHIELDS BEATS McKENNA IN TITANIC SEMI-FINAL IN SOUTH AFRICA

Kirkhill's Paul Shields beat Fraser McKenna (Balmore) at the 22nd hole after a titanic struggle between in the two members of the SGU Elite Squad in this afternoon's semi-finals of the South African Northern Open Amateur match-play golf championship at Randpark GC, Johannesburg.
Shields. the 14th match-play qualifier and bidding to follow in the footsteps of last year's winner, Aberdeen's David Law, will play South Africa's Aubrey Barnard from Pretoria, the 13th qualifier, in Saturday's 36-hole final.
McKenna was one up at the turn against Shields who won the 15th and 16th to go one head. McKenna squared the contest again at the 17th and a half at the 18th send the classic semi-final into extra holes, four of them before Shields was the winner.
McKenna, 31st of the 32 match-play qualifiers, birdied the last hole in the morning quarter-finals to knock out South Africa's top-ranked amateur, 18-year-old Brandon Stone by one hole.
Shields, two down with two to play, won the 17th and 18th to take his last-eight match against Shaun Smith into extra holes, beating the South African at the 21st.
McKenna will play South African stroke-play champion Haydn Porteous in an 18-hole play-off for third place.
SGU national coach Ian Rae, with his elite squad in South Africa, said: “It was an awesome game between Fraser and Paul. It was a pity someone had to go out. They both played really good golf.
“Fraser had a great quarter-final scalp in the morning over Brandon Stone, South Africa’s No 1 amateur, and Paul has showed all his fighting qualities, playing 43 holes today.
“Paul is playing lovely. He is in control of his game. I expect a good final from him - hopefully he can follow in the footsteps of David. Paul looks really composed on the course.”

QUARTER-FINALS
{Players from S Africa unless stated)
Fraser McKenna (Sco) bt Brandon Stone 1 hole.
Paul Shields (Sco) bt Shaun Smith at 21st.
Haydn Porteous bt Zander Lombard 5 and 4.
Abrey Barnard bt Sipho Bujela 7 and 5.
SEMI-FINALS
Shields bt McKenna at 22nd.
Barnard bt Porteous 3 and 1.

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