Golf: Fife stay on course for another title

FIFE’S fairytale year is going to end with another title in their grasp after beating West in a top-of-the-table clash in the Fife & Lothians Golf Associations Winter League.

It ended 6…-3… in favour of the home team at Charleton, meaning West not only need to win against Mid in their next outing but also need a favour from East against Fife to keep alive their flickering title hopes.

Growing in confidence on the back of his Edward Trophy triumph at the tail-end of the season, Silverknowes star Graham Robertson delivered a West win at the top of the order against Gary Sharp.

But Fife were in the driving seat after coming out on top in the next five matches, three of which were closely- fought affairs that were eventually ended on the 17th green.

Pumpherston’s Andrew Loch and Louis Gaughan of Bathgate both won their matches by 2 and 1 for the visitors, while Mark Timmins and David Mitchell were all square when their match was declared a halve due to it being too dark to play the last.

Fife have enjoyed a stellar season, winning the Scottish Area Team Championship for the first time and also chalking up a whole host of individual successes.

Mid picked up their first point of the campaign after holding East to a 5-5 draw in the other match at North Berwick.

At the turn, the hosts were up in five matches and all square in another three.

A stirring fightback then put Mid on the verge of victory but, in the end, a share of the spoils was just about right.