Stenhouse starlet Struan impresses at St Andrews

Published on Thursday 28 August 2008 10:44

STENHOUSE youngster Struan McCall enjoyed the opportunity of a lifetime when he locked horns with Britain's finest young golfers at the HSBC Wee Wonders Grand Final at St Andrews.

The Stenhouse Primary School pupil, who beat off competition from a record number of 3800 competitors to qualify for Scotland, just missed out on a podium finish with rounds of 33 and 36 over the nine-hole course.

Struan, who plays at Baberton Golf Club, finished 11 shots off the lead on the testing St Andrews fairways but the ten-year-old is already dreaming of a return in 2009 to land the top prize.

"It's amazing to be playing here with everyone," said McCall, who rates double Open winner Padraig Harrington as his golfing hero.

"All the other boys are really friendly and we all enjoyed practising together so I'm looking forward to the competition.

"It's the biggest competition I've ever played in and I'm really excited by the whole experience.

"Hopefully I can keep coming back and playing lots more tournaments like this one."

Wee Wonders founder Alasdair Good – regarded as one of the world's best junior coaches, hailed the 106-strong field in Scotland and predicted Stenhouse youngster Struan could one day return to St Andrews as an Open champion. "In years to come I'm sure we'll see Struan or one of the other youngsters lifting the Claret Jug," he said.

"I'd be delighted if they said they'd got into golf playing at the Wee Wonders.

"There aren't many junior tennis tournaments that allow you to play at Wimbledon on centre court, or football competitions at Wembley, so golf is the exception and we shorten the courses to make it suit them.

"To get to play St Andrews is every golfer's dream, not just every young golfer's dream.

"Its miles away from the clubs that so many youngsters have joined and the places they have played so it's a great experience."