Sean Burns wins Renfrewshire youths'

 match- play championship

RENFREWSHIRE GOLF UNION  PRESS RELEASE

kgmcgee@hotmail.com

The Renfrewshire youths match-play championship final was played at Renfrew Golf Club, who presented the original George Duncan Memorial Trophy, on a day when the weather held off allowing the players the best of overhead conditions.

The final was held on Saturday, September 3 due to the fact that the original qualifying had to be rearranged because of  adverse weather. This also affected the playing of the match-play rounds.

In the final Sean Burns (Caldwell) faced Stuart Thomas (Erskine).

The game started quietly with both players having solid pars at the first two holes.

Stuart, however, perhaps feeling the strain of having won the county men's match-play championship at Elderslie last weekend, was not at his best and, over the next few hole, followed a bucket and spade route round the course.

With bunkers found at the third, fifth, sixth and eighth holes, he was two down at the turn, having failed to get up and down on most occasions.

The game only came alive on the last nine holes

Stuart won his first hole of the day at 10 when he hit the par 3 green while Sean missed to the left and fluffed his pitch. It was back to 1 up.

However, Stuart reciprocated at 11 with a poor pitch followed by another at 12 and Sean found himself three up.

Sean missed the green at 13 and a par by Stuart cut the lead to two holes.

The 14^th was shared in par, but the shot of the day was played by Stuart on the par 5 15^th, where his third hit the pin and sat two feet from the hole, for the only birdie of the game. Sam's lead was reduced to one hole.

At 16 Sean found the heart of the green, but Stuart, from the centre of the fairway, was bunkered on the left and  again he failed to get up and down. Sean two up with two to play.

The 17^th was played well by both players with regulation 4ss which left Sean Burns victorious by 2 and 1.

This leaves Sean as one of a few people have won both the boys' and youths' match-play championships, as he was a winner of the boys' title  in 2014.

The final was as usual played in the true spirit of the game which is what the RGU expect of their player s at the top level.

Unfortunately Sean was not able to remain for the presentation of the George Duncan Memorial Trophy or to receive his winner's voucher, but Stuart Thomas, as runner up, received his voucher and thanked the RGU for their organization of the event.

Final Result 

Sean Burns (Elderslie) bt Stuart Thomas (Erskine) 2 and 1

Graham McGee 

President 

Renfrewshire Golf Union