Golf: Scottish Boys Championship

Apr 8 2011 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

TALENTED young golfers from 151 different clubs across the country will be going for glory in one of Scotland’s most prestigious golf events when they tee off in the Scottish Boys Championship next week at Dunbar.

The April 11-16 event has lured a field of 256 players to the famous Open Final Qualifying venue for the 70th staging of a competition which heralds the traditional start of the domestic golfing season.

It tees-up a few hours after the conclusion of the US Masters at Augusta.

A string of Perth and Kinross contenders are in action at Dunbar. Clubs in Blairgowrie and Milnathort both have four competitors swinging into action.

One promising youngster under the spotlight will be 15-year-old Bradley Neil, the club champion last season at Blairgowrie.

He has won the Scottish Boys Under-14s Championship for the past two years and is also the current holder of the equivalent English title.

Bradley exited at the third round stage last year having pushed one of the favourites, Jack McDonald, all the way to the third extra hole.

But with an additional year’s experience and numerous titles already under his belt, he will certainly be one to watch.

Older brother Connor is also in the running, joined by fellow club members Robert Willemars and Fergus Sanderson.

The quartet from Milnathort are Sam Craigon, Peter Henderson, Russell Malcolm and Chris Ness.

Flying the flag for Crieff are Sean Gadsby, Greig Stewart and Rory Stewart, with Callum McGuigan from Comrie.

Stephen Harrower (Kinross), Calum Hill (Milnathort), Steven Young (Auchterarder) and Strathmore duo Rory Tinker and Allan Easton are also in the mix.

Defending champion, 17-year-old Grant Forrest (Craigielaw) will start as one of the favourites having demonstrated skill and determination in coming through the field at West Kilbride last year.

Deeside’s Craig Lawrie (15), son of former Open Champion Paul Lawrie, makes his championship debut this year and having seen his dad triumph in the recent Andalucía Open in Malaga, the four-handicapper will be keen to add to his family’s trophy haul.

Famous names on the trophy include former Ryder Cup star Andrew Coltart, who won the title at Dunbar in 1987, European Tour player Steven O’Hara (1998), Perthshire’s former European Tour player turned manager Brian Marchbank (1976) and the host town’s John Huggan (1978), now a highly respected golf journalist.

SGU chief executive Hamish Gray said: “There is always a real sense of anticipation ahead of the Scottish Boys Championship as the first major domestic event of the season and we have a strong field assembled at Dunbar this year.

“It’s wonderful to see representation from so many clubs across Scotland, highlighting the great work being done at junior level through clubgolf, our national development programme, with support from many PGA professionals and volunteers.

“As an Open Qualifying venue, Dunbar will provide a superb challenge for our young golfers and we are indebted to them for their continued support of this championship, this being the nineteenth time they have staged the event.”

Live scoring and updates from the Championship will be available throughout the week via the SGU website at www.scottishgolf.org, while highlights from the event will be broadcast on the SGU’s YouTube TV channel the following week.