BANCHORY’S BYRNE IS BABE OF STRONG SCOTLAND
LINE-UP FOR EURO AMATEUR TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Banchory teenager James Byrne will gain first full cap for Scotland at men’s level in the star-studded, six-strong line-up for the European team championship at Western Gailes Golf Club, Ayrshire from July 3 to 7.
Byrne, 18, helped Scotland to win the boys’ home international title at Lossiemouth last year and later played for the Great Britain & Ireland boys’ team in the Jacques Leglise Trophy match against the Continent – but this is his first honour at men’s level.
But the youngster, who starts a four-year golf scholarship at Arizona State University in the autumn has certainly earned his adult spurs.
Last year he became the youngest ever winner of a Scottish Golf Union Order-of Merit 72-hole tournament. And a week or two ago he was officially placed second to Kevin McAlpine, winner of the Scotttish men’s amateur stroke-play championship at Royal Dornoch.
This week James Byrne is in Japan with the Scotland Under-18 squad, bidding to win the world boys’ team champion.
Byrne does not lack self-confidence – he has his own website, for a start – and he will be inspired rather than overawed by his European squad team-mates, who include the US amateur champion Richie Ramsay (Royal Aberdeen) and Lloyd Saltman (Craigielaw).
Also in the Dark Blues’ line-up is Keir McNicoll (Carnoustie), Jonathan King (Glasgow) and McAlpine (Alyth), holder of both the Scottish match-play and stroke-play titles.

FIRST MEN'S CAP FOR SCOTLAND
Byrne is the only member of the team for Western Gailes who did not figure in Scotland’s successful defence of the men’s home internationals title at Pyle & Kenfig, South Wales last September.
The Scotland line-up is such a strong one, bound to be among the favourites for the title, that Cardross player Scott Henry, a young man with an impressive golfing CV, is “only” first reserve.
Ramsay, still in America, on a private visit to New York after narrowly missing the cut at the US Open, will take consolation from being the top finishing Scot as well as pulling off the second best amateur performance in a field brimming with the world’s best players. The Royal Aberdeen ace said: “I am relishing the prospect of returning to Scotland to compete in the European team championship. It is a great event, and I will be playing alongside a talented crop of Scottish players with the added advantage of competing on home soil.

He added, “I hope to use some of my recent experience playing in two of the majors to spur me on and I will enjoy the challenge of taking on Europe’s best up and coming players, many of whom will become familiar faces on the international golf circuit.”
Fellow Walker Cup player Lloyd Saltman will hope to replicate his recent sizzling form after stringing together a quartet of 72-hole open amateur titles, including the prestigious Lytham Trophy and more recently, the Irish open stroke-play championship.
EAST MEETS WEST TEAM

Keir McNicoll and Jonathan King are the reigning East of Scotland and West of Scotland Open 72-hole amateur champions.
Scottish Golf Union Performance Manager Stuart Turner said, “The team represents a combination of tested international experience and strong individual performers. Five of the six selected players competed successfully together at last year’s Home internationals and are familiar with each other’s game.
“James Byrne is a welcome addition to the team, and his thrilling recent form has warranted his well earned place in the line up, adding youth and dynamism to the mix.
“They have all undoubtedly proven their appetite for international action, which will bode well when lining up against some of the leading golfing nations from the continent.”

The European men’s amateur team championship was last hosted in Scotland iat St Andrews in 1981 when the Scots lost to England in the final.
Scotland’s record in the biennial tournament is a good one – winners in 1975, 1977, 1985, 1995 and 2001 as well as being beaten finalist in 1965, 1971, 1973, 1981, 1989 and 1997.

Twenty countries will compete in the 25th staging of the event at Western Gailes, which has been boosted by a £16,000 grant from EventScotland to help with marketing and event infrastructure, as well as £15,000 from the R&A to support the championship.
The Scotland team is:

Richie Ramsay (Royal Aberdeen), Lloyd Saltman (Craigielaw), Keir McNicoll (Carnoustie), Kevin McAlpine (Alyth), Jonathan King (Glasgow), James Byrne (Banchory).
Reserve: Scott Henry (Cardross).