Golf: Team boss feels challenge could be hampered

WEST LINTON got off to a flying start in this season's Pollok (Scotrans) Ltd Edinburgh Summer Golf League by winning at Duddingston in their opening match.

Simon Mackenzie's side recorded a 5-3 win at the Capital course but the team captain reckons he'll be faced with the same old problems if West Linton keep it up to reach the knock-out phase later in the year.

"It was a good away result against a quality side in a very tough section," said former Scottish champion Mackenzie.

"We have the same team as previous years and normally do well in the qualifying sections. The team is experienced with younger players like Fraser Thain pushing into it - everyone's handicap is three and below.

"The only problem is that when we do qualify we struggle to get a full team due to holidays etc - my only complaint with the Summer League."

Mackenzie, teenager Thain, Scott Walker, who shared eight birdies with David Miller, and Nick Barr recorded the all- important West Linton wins at Duddingston, where Stephen Smith and John McWilliams also secured important halves.

Duddingston team manager Steve Gilhooley admitted: "West Linton deserved their victory. They got the lead early and fought hard to maintain their advantage."

Royal Burgess, bidding for a fourth straight title success, went through last year's qualifying campaign with a 100 per cent record. But they dropped a point in just their second game this time around as they were held to a draw at Baberton.

"A strange match where both sides were well ahead in four matches each so it always looked like being a draw and nothing much changed," said Burgess team captain Richard Hughes.

Murrayfield made the most of home advantage to beat a young Ratho Park team 5…-2….

Nairn McLeod won 7 and 6 against John Thomson and Alan Daley was a 4 and 3 victor over Drew McIntosh.

But home team captain Stephen Stuart declared: "I feel a special mention should go to Josh Cullerton, the 14-year-old from Ratho, who took Stewart McKay to the 18th and secured a half point for his team."

As well as losing two regular team members, Scott Murray and Scott Walker, to Harburn, Ratho are also without Neil Sneddon and Ally MacPhail this season due to business/ domestic reasons. "This is very much a transitional year for Ratho Park but I am sure it will be to the benefit of the club in the long term," said team captain Colin Binnie.

Not for the first time, Richard Craig led by example as the Merchants opened their campaign with a convincing home win over Prestonfield. The home man produced what was described as a "tasty performance" in winning 6 and 5 against Prestonfield champion Scott Johnston.

Ivor Highley secured the only Prestonfield point with a 5 and 4 win in the bottom match, though Andrew Helm needed to win the 16th and 17th to gain a half with Murray Fraser.Next up for Prestonfield is a visit from Kingsknowe, who will be determined to bounce back from a "very disappointing start" to the season.

Bill Buchan's side dropped their first point at home for three years as they were held 4-4 by Musselburgh.

Allyn Dick, Scott Knowles, Marc Cairnie and Graeme Fraser won for the home side but the battling Musselburgh responded through Ben McLeod, Scott Reid, Bryan Henderson and Calum Burgess.

Bruntsfield Links proved too strong at home for Lothianburn, Battle Trophy winner Zander Culverwell being the odd man out for the home side.

He had to settle for a half with James Tetlow at the top of the order, but newly-crowned Lothians champion Alan Anderson was among the seven winners for John Cropper's side.

Turnhouse chalked up the first whitewash of the season at the expense of Torphin Hill while Newbattle and Glencorse both won 5-3 against Silverknowes and Mortonhall respectively. Andrew Wight marked a landmark match - this is his 50th year playing in the Summer League - with a last-hole success for Glencorse.

Steven Smith, beaten finalist in the Lothians Championship a few days earlier at Broomieknowe, returned to the Bonnyrigg course to help Dalmahoy make a winning start.