Strathmore has starlet golfer

Aug 29 2008 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

FORGET the fight for Ryder Cup places unfolding at Gleneagles, Strathmore Golf Club is celebrating an international call-up for Matthew Sime – and their starlet is only five years old!

Rookie Matthew, the youngest ever qualifier, sparkled in the Wee Wonders event at St Andrews and has qualified for the finals in the USA next year.

He will fly the flag for GB and Ireland in the Wee Wonders tournament being held in North Carolina next year.

Lucky Matthew will be introduced to the delights of the famous Pinehurst course.

It’s been a whirlwind start to his golfing career, having first stepped on the Strathmore course in April!

The Strathmore junior section has also hailed Kirsty Brodie, who made it into the finals of the Wee Wonders event at the Home of Golf.

Both kids played fantastic golf and Kirsty secured 3rd place in her section.

Strathmore’s Dawn Butchart said: “We are very proud of all our juniors and this is a fantastic achievement by Matthew.

Proud mum Dawn Sime said: “Everyone at Strathmore has been brilliant to Matthew. They have a great junior section. He first picked up a club as a baby and was just four when he entered this competition. He’s only been getting access to the nine hole course for a few months and his handicap is down to 32 already.

“His hero is Tiger Woods so getting to the USA is fantastic. Now we are hoping to find a sponsor to help with costs. It is a fantastic opportunity for Matthew.”

Dawn, who can be contacted through Strathmore, laughed: “I don’t know where he gets his golfing talent from but now his dad, Frank, has had to take up the game to accompany Matthew!”

Meanwhile, Perth’s Wee Wonders veteran Alex Simpson, competing in the age seven to eight age group, also made it through to the St Andrews finals. He finished joint 8th in Britain and top in Scotland for his age group.

The family are grateful to Calum and Wendie Menzies of Fair City Skips for helping to fund Alex for the last three years.

Alex he is regarded as being too young to secure grant aid. So if anyone can assist his sporting progress, contact teaching pro Jamie Anton at Murrayshall.