Neil Henderson, a very good first year at Old Dominion University, Norfolk in Virginia.

Neil Henderson joint seventh in Colonial

AA Conference championship in Georgia

Former Scottish schoolboys champion, Neil Henderson from North Berwick finished a very creditable seventh at the weekend in the men’s Colonial Athletic Association Conference Finals, at Callaway Gardens Golf Club, Pine Mountain in Georgia, finishing ahead of some top-class opposition, including Walker Cup hopeful, Tom Sherrard from Maidstone, Kent.

Neil scored 78, 71 and 72 for a five-over-par total of 221 over a longish course of 7,057yd with a par of 72. In his final round he covered the last 15 holes in two under par with birdies at the seventh and 18th, having bogeyed the first and third. He had nine birdies over the 54 holes and a double bogey 6 at the ninth in his opening round.

Tom Sherreard (Georgia State) came 12th in a field of 55 with scores of 74, 73 and 76 for 223.

Allen John (Georgia State) was the individual winner with scores of 70, 65 and 76 for 211, two shots ahead of one of Neil Henderson's Old Dominion team-mates, Eric Onesi with scores of 74, 71 and 68.

Old Dominion (891) tied for fourth place in a field of 11 teams behind the winners Virginia Commonwealth University who tied with Georgia State on 877 and then won a play-off for the team-title.
Neil, who won two Scotland boy caps as well as the Scottish junior champion of champions title before he left for America, has just completed his freshman year at Old Dominion University, in Norfolk, Virginia.
“This year has been a fantastic learning experience” said Neil. “The courses are very different and the Bermuda greens take a lot of getting used to, but I managed to qualify for our first tournament in August last year and have kept my place in the team for all 11 tournaments we have competed in.”
When asked how he has managed to combine studies with the heavy golf schedule, Henderson said: “It can be quite intensive juggling classes and golf. We have been to Puerto Rico, Scottsdale, Arizona and Pinehurst this semester, which mean lots of airmiles, but it does mean quite a bit of catch-up work before the exams.”
Neil’s efforts have ensured he finished in second place in the Old Dominion team's scoring averages for the 2008-2009 college golf season.
“I did not know what to expect when I arrived here last August and simply hoped to make the team, but I have been fortunate enough to finish in the top 10 at a few tournaments, and to finish second in the teams stats is fantastic”
Neil returns to Scotland early next month and his first domestic tournament will be the Welsh open amateur stroke-play championship. He is also competing in the Scottish and British amateur championships, as well as the Scottish Order of Merits 72-hole tournaments that fit into a busy schedule.