Crisis man Brechin saves the day for North-

east, earns them a place in semi-finals

  Clark Brechin: Responding to  the pressure of being the North-east team's tail-gunner."

    Picture by Cal Carson Golf Agency.

 

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
North-east, seventh of eight qualifiers for the match-play stages, KOd No 2 seeds Glasgow to reach this afternoon's semi-finals of the GolfKings Scottish six-a-side men's area team championship at a bright and breezy Hawkshill course at Newmachar Golf Club.
It's the second year in a row North-east have reached the last four in which they will play Lanarkshire who beat them in the semi-finals at Dalmahoy last year before going on to beat Lothians in the final.
This morning's quarter-finals resulted:
Lothians 3, North 2.
Renfrewshire 3.5, Perth and Kinross 1.5
North-east 3, Glasgow 2.
Lanarkshire 3.5, Ayrshire 1.5
Match-winning hero for North-east was tail-gunner Clark Brechin of the Portlethen club. He came back from one down at the turn and needed to win the last match for North-east to progress.
And he did just that, improving his situation to two up after 15 holes and holding on under pressure for a vital one-hole victory.
"I seemed to be North-east's man for a crisis situation," said Brechin. "I think this is the year in a row that it all boiled down to whether or not I won my match."
North-east team captain Mike Pocock was as pleased as Punch that his team came through against the odds to topple Glasgow.
Willie Sharpe, team captain of Lanarkshire, was another man who enjoyed his lunch.
Lothians, winners of the area team title 13 times but not since 2007, had to content themselves with a 3-2 winning margin over North but never looked in danger of defeat. They had impressive winners in 48 year old former pro Euan McIntosh and Kieran Cantley.
Renfrewshire, judging by their performance against Perth and Kinross, look in the mood and form to give Lothians a run for their money in the semi-final. Matt Clark, Stewart Watt and David Sibbald were key winners for Renfrewshire.

RESULTS

QUARTER-FINALS
 LOTHIANS  3, NORTH 2
FOURSOME
Stuart Blair and Mark Napier lost to Allan Cameron and John Forbes 1 hole.
SINGLES
Euan McIntosh bt Fraser Fotheringham 4 and 3.
Stuart McLaren lost to Jeff Wright 1 hole.
Kieran Cantley bt Kyle Godsman 4 and 3
Benn McLeod bt Jordan Shaw 3 and 1,

RENFREWSHIRE 3.5, Perth and Kinross 1.5
FOURSOME
Andrew Farmer and Craig Thomson halved with Scott Michie and Stuart McKendrick
SINGLES
Matt Clark bt Ewan Farquharson 3 and 2
Stewart Watt bt Thomas White 4 and 3
David Sibbald bt David Simpson 4 and 3
Derek Anderson lost to Glenn Campbell 2 and 1.

GLASGOW 2, NORTH-EAST 3
FOURSOME
Brendan McKenna and Gordon Miller bt Barrie Edmond and Stephen Roger 3 and 2
SINGLES
Graeme Cross lost to Sam Locke 3 and 2.
Calum Fyfe bt Adam Dunton 1 hole
Steven Manning lost to Christopher Lamb 4 and 3.
Andy Fairbairn lost to Clark Brechin 2 holes

AYRSHIRE 1.5, LANARKSHIRE 3.5
FOURSOME
Keith Hamilton and Steven Wallace lost to Graham Rankin and Gordon Yates 2 and 1.
SINGLES
Craig Hamilton lost to Ed Wood 2 and 1
Jack Broun bt Lewis Irvine 2 and 1.
Jim Johnston halved with Steven Rennie
John Shanks lost to Dominic Dougan 1 hole.