Golf: No quarter given with home ties up for grabs

One will go to either  Dalmahoy or Silverknowes from Section A, while Liberton and Kingsknowe are fighting for the other in Section D.

A win at Baberton – their third on the road in this campaign –has put Dalmahoy in the driving seat, especially as they host Silverknowes this week.

Liberton secured their place in the last eight after winning at home to Lothianburn, giving them top spot at the moment with 15 points from their ten games.

“It’s very pleasing to have qualified,” said Liberton team manager Clark Munro. “Teenagers Anthony Blaney, Scott finlay and Ross Munro all delivered points on the night and along with the experienced Robert Jack, Dave Kerr and Iain Neilson.”

But, after victories at home to Newbattle and away to Lothianburn, Kingsnowe will snatch top spot if they can beat Craigmillar Park in their final match.

“This was an excellent result, against a very good side, in a tighter game than the scoreboard suggests,” said Bill Buchan of Kingsknowe’s  6…-1… win over Newbattle.

“We got off to a good start and were ahead in most games, but the visitors fought back before we pulled away again over the closing holes.” A 7-1 win at Lothianburn  secured Kingknowe’s place in the quarter-finals for the fourth year out of the last five.

“It was a terrific team  performance and now we need at least one point to ensure a home draw in the quarter- final,” added Buchan.

Holders Royal Burgess, already safely through, completed their sectional matches with an 8-0 victory over Merchants and a 5-3 win over Turnhouse.

In the latter, Turnhouse  needed a 6-2 victory to qualify in second place but Duddingston are through instead.

There were fireworks in the opening match as Steven Armstrong recovered from two down with three to play to get a deserved half with Varun  Varadharajan.

Victories for Gordon Archibald and Ian Taylor in matches two and four meant Turnhouse could not get the result they wanted and Royal Burgess recorded further victories from John Yuille and Sandy Gray, along with a half from John Fraser to seal the points.

“We have accrued 18  points from our 10 matches and have not yet fielded our  strongest side, so we have to  be happy with that,” said Burgess team manager Richard Hughes.

“But the competition gets serious now we are at the knockout stage and we will have to be at our very best to progress any further.”