Royal Dornoch to host Scottish Amateur Championship
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There is also an excellent entry of 24 north golfers hoping to end a 40-year wait for a Scottish champion stretching back to Hugh Stuart of Forres in 1972.
First held in 1922, the championship has produced some famous winners including Ronnie Shade, who had five wins in a row during the 1960s and Charlie Green, a back to back champion in 1982/83. Some big names of more recent years have also won the title, Colin Montgomerie in 1987 at Nairn and Stephen Gallacher in 1992.
Royal Dornoch’s first staging of the championship in 1993 resulted in victory for Dean Robertson and seven years later Steven O’Hara was victorious.
The host club has eight of the North’s 24 in next week’s draw, spearheaded by recently crowned club champion Alex MacDonald. He is joined by club manager Neil Hampton, Chris Mailley, Kevin Matheson, Lyle McAlpine, David McIntosh, Neil Munro and Sutherland’s new county champion, David Pearson.
The matchplay format is of 18 holes through all rounds until Saturday’s 36-hole final.
The competition begins at 6.45am on Monday. North Golf Alliance champion Dougie Thorburn (Reay) was the first North name out of the draw and will begin his tie at 6.53am against Scott Brown from Turnberry.
First of the home members to tee off is Kevin Matheson at 8.37am, playing against Mark Smith (Troon Wellbeck), followed 12 minutes later by David Pearson against Stuart Bruce (Ranfurly Castle).
Then it is Neil Munro facing Scott Brownlie (Burntisland) at 10.41am and lastly on Monday at 3.57pm David McIntosh plays Connor Neil (Blairgowrie).
Dornoch’s remaining four all play their first round ties on Tuesday – Lyle McAlpine out at 10.53am against North team-mate Kyle Godsman (Moray), Neil Hampton following at 11.17am against Grant Forrest (Craigielaw), and at 11.33am Alex MacDonald tees off at 11.33am. Last to go out is Chris Mailley at 12.29pm against Jake Hogg (The Dukes).
Brora and Golspie have no entries but when the championship was last at Royal Dornoch, Brora’s George Duncan went further in the competition than any other Sutherland member before exiting in the third round.
In the same round 12 years ago when he was holding down the post of North golf development officer, the present Royal Dornoch general manager Neil Hampton took the eventual winner, Steven O’Hara, to the 18th green in the third round.
