Lothians Boys Championship

The Event

The GolfFit Lothians Junior Championship normally takes place in June each year at the Braid Hills No 1 course however to avoid clashing with exams and to fit in with the busy summer junior golfing calendar we tried August in 2019 and are doing this again in 2020.

This is an event for boys who are under the age of 18 on 31st December in the year prior to the year of competition, it is open to players whose home club is affiliated to the Lothians Golf Association. Its roll of honour makes for impressive reading, the winners including Andrew Oldcorn (1977), Ian Young (1978) and David Inglis (1998).

The tournament will consist of an 18 hole stroke-play event. The leading scratch player will receive the Lindsay Trophy, The Speirs Trophy will be presented this year to the Leading Qualifier as no matchplay will take place due to the COVID-19 restrictions. The Speirs Trophy is the second oldest of the trophies held by the Lothians Golf Association, having been first contested in 1925. 

The championship was, in fact, originally organised by Edinburgh Town Council. It ran the event until the mid-1960s, when it asked the Lothians Golf Association to take over that role. The event allows the Lothians Golf Association to work together with Edinburgh Leisure and the City of Edinburgh Council in their joint aim of promoting junior golf in the area. 

For those Under 16 and Under 14 the event includes championships for the leading player in each age group.

2020

The 2020 event will be at Kingsknowe GC with the 18 hole Championship taking place on Sunday 4 October 2020.

Due to the COVID-19 situation, the competition will not have a matchplay element this year due to various organisational and administrative difficulties.   

2019

Qualifying Stage.

Despite terrible weather we managed to get 40 players out on the Braids No. 1 course.  The Leading player and winner of the Lindsay Trophy was Callum Kenneally (Kilspindie) who returned not only the best Gross score of 69 but also the best Nett score of 63. Jack McDonald (Dunbar), Arron Hall (Kilspindie), Lyle Murdoch (Kings Acre) and Euan Canavan (Longniddry) were all two shots behind.

Knockout Stages.

Championship

This, as always, was played over the Braids No.1 course with support from Edinburgh Leisure and sponsored by Golf Fit.

Because of the small field it was decided to only include 4 players in the match play stage of the championship with the cut coming at 72 or better on a count back. Jack McDonald (Dunbar) and Arron Hall (Kilspindie) were not available because of a conflicting national event.

Defending champion Ciaran Paterson (Ratho Park) retained the Boys Championship Spears Trophy after a good win by 4&3 over Euan Canavan (Longniddry). The Ratho Park player was always in control of the match and was able to maintain his focus throughout, despite the blustery conditions, to take the title.

Callum Kenneally (Kilspindie) and Lyle Murdoch (Kings Acre) went out in the semi-finals, at the 17th & 18th holes respectively, after close matches.                                                                                                

In the Under 16 Championship in form  Valdemar Hundeboll (North Berwick) ran out the winner by 2 holes over his opponent Archie Finnie (Royal Burgess) and won the Stephen Gallacher Foundation U16 Trophy. This win was hard on the heels of his success in the Boys OOM.

Robbie Main (Royal Burgess) and Ryan Gallagher (Longniddry) went out in the semi-finals.

In the Under 14 Championship Andrew Hendry (Gullane) took the Under 14 title winning 3&2 over Harry Bent (Longniddry) and won the Stephen Gallacher Foundation U14 Trophy.  The Gullane lad stuck to his task throughout the match and managed to get his head over the line.

Sean Gallacher (Prestonfield) and James Wood (Bathgate) went out in the semi-finals. 

Lothian Boys Championship - Champion

Lothian Boys Championship - Leading Qualifier

U14 Championship

U16 Championship