Reach Scottish Branch - Books to give you more information...

[Alasdair Berry wins Disabled Open]
[Berry named Junior Golfer of the Year]
[Berry on Scotland Team for Inaugural Home International Series]

Teenage golfer Alasdair wins Disabled British Open Golf Championship

TEENAGE golf sensation Alasdair Berry shocked a field of more experienced opponents by winning the inaugural Disabled British Open Golf Championship last week.

Alasdair, who was born with no hands, stunned the experts by carding a 78 and a 75 on the notoriously difficult par 72 Old Thane Golf and Country Club Course – which was designed by Peter Alliss – to win his category in the Sky-televised tournament at Liphook in Hampshire.

Former Greenwood Academy pupil Alasdair, 17, uses wrist attachments designed by his car mechanic dad Eddie, also a member of Ravenspark Golf Club, to select and hold his clubs – and once he's lined up he plays his shots just like any able-bodied competitor.

"It was a fantastic experience," said Alasdair, of Steps Road, Irvine. "We had two practise rounds on the Sunday and then the competition was held on the Monday and Tuesday and I was just over the moon when I realised I'd won it.

"And being presented with the trophy by Peter Alliss was a marvellous moment"

Eddie, who acts as Alasdair's 'daddy-caddie' said he was thrilled at his son's performance.

"It was a really difficult course and for him to be just nine over for the two rounds was fantastic," he added.

"The greens were lightning quick – even worse than Augusta – and one six-handicapper who hit his tee shot to within 20 feet of the pin actually took four putts to get down. "It was a fabulous display from Alasdair and we're all so proud of him."

But Alasdair, who is about to start a college course in accounting, hasn't had time to savour his success just yet.

On Thursday he teamed up with Ravenspark clubmates Christopher Hobson, Christopher Butler and Brad Cathie to beat Ballochmyle 4-0 and march into the Ayrshire Scratch Final, but 24 hours later he failed to make the final of the Six-Man Nett Competition when Ravenspark took a 4-2 first leg lead to Kelburne but crashed out after a 5½-½ defeat.

Then on Sunday he teamed up with dad Eddie again when the duo finished seventh in Ravenspark's annual father and son competition and, on September 13, he squares up to Willie McGill in the club's Matchplay Singles Final.

"It's all been really hectic and what I achieved last week just hasn't sunk in yet," said Alasdair.

"But it will eventually hit me."

This article was originally written by John Woods and published on Sep 4 2009 in the Irvine Herald. It is reproduced here with Mr Wood's kind permission. To see the original story please go to TheIrvineHerald.co.uk

Ayrshire Junior Golf League
Berry named as Junior Golfer of the Year at Annual Dinner
Alasdair Berry and David Reynolds

David Reynolds with Alasdair Berry

Alasdair Berry (Irvine Ravenspark) was named as the 2009 winner of the Macrobert Thistle Trophy and the title of Ayrshire Junior Golfer Of The Year at the 41st Annual Dinner & Presentation Of Trophies of The Ayrshire Junior Golf League, held at Irvine Ravenspark on Monday 9th November.

Berry, who has been a member of the Ravenspark junior club for a number of years and presently plays off a handicap of 7, won the category 1 nett trophy at the innaugural Disabled Open Golf Championship earlier this year. Members of the Ravenspark club who were in attendance were visibly moved when the winner was announced by David Reynolds of Fields In Trust (Formerly The National Playing Fields Association).

Runner up in the Junior Golfer Of The Year award was Scottish Boys Strokeplay Champion Jack McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie).

A capacity audience of junior golfers, convenors & invited guests were in attendance at the dinner, chaired by League Chairman Iain Mackay (West Kilbride), which brought the curtain down on the 2009 Ayrshire Junior Golf League season.

This is an exerpt from an article that was originally published on the Ayrshire Golf website. It is reproduced here with their kind permission. To see the full article, please go to ayrshire.golf.blogspot

UK Disabled Golfers to compete in inaugural Home International Series at 2010 Ryder Cup venue

Monty's men may be taking on Celtic Manor later this year in the Ryder Cup, but disabled golfers from across the UK have decided to show them the way in their brand new Four Nations Cup competition.

Squads from Scotland, Ireland, England and Wales have just been announced to take part in this inaugural event and will travel to Wales next month to play at this prestigious golfing venue.

Monday 15 March is the first day for the match play competition and Steve Bramwell, the Scottish Captain, said, "It is a great honour to lead your country at any time, but to be able to play in a brand new event and at such a great golf course, does give you a great buzz. We'll travel down the day before the match starts, to get settled in and get a little practise, before battle commences on Monday".

The Scottish Squad, which has been selected from the 2009 Scottish Order of Merit Championship and some Captain's wild-card choices, will travel from various parts of Scotland, including Ayrshire, Fife, Edinburgh and Glasgow and the event is the first ever team international that involves numerous disabilities, including amputees, those with sensory loss, cerebral palsy, stroke victims and other serious health conditions.

