GOLFKINGS SCOTTISH AREA CHAMPIONSHIP

IRISH CHAMPION JAMIE PLANS SAVAGE 

ATTACK FOR GLASGOW TEAM 

PREVIEW FROM SCOTTISH GOLF UNION

Newly-crowned Irish open amateur stroke-play champion Jamie Savage (pictured) hopes to continue his form by helping Glasgow to a first GolfKings Scottish area team championship success in over 20 years this weekend. 

The 19-year-old is on a high after winning the biggest event of his amateur career at the Royal Dublin club on Sunday, seeing off a strong international field to claim the 72-hole stroke-play title.

SGU National Squad player Savage, the first Scot to win a premier stroke play event on the GB and I circuit for five years, has quickly turned his attentions to team golf for the three-day competition over two Renfrewshire courses from tomorrow, Ranfurly Castle andOld Course Ranfurly. 

The leading amateur team championship in Scotland, contested by the 16 area associations of the Scottish Golf Union, see six-player sides compete in a stroke-play qualifying format with the leading teams qualifying for the match-play final stages.

Glasgow last won the event in 1991 at Elgin and Savage, together with the likes of former Scottish Amateur champion Barry Hume and Boys international George Burns, is hoping for more success as they seek to take the crown from defending champions Fife. 

“We will see how we go this weekend, we hope to do well,” said the Cawder player. “We lost in the semi-finals to Fife last year and I think it’s pretty open this year, there is not really a favourite. Fife, though, have done well in the event of late, winning two of the last three.”

On his Irish win, where Savage finished level par for a two-shot win, he added: “I just managed to grind it out. I had a game plan at the start of the week, having played the course last year, and just stuck to it. I played really well and was in no trouble. 

“It means a lot to me, and it’s a good feeling knowing all the practice and hard work over the winter away with the SGU squad and the support team in the UAE and South Africa has paid off. The support has helped a lot.”

Fife, who beat Lothians 3.5–1.5 in the weather-delayed final at Crail12 months ago, name a much-changed line-up for 2014, with Scottish boys championship finalist Ben Kinsley among their number. 

Lothians, area champions a record 13 times since the tournament was inaugurated in 1977, have picked in-form US-based college pair Calum Hill and Greg Smail in their line-up, with reigning Scottish amateur champion Alexander Culverwell a late withdrawal due to injury and Anthony Blaney coming in.

Home hopes rest with the likes of Matt Clark, recently back from playing in the inaugural Concession Cup in America, while Scott Borrowman, who successfully defended the Scottish Champion of Champions crown last month, and Robert MacIntyre, twice a national winner in 2013, will hope to shine for Clackmannanshire and Argyll and Bute respectively. 

Stirlingshire, who reached the semi-finals last year, will rely on the experience of Graeme Robertson while Dumbartonshire have the youth of Ewen Ferguson, the British and Scottish boys champion.

The Scottish area team championship is sponsored by GolfKings, Scotland's leading specialist golf travel operator.

 

View the draw for GolfKings Scottish Area Team Championship