SCOTLAND BOYS GOLF - Third place for Scots in Italy

Scotland, with Ayrshire’s Stuart Easton in the side, lost 5.5-3.5 to tournament winners Sweden on the third and final day of the Under-18 Quadrangular Matches in Italy last week, finishing third overall.

(From the www.scottishgolf.org website)

After opening with a victory over host nation Italy, the young Scots lost to European champions France on day two and needed a good win over the Swedes to try and secure the title.

On the final day, hopes were raised after winning the foursomes 2-1, but Sweden hit back in the singles, with Marriott Dalmahoy’s Murray Naysmith the sole Scots winner in the 4.5-1.5 afternoon defeat. Stuart Easton (Irvine) halved his game.

Scotland met the Italians, Sweden and France in the annual fixture, this year contested at San Domenico Golf Club from Wednesday 12^th until Friday 14^th March.

St Andrews’ Ben Kinsley won both of his ties as Neil Marr’s charges claimed an opening day 5-4 win over holders Italy.

After the foursomes were drawn 1.5-1.5 each on Wednesday, with Kinsley teaming up to win with Naysmith, victor in the Paul Lawrie Foundation Junior Jug in 2013, the SGU group edged the singles to triumph.

Robert MacIntyre (Glencruitten), twice a national champion last year, won his tie, with Kinsley and Calum Fyfe (Cawder) also victorious. Naysmith claimed a key half.

Boys’ Amateur champion Ewen Ferguson (Bearsden) was also among the six-player team, securing a halved match in the foursomes with MacIntyre. Easton lost his singles tie at the last.

National Under-18 coach Marr was pleased with a “very good fighting performance” against the Italians, but France just held the edge on the second day, as it proved against Sweden today.

MacIntyre and Ferguson won their foursomes tie against France, plus their singles matches, but Naysmith was the only other Scottish winner in the singles.

Stuart Easton
(Picture courtesy of SGU)

Stuart Easton, a product of the ClubGolf initiative, commented before the start of the tournament,

“It’s a great privilege to be chosen to represent Scotland in the Quadragular match and I am looking forward to competing with and against some of the best junior golfers in Europe, which will improve me as a player.

“It’s an honour to represent my country. It has been a goal of mine since I started competing and for it now to be a reality is a big step in my journey towards a career in golf.”

Having enjoyed ClubGolf coaching in previous years at SportScotland National Centre Inverclyde, in 2013 Easton was one of 16 youngsters from around the country chosen to play alongside Ryder Cup captains Paul McGinley and Tom Watson in the ‘Year to Go’ event at Gleneagles from Scotland’s crop of Development Centre students.

On his rise to the international stage, Easton added:

“ClubGolf has been a big part of my development throughout my junior years.

“My county coaching was involved with ClubGolf which helped improve my game. Also, ClubGolf nominated me and gave me the privilege of playing in the Ryder Cup Captains Day where I played with Paul McGinley and Tom Watson".

“I am looking forward to the new season. Over the winter I have done a lot of good work with my coach, Scott Garrett, and it is paying off nicely. I am feeling confident with my game and am eager for the season to begin.”

Delighted to see former ClubGolfers now performing on the international stage, ClubGolf Manager Jackie Davidson said: “ClubGolf has always been challenged on whether it is producing players that can perform on the international stage.

“In the majority of sports it takes 7-10 years for a player to come through any junior development programme, so it makes that we are now starting to see youngsters now inducted into the Scotland set-up.

“I am hopeful that year on year we will see more and more aspiring players who have had their start in the game with ClubGolf having national and international opportunities and congratulate Stuart on the progress he has made so far.”