Scotland team for Men's Home Internationals

Champion MacIntyre Earns Men’s Debut as 

Hume Returns to International Ranks

 

SGU NEWS RELEASE

Newly-crowned Fairstone Scottish Amateur champion Robert MacIntyre and former winner Barry Hume have been named in the Scotland side for next week’s Home Internationals. 

MacIntyre’s reward for victory over Craigie Hill’s Daniel Young at Muirfield on Saturday is a first Men’s cap, after the Glencruitten teenager became the first left-hander in living memory to win the title and the first title-winning player from Argyll and Bute since 1935.

Hume, who claimed the Scottish Amateur crown in 2001 before joining the professional ranks, is also in the 11-man team bound for Royal Portrush – 14 years after his last appearance for Scotland. 

The 33-year-old from Haggs Castle reached the quarter-finals at Muirfield and has also posted five other top-20 finishes this season to earn his return for the annual home nation matches from 12 – 14 August.

While European Amateur Team winners Grant Forrest and Ewen Ferguson are unable to compete due to qualifying for the forthcoming US Amateur Championship, the Scots retain a strong side as they seek their first Home Internationals crown since victory on home soil at Gailes Links in 2012. 

The other four members from Scotland’s victorious European team in Sweden last month all tee up, namely Graeme Robertson – who is making his fifth Homes appearance – Jack McDonald, Greig Marchbank and Connor Syme.

Reigning South African Amateur winner Young, former Scottish Boys champion Craig Howie and Kirkhill’s Craig Ross, the recent winner of the Chiberta Grand Prix, are also in the line-up. 

Kilmacolm’s Matt Clark adds his experience with a fourth straight Home Internationals appearance, with Ryan Campbell from Falkirk joining MacIntyre and Howie as new caps at this level.

National Coach Ian Rae said: “It’s an experienced team with some new faces who deserve their chance. We’ll look to try and build on our win at the European Amateur Team Championship and always enjoy the annual competition that the Home Internationals provide.” 

Hume, who was out of amateur golf for 10 years before returning in 2013, said: “I feel like I’ve played at a pretty consistent level last season and this season.

“I feel as though I’ve built my way up through local golf, county golf and up to the national level. I felt if I showed that kind of formula, as I did when I was younger, it would lead to this sort of thing. 

“From what I’ve seen, quite a number of the younger lads have really kicked on in the last 12 months, so to be considered to play with those boys is pleasing. I don’t want this to be just a one off for me.”

Hume, part of the winning Scotland side at the Home Internationals in 2000, added: “The Home Internationals at Royal Portrush was certainly something I highlighted to try and achieve, as it’s a course I’ve always wanted to play. I would rate our chances as strong next week.”

 

Scotland Team for the Home Internationals (club and age in brackets):

 

·         Ryan Campbell (Falkirk, 23)

·         Matt Clark (Kilmacolm, 33)

·         Craig Howie (Peebles, 20)

·         Barry Hume (Haggs Castle, 33)

·         Greig Marchbank (Thornhill, 21)

·         Robert MacIntyre (Glencruitten, 19)

·         Jack McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie, 22)

·         Graeme Robertson (Glenbervie, 27)

·         Craig Ross (Kirkhill, 22)

·         Connor Syme (Drumoig, 20)

·         Daniel Young (Craigie Hill, 23)

The Scotland side is selected via the top five players on the World Amateur Golf Ranking, the top two on the SGU Men’s Order of Merit and four selectors’ picks.

 

 

Ed Hodge