Historic win against men on home soil for up-and-coming Scottish golfer Ellie Docherty
Golf Correspondent Martin Dempster brings you grass-roots golf stories you won’t read elsewhere
It’s a busy time in the golf season, with lots going on at clubs around Scotland, and here is a round up of grass-roots stories from around the home of golf.
History-making feat on home soil for Moray member
Moray Golf Club member Ellie Docherty created history on home turf by becoming the first female to claim the Bookless Cup as the leading amateur in the Northern Open.
Docherty, who knocked leading qualifier Abigail May out of the match-play stage in last month’s Scottish Women’s Amateur Championship at Southerness, carded rounds of 73-67 at the Lossiemouth venue for a two-under-par total.
Her second-round salvo was illuminated by an eagle-2 at the ninth and also contained birdies at the first, second, 13th and 15th.
Docherty’s aggregate was matched by clubmate Jordan Edwards with rounds of 67-73, but the trophy went to Edwards by virtue of a better second-round score.
Cruden Bay’s Chris Gilbert, last year’s Bookless Cup winner at Royal Dornoch, finished a shot behind Docherty and Edwards with scores of 73-68.
This year’s event was part of The PGA Callaway Chrome Tour Open Series, with Englishman Haydn McCullen, helped by a sensational 59 in the opening round, landing the main prize.
“The feedback from the event has been first class, with lots of positives about the course, the clubhouse, the staff and the local pro and his team,” reported David Longmuir, the PGA in Scotland’s regional manager. “The non-Scottish players were hugely impressed and love coming up for the Northern Open.”
Welsh win for Stephen Gallacher’s nephew
A new event held by the Stephen Gallacher Foundation in Wales was won by Oliver Henderson, Gallacher’s 18-year-old nephew.
The SGF Monmouthshire Masters was held at Monmouthshire Golf Club and involved a mix of Welsh and Scottish players.
Bathgate member Henderson, who plays off plus two, posted rounds of 68-71-74 for a three-over total to win by three shots from Pennard’s Thomas Maclean (73-73-70).
Henderson, who had a golf club in his hands since he started walking, started playing in SGF Flag Events when he was six, the same age he had his first lesson from Kingsfield-based Jane Connachan.
“Our family are so happy for him,” admitted Gallacher. “He nearly won in a Scotland Junior Tour event earlier in the year he’s going in the right direction.
He’s working really hard and hopefully he keeps at it and gets a Boys’ cap for Scotland.”
The Monmouthshire Masters girls’ event, meanwhile, also produced a Scottish success as Gullane’s Louise Martin shot 75-78-75 for a 15-over total, winning by two shots from clubmate Kate Mackenzie (80-74-76).
Maclean ensured that one trophy ended up in home hands as he picked up the Iestyn Tucker Trophy for the leading under-16 player.
Dornoch delegation in LA for Curtis Cup
Royal Dornoch has started the countdown to hosting the 45th Curtis Cup in 2028.
The biennial event, which is taking place this weekend in Los Angeles, will follow hard on the heels of the club’s 150th anniversary celebrations next year.
To prepare the groundwork for welcoming the event to the Highlands, general manager Neil Hampton, assistant Claire Riddell, vice-captain Colin Mackay and council member Sandy Fraser are attending this week’s 026 match at Bel-Air Country Club.
“It is a huge honour to have been selected to host the Curtis Cup in the summer of 2028 and everyone at Royal Dornoch is looking forward to what will be a memorable week for the club,” said Hampton.
“While we will be taking in some of the action over the next few days, primarily we are here to have a look behind the scenes and get a grasp of the logistical challenges involved in hosting such a prestigious international tournament, on and off the golf course.
“We know we have a world-class golf course, and now a clubhouse to match, at Royal Dornoch. Clearly Los Angeles is very different from a small Highland town like Dornoch.
“But, in recent years, there has been welcome investment in the accommodation infrastructure in the area and the Curtis Cup is going to provide a significant economic boost as we welcome golf fans from both sides of the Atlantic.”
‘Scoreboard watcher’ Alex chalks up Stirling success
Alex Chalk made his mark in the Arnold Clark Tartan Tour’s latest 36-Hole OOM event at Stirling.
The 28-year-old, who is one of the professionals at Gleneagles, carded impressive rounds of 66-67 to finish three shots clear of a strong field on 11 under par.
It was Chalk’s second win in such an event after making his breakthrough on the domestic scene at Arbroath last year.
This success was set up by a burst of six birdies in eight holes in the opening round before moving up a gear again on that stretch by making four birdies in five holes on day two.
“I’m a scoreboard watcher so I knew where I stood,” said Chalk, who pocketed the top prize of £1325 and is now sharing the No 1 spot on the early Order of Merit. “Walking up 18, I think I was four clear, so that was a nice position to be in.”
Runner-up Chris Currie (Wilson Golf) carded rounds of 69 and 67 for eight-under while Paul O’Hara (Hamilton) was third on five-under after a 67 and a 72.
Tulsa tribute for Scot David Inglis
David Inglis, who won the British Boys’ Championship when he was a Glencorse member, has been inducted into the University of Tulsa Athletic Hall of Fame.
