Scottish Golf Union Press Release

FOUR SCOTLAND BOYS NAMED FOR WORLD
CHAMPIONSHIP IN JAPAN

Four young Scots hope to be a big hit in Japan, after being selected to represent Scotland in the forthcoming World Junior Golf Team Championship, hosted at Chukyo Country Club next month.
In the line-up are James Byrne (pictured right) and Michael Stewart, both well seasoned on the international circuit, along with fellow national squad member Shaun McAllister. Completing the quartet is Paul Ferrier, with the exciting prospect of facing some of the best young players on the world stage in Toyota City.
Banchory’s James Byrne and Michael Stewart (Troon Wellbeck), who helped to steer Scotland to a runner up position in the European boys' championship last year – a result which qualified Scotland for this championship – have undoubtedly proven their appetite for overseas action and will be buoyed by their selection for the team.
Byrne was also a key figure in the boys quadrangular title win last year and has proven his recent form by winning his first SGU Junior Tour title at Newmachar last Saturday. Team mate Stewart makes a worthy compatriot as the top scoring Scot at this year’s quadrangular, and was an integral member in the victorious Under-16s Scottish boys' team - the first time Scotland had clinched the title in the event’s nine-year history. The dynamic duo are also currently ranked in the top two in the SGU Boys Order of Merit.
They are joined by Craigielaw ace Shaun McAllister, who stormed to victory at last year’s Scottish boys' stroke-play championship at Alloa and was part of the successful boys' home international team who won the title for the first time in 11 years at Lossiemouth. He has spent a significant part of his winter in New Zealand and Australia, honing his preparations for international competition.
Elsewhere, Baberton’s Paul Ferrier who cut his teeth at the weekend Skandia Junior Open in Sweden - his first taste of international action – will hope to replicate his winning form on display at the Scottish boys' match-play championship in Dunbar earlier this season, when the Lothian star won his first national title.
Commenting on the championship, SGU performance manager Stuart Turner said, “We have a strong team heading out to Japan and I am confident they will provide a strong challenge. Playing against some of the world’s best players will be a great experience for these boys and I am optimistic they will rise to the occasion.”
Byrne who heads for the US later this year to commence a four-year golf scholarship at Arizona State University, said, “I am really looking forward to this event and it will be my first time in Japan. Playing alongside countries like Norway who defeated us last year at the Europeans, we really need to be at the top of our game. But it will be a great opportunity to jostle with the best and hopefully get a good finish.”
Fourteen countries will compete in the 16th staging of the 72-hole world boys' stroke-play event, which takes place from June 19 to 22. Current world champions, Norway – who narrowly beat Scotland to the European boys title last year - will start as hot prospects to retain title, with last year's runners-up Sweden also providing strong opposition.
Scotland will hope to improve on their 10th place finish, when they last competed in the event in 2001.
Scotland finished fourth in Japan in 1993, third in 1996, and ninth in 1999.