Michael Stewart shoots a 66 on EuroPro Tour - 

but still he is unattached

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Former Scottish boys' champion Michael Stewart, still without an attachment since he turned pro, shot a six-under-par 66 in the first round of this week's PGA EuroPro Tour event at Burhill Golf Club, Surrey. 

The Ayrshire player, pictured, had eight birdies and two bogeys in halves of 34-32.
Surely there is a golf club in Scotland who could offer Stewart an attachment, with or without a retaining fee?
Bradley Neil, the former British amateur champion from Blairgowrie, is in the same boat as Stewart - no club attachment.
Any offers for Neil, then from any golf club in Scotland (or England, for that matter)?
It's funny how some players have no problem getting an attachment. For instance, Kevin McAlpine, now back playing competitively, has hitched up with the Kingsbarns Pro Academy and Comrie's Wallace Booth is now playing out of Glasgow club, Eastwood.
Stewart is lying third in the huge field, two shots behind a 64 from Greg Payne (Chobham) with Chris Lloyd (unattached) second on 65.
Next best Scots to Stewart are Fraser Moore (Glenbervie), Neil Fenwick (Dunbar), Jordan McColl (Kingsbarns Pro Academy) and late finisher Callum Macaulay (Tulliallan), all joint 28th on 71.
Only the leading 50 and ties after the second round will advance to the final round on Friday.

PGA EUROPRO TOUR
Burhill Golf Club, Surrey
LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 72
64 G Payne (Chobham)
65 C Lloyd (unatt)
66 M Stewart (unatt), R Edginton (Royal Wimbledon).

OTHER SCOTS' SCORES
71 F Moore (Glenbervie), N Fenwick (Dunbar), J McColl (Kingsbarns Pro Acad), C Macaulay (Tulliallan) (T28).
72 W Booth (Eastwood), C Lawrie (Paul Lawrie GC) (T58)
73 E Saltman (Archerfield), K McAlpine (Kingsbarns Pro Acad) (T77)
74 K Nicol (Paul Lawrie GC) (T103)
75 R Campbell (Falkirk), J Steven (Clydeway Golf), B Neil (unatt) (T121)
76 N Henderson (Renaissance), L Saltman (Archerfield), C O'Neil (Mearns Castle), Z Saltman (Archerfield), J Hendrick (Pollok) (T130).
78 J Henry (Clydebank and Dist), S Lawrie (Paul Lawrie GC) (T149).
83 S Borrowman (Dollar) (165th)

 Willett only top 20 player at Wentworth this week
  
 ... all because of course they don't like


ESPN.COM
By ALEX PERRY
VIRGINIA WATER, Surrey  -- The BMW PGA Championship has lost its sparkle.
On May 4, between opening presents and blowing out the 27 candles on his birthday cake, Rory McIlroy decided that, like Ian Poulter, Sergio Garcia and Henrik Stenson before him, he wasn't going to play in the European Tour's flagship event, citing a hectic schedule. Justin Rose later pulled out with a back problem.
It means just one player from the world's top 20 -- Masters champion Danny Willett -- will tee it up at Wentworth this week.
McIlroy's withdrawal, while frustrating for European Tour chief executive Keith Pelley and, of course, the fans, is hardly a surprise. He makes little secret of the fact he doesn't like Wentworth's notorious West Course and his record confidently backed up his grumblings. Once he had finally lifted the trophy he'd spent so long struggling to get his hands on, it was common opinion in golfing circles that he would defend his title and that would be it.
Not that his fellow pros are giving him a hard time about it.
"I understand why Rory is not playing," Lee Westwood told reporters at Wentworth. "Unfortunately this time of year there are a lot of tournaments that he enjoys playing in and plays well in.
"I can understand why he went to Quail Hollow and then the Players, and then obviously he wants to support the Irish Open and I know he likes the Memorial. Somewhere along the line, a tournament has to give and unfortunately it's this one. He's supported it in the past, and fair play to him for having won here, and having won last week, as well, at his own tournament and coming back and supporting certain events on the European Tour."

