Camanachd win Ryder Cup after play-off win over Saints
Oban Camanachd accepted the invitation from Oban Saints in what was deemed Oban’s shinty/football Ryder Cup challenge golf match.
The opening game saw Saints captain Dene Cassells take on Kenny Wotherspoon, with the latter in control and being two-up through nine holes but Cassells fought back to cause an early upset to get the better of Wotherspoon 2&1.
Match two was Willie Gemmell against Iain ‘Scally’ MacMillian. This game looked dead and buried by the 12th as MacMillan was sitting pretty at four-up but Gemmell never gave in and wrestled the score down to just one but MacMillan held his nerve on the 18th for the half to win the match. Next up on paper was game of the day as Craig MacEwan took the tee to play Scott MacMillan, with the neutral predicting a tight match. It was anything but as MacMillan roared to a 4&3 victory.
Craig Easton managed to take care of Graham ‘Sugar’ Douglas without breaking sweat. This match was won after 10 holes 10&8.
Aidan MacIntyre and Sean Ford’s game was also going to prove tough to call but MacIntyre won the bragging rights to hold his nerve at the last to eventually win the hole and finish 2up.
Cue the Saints fight back. Jamie Graham managed to take care of Garry Lord 2&1.
Matt Rippon then stepped up for Saints to put on a cracker of a performance to defeat Lorne Dickie 5&4.
Steven MacLeod was next up to fire another point on the board for Saints when he managed to get the better of Malcolm Clark 2&1.
Paul Kerr never looked like losing in his battle against Daniel MacVicar winning 3&2 and Daniel Madej had enough in his bag to beat Ben Pollock 2&1.
The battle of the MacFarlane brothers was next with Niall defeating Fraser 3&2.
Last to tee off at the 18th were golden oldies – Saints’ Peter MacCallum and Camanachd’s Gareth Evans. Word reached the clubhouse the players were level and the overall score 6-5 to Camanachd. Evans knew a half would be good enough to ensure victory but MacCallum held his nerve to win the hole and force a play-off.
It was agreed a one hole combined score at the 5th hole from three players from each team to see who would lift the trophy. Saints’ three were Matt Rippon, Craig MacEwan and Sean Ford, with Scott MacMillan, Aidan MacIntyre and Kenny Wotherspoon representing the red and blacks.
MacIntyre and MacEwan cancelled each other out with fours, Ford got his three and Rippon found the green, although putting for a four, while MacMillan held his nerve for his three. It was all down to Wotherspoon to sink a five-footer for a three to win the match, which he did.
A great day was had by all and a special thanks goes to Glencruitten Golf Club for their hospitality.