Stuart Thomas wins Renfrewshire county match-play championship

    

 RENFREWSHIRE GOLF UNION NEWS RELEASE

   kgmcgee@hotmail.com                              

The Renfrewshire county match-play championship was played at Elderslie Golf Club on a day when, for once, the gods shone on the RGU. The weather was superb and with a course in great condition the prospect of good golf was always on the cards.

In the final Stuart Thomas (Erskine), pictured right, beat Alex Ferguson (Paisley) by one hole.

In the first semi-final, Alex beat Jamie Sinnamon (Greenock Whinhill) by 5 and 4. The match was always in Alex's hands after he was four up after five holes.

In the other morning match Stuart beat local favourite Colin Edgar by 3 and 2. 

This game was mainly decided by two conceded holes from Colin due to two lost balls plus some superb pitching and putting play around the greens by Stuart. This was never bettered than at the 15^th where, from behind a tree, he played sideways and from 90 yards hit to 3 ft while Colin, from the centre of the fairway, was bunkered left and failed to get up and down and  lost the hole.

The final opened in great style with both players having birdies at the second hole.

Bogeys at the third and fourth saw Alex go two down, but with birdies at the next two holes she square the games.

From then on all holes were all shared until a poor drive by Stuart at 13, resulting in a lost ball, allowed Alex to take the lead for the first time.

This was, however, cancelled when Stuart won the 15^th with a birdie

The 16^th and 17th were halved in pars with some amazing play around the greens by both players, leaving all to play for down the par 5 18^th.

Both players hit drives left and both missed the green to the right. Neither hit a great pitch and the putt of Alex went 4/5 feet past while Stuart's was close. Missed return putt by Alex left Stuart the task of holing to claim the victory, which he did.

The final, as all other games, was played in the true spirit of the game with players complimenting fine play by their opponents. Just a shame that someone has to lose. A credit to the game of golf .

 RESULTS

SEMI-FINALS

Alex Ferguson (Paisley) bt Jamie Sinnamon (Greenock Whinhill)  5 and 4.

Stuart Thomas (Erskine) bt Colin Edgar (Elderslie)  3 and 2

FINAL

Thomas bt Ferguson 1 hole.

Graham McGee
President
Renfrewshire Golf Union