FirstPoint USA News
July 20, 2009
After Turnberry’s links tested the greatest names in world golf last weekend, the next generation of elite players will maintain the focus upon Scottish golf as they bid to take their own place in the game’s great history when the firstpointusa.com Scottish Boys Stroke Play Championship gets underway tomorrow (21 – 23 July).
Among the front runners at Ladybank in Fife will be Hazlehead’s David Law, one of a number of golfing prospects to have emerged from the north east who are in this week’s line up. As the reigning Scottish Boys Champion, Law faces a strong field as he aims to join the small group who have claimed the much coveted and elusive ‘double’. Only four players since the inaugural event in 1971 have claimed both the match play and stroke play titles, with Scott Henry in 2005 and 2006 the most recent to have achieved the feat.
Last year’s match play winner Michael Stewart saw his ‘bid for the double’ de-railed by Mark Bookless from Sandyhills who is too old to defend his title. However several with experience of winning on this season’s Junior Tour are among those keen to take Scotland’s second Boys Major of the season. Scottish boys cap Paul Shields is another of the pre-tournament favourites having proven his calibre after coming come close twice to taking the Boys match play crown. The Kirkhill player will be hopeful of going one step further in the 72-hole stroke play event.
Inchmarlo’s Chris Robb – team-mate of both Law and Shields in the recent European Boys Team Championship provided a fierce challenge in his semi final bout with Law when he was on his way to that first national title at the match play championship and will be considered one of the main contenders. However the Scots face stiff competition from south of the border, as well as a strong overseas contingent with Matthias Kaufmann from Austria the lowest handicapper in the 144 strong field on +2.5. Kauffman is one of 11 plus handicappers in the field who could challenge for the silverware.
Managing Director of firstpointusa.com Andrew Kean said ahead of the tournament, “We are very proud to be supporting the Scottish Boys Stroke Play Championship at Ladybank for a second year. In recent years the tournament has helped to provide a great stepping stone for young elite amateurs, some of whom have since entered the paid ranks and we are delighted to be associated with this national championship.
“Firstpointusa.com have been involved with many young golfers’ US scholarship programmes in recent years, including World Championship winners Gavin Dear and Callum Macaulay and European Tour star Danny Willett. We are keen to assist any young players considering that process and our relationship with the SGU is helping that.”
Firstpointusa.com are also sponsors of the Scottish U16’s Stroke Play Championship, won recently by Grant Forrest (Craigielaw) who is currently on international duty for Scotland, but former U16 Champion Ian Redford and 2006 U14 Champ Paul McPhee are among those challenging for this week’s title.
To view the full draw for the 2009 firstpointusa.com Scottish Boys Stroke Play Championship, please visit www.scottishgolf.org.