02/11/11
Members of the Scotland Boys' squad have expressed their delight after being selected for warm weather winter training in Abu Dhabi later this month, a trip which will allow them the chance to work on fitness and technical aspects of their game for an extended period.
After the success of the 2010 winter camp, a new-look squad of ten players will depart on 18 November to be based at the stunning Yas Links Golf Club in Abu Dhabi and the Centro Yas Island Hotel, who together with long-standing supporter of the SGU, Aberdeen Asset Management, will sponsor the four-week training programme in the Middle East.
The group of ten includes four members of the current Boys’ squad, who will attend the training camp for a shorter period of ten days.
Blairgowrie’s Bradley Neil, who recently brought the curtain down on his season with victory in the Junior Champion of Champions event over The Duke’s Course, joins the squad, alongside reigning Boys Order of Merit champion Greig Marchbank (Dumfries & County). Talented St Andrews youngster Ewan Scott, the former English Under-14 Boys winner, and Lothians star Anthony Blaney have also been selected.
During their visit the Scotland squad will work with SGU National Coach Ian Rae, Under-18s coach Neil Marr and Performance Manager Steve Paulding, taking advantage of the world-class facilities.
It's an excellent opportunity for all members of the travelling group to further develop their games, with the younger members of the party especially relishing the forthcoming trip.
Fifteen-year-old Neil, who finished a creditable second in the English Under-16s Boys’ Open Stroke Play Championship at Durham in July, said: “I’m over the moon to be selected for the trip. I was delighted when I received the e-mail. It will be a great experience and a nice few days.
“I’m sure we will get a lot of practice in and work on a few things. I spoke to Ian Rae and the facilities out there are just fantastic, the whole complex.
“I’m really looking forward to it and it’s good as well that there are three other boys going that I know really well, so I can speak to them a lot.”
Blaney, the 17-year-old Liberton star who has helped Lothians win the Scottish Boys’ Team title for the last two years, added: “It will be a great experience for me to be away with older players and see how I can learn from them as I try to improve my game.
“I was getting ready for some serious practice at both Liberton and Gullane over the winter, but now I have a break like this to look forward to and I'm determined to make the most of it.”