While McIlroy was determined to keep plugging away at Wentworth until he finally cracked it, the likes of Poulter, Stenson and Garcia -- who have all at one point or another voiced their frustrations at Ernie Els' redesigns of the course -- have stayed away.
Westwood is yet to win in his 23 straight years of playing in this affluent corner of Surrey, and he makes no suggestion he is about to give up any time soon.
"It shows the sort of regard I hold the tournament in," he added. "I wouldn't want to miss this week. I've tried to play every year, which obviously I have done. It's somewhere I love coming back to.
"Twenty-three times? Shows how old I'm getting I guess. I've played more times than some of the other players have been on the planet, but there you go. Such is life.
"There are other players that don't like the way this golf course sets up for them, so they miss it because of that. Ideally you would like everybody to play but we don't live in an ideal world. We have to pick and choose where we play, and some people choose not to play this, but I think in general, the top players support The European Tour as much as they can."
Another player who won't be too disappointed to see his main rivals missing from Wentworth is Willett, who is aiming for his first BMW PGA Championship title. The Masters champion's form since Augusta is very much that of a player still punch drunk from juggling the aftermath of winning a first major and welcoming a new-born child into the world: a missed cut at the Players followed by a seven-over-par weekend in Ireland that halted any chances of victory at The K Club.
But Willett insisted he isn't feeling the pressure.
"Coming in as Masters champion [is] a pretty big accolade -- it would have been nice if [McIlroy and Rose] were here to deflect a little bit of that," he joked.
"The expectations are going to be quite high from a lot of other people but I'm not really fussed about other people expecting. I have my own things I want to try and do this week and try and achieve, and from there, hopefully everything pans out nicely and come Sunday we can be in with a chance."

So does Willett, with his new-found fame across the globe, have any plans on skipping Wentworth in the near future?
"Obviously your year is built around majors and World Golf Championships and this one is right in behind it in terms of trying to get it scheduled in so that you pitch up in good form," he said.
"You can't always judge when that's going to happen but you always know it's around the same time of year and just to make sure you've not played too much beforehand, because it's a fantastic golf event.
"It's a pretty special place down here at Wentworth."
Willett's words will be music to the ears of Pelley, who after the abandonment of his biggest names really needs some wins this week -- however small. And with news filtering through that last year's record crowd of 113,640 is expected to be topped in the forthcoming days, that's two in the bag.
Wentworth may have entered its own post-McIlroy era, but the BMW PGA Championship has lost its sparkle? Try telling that to the likes of Westwood, Willett, and the hordes of golf fans getting their fix at one of just four tournaments a year on British soil.
There is life after Rory yet.

 Hutch's East Lothian to Wentworth dash

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Greig Hutcheon shot a final round of 73 for a level par total of 213 and third place in the Tartan Tour's P and H Championship at Renaissance Club, East Lothian - and then set off on the long haul south to Wentworth where he is on the tee today (THURSDAY) in the first round of the European Tour flagship event, the BMW PGA Championship.

For the last few years, Hutcheon has qualified through his PGA in Scotland Order of Merit placing to play at Wentworth and he rates it the highlight of his season.

"I'm playing well with back-to-back pro-am wins and now finishing third in the P and H championship so I am really looking forward to Wentworth tournament," said Greig, who now plays out of the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre Inchmarlo.

Hutch earned £3,500 for finishing  three strokes behind Paul O'Hara and Graham Fox yesterday (Wednesday) when O'Hara won a play-off for the title.

Scott Henderson (Kings Links) and Gavin Hay (Grantown on Spey) tied seventh on 217 and earned £1,040 each.

SCROLL DOWN FOR A FULL REPORT ON THE LAST DAY'S PLAY AND ALL THE FINAL TOTALS

ends

Golf Express 9-hole campaign  goes national - in England   Golf Express – which promotes 9-hole golf to inspire busy people to play more often - is being rolled out nationally by England Golf. The launch coincides with this week’s BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth and follows a successful eight-month trial in Staffordshire when over 4600 9-hole rounds were played. Now clubs across England are invited to join the campaign and promote 9-hole green fees and offers to players on the GolfExpress9.org website. Justin Rose, an England Golf ambassador, often plays 9 holes in practice and describes Golf Express as: “A great way to play all the game in half the time.” On average, a 9-hole round can be played in just two hours, which can fit into a busy lifestyle, and it offers all the health and social benefits of the full game. In a 9-hole round a player will walk two to three miles, take over 5000 steps and burn over 450 calories. The appeal of the 9-hole game, which is compatible with the Rules of Golf and the handicap system, has also prompted the R and A to launch a new 9-hole championship for amateurs and Scottish Golf is also promoting the shorter format. To mark the national launch of Golf Express, England Golf has re-imagined the results of the Major championships of the past five years to find out how they would differ if played over 9 holes. If the Majors had been played over the front 9, Tiger Woods would have won two more titles – an Open and a Masters. If they’d been played over the back 9, Lee Westwood would have won a Masters and Justin Rose would have added another Major to his 2013 US Open title. England Golf’s Club Services and Development Director Richard Flint said: “This research shines a light on the 9-hole game and I hope it encourages more people to get into golf.” Golf Express offers places to play across the country through its online directory at www.golfexpress9.org which also features special offers. Golf clubs are invited to upload their offers via www.englandgolf.org/clubhouse and to take advantage of packs of marketing materials. Follow GolfExpresss on Twitter: www.twitter.com/golfexpress9 Like Golf Express on Facebook: www.facebook.com/golfexpress9 Lyndsey Hewison Press Officer England Golf pr@englandgolf.org 07825 752 193

