Andrew Minnikin and Phil Ridden played in the quarter final matches tonight at Whitley Bay

Andrew had knocked out defending champion James Wilson in the last round, and again was up to the task defeating last year's Strokeplay Champion Joseph Robson.  Match score 3 & 2

Phil was drawn against Gary Donnison: I picked up Phil's match on the 11th.

Gary 2 up at this stage, hit a huge drive just short of the green: Phil's 2nd shot finished on the back of the green: Gary chipped to about 6 feet: Phil holed his 40 footer: Gary followed him in for a half.

On the difficult par 5 12th, Phil missed the green with his 3rd, while Gary was safely on the putting surface: Phil failed to get up and down leaving the door open for Gary to extend his lead: however a 3 putt bogey for Gary meant the hole was halved.

Both players left themselves long birdie putts on the par 3 13th. Another 3 putt from Gary meant the lead was cut to one.

Another huge drive down 14 left Gary with a short pitch, which he managed to get to about 6 feet: Phil in the greenside bunker in 2 played out to about the same distance: Gary misses his birdie putt, Phil gets his: still one in it.

On the par 4 15th Gary hit yet another massive tee shot into the greenside bunker: Phil safely aboard in 2: Gary left his ball in the bunker then failed to get up and down, Phil's 2 putt par levelled the match.

On the 16th a poor tee shot from Phil meant he couldn't reach the green in 2: A regulation par 4 won the hole for Gary.

Both players missed the green on the long par 3 17th: Phil played a beautiful chip from the left fro a given 3: Gary faile to get up and down from the right bunker: back to all square.

On the last Phil's drive finished in the left semi rough: Gary found the right hand rough and could only chip out sideways: Phil found the back of the green:  Gary hit a nice 3rd shot to 10 feet. Phil rolled up to anout 3 feet: Gary missed his birdie putt leaving Phil to hole out to win the match.

Tomorrow night it's semi finals:-

Andrew will play Angus Buchanan, and Phil will play Seton Wakenshaw.

Good luck to the lads.

Geoff Davison

Men's Captain