Golf: Dunbar manager faces fellow friendly fire in Champion of Champions

JOHN ARCHIBALD, the club manager at Dunbar, features in one of the eye-catching early ties in this year's Lothians Champion of Champions.

The man who regained the Merchants title last year faces Dean Muir, one of his members.

Another Dunbar player, Stephen Easingwood, reached the final last year, losing to Steven Armstrong of Turnhouse, and he's earned another tilt at the title after retaining the Bank of Scotland crown. Easingwood is at home to rising Swanston New star Malcolm Campbell in the opening round, with the winner then facing either Ian Doig of Cramond or Gordon Crawford (Edinburgh City Chambers).

Four-time winner Keith Nicholson (Haddington) and 2008 champion Graham Davidson (Winterfield) will clash in a tasty third-round tie if they beat Scott Hardie (Longniddry 918) and Lochend's Derek Cantley respectively in their opening matches.

In the handicap event, defending champion John Gladwin (Bass Rock) is away to Portobello's Gary Riley in the first round, while Standard Life's Mike Sinclair, the 2008 winner, is also on the road in the second round when he faces Binivell's John McCallum.