Lothians Golf Association
Lothians Men have disappointing start to title defence
On the excellently presented Bruntsfield Links course, the Lothians Men's team started their title defence of the Scottish Area Team Tournament against Angus.
The morning foursomes were a challenging three matches with both teams enjoying a win, a loss and a draw. Jamie Duguid (Dunbar) and Jake Edgcombe (Baberton) got the Lothians off to a quick start and took a early 3 hole advantage only to be clawed back by their opponents before the match ran out all square at the 18th. Match Two, with Benn McLeod (Musselburgh) and Ross Noon (Musselburgh Old Course) had a nip and tuck match against their opponents and it was no surprise when Angus ran the match out on the 17th with a 2&1 victory. In match Three with the Lothians trusted pair of Craig Davidson (Longniddry) and Scott McCandless (Bathgate) getting the best of starts and never looked back from the 4th onwards with a 6&5 victory.
Lothians 1.5 Angus 1.5
In the afternoon, Lothians rested Edgcombe in place of Kenny Glen (Craigielaw).
Duguid was sent out first and soon established a good lead early on, the Angus player dug in and although clawed back Duguid at one point, but Duguid moved on for a 4&3 victory. Noon followed his teammate with a good foundation of early hole wins to establish himself and didn't look back when he also followed Duguid with a win at the 15th for 4&3. McLeod was next out and his ding dong battle with former Boys Finalist Will Bremner was close all the way round with the lead changing hands a few times. But it was poor approach onto the 18th that cost McLeod at least a half, when his approach found the greenside bunker which he took two to get out and he lost his long run of unbeaten single matches in a Lothians shirt 1 down.
The normally trusted McCandless was the 4th out and he struggled to get his nose in front in the match which the Angus man held a good grip on. However, it was some good golf that eventually led to the defeat with the Angus man running out 2&1. Glen was finding it tough on the Bruntsfield Course with an early lead by the Angus man being unable to over come for Glen and despite a good fight back in the middle of the round it was his opponent that seen it home 3&2. All eyes went to the last match out in the hope that the Lothians could salvage a drawn match. Davidson, tried hard to pin down his opponent and with the game slipping away he found the water at the 16th to go 2 down , and the Angus man held his nerve up the 17th to see the match out.
Lothians 3.5 Angus 5.5
All credit to the Angus men, who never gave up throughout the match and with some gutsy play got their just rewards. So it's onwards and upwards in the group for Lothians who play Stirlingshire next at Stirling GC who lost by the same margin against Lanarkshire. the 9th June is the date and we hope to be able to turn the fortunes around to leave a final match against Lanarkshire on Kirkhill GC with something to play for.
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