Golf: Liberton top in Scotland

LIBERTON'S junior golfers have pulled off their most remarkable success to date by being crowned as Scottish champions, writes MARTIN DEMPSTER.

The Capital club only has around 40 junior members but has been a rising force in Lothians golf over the past couple of years. Now their success has been taken to the next level with a triumph in the Junior Team Golf Scottish National Final at Macdonald Spey Valley.

Liberton, who had secured their spot in the Aviemore event after retaining the Edinburgh Junior Summer League title, were up against 11 teams consisting of the cream of the crop in Scottish junior golf, including Craigielaw, Tantallon and Turnhouse.

Craigielaw had Grant Forrest, the Scottish Boys' champion in their side, and were defending the Scottish title. In fact, they had gone on to win the Nations Final in Spain earlier this year.

But Liberton will be flying the Scottish flag in that event this time around after a superb performance in testing conditions in the Highlands. They were represented by Anthony Blaney, Ross Munro, Scott Finlay, Daniel Eardley, Thomas Brock and Fraser Christie. With five scores counting, Liberton posted a total of 405, winning by a single shot from Tantallon, with Craigielaw (413) in third.

Christie was the Capital club's hero as he almost single-handedly won the trophy for them with the best net score of the day, a 75 playing off seven.

"The result is remarkable when Liberton is not considered a fashionable club to be a member of, with a small junior section of around 40 children," said junior convenor Robert Ross. "The club see the current junior team as an investment for the future. Everyone from the professional Iain Seath, who runs coaching sessions throughout the season, to all the club members are delighted for the team."

The Nations Final is being held at the La Torre Golf Resort and El Valle Best Golf Club in Murcia on January 11-17.

There, Liberton will be up against the champion teams from England, Ireland and Wales.