SGU'S NEW-LO9OK SQUAD FOR WARM WEATHER TRAINING IN UAE

SGU MEDIA RELEASE

British Boys champion Ewen Ferguson, Scottish Boys winner Bradley Neil and Robert MacIntyre, twice a national champion in 2013, are among a new-look group of Scotland’s leading male amateurs who will depart for a warm weather training camp to the United Arab Emirates this week. 

The intensive training trip – the majority of which is funded by long-standing SGU sponsor Aberdeen Asset Management, Johann Rupert’s Alfred Dunhill Links Foundation and sportscotland – involves over three weeks of work on strength and conditioning, psychology and practice.

Building on three previous successful training trips to the UAE, the players depart tomorrow (18 November) until 12 December for the on and off course work at The Els Club, Dubai and two venues in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Yas Links. 

Key members of the SGU coaching team – including National Coach Ian Rae and Scottish Golf Performance Manager Steve Paulding – will support the players, with input from expert staff at the sportscotland Institute of Sport.

The group of 10 includes five teenagers in Ferguson (Bearsden), Neil from Blairgowrie, MacIntyre (Glencruitten), Jamie Savage of Cawder and St Andrews’ Ben Kinsley, meaning the quintet will gain valuable experience and the opportunity to benefit from the use of world-class facilities. 

Bearsden’s Ferguson, who became the first Scot in almost 10 years to win the Boys’ Amateur title, Neil and MacIntyre were all part of the Great Britain & Ireland side that won the 2013 Jacques Leglise Trophy and will hope to build on their potential through their work in the Far East.

Glenbervie’s Graeme Robertson and Scott Borrowman from Dollar – members of the Scotland side that reached the European Team Championship final in 2013 along with Neil – are also making the trip. 

Having failed to come through European Tour Qualifying School and following discussions with Rae and former European Tour winners Dean Robertson (University of Stirling Head Performance Golf Coach) and Andrew Coltart (SGU Performance Committee), Graeme Robertson has opted to stay amateur for another year rather than turn professional. Resultantly, he has been added to the 2013-14 SGU Men’s National Squad.

Adam Dunton (McDonald), Scott Gibson of Southerness and Daniel Young (Craigie Hill) make up the group bound for the UAE. Borrowman will attend the training camp for a shorter period of 12 days at the finish, with MacIntyre and Dunton attending for the opening 12 days. 

“Our warm weather training programme continues to evolve and provides an opportunity for the players to work on fitness and their golfing skills for an extended period,” said Paulding. “It’s almost an entirely different group of players we have this year, with a focus on the younger players.

“The venues in Dubai and Abu Dhabi offer magnificent courses, superb practice facilities and everything we need off the course. We are very grateful to the support of these venues and of our supporters who ultimately make this trip possible – Aberdeen Asset Management, the Alfred Dunhill Links Foundation and sportscotland. 

“It would be impossible to do the type of training planned in Scotland at this time of year, but also more expensive due to the in-kind sponsorship and preferential rates for the UAE camp.”

Scotland Squad for UAE warm weather training camp

(Club and age in brackets)

 

·         Scott Borrowman (Dollar, 26)

·         Adam Dunton (McDonald, 23)

·         Ewen Ferguson (Bearsden, 17)

·         Scott Gibson (Southerness, 20)

·         Ben Kinsley (St Andrews, 17)

·         Robert MacIntyre (Glencruitten, 17)

·         Bradley Neil (Blairgowrie, 17)

·         Graeme Robertson (Glenbervie, 25)

·         Jamie Savage (Cawder, 19)

·         Daniel Young (Craigie Hill, 22)