Golf: Borders bring Lothians back down to earth with bump

AFTER a thumping win over Stirlingshire a fortnight earlier, Lothians were brought back to earth with a bump as they crashed 7-3 to Borders in a golf friendly at Duns.

Only Anthony Blaney and Keith Reilly could muster wins for the visitors, who, in fairness, were a tad under-strength due to players competing in the Craigmillar Park Open.

Blaney bounced back from the disappointment of suffering a third-round defeat in the Scottish Boys’ to beat Derek Gillie 3 and 2.

Reilly held on from four up after 12 to record a narrow win over Alan Ballantyne in the anchor match.

Keith Nicholson and Calum Hill both chipped in with half points, the former birdieing the 16th to get his match back to all square.

Alan Anderson, last year’s Lothians champion, crashed 5 and 4 to Bryan Graham in the top match.

Match details (Borders names first): B Graham bt A Anderson 5 and 4; A Chalmers halved with K Nicholson; P Johnston bt M Timmins 3 and 2; S Fairburn bt L Morgan 3 and 1; D Gillie lost to A Blaney 3 and 2; C Riddle halved with C Hill; W Ford bt P Heggie one hole; M Ford bt L Bain 2 and 1; G Renwick bt M Campbell 4 and 3; A Ballantyne lost to K Reilly one hole.