Golf: Foursomes key to Scots in Leopard Trophy win

FOURSOMES, so often an Achilles’ heel, proved the strength on this occasion as a Scottish side containing a clutch of teenagers beat South Africa in a two-day Test match to win the Leopard Trophy.
The victorious Scots in South Africa. Picture: SubmittedThe victorious Scots in South Africa. Picture: Submitted
The victorious Scots in South Africa. Picture: Submitted

Level after the opening two sessions at Leopard Creek, the Scots recorded a 4-0 whitewash in the second batch of ­foursomes to set up a 14-10 ­victory after the closing singles were shared.

“The new caps all performed well and this bodes well for the future of Scottish golf,” said a delighted Ian Rae, the national coach.

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Over two days, the Scots ­suffered just one defeat in eight foursomes matches, the decision to retain the same pairings from the opening day paying a ­handsome dividend.

Two of those teenagers, ­Connor Syme and Ben Kinsley, won for the second day running, as did Scott Gibson and Graeme Robertson, the latter pair ­delivering in the anchor match.

With the combinations of Bradley Neil/Daniel Young and Ewen Ferguson/Jamie Savage also coming out on top, it left the Scots in a strong position heading into the closing session.

And, despite Neil losing ­narrowly to Christiaan Bezuidenhout in the top singles then Ferguson, the British Boys’ ­champion, going down two matches behind, the victory was soon secured.

Young, Savage and Syme all won while Kinsley and Robertson secured halves to give the Scots a rare win in the match after losing to their hosts three times in four years.

Syme finished with three-and-a-half points from four, confirming his full recovery from a ­broken ankle, and will be buoyant as the Scottish party, minus Neil and Robertson, head into the SA Amateur Championship at Hermanus next week.