County on course for national title

Aug 8 2008 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

PERTH and Kinross kept their national title hopes alive with a 6-3 win over traditional rivals Angus at Crieff Golf Club.

A home win was vital for the Big County’s Scottish area team championship hopes, having lost narrowly to Borders earlier in the season.

It was heartening to see the return of P&K internationalists Kevin McAlpine, Gavin Dear, Glenn Campbell and the region’s newest Scottish champion, Wallace Booth, also back in the team.

They were all eager to pull on the county jersey again, despite a jam-packed schedule. Many in their position would have classed it as a weekend off from full-time golf.

Other valuable contributions came from Steve Hume, Stuart Graham and Nicky Barr.

Angus turned out a strong side, led by St Andrews Links Trophy winner Keir McNicoll.

The foursomes began with 2005 Scottish champion Campbell and clubmate Graham losing out to McNicoll and Scott Mann, of the famous golfing Mann clan from Carnoustie.

Just behind them things were rosier for the big-hitting pairing of Booth and Dear. They outgunned Stewart Smith and veteran Graham Bell by 3 and 2.

The third match brought together Barr and two-times Scottish champion McAlpine, who had last paired up in a Scottish boys squad a few years ago.

They faced Ross Bell, son of veteran Graham from the preceding match and fellow US college student William Bremner from Edzell.

This was a close match all the way, with the home pair keeping their noses in front for most of it but losing their one-hole advantage at the 17th. Despite the rest of the P&K team and officials willing it in, Kevin’s putt at the last shaved the edge of the hole and refused to drop. Fortunately for the hosts, the visitors’ ball stayed out as well and the morning series finished tied at 1½ points each.

Murrayshall man Dear led out the singles against McNicoll and it was to prove a very close and entertaining tussle. Gavin won by one hole.

Booth was at his majestic best in the second match and after almost holing his approach shot at 14 for an eagle two, which would have taken him to 8 under for the holes played, he put the first afternoon point on the board for the home side.

Onlookers marvelled at how quickly the pair had played, with defeated Scott Mann quipping, “That’s because Wallace played so few shots.”

Hot on their heels came McAlpine, who would be the first to admit that his game isn’t where he’d like it to be, but he held on doggedly, mixing some majestic golf with the odd poor shot, much to his own visible frustration.

The odd error aside, Kevin proved much too strong for Stewart Smith and a 3 and 2 win made it three from three in the afternoon series for Perth and Kinross and assured the victory.

Nonetheless, with The South up next, the county needed as many points as possible.

Hume was next and was up against Bell senior. In an entertaining see-saw match the experience of the Angus man saw him to a two-hole victory.

Bell junior followed against former Crieff member and former boys international Barr. Nicky was the model of consistency, hitting every green he played in regulation or better. Fortunately for his opponent, Nicky left all but one of his birdie attempts above ground. The reward for his efforts was a 3 and 2 win.

The tail end anchorman, Campbell, uncharacteristically let a one-hole advantage slip and found himself one down after 16 holes. However, he dug in and a fine three, three finish saw him salvage a half-point against a spirited William Bremner, who looks to be worth keeping an eye on.

So in the end it was a comfortable 6-3 win for Perth and Kinross in a game played in a friendly and sporting manner, with some sparkling golf from both sides.

The teams thanked the Crieff club, their members and all the staff on the course and in the clubhouse for looking after them.