Golf: Battling Liberton find the going tough over in Spain

LIBERTON finished bottom of the pile after losing all three of their matches in the Junior Team Golf Home Nations Inter-Club Championship in Spain.

But the Capital club were far from disgraced on their debut in the event, going down by the odd point in two of those encounters. Friday's 3…-2… defeat at the hands of West Sussex was followed by a disappointing 5-1 loss to Irish side Athenry on Saturday, Scott Finlay providing Liberton's sole success in that match. But Scotland's representatives came out fighting in their closing encounter against Welsh opponents Wrexham yesterday on the Nicklaus Golf Trail at El Valle in Murcia.

Anthony Blaney, a winner at the top of the order against England, repeated the feat, this time carding a net 75 off his one handicap to beat Chloe Williams by four shots.

Kieron Cantley also won in the anchor role, the 11-handicapper firing an 80 to finish six shots ahead of his opponent, Wrexham captain Mickey Peters.

And, somewhere in the middle, Fraser Christie delivered a half point for Liberton as he halved his match with Thomas Williams with net 85s.

Alas, the additional point the Scots needed to sign off with a win wasn't forthcoming, Ross Munro (78) losing by six shots to Sam Higgins, Scott Finlay finishing the same margin behind Lewis Jones and Tom Brock tasting defeat by four shots to Jamie Lloyd.

It certainly wasn't the performance Liberton had been hoping for after earning the trip to Spain after beating a strong field to claim the Scottish crown at Spey Valley last year.

But the same players have been a credit to the club and junior convenor Robert Ross over the past couple of years and they'll be determined to secure another title in the future.

West Sussex succeeded Craigielaw as champions after they beat Athenry 5-1 in the decider, the English side winning all three of their games.

Meanwhile, Lloyd Saltman staged a strong finish to secure a cheque for nearly 12,000 in the Joburg Open, the last of four consecutive events on the European Tour in South Africa, finishing in a tie for 20th on six-under 278. Charl Schwartzel won the event.