Stuart Thomas wins Renfrewshire County Match Play Championship
Stuart Thomas – Erskine GC
Played at eElderslie Golf Club on a day when for once the god’s shone on the RGU the weather was superb and with a course in great condition the prospect of good golf was always on the cards.
In the Final Alex Ferguson – Paisley faced Stuart Thomas – Erskine.
In the first morning match Alex beat Jamie Sinnamon – Greenock Whinhill 5/4 with the match always being in Alex hands being 4 up after 5 and despite the best efforts of Jamie he was never able to claw back his early deficit and Alex won by 5/4.
In the other morning match Stuart beat local favourite Colin Edgar by 3/2, this game was mainly decided by 2 conceded holes from Colin due to 2 lost balls plus some superb pitching and putting play around the greens by Stuart. This was never bettered than at the 15th when from behind a tree he played sideways and from 90 yards hit to 3 feet while Colin from the centre of the fairway bunkered left, failed to get up and down and lost the hole.
The final opened in great style with both players having birdies at the second hole. Bogeys at 3 & 4 saw Alex 2 down, but with birdies at the next 2 holes saw the game all, square. From then on all holes were all shared in par until a poor drive by Stuart at 13 resulting in a lost ball allowed Alex to take the lead for the first time. This was however cancelled when Stuart won the 15th with a birdie, when again this hole proved crucial for Stuart as it had done in the morning round. The 16th and 17th were halved in pars with some amazing play around the greens by both players leaving all to play for down the par 4 18th. The 18th became a bit of an anti-climax after 18 great holes of golf. Both players hit drives left and both missed the green to the right. Neither hit great pitches and the putt of Alex went4/5 feet past while Stuart was close. Missed return putt by Alex left Stuart the task of holing from 3 feet, to claim the victory, which he did.
The final, as all other games were played in the true spirit of the game with players complimenting fine play by their opponents, just a shame someone has to lose, a credit to the game of golf.
Semi Final results as follows:-
Alex Ferguson – Paisley beat Jamie Sinnamon Greenock Whinhill -5/4
Stuart Thomas – Erskine beat Colin Edgar – Elderslie -3/2
Final Results as follows:-
Stuart Thomas – Erskine beat Alex Ferguson – Paisley – 1Hole