Golf: New-look Lothians ready for their early-season trial

LOTHIANS golf will send out a new-look team when the ­build-up to the Scottish Area Championship starts with a trial match against Kingsknowe this ­weekend.

Musselburgh’s Benn McLeod, last year’s Lothians Order of Merit winner, makes his debut along with Craig Deerness (Harburn), Ollie Roberts (Archerfield Links) and Jordyn Rhind (Uphall). The team also includes Tantallon’s rising star Calum Hill, who finished fourth in a prestigious 54-hole college event at Trevose in Cornwall on Monday.

“We’ve got a bigger squad this year with lot of new faces and it is good to blood them this early on in the season,” said Lothians team captain Keith Reilly.

“[Selectors] Paul Gibson, Robert Bald, Andrew Douglas and myself have been working very hard with the squad during the winter period and also behind the scenes getting everything in place for the season.

“We now have Dean Robertson on board. He as been excellent with working with the squad at Kingsfield at the many get-togethers we’ve had.”

Trial matches are also being held at Duddingston and The Renaissance. They will be followed by annual friendlies against Stirlingshire, Borders, Northumberland and Fife before attention turns to the Area Team Championship at Crail in May.

The full team to face Kingsknowe is: Steven Armstrong (Turnhouse), Gary Corrigan (Harburn), Calum Hill (Tantallon), Craig Deerness (Harburn), Sean McGarvey (Glencorse), Ben McLeod (Musselburgh), Lee Morgan (Swanston New), Ross Noon (Craigielaw), Ollie Roberts (Archerfield) and Jordyn Rhind (Harburn).