Golf: Craigielaw's kids reign in Spain at last

CRAIGIELAW wiped out the bitter memories of a painful experience in the same event two years ago by winning the Junior Team Golf Home Nations Inter-Club Championship in Spain.

Despite losing their final match 3…-2… to Welsh side Morriston, the East Lothian club were crowned champions at the Polaris La Torre Resort near Murcia by virtue of their better "goal difference".

Grant Forrest, Greg Smail, Euan Donaldson, Gabrielle MacDonald, Douglas Maxwell, Jack Dow and Euan Mackay did the business over the three days.

They set up their title triumph with wins over Maylands (England) and Rosslare (Ireland) earlier in the week.

Craigielaw earned their trip to Spain by winning the Scottish final at Westerwood in Cumbernauld last autumn and their victory in the grand final came at the third time of asking.

Two years ago, the East Lothian club agonisingly missed out after two of their players, Myles Cunningham and Scott Speakman, signed for wrong scores.

"This is fantastic for the club, especially given what happened two years ago," said Gordon Smith, the club's junior team manager who has been accompanying the players this week.

"It was thoroughly deserved and is another reward for the encouragement given to juniors at Craigielaw."

With Maylands and Rosslare drawing their match, Craigielaw knew just one point would be enough to secure their success and that was delivered in the top game by Forrest, the current Scottish Under-16 champion.

Donaldson was Craigielaw's other winner on the final day, with Maxwell adding the half point.

Over the course of the three days, Craigielaw won 11 matches compared to Morriston's seven successes.