Friday, August 06, 2010

BOYS HOME INTERNATIONALS - Scotland beat England but Ireland take title

(SGU press release)

Scotland’s Boys team defeated England for the first time in 13 years at the Boys Home Internationals at Southerness today to claim an extremely credible runners-up spot.


In team coach Spencer Henderson’s final event before taking up a new coaching post in Turkey later this month, the young Scots played some sensational golf to ensure the Scots coach signed off with a victory, winning 8.5–6.5.

Ireland secured the R&A Trophy with victory over Wales for their second Championship triumph in three years. The Irish side were in full control of the match from the off on their way to a 3.5-1.5 morning foursomes win. The young Welsh side rallied well in the afternoon but Ireland's strength was evident for the third consecutive day as they ran out 10.5-4.5 winners.

Scotland got off to the perfect start on their way to securing second place and seal an impressive turn around in fortunes having lost their opening match 12-3 to the Irish. The Scottish pairs of Grant Forrest and Conor O'Neil, and Daniel Hendry and Ewan Scott claimed two of the first three matches of the day with 2&1 victories.

England were able to level the match score at 2-2 with a 4&2 victory for Oliver Carr and Nathan Kimsey over Jamie Lynch and Simon Fairburn.

However, the Scottish twosome of Southerness member Scott Gibson and his partner Jack MacDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie) ensured that they would take their team to lunch in the driving seat with an emphatic 6&4 win.

Pollock’s Conor O’Neill was the star performer again for Scotland, the Scottish Boys Strokeplay runner-up won both of his matches and dropped just half a point across his six matches during the Championship. Craigielaw’s Grant Forrest showed the fighting spirit that won him the Scottish Boys Matchplay title at West Kilbride in April, coming back from three down after eight holes to win his match on the final green.

Another notable performance came from Dumfries & County’s Liam Johnston who continued his recent fine form defeating current English Strokeplay Champion Callum Shinkwin 3&2. Scott Gibson was again comfortable in victory, this time 5&3 over Paul Lockwood before a dramatic finish to the match. While debutant Ewan Scott was birdying his final hole to seal a crucial half point, Daniel Hendry was executing a magnificent chip on the seventeenth which struck the pin, setting up a 2&1 victory for the Dubai-based youngster. The fine display of short-game was no stroke of luck from Hendry, having got up and down at the three previous holes in a performance of true grit to claim the point that sealed victory for Scotland.

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