This year’s Aberdeen Links championship final will be an all-Caledonian affair with Barry Reid facing club-mate Alan Doig on Friday evening.
Reid, the 2011 winner, emerged victorious in an entertaining match at a windswept Kings Links last night against Northern’s Ronnie Evett to win by one hole.
The 31-year-old said: “It was really nervy during the last few holes so I am pleased with the win. It was a tight match the whole way round with neither of us more than two up at any stage.
“Hopefully I can win the championship for a second time on Friday. I know Alan really well and it is going to be a difficult match.”
Evett, who won the championship in 2006, had no complaints and said: “The better golfer on the night won. The match wouldn’t have been quite as close had I not been holing out so well.”
While Reid knows what it takes to win the championship, Doig is looking forward to a first final. The 36-year-old finally managed to get the better of talented 16-year-old Chris Somers (Bon Accord) on the 20th hole in another extremely close contest.
Doig said: “Chris played very well.
“It was a great effort from him as it got very nervy for both of us towards the end.
“His time will come, I am sure of that, as he is a very good player. Sometimes when you are coming down the stretch a par can be good enough to win a hole.
“I play golf with Barry every week and we know each other’s games really well. Hopefully it will be a good final.”
In the handicap shield, Caledonian’s Alan Sheldrick (7) overcame Bon Accord’s Matty Edmond (5), younger brother of last year’s Links championship winner Barrie, in a tussle which went to the 21st hole.
He will face Northern’s Steven Muir, who defeated club-mate Jackie Forrest 3 and 2.
Four Caledonian members contested the Murray Cup semi-finals with 20-handicap Chris Carson edging out 14-year-old Reece Smith to earn his spot in the final.
However, Smith’s 12-year-old brother Brook enjoyed better fortune as he progressed to tomorrow’s final with a two-hole victory against Paul Kane.
Kincorth Academy pupil Smith said: “It would have been good to have played my brother but it is my first final and I am looking forward to it.”
Murcar Links emerged comfortable winners against Nigg Bay in the final of the City of Aberdeen men’s doubles foursomes match play tournament for the Maitland Shield at a cold and breezy Stonehaven.
Even-number years seem to be lucky for the Murcar Links men in this competition as they have contested six finals in the last eight years, with wins in 2008, 2010, 2012 and now this year.