TORRANCE CELEBRATES SCOTTISH GOLF ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE SCOTTISH GOLF UNION
Sam Torrance, the victorious former Ryder Cup captain, last night expressed his delight after receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award during a memorable night at the 2012 Annodata Scottish Golf Awards
Torrance, one of Scottish Golf’s most popular personalities, was given the award in the year that marks a decade since he led the European team to victory over the United States at The Belfry.
The charismatic 58-year-old also collected the award 40 years since his maiden professional win in the Radici Open in Italy.
Torrance became the third recipient of the Lifetime Achievement accolade, sponsored by Allied Surveyors Scotland, after former Open champion Paul Lawrie and eight-time Order of Merit winner Colin Montgomerie were honoured last year.
During a glittering 500-guest sell-out ceremony at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Glasgow, Torrance received the award in the company of family and friends, among them his father, Bob, his lifelong coach.
Craig Levein, Scotland football team manager, and Richard Hills, European Ryder Cup Director, presented Sam his award on stage, alongside host Andrew Cotter, the BBC sports commentator.
Largs-born Torrance said: “I’m delighted to have received the Scottish Golf Lifetime Achievement Award, following in the footsteps of Paul and Colin last year.
“It was a very special night for me, especially having my wife and three children present, along with my parents and friends from Ayrshire.
"I have enjoyed a wonderful career and being handed the award was another memorable occasion for me. I always love playing in Scotland and I was overjoyed to be honoured in my home country.”
Torrance played in eight consecutive Ryder Cup teams, famously triumphing in 1985 when he sank the winning putt to secure a first-ever victory for Europe, and has been made an MBE and an OBE.
Since turning professional aged 16, Torrance has won 21 titles on the European Tour, 11 European Senior Tour titles and three European Senior Tour Order of Merit titles. He was also a Dunhill Cup winner for Scotland in 1995, together with Montgomerie and Andrew Coltart.
Torrance remains a fantastic ambassador for Scottish Golf and his contribution was honoured among a delighted audience in Glasgow, which also featured ex-Scotland rugby captain Jonny Petrie, Walker Cup hero Michael Stewart and former Old Firm footballers Billy Dodds and Bobby Petta.
A celebration of Scottish Golf’s achievements over the past 12 months, the prestigious event at the Crowne Plaza – hosted by the Scottish Golf Union and the Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association - saw all proceeds going towards the development of young golfers in Scotland.
Scotland’s leading male and female amateurs from 2011 – James White and Louise Kenney – were presented with their Awards, while Stewart, now in the professional ranks, collected the Scottish Amateur Golfer of the Year title.
The work of clubs at grassroots level were recognised with the RBS Junior Club and Volunteer of the Year Awards, with special video messages from 18-time major champion Jack Nicklaus for the winners.
A new Player of the Year Award - voted by readers of www.scottishgolf.org - was also awarded to David Law, last year’s Scottish Amateur champion.
A special award was presented in memory of Adam Hunter, the former European Tour player and coach who sadly passed away in October after a two-year battle with leukaemia. In Adam’s memory, one of the country’s most promising young golfers, Euan Walker, from Kilmarnock (Barassie), was awarded a £500 grant towards his coaching and development.
Annodata is one of Europe’s largest independent vendors for print, document, data and communication technologies and the company is the official supplier of office equipment to the Scottish Golf Union.
The full list of award winners reads as follows:
· Team of the Year – Fife
· Scottish Amateur Golfer of the Year – Michael Stewart
· SLGA Girls Order of Merit – Eilidh Brigg
· SGU Boys Order of Merit – Greig Marchbank
· RBS Junior Club of the Year – Dundas Parks Golf Club (Lothians)
· SGU Seniors Order of Merit – Bob Stewar
· SLGA Order of Merit – Louise Kenney
· The Adam Hunter Award – Euan Walker
· SGU Men’s Order of Merit – James White
· RBS Junior Golf Volunteer of the Year – Iain Holt (Turnhouse Golf Club, Lothians)
· Scottish Golf Player of the Year – David Law
· Lifetime Achievement Award – Sam Torrance