Pro golfer Gavin Dear secures backing

Mar 18 2011 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

FOUR of Scotland’s most promising young golfers, including Perth professional Gavin Dear – pictured – are receiving welcome backing to take their careers onto another level.

Gavin this week joined Callum Macaulay (Tulliallan), Krystle Caithness (St Andrews) and Kylie Walker (The Carrick on Loch Lomond) as the first players to benefit from a share of a £1m funding package being invested over the next five years to help promising young Scottish golfers realise their talent and ambitions in professional golf.

The initiative was announced by Scottish Golf Support Limited

Former Scottish Amateur Golfer of the Year Gavin Dear (26), was a member of Scotland’s victorious World and European Championship winning sides in 2008 and 2009 before turning professional, earning his Challenge Tour card for 2011 following a fourth place finish on the Alps Tour last year.

The four, who all excelled at the amateur level, become the first to receive around £25,000 each in tailored support from Scottish Golf Support Limited, a group established last year and harnessing the combined expertise of sportscotland, the Scottish Golf Union, Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association and the Professional Golfers’ Association.

It will ensure the four aspiring golfing greats have access to some of the nation’s best coaches and sport science support.

Graeme Simmers, chairman of Scottish Golf Support Limited, said: “I am delighted to announce our support of Krystle, Kylie, Callum and Gavin, all of whom have fantastic potential to become leading players on their respective professional Tours.”

He added: “They have already demonstrated their capability and with the additional support will be well equipped to fulfil their ambitions.”

The four golfers each meet the minimum requirements of having full playing rights on the European Challenge Tour or Ladies European Tour and having been professional for two full seasons or less.

Dear, who honed his skills at Murrayshall, said: “It’s fantastic to be one of the first players to receive support from the new programme and hopefully I can repay the Scottish golfing public with some good performances.”

The move to proactively support young Scottish talent in the all-important transition into the professional ranks was welcomed by both the European Tour and Ladies’ European Tour.

George O’Grady, chief executive of the European Tour said: “The European Tour support all initiatives designed to further develop the game by encouraging the emergence of young talent, and we look forward to watching the progress of all young players in Scotland.”