THIS BODES WELL FOR FUTURE OF SCOTTISH AMATEUR GOLF - COACH RAE

THE PRIDE OF SCOTLAND - National coach Ian Rae (end right) with his Leopard Trophy heroes

FAMOUS 14-10 VICTORY FOR SCOTS IN 

SOUTH AFRICA TEST MATCH

Scotland scored morale-boosting victory over South Africa in the two-day golf Test match at Leopard Creek near Malelane today (Wed).
The Scottish Golf Union squad, level at 6-6 at the start of play, powered ahead for a 14-10 victory.
The Scots took control in the morning foursomes and handed the local heroes a 4-0 drubbing, then shared the singles 4-4
Zander Lombard and Louis Taylor, the two stalwarts of the victorious South African side last year, were among the first to fall. Craigie Hill's Daniel Young beat Lombard 3 and 1, while Connor Syme from Dumfries and Co dispatched Taylor 4 and 3.
Cawder's Jamie Savage, out on his second trip to South Africa, picked up the team's third point when he downed N J Arnoldi 2 and 1.
"The new caps all performed well and this bodes well for the future of Scottish golf," said Scottish national coach, Ian Rae (pictured).

"We are obviously delighted with the victory, but I don't think one should lose sight of the experience that both teams gained here this week. For us, to come out to a magnificent course like this each year and to expose our players to this type of course, the grass and weather is invaluable.
"But for the South Africans the chance to play against international competition is equally important.
"Irrespective of the result, and who lifted the magnificent Leopard trophy, both teams are winners."
South African No. 1 Christiaan Bezuidenhout went up against Blairgowrie's Scottish boys champion Bradley Neil in a tightly-fought contest. Neil lost on the 18th green.
Reigning South African Amateur champion Thriston Lawrence beat British boys champion Ewen Ferguson from Bearsden 2 and 1, while Werner van Niekerk secured South Africa's third point when he downed Scott Gibson from Southerness 3 and 2.
Ben Kinsley (St Andrews) and Gr-aeme Robertson (Glenbervie) halved their matches against Philip Kruze and Matthew Space respectively.
The Leopard Trophy match forms part of their annual eight week winter training programme, which is supported by Leopard Creek proprietor Johann Rupert and Aberdeen Asset Management. 
While Neil and Robertson will be departing for Scotland early next week, the remainder of the side will be travelling to the Western Cape to play in the South African Amateur Championship at Hermanus Golf Club from  February 25 to 28.

RESULTS
SOUTH AFRICA 10, SCOTLAND 14
Day 1: South Africa 6, Scotland 6
Day 2: South Africa 4, Scotland 8
South African names first
FOURSOMES (0-4)
Zander Lombard and Thriston Lawrence lost to Bradley Neil and Daniel Young 3 and 2
N J Arnoldi and Christiaan Bezuidenhout lost to Connor Syme and Ben Kinsley 1 hole
Louis Taylor and Matthew Spacey lost to Ewen Ferguson and Jamie Savage 3 and 1
Philip Kruze and Werner van Niekerk lost to Graeme Robertson and Scott Gibson 2 and 1
SINGLES (4-4)
Bezuidenhout bt Neil 1 hole.
Lombard lost to Young 3 and 2
Lawrence bt Ewen Ferguson 2 and 1
Arnoldi lost to Jamie Savage 2 and 1
Taylor lost to Syme 4 and 3
Kruze halved with Kinsley
Van Niekerk bt Gibson 3 and 2
Spacey halved with Robertson

ends