It's a Clydeway Golf 1-2 as O'Hara beats 

Fox in P and H play-off at Renaissance

       Paul O'Hara with the P and H Championship Trophy. Picture by courtesy of Brian Stewart

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Clydeway Golf players Paul O'Hara and Graham Fox fought out an unexpectedly close finish to the Tartan Tour's £40,000 P and H Championship over 54 holes at the Renaissance Club, near Gullane, East Lothian.
Unexpected, because O'Hara led the field by three shots after two rounds and was six shots ahead of Fox with 18 holes to play.
In the end, Fox caught O'Hara with a final round of 68, birdieing the long third, short sixth, long seventh and long 16th, for a total of three-under-par 210, the same mark as O'Hara who needed a par at the last to win by one but bogeyed it for a 74.

O'Hara had earlier bogeyed the fourth, eighth and ninth, which allowed the charging Fox, to close the gap to one with an outward half of 34 to O'Hara's 39.
But it all came right for O'Hara in the end. He won the play-off with a par at the first extra hole for the title and the £5,600 prize, having already won £1,000 for being the leading trainee after two rounds.
Fox earned £4,200.

Paul parred the first extra hole (the first hole on the course), getting up and down from s greenside bunker. He lipped out from bunker and holed a 2 footer. Graham had been in a bunker off the tee, couldn’t reach the green in two and missed his 10 foot par putt.

 

Greig Hutcheon (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre Inchmarlo) finished third on 213 and earned £3,500. He later flew south from Edinburgh and will be on the tee tomorrow afternoon  at Wentworth in the BMW PGA championship. 
Irishman Brendan McGovern (Headfort), joint second overnight, crashed to a final round of 78 (bogey 14, bogey 17, double bogey 18) and tied for seventh place on 217.
McGovern, who earned £1,040, had won an additional £1,000 for being the leading senior after two rounds. 
Last year's winner, Paul Robinson (Largs) finished last of the final-day qualifiers with an 81 for 228. 
Iain Stoddart (Greenburn) won £1,000 for leading the club pro category after two rounds. He finished tied 17th in the three-round tournament and earned £640 for that.


