On a lovely spring day with a freshening breeze Powfoot Golf Club played host to the best golfers in Dumfriesshire, Kirkcudbrightshire and Wigtownshire as they competed in the annual match play competition between the three counties for the Drennan Salver.
The course was again in immaculate condition as the Dumfriesshire pairing of Mike Grunwell and Liam Carruthers set off in the morning foursomes against the Kirkcudbrightshire pairing of Jamie Parker and Nathan Watson. The outcome was a win for Dumfriesshire by 4 &2.
The next three matches were much closer affairs with all games going to the eighteenth green. Andy Kerr and Steve Hislop, Dumfriesshire, beat Clark Riddick and Greig Blayney, Kirkcudbrightshire, by 1 hole; Chris Corbett and Danny McConnachie, Dumfriesshire, lost to David McCreadie and Jamie Telfer, Wigtownshire, by 1 hole; and Neil Hamilton and Martin McNae, Dumfriesshire, halved with Michael Kyle and Colin Hamilton, Wigtownshire.
Kirkcudbrightshire then won the final two games against Wigtownshire. Douglas Borland and Dave King beat Michael Cowie and Ian Johnstone by 4 & 3 and Ross Murray and Craig Smith beat Fraser Greenhorn and Sam Mitchell by 6 & 4.
This gave Dumfriesshire 2½ points, Kirkcudbrightshire 2 points and Wigtownshire 1½ points with all to play for after lunch.
In the afternoon singles as the wind got up and the temperature dropped, Dumfriesshire got off to a flying start winning the first four games against Wigtownshire. Mike Grunwell beat Michael Cowie by 5 & 4; Liam Carruthers beat Ian Johnstone by 5 & 3; Andy Kerr beat Fraser Greenhorn by 7 & 5; and Steve Hislop narrowly beat fourteen year old Sam Mitchell by one hole.
Jamie Parker (Kirkcudbrightshire had a cracking match against David McCreadie (Wigtownshire) finally winning by 1 hole and another Junior, Nathan Watson (Kirkcudbrightshire) was delighted to beat Jamie Telfer (Wigtownshire) by 5 & 4. Clark Riddick (Kirkcudbrightshire) had his game conceded by Michael Kyle (Wigtownshire) and Greig Blayney (Kirkcudbrightshire) took Colin Hamilton (Wigtownshire) to the eighteenth before losing by 2 holes.
This left the outcome of the destination for the trophy in the hands of the last four games still out on the course. Danny McConnachie (Dumfriesshire) beat David King (Kirkcudbrightshire) by 4 & 3 and Ross Murray (Kirkcudbrightshire) beat Neil Hamilton (Dumfriesshire) by the same margin. Kirkcudbrightshire had to now win the last two games but Martin McNae (Dumfriesshire) beat Craig Smith (Kirkcudbrightshire) by 3 & 2 and Chris Corbett (Dumfriesshire) beat Douglas Borland (Kirkcudbrightshire) on the last green by 1 hole to seal victory for Dumfriesshire and ensure they retained the Drennan Salver.
Individual Results
Morning Foursomes
Mike Grunwell and Liam Carruthers (Dfs) beat Jamie Parker and Nathan Watson (Kbt) by 4 & 2
Andy Kerr and Steve Hislop (Dfs) beat Clark Riddick and Greig Blayney (Kbt) by 1 hole
Chris Corbett and Danny McConnachie (Dfs) lost to David McCreadie and Jamie Telfer (Wig) by 1 hole
Neil Hamilton and Martin McNae (Dfs) halved with Michael Kyle and Colin Hamilton (Wig)
Douglas Borland and Dave King (Kbt) beat Michael Cowie and Ian Johnstone (Wig) by 4 & 3
Ross Murray and Craig Smith (Kbt) beat Fraser Greenhorn and Sam Mitchell (Wig) by 6 & 4
Result Dumfriesshire 2½ games Kirkcudbrightshire 2 Wigtownshire 1½
Afternoon Singles
Mike Grunwell (Dfs) beat Michael Cowie (Wig) by 5 & 4
Liam Carruthers (Dfs) beat Ian Johnstone (Wig) by 5 & 3
Andy Kerr (Dfs) beat Fraser Greenhorn (Wig) by 7 & 5
Steve Hislop (Dfs) beat Sam Mitchell (Wig) by 1 hole
Jamie Parker (Kbt) beat David McCreadie (Wig) by 1 hole
Nathan Watson (Kbt) beat Jamie Telfer (Wig) by 5 & 4
Clark Riddick (Kbt) beat Michael Kyle (Wig) conceded
Greig Blayney (Kbt) lost to Colin Hamilton (Wig) by 2 holes
Chris Corbett (Dfs) beat Douglas Borland (Kbt) by 1 hole
Danny McConnachie (Dfs) beat David King (Kbt) 4 & 3
Neil Hamilton (Dfs) lost to Ross Murray (Kbt) by 4 & 3
Martin McNae (Dfs) beat Craig Smith (Kbt) by 3 & 2
Singles Result Dumfriesshire 7 Kirkcudbrightshire 4 Wigtownshire 1
Competition Result Dumfriesshire 9½ Kirkcudbrightshire 6 Wigtownshire 2½
The photograph shows Stephen Kingston, South of Scotland President, presenting the Drennan Salver to Michael Grunwell, Dumfriesshire Captain with the victorious Dumfriesshire team behind: Liam Carruthers, Danny McConnachie, Neil Hamilton, Chris Corbett, Andy Kerr, Steve Hislop, Martin McNae and Ian Beattie, Dumfriesshire President.