TEAM SCOTLAND
Mark Belcher-Edinburgh
Alisdair Berry-Ayrshire
Steve Bramwell (Captain)-Johnstone
John Copland-Johnstone
Jim Gales (Vice Captain)-Cupar
Duncan Hamilton-Martin-Weybridge
Scott Kerr-Glasgow
William McEwan-Glenrothes

This is an exerpt from an article that was originally published on Golfblogger.co.uk. It is reproduced here with their kind permission. To see the full article, please go [here]


	[Alasdair Berry wins Disabled Open] [Berry named Junior Golfer of the Year] [Berry on Scotland Team for Inaugural Home International Series] Teenage golfer Alasdair wins Disabled British Open Golf Championship TEENAGE golf sensation Alasdair Berry shocked a field of more experienced opponents by winning the inaugural Disabled British Open Golf Championship last week. Alasdair, who was born with no hands, stunned the experts by carding a 78 and a 75 on the notoriously difficult par 72 Old Thane Golf and Country Club Course – which was designed by Peter Alliss – to win his category in the Sky-televised tournament at Liphook in Hampshire. Former Greenwood Academy pupil Alasdair, 17, uses wrist attachments designed by his car mechanic dad Eddie, also a member of Ravenspark Golf Club, to select and hold his clubs – and once he's lined up he plays his shots just like any able-bodied competitor. "It was a fantastic experience," said Alasdair, of Steps Road, Irvine. "We had two practise rounds on the Sunday and then the competition was held on the Monday and Tuesday and I was just over the moon when I realised I'd won it. "And being presented with the trophy by Peter Alliss was a marvellous moment" Eddie, who acts as Alasdair's 'daddy-caddie' said he was thrilled at his son's performance. "It was a really difficult course and for him to be just nine over for the two rounds was fantastic," he added. "The greens were lightning quick – even worse than Augusta – and one six-handicapper who hit his tee shot to within 20 feet of the pin actually took four putts to get down. "It was a fabulous display from Alasdair and we're all so proud of him." But Alasdair, who is about to start a college course in accounting, hasn't had time to savour his success just yet. On Thursday he teamed up with Ravenspark clubmates Christopher Hobson, Christopher Butler and Brad Cathie to beat Ballochmyle 4-0 and march into the Ayrshire Scratch Final, but 24 hours later he failed to make the final of the Six-Man Nett Competition when Ravenspark took a 4-2 first leg lead to Kelburne but crashed out after a 5½-½ defeat. Then on Sunday he teamed up with dad Eddie again when the duo finished seventh in Ravenspark's annual father and son competition and, on September 13, he squares up to Willie McGill in the club's Matchplay Singles Final. "It's all been really hectic and what I achieved last week just hasn't sunk in yet," said Alasdair. "But it will eventually hit me." This article was originally written by John Woods and published on Sep 4 2009 in the Irvine Herald. It is reproduced here with Mr Wood's kind permission. To see the original story please go to TheIrvineHerald.co.uk Ayrshire Junior Golf League Berry named as Junior Golfer of the Year at Annual Dinner David Reynolds with Alasdair Berry Alasdair Berry (Irvine Ravenspark) was named as the 2009 winner of the Macrobert Thistle Trophy and the title of Ayrshire Junior Golfer Of The Year at the 41st Annual Dinner & Presentation Of Trophies of The Ayrshire Junior Golf League, held at Irvine Ravenspark on Monday 9th November. Berry, who has been a member of the Ravenspark junior club for a number of years and presently plays off a handicap of 7, won the category 1 nett trophy at the innaugural Disabled Open Golf Championship earlier this year. Members of the Ravenspark club who were in attendance were visibly moved when the winner was announced by David Reynolds of Fields In Trust (Formerly The National Playing Fields Association). Runner up in the Junior Golfer Of The Year award was Scottish Boys Strokeplay Champion Jack McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie). A capacity audience of junior golfers, convenors & invited guests were in attendance at the dinner, chaired by League Chairman Iain Mackay (West Kilbride), which brought the curtain down on the 2009 Ayrshire Junior Golf League season. This is an exerpt from an article that was originally published on the Ayrshire Golf website. It is reproduced here with their kind permission. To see the full article, please go to ayrshire.golf.blogspot UK Disabled Golfers to compete in inaugural Home International Series at 2010 Ryder Cup venue Monty's men may be taking on Celtic Manor later this year in the Ryder Cup, but disabled golfers from across the UK have decided to show them the way in their brand new Four Nations Cup competition. Squads from Scotland, Ireland, England and Wales have just been announced to take part in this inaugural event and will travel to Wales next month to play at this prestigious golfing venue. Monday 15 March is the first day for the match play competition and Steve Bramwell, the Scottish Captain, said, "It is a great honour to lead your country at any time, but to be able to play in a brand new event and at such a great golf course, does give you a great buzz. We'll travel down the day before the match starts, to get settled in and get a little practise, before battle commences on Monday". The Scottish Squad, which has been selected from the 2009 Scottish Order of Merit Championship and some Captain's wild-card choices, will travel from various parts of Scotland, including Ayrshire, Fife, Edinburgh and Glasgow and the event is the first ever team international that involves numerous disabilities, including amputees, those with sensory loss, cerebral palsy, stroke victims and other serious health conditions. TEAM SCOTLAND Mark Belcher-Edinburgh Alisdair Berry-Ayrshire Steve Bramwell (Captain)-Johnstone John Copland-Johnstone Jim Gales (Vice Captain)-Cupar Duncan Hamilton-Martin-Weybridge Scott Kerr-Glasgow William McEwan-Glenrothes This is an exerpt from an article that was originally published on Golfblogger.co.uk. It is reproduced here with their kind permission. To see the full article, please go [here]
ReachScottishBranch.co.uk created and maintained by ANK Designs