Scott takes his lead from neighbours who became good friends

Senior Sports Writer

Tuesday 12 April 2011

UPDATE Brush with sport's aristocracy held portent of greater things to come .

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kevin ferrie at dunbar

Having reached the last 16 of the Scottish Boys Championship when it was held at West Kilbride last year, the winner of the first event on this season’s Scottish Golf Union Junior Tour is ranked among the contenders at Dunbar this time around.

Coming from St Andrews, the 14-year-old could be in no doubt about his home town’s past and present status, but he is also part of the St Andrews Links Junior Academy that is aiming to make a sizeable contribution to the sport’s future.Living there also brings the guarantee of regular exposure to the very best in the sport, never moreso than last summer.“We had Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel as our next door neighbours during the Open last year; I suppose it was a lucky flat,” he grinned. “We talked to them over the wall a few times and when Louis came home after winning the championship he signed a few things for us, but we didn’t talk much golf during the week. I think it was more just about him trying to keep calm.”Scott was not quite as glued to events as Schwartzel matched his fellow South African by claiming a first major on Sunday, not because he wished him any ill will, but because his own favourite was failing.“When Rory McIlroy fell apart I thought I would leave it to the rest of them to play for,” the youngster explained. “He is someone I look up to . . . probably the equivalent of Seve to older generations.”Not that his own golf was affected by McIlroy’s collapse as he produced solid golf to win four holes in a row from the fifth to claim a comfortable 5&4 win over Glenn Fotheringham of Falkirk Tryst over the testing Dunbar links on a day of strong gusting winds at the seaside town.Champions have been few and far between from the Auld Grey Toun in recent years, but Greg Paterson, from the St Andrews New club, smashed records at the Craigmillar Park Open and Scott, who won the English Under-14s in 2009, believes the system is breeding success.“Ben Kinsley [a 6&5 winner yesterday over Kirkcudbright’s John Innes] and I practise together and I don’t really know Greg but it was good to see him win that way. It spurs you on,” said Scott. “If anything, though, there’s less pressure on us because no-one from St Andrews has done anything for such a long time.”Another of Scott’s regular practice partners and fellow seeds Bradley Neil, who is from Blairgowrie but is coached at the Fife links, won what was virtually a derby meeting with Andrew Whyte of St Andrews New, while defending champion Grant Forrest, from nearby Craigielaw, matched Neill’s 3&2 win in seeing off Dunfermline’s Jordan Lamb.The fourth seed in the top half of the draw, Daniel Hendry, meanwhile took time to adjust to unfamiliar conditions before turning his match around in spectacular fashion.Originally from Aberdeen, he now lives in Dubai, playing his golf at the Emirates Club and is the lowest handicapper in the field at plus three, but had to work hard to overcome Scott Fergus from Swanston New.“I was two down after five and it was a bit of a struggle early on, but I won the seventh and then went eagle, eagle,” he said. Admittedly both holes were down wind, but it was still a stunning 1-2 and while Fergus managed to win the 10th to level the match again, Hendry eventually closed the match out on the 17th hole.“The conditions were quite rough but it was enjoyable hitting shots I don’t get to play at home,” he said.Another of the favourites, Jack McDonald, the former Scottish Boys Strokeplay champion from Kilmarnock Barassie, gets underway today as does Craig Lawrie, the 15-year-old son of former Open champion Paul, who is making his debut in the event.

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Scott takes his lead from neighbours who became good friends

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