EURO EVENT IN IRELAND HITS FIELD FOR LEVEN GOLD MEDAL

Flashback to August last year as Ross Bell, with the Leven Gold Medal round his neck, is congratulated by the captain of the Leven Golfing Society. 

Picture by Cal Carson Golf Agency. 

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Colin@scottishgolfview.com

The quality of entries for the Leven Gold Medal, the oldest amateur stroke-play tournament in the world - first played in 1870 -  and the 12th event on this year's SGU 72-hole Order of Merit circuit, has been badly hit by a clash of dates with the European men's individual amateur championship.
The Leven Gold Medal will be played on Saturday and Sunday, August 11-12 while the European four-round championship is being played over the Montgomerie course at Carton House, Maynooth in Ireland's Co Kildate from next Wednesday to Saturday.
The Scots who are bound for Ireland are all the country's frontline amateurs, most of whom would have played in the Leven Gold Medal. They are:
Jack McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie), Brian Soutar (Leven GS), Graeme Robertson (Glenbervie), Paul Ferrier (Baberton), Scott Crichton (Aberdour), Paul Shields (Kirkhill), Matthew Clark (Kilmacolm), James White (Lundin), Adam Dunton (McDonald Ellon), Fraser McKenna (Balmore) and Liam Johnston (Dumfries and Co).
But Ross Bell (Downfield), winner of the Leven Gold Medal last year, must have felt honour-bound to defend the title at the Fife links. He heads a field which contains last year's bronze-medal winner James Ross (Royal Burgess) and the 2010 winner, Scott Larkin (Royal Aberdeen).
Former Scottish youths champion and Palmer Cup player Scott Borrowman (Dollar), whose form has been steadily improving all season, has also committed to the Leven event.
So too has former Scottish amateur champion and past Walker Cup player Graham Gordon (Newmachar), who was reinstated as an amateur at the start of the season after a short pro career plagued by illness and injury.