Graham Smith experienced the highs and lows of matchplay golf in the Evening Express Champion of Champions handicap tournament.
Just days after ousting title-holder Kenny Harper by 5&4, Portlethen member Graham was beaten himself.
Graham lost to Bon Accord’s Liam Hadden by one hole at the Kings Links.
Six-handicapper Graham said: “I probably played my best golf of the season against Kenny. The standard was good from both of us and I was about four-under-par when the match ended.
“But that winning feeling was short-lived as I lost to Liam, who played well in our fourth-round match at the Kings Links.”
Liam, who defeated Rod Phillips by 2&1 at Craibstone in the previous round, said: “There was very little between Graham and I and the match really could have gone either way.
“Graham had not played the Kings Links since it changed and home advantage was definitely a major factor for me.
Five-handicapper Liam now faces Marine member Graeme Innes at Fraserburgh.
“I haven’t played at the Broch before,” said Liam, “but I have a pal who lives nearby, so I’ll try to get a round in beforehand and get an understanding of the course.”
Insch member Kenny admitted he had enjoyed his spell as champion, which was extended due a barren season of competitive golf last season due to Covid.
Kenny, who plays off three, said: “All good things must come to an end and I’ve enjoyed all my matches, even the defeat by Graham at Portlethen.
“It’s a great competition to meet other guys and playing away games really takes you out of your comfort zone.”
EVENING EXPRESS CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS HANDICAP SECTION
ROUND THREE RESULTS
Andrew Findlay (10) Caledonian bt Ian Lowrie (3) Strathlene 2&1. Graham Smith (6) Portlethen bt Kenny Harper (3) Defending champion 5&4. Calvin Lee-Wright (15) Buckpool bt Steven Fraser (13) Northern 5&4. Fraser Proud (7) Deeside lost to Daryl McGregor (10) Buckpool 4&3. Neil Bremner (1) Kintore lost to Dylan Singer (10) Westhill 2&1.
Bruce Hay (9) Inverurie lost to Michael Laird (15) Keith 5&3. Andrew Cordiner (6) Portlethen lost to John Sangster (13) Alford 4&3. Philip Davie (10) Peterculter scr, Peter Robertson () Westhill wo. Mark Whyte (5) Huntly scr, Gordon Laing (11) Tarland wo. Rod Phillips (14) Craibstone lost to Liam Hadden (5) Bon Accord 2&1. Alistair Donaldson (20) Torphins lost to Iain MacDonald (5) Pecten at the 19th.
Graeme Innes (8) Marine bt Douglas Castell (6) Insch 4&3. Jon Roberts (6) Cruden Bay bt Scott Anderson (12) Craibstone 3&1. Jack O’Halloran (12) Ballater wo, John A Sim () Rosehearty scr. Kevin Murdoch (5) Stonehaven bt James Flett (2) Insch 4&3. Scott Forsyth (12) Longside bt Douglas Allan (7) Longside 3&2.
ROUND FOUR
Calvin Lee-Wright (15) Buckpool lost to Michael Laird (15) Keith 1 hole. Andrew Findlay (10) Caledonian bt Gordon Laing (11) Tarland 3&2. Jack O’Halloran (12) Ballater lost to Graeme Innes (8) Marine 4&2. Iain MacDonald (5) Pecten lost to Daryl McGregor (10) Buckpool 5&3. Jon Roberts (6) Cruden Bay bt Scott Forsyth (12) Longside 2 holes. Liam Hadden (5) Bon Accord bt Graham Smith (6) Portlethen 1 hole. Peter Robertson (16) Westhill scr, Dylan Singer (5) Westhill wo. Kevin Murdoch (5) Stonehaven lost to John Sangster (13) Alford 2&1.
QUARTER-FINALS (to be played by August 2)
Michael Laird (15) Keith v Daryl McGregor (10) Buckpool.
John Sangster (13) Alford v Dylan Singer (5) Westhill.
Graeme Innes (8) Marine v Liam Hadden (5) Bon Accord.
Jon Roberts (6) Cruden Bay v Andrew Findlay (10) Caledonian.
Defending champions Newmachar fail to reach Pennant League quarter-finals
Two Aberdeen Pennant League quarter-finals will be staged tonight when Banchory entertain Stonehaven, while Portlethen will host Deeside.
Newmachar are a shock omission from the last eight.
The defending champions failed to qualify, despite eight teams making the knock-out stages for the first time.
The introduction of the quarter-finals came in a bid to reinvigorate the tournament, but Newmachar could only finish fourth in League C after just one win and three defeats. .
The three league winners – Portlethen, Murcar Links and Royal Aberdeen plus best overall runner-up Banchory – have all been rewarded with home draws.
Royal Aberdeen, the runners-up when the competition was last played two years ago, will entertain Hazlehead on Thursday.
Portlethen and Maitland Shield winners Murcar Links, who face Bon Accord on Friday, were the only teams to qualify with a 100% record after four straight victories.
Bon Accord, Deeside, Hazlehead and Stonehaven were the four teams to take advantage of the the new qualification changes.
ABERDEEN PENNANT LEAGUE
LEAGUE A
Nigg Bay 4, Caledonian 1. Stonehaven 3, Royal Aberdeen 2. Deeside 5, Stonehaven 0. Nigg Bay 2, Royal Aberdeen 3. Caledonian 2, Deeside 3. Stonehaven 3, Nigg Bay 2. Caledonian 2, Stonehaven 3. Royal Aberdeen 5, Deeside 0. Deeside 4, Nigg Bay 1. Royal Aberdeen 5, Caledonian 0.
LEAGUE B
Auchmill 0, Portlethen 5. Bon Accord 4, Craibstone 1. Northern 5, Auchmill 0. Portlethen 4, Bon Accord 1. Portlethen 4.5, Craibstone 0.5. Bon Accord 2.5, Northern 2.5. Craibstone 5, Auchmill 0. Northern 1, Portlethen 4. Craibstone 3, Northern 2. Auchmill 0, Bon Accord 5.
LEAGUE C
Newmachar 1, Murcar Links 4. Hazlehead 5, Peterculter 0. Murcar Links 3.5, Banchory 1.5. Banchory 4, Newmachar 1. Murcar Links 3, Hazlehead 2. Banchory 4, Hazlehead 1. Newmachar 4, Peterculter 1. Peterculter 2, Banchory 3. Hazlehead 4, Newmachar 1. Peterculter 0, Murcar Links 5.
JULY
Tonight – Banchory v Stonehaven. Portlethen v Deeside.
22 – Royal Aberdeen v Hazlehead.
23 – Murcar Links v Bon Accord.
AUGUST
8 – Semi-finals at Royal Aberdeen (12.04pm) and Kings Links (12.02pm).
SEPTEMBER
12 – Final at Nigg Bay (12.02pm).
Bobby’s 44 stableford points more than enough to claim seniors meeting
Bobby Baxter won the North East Scotland Seniors Golf Association meeting over the Pines course at Hazlehead.
Craibstone 19-handicapper Bobby carded 44 Stableford points to win by six shots from home player Jim Garden (12).
Nigg Bay’s Andrew Bothwell (10) was third after losing out on countback on 38 points.
The next meeting is at Inverurie on Friday.
This article originally appeared on the Evening Express website. For more information, read about our new combined website.
