Latest News

Junior Opens 200603/08/2006

Michael Williams is the new St Andrews Boys' Open champion and proud holder of the Merchants' Cup. The 17-year-old from Craigielaw near Edinburgh defeated local lad Iain Finlay of St Andrews GC, who is also a member of St Andrews Links Junior Golf Association (SALJGA), at the first extra hole in their matchplay final on the Old Course.

Williams was two up after two holes and three up after seven but Finlay fought back to take four straight holes between the 11th and the 14th to go 1 up. Playing into the breeze on the way home, the boys halved the 15th before Williams drew level at 16. Williams won the Road Hole to stand 1 up on the final tee but Finlay forced a concession at the 18th to take the tie into extra holes before succumbing on the 19th green.

After qualifying with a 72 on the Eden Course Williams had a great run to the final, with convincing wins in each of his matches on the Old Course. In round one he beat Ross Goodbrand (Westhill) 6 and 4, and in each of the next three rounds he won by 3 and 2 against Ryan Tuppen (Roundhay), Jonathan Hewitt (Gerrards Cross) and Ben Harman (Letchworth). In his semi final, Finlay played the Old Course in par figures to knock out top seed Sean Stevens (Deeside) 3 and 2.

A total of 178 boys entered this year’s competition with the handicap ballot falling at 6.7.

The Junior Ladies' Open title has gone to the other side of the world with 15-year-old Whitney Hillier of Joondalup GC near Perth in Western Australia. Whitney beat Pamela Prestwell of Bothwell Castle, who is two years her senior, on the third extra hole to claim the Golf Monthly Salver. Ms Prestwell took a two-shot lead after wins at the 9th and 10th but Whitney rallied to take three in a row from the 14th. Pamela took the 17th to draw level again and the ladies tied 18 to take their match into extra time, when Whitney won the day after Pamela’s putt for a half lipped out. Both girls impressed onlookers with their high quality performances in the final.


Michael Williams

Whitney Hillier

Whitney had earlier defeated top qualifier Holly Aitchison of Bedfordshire GC in her semi final, also at the 21st hole, and she came out on top 1 up against England internationalist Faye Sanderson (Heworth) in the last eight. Her victim in round one was Donna O’Connell (Burnham and Berrow), whom she beat by 4 and 2.

The boys' handicap champion is Shaun Clark from St Michaels Golf Club, who overcame Jack Logan (Westerhope) 1 up. Shaun, a 15-year-old who plays off four, is a member of SALJGA. All square after 12, three-handicapper Logan won the 13th but Clark took both 14 and 15. Logan drew level at 16 but Clark won the crucial 17th hole to take a one hole lead onto the last tee. A half at 18 earned Shaun the Murray Mitchell Trophy.

The Junior Ladies' handicap winner is Jessica Scott of Wanstead, who also beat her opponent, Lauren Mackin of Son Muntaner, 1 up. Lauren plays off 7 and was giving her opponent a total of nine shots. As in the other ties, the inward stretch provided huge excitement in the match. Lauren won 13 and 14 to go two up, but Jessica, who is 23 and playing in her last Junior Ladies’ Open, prevailed at each of the last three holes to emerge the winner of the Girls' Open Quaich.

All the junior finals produced close finishes, underlining the status of the Old Course as the best matchplay venue in golf.