Mikhail Ishaq from the Worskop area of England with the Scottish Under-16 boys' open championship trophy (image by courtesy of the Scottish Golf Union).

Rain washes out final round

of Scottish Under-16 boys'

open championship

By ROSS DUNCAN
Scottish Golf Union
Bondhay’s Mikhail Ishaq is the new firstpointusa.com Scottish Under-16 boys' open stroke-play champion after torrential rain washed out the final day’s play at a storm-lashed Glen Golf Club in North Berwick today.
The overnight leader played just one hole of his third round before play was halted around 10.45am. With heavy rain overnight and flooded greens, the SGU events team were forced to abandon play at 12.30pm with no further play possible. That meant the two rounds played earlier in the week counted for the final result.
After collecting the trophy, a proud Ishaq said:

“It was horrendous out there this morning. I hit my tee shot at the second and could barely stand up. After two great days on a fantastic golf course it’s a shame but I’m very pleased to win such a prestigious championship.”
The 16-year-old Yorkshire junior team player added: “I love coming up to play in Scotland and just managed to squeeze a practice round on Monday night – I think I was last off the course. There was no real secret to my first two rounds, I just kept it straight and the putts rolled in. Tuesday was the best round of my career so far so hopefully there’s more to come this summer.”
Ishaq’s two-round aggregate of 135, five under par, gave him a three-shot victory over Ben Taylor from Walton Heath who took the silver medal, while Austrian youngster Matthias Kauffman’s one under par tally of 139 was good enough for the third spot on the podium.
Leading Scot was Shaun Connor, picture above by courtesy of Tom Ward, a 14-year-old clubmate of European Tour professional Alastair Forsyth at Ralston,.

Shaun finished in joint fourth place on two-over par 142 (72-70), alongside Enfield’s Harry Casey.

A quartet of Scots ended the championship in a tie for sixth place, with Paul McPhee (King James VI), Scott Gibson (Southerness), Jordyn Rhind (Uphall) and Jack Scott (Deeside) all finishing on 143.
Scotland international Scott Henry’s younger brother John was tied 13th alongside local boy Chris Low on 144, with Craigielaw’s John Fernandes a shot further back in 17th spot.
Despite the rain, firstpointusa's Managing Director Andrew Kean was delighted with their first event of their new SGU partnership:
“There’s been some fantastic golf on show this week and congratulations to Mikhail for a superb performance over the first two days. The strength in depth of talent in Scotland and the rest of the UK is there for all to see, so we’re pleased to be associated with an event such as this.”
“firstpointusa have worked with many young golfers over the last few years, including the likes of Callum Macaulay and Daniel Willett, both of whom are playing at Loch Lomond this week, so its great to see that the services we provide are paying off.” he added.
FINAL TOTALS

(Third round cancelled because of rain).
Par 140 (2 x 70). CSS 70 70
135 M Ishad (Bondhay) 65 70.
138 B Taylor (Walton Heath) 67 71.
139 M Kaufmann (Austria) 69 70.
142 S Connor (Ralston) 72 70, H Casey (Enfield) 71 71.
143 C Moore (West Essex) 71 72, S Gib son (Southerness) 70 73, P McPhee (King James VI) 68 75, J Rhind (Uphall) 71 72, J Smith (B owood) 73 70, J Scott (Deeside) 70 73, W Chambers (Mid-Herts) 72 71.
144 J Henry (Clydebak & Dist) 72 72, N Colbeck) Cleckheaton & Dist) 73 71, C Low (Tantallon) 70 74, J Fernandes (Enfield) 73 71.
145 G Forrest (Craigielaw) 75 70.
146 J Sullivan (Stock Brook) 72 74, C O'Neil (Pollok) 73 73, T Rowland (Slaley Hall) 72 74, R Jack (Dumfries & Galloway) 72 74, E Mackay (Torphin Hill) 74 72.
147 R Clarke (Moray) 72 75, J Arthur (Milnathort) 71 76, I Redford (King James VI) 74 73, S Fairburn (Galashiels) 71 76, J Lynch (Falkirk) 69 78.
148 W Rennie (Northern) 72 76, G Munsey (Frilford Heath) 73 75, E Scott (St Andrews) 76 72, E Wilson (Berwick upon Tweed) 74 74, T Dingwall (Nairn Dunbar) 77 71, D Edwards (Elgin) 74 74, L McAlpine (Invergordon) 73 75, D Gallagher (Glasgow) 71 77.
149 F Thain (West Linton) 75 74, J Wright (Forres) 75 74, R Mitchell (Downfield) 77 72.
150 S MacNeil (Inchmarlo) 76 74, C Stewart (Brora) 71 79, J Thorburn (Forrester Park) 77 73, E Bradley (Mount Ellen) 75 75, G Meechan (Dullatur) 77 73.