Lochgelly lad wins Barrie Douglas

 

 Junior Masters at Strathmore

 

 Barrie Douglas Foundation trustee Spencer Henderson, girls champion Carmen Griffiths, U16 winner Gregor Graham, U18 champion Dean Walsh and Barrie's widow Tish Douglas. Pic: Stuart Cowper Photography
 

     Carmen Griffiths wins girls' title


LOCHGELLY’S Dean Walsh will be heading for a golf scholarship in the USA buoyed by his first national title win.

The Scotland international captured the U18 Blackadders Barrie Douglas Foundation Scottish Junior Masters at the Strathmore Golf Centre.

Open champion and Ryder Cup star Paul Lawrie took in the final round, with category winners enjoying passports to the “Race to the Machrie.”

The end of season junior event in Islay has been teed-up by his Foundation along with the Barrie Douglas and Stephen Gallacher Foundations.

 “I was hugely impressed with  impressive set-up, especially when you consider the Foundation created in memory of Barrie has only been going for a couple of years,” said Lawrie.

“It was good to see so many volunteers pulling together and working hard to make sure the kids had a great time.

 

“We do what we do because we want to see youngsters out playing golf with smiles on their faces.”

 

Fifer Walsh was the only player in the field to finish under par, posting cards of 76, 67 and 71 in testing conditions at the Perthshire venue.

His two under 214 tally ensured a four stroke victory over second placed Lachlan Reynolds (Hilton Park).

Longniddry’s Cameron Gallagher pipped Muckart’s Andrew Thornton to third spot with a better final round after they were locked on 219.

Walsh (18), who is bound for Iowa Western College, said: “The win is up there with representing Scotland as the best day of my career so far.

“I was really struggling with my putting going into the tournament but I was five under on Saturday and that was the turning point for me.

“It was really windy for the final round so I just had to grind it out.

“My consistency was probably the most pleasing thing about my game and it was helped by putting on the best greens I have seen for a while.”

The U16 title was retained by Blairgowrie’s 2019 Order of Merit leader Gregor Graham, who saw-off the challenge of Nairn’s Calum Scott in a play-off after the Scotland teammates finished tied on two over 218.

The inaugural girls title was claimed by Aboyne Golf Club’s Carmen Griffiths.

The 15-year-old posted rounds of 72, 70 and 81 for a four-over 223 total, one ahead of Strathmore’s Megan Ashley.

Foundation trustee and top Scots coach Spencer Henderson paid tribute to the Strathmore team for providing a “magnificent venue” for the three-day event.