clubgolf Junior Masters Final - Niven and Munro Reign at Renaissance

October 2010

Dalbeattie’s Tom Niven and Gullane’s Charlotte Munro are the new clubgolf Junior Masters champions after superb performances at The Renaissance Club in East Lothian on Sunday.

Eighteen handicapper Niven, who has come through Dalbeattie’s clubgolf programme, fired a magnificent 44 points to take the boys’ title, five points clear of Forfar’s Gavin Peatrie, who edged out Glen’s Greig Govenlock for the runners-up spot courtesy of the better inward half.

The 16-year-old, coached by pro James Erskine, produced a steady front nine to be level par after nine holes, but an incredible run of eight pars and a bogey – net eight birdies and a par – rocketed him to the top of the leader board and to the coveted title.

“I was just hoping to play well today and I did so I feel really good. I only just made the qualifying in the regional round, but played great in the final,” said Niven. “I’ve won a few competitions this year and won the handicap section of the Junior Tour 36-hole event at Portpatrick, so I was in good form.

“I’m helped by pro James Erskine who comes to the club once a month and gives me coaching on my chipping and putting. Jean Forrest, who runs the junior section, is also a great help and was there when I started the stage 1 clubgolf programme.”

Gullane 10 year old Charlotte Munro upstaged her older rivals to post a superb win in the girls’ section after recording a one-under par tally of 37 points, one point ahead of Aboyne’s Shannon McWilliam in second spot and Crichton’s Rachel Walker in third.

Despite a seven at the first which didn’t glean any points, Munro bounced back with an excellent par three at the second to kick start her round. She recovered to claim 16 points going out and three net birdies on the back nine gave her 21 points which couldn’t be caught by the chasing pack.

“I came second in the Wee Wonders but have never won anything like this so it’s good to be champion,” said a thrilled Munro. “I was lucky when the rain stopped on the fifth hole and played well from there on.”

Munro started on Gullane GC’s clubgolf programme in 2009 and quickly progressed, joining Gullane Ladies Golf Club earlier this year and receiving her first handicap of 27 in May. Coaching from club pro Alastair Good, and more recently from assistant pro Ian Rowlands, has helped her reduce her handicap to 20. She has been selected for Gullane’s U14 team and joined East Lothian Girls.

clubgolf project Manager Torquil McInroy was delighted to see so many great performances at the Renaissance Club final:

“It was great to see such a high standard of competition today, particularly the two winners and those among the prizes, who were all par or better. It is encouraging to see so many youngsters playing in the event who have come through the clubgolf programme and onto the national stage, which is one of the benefits that the Junior Masters offers.

“The course was fantastic too and we’ve had many wonderful comments from players and parents on the quality of the golf course, so we’re very grateful to the Renaissance Club for their great support of the event.”