SENIOR SCOTS HOLD ENGLAND TO DRAW IN SINGLES-ONLY FIRST DAY

 FROM THE IRISH GOLF UNION WEBSITE

Winning start for Ireland at Seniors' Home Internationals

A storming performance in the singles gave European champions Ireland the perfect start at the Seniors Home Internationals at Royal Co Down.
Ireland swept all six matches against Wales, while England and Scotland battled to a draw in a match that swung one way and another throughout the afternoon.
The morning's play in the foursomes was halted after just over an hour.
With a long delay setting in, the team captains met with the Championship Committee and expressed a preference for declaring the foursomes halved with a good outlook for the singles matches.
One belt of sea mist in the afternoon called a temporary halt to the proceedings yet again just before the halfway point of the singles, but after the resumption, Ireland continued their early good play, with Garth McGimpsey leading from the front and beating Keith Stimpson on the 15th.
From then on in, Ireland look assured and ran out easy winners by 7.5-1.5, the margin of victory assured by final green wins for Arthur Pierse against Glyn Rees and for Adrian Morrow against Jeff Thomas.
Meanwhile, Scotland had taken the initiative early and looked strong in the first three matches.
But although Alan O'Neill beat John Ambridge (2/1) and Ian Brotherston beat Charles Banks (4/3), David Gardner lost the last hole and had to settle for a half against Richard Leatham.
England began their fightback there, and continued that run with a victory for Tyrone Carter on the 15th against Lindsay Gordon.
Andrew Stracey then turned his match around, winning at the final green against Scotland captain John Fraser, leaving the match to be decided between England's Chris Reynolds and Scotland's Lindsay Blair, who were all square playing the last, which they halved following a brilliant up and down from Reynolds.

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THE SCOTTISH ANGLE
Scotland drew 3-3 with defending champions England and European title-holders Ireland whitewashed Wales 6-0 on the first day of the Senior men's home internationals at Royal Co Down, Newcastle, Northern Ireland.
Fog ruled out play in the morning foursomes and the matches were decided on afternoon singles along.
Scotland were leading England 2 1/2 to 1/2 with three matches to finish but, in the end, were thankful that tail-gunner Lindsay Blair (Grangemouth) could halve his match with Chris Reynolds after Andrew Stracey beat John Fraser (Royal Burgess) by one hole and Tyrone Carter beat Lindsay Gordon (Turnhouse) by 4 and 3 to wipe out the Scots' lead.
David Gardner (Broomieknowe) halved the top singles match with Richard Leatham.
Alan O'Neill (West Lothian) was a 2 and 1 winner over John Ambridge and Ian Brotherson (Dumfries and Co) put Scotland into a 2pt lead by beating Charles Banks 4 and 3.

SENIOR MEN'S HOME INTERNATIONALS
Royal Co Down Golf Club
Newcastle, Northern Ireland
+The morning foursomes were abandoned because of fog
ENGLAND 3, SCOTLAND 3
Singles
R Leatham halved with D Gardnber
J Amvbridge lost to A O'Neill 2 and 1.
C Banks lost to I Brotherston 4 and 3.
A Stracey bt J Fraser 1 hole.
T Carter bt L Gordon 4 and 3.
C Reynolds halved with L Blair.

IRELAND 6, WALES 0
Singles
G McGimpsey bt K Simpson 5 and 3.
A Pierse bt G Rees 1 hole.
T Cleary bt A Williams 3 and 2.
M Quirke bt P Bloomfield 5 and 4.
J Mitchell bt J Thomas 5 and 3.
A Morrow bt B Griffiths 2 holes.