IT WASN'T a day for logic. The stiff wind which whipped in off the Moray Firth dissipating the fumes of the fighter jets that, at times, roared a mere 60 feet over the heads of the players, allowed the old links to bear its teeth on occasions, but not enough to hamper the progress of either Ireland or England as the men's Home Internationals started at Moray GC yesterday.
The Irish curse over the Scots stretched to another year, at least. Ireland have not lost a match to Scotland in the championships since 1989 and, while there were - some nervous moments for the visitors, the eventual winning margin of 8 1/2-6 1/2 was a fair enough - reflection of the battle. Meanwhile, England, seeking a fourth successive crown beat Wales 9-6 without experiencing too much inconvenience.
Any disturbances to the players came not so much from the wind as the continued overhead presence of the fighter jets and the giant Nimrod planes. "They promised us they would cut down on the flights," moaned one club official. Apparently, some "necessary NATO exercises" proved more important than the golf.
Still, the Irish proved rather more adaptable than the Scots. And Garth McGimpsey, who will this morning play his 100th match in the Home Internationals when he partners Keith Nolan against Wales, admitted. It was a particularly good team effort. We had a job to do. It is always difficult to beat Scotland, particularly on home ground. It was a good win.
Indeed it was. Although Barclay Howard, a Walker Cup colleague of Jody Fanagan 12 months ago, was the only surviving member of Scotland's European Championship winning team on duty, the Irish mixture of experience and youth proved a winning cocktail. On a day when the evergreen McGimpsey recorded wins in both foursomes and singles, the endeavours of some of the younger brigade, notably debutant Graham Spring, were equally noteworthy.
Spring, in fact, emphasised the strange nature of the windswept course when hitting a wedge off the tee at the 190 yards par three 15th hole. "It just shows you how strong the wind was in places," he said. To put the icing on the cake, however, Spring's wedge shot finished up just 30 feet from the cup and he proceeded to hole out for a birdie two. It gave the 23 year old Tralee player a 4 and 3 win over Craig Hislop, a former Irish youths champion.
Ireland assumed the upper hand in the morning foursomes, securing a 3-2 lead going into the singles. Keith Nolan and McGimpsey scored a 3 and 2 win over Howard and Michael Brooks; Fanagan and newcomer Michael McGinley were 3 and 1 winners over Craig Watson and Ewan Forbes, while Spring and Bryan Omelia were very impressive 5 and 4 winners over Allan Turnbull and Hislop. It meant the Irish team required five points from 10 in the singles to secure victory.
Peter Lawrie, who was informed yesterday he has been accepted to play, as an amateur, in the Smurfit European Open at The K Club later this month, led the way. The 23 year old Newlands player, in his capacity as Irish Close champion, faced his Scottish counterpart Michael Brooks in the top singles.
"I had two coaching sessions with Paddy Skerritt before I travelled over," said Lawrie. "He is a hands player, and so am I. It is important to hit the ball low here and I benefitted from his advice."
Indeed, birdies at the opening two holes quickly put Lawrie into the ascendancy. He was four up at the turn and sank another birdie at the 10th to go five up. However, Brooks staged a brief, if ultimately unsuccessful, fightback by chipping in from 40 yards at the 11th and holing a 40 footer for birdie at the 12th. Lawne, though, held his nerve and won 2 and 1.
Behind him, Fanagan was enduring a torrid time against Walker cup contemporary Howard and th9 Milltown man lost 5 and 4, while temporary concern crept into the Irish camp when Adrian Morrow and Michael McGinley were also beaten by Craig Watson and Steven Young, respectively, well out of sight of the clubhouse.
However, McGimpsey steadied the ship by scoring that 3 and 2 win over Forbes while Nolan, his foursomes partner earlier in the day, salvaged a half in his intriguing, rollercoaster match with British amateur runner up Roger Beames.
And, with Spring in control, the focus switched to Cork doctor John Morris and debutant Noel Fox. Morris came up trumps with a one hole win over Grant Thomson while Fox ensured Ireland could not lose when his birdie at the 17th put him one up on Simon Mackenzie. Fox, however, lost the 18th and was forced to settle for a half, while Pat Murray, who vans four up at the turn, was hauled back by Alastair Forsyth and also had to settle for a share of the soils.
Our men didn't play well, enough in the tough conditions, conceded Scottish captain Colin Dalgleish. But fair play to Ireland - they had a job to do, and they did it.
For today's match with the Welsh (who were always playing catch up with En land after losing the morning foursomes 4-1), Irish captain Frankie McCarroll has decided to drop McGinly from the singles, with Omelia, who was omitted from yesterday's singles, coming in for the bottom match.
