P AND K BID TO RETAIN SCOTTISH AREA TEAM TITLE AT CRAIL
SGU MEDIA RELEASE
A
Perth and Kinross side, spearheaded by Scottish boys' champion Bradley
Neil, will seek to retain the GolfKings Scottish Area Team Championship
over the impressive links of Crail Golfing Society this weekend (18 – 19
May).
The
championship, which has attracted a new two-year sponsorship deal in the
shape of Glasgow-based golf holiday specialists GolfKings Travel,
brings together the Scottish Golf Union’s 16 Area Associations who will
converge on the East
Neuk of Fife in pursuit of the coveted title.
Twelve
months ago, on home turf at Blairgowrie, the Perth and Kinross outfit
secured their first win in 10 years after beating Fife 3.5 – 1.5 in a
closely-contested final.
Five
members of last year’s six-man team return to defend the crown, with
Liam Barn joining the winning quintet of Neil, Glenn Campbell, Stuart
Graham, Mark Cameron and Scott Michie, while Stuart McKendrick again
captains the side.
Neil,
who defeated Ewan Scott in the Boys’ final at Monifieth last month, is
now hoping for more success as Perth & Kinross seek to become the
first side since the Lothians in 2007 to successfully defend.
“It
was a special win for everyone in our Area last year,” said Neil, the
17-year-old Great Britain & Ireland Boys’ international. “It was
also nice to win on home soil at Blairgowrie.
“Crail
provides a different test but we’re all feeling confident and looking
forward to a great weekend of golf. Personally, I’ve had a good start to
the season, coming runner-up in the Fairhaven Trophies as well, and I
want to keep that
going in the team environment.”
Neil
is far from the only SGU Boys’ Performance Squad player competing, with
St Andrews’ Scott and Ewen Ferguson (Bearsden) turning out for Fife and
Dumbartonshire respectively.
The
newly-crowned Golf Data Lab Scottish Youths champion Robert MacIntyre,
still only 16, also lines up for Argyll and Bute, while Calum Hill and
Anthony Blaney, both feature for the 13-time champions Lothians.
Stirlingshire, bronze medal winners last
year and without a win in the event since 1981, are led by in-form
Graeme Robertson of Glenbervie, who was beaten in a play-off at the
Irish Amateur Stroke Play last weekend.
Fife, winners in 2011, also include
experienced pair James White and Scott Crichton, while the 2010 victors,
North East, field Adam Dunton among their number.
Renfrewshire, the champions four years
ago, have named former amateur champion Craig Watson, Matthew Clark and
Michael Daily in a strong line-up. The North will also fancy their
chances with former Scottish Youths champion Lyle McAlpine
and Bryan Fotheringham, a semi-finalist in last year’s Scottish Amateur
Championship, both teeing-up.
GolfKings Travel, part of the John
Semple Travel Group, will sponsor the championship for the first time at
Crail and will soon be launching a new golf travel partnership with the
SGU, offering added value to golf club members across Scotland.
Neil MacRae, a former GB and I Boys and
Scotland international, is the GolfKings Travel Sales Director and is
pleased to be providing his company’s support to amateur golf. “We are
delighted to be launching our new partnership with the Scottish
Golf Union this weekend and looking forward to the Scottish Area Team
Championship at Crail this weekend,” he said.
"We have some exciting plans for working
with the SGU through their new website, providing added value to golf
club members through our range of travel packages and also lending our
expertise for the national squads' overseas travel logistics.
"A significant proportion of our
customers are members of clubs in Scotland, so the sponsorship is a
great fit for both parties."
The Crail Golfing Society is the world’s seventh oldest golf club and provides a fantastic setting for this year’s championship.
Saturday’s stroke play qualifying will
be played over the historic Balcomie Links, created by the Old Master
himself, Tom Morris, and the Gil Hanse-designed Craighead Links, with
the four leading teams then playing off on Sunday in a match
play format.
The five lowest scores in each of the
two qualifying stroke play rounds will count towards each team’s
aggregate score. The match play stage comprises one foursome and four
singles ties.
Ed Hodge
PR and Media Executive
Scottish Golf Union
Direct Line: 01334 466483
Mobile No: 07850 772166Labels: Amateur Men
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