Golf: Blaney heads for sunshine by helping Liberton stay top

LIBERTON retained top spot in the South East Edinburgh Winter League after making home advantage count against Craigmillar Park.

Anthony Blaney, playing his last match before heading off to Abu Dhabi for a month with the Scotland squad, helped the hosts get off to a winning start. In tandem with Ian Neilson, they dug out a crucial last-hole success over Alex Robertson and Keith Thorburn in the top match. In a closely-fought encounter, the three other matches also went beyond the 16th but, in the end, Liberton ran out 3-1 winners.

Prestonfield also made the most of local knowledge to beat Duddingston by the same scoreline.

Dan Gilmore and John Shepherd chalked up a thumping 8 and 7 success for the visitors in the third match, leaving Prestonfield team manager Alan McEwan to remark: “It’s just as well we were not playing ‘goal difference’.”

But, in the two games that went to the last, both resulted in Prestonfield wins and they are lying second in the table, a point behind Liberton.

In the junior event, Duddingston are out in front after three wins from three but Liberton are chasing hard after a home success.