NORTHERN LIGHTS SHINE IN MAITLAND SHIELD KO OF HOLDERS BON ACCORD

Bon Accord, last year's winners of the City of Aberdeen men's double foursomes match-play golf tournament for the Maitland Shield, sponsored by the Cults Hotel, were knocked out by Links rivals Northern in the first round of this year's tournament at Royal Aberdeen GC. It was a match of two halves for Bon Accord who lost the lead-off tie by four holes but won the second-string contest by two. George Paterson and Cameron Johnstone won the first game for Northern, finishing four holes up on Barrie Edmond and Matty Dunn. Key hole here was the 15th, won by Paterson and Johnstone with a birdie 3. Four holes proved too big a lead for Bon Accord's second string of Matt Greig and Graham Somers to pull back although they did finish two up on Northern's Willie West and Greg Morrison, leaving Northern the winners by two holes overall. Royal Aberdeen beat Hazlehead by six holes while Deeside were the biggest winners on a chilly night at the Balgownie links. They beat Stonehaven by 10 holes. Royal Aberdeen play Northern in the quarter-finals on Wednesday evening while Deeside await the winners of Caledonian v Portlethen. Banchory and Auchmill don't come into the tournament until Wednesday evening when they play each other for a place in the semi-finals. FIRST-ROUND RESULTS Northern bt Bon Accord by two holes (George Paterson and Cameron Johnstone 4. Barrie Edmond and Matty Dunn 0; Willie West and Greg Morrison 0, Matty Greig and Graham Somers 2). Royal Aberdeen bt Hazlehead by six holes (Bill Barclay and Allan Reith 3, Scott Robertson and Adam Strachan 0; Steve Buchan and Donald Macandrew, jun. 3,  Doug Elrick and Lawrence Prowse 0). Deeside bt Stonehaven by 10 holes  (David Halliday and Alan Ross 5, Neil Irvine and Gordon Adamson 0; Sandy Hutchison and John Broadley 5, Steve Guzik and Alan Cruickshank 0). TUESDAY'S TIES FIRST ROUND 5pm - Caledonian v Portlethen 5.15 - Newmachar v Murcar Links 5.30 - Peterculter v Nigg Bay