Sunday, June 25, 2006

SCOTTISH YOUTHS TITLE GOES TO SPAIN

FRANCISCO (16) , COACHED AT KINGSACRE

WINS AT MORTONHALL  

 

 

FRANCISCO Pintor , only 16, became not only the first Spanish winner but also possibly the youngest ever holder of the title at the conclusion of the Scottish youths’ open amateur stroke-play golf championship at Mortonhall Golf Club, Edinburgh today. 

Francisco, from Alicante, came from four shots off the pace at the halfway stage to go two clear of the field with a four-under-par 68 in the third round. A closing 74 was good enough to see him win the Under-21s' title by two shots with a total of four-under-par 284.

Scottish boys match-play champion James White Lundin) and Ross Kellett (Colville Park) were joint runners-up on 286.

Halfway leader Steven McEwan (Barassie) faded with closing rounds of 74 and 76 to a level par total of 288 which earned him joint fourth place.

Pintor described the win as the biggest of his career, and hopes it will secure his place in Spain’s side for the European boys’ team championship next month.

He said: “I have won county championships in Spain, but never a national title, so this is really special. t is also my first time playing in Scotland, so I am delighted to have played so well here.

“I knew that I was playing well, and the course really suited my game, so I was hoping to do well in the event.

Pintor flies over to Scotland every three months to receive tuition from Kingsacre Golf Centre, Edinburgh headoach Alan Murdoch. It was on Alan’s advice that young Francisco entered the Scottish youths open championship.

The trophy will now head back to Kingsacre – the home of former Scottish youths champion and European Tour player Andrew Oldcorn.

McEwan cut Pintor’s lead to just one shot after the first hole of the final round. The Spaniard bogeyed the par-4 hole to slip back to five under par.

Pintor’s nervous start continued with bogeys at the second and fourth as he approached the turn at three over par for his round.

McEwan kept up the challenge with an eagle 3 at the eighth  but his bid for the title crumbled with consecutive bogeys at the 14th and 15th. 

 

A fantastic birdie at the last hole – his first at the tricky 18th – was enough for Pintor to become the first Spaniard to secure the title.

 

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home

Copyright © Colin Farquharson

If you can't find what you are looking for.... please check the Archive List or search this site with Google