Golf: Glencorse set Winter League pace

After picking up a point at Broomieknowe, the Milton Bridge men made the most of home advantage to beat Harburn 3.5-1.5. Newbattle edged a tight affair at home to Broomieknowe, who had been given the perfect start by Jamie McIntosh and Kevin Hastings as they won the top match. The visitors also won the anchor match but a strong performance from Newbattle in the middle of the order secured the points.

In the South East Edinburgh League, Liberton are the early pacesetters after following up a 4-0 home whitewash over Prestonfield by securing a share of the spoils at Duddingston.

The home side, with Dispatch Trophy star Paul Heggie in their ranks, won the top two matches but the Liberton tail wagged to earn a fine point. The result left Duddingston sitting at the bottom of the men’s table, but their juniors are flying high after back-to-back victories. “After last year’s decision to play Stableford proved to be too slow and disliked by the players, the clubs decided to revert to matchplay this year and are playing greensomes to ensure everyone gets a decent opportunity for a game,” said league secretary Robert Bald.

In the next round of matches, Liberton entertain Craigmillar Park while Prestonfield host Duddingston. Silverknowes, the defending champions, got off to a flying start in the Edinburgh Municipal Clubs’ Winter League with a 4-0 win away to Braids United. Carrickvale, last year’s beaten finalists, and Harrison also opened with wins on the road, beating Portobello and Lochend respectively.

In the opening round of matches in the West Edinburgh League, Turnhouse won 2.5-1.5 at Ratho Park while Baberton and Royal Burgess drew 2-2.

Lee McCathie was seven-under with his own ball in winning for Turnhouse in partnership with Gordon Leitch. But the pivotal match was the half secured by Leigh Lawson and Neil Anderson after the latter hit a lob wedge to a couple of feet at the last.