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Friday, July 27, 2007

SCOTTISH BOYS STROKEPLAY - Stewart ousted by Byrne in extra hole play off for title

Michael Stewart of Troon Welbeck lost out in a dramatic finish to the Scottish BOys Strokeplay CHampionship at Cardrona on Thursday when he was defeated at the third extra hole by James Byrne (Banchory), after the two players had tied on 274, 14 under par after the four rounds.

Stewart started the day five shots behind Byrne, but a mornign round of 65 cut the defecit to one shot. Stewart looked likely to carry on to victory with a 3 stroke lead with 9 holes to play in the final round, but Byrne holed a 90yd pitch for an eagle 3 at the 10th and birdied the 12th to match Stewart at that stage, on 15 under par.

A combination of bogeys by Stewart and birdies by Byrne turned the championship in Byrne's favour with a three stroke advantage playing 17, but Byrne took double bogey on the penultimate hole and followed that with a bogey at the last to allow Stewart to match his total with a fine finishing par four.

At the third extra hole, Stewart played a superb bunker shot of around 100 yards to within 12ft of the hole, but Byrne, who had negotiated the hole with an iron from the tee, put his approach to 5ft from the hole and duly sank the put for a winning birdie three

The only other Ayrshire player to play in all four rounds, Euan Brown (Kilmarnock Barassie) faded in the closing two rounds, returning 75 & 77 for a 298 total


LEADING FINAL TOTALS
(Par 288)

274 - J Byrne (Banchory) 67 69 69 69, M Stewart (Troon Welbeck) 69 72 65 68.
284 - N Henderson (Glen) 71 72 70 71, A Wallace (Glenbervie) 71 71 72 70.
287 - D Young (Craigie Hill) 74 71 71 71.
290 - C Robb (Inchmarlo) 76 71 71 72, C Gaittens (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) 69 75 71 75, F Fotheringham (Nairn) 73 69 75 73, S McLaren (King James VI) 70 74 75 71.

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