This was the first match in 2016 for the Peat Salver, a match play competition between the three counties of Dumfriesshire, Kirkcudbrightshire and Wigtownshire, and was played at Colvend on Wednesday 17 August. The course was in super condition and the sun beat down from a cloudless sky as the top game in the morning foursomes hit off up the hill at the first hole.
This promised to be a cracking game between four boys all playing well. Angus Bendall (Castle Douglas) and Callum McMillan (Kirkcudbright) fought all the way but eventually had to concede defeat to Finlay Copland (D&G) and Mitchell Cowie (D&C) by 2 & 1. John Rodger (Kirkcudbright) and Ian Boyd (Castle Douglas) could not compete with the accurate ball striking of Jamie Alison (D&G) and Thomas Robinson (D&G) and lost by 7 & 6.
The game between the Under 16 year olds was a much closer affair and Dylan Haining (Brighouse Bay) and Patrick Innes (Kirkcudbright) were unlucky to lose 2 & 1 to Jamie Marchbank (D&G) and Taylor Kerr (Sanquhar). Jack Norman (Kirkcudbright ) and Ailsa Brannock (Castle Douglas), playing in the Under 14 year old age group off handicap, used their 10 shots to good advantage and beat David Sharp (D&C) and Danny Shaw (Powfoot ) by 6 and 5.
At lunch Dumfriesshire had a lead of 3 games to 1
In the top game in the afternoon singles Angus Bendall used all his experience to beat Finlay Copland by 4 & 3. Callum McMillan was six down to the improving Mitchell Cowie at one stage but fought back on the back nine and lost 3 & 2
In the other two Under 18 games the age and experience of Jamie Alison and Thomas Robinson was too great and they beat John Rodger and Ian Boyd by 6 & 5 and 10 & 8 respectively. This was the performance of the day by Thomas.
Patrick Innes, in the first Under 16 game, showed how much he had improved this year, by beating Jamie Marchbank by 4 & 3 while in the second game Dylan Haining was well beaten by Taylor Kerr by 7 & 6.
In the Under 14 handicap section Ailsa Brannock again used her 11 shots well against the off form David Sharp and won by 3 & 2 despite a spirited fight back by David over their closing holes. Jack Norman, in the final game, also used his handicap allowance and beat Danny Shaw by 6 & 5.
The afternoon singles were shared 4 games all and Dumfriesshire won the match by 7 games to 5.
All the players thoroughly enjoyed their day in the sun although they were looking forward to going back to school the following day for a rest.
Individual Results (Kirkcudbrightshire first)
Morning Foursomes
Angus Bendall (Castle Douglas) and Callum McMillan (Kirkcudbright) lost to Finlay Copland (D&G) and Mitchell Cowie (D&C) by 2 & 1
John Rodger (Kirkcudbright) and Ian Boyd (Castle Douglas) lost to Jamie Alison (D&G) and Thomas Robinson (D&G) by 7 & 6
Dylan Haining (Brighouse Bay) and Patrick Innes (Kirkcudbright) lost to Jamie Marchbank (D&G) and Taylor Kerr (Sanquhar) by 2 & 1
Jack Norman ( Kirkcudbright ) and Ailsa Brannock (Castle Douglas) beat David Sharp (D&C) and Danny Shaw (Powfoot) by 6 & 5
Foursomes Result Kirkcudbrightshire 1 Dumfriesshire 3
Afternoon Singles
Angus Bendall beat Finlay Copland by 4 & 3
Callum McMillan lost to Mitchell Cowie by 3 & 2
John Rodger lost to Jamie Alison by 6 & 5
Ian Boyd lost to Thomas Robinson by 10 & 8
Patrick Innes beat Jamie Marchbank by 4 & 3
Dylan Haining lost to Taylor Kerr by 7 & 6
Ailsa Brannock beat David Sharp by 3 & 2
Jack Norman beat Danny Shaw by 6 & 5
Singles Result Kirkcudbrightshire 4 Dumfriesshire 4
Match Result Kirkcudbrightshire 5 Dumfriesshire 7