Golf: Nicholson unimpressed with new Area format

"For most of the Areas the season is now finished, as I learned from speaking to one or two of them over the weekend," said Nicholson after seeing his side claim the bronze medals at Kinross yesterday.

"The new format also means only six players get the chance to play in the Area Team Championship in one season when it used to be that you could see ten or so players involved."

After seeing their hopes of a 14th title success in the event ended by Renfrewshire in the morning semi-finals, Lothians bounced back to beat Ayrshire 4- in the third/fourth place play-off.

David Miller and Mark Timmins came from three down after four and one down with four to play to win the sole foursomes match, with wins following in the singles for Mark Hillson, Grant Forrest and Steven Armstrong.

New Lothians champion Allyn Dick had a putt at the last to win his match but sportingly gave his opponent a half with the tie already won.

"We got off to a bad start in the semi-final against Renfrewshire, gained a bit momentum only for it to go back the other way towards the end," reflected Nicholson.

Lothians had produced a strong performance in Saturday's stroke-play qualifying to secure their place in the match-play phase.

In a testing wind, Hillson led the way with scores of 75 (Bruce) and 70 (Montgomery) and received strong back up from Armstrong (76, 74), Dick (73, 77), Forrest (72, 77), Miller (77, 77) and Timmins (72, 76).

Their aggregate of 742 earned them second spot behind North East (725) and saw Nicholson's side take on defending champions Renfrewshire in the semi-finals.

Miller and Timmins came from behind, winning three holes in a row from the 13th, to win the foursome tie against Bryan Adam and Gordon Stevenson.

But a half point, secured by Hillson against former Amateur champion Craig Watson, was all Lothians could muster from the four singles.

Dick suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Craigmillar Park Open winner Matthew Clark, Armstrong went down 3 and 1 to Ronnie Clark and Forrest lost by the same margin to the experienced Andrew Farmer at the bottom of the order.

North East claimed the title for the first time since 1992 and fourth time overall by beating Renfrewshire 4- in the final.