Golf: West able to play role of kingmakers

WEST, lying at the bottom of the table after four defeats, are still going to have a big part to play in the outcome of this season's Fife & Lothians Golf Associations Winter League.

They are scheduled to play East this Sunday then Fife a week later and the results of those matches will determine who emerge as the 2010/11 champions.

Fife kept their title hopes alive with a 6-3 win over Mid at Charleton, moving level on points with East in the title race. East occupy top spot by virtue of having amassed two more individual points and should they win 8-1 or better at Longniddry this weekend there will be no need for Fife to play their final game. Even a 10-0 win for them when they visit Silverknowes to take on West would not be enough to snatch the crown.

Mid's flickering title hopes were extinguished despite putting up a brave fight on their trip to the Kingdom. Sean McGarvey, Ross Munro and Anthony Blaney all won for the visitors, while David Miller added the half point.

All six of the other matches went to the 16th hole or beyond before all being claimed by the hosts. Gary Sharp led the way with a win over Stuart Smith at the top of the order, with other points being added by Keith Anderson, Gary Page, Greg Wishart, Jamie Stephen and South-East District champion Scott Stewart-Cation.

Match details (Fife names first): G Sharp (St Andrews) bt S Smith (Duddingston) 2 and 1; C Martin (Balbirnie Park) halved with D Miller (Duddingston); K Anderson (Charleton) bt M Campbell (Swanston New) two holes; A Anderson (Burntisland) lost to S McGarvey (Glencorse) 3 and 2; G Page (Balbirnie Park) bt F Thain (West Linton) 2 and 2; A Hain (Ladybank) lost to R Munro (Liberton) 2 and 1; C Mitchell (Lundin) lost to A Blaney (Liberton) 4 and 3; G Wishart (Charleton) bt M Riddell (Baberton) 3 and 2; J Stephen (Aberdour) bt G Fraser (Kingsknowe) 2 and 1; S Stewart-Cation (Balbirnie Park) bt M Foley (Kingsknowe) 3 and 2.