The South of Scotland Junior team travelled to Newcastle to play Northumberland in a Northern Counties Federation League match at Northumberland Golf Club on Monday 29 July. The heathland course is located within the confines of Newcastle Racecourse and this year was a qualifying venue for the Open Championship. A good test for the boys, all under 18 and three only thirteen years of age
The morning foursomes were played in glorious sunshine with a slight breeze and the South boys emerged victorious by 3½ games to ½. A great start which allowed the boys to enjoy a well earned lunch.
Heavy thunderstorm showers welcomed the players to the singles contest in the afternoon. These disappeared after an hour and the sun returned again to help the South complete a successful afternoon by defeating Northumberland by 4½ games to 3½. This gave South a deserved victory by 8 games to 4.
The older boys played very well all day but the performance of the match was the halved game in the morning foursomes by Angus Bendall and Nathan Watson who were four down with four to play. A great fight back from two thirteen year olds and one to remember. Thanks are due to Alex Mackie and his Mum. Alex won the Powfoot Junior Championship on Sunday evening but was on the tee at 9.30 on Monday morning.
Individual Scores:-
Morning Foursomes
Angus Bendall (Castle Douglas) and Nathan Watson (Kirkcudbright) halved with Brad Robinson (Westerhope) and Joshua Brookes (Arcot Hall)
Alex Chalk (D&G) and William Squires (Kirkcudbright) beat Kyle Humphrey (Prudhoe) and William Heron (Bedlingtonshire) by 4 and 3
Chris Finnie (Lockerbie) and Chris Shearman (Lochmaben) beat Craig Smith (Close House) and James Wilson (Close House) by 7 and 6
Alex Mackie (Powfoot) and Conor Harkness (D&G) beat Jordan Cook (City of Newcastle) and Oliver Hogg (Park Lane) by 4 and 3
Afternoon Singles
Angus Bendall halved with Brad Robinson
Nathan Watson lost to Joshua Brookes by 5 and 3
Alex Chalk beat Kyle Humphrey by 3 and 2
Chris Finnie beat William Heron by 3 and 1
Chris Shearman beat Craig Smith by 5 and 3
William Squires lost to James Wilson by 7 and 6
Alex Mackie beat Jordan Cook by 5 and 4
Conor Harkness lost to Oliver Hogg by 4 and 3
The winning South Juniors
Conor Harkness, Alex Mackie, Alex Chalk, Chris Finnie, Chris Shearman
William Squires, Angus Bendall, Nathan Watson