Two new matchplay events lined up for Scottish golfers

Tournaments for juniors and home-based pros are big boost

Dalmahoys Rory Smith has signed up for The Big Johnsons Tour Matchplay

Two new matchplay events, one for juniors and the other for pros, will help Scottish golfers get back in the competitive groove this summer.

The Stephen Gallacher Foundation National Matchplay Championship and Big Johnsons Tour Matchplay have both been devised to make up for the impact of the coronavirus crisis on events this year.

To be held at Castle Park, near Gifford on August 3-8, the Stephen Gallacher Foundation tournament will have boys and girls competing against each other on a scratch basis.

It is hoped the event will help plug one of the gaps left by Scottish Golf deciding to scrap its entire fixture list due to the pandemic.

“With there being no national matchplay championships in Scotland this year due to Covid-19, we decided to give the boys and girls a national event to play in but with no need for a scorecard,” said foundation manager Scott Knowles.

“We decided to mix things up a bit and make it a mixed scratch event, I think possibly the only mixed scratch matchplay championship in amateur golf. This will give the chance for the boys and girls to compete against each other.”

Players knocked out in the first round will go into a consolation event, with the 16 in the main event and last four in the consolation event receiving an invitation for the foundation’s “Race to Dunbar” in October.

The last eight in the main event will also receive an invite to the “Race to the Machrie” event in September.

The Big Johnsons Tour Matchplay, meanwhile, is set to provide an element of competition for Scottish-based professionals.

Ties will be played at home clubs, with the aim is to get the first round started on July 1, providing restrictions are eased to allow guests at golf clubs.

“The thinking behind it was the likelihood of being able to play any strokeplay tournaments this year for the majority of guys was unlikely on either our tour or the PGA EuroPro Tour,” said one of the organisers, Fraser McKenna.

“Also, with the Scottish Golf guidlines of being two-balls only at the moment, a matchplay tournament fitted in perfectly.

“Myself and John Henry both ran the idea past a few players first to get their opinion on it and the response was amazing. So, in quite a short time, we came up with the tournament conditions.”

Sponsored by Ellmoll Builders Ltd and leading to a final at Loch Lomond, it will involve 32 players, including two-time European Tour winner Alastair Forsyth and former Amateur champion Bradley Neil.

Also in the line-up are North Berwick duo Scott Young and Scott Wilson, Duddingston’s John Gallagher, Marc Owenson from Gullane and Dalmahoy’s Rory Smith.

“Can’t wait for it to start,” said Smith, a Dispatch Trophy winner with Heriot’s in 2017. “What Fraser and John have set up for us is amazing.

“The field is quality as well with the likes of Bradley Neil, Danny Young and Alistair Forsyth teeing up. So, it should be a fun summer competing with these guys as well as playing on the Jamega Tour down south.”

Owenson added: "I think it’s great that John and Fraser have been able to come up with something for us all to look forward to and we are currently waiting for the clubs to give the okay to visitors for the event to get started.

"There's some great talent in the field and it’s something different from our normal stroke-play events, so I’m sure everyone is looking forward to it.

"John is continuously working hard to grow the tour and secure more sponsorship for it, so I’m glad to see so many people were keen to play. Hopefully lots more pros can get involved with the events once things start up again."