Scotland's team for the Senior Home

Internationals at Westport, Ireland

FROM THE WESTPORT GOLF CLUB, IRELAND WEBSITE

The Scotland team for the senior home internationals at Westport Golf Club from September 28 to October 1 is

Ian Hutcheon (Monifieth)

Hutcheon, pictured, is a local legend in Angus and he has always played out of Monifieth during an illustrious career which saw him win the Scottish Amateur Championship and represent GB & Ireland in the Walker Cup. Led after the first round of the Scottish Senior Championship back in May, but eventually finished runner up to David Lane (Goring & Streatley). Ian won the East of Scotland Strokeplay on his home course earlier this year. At the Europeans he had the best strokeplay team total but was beaten 5/4 in the ¼ finals by Bob Bäckstedt.
Gordon MacDonald (Callander)

In the domestic season, Gordon showed some early season form. He had a number of podium finishes, including a runner up spot behind Bob Stewart in the Spring Open at Glasgow Golf Club, Gailes, but never got first passed the post. Had a solid stroke-play experience in the Europeans but came up short in the ¼ final, losing 2/1 to Thomas Persson.
John Fraser (Royal Burgess)

Fraser, a one-time leading shinty player, has being the Mr. Consistency of senior Scottish golf this season. He had a 4th in the South of Scotland and two podium finishes in the Spring Open and in the Scottish Seniors. Another player who was solid enough in the strokeplay section of the Europeans and had an exciting 1 hole victory over Göran Thenfors. That victory set up the ¼ final at 2 games all, thus proving that Fraser is the man for the pressure situation.
Sandy Pirie (Hazlehead)

Sandy will be content with his season to date. With a 4th in the Spring Open followed by two top 10 finishes in the Senior Amateur and East of Scotland he was certain to travel to Switzerland for the Europeans. Had a very poor opening round in the strokeplay but recovered well and played in the decisive ¼ final “rubber”. It what must have being a very tense game he just came up short losing by 1 hole to Hans Bäckström. A member of the GB&I Walker Cup team in 1967.
Bob Stewart (Tulliallan)

Like all golfers, as soon as the Masters is over at Augusta the pressure is on to get your first win. Bob was out off the blocks straight away,winning the Scottish Spring Open. A 5th place in the North and an early exit in the Scottish matchplay soon followed. A pair of 75s was secured in the strokeplay in Switzerland and it was decided to ask Bob to play in the opening game; the foursomes. Facing defeat having lost game 2 & 3, Bob and playing partner George Paterson grabbed victory on the 19th and kept the match alive. At the end of season Order of Merit Finals Day, Bob was joint 1st with George Rodaks.
George Paterson (Northern).

As Scottish Senior Scottish Matchplay champion Paterson always looked to be a guaranteed pick for Switzerland. George secured his title with a 3&2 victory over David J. Miller at Newmacher Golf Club. Two 77s saw George selected for the foursomes in the Europeans which turned out to be a successful move as highlighted above. Clinched the Scottish Seniors Order of Merit title with a high finish in the Order of Merit shoot-out at Blairgowrie last week.
Derek Murphy (Kinross).

Murphy is the new man travelling to Ireland’s tidiest town. A number of top 10 finishes in the Central, West & North Senior Opens clearly flagged him to the selectors. An early exit in the Scottish Matchplay obviously didn’t cause them too much concern.