FOUNDATION TEAM ON FORM AT BLAIRGOWRIE

FROM BANNERMAN MEDIA

THE Barrie Douglas Foundation team emerged victorious in the 2018 Blairgowrie US Junior Invitational.

The U18 Scottish select, which included some of the country’s top prospects, defeated national boys champions Perth and Kinross by 3.5 to 0.5 in the final.

The Foundation team, captained by Cameron Gallagher (Longniddry), featured Sean Logue (Royal Montrose), Connor Wilson (Castle Park), Liam Waldron (Royal Aberdeen), Dean Walsh (Lochgelly) and Aaron Hall (Kilspindie).

The home players saw off the challenge posed by teams drawn from eight US States who were confronted by conditions alien to competitions back home.

The three-day event followed a Ryder Cup format and the Scots handled the links-like, tree-lined fairways better than the American visitors.

The annual trans-Atlantic challenge has mushroomed, with more than 60 tourists staying in the area.

Arizona golf coach Brian Vogner, who organised the event in tandem with Blairgowrie junior convener Neil Wilkie, praised the Perthshire club for rolling out the welcome mat and laying on a well-organised tournament.

“It has been a wonderful event. We brought over high school teams representing Arizona, Idaho, Florida, Utah, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa and Missouri, with six state champions involved,” he said.

“We have some very good young players, who learned a few lessons from the Scots.

“The standard of Scottish golf is obviously very good and our guys found the style of play very different.

“They are used to hitting the ball very high and having it land softly but we don’t have that with the links-style golf we had here after your unusual summer weather.

“It’s good to see our players learning that you don’t always have to overpower a golf course.

“And some of our boys had never played matchplay golf. It has been such a good experience.

“This all began with just four boys coming over and this year we had 36 athletes here, with St Andrews and North Berwick also on our schedule.

“Blairgowrie Golf Club and Perth and Kinross County organise everything superbly and is run so professionally. We get such a warm welcome from members.

“It is an amazing place. There aren’t many places in the world like Blairgowrie Golf Club.”

Steven Morgan, Blairgowrie managing secretary, added: “It’s been a wonderful three days of great competition but the guys have all made good friends and contacts.

“Hopefully it is something we can build on in the future. I know our own Blairgowrie lads relished it and were proud of showing the Americans round their home courses, which are in superb condition.”

Steven Morgan (Blairgowrie managing secretary) congratulates Perth and Kinross captain Andrew Thornton and his runners-up, from left, Declan Gray, Fraser Matthews, Finlay Hamilton, Harry Clark and Andrew Scott

Tish Douglas, Susan Soutar and other charity supporters congratulate Cameron Gallagher, captain of the Barrie Douglas Foundation team, which won the Blairgowrie US Junior International.