HOST COUNTRY MAKE UP ONE-POINT LEEWAY IN SINGLES

SCOTS AND SOUTH AFRICA ON LEVEL

PEGGING AT HALFWAY IN TEST MATCH

Scotland and South Africa will start the second and final day of their golfing "Test Match" at Leopard Creek, Malelane with 6pt apiece.

The Scots had the edge in the morning foursomes and led 2 1/2-1 1/2 at lunchtime.
The South Africans hit back to take the singles 4 1/2-3 1/2 to level the scoreline at the halfway stage.
Scott Gibson from Southerness (pictured) was the only Scot to end the day with a 100 per cent record. He won his foursomes in partnership with Graeme Robertson and
then won his singles.
South Africa's national coach, Llewellyn van Leeuwen, was pleased that his players could close the gap and put South Africa on equal footing.
"Now it's all going to be about the final day's play," said Van Leeuwen.
"I think the boys fought valiantly this afternoon. Six of the matches went the full distance and a couple of the Scots missed some short putts at the 18th to give us halves.
"I feel very fortunate to be in a 6-all position and now it will be up to the players to come out strong and secure a victory."
South African No 1 Christiaan Bezuidenhout lost by 2 and 1 in the top singles to Blairgowrie's Bradley Neil, the 2013 Scottish Under-18 boys'
match-play champion. Neil and Gibson were Scotland's only winners in the singles. 
 ut victories from debutants Thriston Lawrence, NJ Arnoldi and Philip Kruse in the Singles gave the team a solid boost.

Halves from Zander Lombard, Louis Taylor and Matthew Spacey, who also donned national colours for the first time, ensured that the South Africans have a fighting chance in the final round on Wednesday.

South Africa's national coach, Llewellyn van Leeuwen, was pleased that his players could close the gap and put South Africa on equal footing with the Scottish side.

“Now it’s all going to be about the final day’s play,” said Van Leeuwen. “I think the boys fought valiantly this afternoon. Six of the matches went the full distance and a couple of the Scots missed some short putts at the 18^th to give us halves.

“I feel very fortunate to be in a 6-all position and now it will be up to the players to come out strong and secure a victory.”

In the top singles tie, South African No 1 Christiaan Bezuidenhout went down 2 and 1 to 2013 Scottish U18 boys' match-play champion Bradley Neil from Blairgowrie.

That increased Scotland's lunchtime lead from 1pt to two.

Then Zander Lombard sank an eight-footer at the 18^th to gain a half point against Jamie Savage.

Arnoldi beat British boys champion Ewen Ferguson from Bearsden by 3 and 2, while Kruze defeated Ben Kinsley (St Andrews) by one hole to level the overall scoreline at 4-4.

Teenager Thriston Lawrence took control early in his game against Daniel Young and was three up through six holes. The Craigie Hill golfer won the seventh and ninth holes to chip away at Lawrence’s lead, but the 17-year-old local golfer surged ahead again by taking the 11^th and 12^th.

The Scot won the 13^th and 15^th, but after halves at the 16^th and 17^th holes, Lawrence was still one ahead. Young was forced to concede after a poor tee shot at the closing hole.  

Not sure where his ball landed, Young hit a provisional, but pulled the shot and conceded the game. That put South Africa ahead for the first time at 5-4.

Lawrence, the reigning South African amateur champion, has represented South Africa in a number of international events and said that the two teams are very evenly matched, but that the 6,665 meter Gary Player-designed lay-out at Leopard Creek is the great leveller.

“This is such an incredibly difficult course and it is playing really tough this week,” Lawrence said. “You always have to be accurate around here, but with the rough as high as it is, you really can’t afford to make mistakes off the tee.”

Louis Taylor halved his game against Connor Syme, while new cap Werner van Niekerk lost on the 18th green to Scott Gibson and that tied up the scores again at 5 1/2-5 1/2. 
Spacey, two down with two to play against Graeme Robertson (Glenbervie),  won both the closing holes to gain half a point and ensure the first-day honours were shared evenly.
The Leopard Trophy forms part of the Scottish team's annual eight week winter training programme, supported by Leopard Creek proprietor Johann Rupert and Aberdeen Asset Management.
South Africa claimed the inaugural Test in 2010, and also won in 2011 and 2013.

FIRST DAY RESULTS 

SOUTH AFRICA 6, SCOTLAND 6

FOURSOMES (1 1/2-2 1/2)
S African names first
Zander Lombard and Thriston Lawrence halved with Bradley Neil and Daniel Young.
N J Arnoldi and Christiaan Bezuidenhout bt Ewen Ferguson and Jamie Savage 2 and 1.
Louis Taylor and Matthew Spacey lost to Connor Syme and Ben Kinsley 1 hole.
Philip Kruze and Werner van Niekerk lost to Graeme Robertson and Scott Gibson 2 and 1.
SINGLES (4 1/2-3 1/2)
Bezuidenhout lost to Neil 2 and 1.
Lombard halved with Savage.
Lawrence bt Young 2 holes.
Arnoldi bt Ferguson 3 and 2.
Taylor halved with Syme.
Kruze bt Kingsley 1 hole.
Van Niekerk lost to Gibson 1 hole.
Spacey halved with Robertson.