FOUR SCOTS BOUND FOR SOUTH AMERICAN AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIPS IN COLOMBIA

                   ADAM DUNTON IN ACTION. Picture by Cal Carson Golf Agency                                     

NEWS RELEASE FROM SCOTTISH GOLF UNION

The Scottish quartet of Adam Dunton, Craig Ross, Alyson McKechin and Gemma Dryburgh are to play in the South American men's and women's international amateur championships next week; an event again backed by The R and A as they continue their support of golf worldwide.

On Colombia’s north coast, the Scots will be part of an international field competing at Barranquilla from January 22 to 25.

A relatively new event in the world of amateur golf – featuring 72 holes of stroke play for the men’s and women’s titles – it’s a championship that continues to grow in stature, thanks to generous backing from The R and A which has supported the event since it started in 2005.

The R and A has supported various amateur golf events in South America for the past 10 years, most notably the Copa los Andes, a men’s and women’s team event which started in 1944 and which has enjoyed annual R and A support since 2002.

For the second year for the South American Amateur, The R and A has offered subsidies to up to 30 non-South American players, helping with flights and entry fees.

“The South American Amateur is a tremendously competitive and enjoyable event for players, officials and spectators, and one which we’re proud to support,” said The R and A’s Executive Director – Working for Golf, Duncan Weir.

“We’re committed to supporting golf worldwide and we want to help grow the South American Amateur to become one of the premier amateur events around the world.

“The total investment from The R and A into this year’s championship is in the region of £75,000, ensuring a truly international field enjoy a competitive opportunity at this time of year.”

Last year, four Scots competed in the event when it was staged at El Rincón in Bogota, Colombia – Jamie Savage, Fraser Moore, Graham Gordon and Michael Dailly.

Englishman Callum Shinkwin, who beat Matthew Fitzpatrick in the final of the 2013 English Amateur Championship, took the title, while Brooke Mackenzie Henderson from Canada, currently sixth on the Women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking and recent winner of the girls' Junior Orange Bowl title in Florida, won the ladies’ tournament.

English duo Ashley Chesters, who won the European Amateur title in Spain last year, and Jimmy Mullen, who played all four rounds at The Open at Muirfield last summer, are among those competing this year, with the Scots also seeking to shine.

Dunton (McDonald), a member of the Scottish Golf Union’s Men’s Squad, finished third on the domestic Order of Merit in 2013, with Ross (Kirkhill), pictured right, a semi-finalist at the Scottish Amateur Championship last year, a spot behind him. 

Meantime, McKechin (Elderslie) is the reigning Scottish Ladies’ Amateur champion after her victory over Clara Young at Longniddry, while Dryburgh (Beaconsfield), a student at Tulane University, New Orleans, was runner-up in the Ladies’ British amateur stroke play championship at Prestwick last year.

Ahead of golf’s long-awaited return to the Olympics in Brazil in 2016, golf in South America continues to grow in popularity. With the rise of tour stars such as Colombia’s Camilo Villegas and Argentina's Angel Cabrera and Andres Romero, there is real cause for optimism.

“It's a pleasure to be able to support this celebration of elite South American golf, but it's just as rewarding to see the strides that have been made in the game at grassroots level,” added Weir. 

“While Colombia has a population of 47 million and only 51 golf courses, golf in South America continues to evolve. R and A grants are being used to encourage greater participation and develop promising South American golfers.”

Go to www.federacioncolombianadegolf.com for more information on the South American Amateur Championship.