St Andrews Boys' & Girls' Opens 2010 - Report !

Several Gullane members played in the prestigious St Andrews Boys' Open recently.  The qualifying round and first few matchplay rounds are played over the Eden course with the huge incentive of the semi finals and finals being played on the Old course.

150 entrants from all over Britain, and several from overseas, embarked on a qualifying round with the top 32 going forward to the scratch matchplay for the Merchants’ Cup and another 16 qualifying for the handicap matchplay for the Murray Mitchell Trophy.  The handicap ballot this year was 5.7.

In a tightly packed leader board, Fraser Thain shot a 2-over par 72 to tie 16th and qualify for the scratch matchplay event.  Fraser was unlucky to land the number 1 seed and eventual winner (Thomas Rowland from Prudhoe) in the last 16 and lost narrowly.

Alasdair Simpson shot 73 to tie 24th with no fewer than 14 others but for the second year in a row had the misfortune to miss out on qualification for the scratch event on countback, a late double bogey on 14 proving costly.  Alasdair’s consolation was qualification for the handicap matchplay but he then lost out in the last 16.

Anthony Blaney (74) and Peter Legget (76) completed the Gullane representation.  Anthony opted out of the consolation stableford competition over the Strathtyrum course but Peter played and found a bit of form to score 39 points and 7th place in a field of over 70.

Local interest featured on the Old course (Open Championship stands and scoreboards still in situ!) with 14 year old Tantallon junior Calum Hill progressing to the final before losing out at the final hurdle.

It wasn’t all about the boys though with the St Andrews Junior Ladies’ Open being played simultaneously over the Strathtyrum and Eden courses, with the semis and final again being held on the Old course.

Gullane was represented by Clara Young who shot a very creditable 74 on the Strathtyrum course to qualify for the matchplay stages as 7th seed.  Even more impressive given that the age limit for the ladies event is 23 and Clara is barely into her teens!  Unfortunately, Clara’s campaign ended at the last 16 stage.

The St Andrews Boys’ and Junior Ladies’ Opens are fantastic events and well worth considering by ambitious Gullane juniors in future years.

Gordon Simpson