Clark falls to play-off defeat in Scottish Amateur semi
Renfrewshire Golf Union’s Matthew Clark came agonisingly close to the Scottish Amateur Championship final –before crashing out at the semi-final stage.
The Union stalwart took Kirkhill Golf Club’s Lewis Irvine all the way at Crail GC before falling on the 20th hole.
It followed a stunning week fo golf for Clark, who knocked out David Rudd and Will Porter in the opening clashes of the matchplay competition.
Clark then reached the semi-finals with a tense one-hole victory over 2008 champion, Callum MacAulay of Ralston Golf Club.
A stunning encounter between Clark and MacAulay contained 12 birdies and an eagle, with both players playing some outstanding golf.
Earlier in the day, Clark had beaten Broomieknowe’s Sean Marc 3&2 in the last16.
After defeating Macaulay, Clark said:“I played reasonably well without being exceptional. I holed a couple of decent putts when I needed to and got over the line.
“Callum MacAulay is someone I used to look up to back when he was in the amateur ranks in 2007/08, it was an honour to just play with him and to win was fantastic. “We both played really nicely.
“It was a good match and most importantly played in the right spirit.”
However, it was hometown hero George Burns that took home the silverware after he defeated Irvine on the 19th hole in the afternoon final.
The Crail golfer became the first player to win the Men’s Amateur title at his home club since Jim Milligan defeated Andrew Coltart at Kilmarnock Barassie in 1988.
• There was further Renfrewshire interest earlier in the tournament as Inchinnan golfer Craig Pirie, representing Millport Golf Club, battled his way through to the last 16 of the tournament.
A one-hole win over Mark Napier from Turnhouse Golf Club moved him into the next round but he came up just short against St Andrew’s John Paterson as he fell to a 4&3 loss to his on-form opponent.
Elsewhere, Old Course Ranfurly’s Aidan O’Hagan bowed out at the last 32 stage following a one hole defeat to Darren Howie of Peebles Golf Club. And Caldewell’s Alistair McNaughton lost a 19th hole play-off to Ryan Copland at the same stage of the tournament.