The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Royal Dornoch gears up for women’s and men’s championships
Royal Dornoch Golf Club is preparing to roll out the red carpet for a historic double header with an international cast.
For the first time, the R&A has selected one venue to host concurrently both the Women’s and Men’s senior amateur championships.
A ballot was required to finalise the fields for the championships, being staged from July 5-8.
While the 198-strong senior men’s line-up features several Tayside and Fife competitors among a 34-strong Scots contingent, they will be joined by players flying the flag from 15 countries.
A clutch of Courier Country players will be part of the 198-strong men’s international field, including David Martin (Carnoustie), Maurice Lindsay (Grange and Broughty), Alan Hogg (The St Andrews Club), Ian Jeen (New Club St Andrews), Gary Tough (Edzell), David Logie (Dun Whinny), David Shields (Glenearn) and Stuart McKendrick (Dunkeld and Birnam).
They will join 53 American players, including defending champion Gene Elliott, from Iowa.
Other players are travelling from Canada, Australia, Brazil and various European countries.
Twenty nations are represented in the 90-strong senior women’s field which includes far-travelled players from the US, Guatemala, Peru, Argentina and Australia, with Elaine Moffat flying the flag for St Regulus in St Andrews and Jackie Brown from Monifieth.
Royal Dornoch Ladies’ captain Alison Bartlett and Tain’s Mary Smith will be joined by England’s defending champion Aileen Greenfield, Ireland’s 2018 winner at Crail, Laura Webb, America’s 2019 champion Lara Tennant and Australian Sue Wooster, who captured the recent European Senior Women’s Amateur crown.
Neil Hampton, general manager at Royal Dornoch, admits the groundbreaking decision to entrust the Highland club to host the championships is a source of pride to members and staff.
“In many ways we are entering uncharted territory but we are confident that Royal Dornoch is ready to rise to the challenge and, rest assured, the town will offer a traditional Highland welcome to the many competitors, their families and supporters,” he said.
He added: “We are well aware Royal Dornoch will be creating a little bit of history and we have been working with the R&A to present the championships to a world-class standard.”
Phil Anderton, chief development officer at the R&A, said: “Golf is a global game and we have been delighted with the volume and diversity of entries as men and women compete in the same week across both championships.”