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Scottish player Bennett Ward in action.

AULD ENEMIES CUP

Members of the Scottish blind golf team are preparing themselves for their showdown against England & Wales in the 28th staging of the Auld Enemies Cup later this month.

Taking place on home soil at the Montgomery course at Kinross Golf Club from September 21-24, Scotland will be desperate for revenge after England & Wales inflicted a record 17.5-6.5 defeat on them last year at Gaudet Luce Golf Club in Droitwich.

This match, which brings together the best blind and visually impaired golfers in the United Kingdom, has never been won three times in a row since the event was inaugurated and Scotland captain Cameron McDiarmid believes his team will stop England & Wales achieving that feat because of the strength of his side this year.

“This is the strongest team that we have had for a few years” – Cameron McDiarmid

“This is my final year as captain of the Scottish Blind Golf Society and I’m determined to go out on a high note,” said Dalmahoy starter McDiarmid, who recently won the British Blind Open Championship, which also took place at Kinross. “This is the strongest team that we have had for a few years and along with my vice-captain Iain Prime, we couldn’t be more excited about getting there.”

But current England & Wales captain Barry Ritchie thinks his team have got what it takes to see off the Scottish challenge.

“Following our recent British Masters successes I think that we have a team capable of retaining the Auld Enemies Cup when we visit Kinross in late September,” said Ritchie. “I have seen some strong performances from my players throughout the season and hopefully that will continue so we can complete a hat-trick of victories.”

CONTINUES BELOW…

Captain Cameron McDiarmid. Captain Cameron McDiarmid.

Teams are comprised of 13 players, 12 of whom play on each day. Each player has a guide who is a fully sighted team-mate. The guide helps the golfer in whatever way is required, whether it be placing the clubhead behind the ball, lining them up for a shot or leading them safely round the course.

The event is a Ryder Cup format with foursomes on day one, fourballs on day two and singles round off the event on the final day. The match pairings are announced with much anticipation the evening before each day’s play and although extremely competitive, many of the players have become great friends with their adversaries and, whatever the score on the day, further discussion always takes place over a beer in the clubhouse!

Scotland currently edge the overall score in the match with 13 wins to England & Wales’ 11, while three of the matches have been drawn.

The Scotland team is:

• Cameron McDiarmid © (Edinburgh);
• Iain Prime (Edinburgh);
• Charlie Forbes (Edinburgh);
• Kris Adams (Glasgow);
• Allan Morgan (Bothwell);
• David Paterson (Inverness);
• Ally Reid (Stonehaven);
• John Imrie (Aberdeen);
• Sam Sloan (Edinburgh);
• John Miller (Uddingston);
• Gerry Kelly (Troon);
• Bennett Ward (Maybole);
• Myles Clark (Edinburgh).

Scotland in the Auld Enemies Cup ::  Your thoughts

Show your support for Scotland in the ‘Comments’ section below as they look to deny England & Wales a hat-trick of wins!

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