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• Leading amateurs chasing team glory at Blairgowrie
• Perth & Kinross considered favourites for the crown
• Their side includes Bradley Neil, Gavin Dear & Daniel Young
The GolfKings Scottish Area Team Championship tees off at Blairgowrie tomorrow with the event boasting arguably the strongest line-up in its 39-year history.
Contested over three days by the 16 Area Associations of the Scottish Golf Union, a number of past and present champions will battle it out over the impressive Lansdowne and Rosemount layouts in pursuit of the prized title.
Last year, host area Renfrewshire sealed victory over Lanarkshire and will head to Blairgowrie with the same six players who triumphed at Ranfurly Castle, including former Amateur champion Craig Watson and Matthew Clark – third in last year’s SGU Men’s Order of Merit.
However, Clark has played down the prospect of Renfrewshire winning again, claiming host area and 2012 champions Perth & Kinross are the team to beat. Their side contains reigning Amateur champion Bradley Neil, former Scottish Amateur winner Glenn Campbell, South African Amateur champion Daniel Young and Gavin Dear, who has been reinstated to the amateur ranks this season.
“I’d say Perth & Kinross are overwhelming favourites on home soil” – Matthew Clark
“We have the same six players who won last year and we’ll give it our best shot at Blairgowrie, even though it’s going to be a tough ask,” said Clark, who combines golf with his job as a senior bank manager.
“I’d say Perth & Kinross are overwhelming favourites on home soil, especially bringing Gavin Dear back into their side, along with the likes of Bradley Neil and Daniel Young. It is hard to see past them, although there are several good teams taking part.
“It’s great to see the event being supported by so many talented amateurs from across Scotland and I’d say it’s a much-improved field to last year. It should be a great event.”
The Lothians, without a win in the event since 2007 at Powfoot, will also fancy their chances, especially as team member Alexander Culverwell lifted the Scottish Amateur title over the Lansdowne in 2013. In-form Calum Hill, fresh from winning his first title on the US college circuit last month, is also in their line-up, along with former Scotland internationalist Allyn Dick, leading qualifier at the recent Lothians Championship.
As well as Neil, GB&I Walker Cup squad members Graeme Robertson (Stirlingshire), Jack McDonald (Ayrshire) and Jamie Savage (Glasgow) also tee up for their respective Areas.
Indeed, Savage is part of a strong-looking Glasgow side that features another former Scottish Amateur champion in Barry Hume and last year’s Scottish Hydro Boys Order of Merit winner, Calum Fyfe.
Consistent performer Bryan Fotheringham will lead the North’s hopes, with Scott Gibson and Greig Marchbank part of a South side chasing their first ever success.
Current SGU Men’s Order of Merit leader Connor Syme spearheads the Fife challenge, with Craig Ross among those back to try and help Lanarkshire go one better than last year. Ewen Ferguson, already twice a winner on the domestic circuit in 2015, leads Dunbartonshire’s hopes.
Each Area is represented by their leading six male amateur players, competing in a strokeplay qualifying format. The leading eight teams qualify for the matchplay final stages, based on the lowest five scores from each team’s six players on each layout counting. The matchplay stage will commence on Saturday, ahead of Sunday’s head-to-head final.
Neil MacRae, golf director for GolfKings Travel, said: “We’re delighted to sponsor the championship for the third successive year and it’s great to see the profile of the event continue to grow and attract the country’s top amateurs.
Entry is free for all spectators at Blairgowrie, with regular updates and live scoring on the SGU website. You can also follow proceedings on Twitter @SGUGolf and SGU Facebook.
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