James White takes time out from Stirling

University to make bid for Scotland place

FROM THE SCOTSMAN NEWSPAPER
By Martin Dempster
James White, the 2006 Scottish boys' champion, is sitting out a semester at Stirling University in a bid to make a serious challenge for a place in the Scotland teams that will defend the world and European titles later this year.
The 21-year-old Fifer, pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency, who is in his honours year of a business studies degree, has made the decision so that he can play in the early-season events he's normally been forced to miss.
White, a member at Lundin, is one of four Scots teeing off tomorrow in the Jones Cup at Sea Island in Georgia and he'll also be playing in the forthcoming Portuguese and Spanish amateur championships.
When the domestic season gets underway in the spring, White will be hoping to make his presence felt in events like the Irish and Welsh open stroke-play championships and the Brabazon Trophy.
"I've not been able to play in events like the Irish, Welsh and Brabazon because they usually clash with exams in the first three weeks of May," he said. "I'm in my fourth year at Stirling so it's honours year, but I will finish at the end of 2010, due to taking the semester out."
Ross Kellett, Steven McEwan and Philip McLean are the other Scots in the Jones Cup field, the quartet having spent last week preparing for the event in Florida, where they were joined at the IMG Academy at Bradenton by Callum Macaulay and Gavin Dear, two of Scotland's Eisenhower Trophy-winning team two years ago but both now professionals.
"To have the use of such a world-class facility was awesome," said Kellett, who ended his 2009 campaign on a high by reaching the final of the Argentine amateur championship.
"Now we are hoping the practice pays off for the Jones Cup and the season ahead. It's a big season with Scotland defending the European team championship in Sweden and also the world amateur team championship in Argentina in October."
+The full article above appears in The Scotsman newspaper.