PREVIEW OF NEXT WEEK'S SCOTTISH BOYS' CHAMPIONSHIP

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE SCOTTISH GOLF UNION
By ROSS DUNCAN
Talented young golfers from 151 different clubs across the country will be aiming for glory in one of Scotland’s most prestigious golf events when they tee off in the Scottish Boys Championship next week at Dunbar (11 – 16 April).
A field of 256 players will be gathered at the famous Open Final Qualifying venue for the seventieth staging of the event and the traditional start of the domestic golfing season, commencing just a few hours after the conclusion of the US Masters.
Defending champion Grant Forrest (Craigielaw) will start as one of the favourites having demonstrated skill and determination in coming through the field at West Kilbride last year. Being much closer to home on the East Lothian coastline this time around should help the 17-year-old Scotland Boys international, aiming to become the first player to win back-to-back titles since Scott Henry’s achievement in 2004-05.
Deeside’s Craig Lawrie (15), son of former Open Champion Paul Lawrie, makes his championship debut this year and having seen his dad triumph in the recent Andalucía Open in Malaga, the four-handicapper will be keen to add to his family’s trophy haul.
Another 15-year-old making a name for himself in junior golf is Blairgowrie’s Bradley Neill, winner of the Scottish Boys Under-14s Championship for the past two years, and also the current holder of the equivalent English title. Neill exited at the third round stage last year having pushed one of the favourites Jack McDonald all the way to the third extra hole, but with an additional year’s experience and numerous titles already under his belt, he will certainly be one to watch.
McDonald, a first year maths student at Stirling University, has his final tilt at the trophy in his last year as a junior, hoping to add to the national stroke play title he collected in 2008 having reached the semi-finals twelve months ago. The 18-year-old is one of seven players from Kilmarnock (Barassie) competing in the event, more than any other club in the country. Drumpellier and Dunblane New each have representation from five competitors.
Famous names on the trophy include former Ryder Cup star Andrew Coltart, who won the title at Dunbar in 1987, European Tour player Steven O’Hara (1998), former European Tour player turned manager Brian Marchbank (1976) and the host town’s John Huggan (1978), now a highly respected golf journalist. Recent winners include Michael Stewart (2008) and David Law (2009), both of whom went on to lift the Scottish Amateur Championship.
SGU Chief Executive Hamish Gray is looking forward to the Championship getting underway:
“There is always a real sense of anticipation ahead of the Scottish Boys Championship as the first major domestic event of the season and we have a strong field assembled at Dunbar this year,” said Grey.
“It’s wonderful to see representation from so many clubs across Scotland, highlighting the great work being done at junior level through clubgolf, our national development programme, with support from many PGA professionals and volunteers.
“As an Open Qualifying venue, Dunbar will provide a superb challenge for our young golfers and we are indebted to them for their continued support of this championship, this being the nineteenth time they have staged the event,” he added.
Live scoring and updates from the Championship will be available throughout the week via the SGU website at www.scottishgolf.org, while highlights from the event will be broadcast on the SGU’s YouTube TV channel the following week.


ROSS DUNCAN
Scottish Golf Union
Media, Sponsorship and Marketing Manager