ROYAL DORNOCH PLAYER WINS GOLF DATA LAB SCOTTISH YOUTHS

THE PRIDE OF THE NORTH! Lyle McAlpine (Royal Dornoch) with the Golf Data Lab Scottish Youths Championship trophy. Image by courtesy of Andy Forman and the Scottish Golf Union.

FROM THE SCOTTISH GOLF UNION WEBSITE

Royal Dornoch's Lyle McAlpine is the new Golf Data Lab Scottish Youths Champion, winning by three shots, after morning rain reduced the event at Paisley GC to 54 holes.

Despite bogeying his opening hole, the first year electrical apprentice was the only player to shoot a sub 70 score in today's final round, notching four birdies to card a three-under par 68 to secure a maiden national title for the eighteen year-old.
Playing in the event for the first time, McAlpine showed no sign of nerves as he calmly negotiated the back nine with eight pars and a birdie at the par three 15th, rolling in from fifteen feet to give himself a three-shot cushion moving into the final stretch.
The current Royal Dornoch club champion was delighted to add the prestigous title to his list of honours,
"It is by far my biggest achievement to date, i knew i was playing well coming into this week so i just focused on playing my normal game and fortunately it was good enough to win"
"My dad was walking round with me and he made me aware that i was leading playing the back nine so i knew it was mine to lose, thankfully i didn't!"

The silver medal once again went to Torwoodlee's Simon Fairburn whose final round 70 was enough to secure a second successive runners-up place in the event. Fairburn looked like he was going to go one better this year when he eagled the par five 12th but a bogey at the 16th and short missed birdie putt on the final hole ended his title bid for another year.

Dumfries and County's Greig Marchbank secured third place, also finishing on 213. Marchbank held the lead after reaching the turn in two-under par however a double-bogey at his opening hole in the back nine proved too costly for the Borders youngster.

Second round leader Stirling University second-year student Kit Holmes (Hunstanton GC) saw his title hopes fade with four bogeys and a double-bogey contributing to a six-over par 77 to finish on 216.
Playing partner Kyle McClung (Wigtonshire County) also slipped down the leaderboard with a final round 75.
Events Officer, Euan Dorward commented on what was an excellent tournament despite the adverse weather conditions,

"We were disappointed the event couldn't have been played over the 72 holes but huge credit has to go to Paisley GC and our host of volunteers to ensure the course was playable at all today, and also to the players for embracing the 54 hole event which in the end produced a very worthy winner."

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 203 (3x71)
200 Lyle McAlpine (Royal Dornoch) 71 71 68.
203 Simon Fairburn (Torwoodlee) 69 74 70, Greig Marchbank (Dumfries and Co) 70 72 71.
204 Grant Forrest (Craigielaw) 74 68 72.


You can view all the final totals on the SGU Website


CLICK HERE