Friday, August 04, 2006

McALPINE v O'HARA FINAL

UNCAPPED PAIR WIN SEMI-FINALS
OF SCOTTISH AMATEUR AT NAIRN

Kevin McAlpine from Alyth will play Paul O'Hara (Colville Park) in Saturday's 36-hole climax to the Allied Surveyors Scottish men's amateur championship over the classic Nairn Golf Club links.
McAlpine, who has played the American college circuit for the past four years as a student of Colorado State University, beat Stirling student Bobby Rushford b6 4 and 3 in the semi-finals in the afternoon.
McAlpine, seven up at the turn, was two under par for the holes played.
O'Hara will be appearing in the final for a second time. He lost to George Murray in the 2004 final at Gullane. Paul's older brother, Steven O'Hara won the Scottish title at Royal Dornoch in 2000.
Paul O'Hara's last appearance did not earn him a place in the Scotland team for the following home internationals. This one surely will. McAlpine too is uncapped at adult level for Scotland.
Full-time amateur Paul upset the form book just a wee bit by beating seasoned international player Jonathan King (Glasgow), a Glasgow financier, by one hole in the second semi-final.
It was all square at the turn and then came the decisive winning run by the younger player. O'Hara won the 10th on a concession, the 11th with a birdie 2 and the 13th with a birdie 3.
At the finish, O'Hara was two under par.

QUOTES (courtesy of Kate Weldon, SGU communications manager)

PAUL O'HARA: “I didn’t make light work of this match. iit was tight and Jonathan was playing really well. When it rested on the 18th, it was a pressure putt but I saw the line straight away and just knew what I had to do. I am much more experienced than was back in 2004 when I reached my first Scottish final at Gullane. I was only 17. I have played in lot of tournaments over the last couple of years so I am looking forward to tomorrow."

JONATHAN KING: "I am pretty gutted not to make it to the final, but Paul played really well. Despite my four birdies in a row, he coped with the pressure and he answered all the questions. He deserved to win in the end.”

KEVIN McALPINE: “I lost concentration for a few holes. I was feeling a bit tired and mentally drained after being 5 up. Two bad drives cost me but I really wanted to get in the final.”

Saturday's tee times for the 36-hole final are 8.30am and 1.00pm.

SEMI-FINAL RESULTS
Kevin McAlpine (Alyth) bt Bobby Rushford (Grangemouth) 4 and 3.
Paul O'Hara (Colville Park) bt Jonathan King (Glasgow) 1 hole.

+Scroll down to see the quarter-final results and report.

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