Winter League: Midlothian have '˜fair chance' of title retention

JPLicence: Picture by Andrew O'Brien: Lothians Amateur Golf Championship 2015 at Musselburgh Golf Course. David Miller - Duddingston

Longniddry stages the first round of matches tomorrow before Thornton then Bathgate host the four teams over the 
following two Sundays.

Mid launch their title defence against Fife, with Alastair Dun and John Allan looking for a similar squad of players to do the business for them again this season. “We have approximately 24 players in our squad, which includes youths and 
juniors, with the rules stating that each team have to play at least one youth and one junior,” said Dun.

“I believe that we have a fair chance to repeat our success as the squad is roughly the same as last time. All the players who performed well in the Edinburgh Summer League along with the juniors who are currently on the Lothians coaching programme.

“Some of the players are not available due to work commitments as well as being at university in the States, but we still have experience in former 
Lothians champion David Miller, Scott Walker and Kieran Cantley. Also in the squad are Sean Marc, Jamie McIntosh and Sean McGarvey.”

Fife’s Bill Dickson added: “Some of the guys are playing the last of the club winter league matches this weekend, so our team is not as strong as it could be. But the squad is looking forward to locking horns with the Lothians again.”

East will be looking to the likes of Michael Bacigalupo to make home advantage count as they face West in the other opening match.

“We have a good pool of players to select from, including talented youngsters such as Jamie Duguid, Connor Wilson, Finlay Goodlad, Aaron Hall, David Rudd and Cameron Gallacher,” said East’s Ian Robertson.

“It has been a few years since we last won the Winter League Quaich but we are confident this is going to be our year.”