Loretto Golf Academy sponsored event has exciting finish

Glory at Glenbervie for play-off hero McKinney in Scottish Under-14s championship

FROM THE SGU WEBSITE
Pictures by Kenny Smith 

Pitreavie’s Connor McKinney last night emerged victorious from a four-way play-off at the Loretto Scottish Boys Under-14s Open Championship at Glenbervie.
The Fifer, playing out of the Dunfemline club, reached the play-off after posting a four-over-par 36-hole total at the Stirlingshire venue, the same mark as two Frenchmen, Andrea Milazzo and Lancelot Salisbury, and England’s Gregor McKenzie.
But it was McKinney who claimed a home victory over the international field after his birdie at the first extra hole, the 15^th, thanks to executing a superb chip shot at the par-5.

McKinney, 13, secured his first national title with the success and emulates fellow Scot Bradley Neil, who turned professional earlier this summer. Neil won back-back titles in 2009-10. Past winners at Glenbervie also include Ryder Cup players Jose Maria Olazabal and David Howell, meaning McKinney has joined esteemed company.
“It was my first time playing in the event and I just came to enjoy it and hopefully do my best,” said Connor. “I’m so happy to win the trophy and was delighted to birdie the first play-off hole. I’m feeling really good about this result.”
First contested in 2001, the SGU-SLGA event is the youngest national age group championship in Scotland. The event has been greatly supported by the Loretto School Golf Academy, who have been sponsors since 2004 and attracts talented young golfers from across the UK and beyond.
Meantime, Italian Maria Vittoria Corbi found the Scottish ‘summer’ weather to her liking after securing a one-stroke success in the girls’ event.
The 14-year-old, who plays out of the Parco di Roma club, posted a seven-over-par winning total after rounds of 76 and 75. Corbi won from two players – the overnight leader from France, Lois Lau, and Spain’s Marta Lopez Echevarria.
Having won the International Under-16s in her homeland this year, it was another notable success on her first competitive appearance in Scotland.
“It’s great to win on a really nice course,” said Corbi. “I’ve been to St Andrews before but this was my first time playing an event in Scotland. It was a great experience.
“It was a little bit windy, but the weather was nice, as in Italy just now it is so hot it is impossible to play golf. I want to be a professional when I’m older and I’m friends with Renato Paratore, who turned pro last year and has done well on the European Tour so far.”
Lopez Echevarria won the Gibson Trophy for the leading Under-12 player with her eight over total. Another Spainard, Cristina Albertazzi, was the youngest player in the field, aged only nine.
There was also delight for the French player, Balthazar Duclos, after he aced the 13th hole during the second round, receiving a quaich for his effort.
The Loretto Golf Academy has had considerable success and is now widely recognised as one of the top independent boarding schools golf schools in the UK. 
Next month sees the opening of Loretto’s state-of-the-art Indoor Golf Centre at the start of the academic year, before the official opening on 5 October.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS

BOYS

146 C McKinney (Pitreavie) 72 74, A Milazzo (Fra) 77 769, G McKenzie (Eng) 74 72, L Salisbury (Fra) 73 73 (McKinney won play-off at first extra hole).

147 E Turner-Bennett (Worksop) 75 72, D Clemons (Gog Magog) 72 75, P Bovari (Ita) 72 75, T Gueant (Fra) 68 79.

148 C Hilton (Ifield) 72 76

SELECTED TOTALS

150 H Austin (Dumfries and Co) 72 78 (T16)

154 J Murphy (Erskine) 77 77 (T33).

155 C Barbour (Cupar) 75 80, L Waldron (Kintore) 75 80 (T40)

156 L Ruben (Ayr Belleisle) 78 78, E Wheat (Royal Montrose) 78 78 (T45)

157 C A Black (Royal Aberdeen) 79 78 (T53)

158 C Gallacher (Longniddry) 76 82 (T59)

159 R McAuley (Fereneze) 80 79, C Johnstne (Troon Welbeck) 78 81 (T64)

160 A Hall (Kilspindie) 81 79, J Noon (Musselburgh) 75 85 (T69)

161 A Murray (Troon Welbeck) 80 81 (T73)

162 J Lockhart (Pitreavie) 83 79 (T78)

165 L Gillies (Nairn) 82 89 (T91)

171 C O'Toole (Craigmillar Park) 83 88 (T94)

GIRLS

151 M B Corbi (Ita) 76 75

152 M L Echevarria (Spa) 76 76, L Lau (Fra) 73 79

156 E Stone (East Devon) 78 77, G Connelly (Knowle) 81 75. A Fuller (Roehampton) 79 77, C Whitehouse (Kendal) 76 80

159 V Albertazzi (Spa) 83 76, F Tynan (Minchinhampton) 79 80, M L Thomas (Beau Desert) 77 82.

SELECTED TOTALS

164 F Hendry (Turnberry) 86 78 (15th)

165 C Griffiths (Aboyne) 85 80 (T16)

173 A McKay (Crail GS) 89 84, P Wilson (Burntisland) 83 90 (T23)

176 M Graham (Falkirk) 89 87 (25th)

179 C McLaughlin (West Kilbride) 94 85 (26th)

181 A Mackenzie (East Renfrewshire) 95 86, C Irvine (Swanston New) 93 88 (T27)

182 E Henderson (Kirkcaldy) 91 91 (T31)

183 K Alexander (Blairgowrie) 91 92 (33rd)

184 R Foster (Turnberry) 90 94 (34th)

185 M Ashley (Strathmore) 90 95 (35th)

189 C Wilson (St Regulus) 99 90 (36th)

192 R Erskine (Kilmacolm) 97 95 37th)

193 C Henderson (Deeside) 97 96 (38th)

194 E J Crusher (Eastwood) 99 95 (39th)

198 A F Brannock (Castle Douglas) 100 98 (40th)

199 J Taylor (Downfield) 101 98 (41st)

200 S McKay (Loudoun Gowf) 102 98 (42nd)

209 L E Morrison (Cariamillar Park) 106 109

215 J Walker (Mortonhall) 108 107

Retired - E Hynd (Balbirnie Park) 83 ret

IF YOU WANT TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES AT 
GLENBERVIE, CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINE 

View final scores from Glenbervie