Scots Juniors Taught Irish Lesson

The Scottish champions, Craigielaw gave the televised Home Nations Junior Team Golf championships a finale that no one is ever likely to forget. In the sunny conditions at La Manga Club in Spain, the four national champions of England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland competed over three days for this prestigious title on the resort’s famous championship South Course.

Craigielaw’s first was against the Welsh team, Carmarthen. They eventually emerged as comfortable winners, winning five of their six medal match play matches, to secure their first point of the tournament.

On the day two, Craigielaw had to overcome the challenge of English representatives, Hallamshire. The day started with business as normal, as Craigielaw won the first three ties.

However the overall match took a surprising twist, when the tail-enders of Hallamshire managed to fight their way back to draw the 3-3, putting Craigielaw’s title hopes in peril.

This half point meant that going into the final day’s title decider against the powerful Irish champions, Co. Sligo, Craigielaw had to go all out for the win, whereas Ireland could settle for the draw to win the championship, as they had won both of their first two matches.

This much-anticipated battle was as fierce as everyone had expected, but no one could have foreseen the events on the 18th green.

The match had been finely balanced throughout and the title was very much up for grabs. However, towards the final holes, it appeared that Craigielaw had the upper hand in the match and were edging their way towards victory.

With the first three matches in the clubhouse, Craigielaw led by 2-1. However, when the scores were being checked, it was discovered that the Scottish number two, Myles Cunningham, had inadvertently signed for an incorrect score on his scorecard and had to be disqualified, therefore swinging the match back in favour of Co. Sligo.

The next two matches managed to put Craigielaw back into the lead with Grant Forrest and Greg Smail easily winning their matches to make the overall score 3-2.

The title was to be decided by the last group left on the course. Scott Speakman of Craigielaw and Gerard Finnegan of Co. Sligo approached the last green with only one shot separating them. Scott put his approach shot into the greenside bunker and left himself with an extremely hard chip.

He managed to play an incredible shot in front of the Sky TV cameras to leave himself 15 feet away from the hole. However it looked like he would have to hole this lengthy putt, because Gerard Finnegan had left himself a mere two foot putt to win the match.

A nervous Craigielaw team watched from the side of the green as Scott attempted his tricky putt. He missed the putt by half an inch, which was greeted by a collective sigh. It was then left to Ireland to wrap things up, but to everyone’s surprise Gerard missed his short putt, leaving Scott to tap in for the championship, much to the relief of Myles Cunningham.

The Scottish players and supporters, wild with excitement, duly celebrated their famous victory. While the Scots were getting well into their celebrations on the 18th green, more dramatic events were unfolding in the scorers tent. It was discovered that Myles Cunningham’s mistake, had been replicated by Scott Speakman, meaning that he was also disqualified, thereby squaring the match overall.

These two individual mistakes coupled with the lost half point against the old enemy England, from the previous day’s match, cost Craigielaw the title and meant the Co. Sligo were crowned champions.

After the match, an understandably devastated Gordan Smith, junior organiser of Craigielaw, said, “I am gutted. I have just gone through the highest and lowest emotions one could possibly feel. We lost through basic school-boy errors.

“I accept the decision and the championship referee was right to disqualify the two players. We just have to learn from this, but either way I am immensely proud of each and everyone of my juniors for doing so well and almost pulling off an amazing victory.”

Despite losing out on the title, Craigielaw’s team and some outstanding individual performances were recognised at the championship’s Gala dinner. Grant Forrest won the Sir Steve Redgrave Cup, for the individual player with the lowest aggregate net score over the three rounds; two under for the championship.

Gregg Smail won a Cleveland Golf personalised pitching wedge, as the Craigielaw player who had the lowest single round net score for his team.

However the star player throughout the week, was the Scottish international scratch player, Jane Turner. Over the three rounds she had an amazing overall score of two under par, gross. For her achievement in recording the lowest aggregate gross score over the three rounds, she won the Paul Casey Trophy and a Paul Casey Tour golf bag.

Jane commented: “Obviously I am very disappointed with how things have ended. But I can be proud of my consistent performances this week. I managed to sink putts at crucial times and I think that is what got me through.”

Despite their loss, Craigielaw headed home, proudly flying the Saltire flag and with four of the team eligible to play next year, they are more determined than ever to qualify for the championships again; realising their dream of winning the most prestigious title in junior team golf.

Pictures © Gary Prior
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