DEFEAT DUMPS DUFF DREAM AT MURCAR links

By COLIN FARQUHARSON Colin@scottishgolfview.com New North-east Alliance champion John Duff (Newmachar) saw his bid for an end-of-season title double disappear in the semi-finals of the scratch match-play foursomes at Murcar Links Golf Club today. The all-amateur partnership of Duff and David Leslie (Northern) were beaten by two holes by Royal Aberdeen staff pro Joel Hopwood and his amateur partner Brian Harper (Newburgh). Hopwood and Harper will play two amateurs in Friday morning's final - Jim Duncan (Newburgh) and Aboyne's David Nelson who won by 3 and 2 in the semi-final against George Paterson (Northern) and Charlie Cassie (Nigg Bay). The handicap final will pit Tommy Collie (Kemnay) and Jackie Forrest (Northern), with a combined handicap of 21, against Hamish McNaughton (Cruden Bay) and Alan Gall (Deeside) whose handicaps add up to 17. So Collie and Forrest will be in receipt of three shots. NORTH-EAST ALLIANCE FOURSOMES Murcar Links GC. Results: SCRATCH (Evening Express Shield) FIRST ROUND J Duff (Newmachar) and D Leslie (Northern) bt D Mackay (Newmachar) and K Watson (Deeside) 4 and 3. J Hopwood (Royal Aberdeen) and B Harper (Newburgh) bt J Nicolson (Auchmill) and J Hamilton (Murcar Links) 6 and 4. J Duncan (Newburgh) and D Nelson (Aboyne) bt K Beveridge (unatt) and H Roulston (Stonehaven) 2 holes. G Paterson (Northern) and C Cassie (Nigg Bay) bt A Dunton (McDonald Ellon) and C Carnegie (Kemnay) 4 and 3. SEMI-FINALS  Hopwood and Harper bt Duff and Leslie 2 holes. Duncan and Nelson bt Paterson and Cassie 3 and 2.  HANDICAP (Press and Journal Shield) FIRST ROUND T Collie (Kemnay) (12) and J Forrest (Northern) (9) bt S Thomson (Caledonian) (11) and A Graham (Aboyne) (8) 1 hole. L Roger (Royal Aberdeen) (11) and D Fleming (Portlethen) (5) bt A Petrie (Oldmeldrum) (10) and M Duncan (Murcar Links) (7) 4 and 3. B Lumsden (Northern) (13) and Paul Cornfield (Auchmill) (15) bt G Homer (Northern) (12) and M Smith (Inverurie) (13) at 19th.  H McNaughton (Cruden Bay) (12) and A Gall (Deeside) (5) bt M Winton (Caledonian) (11) and B Nicolson (Auchmill) (2) 1 hole.   SEMI-FINALS Collie and Forrest bt Roger and Fleming 4 and 3 McNaughton and Gall bt Lumsden and Cornfield 2 holes FRIDAY FINALS 9.30 Handicap - T Collie and J Forrest v H McNaughton and A Gall. 9.45 Scratch - J Hopwood and B Harper v J Duncan and D Nelson.