SCOTS BOYS FOR EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS IN SWEDEN NAMED

 

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY SCOTTISH GOLF UNION

Ewan Scott, the Golf Data Lab Scottish Youths champion, and Paul Lawrie Foundation Scottish Boys winner Craig Howie, will help spearhead Scotland’s bid for success at the European Boys Team Championship in Sweden next month.

The prestigious team event takes place at Lidingo Golf Club in Stockholm from 10-14 July, with a strong six-man side named by the Scottish Golf Union earlier today.

St Andrews’ Scott, who has been in hugely impressive form, and Peebles’ Howie, who defeated Scott to claim the Scottish Boys title at Murcar Links in April, both earn automatic selection as the current top two players on the Scottish Hydro SGU Boys’ Order of Merit following the Scottish Hydro Junior Tour Event No 3 at the weekend.

Howie was beaten into second place at the competition at Rowallan Castle on Sunday, with Lawrence Allan from Alva taking the honours. Allan’s performance continued his consistency this season and, having reached third spot on the Order of Merit, he has been picked in the team bound for Sweden.

Bradley Neil of Blairgowrie and Cawder’s Jamie Savage have also been selected thanks to their displays in 2012. Neil has been in fine form, finishing second to Scott at the Youths and defeating South African Amateur champion Brian Soutar to help Perth & Kinross to Moneygate Scottish Men’s Area Team Championship glory. Savage, meanwhile, won the Scottish Hydro Junior Tour Event 2 at The Roxburghe and has also illustrated a consistency of performance.

Last year’s SGU Boys’ Order of Merit No 1 Greig Marchbank has been picked as the final member of the team, with Anthony Blaney (Liberton) the reserve.

Marchbank, the Dumfries and County player, impressed in the Moneygate Scottish Men’s Area Team Championship and was the top Scot in a share of eighth place at the Men’s Carrick Neill Scottish Stroke Play Championship.

Blaney helped lead the Lothians to an historic third successive Dunfermline Building Scottish Boys Area Team Championship title at Cowglen and was also joint-winner of the Scottish Hydro Junior Tour Event 1 at Gullane.

Barrie Douglas, Chairman of Selectors, said: “We’ve chosen a strong team and are all looking forward to the event in Sweden in July.

“All of the team are playing very well and a player’s recent performance is the key factor when selecting for teams representing Scotland. We also take into account previous international performances.

“We finished 13th in this event in Prague last year, just missing out on a place in the top-flight match play by a single stroke, and hope to at least finish in the top eight this year.”

 

Scotland team for 2012 European Boys Team Championship

 

Lawrence Allan (Alva)

Craig Howie (Peebles)

Greig Marchbank (Dumfries and County)

Bradley Neil (Blairgowrie)

Jamie Savage (Cawder)

Ewan Scott (St Andrews)

 Reserve:

Anthony Blaney (Liberton)

 

Ed Hodge PR & Media Executive