SA take command in Test Match against Scotland

JG Claassen was in dominant form winning his singles 5 and 4 against Scotland's Steven McEwanSouth Africa were in a dominant position after the first day of the two day Test Match against Scotland, being played at Leopard Creek Country Club near Malalane in Mpumalanga.

With 9½ points to Scotland’s 4½, South Africa go into the today’s second and final day in a very comfortable position and certainly appear favourites to win the inaugural Leopard Trophy.

The first day started with one singles and four foursomes matches. In the singles, South Africa’s Dean O’Riley went out first against Greg Paterson (Scotland) and won a closely contested match, one up.

In the following foursomes, the South Africans won two matches but did lose one, that being Jared Harvey and Danie van Tonder going down to Scotland’s Mark Bookless and Gordon Yates, 2 and 1.

Two promising Scottish Juniors, Jack Macdonald and Scott Gibson together managed to get a half in their foursome match against South Africa’s Riekus Nortje and Johan Bekker.

Going into the afternoon matches, with a two points advantage, the South Africans dominated the singles. Johan Bekker, Tyrone Ryan, Jared Harvey, Danie van Tonder and JG Claassen all winning their matches, to secure a further five points.

Surprise of the day was Scottish Team’s most experienced campaigner, Glenn Campbell, getting the better of South Africa’s number one ranked amateur, according to the latest South African Golf Association Player Rankings, Dean O’Riley. Campbell, who had a good day playing some miraculous shots to keep himself ahead, won the match 4 and 3.

Scotland's Jack Macdonald beat Riekus Nortje 4 and 2Riekus Nortje found the Scottish Junior Stroke Play Champion, Jack Macdonald, too strong, losing 4 and 2.

Having experienced a rain delay in the afternoon, two singles matches could only be concluded early this morning, after bad light stopped play yesterday. With both matches having two holes of play left, Aaron Russell (South Africa) beat Mark Bookless (Scotland) 2 up. In the other match Gordon Yates (Scotland) overcame South African team captain Ryan Dreyer, one up, to secure Scotland one further point.

This morning there will be a singles and four betterball matches followed by nine singles matches.

First Day’s Results

Leopard Trophy (Test Match: South Africa vs Scotland)

Leopard Creek Country Club, near Malalane, Mpumalanga

Morning:

(South African players are mentioned first)

Singles:

Dean O’Riley beat Greg Paterson 1 up;

Foursomes:

Riekus Nortje & Johan Bekker halved with Jack Macdonald & Scott Gibson

Aaron Russell & Tyrone Ryan beat Kris Nicol and Paul Shields 4 and 3

Jared Harvey & Danie van Tonder lost to Mark Bookless & Gordon Yates 2 and 1

Ryan Dreyer & JG Claassen beat Glen Campbell & Steven McEwan 4 and 3

Foursomes Results: South Africa: 3½ points; Scotland: 1½ points.

Afternoon:

(South African players are mentioned first)

Singles:

Riekus Nortje lost to Jack Macdonald 4 and 2

Johan Bekker beat Scott Gibson 1 up

Tyrone Ryan beat Greg Paterson 4 and 3

Jared Harvey beat Kris Nicol 4 and 3

Danie van Tonder beat Paul Shields 1 up

Aaron Russell beat Mark Bookless 2 up

Ryan Dreyer lost to Gordon Yates 1 down

JG Claassen beat Steven McEwan 5 and 4

Dean O’Riley lost to Glenn Campbell 4 and 3

Singles Results: South Africa: 6 points; Scotland 3 points

Cumulative Points Position: South Africa 9½ points; Scotland: 4½ points

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