WORLD HICKORY OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

ZACK SALTMAN (17) BEATS THE PROS
TO WIN TITLE OVER HOME COURSE

Zack Saltman, at 17 the youngest of the talent trio of brothers who are members of Craigielaw Golf Club, can now boast something that even Walker Cup player Lloyd Saltman has not managed – yet! – and that’s a world title.
Zack, pictured right by Gillian Kirkwood, beat a field of professionals and amateurs to win the World Hickory Open championship over his home course.
Master Saltman, a member of the title-winning Scotland team at Lossiemouth this summer in the boys’ home internationals, shot a four-under-par 67 to win the title by one shot from East Renfrewshire professional David Orr. David won £1,250.
Third was the late Jessie Valentine’s grandson, Richard Valentine, also a member of the host club and golf director at Loretto School, Musselburgh.
Richard had a 69 to win £1,000.
Competitors were permitted to use only five golf clubs, all of which had to pre-date 1935. Replica clubs were not permitted. Competitors also were restricted to 1.68 soft golf balls.
Zack’s victory will help erase the memory of letting the Scottish boys’ open stroke-play title slip out of his grasp over the last couple of holes at Alloa near the end of July.
"It's quite a strange feeling, but to be world champion at anything is great," he said.
"Playing with the hickories was great fun."

FINAL SCORES
Par 71
67 Zack Saltman (Craigielaw) (am).
68 David Orr (East Renfrewshire) £1,250.
69 Richard Valentine (Craigielaw) £1,000.
71 Gary McFarlane (Clydebank & Dist) £750.
73 Euan Cameron (Hamilton), Lee Vannet (Carnoustie GL), Jamie Stevenson (Braehead) £496 each, Mark Hillson (Craigielaw) (am).
75 Stewart Whiteford (Wellsgreen GR), Nick Holligan (Royal Burgess) £345 each.
76 Warren Sargent (Towerlands), Alan Lockhart (Ladybank), Paul Wardell (Whitekirk), Bernard Gallacher OBE (Wentworth), Mark King (Kingsfield GR) £250 each, Elliott Saltman (Craigielaw) (am).
77 Brian Dunbar (Deer Park), Paul Malone (Braid Hills GC), Fraser Mclaughlan (Bothwell Castle), Andrew Marshall (Houston GR), Hans Warner (Stockholm), Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs GR), Jonathan Porteous (Craigielaw), Fraser Mann (Musselburgh), Paul Gilbert (Temple) £167 each.
79 Jacky Montgomery (Dunbar) £144, Lloyd Saltman (Craigielaw) (am).
80 Jody Rostock (Carnegie Club), Colin White (Prestwick DR), Michael Stevens (Bay Palms GC), Gary Dingwall (Royal Dornoch) £139 each, Gordon Hillson (Craigielaw) (am), Scott Patrick (Glen) (am).
81 Steven Moir (Aboyne), David MacMullen (Marriott Dalmahoy), Alan McCloskey (Bothwell Castle), Bob Strachan (Myrus Golf Range) £131 each.
82 Gordon Law (Uphall), Neil Colquhoun (Merchants of Edinburgh) £125 each, Steven Doyle (Liberton) (am).
84 Richard Fyvie (Pumpherston), David Thomson (Carnegie Club), Steven Thomson (Castle Golf DR) £120 each, David Kerr (Liberton) (am).
85 George Peper (R&A) (am).
88 Paul Middleton (Liberton) (am).
89 Anthony Minshall (Hill Valley) £116, Cameron Barrie (Kilspindie) (am), William Stephens (Kendal) (am).
91 John Little (Liberton) (am).
97 Ian Hislop (Torphin Hill) (am).
Withdrew: Chris Kelly (Cawder), Graeme McInnes (Murcar), Murray Urquhart (Inverness), Barry Hollywood (unatt), Neil Hogarth (Craigielaw) (am).