WHINHILL'S STEPHEN WILSON WINS FREEDMAN TROPHY

RENFREWSHIRE GOLF UNION

PRESS RELEASE

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The Freedman Trophy is awarded by Renfrewshire Golf Union to the County Boys’ Match Play Champion.  It is contested by the leading sixteen boys from the Stroke Play Championship.

 Kilmacolm Golf Club provide the venue and the four who fought their way to the semi finals were Jack McAlpine (Kilmacolm), Stephen Wilson (Greenock Whinhill), Martin McCorkell (Gleddoch) and Stuart Cameron (Renfrew).

The first semi-final between Jack McAlpine and Stephen Wilson was a tense affair with Stephen building an early lead, Jack sticking to the task and squaring the game on the sixteenth hole.    The eighteenth was a catalogue of errors with Jack safely on the fairway while Stephen had to take a penalty drop from an unplayable lie. Jack then hit his ball out of bounds allowing Stephen to win the hole and the match. The other game was an easy victory for Stuart Cameron who built a six hole lead at one point and, despite a late fight back by Martin McCorkell, ran out a comfortable winner by 4 and 3.

In the final, Stephen started strongly and had a three hole lead by the fifth. He lost the next two holes but recovered to be three up again at the turn. Stuart fought back and solid golf saw him square the match on the sixteenth green. With the seventeenth halved, it was all to play for on the final hole. What was to follow will remain in the memory of the players and the spectators for a long time.

First, Stuart hit a magnificent tee shot down the left of the fairway while Stephen hit his ball out of bounds. Stephen’s second ball found the middle of the fairway and his next shot was played to the front of the green. Stuart then hit two balls through the green and out of bounds and conceded the hole and the match.  A disappointing end to what had been a great final.

Picture shows Stephen Wilson and Stuart Cameron