Craibstone bid to be giant-killers in Maitland 

Shield semi-final against Newmachar

Craibstone are the surprise packets of this year's City of Aberdeen men's double foursomes for the Maitland Shield, sponsored by the Douglas Hotel, at Hazlehead, writes Colin Farquhason.
They are through to meet Newmachar, a team with a formidable record in team foursomes match-play in the semi-finals on Thursday evening after beating Nigg Bay by two holes.
It was a lopsided victory in that Craibstone's first string of Craig Wilkinson and Alan Bloice finished seven holes up on Ryan Forbes and Ross Young.
Which was just as well for Craibstone as their second string og |John Borthwick and Justin Thomas went down by five holes to Steve Jamieson and Nicky Slater.
Stonehaven entered the tournament and departed it on the same night, having been given a bye through to the quarter-finals. They were soundly beaten, by six holes, by Newmachar's experience pairings of Jamie Wilson and Chris Simpson, and Greg Ingram and Neil Melvin.
The second semi-final will feature Banchory against Bon Accord.
Banchory a good going quartet in  Alasdair Ramage, Scott Larkin, Jack Harling and Adam Lindsay. They achieved the biggest win of the night, by a combined 12 holes, against Northern.
Full marks to Bon Accord for overcoming the local knowledge of their opponents in beating Hazlehead by an overall two holes.
 The home team's Scott Robertson and Greig Kennedy finished two up on Bon Accord's Barrie Edmond and Graeme Somers but that was cancelled out by Matthew Greig and Matthew Dunn finished four up on Hazlehead's Alan Macklin and Iain Taylor.

QUARTER-FINALS
Newmachar bt Stonehaven by 6 holes
Jamie Wilson, Chris Simpson 5, Steve Guzik, Kiefer Brown 0.
Greg Ingram, Neil Melvin 1, Neil Irvine, Graeme Anderson  0/

Craibstone bt Nigg Bay by 2  holes
Craig Wilkinson, Alan Bloice 7, Ryan Forbes, Ross Young 0
John Borthwick, Justin Thomas 0, Steve Jamieson, Nicky Slater 5 
 
Banchory bt Northern by 12 holes
Alasdair Ramage, Scott Larkin 4, Marc Vass and Richard Hyland 0 Jack Harling, Adam Lindsay 8, Liam Minty, Cameron Johnstone 0.

Bon Accord bt Hazlehead by 2 holes
Barrie Edmond, Graeme Somers 0, Scott Robertson, Greig Kennedy 2.
Matthew Grieg, Matthew Dunn 4, Alan Macklin, Iain Taylor 0.


THURSDAY NIGHT'S SEMI-FINALS
4.47 Newmachar v Craibstone
5.00 Banchory v Bon Accord 

The Maitland Shield tournament is sponsored by Douglas Hotel's Molly's Bistro. The Douglas Hotel's Malones Bar sponsor the Aberdeen and District Pennant League.
Fancy dining out, having a refreshment in Aberdeen? Then head straight for the Market Street establishment of the Douglas Hotel.
They support North-east amateur golf ... why not support the Douglas Hotel?