GOLFKINGS SCOTTISH MEN'S AREA TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP AT RANFURLY CASTLE

     We are the champions ... a happy Renfrewshire team. Picture by courtesy of Kenny Smith.

TOP SEEDS RENFREWSHIRE BEAT 

LANARKSHIRE 5 1/2-3 1/2 IN FINAL


Hosts Renfrewshire led from wire to wire to make the most of local knowledge and win the GolfKings Scottish men's area team championship at Ranfurly Castle Golf Club today.
Matthew Clark, Gordon stevenson, Craig Watson, Michael Daily, Ronnie Clark and Andrew Farmer
claimed the top seeding by leading the eight qualifying teams out of a starting field of 16 at the end of the 36-hole stroke-play eliminator on Friday at Old Ranfulry and Ranfurly Castle.
Then the Renfrewshire squad of six carried all before them in the head-to-head play. On Saturday, they beat North 4-1 and the strongly-fancied Glasgow line-up 3 1/2-1 1/2 in the semi-final.
And Lanarkshire, the No 6 seeds, could not halt the Renfrewshire steamroller in Sunday's two-session final.
Renfrew took a vital one-point lead in the morning foursomes, in which two of the ties went to the 21st.
Then Renfrewshire clinched the area's fifth national win - from 1982 (Cardross), 1996 (Machrihanish), 2005 (Bathgate) through to 2009 (Crail), by taking the singles 3 1/2-2 1/2 for an overall 5 1/2-3 1/2 victory. 
Said Renfrewshire's playing captain Ronnie Clark:

“It’s nice to win again, reach five stars if you like, and I think the home soil did help,” said Clark. “We have all played here before in team matches and other events. 

“Lanarkshire are a good side so it was important to build a lead in the morning. We have a strong team spirit and it’s pretty much the same side every year, with the odd youngster coming in. I’m delighted for all the guys.”

GOLFKINGS SCOTTISH MEN'S AREA TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
RANFURLY CASTLE GC

FINAL

RENFREWSHIRE 5 1/2, LANARKSHIRE3 1/2

FOURSOMES (2-1)
Matthew Clark and Gordon Stevenson bt Craig Ross and Steven Rennie at 21st.
Craig Watson and Michael Daily lost to Stewart Henderson and Ross Hinshelwood at 21st.
Ronnie Clark and Andrew Farmer bt Jamie Lamb and Colin Baird 4 and 3.
SINGLES 
M Clark lost to Ross at 22nd
Daily bt Rennie 5 and 4.
Stevenson lost to Henderson 4 and 3
Farmer bt Hinshelwood 2 and 1
R Clark halved with Lamb
Watson 1 up after nine on Baird