Scottish Champion of Champions

Wondering where Fraser Thain, Lesley , Clara and Rachael are this week-end ?

Junior Champions Set for Duke's Test

27/10/09

 
Boys Stroke Play champion Jack McDonald

The curtain comes down on the Scottish Golf Union’s domestic playing season this weekend with fifty-seven of the country’s leading youngsters competing in the Junior Champion of Champions event at The Duke’s, St Andrews (Sunday 1 November).

Thirty-nine boys and eighteen girls form the starting field, comprising of this year’s junior champions at National, Area and County level across Scotland, which will be contested over The Duke’s for the first time.

Defending the boys’ title will be Bonnyton’s Andrew McLachlan, who took the honours at Kingsbarns twelve months ago with a superb five-under-par 67. The 17-year-old Scottish Boys internationalist will be looking to end his season on a high but faces tough opposition from a strong group of emerging young talent.

Among his challengers will be firstpointusa.com Scottish Boys Stroke Play champion Jack McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie) who has enjoyed a fantastic season on the junior circuit. The 16-year-old was a double winner on the Junior Tour with victories at North Berwick and his home course before clinching his maiden national title with an impressive five-shot win at Ladybank.

St Andrews’ Ewan Scott will be another name to watch on Sunday, having made history earlier this year by becoming the first Scot to lift the English U14s Boys Championship. The young Fifer also finished runner-up in the Scottish Boys U14s at Largs in July and will be hoping to make local knowledge count.

Ailsa Bain (Peebles) will be one of the favourites in the girls’ event, having won the Scottish Girls title at Lanark this summer before going onto record two out of two singles wins in her Home Internationals debut in Lancashire.

Defending champion Carly Booth misses out, having qualified to play in the Faldo Series Grand Final in Brazil, but SLGA Performance Squad members Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie Ladies), Lesley Atkins (Minto) and Rachel Watton (Mortonhall) take their place in the line-up.

David Scott, Manager at The Duke’s who helped the SGU launch the event two years ago, is looking forward to welcoming the youngsters this weekend:

“We are very proud to support the Scottish Junior Champion and Champions and it will be great to see so many talented young golfers playing at The Duke’s. The course is in great condition and will provide the golfers with a testing but very enjoyable challenge.”

“Bringing together the various champions from across the country, both boys and girls, is a great way to round off the season and celebrate the achievements of our junior golfers.” he added.

Click here to see the full draw.