Raw golfing talent must not go to waste, says selector

Published on Friday 24 July 2009 11:28

SCOTLAND will always churn out golfers with "raw talent" like newly-crowned Scottish Boys Stroke Play champion Jack McDonald but there's no secret to making sure they go on to become successful professionals, according to a current junior selector.

Wilson Bryson played with the likes of Stephen Gallacher, Raymond Russell, Alastair Forsyth and Marc Warren, all now Tour pros, when they were cutting their teeth in the amateur ranks.

For the past five years, his experience has been utilised by the Scottish Golf Union, serving as national boys' team captain and staying on the selection committee since relinquishing that role.

Along with the rest of the golfing world, Bryson watched in admiration as Matteo Manassero, a 16-year-old Italian amateur, produced a stunning performance to finish in a tie for 13th in last week's Open at Turnberry.

He's keeping his fingers crossed that Scottish golf might produce a similar prospect in the near future but says the current system is perhaps not recognising the talent quick enough.

"The one thing we have in Scotland is a lot of raw golfing talent but, once these boys get older and start to develop, a big gap opens up when it comes to course management and also the mental side," said Bryson.

"It's a bit like a production line. We are stuffing a lot of players on to the conveyor belt but only a few are dropping off at the other end.

"For instance, we are always going to get two or three exceptional players coming through, the likes of Michael Stewart and James Byrne at the moment."

Those two look strong candidates to be in the Scottish team that will defend the Eisenhower Trophy next year, after which they will no doubt be lost to the pro ranks.

But, at a time when Scotland are both the world and European champions, Bryson admits he's puzzled why the country's top professionals, by comparison, are not doing so well at the moment.

"The SGU can only take players so far," he added. "Once they turn professional, it comes down to their own desire and determination to succeed. Clearly some of the other European countries have stepped up another gear in that respect, so we are going to have to do the same.

"It's great that Scotland are both the world and European champions right now but why can't we be producing a player like Matteo Manassero? Personally, I think we need to be trying to pick out the best young talent at an earlier age and I'd certainly like to be involved in that process."

Bryson was speaking on the final day of the firstpointusa.com Scottish Boys Stroke Play Championship at Ladybank, where McDonald, a 16-year-old from Kilmarnock, beat a field comprising mainly of players older than him to lift the title.

Three shots ahead at the halfway stage, McDonald, whose grandfather Gordon Cosh played in the Walker Cup, had slipped two off the pace with a round to go after losing his touch on the greens during a third-round 76.

But, helped by an attitude that was more mature than some of his rivals, the diminutive Barassie boy reeled off three birdies in a row from the 15th, holing putts of six feet, 20 feet and 20 feet again, to claim the biggest win of his career so far by four shots.

Aided by some words of wisdom from clubmate Allyn Dick, who watched him in the final round, Graeme Duncan from Shotts matched McDonald's closing 71 to share second spot with third-round leader Scott Gibson (Southerness) and Bothwell Castle's Colin Baird. Harburn's Stuart Boyle finished as the leading Lothians player on nine-over – seven behind the winner – with Marriott Dalmahoy's Tom Blennerhassett two shots further back.

Despite signing off with two bogeys, Boyle is hoping he's done enough to secure a spot in Scotland's side for next month's Boys' Home Internationals, while Blennerhassett still had an outside chance until he ran up a triple-bogey 8 at the 13th after losing a ball.

Uphall's Jordyn Rhind dropped back to a tie for 15th after a closing 78 with Blair Pelling from Prestonfield just outside the top 30 after a damaging 80 in his third round.