15/05/10
North East, Lothians, defending champions Renfrewshire and Ayrshire are through to the semi-finals of the Moneygate Scottish Area Team Championship after an enthralling day’s play at Kinross.
Leading the qualifiers were the team from the North East, whose aggregate of 725 left them well clear of Lothians to claim the first seed slot. They will face 2008 champions Ayrshire, who produced a strong afternoon finish to edge through in fourth place, four shots clear of Dumbartonshire.
The in-form Kris Nicol (Fraserburgh) led the way with a fine four-under par 68 – the best round of the day on the Montgomery course – and the Scotland international relished the prospect of a place in the last four:
“We’ve got a strong team and we played well today so there’s no reason why we can’t go on and win tomorrow. The boys are feeling confident but in match play anything can happen so we’ll just have to wait and see.”
“I’ve performed pretty well again and I’m on a good run. The main difference has been my putting over the last few weeks and it came good again this afternoon. I’ve been working hard on that aspect of my game and the confidence is spreading through my game.” he added.
The Ayrshire challenge was led by former SGU Order of Merit champion Steven McEwan, who was one-under par for his two rounds, while Scottish Boys Stroke Play champion Jack McDonald also performed well with rounds of 75 and 71.
Lothians will be gunning for their fourteenth Area Team title after finishing second in the qualifying, with mark Hillson – a quarter finalist in the Amateur Championship last year – the best of their performers after a 75 and a 70.
Scottish Mid Amateur champion Andrew Farmer helped Renfrewshire remain on course for two consecutive titles after finishing three-under par, while team-mate Craig Watson showed his experience with a solid one-over par 73 on the Montgomery.
Clackmannanshire’s Scott Borrowman followed his superb morning round of 67 with a level par 72 to lead the individual stroke play, but it wasn’t enough to help his team through to the last four as they finished back in tenth place.