Golf: Bradley Neil picked for European championships team

Jun 28 2012 by Katy Gordon, Blairgowrie Adv

BLAIRGOWRIE’S golfing starlet Bradley Neil has been chosen for the Scotland team that will compete in the European Boys Team Championship in Sweden next month.

The prestigious event takes place at Lidingo Golf Club in Stockholm from July 10 to 14, with a strong six-man side named by the Scottish Golf Union last week.

Bradley – pictured –has been in fine form, finishing second at the Youths and defeating South AfricanAmateur champ Brian Soutar to help Perth and Kinross to Moneygate Scottish Men’s Area Team Championship glory.

Barrie Douglas, Chairman of Selectors, said: “We’ve chosen a strong team and are all looking forward to the event in Sweden in July.

“All of the team are playing very well and a player’s recent performance is the key factor when selecting for teams representing Scotland. We also take into account previous international performances.

“We finished 13th in this event in Prague last year, just missing out on a place in the top-flight match play by a single stroke, and hope to at least finish in the top eight this year.”

The full team is: Lawrence Allan (Alva), Craig Howie (Peebles), Greig Marchbank (Dumfries and County), Bradley Neil (Blairgowrie), Jamie Savage (Cawder), Ewan Scott (St Andrews); Reserve: Anthony Blaney (Liberton).

Neil has won the Under-16s section at the Sir Henry Cooper Junior Masters to ensure a Scottish clean sweep at Nizels Golf Club in Kent.

Bradley continued his ever-impressive season, highlights of which have included a runner-up finish in the Golf Data Lab Scottish Youths Championship at Ladybank and helping Perth and Kinross to Moneygate Society Scottish Area Team Championship glory at his home club.

Neil, (16), closed with a 68 in Kent for a four-under total and a share of third place overall with Josh Hayes (East Sussex) – good enough to take the Under-16 honours.

Scott Knowles, the Scottish team manager, said: “It was a great week, a clean sweep for the Scots.

“It was great for Bradley to win his category too.”

The Sir Henry Cooper Junior Masters has been contested since 1998. It lives on as a permanent memorial to the esteemed former English, Commonwealth and European heavyweight boxing champion and was set up to help talented young golfers achieve their ambitions.