SEAN LAWRIE HELPS PORTLETHEN KO CALEY IN MAITLAND SHIELD

Only a week or two ago, Sean Lawrie, nephew of Paul Lawrie, was deep in the heart of Texas as a student at Midland College. Tonight at Balgownie, the youngster was helping Portlethen beat Caledonian by two holes to reach the quarter-finals of the City of Aberdeen double foursomes for the Maitland Shield, sponsored by the Cults Hotel. Lawrie (pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency)and Ryan Donaldson held Caley's Barry Reid and Scott Allan to a square match to clinch victory for Portlethen whose first string of Lewis Shand and Graham Innes had finished two up on Stewart Finnie and Dean Gardiner. Murcar Links teams have a formidable foursomes record and this week's quartet look quite capable of maintaining the tradition. Anthony Bews, Clark Brechin, Bryan Innes and Duncan Raitt finished a combined seven holes up on Newmachar's Chris Simpson, Mark McKechnie, John Duff and Richard Blair who will be defending the Northern Counties Cup over the Royal Aberdeen Links later in the season. Nigg Bay's Ryan Forbes, Richard Nielsen, Ian Welsh and Ross Young overpowered Peterculter's Duncan McLean, Martin Aitken, Fraser Downie and Murray Bowman by eight holes to earn a quarter-final tie against Murcar Links tonight (5.30). Banchory and Auchmill come into the tournament for the first time this week to meet in the first tie in the round of the last eight at 4.45pm. Northern play hosts Royal Aberdeen at 5pm, followed by Deeside against Portlethen at 5.15. RESULTS: FIRST ROUND Portlethen bt Caledonian by two holes (Lewis Shand and Graham Innes 2, Stewart Finnie and Dean Gardiner 0. Sean Lawrie and Ryan Donaldson 0, Barry Reid and Scott Allan 0). Murcar Links bt Newmachar by seven holes (Anthony Bews and Clark Brechin 3, Chris Simpson and Mark McKechnie 0. Bryan Innes and Duncan Raitt 4, John Duff and Richard Blair 0). Nigg Bay bt Peterculter by eight holes (Ryan Forbes and Richard Nielsen 6, Duncan McLean and Martin Aitken 0; Ian Welsh and Ross Young 2, Fraser Downie and Murray Bowman 0). WEDNESDAY QUARTER-FINALS 4.45 - Banchory v Auchmill. 5.00 - Northern v Royal Aberdeen. 5.15 - Deeside v Portlethen. 5.30 - Murcar Links v Nigg Bay.