The Scot won an unprecedented four straight Western Athletic Conference individual titles from 2001-04 during his time as a member of the Tulsa University men's golf programme.
He became just the second male collegiate golfer to ever win four straight conference individual titles, tying a former Open champion in Justin Leonard.
Inglis played in 52 tournaments during his spell at Tulsa University and had 38 top 20 performances and placed among the top ten 30 times with 23 top-five performances and eight career wins.
He was named to the PING All-American Scholar Team both his junior and senior seasons.
Inglis is now the head golf coach at Northwestern University in Illinois, where he’s just completed his 16th season as part of the programme.
Machrihanish stages milestone pro-am
Machrihanish Golf Club marked its 150th anniversary celebrations by staging a first pro-am in almost 20 years.
The PGA in Scotland event featured a mix of some Tartan Tour stalwarts and the circuit’s up-and-coming stars.
Top spot was shared by Jack McDonald, the former Walker Cup player who is now attached to Whitecraigs, and Panmure assistant pro Dominic Bradburn.
They carded matching four-under-par 66s to finish two shots ahead of Aaron McCue (Gleddoch Golf & Spa Resort), Gavin Hay (East Renfrewshire) and Chris Maclean (Hayston).
Bradburn also won the team event with Dalziel Decorators, the quartet coming out on top in a countback with Where’s the Birdies At led by Steve Govenlock (Another Place, The Machrie) after a tie on 18 under.
In other recent Tartan Tour events, Liam Duncan won the ProScot Golf Young Professionals OOM Sprint at Deeside with a four-under 66 while Hay posted 41 Stableford points at Dundonald Links to come out on top in a Sprint Series event.
On a tough scoring day at Haggs Castle, meanwhile, Fraser Mann won the opening Senior Stableford competition of the year with 36 points, finishing one shot ahead of David Patrick
Strathmore successes for Ounap and Stewart
Loudoun Gowf’s Hannah Ounap and Carnoustie Caledonia player Cole Stewart were the title winners in the latest staging of the Barrie Douglas Foundation Scottish Junior Masters at Strathmore.
In an event held in memory of one of the great supporters of amateur golf in Scotland, Ounap landed the girls’ title while Stewart claimed the boys’ crown.
Ounap carded scores of 71-71-76 for a level-par total, the same as Ponteland’s Louisa Hamilton (73-72-74), the pair finishing four shots ahead of Stirling’s Erin Huskie, with Carly McDonald (St Andrews) two shots further back in fourth place.
Meanwhile, Stewart posted rounds of 72-65-76 for a two-under total, pipping Bruntsfield Links player Aidan Lawson (73-71-70) by a shot. Stewart’s second-round effort contained nine birdies, including four in row early on then three in the last four holes.
The girls’ under-18 handicap event was won by Lanark’s Hannah Sneddon with two-under total with scores of 78-69-70 while Stewart won the boys’ under-16 section by ten shots from Stirling’s Thomas Kelly.
Long-serving greenkeeper signs off at Craigie Hill
Craigie Hill greenkeeper Steve Sullivan scored the perfect send-off from the Perth golf club’s members.
They marked his retiral after 50 years tending the greens and fairways by presenting him with gifts which included a season ticket for his beloved St Johnstone’s return to the Scottish Premiership next season.
He was thrilled to have the ticket presented by Cup-winning heroes Stevie May, Liam Craig and Liam Gordon.
Club captain Graeme Lundberg said: “It is certainly the end of an era. Steve has been an absolute stalwart at Craigie Hill for as long as most of us can remember and he has always ensured our greens have enjoyed a reputation for being as good as any in the area, no matter what the weather throws at us.
“It has been a real labour of love and the club is grateful for his professionalism and commitment to Craigie Hill down the decades. He is going to be a hard act to follow.”
Scottish football team unveils new golf-inspired shirt
Highland League football club Nairn County has unveiled its new unique away shirt for the 2026-2028 seasons, with a striking design having been inspired by the rich golfing heritage of the town.
Produced in partnership with Hope & Glory Sportswear, the shirt features detailed course maps from both Nairn Golf Club and Nairn Dunbar Golf Club woven into the fabric design, paying tribute to the town’s two golf courses.
The launch continues a recent tradition of away shirts that proudly showcase different aspects of life in Nairn. The club’s previous away kits featured every street name within the IV12 postcode area and later celebrated Nairn’s historic connection to fishing, tourism and its identity as a seaside town.
“We are really excited to reveal our new away shirt,” said Nairn County chairman Kevin Reid. “The golfing heritage of the town is well renowned, and we are very privileged to have two incredible golf courses in Nairn.
“As a club we are always looking at ways we can celebrate the town and help raise its profile. The north of Scotland is littered with fantastic golf courses and Nairn itself has produced some outstanding golfers.
“They include Ladies European Tour player Kelsey MacDonald, Korn Ferry Tour professional Sandy Scott and his brother Callum Scott, who won the Silver Medal for leading amateur at The Open at Troon in 2024.
“Russell Knox, who has enjoyed a successful PGA Tour career, was also a member at Nairn Dunbar Golf Club. Golf is such an important part of the identity of the town and we felt this was a fantastic way to recognise that heritage.”
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