P AND H CHAMPIONSHIP
Renaissance Club, East Lothian
FINAL TOTALS
par 213 (3x71)
210 P O'Hara (Clydeway Golf) 68 68 74 (£5,600), G Fox (Clydeway Golf) 69 73 68 (£4,200). O'Hara bt Fox at first hole of play-off.
213 G Hutcheon (PLGC Inchmarlo) 71 69 73 (£3,500)
214 C Kelly (unatt) 71 73 70, C Currie (Caldwell) 69 70 75 (£2,750 each).
215 R Munro (Duddingston) 68 73 74 (£2,000).
217 S Henderson (Kings Links) 71 74 72, G Hay (Grantown on Spey) 71 73 73, S Maxwell (Wastwood) 71 73 73, DGilford (Greenway Hall) 74 69 74, B McGovern (Headfort) 74 69 78 (£1,040 each).
218 L Gaughan (Bathgate) 66 79 73 (£650)
219 P Wardell (North Berwick) 73 75 71, C Marr (Musselburgh) 73 73 73, A Forsyth (Mearns Castle) 71 72 786, M Owenson (Gullane) 68 73 78 (£600 each).
220 K McNicoll (Gullane) 72 74 74, J McGhee (Whitehill House) 72 74 74, I Stoddart (Greenburn) 69 74 77 (£540 each). 
221 G Brown (Montrose Links) 73 73 75, S Gray (Lanark) 74 74 73, M Hillson (Kilonquhar Castle) 73 72 76, S MAllister (S McAllister Golf) 74 71 76, R Rafferty (Monte Rei) 70 74 77 (£480 each). 
222 D Orr (Eastwood) 76 72 74, G Robertson (Airdrie) 73 74 75, F Mann (Carnoustie) 73 70 79  (£420 each).
223 C Ronald (Carluke) 75 71 77, L Mann (Carnoustie 73 72 78 (£390 each).
224 C Mathison (Falkirk Tryst) 72 76 76, S Dodds (Coventry) 75 73 76, J McCreadie (Largs) 75 72 77, D Stein (Ranfurly Castle) 76 70 78, C Gordon (Ednburgh GC) 73 73 78 (£335 each).
225 M Kerr (Marriott Dalmahoy) 74 74 77, S Grieve (Turnhouse) 72 76 77, K Kelsall (Quin Direct) 75 73 77, P McKechnie (Braid Hills) 70 73 82 (£310 each).
226 G McDougall (Elderslie) 77 71 78, G Forbes (Mar Hall) 75 73 78, R Arnott (Bishopbriggs) 75 72 79, A Welsh (Cathkin Braes) 72 75 79 (£273 each).
227 M Isaacs (Gamola Golf) 72 76 79, C Robinson (Elderslie) 74 74 79 (£257 each).
228 P Robinson (Largs) 75 72 81 (£250).



TO VIEW ALL THE FINAL TOTALS AND PRIZEMONEY

CLICK HERE 

Cameron's T6 finish in Austria lifts him into 

German Pro Tour Order of Merit top 20

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Ellon's Ross Cameron improved to 18th place on the German PGA Development Tour Order of Merit with a tied sixth place finish in the Adamstal Open at Adamstal Golf Club, Ramsau in Austria today.

Sponsored by Saltire Energy, Cameron, pictured, earned 1,145 euros with rounds of 69, 72 and 67 for a two-under-par aggregate of 208, seven shots behind the winner by three, France's Johann Lopez Lazaro (67-68-66 for 201).
Cameron came home in 31 shots in his final round, thanks to birdies at the 11th, 12th and 16th.
Portlethen's Sam Kiloh finished tied 31st on 218 with scores of 74, 71 and 73.
Ben Collier, the 1990 Scottish U18 boys' champion from Callander, scored 75, 71 and 74 to finished joint 40th on 220.

ADAMSTAL OPEN
Adamstal GC, Ramsau, Austria
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 210 (3x70)
201 J Lopez Lazaro (Fra) 67 68 66
SCOTS' SCORES
208 R Cameron 69 72 67 (T6)
218 S Kiloh 74 71 73 (T31)
220 B Collier 75 71 74 (T40).

Top seniors head to Leicestershire for  English championship An international field of almost 300 men will head to Leicestershire next week to compete for the title of the England’s champion senior golfer.  They’ll play at Kirby Muxloe and Rothley Park Golf Clubs, which will host the 54-hole English senior men’s open championship from Wednesday to Friday, 1-3 June.  The 288 competitors will include defending champion Ian Attoe (Worplesdon); the chief executive of the R&A, Martin Slumbers (Worplesdon); former world speedway champion Dave Jessup (Wrotham Heath); and Charlie Banks (Stanton on the Wolds), a past winner of the Brabazon Trophy, one of the majors of amateur golf.  A host of senior internationals will take part, while in-form players include the current England Golf senior order of merit leader, Mike Ready (Old Fold Manor). Ready and Andrew Carman (Coventry) tied second in the Irish seniors; and Andrew Stracey (Denham), winner of the North of Scotland seniors’ open at Elgin.  The lowest handicapper in the field is Rupert Kellock (Sunningdale), who plays off plus-2.5 and who celebrates his 55th birthday on May 31, making him eligible for the championship by just one day. Players are travelling from far and wide and the field includes representatives of Canada, New Zealand, Australia and Italy – as well as 15 from clubs in Leicestershire and Rutland.  Kirby Muxloe has two players in the event: past captain Peter Dawson and Mark Riley. In addition, Graham Webb, another past captain and the current County President, will be England Golf’s chief referee at the championship. Rothley Park will have three players to follow: Gary Baines, and two past club champions, Ian Anderson and John Hardwick.  This is the first time either club has hosted an England Golf national championship and both are looking forward to it. Kirby Muxloe manager, Terry Walker, commented: “There’s definitely a lot of excitement at the club and members are looking forward to seeing how the players tackle the course.  “The players will find it a fair but testing challenge and it will ask them to use every club in the bag. There are three particularly long par-fours and two have water features short of the green, prompting decisions about whether to go for it or to lay up.”  At Rothley Park, club manager Danny Spillane said: “The club as a whole is delighted and proud to be part of the championship.”  And his verdict on the challenge of the course: “I think it will test their shot making, their positional play and their patience. It’s not over-long, although it can play long, and the long, narrow greens are the defence of this course.” The championship will be played over 54 holes of stroke play over three days. All competitors will play 18 holes on each of the two courses over the first two days. The field will then be cut to the leading 80 competitors and ties who will play a further 18 holes on the third day at Kirby Muxloe. Click here for the championship webpage Picture caption: Defending champion Ian Attoe (image © Leaderboard Photography). Lyndsey Hewison Press Officer England Golf pr@englandgolf.org 07825 752 193

