A GIFTED visually impaired golfer from Maybole helped inspire Scotland to major glory against our most famous rivals.

Ward Bennett was part of the victorious team who saw off England in the Auld Enemy Cup at Royal Ashdown Forest in the South of England.

They regained the trophy in the most dramatic of fashions, winning 10.5-9.5, sealing the win in the final match on the final day of the three-day event, which included foursomes, fourballs and singles, just like the Ryder Cup.

Ward, who has a condition called Retinitis Pigmentosa, was delighted to help Scotland wrest back the top honour from their rivals across the border and the closeness of the contest made it even more exciting.

He said: “It was good to take up a point and you always enjoy victory against England.

“It was a brilliant match, so close and it was a great achievement that we won it away from home after losing it last year.”

Captain Charles Forbes said: “Ward played really well when you consider he had a new guide.

“They worked really well together and there was a great team spirit in our camp,

“The final was so exciting and went right to the wire.

“Both teams played well. We didn’t know how it was going to go right until the very end.”