Hickory chief urges players to fly

the flag for Scotland


FROM THE EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS WEBSITE
By MARTIN DEMPSTER
Organisers of next month's World Hickory Open have sent out a plea for players to line up for Scotland in a Ryder Cup-style event.
While places in the Rest of the World team will be easily filled when the match is held over Musselburgh Old on Monday, 20 September, the composition of the home team is proving a headache.
"We have sufficient pros and foreign amateurs – but we need more local golfers to play for Scotland," said Lionel Freedman, the tournament chairman. "This has to be the opportunity of a lifetime, and clubs are supplied, but amateurs will be expected to have reasonable handicaps."
The inaugural match is part of a new World Hickory Festival of Golf, which is being sponsored by East Lothian Council and Homecoming Scotland.
More than 30 foreign amateur and professional golfers have entered a handicap medal event to be held at Musselburgh Old the previous day, when they will be battling for places in the Rest of the World team.
And Freedman is hoping for a positive response to his rallying call so that an embarrassing situation for the home team is avoided in terms of numbers.
"This is clearly an incredible opportunity to play for Scotland with Scottish professionals, so I'm now waiting for the calls," he said, asking anyone interested to phone him on 0131 665 4861.
The match is a warm-up for the PGA World Hickory Open, which is being played over Gullane No 2 on 24-25 September.
"We already have a good entry for that with pros coming over from the US, Sewden, Belgium, Holland, France, Canada and Portugal but there are still some team spots available in the Pro-Am on September 24," added Freedman.
**The full article above appeared in Monday's Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.