Daily Round-Up: Scottish pair picked for Bonallack Trophy

The pair were both in the Great Britain & Ireland team that thumped the United States in last year’s Walker Cup at Royal Lytham.

Joining them on this occasion are a mix of players from the other Home Unions, including Irish star Jack Hume, as well as Continental Europe.

The match against Asia is being held at Vidago Palace in Portugal on 16-18 March.

Before then, Forrest and McDonald set out today along with four compatriots in the Spanish Amateur Championship in Seville.

Forrest, Jack McDonald, Ewen Ferguson and Bob MacIntyre - the quartet on duty in last week’s European Nations Cup at Sotogrande - have been joined by Connor Syme and Liam Johnston.

European Team for Bonallack Trophy: Ivan Cantero Gutierrez (Esp), Mario Galiano (Esp), Bradley Moore (Eng), Ashton Turner (Eng), Jack McDonald (Sco), Grant Forrest (Sco), Luca Cianchetti (Ita), Stefano Mazzoli (Ita), David Boote (Wal), Jack Hume (Ire), Jeroen Krietemeijer (Ned), Robin Petersson (Swe).

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Three of the five Scots to qualify are still standing in the last 32 in the Sanlam South African Amateur Championship at George Golf Club.

Leading qualifier Rory Franssen was brought crashing back to earth as he suffered a first-round exit along with Scott Gibson from Southerness.

The Inverness teenager was always behind against home player Philip Kruse but birdied the both the 15th and 17th to take the match the distance before losing by one hole.

While Gibson also bowed out at the opposite end of the draw, three Scottish successes were delivered in between that double disappointment as Calum Fyfe (Cawder), Sandy Scott (Nairn) and Craig Ross (Kirkhill) all negotiated their opening tests.

Fyfe recovered from losing the first hole to beat David Amm (Zimbabwe) 3&2 while Scott, having got himself two up around the turn, recorded a last-hole win over Andre Nel (Kingswood Golf Estate).

Ross, who finished second to Franssen in the 36-hole stroke-play qualifying earlier in the week, made it a hat-trick of tartan triumphs as he beat James Pennington (Royal Johannesburg & Kensington) 2&1.

The pair were all square with three to play before Ross, who upstaged a field of pros to claim victory at Mar Hall on the PGA EuroPro Tour in 2014, won the 16th and 17th.

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Sandy Jones is to become the third Scot in succession to be president of the Golf Foundation and fifth out of six from the home of golf to hold the prestigious post for the charity.

Jones, the PGA’s chief executive, takes over the reins next month from Colin Montgomerie at the end of his five-year stint, which followed former Ken Schofield holding the post for a similar period.

Sandy Sinclair (1990-96) and Bernard Gallacher (1996-2001) were both Golf Foundation presidents prior to that, with Sir Michael Bonallack (2001-06) the only non-Scot to hold the post in the past 26 years.

“I was thrilled to be asked to take on this role and I’m aware that I’m following some really great names as President in recent times,” said Jones.

“This charity is all about helping the next generation of young players, so if I can help the Golf Foundation team through my experience in the game I’ll be delighted.”

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The Parliamentary Golf Group has announced that Sky has agreed to become a supporter.

The Group, which comprises Members of all major political parties and from both Houses of Parliament, works to support the sport of golf at all levels.

“Sky is delighted to support the Parliamentary Golf Group in its role to promote the sport in Westminster and beyond,” said Claire Morgan, the company’s Public Affairs Manager.

“Sky Sports has a passion for golf that has spanned two decades, offering unrivalled commitment, airtime and promotion as well as multi-platform coverage.

“We look forward to working with the Group to help engage new and existing fans and help address the challenges the sport faces.”