Cameron Brown and Archie Cargill take honours in Schools Challenge
Cameron Brown, an S5 pupil at Ross High School in Tranent, East Lothian, was the overall scratch prize winner at the Fife leg of year’s Alfred Dunhill Schools Golf Challenge played yesterday in St Andrews. The 15-year-old carded a two-over-par 73 at Fairmont St Andrews’ Torrance Course to take this year’s title.
Cameron, who plays off five handicap, is a member of Kilspindie Golf Club. Playing the sport since the age of eight, he now competes regularly in East Lothian schools and club competitions.
Speaking after yesterday’s competition, he said: “I’m really chuffed to have won this event where I played the best golf of my life. The weather was good and the course was in great shape.” Following success in the competition, Cameron is now keen to further develop his game. “I want to just keep going with my golf, playing more competitions and lowering my handicap,” he said.
Meanwhile 14-year-old Archie Cargill, an S4 pupil at Arbroath High School carded an impressive level par in the first stage of the competition played on Sunday, September 22 at the Buddon Course, Carnoustie. Having only taken up the sport in January 2023, Archie secured his fist handicap six months later when he began to play competitive golf.
A member of Arbroath Golf Club, Archie is involved in the Carnoustie Craws High Performance Programme at Carnoustie Golf Links and also plays on the Junior Tour Scotland. He currently plays off a handicap of two.
Following his scratch prize win, Archie said: “The Alfred Dunhill Schools Golf Challenge is a well-run event which has really helped me lift my game.” Listing Scotland’s Bob MacIntyre among his professional golf idols, Archie admitted his real hero is Rory McIlroy. “I really admire Rory, his mindset and the whole way he approaches the game,” he said.
A total of 200 aspiring golfers representing schools from Fife, Tayside and other regions of Scotland signed up for this year’s competitions which Alfred Dunhill has supported for more than 20 years.
Other winners at yesterday’s competition in St Andrews were Leander Remes from Dollar Academy and Lois Reid from Aberdeenshire’s Mintlaw Academy, who won the Senior Boys and Senior Girls titles respectively. Fergus Iversen from Aberdeen’s Cults Academy won the Junior Boys competition while Jessica Wood from Balwearie High School in Fife took the Junior Girls title.
Further winners from last week’s Carnoustie competition included Cameron Galloway from Blairgowrie High School, who took honours in the Senior Boys category. Fellow Blairgowrie pupil Jessica Sievwright won the Junior Girls category while Heather Strathdee from Arbroath High School won the Senior Girls competition, and Montrose Academy pupil Elliot Scott took the Junior Boys title.
The winners of both Schools Golf competitions will be invited to receive their prizes at the Old Course St Andrews on the final day of this year’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship on Sunday, October 6. They will also be invited to attend an exclusive golf clinic on the Championship practice ground with internationally renowned golf coach Robert Baker.
Baker said: “A huge well done to these aspiring golfers for their success in this year’s Schools Golf Challenge. I look forward to meeting these talented youngsters at this year’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and welcoming them to our annual coaching clinic.
“The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship is proud of its long-standing support of young, Scottish-based school golfers. The Schools Golf event encourages young people to participate in competitive play and provides an important boost for the future of the sport in Scotland by maximising coaching and mentoring opportunities.”
The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship takes place from October 3 – 6 at the Old Course St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns. Admission is free for all spectators over the first three days of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. To purchase tickets for the final day, Sunday, October 6, visit: www.alfreddunhilllinks.com/tickets/
