I am Jack McDonald, a 17 year old, +1 handicap golfer from Galashiels. I left school in May and I have decided to solely focus on my golf while having a part time job in Tesco, working 3 nights of the week to help support my parents in funding me. The time I work does not have an impact on the time and effort I am putting into my golf. The last year has been my most successful year in my golfing career, I have listed my ambitions and highlights of the 2019 season below.
My ambitions at the start of the 2019 season were:
* To qualify for the final stages of a National major boys tournament
* Make the match play stages of a Scottish Boys Amateur Championship
* Reduce my handicap low enough to play in the Boys Amateur Championship (British Boys)
* To finish the season on a +1 handicap All of these targets I set myself, I achieved.
Highlights of my season were as follows:
* Making the cut from 144 to 40 boys after 2 qualifying rounds (cut being 2 over) at the Scotttish Boys Open Championships in April at West Kilbride. Finishing T24 and 5th best Scottish player.
* In May I had a hole in one at the 12th at Torwoodlee.
* I represented Lothian Boys at Falkirk in a County match.
* In June I played in the Paul Lawrie Jug at Pollok Golf Club, Glasgow. I had another hole in one, on the first day helping me to a 7th place finish overall.
* Also in June I played in the Stephen Gallacher Foundation Trophy at Cardrona, finishing 12th overall.
* I then travelled to Nizels in Kent ito play in the Sir Henry Cooper Masters which is a boy’s international event with the Scottish Squad, finishing the 2 qualifying rounds 5 over just missing the cut.
* In July I travelled to Leeds to play in the Faldo Series North of England event. I finished 3rd in the U18 section with a -1 final round in the event.
* Next up was Scottish Boys Amateur Championships held at Blairgowrie. I held the clubhouse lead after day one after an opening round of -4 par, which I followed up with a +4 round to finish the qualifying rounds in 6th place. The next stage was match play where i progressed to the quarter finals which was taken to the 3rd extra hole, I was -5 for 21 holes, such was the standard of this match.
* In August I won the U18 section at a 36 hole Scottish Junior Tour event at Lanark.
* Also, in August I played in the Faldo Series at Bruntsfield not only winning the U18 section but also winning the overall competition with -4 after 3 rounds. After winning my group I flew out to Dubai in Novemeber to play in the Grand Final.
* Next up was Boys Amateur Championships (British Boys) in Devon. This was a fantastic experience for me, meeting competitors from all over the world. This was a starting field of 252 and was cut to 64 after two qualifying rounds. I missed the cut this time but gained invaluable experience.
* The weekend I returned from Devon I went on to win the U18 section at a 36 hole Scottish Junior Tour event at Bruntsfield.
* September saw me win the Dunbar Junior Championship for the second year running.
* September also brought selection to represent Scotland at the Duke of York Young Champions Trophy at Royal Portrush, Northern Ireland. This is a prestigious junior event where all the federations from all over the world send their junior champions to compete. I had the lowest score on day 2 of the competition with a 2 over par round.
* The three Junior Foundations Barrie Douglas, Stephen Gallacher and Paul Lawrie held a finals day at the Machrie Golf Club, Isle of Islay. The winners of the three foundation competitions were invited to attend along with the highest placed order of merit placings from the Scottish Boys order of merit table. I had a fantastic weekend finishing 5th overall.
* I was then selected to play for the Lothian Boys in the Area Team Championships at Perth but unfortunately this was cancelled due to the weather.
* This year I finished 5th in the Scottish Boys Order of Merit table out of 190 boys.
After what has been a fantastic season for me, my hard work and dedication has payed off as I have been selected to be part of the National Scottish Boys Squad for 2019/2020.
The total cost of 2019 is in excess of £10,000 and I feel that with the Trusts’ support I would be able to build on my success from this season.
Going forward into the 2020 season, with the support from the George Crawford Legacy Trust, it will enable me to compete in National and International events.
