FIFE MAKE TWO CHANGES FOR TITLE DEFENCE AT BLAIRGOWRIE

Fife have made two changes in last year's winning line-up for the defence of the Moneygate Scottish men's area team gofl championship at Blairgowrie Lansdowne on May 19-20. St Andrews pair Colin Martin and Gary Sharp replace Kevin Blyth, who came in as a replacement for the injured Greg Paterson last year, and Peter Latimer who has since turned pro. Paterson, who won the Craigmillar Park Open last year but missed the halfway cut this year, "was considered" but not chosen, said Bill Dickson, the Fife tournament convener. Fife beat North-east, the 2010 champions, by 3 1/2-1 1/2 in the 2011 final, having beaten favourites Lothians 4-1 in the semi-finals. Ayrshire finished third last year by beating Lothians in a play-off. North-east have lost Jordan Findlay, Kris Nicol, David Law and Philip McLean to the pro ranks since last year's team championship. Scott Larkin (Royal Aberdeen) and Adam Dunton (McDonald Ellon) are the only survivors. Ayrshire, who beat Lothians in the third/fourth place play-off last year have had to make one change in the team they had selected. Last year's Scottish boys champion David Wilson (Troon Welbeck) has had to pull out due to exams and his place goes to John Haggarty (Loudoun), a scratch player who was a member of the bronze medal-winning Ayrshire team last year. They are joined by former Scotland cap Bryan Innes, Anthony Bews, Barrie Edmond, and Laurie Phillips. The teams play two rounds of stroke-play on the Saturday and the four teams with the best aggregates go forward to the match-play stages on the Sunday, the No 1 qualifiers playing the No 4, and No 2 v No 3. FIFE - Scott Crichton (Aberdour), Colin Martin (St Andrews), Gary Sharp (St Andrews), Brian Soutar (Leven GS), Scott Stewart-Cation (The Duke's), James White (Lundin). NORTH-EAST - Anthony Bews (Murcar Links), Adam Dunton (McDonald Ellon), Barrie Edmond (Bon Accord), Bryan Innes (Murcar Links), Scott Larkin (Royal Aberdeen), Laurie Phillips (Cruden Bay). AYRSHIRE - Keith Hamilton (Ayr Belleisle), Jack McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie), Steven McEwan (Loudoun), John Shanks (Irvine), Michael Smyth (Royal Troon), David Wilson (Troon Welbeck)..    PERTHSHIRE - George Brass (Blairgowrie), Mark Cameron (Alyth), Glenn Campbell (Blairgowrie), Bradley Neil (Blairgowrie), Stuart Graham (Blairgowrie), Scott Michie (Kinross). Captain - Stuart McKendrick (Dunkeld and Birnam). Teams can be E-mailed to Colin@scottishgolfview.com