STRONG LINE UP FOR AREA TEAM FINALS

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE SCOTTISH GOLF UNION
The Scottish Area Team Championship reaches its climax this weekend with Dumbartonshire, Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire and the North East battling it out at Crail for the title of the country’s top golfing region.

The four Areas have assembled a strong line-up for the two-day event, with Scottish Amateur and Boys Champion David Law, European Amateur runner-up Ross Kellett and former British Amateur champion Craig Watson all in the field at the historic Fife venue.

Kellett, who is now the highest ranked Scot in the world at number 55, is looking forward to helping Lanarkshire challenge for their third Area team title:

“We reached the semi-final stages last year so it would be great to go a couple of steps further this year and win the Championship. The team won all three qualifying matches comfortably so everyone’s feeling confident that we can put up a strong challenge.”

“Hopefully my experience can rub off on the rest of the lads. It’s an honour to represent your Area Association and pay back all the support they give us over the years. Personally, winning at Crail would round off what has been a very good season for me.” added the 21-year-old, who was part of Scotland’s European Championship winning team this summer.

Kellett and his Lanarkshire team-mates will face local rivals Dumbartonshire in the opening semi-final, whose side includes Scotland squad member Gordon Yates aiming for their first title since 1980.

Last year’s beaten finalists Renfrewshire boast a strong six-man team, with reigning Mid-Amateur Champion Andrew Farmer alongside Kilmalcolm club-mate Matthew Clark in addition to the experience of former Scotland captain Watson.

They take on the North East, whose side includes double national champion Law, Scottish Amateur semi-finalist Bryan Innes and 2009 Leven Gold Medal winner Philip McLean, aiming to add to their haul of three Area Team titles.

Play gets underway at 8.30am on Saturday morning over the Craighead course, with foursomes in the morning followed by singles in the afternoon. The same format will be played on Sunday for the Final.


2009 Scottish Area Team Championship Line-Ups:

DUMBARTONSHIRE

Gordon Yates (Hilton Park)
Paul Betty (Hayston)
Grant Minnes (Hayston)
Craig Checkley (Vale of Leven)
Andrew Campbell (Dumbarton)
Kevin Smyth (Windyhill)
Colin Peddie (Kirkintilloch)

Jim Cuthbertson (Team Captain)

LANARKSHIRE

Ross Kellett (Colville Park)
Ed Wood (Crow Wood)
Steven Rennie (Drumpellier)
Stewart Henderson (Hamilton)
Andy Fairbairn (Kirkhill)
Alan McDonald (Crow Wood)
Grant Beaton (Torrance House)

Phil Haverstock (Team Captain)

NORTH EAST

Anthony Bews (Murcar Links)
Mark Halliday (Royal Aberdeen)
Bryan Innes (Murcar Links)
David Law (Hazlehead)
Philip McLean (Peterhead)
Kris Nicol (Fraserburgh)
Laurie Phillips (Cruden Bay)

Mike Pucock (Team Captain)

RENFREWSHIRE

Andrew Farmer (Kilmacolm)
Matthew Clark (Kilmacolm)
Ronnie Clark (Erskine)
Craig Watson (East Renfrewshire)
Bryan Adam (Paisley)
Michael Dailly (Erskine)
Gordon Stevenson (Whitecraigs)

Murdo Carmichael (Team Captain)