SENIOR MEN'S HOME INTERNATIONALS

WALES BEAT ENGLAND - SCOTLAND
STEP IN TO TAKE THE TITLE WITH
WIN OVER IRELAND
European champions Scotland have won the senior men’s home international title for the first time.
They did it after a dramatic final day at Dunbar Golf Club where defeat for England by Wales (5 ½-3 ½) opened the door for Scotland to win the title – if they beat Ireland.
They did in the end by 5 ½- 3 ½ but it was by no means an open-and-shut case.
The Scots took the foursomes 2-1, which was a big advantage, given that there are only six singles to follow.
Scottish seniors champion Stephen Ellis extended the lead to 3-1 when he beat Ireland’s No 1 Arthur Pierse but then it was nip-and-tuck through the central order of the “batting.”
Gordon MacDonald was held to a square game by Maurice Kelly.
Skipper Ian Hutcheon, pictured right, won by one hole over Decland Branigan after being all square with two to play.
Alan Ferguson halved with Seamus McParland after being all square with three to play.
Hugh Smyth won the battle of tail-enders for Ireland by 6 and 5 over Donald McCart.
Royal Aberdeen’s John Johnston, the new boy in the Scotland team, halved the only singles outing he was given over the three days. One up with two to play he was pegged back by Barry Reddan.
Stephen Ellis was Scotland’s most successful performer with 4pt, followed by Brian Grieve, Donald McCart and Hutcheon, all with 3pt.
Three players tied for the honour of gaining the most individual points – Doug Arnold (England), Seamuis McParland (Ireland and Maurice Kelly, also of Ireland) – all with 5pt.

Final day details:

ENGLAND 3 1/2, WALES 5 1/2
Foursomes: D Arnold and A Squires bt J Whitcutt and M Rooke 3 and 2; S King and R Smethurst lost to B Griffiths and B Cramb 4 and 2; B Knott and C Reyholds lost to K Stimpson and P Jones 6 and 5 (1-2).
Singles: Arnold bt Whitcutt 3 and 2, Squires lost to Cramb 2 and 1, King halved with Griffiths, Knott lost to Rooke 2 and 1, Reynolds bt Jones 2 and 1, Smethurst lot to Stimpson 1 hole (2 ½-3 ½).

IRELAND 3 ½ , SCOTLAND 5 ½

Foursomes: H Smyth & D Branigan lost to S Ellis and B Grive 4 and 3, S McParland and M Kelly bt A Ferguson and G MacDonald 2 and 1; A Pierse and B Reddan lost to D McCart and J W Johnston (1-2)
Singles: Pierse lost to Ellis 1 hole, Kelly halved with MacDonald, Branigan lost to I C Hutcheon 1 hole, McParland halved with Ferguson, Reddan halved with Johnston, Smyth bt McCart 6 and 5 (2 ½-3 ½).

FINAL PLACINGS

1 Scotland 2 pt (2 wins, 1 defeat).
2 England 1 1/2pt (1 win, 1 halved match, 1 defeat).
2 Ireland 1 ½ pt (1 win, 1 halved match, 1 defeat).
4 Wales 1 pt (1 win, 2 defeats).

SCOTLAND’S INDIVIDUAL RECORDS

4pt S Ellis (4 wins, 2 defeats).
3 pt J W Johnston (2 wins, 2 halved matches).
3pt B Grieve (3 wins, 2 defeats).
3pt D McCart (3 wins, 2 defeats).
3pt I C Hutcheon (2 wins, 2 halved matches).
2 ½ pt G MacDonald (2 wins, 1 halved match, 3 defeats).
2 ½ pt A Ferguson (2 wins, 1 halved match, 3 defeats).

MOST SUCCESSFUL INDIVIDUALS

5pt D Arnold (England) (5 wins, 1 defeat).
5pt S McParland (Ireland) (4 wins, 2 halved matches).
5pt M Kelly (Ireland) (4 wins, 2 halved matches).
4 ½ pt S King (England) (4 wins, 1 halved match, 1 defeat).

+To find out what happened on the final day of the senior women's home internationals at Hamilton GC, switch over to our sister website, www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk