Young guns set for Greenburn shootout

Reigning Scottish Young Professionals Champion Paul O’Hara will take on Cawder’s Craig Haugh in the first round of the PGA Assistants Knockout Matchplay Championship at Greenburn Golf Club on June 23-24.

O’Hara is the only exempt and joins the 15 other players who qualified for the tournament at the same venue on June 9.

Ciar Porcini (seeded two) from Turnberry, led the qualifiers after returning a score of 67 around the par 71 course.

The first round gets underway at 8.30am on Monday, with the second round to be played that afternoon. The semi-finals will take place on Tuesday morning, with the final and third and fourth play-off that afternoon.

Results will count towards the Young Pro’s 2014 Order of Merit and is the first of five counting events this year. It has been possible to increase the number of events thanks to the backing of WL Gore & Galvin Green who are jointly sponsoring the Scottish Young Pro’s OOM.

There is a prize-fund of £5000 for the tournament, with the winner taking home £900.

Roy Murray, The PGA in Scotland’s tournament director, said: “We owe a huge debt of thanks to WL Gore and Galvin Green for their support in putting on additional events for our Trainee Professionals.

“It is really important that they get the chance to play competitive golf against their peers to continue the promise they have shown in the amateur ranks. We are also very grateful to Greenburn Golf Club for allowing us the use of their course for the two days.”

The full draw is:

Paul O’Hara (Clydeway Golf) v Craig Haugh (Cawder)

Tom Dingwall (Kemnay) v Sean Fay (Royal Dornoch)

Louis Gaughan (Bathgate) v Andrew Hutchison (Douglas Park)

Scott Costello (Strathaven) v Robert King (Carrick)

Ciar Poriciani (Turnberry) v Jordan Gallagher (Douglas Park)

Ross Jack (Dumfries & Galloway) v Sam McLaren (Blairgowrie)

Keir McNicoll (Gullane) v Michael Mackenzie (Edzell)

Callum Beveridge (W Kilbride) v Tim Poyser (Renaissance)