Jack McDonald targets club for winners

JACK McDonald returns to the scene of a previous triumph – Ladybank – today bidding to join an elite club in Scottish amateur golf by winning multiple national titles.

The Ayrshire teenager won the Scottish Boys’ Stroke-Play Championship over the Fife course in 2009 and now has the youths’ equivalent in his sights.

McDonald, a Barassie member, is one of the favourites to join the likes of Stephen Gallacher, Martin Laird and Paul McGinley on the under-21 event’s roll of honour. The Stirling University student has already chalked up a notable victory this season, having produced an impressive performance at West Lancs last month to claim the British Universities’ Championship.

McDonald’s rivals in the heart of Fife include Royal Dornoch’s Lyle McAlpine, who won the Golf Data Lab-sponsored event at Paisley 12 months ago, and Torwoodlee’s Simon Fairburn, runner-up then and also at Monifieth in 2010.

Fellow Borderer Craig Howie, who won last month’s Scottish Boys, is unable to play due to school exams, but, helped by the fact he lives closer to Ladybank, St Andrews’ Ewan Scott, the runner-up at Murcar Links, will sit an exam this morning before teeing off his title challenge in the afternoon.

“I’ve managed to keep my game ticking over since the Scottish Boys last month and I feel in pretty good shape for this event,” said the 16-year-old.

Ladybank has staged the event once before in 1988, when Irishman McGinley rubber-stamped the potential that subsequently earned him four European Tour titles and three winning Ryder Cup appearances.