HOSTS TOP MATCH-PLAY QUALIFIERS, THEN REACH LAST PAIRING

 Matthew Clark, lynchpin of Renfrewshire team

          Picture by Cal Carson Golf Agency

RENFREWSHIRE MEET LANARKSHIRE 

IN GOLFKINGS SCOTTISH AREA FINAL 

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
It will be hosts Renfrewshire against Lanarkshire in Sunday's final of the GolfKings-sponsored Scottish men's area team golf championship at Ranfurly Castle Golf Club.
Renfrewshire, leading qualifiers for the match-play stages, continued in "who's gonna be second" form by beating North 4-1 and then a fancied Glasgow side 3 1/2-1 1/2.
Lanarkshire, who were sixth of the eight qualifiers from an original field of 16 area teams, beat Strlingshire 3-2 in the morning and then toppled the No 2 seeds Perth and Kinross 3-2 in the semi-final which finished in the evening.
Renfrewshire last won the area title in 2005. Lanarkshire have to go back a bit farther than that for their last national six-man side success - 1998.
The Renfrewshire team of six contains the consistent Matthew Clark (Kilmacolm) as its lynchpin, Craigmillar Park Open winner Craig Watson, a one-time British Amateur champion, and Ronnie Clark, Andrew Farmer, Gordon Stevenson and Michael Daily.

Lanarkshire's line-up includes Kirkhill's Craig Ross, the leading individual in the 36-hole eliminating stroke-play contest on Friday, and the experienced Steven Rennie (pictured right) but they are  all very competent players - Colin Baird, Jamie Lamb, Stewart Henderson and Ross Hinshelwood.
 
MATCH-PLAY RESULTS

FIRST-ROUND

RENFREWSHIRE 4, NORTH 1
Ronnie Clark and Andrew Farmer bt Fraser Fotheringham and Jordan Shaw 5 and 4.
Matthew Clark bt Allan Cameron 2 and 1.
Gordon Stevenson halved with Jeff Wright
Michael Daily bt Jordan Milne 4 and 3.
Craig Watson halved with Bryan Fotheringham

GLASGOW 3, LOTHIANS 2
John Laaurie and Gordon Sangster bt Graham Robertson and Benn McLeod 4 and 3.
Jamie Savage lost to Allyn Dick 2 holes.
Gordon Miller lost to Calum Hill 2 holes.
Barry Hume bt Greg Smail 6 and 5.
George Burns bt Anthony Blaney 4 and 3.

LANARKSHIRE 3, STIRLINGSHIRE 2
Colin Baird and Jamie Lamb bt Richard Johnston and Stuart Irving 3 and 2.
Craig Ross bt Graeme Robertson 2 and 1.
Steven Rennie bt David Buchanan 3 and 2.
Stewart Henderson lost to Ryan Campbell 4 and 3.
Ross Hinshelwood lost to Fraser Moore 3 and 2.

PERTH and KINROSS 4, AYRSHIRE 1
Scott Michie and Philip Scott lost to Keith Hamilton and Malcolm Pennycott 1 hole.
Daniel Young bt John Shanks 3 and 2.
Stuart Graham bt Michael Smyth 3 and 2.
Mark Cameron bt Stuart Robin 3 and 2.
Bradley Neil bt Tommy McInally 3 and 1.

SEMI-FINALS

RENFREWSHIRE 3 1/2, GLASGOW 1 1/2
R Clark and Farmer bt Laurie and Sangster 1 hole.
M Clark lost to Savage 5 and 4.
Stevenson halved with Miller
Daily bt Burns 4 and 3
Watson bt Hume 3 and 2.

LANARKSHIRE 3, PERTH and KINROSS 2
Baird and Lamb bt Michie and Scott 5 and 4.
Ross lost to Young 5 and 3.
Rennie bt Graham 1 hole.
Henderson bt Cameron 1 hole.
Hinshelwood lost to Neil 1 hole.