EAST OF SCOTLAND OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

ODDS STACKED AGAINST BOOTH FOR

REPEAT WIN OVER LUNDIN LINKS

 

It’s been 22 years since anyone won the East of Scotland Open men’s championship two years in a row, which means that title-holder Wallace Booth from Comrie has the odds stacked against him at Lundin Golf Club this weekend.

The last man to win the 72-hole championship in back-to-back years was home-course player Sandy Stephen in 1983-84. He had also won in 1974 and 1977.

The reason why it is so difficult to stage a repeat win, of course, lies in the quality of field.

Scott Henry (Cardross), winner of the Scottish men’s open amateur stroke-play title, hopes to be 100 per cent again after withdrawing very early on in last weekend’s Scottish youths championship at Mortonhall. He had fallen victim to a bug that drained his energy.

Scottish boys’ champion James White will be playing over his home course and his father Jim, a member of Leven Thistle, is also in the field.

John Gallagher (Swanston), winner last weekend of the Tennant Trophy at Glasgow Gailes and Killermont, is obviously the man in form but there are so many possible contenders in the field that there can be no clear favourite.

Of Scotland’s leading amateurs, only previous winner Richie Ramsay (Royal Aberdeen) is absent. He has been playing for Europe in the Palmer Cup match against the United States at Prestwick on Thursday and Friday.

 

Swallow Hotels are sponsoring the tournament for the first time. The Denholm Cup and a £500 voucher go to the winner with the runner-up receiving the Haig Salver and a voucher worth £300.