GORDON'S COLLEGE REGAIN ABERDEEN SCHOOLS LEAGUE TITLE

Trophy-winning Robert Gordon's College team at Murcar Links. Left to right: Dylan Smith, Cnor Forbes, Thomas Cameron (with trophy), Henri Charles, Curtis Stephen (at back), Finlay Symon 

By Derek Johnstone

Robert Gordon’s College claimed the Paul Lawrie Foundation sponsored Aberdeen Schools’ League Trophy for the second time in four years over a tight and blustery Murcar Links this evening.

In a rematch of the 2010 Final, the young Gordon’s side beat Hazlehead Academy 2-1.  

Captain, Curtis Stephen, partnered by Henri Charles, set the foundation to the team’s victory with a 3 and 1 win over Cameron Elphinstone and Craig Leith.  Level after 13, they finally shook off their dogged opponents when they won the 14^th and 15^th to par.  Victory was secured when Charles was conceded his par on the 17^th.

In the final tie, the Gordon’s pairing of Finlay Symon and Conor Forbes got off to a flyer by winning the first two holes. However their opponents, Jasmine Mackintosh and Murray Spence, did not let their heads go down.
They reduced the deficit when Mackintosh chipped in for a net one on the fifth. Parity was then achieved when they won the difficult tenth.   
The Hazlehead joy was to be short-lived as Symon and Forbes finally found their ‘A’ game, winning the 11^th, 14^th, 15^th and 16^th for a 4 and 2 victory.

Hazlehead’s point came from their initial pairing of Grant Joss and Camran Knowles who were three up after four holes.  However their dogged opponents, Dylan Smith and Thomas Cameron, chipped away at their advantage and eventually levelled the tie with a birdie on eleven.  The Hazlehead lads were not to be denied and birdies (from Joss) on the 14^th and 17^th, secured a hard fought victory.

Match Result:

Robert Gordon’s College 2, Hazlehead Academy 1

D Smith and T Cameron lost to G Joss and C Knowles 2 and 1

C Stephen and H Charles bt C Elphinstone and C Leith 3 and 1

F Symon and C Forbes bt J Mackintosh and M Spence 4 and 2