Rangers Triumph As Old Firm Meet On The Fairways

[Newsroom]

Rangers may have taken the glory on the fairways but former Celtic striker Frank McAvennie was still smiling at the Glasgow heat of the pro:fantastic Golf Challenge.

The unique tournament allows pairs of football fans to play against local rivals in regional events and to try to qualify for the grand final at a top continental resort.

Competitors play in their club’s colours in front of Sky Sports cameras, and the sight of green and white hoops and Rangers’ blue shirts adorning the fairways at Cawder Golf Club represented the culmination of several years’ work for event-founder McAvennie and his partners.

Cumbernauld duo Stephen Sutherland, a chargehand, and retired council worker Stephen Hall were the men who led Rangers to victory, scoring 68 Stableford points, in the face of strong winds, to finish five clear of the leading Bhoys.

Sutherland and Hall, who both play off 17, finished just one point ahead of the second-placed Rangers fans to clinch their place in the Portuguese final.

Sutherland said: “The weather was a big factor. The wind must have made a four-club difference.

“It was a matter of playing within our means and playing sensible, steady golf. Although we did sink a few good putts.

“It was an excellent day. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. We had good company, good banter going round and a superb course.

“It was definitely good to beat Celtic particularly with Frank McAvennie there – we had a few words with him.”

And Hall echoed his partner’s sentiments. He said: “It’s the first time I’ve been to anything like that and it was fantastic. Everyone was so friendly and made you feel at ease.

“It’s like a dream come true to meet some of the footballers when you’ve paid money to see their skills in the past. And I couldn’t believe Matt Lorenzo was interviewing me for Sky. I was in awe.”

At the final, the Rangers pair will be joined by some familiar faces as their friends, James McGinty and John Quinn, also from Cumbernauld, qualified as the top-scoring Celtic fans and McAvennie is hopeful they can exact some revenge.

The ex-Scotland international said: “This is just the latest of various qualifiers but it’s been particularly nice to see the Celtic boys out on the fairways. It’s just a shame that Rangers had the highest score on the day.

“Hopefully they’ll be able to put that right at the grand final and show which Old Firm side rules the roost – and it’s about time Celtic won a trophy!”

The grand final will see pairs of Chelsea, Arsenal, Newcastle, Rangers and Celtic fans among those vying to win the overall title with each team captained by a club legend.

Lee Sharpe, Ian Rush and Tony Cottee are just some of the famous footballing faces lined up to attend and the event will be televised on Sky Sports.

McAvennie added: “Win, lose or draw, everyone travelling to Portugal will have a great time. They’re all just delighted to have qualified and looking forward to playing with the club legends.”

The Old Firm won’t be the only Scottish interest at the final as Hamilton and Motherwell will also be represented.

Accies pair William Hillis and David Aitken took bragging rights for their team with 75 points, 17 points clear of Motherwell’s finest, Andy O’Connor and Cameron Wilson.