KirkwoodGolf

Thursday, July 08, 2010

NEIL AIMING FOR DOUBLE SUCCESS AT LORETTO

SCHOOL SCOTTISH U14s CHAMPIONSHIP

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY SCOTTISH GOLF UNION
Rising Blairgowrie star Bradley Neil tees off in tomorrow’s Loretto School Scottish Under 14s Stroke Play Championship at Auchterarder eyeing up an historic double (Friday 9 July), having recently made history by becoming his club’s youngest ever club champion.
The 14-year-old, who took the national U14s title at Largs last year with a one-over par 69, has just re-written the history books at the prestigious Blairgowrie club by becoming the youngest ever win of the Men’s Club Championship in its 121-year history, etching his name up alongside some famous Scotland international golfers.
Neil, who is coached by SGU National Junior Coach Spencer Henderson, is one of Scottish golf’s most promising young stars, and represented the Scotland U16s side in the Quadrangular Series in Holland earlier this year. The one-handicapper will be the back marker in the 84-strong boys’ field at Auchterarder, looking to become the first player in the short history of the event to win back-to-back titles.
Among his challengers will be Dutch youngster Matti de Gram, who plays alongside Neil in the 11.30 starting time, while St Andrews two-handicapper Benjamin Kingsley will also pose a strong threat. Williamwood’s George Burns, who pushed Scotland Boys cap Callum Stewart all the way to extra holes in the Scottish Boys Championship, will be one to watch, alongside his club-mate Fraser Davren.
Competitors from as far afield as Barbados, Italy and Luxemburg are in the field, while thirty-two girls will compete for the Scottish Girls U14s Championship which runs alongside the event. Among the favourites will be North Berwick’s Clara Young, who last year became the youngest ever winner of her Club Championship, aged just 12-years-old.
Rick Valentine, Director of Golf at Loretto School Golf Academy, who sponsors the Championship for the seventh successive year, looked forward to the event:
“We have enjoyed a fantastic relationship with the Scottish Golf Union over the last seven years and have watched this Championship get stronger year on year. There has been some great talent coming through the ranks and we’ve had some winners who have gone onto success at a higher level.”
“It’s been a great year for Loretto School Golf Academy, with our pupils Julie Yang, Maximillian Walz and Lesley Atkins performing so well on the big stage and our profile continues to grow. This sponsorship supports many of our objectives and we’re delighted to continue our investment of junior golf in Scotland.” he added.

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