SGU praised by Fairhaven Trophies organisers

• SGU praised for its support of the Fairhaven Trophies
• Junior event at Fairhaven GC attracts an international field
• Run at the same time as amateur event the Lytham Trophy 

The Scottish Golf Union (SGU) has been praised for its support of the Fairhaven Trophies as the Order of Merit event at Fairhaven GC continues to attract an international field.

Nineteen junior Scottish golfers will be taking part in the 72-hole tournament tomorrow, involving 150 boys and 24 girls, with three separate trophies up for grabs at the Fylde coast club.

The field, which now attracts players from European countries such as Germany, Finland and Sweden, has grown significantly in stature since it became a 72-hole event in 2008 and out of the home nations, it was Scotland who were first to support the event.

“We’re really grateful to everybody up in the SGU” – Bob Thompson

“Two years ago we managed to get all four home nations to enter players for the tournament but it was Scotland who were first to come onboard,” said Bob Thompson, general manager at Fairhaven GC. “We’re really grateful to everybody up in the SGU for looking after their players and getting them along here.

“They’ve always brought who they’ve considered to be their best junior players at the time. In 2010, Jack McDonald set a new course record of 68 and a couple of years ago Bradley Neil was here.”

After the opening two rounds on Friday and Saturday, the top 34 boys plus ties and the top six girls plus ties will make it to Sunday, where the players will play a further two rounds. However, over the first two days, teams of three from each nation will compete for the Nations Cup, with players selected by their respective bodies ahead of the tournament.

A reason for drawing such a diverse field for the Fairhaven Trophies is that it’s run on the same weekend as the Lytham Trophy at Royal Lytham & St Annes, a matter of minutes away on foot.

And Thompson said the close nature of the courses and stature of the events has helped to bring teams from Europe across year after year.

He said: “Next door is Royal Lytham and of course, they have the Lytham Trophy, so what we decided to do was replicate what is clearly it’s a well proven format.

“They send players to both places and the logistics of it all is very manageable” – Bob Thompson

“So playing the Fairhaven Trophies alongside that we felt would make it attractive to the European and home nation coaches to bring team here for the event and then they could see the kids and adult players play in the same town at the same time.

“I think that’s why we have managed to keep so many European teams coming because they send players to both places and the logistics of it all is very manageable.”

The first rounds of the tournament get underway tomorrow at 7.20am with the SGU’s Chloe Goadby in the opening group.