On Wednesday March 20, Stirling University Golf’s fifth team narrowly beat the fourth team, which sees them advance to the final of the Scottish Conference Cup.
In a tight tussle which came down to the last match, the Stirling 5s, captained by Lewis Fraser, came out on top in overcast conditions on April 20.
The match was always expected to be close, but the fifth team edged ahead, in an unexpected upset for the fourth team, who were the favourites going into the match.
The final results, in full, were as follows:
Stirling fourth team 3.5 – 4.5 Stirling fifth team
- Angus Bendall v Fergus Bannon (halved)
- Emily Laws v Christopher Garry (Laws won 3&2)
- Ethan Campbell v Jennifer Rankine (halved)
- Scott Johnston v Lewis Fraser (L. Fraser won 2&1)
- Darragh Cuddihy v Mirren Fraser (M. Fraser won 5&4)
- Thomas Foster v Fraser Matthews (Matthews won 6&5)
- Sam Edmond v Grant Cunningham (Edmond won 6&4)
- Spencer Yates v Charlie Ellam (halved)
Due to adverse weather conditions, the game had already been rescheduled twice, and so the team lines up had changed slightly from the original picks of George Kent and Lewis Fraser, the fourth and fifth team captains respectively.
In a weakened fourth team, captain George Kent was unable to play in the match. Neither were his teammates, Will Kent and Rachel Thompson.
Darragh Cuddihy, Scott Johnston and Thomas Foster stepped up to the mark in their absences.
The 5s only had one change in the line-up, with Fergus Bannon replacing Philip Inderthal.
Brig spoke to fifth team captain Lewis Fraser, who has also just been elected as the club’s president for 2019/20.
When asked who the man or woman of the match was, Fraser said: “It’s hard to say from my point of view because we don’t all get to see each other play, but Charlie Ellam did extremely well under intense pressure, making a great putt on the 17th hole to go on and half his match.”
“Jennifer Rankine also played well on the 18th hole to win half a point for the team.”
The match was so intense in the closing stages that Fraser had began deliberating on who he would send out in a play off situation. Luckily for him, it did not come to that.
Fraser was asked if, had the line up been any different, he thought that the outcome would have been any different.
Fraser replied: “It’s so hard to say, maybe. The match was so close, if George had been playing and won his game then the result could have been different.”
He also added: “The results did not come as a surprise to me because I know how hard me and my team have worked this season.”
In a closing comment, Fraser credit the fourth team who held themselves well, and played competitively on the day.
“It was a great day for the club, and hopefully we can do ourselves justice in the final, and win the cup.”
The fifth team will face the winners of the Scottish Rural College 1s versus Heriot Watt 1s. The final will be played at Alloa Golf Club on Wednesay, April 17.
With a home advantage, it is hopeful that the match will attract a large number of spectators in true ‘Bleed Green’ spirit.
Fourth-year BA (Hons) Journalism Studies student.
News Editor, Sports Editor and Head of Proofreading for Brig Newspaper.
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