COUNTY GOLF NEWS

        Andrew McColl (left), beaten finalist, with new champion Sean Burns

 Sean Burns is Renfrewshire boys’ match-play championship winner

RENFREWSHIRE GOLF UNION PRESS RELEASE

 turnberry.db@gmail.com

Sean Burns of Caldwell Golf Club has become the Renfrewshire Golf Union boys’ match-play champion, following in the footsteps of his club mate Lewis Smith, who won the event last year. 

Sean made sure the Freedman Trophy remained at Caldwell in difficult, wet conditions at Kilmacolm Golf Club. In the afternoon final many of the greens required to be cleared of water following a torrential downpour during the lunch break.

In the morning round Sean beat Fraser Lawrie of Lochwinnoch Golf Club by two holes, closing out the game with a nice birdie at the final hole after Fraser had fought back from three down with five to play to stand one down on the final tee

In the other semi-final Andrew McColl of Erskine overcame Caldwell’s Alastair McNaughton 3 and 2, with the game turning dramatically on the 13^th hole. The match was all square when Andrew over -hit his approach which crashed into the pin and dropped straight into the hole to give him a one- hole lead. 

Alastair never recovered from this untimely blow.

The final involved the first and second seeds and the quality of the match was outstanding, especially in the conditions.

Andrew started briskly with birdies at the first and third to go two up but dropped shots at the fourth and sixth to go all square. He restored his lead with a birdie at the seventh but lost a ball at the next hole.  Sean’s birdie at the ninth saw him one up at the turn.

Yet another birdie from Andrew at the 11th restored equality but Sean responded with a great birdie three at the next. 

This was to prove crucial as Andrew failed to get up and down from beside the green at the 13th to go two down and a pulled drive at the next hole into heavy rough meant he was three down with four to play.  Sean made sure with his third birdie at fifteen to win by 4 and 3. 

Andrew can take consolation from the fact that he made four birdies and Sean finished two under par in a fiercely competitive game which was enjoyed by all who watched it.  

 The courtesy of Kilmacolm Golf Club given to the Renfrewshire Golf Union was much appreciated by all who took part and thanks also to Mrs. Murray who came once again to present the trophy and winners’ vouchers.

FRIENDLY BOYS' MATCH AT LUNDIN LINKS

Seven Renfrewshire Golf Union boys - Jack Currie, Craig Orr, Matthew Dalrymple, Jamie Sinnamon, Lewis Breslin, Aidan Wilson and Angus Frood travelled to Lundin Links to play Fife in a friendly match. The match was decided on aggregate scores counting the best six gross scores. Renfrewshire won by 10 shots, so well done to the boys who took part.