ABERDEEN GRAMMAR SCHOOL WIN FINAL AT DEESIDE

Left to right - Anthony Harkins; Lewis Allan; Cameron Howe; Ben Cassie; Gavin Kinnear; Ross McKendrick. REPORT BY DEREK JOHNSTONE Aberdeen Grammar School claimed the Paul Lawrie Foundation sponsored Aberdeen Schools’ League Trophy for the fourth time in eight years with a 2-1 win over St Machar Academy at Deeside Golf Club.   The match was as tight as the result suggests, with all three pairings going down the last. Anthony Harkins partnered by Gavin Kinnear set the foundation to the victory with a narrow victory over Chris Somers and Mark Rimmer.  The Grammar pairing seemed to be cruising to victory when they reached the turn in 2 under par and 5 up.  However, a birdie at the 11th from Chris, rejuvenated the St Machar pairing and by the 15th found themselves only one down.  However, Anthony and Gavin held their nerve and par golf was sufficient to maintain their one-hole advantage. The second tie proved to be a tense affair before the St Machar pairing of Andrew and Adam McKenzie scraped through by 2 holes against Cameron Howe and Ross McKendrick. Never behind and two up through 9, the McKenzie brothers could not shake off their dogged opponents.  The Grammar pairing finally cut the deficit to one hole with a Cameron Howe par at the 17th.  However, the brothers were not to be denied and victory was secured when Andrew was the only player to make par at the last. In the final tie, the Grammar pairing of Ben Cassie and Lewis Allan got off to a flyer winning four of the first five holes.  However their opponents, Chelsie Angelo and Aidan Page, showed great determination chipping away at the Grammar advantage until they were only one down standing on the last tee.  A tense and nervy last hole ensued as the large crowd relayed the news that should Chelsie and Aidan square their match, the trophy would go to St Machar under the holes-up format by one hole (2 to 1).  However it was not to be and a bogey five was enough for a two-hole Grammar success. Match Result: St Machar Academy 1, Aberdeen Grammar School 2 C Somers and M Rimmer lost to A Harkins and G Kinnear 1 hole. Andrew McKenzie and Adam McKenzie bt C Howe and R McKendrick 2 holes C Angelo and A Page lost to B Cassie and L Allan 2 holes