On a beautiful summer’s day on Monday 13 July 2017 eight of the most promising young golfers representing each of Dumfries & County and a South Select gathered at Nunfield to do battle for the bragging rights for 2017. The course was in immaculate condition as the first foursomes game set off at 9.00 am
David Sharp (D&C) had to play on his own against Jamie Marchbank and Glen Irvine (both D&G) as the Dumfries & County team were one player short. Having taken the lead with a birdie at the third, David played very steadily and was never down in winning 3 & 2.
In a fascinating game that went to the eighteenth green, Robbie McIlwraith and Neil Macdonald (D&C) won the first two holes against Sam Mitchell and Kaleb Johnston (both Portpatrick) and then the South boys stopped the rot with a birdie at the third. Holes were exchanged at regular intervals and Robbie and Neil were still one up after 15 but lost two holes in the last three to lose by one hole.
In the third game Ciaran Howat and Rogan McGraw (both D&C) got off to the perfect start winning the first three holes and were four up after six holes before the new South pairing of Harry Hay (Portpatrick) and Patrick Innes (Kirkcudbright) started a fight back to be one down after 12. Ciaran and Rogan then won the next three holes and the game 4 & 3
Rory Gordon and James Miller (D&C) never gave up trying against Ollie Hogg and Aidan Wilson (both D&G) but the South boys were in the ascendency and never down as they ran out convincing winners by 5 & 4.
All square at two games all at lunch and all to play for in the afternoon singles.
David Sharp again drew the short straw and had to play two games against Jamie Marchbank and Sam Mitchell. He again played very well and dispatched Sam, who could not reproduce his form of the morning, by 6 & 5 but found Jamie’s experience and steady all round play much more difficult to overcome and was unlucky to lose by one hole.
A pulsating game between Robbie McIlwraith and Kaleb Johnston also went to the last green with Kaleb emerging the victor by one hole. Kaleb got off to a bad start, two down after 3, but never stopped fighting and the only time he was up when he came off the eighteenth green.
Neil Macdonald, who is starting to show his potential, saw off the battling Glen Irvine by 4 & 2. Neil was one up after 8, two up through 12 and dormie three up after 15. Ciaran Howat (D&C) had a titanic battle with Patrick Innes. Ciaran was one up after 6, and two up after 8 but Patrick fought back to all square after 12 before Ciaran won 15, 16 and 17 to win 3 & 1.
The game between Rogan McGraw (D&C) and Harry Hay (Portpatrick) was very evenly matched with the lead changing hands on several occasions. Not one for the faint-hearted both boys did very well to play such consistent golf and not let the other gain the upper hand. Rogan won by one hole but the game could have gone either way.
Rory Gordon (D&C), a small boy with a huge heart, fought like a tiger against Ollie Hogg (D & G) but the very hot weather and carrying his clubs was his undoing against the stronger and older Ollie. Ollie played very well and won 5 & 3. In the last game James Miller (D&C) putted better than Aidan Wilson (D&G) and although Aidan never gave up he was beaten by 7 & 5.
Dumfries & County won the singles by 5 games to 3 and the match by 7 games to 5 but the real winners were all the boys who showed good sportsmanship, camaraderie and friendly spirit. It was wonderful to see all the boys playing with a smile on their faces but a steely determination to win.
Individual Scores
Morning Foursomes (D&C first)
David Sharp beat Jamie Marchbank (D&G) and Glen Irvine (D&G) by 3 & 2
Robbie McIlwraith and Neil Macdonald lost to Sam Mitchell and Kaleb Johnston (both Portpatrick) by one hole
Ciaran Howat and Rogan McGraw beat Harry Hay (Portpatrick) and Patrick Innes (Kirkcudbright) by 4 & 3
Rory Gordon and James Miller lost to Ollie Hogg and Aidan Wilson (both D& G) by 5 & 4
Foursomes Result: D &C 2 games South 2 games
Afternoon Singles:
David Sharp lost to Jamie Marchbank by 1 hole
David Sharp beat Sam Mitchell by 6 & 5
Robbie McIlwraith lost to Kaleb Johnston by 1 hole
Neil Macdonald beat Glen Irvine by 4 & 2
Ciaran Howat beat Patrick Innes by 3 & 1
Rogan McGraw beat Harry Hay by 1 hole
Rory Gordon lost to Ollie Hogg by 5 & 3
James Miller beat Aidan Wilson by 7 & 5
Singles Result: D&C 5 games South 3 games
Match Result: D&C 7 games South 5 games
The photograph shows all the boys before play.