SHAUN McALLISTER RETIRES

WITH CHEST PAINS AFTER

ONLY NINE HOLES IN AUSTRALIA

Scottish boys’ amateur stroke-play golf champion Shaun McAllister (pictured right) was taken for a medical check-up after suffering chest pains and withdrawing from the Australian open amateur championship after only nine holes at the New South Wales Golf Club.
His father Neil said:
“Shaun was taken to a doctor to check his heart rhythms, etc. He seems to have had a niggling injury as he told me he had noticed it a couple of times in New Zealand (where he has been spending the winter).
“He went for a big shot reach a par-5 hole and after that couldn’t swing a club and ran up a 9 at the next hole before having to retire. It looks like he has torn a muscle or something.
“He has gutted as he has been working hard on his golf and said he was playing well and was one under par before running up the 9. He has to go back to the doctor again tomorrow and then we will see about when he wants to come home to Scotland.”

Gullane-based Shaun, a Craigielaw Golf Club member, will not be 19 until December 28. After spending last winter in New Zealand working on his golf game, he came out of the blue to win the Scottish boys' open amateur stroke play championship at Alloa, beating the favourite and clubmate Zack Saltman by one stroke after starting the four-round tournament with a brilliant round of 64.
Later Shaun was a member of the Scotland team who won the boys' home international title at Lossiemouth.

HENRY TOP SCOT WITH A 73
Scott Henry, the Scottish open amateur stroke-play champion from Cardross, was the leading Scot at the end of the first round. He had a one-over-par round of 73 on a day when five Australians and England's David Horsey set the pace at four-under-par 68.
Conditions were ideal for the morning starters but those who teed off after lunchtime had to contend with a freshening wind which made sub-par scores very difficult to achieve.
Scottish match-play champion Kevin McAlpine from Alyth had a 74, Walker Cup man Lloyd Saltman (Craigielaw) a 75 and Paul O'Hara (Colville Park) a 76.
The top 70 and ties will survive the halfway cut. The top 32 at the end of the four rounds will go forward to the Australian amateur match-play championship at the same venue next week.

LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 72
Players from Australia unless stated
68 Josh Younger, Brenton Haines, Kevin Lee, Jordan Sherratt, Andrew Dodt, David Horsey (Eng), Matthew Jager.
69 Ben Parker (Eng), Troy Ropiha (NZ), Ray Beaufils, Ratanakul Nakarinta (Thai).
Other scores:
70 Jamie Moul (Eng).
73 Gary Boyd (Eng), Scott Henry (Sco).
74 Kevin McAlpine (Sco).
75 Lloyd Saltman (Sco).
76 Paul O'Hara (Sco), Stephen Lewton (Eng).
77 Seve Benson (Eng).
Withdrew: Shaun McAllister (Sco).