P and H CHAMPIONSHIP AT RENAISSANCE

 O'Hara, McGovern, Stoddart win £1,000 each

for topping categories over two rounds

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Paul O'Hara (Clydeway Golf), leading the chase for a bigger prize over the final round of the Tartan Tour's 54-hole P and H Championship at the Renaissance Club, East Lothian, has already won £1,000 for heading the "Trainee" Category at the end of the second round.

Irishman Brendan McGovern (Headfort) won £1,000 for toppin the "Seniors" Category and the "Club Pros" category £1,000 was won by Iain Stoddart (Greenburn).

CLUBS PROS

					1 Iain Stoddart  Greenburn Golf Club +3 F +1 69 74 143 £1,000.00 2 James McGhee  Whitehill House Golf Club +1 F +2 72 72 144 £750.00 3 Mark Hillson  Kilconquhar Castle Estate +1 F +3 73 72 145 £500.00 4 Craig Ronald  Carluke Golf Club E F +4 75 71 146 £400.00 T5 Scott Grieve  Turnhouse Golf Club +5 F +6 72 76 148 £175.00 T5 David Orr  Eastwood Golf Club +1 F +6 76 72 148 £175.00
					SENIORS

1	Brendan McGovern  Headfort Golf Club	-1	F	-3	69	70	139		£1,000.00
T2	Fraser Mann  Carnoustie Golf Links	-1	F	+1	73	70	143		£625.00
T2	David Gilford  Greenway Hall Golf Club	-2	F	+1	74	69	143		£625.00
4	Ronan Rafferty  Monte Rei Golf & Country Club	+3	F	+2	70	74	144		£400.00
T5	Lindsay Mann  Carnoustie Golf Links	+1	F	+3	73	72	145		£175.00
T5	Stephen McAllister  Stephen McAllister Golf	E	F	+3	74	71	145		£175.00

    TRAINEES

1	Paul O'Hara  Clydeway Golf	-3	F	-6	68	68	136		£1,000.00
T2	Marc Owenson  Gullane Golf Club	+2	F	-1	68	73	141		£625.00
T2	Ross Munro  Duddingston Golf Club	+2	F	-1	68	73	141		£625.00
4	Alastair Forsyth  Mearns Castle Golf Academy	+1	F	+1	71	72	143		£400.00
T5	Steven Maxwell  Eastwood Golf Club	+2	F	+2	71	73	144		£175.00
T5	Gavin Hay  Grantown-on-Spey Golf Club	+2	F	+2	71	73	144		£175.00

					1 Iain Stoddart  Greenburn Golf Club +3 F +1 69 74 143 £1,000.00 2 James McGhee  Whitehill House Golf Club +1 F +2 72 72 144 £750.00 3 Mark Hillson  Kilconquhar Castle Estate +1 F +3 73 72 145 £500.00 4 Craig Ronald  Carluke Golf Club E F +4 75 71 146 £400.00 T5 Scott Grieve  Turnhouse Golf Club +5 F +6 72 76 148 £175.00 T5 David Orr  Eastwood Golf Club +1 F +6 76 72 148 £175.00
					SENIORS

ANGUS BOYS' TEAM FOR GRANGEMOUTH

The Angus team for the Scottish boys' area team golf championship at Grangemouth Golf Club on Sunday, June 5 is:

Jamie Connelly (Carnoustie Caledonia), Harry George (Downfield), David Grant (Downfield), Aidan Smith (Edzell).

