ITALIAN JOB FOR SCOTTISH BOYS AS TEAM EMBARK FOR QUADS - 9th Mar 2007

A six strong team booked their berth for Italy ahead of the Boys Quadrangular which gets underway this week at the Golf Club Parco di Roma. With just two members from the successful team who clinched the title at last year’s event hosted at St Cyprien in France, the tartan twosome James Byrne and Cameron Gray will lead four new standard bearers for Scotland at this event.

Inchmarlo’s Tom Spencer, Kyle Smith (Barassie) and U16 Stroke Play Champion Sam McLaren (King James VI) will savour their first taste of international competition, along with Troon Wellbeck’s Michael Stewart who was last year’s non-travelling reserve.

Commenting on the team, SGU National Junior Coach Spencer Henderson said, “Following the very successful season last year, and entering this event as defending champions the boys do have a tough act to follow, however I am confident that the team we have put together will thrive on this challenge.

“This is their first event of the year and it will really help us to gauge how well the winter preparations have gone. They have worked very hard to prepare for the season ahead and the training camp in Portugal provided valuable Match Play experience which gave them a real competitive appetite.”

Throughout the winter months, the Boys squad has benefited from strength & conditioning sessions provided by Area Institutes of Sport at venues across the country and sports psychology sessions delivered by Sports Psychologist Dr. Richard Cox, to optimise their preparations ahead of the competitive cycle.

The Quadrangular, which traditionally marks the kick start to the boys amateur golf season commences this Thursday (8-10 March) against Sweden, France and this year’s hosts Italy, who will be hoping home soil advantage will pay dividends. Scotland has defeated Sweden when they have met in their last three competitive bouts - at the last two Quadrangular’s and at the European Boys.

Commenting on the opposition, Henderson added, “Sweden finished as runners up in 2006 so they will be out this year to make amends for that and France is usually represented by a strong side too, who beat us the last time we competed in Rome in 2005. This will be a learning curve for our young players and it will put them in good stead for the World Boys and European Boys championships, along with other national and international events they will compete in.”

The team travelled to Italy on Monday and during the first practice rounds on Tuesday (6 March) Banchory’s James Byrne sunk his first hole in one at the par 3 second hole with a 7 iron.

Related Links

• http://www.scottishgolfunion.org

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