SCOTLAND NAME THREE FOR EISENHOWER TROPHY REPEAT WIN BID

SGU MEDIA RELEASE

The trio of Graeme Robertson, Paul Shields and Matthew Clark have been chosen to represent Scotland at next month’s World Amateur Team Championship in Turkey, bidding to emulate the historic success of their countrymen in 2008.

Staged at Antalya Golf Club (PGA Sultan Course) and Cornelia Golf Club from 4 – 7 October, the biennial event is one of the most prestigious in amateur golf and the three Scots will be aiming to add The Eisenhower Trophy to The Raymond Trophy won at last month’s Home Internationals.

Four years ago in Adelaide, Australia, Scotland were on top of the world after brilliantly claiming a first-ever world title victory thanks to the endeavours of Wallace Booth, Gavin Dear and Callum Macaulay as George Crawford captained his side to an emphatic nine-stroke victory over the USA. The Scots also put up a stout defence in 2010, with James Byrne, Michael Stewart and Ross Kellett finishing fifth behind reigning World Champions France.

It is now the turn of Robertson (Glenbervie), Shields (Kirkhill) and Clark (Kilmacolm) to fly the saltire on the world stage, having all played key roles in Scotland’s first Home Internationals win in six years at Glasgow Golf Club’s Gailes Links just a few weeks ago.

With the Eisenhower Trophy contested over four rounds in stroke play format – two scores from three count for the team each day – the four-man selection panel have chosen the players based on their stroke play records during 2012.

Robertson has been Scottish amateur golf’s star performer throughout the season, collecting six points from six at the Home Internationals, finishing third in the St Andrews Links Trophy thanks to a final round 64 over the Old Course and winning the Craigmillar Park Open. The University of Stirling student also helped Europe to a famous Palmer Cup victory and was part of the Great Britain & Ireland side in The St Andrews Trophy match.

Clark has also caught the eye during an impressive year and leads the standings in overall scoring average. The Renfrewshire player won the Newlands Trophy and posted four other top-four finishes domestically, while finishing tied eighth at the European Amateur Championship over the demanding Carton House layout in Dublin.

Shields, like Robertson an SGU National Men’s Squad player, has enjoyed three top-three results on the domestic circuit, while achieving top-30 finishes in the Lytham Trophy and Irish Stroke Play. 

The Glaswegian also began the year in spectacular fashion with an 11-under-par 61 at the Gauteng North Open in South Africa.

Lundin’s James White has been named first reserve, while Jack McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie) missed out on automatic selection as the leading Scot on the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), having not met the required criteria of also being placed inside the top 15 of the SGU Men’s Order of Merit.

Team captain Scott Knowles, who skippered Scotland to the Home Internationals title, said: “We have a really strong team and they are capable of winning The Eisenhower Trophy, there is no question about that. It is how they dove-tail as a team and how they contribute low numbers.

“A lot of very good players had the opportunity to make the team and I’m sure so many guys will be disappointed. Taking out match play events, the top three Scottish players on the WAGR are Graeme, Paul and Matthew. They are all good at shooting low numbers when required.

“Graeme’s record speaks for itself this year, while Matthew is top in stroke average and Paul has performed well on the bigger stage on his travels and shot some low numbers along the way.”

Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods have both featured in winning Eisenhower Trophy sides in the past, while Rory McIlroy, Luke Donald, Francesco Molinari and Martin Kaymer are among members of the current European Ryder Cup team who have competed in the event.

The equivalent world team competition for women is the Espirito Santo Trophy, also taking place later this month in Antalya over Gloria Golf Club (Old and New Courses). Sally Watson (Elie and Earlsferry Ladies) and Laura Murray (Alford) will represent the Scots from 27 – 30 September, along with Eilidh Briggs from Kilmacolm – ensuring a club double after Clark’s selection for the Men’s team.

The Scotland team, sponsored by Aberdeen Asset Management and TaylorMade-adidas Golf, is:

Matthew Clark (Kilmacolm), 30

Graeme Robertson (Glenbervie), 24

Paul Shields (Kirkhill), 21

 

Reserve: James White (Lundin, 24)

Captain: Scott Knowles (Kingsknowe)

 

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