FORMAT: 36-hole stroke play qualifier / 6 rounds of matchplay knock-out
North East of Scotland Boys player Fraser Laird came good just when he needed it to carry off the Scottish U-18s title at Edzell GC.
The 17-year-old’s biggest achievement before the weekend was winning the Kemnay Club Championship but he barely put foot wrong in the knockout stages and then defeated Scottish U-14s champion Cameron Mukherjee (Gullane) in the final.
Having qualified in 19th, Laird was behind for just one hole against Dominic McGlinchey (Renaissance) in the quarter-finals. That apart he never trailed in any of his matchplay ties until the final, which was tightly fought affair until the champion won three holes out of four, starting at the 11th.
That proved the decisive period and, despite losing the 17th, he got over the line in fine style to cap a remarkable week and secure his place in the Scottish Boys squad for the Junior Home Internationals. They take place at Downfield in Scotland next month (Aug 2-4).
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Speaking to Scottish Golf, he said: “This achievement ranks number one for me, it’s not even close.
“I wasn’t expecting anything going into the week so coming out with the trophy is just amazing really.
“It’s been a tough week. The conditions we’ve had and the intensity of playing two rounds every day for the last three days as well as the games I’ve had which have been tough.
“In the first match today I played solid against Ross. I think I was two or three under. In the final I got off to a shaky start but pulled it back in the mid-part of the round and closed it out at the end.”
Laird lost the first hole against Mukherjee but won the third and held his nerve well in the early stages, repeatedly holing out from four and five feet to remain on level terms.
The Gullane youngster broke the run of halved holes by taking the seventh but the match swung decisively in Laird’s favour at the start of the back nine, beginning at the 11th.
The Kemnay junior got it back to all square when he wedged it to seven feet and his opponent missed from five feet for the half.
At the 12th, Mukherjee found trouble off the tee and had to hack out before finding the putting surface in three. Laird got on in two and two putts was sufficient to take the lead.
After the 13th was halved, he doubled his lead at the par three next where he hit an excellent chip to two feet and his playing partner fluffed his chip and then could only put his third to 15 feet before conceding.
Mukherjee was thrown a lifeline at 17 as soon-to-be-champion found sand with his tee shot and could not get up and down.
However the Lothians ace could not take advantage at the last where he went left with his tee shot and struggled to escape the long stuff. He eventually made it on in four whereas his opponent was just through the back in two. Laird then secured the victory by chipping to a foot.