Super sub McPherson keeps BBT on course in 'unbelievable' Dispatch Trophy
Golf Correspondent Martin Dempster rounds up the quarter-final action in historic team tournament
Super sub Scott McPherson helped BBT continue an “unbelievable” tale in the Edinburgh Evening News Dispatch Trophy by progressing to the last four in the 126th edition at the Braids.
The Turnhouse team will take on Stewart’s Melville in one of Saturday morning’s semi-finals in the historic tournament while the other one will see Murrayfield face Riccarton A.
It means that BBT are two wins from getting their hands on the iconic trophy after securing a back-door entry into the Edinburgh Leisure-run tournament.
They missed the closing date for entries and had accepted that fate before being handed an unexpected lifeline due to a late withdrawal and then progressing to the third round without hitting a ball when Braids United couldn’t raise a team on Saturday.
BBT beat Edinburgh Leisure in their opening match on Tuesday night and backed that up by claiming the scalp of five-time winners Carrickvale in the quarter-finals.
McPherson, who was drafted in to replace Michael Watt, joined forces with Jack McVey to finish one up at the front against Gregor Maiden and Ross Colquhoun while Kyle Wilson and Calum Robinson finished two up on Paul Cunningham and Allyn Dick at the back in a 3&1 win.
“It’s unbelievable,” admitted Wilson of BBT now being medallists and that being even better due to the fact “we all love this tournament”.
No wonder that McPherson wore a smile as wide as some of the greens on the Braids as he savoured being a sem-final in an event being backed by Braid Hills Golf Centre.
“I only found out at lunchtime that I was playing,” revealed the 32-year-old, who plays off three. “I felt fine, though, as playing in the Dispatch Trophy for BBT isn’t new to me. I’m just delighted to be selected and it’s great to have helped pull off this win.”
Stewart’s Melville progressed after beating Heriot’s 5&4 in the bottom match, having already accounted for Heriot’s Quad earlier in the week.
“It’s great to have pulled off the double against the ‘Nails’,” admitted Drew McIntosh of Stew Mel’s nickname for their school rivals.
McIntosh and Scott Simpson were “pretty consistent” as they finished four up at the front against Dave Campbell and Elliot Innes while Guy Dalziel and Stuart McLaren “ground out” a one-up win over Scott Dickson and Roddy Stevenson at the back.
Murrayfield, last year’s beaten finalists, stayed on course to go one better after beating Dalmahoy 7&5 in the top match.
“I’m feeling good,” said team manager Stevie Anderson, who has probably followed every single match Murrayfield have played since entering the tournament for the first time in 2017.
“It will be the same squad for Saturday,” he added of Cameron Whyte, Bobby Gibson, Stuart Thurlow and Harrison Shaw being the quartet set to face Riccarton A, “and we will give it a good bash again.”
Baberton team Riccarton A ended a gutsy run by Edinburgh Western, with Andrew Rennie thinking he’d kept the match alive when he holed a 40-foot putt at the 15th only for Mark Riddell to follow him in.
Riddell is teaming up with Owen Brady, Jake Edgcombe and Fergus Lockhart as they bid to emulate Riccarton claiming the coveted prize in 2005.
Grant McCall, Ian Gourlay, Steven Marshall and Andy Laurence were the Baberton team’s heroes on that occasion and all four of this year’s team answered in unison after being asked if that was often talked about at the club. “All the bloody time!” they declared, laughing.
Quarter-finals
Murrayfield (Cameron Whyte and Bobby Gibson 3; Stuart Thurlow and Harrison Shaw 4); Dalmahoy Hotel & Country Club (Michael Jackson and Richard Fyvie 0; George Johnston and Steven Lees 0).
Murrayfield won 7&5
Edinburgh Western (Andrew Rennie and Keith MacFarlane 0; David Wilson and Danny Cameron 0); Riccarton A (Mark Riddell and Owen Brady 7; Jake Edgcombe and Fergus Lockhart 1).
Riccarton A won 8&7
Carrickvale (Gregor Maiden and Ross Colquhoun 0; Paul Cunningham and Allyn Dick 0); BBT (Scott McPherson and Jack McVey 1; Kyle Wilson and Calum Robinson 2).
BBT won 3&1
Stewart’s Melville FP (Scott Simpson and Drew McIntosh 4; Guy Dalziel and Stuart McLaren 1); Heriot’s FP (David Campbell and Elliot Innes 0; Roddy Stevenson and Scott Dickson 0).
Stewart’s Melville FP won 5&4