1999 Canon Scottish Youths Open Strokeplay Championship
Crieff Golf Club
Saturday 19th June 1999

HERO HENDRY

In the Second qualifying event for the Canon European Under 21 Golf Championships, Eglin's Joel Hendry brought his US college form to his homeland when he won the Canon Scottish Youths Open Strokeplay Championship at Crieff on Sunday 20th June.

The event was cut from 72 holes to 36 because of the torrential rain on the Saturday. The second round on Saturday had to be abandoned owing to flooding at the Auchterarder course. The top 20 and ties from the 1st round there and at Crieff going forward to Sunday's 36 holes.

Hendry won a bizarre 3-way playoff although with nine holes to play he looked set to win. After the morning round, Hendry held a two stroke lead having shot a 3-under par 68, "then my brain got in the way" and having dropped several shots needed a birdie 3 at the last to get into the play off.

Stuart Reekie from Lundin posted the clubhouse target of 142 with a 70 some two and a half hours earlier. He was joined by Mark Loftus from Cowglen who birdied the 15th and 17th for a second round 69.

In the playoff which started at the 18th, Reekie drove out of bounds and did well to get down in 5. Loftus' ball was sitting well down in lush rough after his drive and he then hit a flyer well over the green and out of bounds. Hendry had driven into a green side bunker and after watching the antics of the others splashed out and two putted to win the championship.

Hendry and Loftus who was placed second because of a better second round than Reekie, now qualify for the final of the Canon European Under 21 Golf Championships at Sotogrande in October.

This makes a hat trick of runner up positions for Loftus who was second in the Brabazon Trophy and second in the Scottish Strokeplay Championship at St Andrews.

The leading three scores were:

Joel Hendry (68-74) 142
Mark Loftus (73-69) 142
Stuart Reekie (70-72) 142