SHIELDS BEATS McKENNA IN TITANIC SEMI-FINAL IN SOUTH AFRICA
Kirkhill's Paul Shields beat Fraser McKenna (Balmore) at the 22nd hole after a titanic struggle between in the two members of the SGU Elite Squad in this afternoon's semi-finals of the South African Northern Open Amateur match-play golf championship at Randpark GC, Johannesburg.
Shields. the 14th match-play qualifier and bidding to follow in the footsteps of last year's winner, Aberdeen's David Law, will play South Africa's Aubrey Barnard from Pretoria, the 13th qualifier, in Saturday's 36-hole final.
McKenna was one up at the turn against Shields who won the 15th and 16th to go one head. McKenna squared the contest again at the 17th and a half at the 18th send the classic semi-final into extra holes, four of them before Shields was the winner.
McKenna was one up at the turn against Shields who won the 15th and 16th to go one head. McKenna squared the contest again at the 17th and a half at the 18th send the classic semi-final into extra holes, four of them before Shields was the winner.
McKenna, 31st of the 32 match-play qualifiers, birdied the last hole in the morning quarter-finals to knock out South Africa's top-ranked amateur, 18-year-old Brandon Stone by one hole.
Shields, two down with two to play, won the 17th and 18th to take his last-eight match against Shaun Smith into extra holes, beating the South African at the 21st.
McKenna will play South African stroke-play champion Haydn Porteous in an 18-hole play-off for third place.
SGU national coach Ian Rae, with his elite squad in South Africa, said: “It was an awesome game between Fraser and Paul. It was a pity someone had to go out. They both played really good golf.
“Fraser had a great quarter-final scalp in the morning over Brandon Stone, South Africa’s No 1 amateur, and Paul has showed all his fighting qualities, playing 43 holes today.
“Paul is playing lovely. He is in control of his game. I expect a good final from him - hopefully he can follow in the footsteps of David. Paul looks really composed on the course.”
QUARTER-FINALS
“Fraser had a great quarter-final scalp in the morning over Brandon Stone, South Africa’s No 1 amateur, and Paul has showed all his fighting qualities, playing 43 holes today.
“Paul is playing lovely. He is in control of his game. I expect a good final from him - hopefully he can follow in the footsteps of David. Paul looks really composed on the course.”
QUARTER-FINALS
{Players from S Africa unless stated)
Fraser McKenna (Sco) bt Brandon Stone 1 hole.
Paul Shields (Sco) bt Shaun Smith at 21st.
Haydn Porteous bt Zander Lombard 5 and 4.
Abrey Barnard bt Sipho Bujela 7 and 5.
SEMI-FINALS
Shields bt McKenna at 22nd.
Barnard bt Porteous 3 and 1.
Labels: Amateur Men
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