Golf: Campbell's on a souped-up charge for Champions title

NINE years after John Gallagher won the event, a Swanston New player is through to the semi- finals of the Lothians Champion of Champions - and a cack-hander has also made it.

Malcolm Campbell, the new amateur ace at the resurgent Capital club, made it to the last four with an excellent win at Glencorse against Keith Young.

Ironically, his opponent at North Berwick on Tuesday is a player who, like Gallagher, grips the club with his left hand below the right one.

Benn McLeod, a 22-year-old who won both the Royal Musselburgh and Thorntree titles last year, progressed to the penultimate stage by winning at the third extra hole against Gary Thomson of the Glen.

The other semi-final next week features Winterfield's Graham Davidson, the 2008 winner, and Brian Tait, who is enjoying his best run in an event that has seen him fly the flag for Watsonian, RICS and Royal Burgess over the years. Playing in the event for the first time, Campbell, a 25-year-old left-hander, underlined his credentials with an eye-catching victory over the experienced Young.

Two down at the turn, Young appeared to have delivered a decisive thrust by winning three holes - the tenth, 11th and 13th - with birdies.

However, Campbell responded by taking the 15th, 16th and 17th to claim a notable scalp.

"I knew it was going to be tough because Keith is so experienced round there," said the winner. "Players from Swanston used to be small fish in an event like this but it would be nice if I could go all the way now and follow in John Gallagher's footsteps."

Campbell, who qualified for the match-play phase in the Lothians Championship earlier in the year, is hoping he's found his form again in time for the semi-final. "I was struggling a bit a couple of weeks ago and, having rebuilt my swing last winter, I think it was partly down to the fact I was over-thinking," he added. In his quarter-final, McLeod and Thomson were both round in one-under-par at Royal Musselburgh. They halved the first extra hole in pars, the second in birdies before McLeod won with a par at the 21st.

"This is the third time I've played in the event but it's the first time I've got past the first round," said the Gullane greenkeeper. On his cack-handed grip, McLeod added: "It's the way I've held a club since I first picked one up at the age of three or four. It works for me."

Based on his win in 2008, Davidson is probably the overall favourite heading into the latter stages - the final also takes place at North Berwick next Thursday - but he'll be up against a feisty competitor in Tait. The newly-turned 45-year-old recovered from being three down after eight to beat Lochcraig's David Graham on the last green at Lochend, where the Watsonian was playing for the first time.

"It would be a heck of an achievement if I could go on and win this event," said Tait, a semi-finalist in this year's Dispatch Trophy with RICS. "I've only played in one medal so far this year and have mainly been playing Watsonian and RICS ties. This is the best I've done and, if I can play well at North Berwick, then I'll have a chance."

In the handicap event, which also concludes at North Berwick next week, the semi-finalists are David Brown (Niddry Castle), David Neilson (Craigielaw), Mike Sinclair (Standard Life) and James Ferguson (Broomieknowe).

Champion of Champions: B McLeod (Royal Musselburgh/Thorntree) bt G Thomson (Glen) at 21st; M Campbell (Swanston New) bt K Young (Glencorse) 2 and 1; B Tait (Watsonian) bt D Graham (Lochcraig) one hole; G Davidson (Winterfield) bt I Neilson (Liberton) 3 and 2

Handicap Match Play: D Brown (Niddry Castle) bt D Reid (Dunbar) 3 and 1; D Neilson (Craigielaw) bt B McLean (Melville) 4 and 3; M Sinclair (Standard Life) bt B Wishart (Longniddry) 4 and 3; J Ferguson (Broomieknowe) bt S Lees (Third) 2 and 1