Lanarkshire Seniors enjoyed a day of glorious sunshine for the County Seniors Handicap competition at Strathaven Golf club.

There werer 161 entries and all raved about the magnificent condition of the course and superb clubhouse facilities.

Harry Miller of Larkhall was the winner of the scratch prize with a 72 and Alan Watson of Hamilton had the day's best net score with a 63.

Willie Sharpe

Press Officer

Lanarkshire GA

LANARKSHIRE  GOLF  ASSOCIATION

SENIORS  HANDICAP  COMPETITION  24  MAY 2016 – STRATHAVEN G.C.

     

                               Entries:  161   

                                                                                                       CSS -   72

Winners      

Class 1        1^st        Ian Doole           Airdrie                      76-7      69  bih            £75  voucher

age 50-59    2^nd         Brian Clements      Kirkhill                 80-11    69                 £50

                   3^rd         Carl C Saunders     Strathaven              81-11    70 bih          £25

Class 2         1^st          B Findlay      Carluke                            79-14      65 bih        £75

60-64           2^nd        Glen G Woodland     Strathaven              74-9        65             £50

                   3^rd        Brian  Harvie      Shotts                              74-5       69             £25                      

Class 3         1^st        Cyril  Scott          Kirkhill                          77-13    64              £75

65-69           2^nd        Alistair McVittie      Cambuslang               90-18    72 bih       £50 

                   3^rd         Tom Millar        Shotts                               80-8   72             £25

                    

Class 4         1^st       J McManus       Drumpellier                     78-10    68          £75 

70+                          2^nd        James Wells        Strathaven         93-23   70 bih        £50

                   3^rd        Alan J Murphy       Kirkhill                        82-12   70              £25         

                                          

Scratch           Frank B. Craig Golf Quaich

 1^st   Harry Miller   Larkhall   72    £100       

2^nd    J J Smith   Cambuslang  73  bih  ££50                                                                                  3^rd     3rd  D Cardwell    Hamilton     73   £25

                      Handicap Winner      Frank B Craig Trophy

                   1^st        Alan Watson     Hamilton      78-15    63        £100

  

Fourteen Aussie prospects heading for 

Scotland and Wales

by Mark Hayes

Charlie Dann representing Queensland at the recent Interstate Series.

For 14 of Australia’s brightest young prospects, Scotland and Wales is home for a month of invaluable on-the-fly golfing lessons.
Queenslanders Charlie Dann, Anthony Quayle and Steven Cox, New South Welshmen Cam Davis, Blake Windred, Harrison Endycott and Travis Smyth, West Australian Kiran Day, South Australian Matt Lisk and Victorians David Micheluzzi, Cameron John, Brett Coletta, Zach Murray and Blake Collyer are all part of what Golf Australia high performance director Brad James describes as an “incredible golf and lifetime investment”.
“These athletes have the chance to compete in several outstandingly run tournaments and an international challenge of which we’re a part – it’s a tremendous learning opportunity,” James said.
“It’s a chance for them to gain enormous international experience, not only of some great British courses which many of them have never seen, but also to test themselves against the best in the world.
“It’s just a brilliant investment in their future development if they decide to take golf on as a career down the road.”
Under the guidance of a rotating series of Golf Australia national coaches, various combinations of the 14 young men will play in a series of events beginning this week at the Scottish stroke play championship at Gullane, near Edinburgh.
After a practice round at nearby Renaissance Club next Monday, the troupe heads to the “home of golf” for next week’s St Andrews Links Trophy (June 3 to 5).
South-west through Glasgow, the Aussie contingent then gathers in Kilmarnock for a growing tradition, a two-day match against Scotland, with England and South Africa also possible opponents.
Following that, the group heads south into Wales for the British Amateur Championship to be played at the Royal Porthcawl and Pyle and Kenfig courses west of Cardiff from June 13-18.
“It’s a brilliant itinerary for any young golfer,” James said.
“They’ll learn a lot both from their opponents and the courses. We put great stock in our relationships with Scottish Golf and England Golf – and the relationships we’ve struck with them really benefit everyone.”
“In particular, that match against Scotland really shows how tight our relationship is and that’s a ripping couple of days of really competitive and instructive golf – we can’t wait.”