Duncan

Stewart won the event with a 19th hole triumph over Craig Pirie (Renfrew).

After steady, rather than spectacular golf over the opening fifteen holes, Watt held a slender one-hole lead playing the 16th. It was at this point that the match burst into life. After both players hit close approach shots, Pirie’s birdie levelled the match. On the 17th, Watt countered with a birdie of his own to go back to one-up.

On the 18th, with Pirie hitting his approach to four feet, Watt missed the green, but got up-and-down to save par and put the pressure back on Pirie – who’s short putt was never in doubt, and thus the third birdie on the spin levelled the match and forced extra holes.

In a further miraculous development, on the first extra hole Watt holed from eighteen feet, again for birdie, to claim a hard-fought victory.

In the morning semi-finals, again both matches were close, with Watt defeating Ewan Cleary (Erskine) and Pirie defeating Colin Edgar (Elderslie) both by a margin of 2&1.

Thanks to the members of Renfrew GC for affording courtesy of the course for this championship.