Golf: Fife are crowned champs in Winter League campaign

They made home advantage count to beat East 6…-3… in the final match of the campaign at The Dukes and topped the table ahead of West.

Fife had slipped up against the same opponents at Winterfield before Christmas and East headed to the outskirts of St Andrews with a strong-looking line-up.

Unfortunately for both teams, a severe frost meant that 18 temporary greens were in operation and all of these had enlarged cups.

“It was a disappointing scenario for such an important game but it was the same for all the players,” noted East team manager Tom Gowan.

East got off to a good start as Dunbar’s Danny Kay held James White, last season’s Scottish Order of Merit, in the top match and then Ross Noon claimed the scalp of Scotland cap Brian Soutar.

But Marc Simants and Calum Burgess were the only other winners for the visitors on a day when Fife wrapped up the title in style.

Victors for them included Aberdour ace Scott Crichton, who recovered from being behind at the turn to beat Stephen Simants 3 and 1.

The success capped an incredible spell for Fife golfers, a whole host of individual successes last season being mixed in with a first-ever Scottish Area Team title triumph.

“Our players have had coaching from Ian Muir and David Patrick which has helped,” said team manager Bill Dickson.

“When we won the Area Team, I also think a lot of our squad players stepped up to the mark believing in themselves.”