Recalling the late, great Finlay Morris and 

introducing another Finlay (11) in N Z

  FROM ANDREW McKECHNIE

I am writing to you very late on from when Scottishgolfview.com posted an article on the late  Finlay Morris (pictured below). However, I have just stumbled across this now on the internet. 

My Name is Andrew McKechnie.  My father Andrew McKechnie (snr),  has always spoken about Finlay Morris being an outstanding golfer who was undoubtedly on course to take the golfing world by storm before he was tragically taken at such a very young age. 

My Father Andrew is from Glasgow and also played at Cawder.  You may already know Andrew or heard of him; who in his own right was also, and still is a fantastic golfer.  At the age now of 64 - he still plays to a +1 and represents New Zealand regularly at an international seniors level.   

Our family immigrated to New Zealand back in 1978, but have regularly visited Scotland to see family and friends over the past 30 years.  In fact dad was back in Glasgow with my mother Jackie just the other month and had the privilege of playing back at Cawder for a couple of rounds, which dad immensely enjoyed!

More to my point of contacting you… My son Finlay McKechnie (11yrs) is showing an amazing future in golf himself here in Auckland New Zealand.  He’s still learning his craft but has an amazing talent and love for the game and we are doing our best to further develop and nurture this talent.   Maybe there’s some DNA there that by-passed me from my father and landed with my sonJJJ

Even though I never knew about Finlay Morris in any great detail, I have always been intrigued with the stories shared by my father and of course now reading your wonderful article.  What he may have been - we will never know, but like you have so correctly mentioned, no doubt he would’ve been one of the best!!!

I now tell my son Finlay about a young boy who he shares a name with from Scotland and what an amazing golfer he was.  I hope by doing this, it keeps Finlay Morris’s spirit alive.  Again, someone I never knew, but feel very connected to through the stories shared and the golfing connection through my dad and now my son.

My son Finlay (pictured left) has said that if he ever makes it on the golfing scene (and I believe he will), he will dedicate his first national championship to the memory of Finlay Morris.  Someone he never knew, but something that both my father and I think is very special and I couldn’t help but share that with you.

After reading your very well written article on Finlay Morris, I couldn’t help but write to you and share my story in an attempt to keep this very special lads spirit and name alive!  I do hope this has done that!

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Kind regards,

Andrew McKechnie