Young master aged just 16
In a year where golf has dominated Perthshire sport, Gregor Graham surpassed expectations.
Th 16-year-old Blair g eo w rie - based p layer has won a number of impressive accolades including the Scottish Boys’Order of Merit, the Scottish JuniorTour Championship andthe Perth and Kinross County Boys’Championships.
Hecurrently sits fifth in the European Golf’s U16 boys rank Cham p io n is ngs, h i p has sa n d h as represented Scotlandin the Boys’EuropeanTeam become an ambassador forthe Barrie Douglas Foundation.
“My game asbeen very co n sisteht n all year and winning the Scottish Boys’Order of Merit was fantastic,”said Gregor.
“Oneof my goals this year was to be selected for the EuropeanYoung Masters – onlythetop two U16s from each country makeit – sothis was also a great achievementand experience for me.”
Gregor has been playing golf since his dad introduced him, agedtwo, tothesport.
Butit wasin 2015 when he finishedrunner-up in the BritishWeeWonders Championshipsthat he realised he hadthe talent and determination to make it at performance level.
“I enjoy it all, both the practice and competition,” Gregor added.
“Weekends are busy with tournaments so I usually have a rest day on Monday.
“But every other day is either practising or playing at Blairgowrie Golf Clubor St Andrews Links.I love knowing that
I’mimproving.
“I also spend time in the gym.My main goal this winter is to get fitter and stronger, and to improve my clubhead speed.
“Golf issuch an athletic sport now andif you want tocom eteatthe highest Active L peis u re T ale n ted level, you’ve got to hitthe ball a long way.
“I’m part of the Live Athlete Scheme which means I have full use of their facilities.
“I usethe gym at Live Active Blairgowrie but I’ll also come into Perth to Bell’s Sports Centre forthe strength andconditioning gym.
“I’ve worked with Gil Stevenson in the past and now train with the
Instituteof Sport for my strength and conditioning.”
The year ahead is proving to be busy for Gregor, with his sights firmly set on being selected for all Scottish boys’teams, the Junior Ryder Cup andthe Great British and Ireland team forthe Jacques Leglise match against Europe.
Gregor, a Blairgowrie High student, said:“In the past 12months I brought my handicap down from scratch to +2and I didn’t miss onecut all year at boys’level.
“Looking ahead I want to keep winning trophies and being selected for teams.”