Golf: Kingsknowe and West Linton signal their intent

Just as the Barnton side had done in their opening home match, Bill Buchan's Kingsknowe side recorded an 8-0 whitewash, although they certainly had to dig deep to do so against the visiting Merchants. Steve McCulloch put the first point on the board against the dangerous Richard Craig, the home man winning the 16th with a birdie-3 to sneak ahead, and further successes followed for Scott Knowles, Mike Foley, Andy Rowe, debutant Graeme Duncan, Charlie Kivlin, the returning Donny Munro and Graeme Fraser. Foley, who was four-under after seven, won 9 and 7 – the biggest victory in Buchan's time as manager. West Linton also won 8-0 in the same section, Simon Mackenzie's side bouncing back from a disappointing start at Bruntsfield to crush Craigmillar Park. Scott Walker set the ball rolling with a big win at the top of the order and Mackenzie, Stephen Smith, Kenny Mail, youngster Fraser Thain, John McWilliams, Darren Coyle and Nick Barr duly piled on the misery for the visitors. In Group 3, Duddingston got what they were looking for on the road, especially after drawing at home in their first game, as they won 5-3 at Ratho Park. Stuart Imrie, Scott Murray and Scott Walker all won at the top of the order for Ratho but wins for Derrick Williams, Robert Binnie, Neil Donaldson, John Shepherd and the returning Stuart Johnston secured a valuable two points for Steve Gilhooley's side. Murrayfield made the most of home advantage to beat Torphin Hill in the same section thanks to wins from Derek Miller, Ali Howie, James Morrison, Mike Horne and Stephen Stuart. Murrayfield team captain Stuart, who had to step in at the last minute due to injuries, said: "We have a good competition for places this year and hope to give Duddie and Silverknows a run for their money." Silverknowes also won at home in Group 3 against Liberton in a match that saw Keith Reilly hold on for a win after being three up with five to play, the in-form Paul Ross notch a big win and the evergreen Iain Randall birdie the last for a narrow win. If their opening two results are anything to go by, Musselburgh could well emerge as the dark horses in this season's event. After winning up at Lothianburn in the first week, they followed that up with a 7-1 home win over Swanston New, semi-finalists last year. Kenny Wright gave Musselburgh the perfect start with a good win over the gritty Graeme Millar, with Myles Clapperton, Keith Aitken, Scott Greig, Scott Reid, Brian Henderson and Greg Smail adding points as well before Craig Watson's win over Andrew Miller in the anchor match denied them a whitewash. Lothianburn made amends for that aforementioned home defeat as they beat visitors Baberton, with Dougie Howieson and Mark Evans delivering the decisive points in that one as they beat John Nisbet and Ian Gourlay respectively. Paul Logan and Dave Berrie, who was six up after six, also won for Lothianburn, while Chris Hughes and Allan McPherson also played their parts with crucial halves. Hughes won the last three holes against Ron Bradly while MacPherson holed from off the green at the 17th against Dougie Waugh. In their first away match, Royal Burgess won 5-3 at Prestonfield, where Stephen Buckley, Grant Hill, John Yuille, Ian Taylor and Doug Ross produced the goods for the visitors. Hill had a new set of clubs stolen from his car earlier in the week and played with a driver borrowed from his dad – a Prestonfield member. It wasn't all one-way traffic, however. Scott Johnston, fresh from his Lothians adventure, beat Scott McDonald while Grant Dalton Jnr birdied the 17th and 18th to claim a notable scalp against the experienced John Fraser. Newbattle made it two home wins out of two in Group 1 as they beat Glencorse, Stuart Thorburn setting the tone as he started with four birdies en route to a 3 and 2 win over Keith Young while Peter Hardwick brought up the tail with a solid win over Alastair Shanks. Mortonhall won at home against Turnhouse in the same group, junior champion Andrew Tillie being among the winners for the home side in that one. "A good win for us against a very strong and experienced Turnhouse squad," said Mortonhall team captain Graeme Stark.