(SGU news release)
No-one is surprised that the 18-year-old Haydn Porteous, the highest ranked amateur in the field, is back for the 12th edition of The Duke of York Young Champions Trophy which takes place at Royal Troon next week (11th – 13th September).
Last year at Royal Liverpool, the South African Porteous was just one shot away from making the play-off in which England’s Harry Casey defeated the European Young Masters girls’ champion, Harang Lee.
Porteous has packed plenty of experience under his belt since that week. This owner of a +5 handicap has won the 2012 South African Match and Stroke Play Championships, besides finishing second behind Paul Barjon in the Scottish Stroke Play Championship at Kilmarnock (Barassie). In the process, he has earned himself a reputation for being at his best down the stretch. In winning the South African Stroke Play, he came from behind with two birdies in the last four holes; at Barassie, he soared up the leaderboard with an eagle, birdie, birdie finish.
After the Young Champions Trophy, Porteous will be representing his country in the World Amateur Team Championships in Turkey in early October. Yet however impressive his credentials, he is likely to have a tough time of it at Royal Troon.
In a year when the field takes in 58 champions from 33 countries, with handicaps averaging out at a remarkable +2, Gavin Hall from the USA, Rigel Fernandes from India, Tyler Hodge from New Zealand, Kenta Konoshi from Japan and Scots pair Craig Howie and Greig Marchbank are just five who could give the South African some trouble.
Peebles’ Howie won the Paul Lawrie Foundation Scottish Boys Championship in April while Marchbank of Dumfries and County claimed the Stephen Gallacher Foundation Scottish Boys’ Stroke Play title in July.
In the girls’ section, Scottish hopes lie with Lauren Whyte, the Scottish Girls’ champion from the St Regulus club in St Andrews.
Of the other girls, there is none more formidable than Casey Danielson, the current Wisconsin State School Champion. She is on the same +5 handicap mark as Porteous, while she and her older sister, Lindsay, have been cleaning up in State events for some time.
John Renninger, their coach, says that the sisters’ games never cease to amaze him: “Both girls are a joy to watch. They are not just great players, but they love the game and that’s so important.”
Much interest will also attach to the progress of Jing Yan from China who finished as the leading amateur in the LET World Ladies’ Championship. China’s golfing youth, as everyone knows, is working flat out in a bid to be a factor when golf joins the Olympics in 2016.
Finally, a point to ponder from the Duke of York’s remarks at the end of the 2011 event when the girls were the more impressive through the 35 mph gusts of the first day, only to find the boys catching them as the elements became a little less frisky.
“Boys,” came HRH’s cryptic comment, “can’t play in a gale and girls can’t play in a wind.”
In the light of that royal comment, everyone will be hoping for something more than a mild zephyr to stir the links for the Young Champions.
Entry to Royal Troon next week is free so please come along to cheer on stars of the future.
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