EIGHT SEEDS FOR SCOTTISH BOYS CHAMPIONSHIP NAMED FOR MONIFIETH

FROM THE SCOTTISH GOLF UNION WEBSITE

The countdown is on to the first ‘Major’ of the domestic season, with the draw for the Scottish U18 boys' championship now available to view online.

Being staged at the renowned Monifieth Golf Links, north of Dundee from April 1 to 6 for the first time, the best young Under-18 players will assemble seeking to emulate last year’s winner, Craig Howie from Peebles.

With Howie now over age, a new name will be on the coveted trophy, with Ewan Scott (St Andrews) installed as the No 1 seed.

Scott won last year’s Boys' Order of Merit and the 17-year-old has continued his form in 2013, winning a gold medal for Team GB at the Australian Olympic Youth Festival and reaching the semi-finals of the South African Amateur Championship.  

Scott, beaten by Howie in last year’s final at Murcar Links, faces stiff opposition from another Team GB gold medal winner, Bradley Neil from Blairgowrie, who is seeded second in the bottom half of the draw.

Ewen Ferguson (Bearsden), George Burns (Williamwood) and Alan Waugh (Cowglen) complete the top five seeds and will all fancy their chances.

Fellow Boy Performance Squad members Connor Syme from Dumfries and County and Robert MacIntyre (Glencruitten) are also seeded, with Calum Hill (Tantallon) the final seed at No 8.

Previous winners of the Scottish boys' match-play championship include illustrious names such as Andrew Coltart, Steven O'Hara and Scott Henry.

Bill Miller, Chairman of Monifieth Golf Links, said: “We’re delighted to be hosting this very prestigious tournament, having last hosted a national championship in 2005. That year, we staged the Scottish boys' stroke play championship when Steven McEwan of Kilmarnock (Barassie) won. 

We also co-hosted the Men’s Stroke Play in 1997.

“I hope this is a precursor to Monifieth going on the Scottish boys’ rota regularly – we certainly hope it’s the first of many. We have a good test of golf, currently in very good condition despite the wet weather, and our members are looking forward to welcoming the nation’s best young golfers.”

>> Click here for the draw for the Scottish Boys Championship