Montgomerie backs the Scottish Challenge

Europe’s 2010 Ryder Cup Captain Colin Montgomerie has praised the impact of the Scottish Challenge which continues to play a vital developmental role in the build up to The 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles. The Scottish Challenge this year moves to the spectacular Macdonald Spey Valley Golf Club, in Aviemore, Inverness-shire, from July 30 to August 2 and Montgomerie believes it will once again provide a platform for the next generation of Ryder Cup stars. Now in its fourth year, the tournament is part of EventScotland’s ongoing support of the European Challenge Tour and Scottish professionals ahead of The 2014 Ryder Cup and is set to attract a strong field comprising some of the most promising Challenge Tour players. Montgomerie, who will lead Europe at The Celtic Manor Resort, South Wales, said: “The Scottish Challenge is an important event which gives promising players the chance to take on one of Scotland’s leading courses and it plays an integral part in the country’s build up to Gleneagles in 2014. “Scottish amateur golf is in fine health following the victory in the World Amateur Team Golf Championship last October and over the next few years hopefully we can see some of these players progress onto the Challenge Tour and play in future editions of the Scottish Challenge, which in turn provides a platform to move on to The European Tour and maybe even The Ryder Cup in Scotland in five years time.”It is the third consecutive year that Macdonald Hotels has supported the Scottish Challenge, having previously hosted the tournament at Macdonald Cardrona Hotel Golf and Country Club for the past two seasons. Both winners of those two events, England’s Robert Dinwiddie (2007) and Dutchman Taco Remkes (2008), went on to graduate on to The European Tour after landing the title, with Remkes’s victory last year his first of three on the 2008 Challenge Tour Schedule. Remkes carded a stunning final round 65 to finish on 13 under par 271, five shots clear of England’s Seve Benson and Denmark’s Jeppe Huldahl. That victory kick-started a fine rookie season and broke the English domination of the event, with Dinwiddie’s victory the previous year following compatriot Sam Walker’s triumph in the inaugural Scottish Challenge in 2006. The Scottish Challenge has also had a significant impact on the career of Scotsman Richie Ramsay, who took up a sponsor’s invite as an unranked player in 2007 and, after making the cut, went on to gain a category six ranking for the 2008 season where he took full advantage, winning twice en route to finish eighth in the Rankings and sealing his European Tour card for the current campaign. Macdonald Spey Valley Golf Club is one of the jewels in Macdonald Hotels’ golfing crown and the 7,153 yard, par 72, Dave Thomas designed course, which has a backdrop of the Cairngorms is located along the banks of the sparkling River Spey. The course includes the signature fifth hole at 635 yards. Paul Bush OBE, Chief Operating Officer at EventScotland said: “EventScotland’s continued support of the Scottish Challenge represents not only our support of one of the biggest events on the Challenge Tour schedule, but also our support for Scotland’s home grown golfing talent. “The Scottish Challenge is a window of opportunity for aspiring professionals and it is vital that, in the years leading up to The 2014 Ryder Cup in Scotland, we maximise this window and give Scottish talent a chance to make The Ryder Cup Team on home soil. Richie Ramsay’s successes on the Challenge Tour in 2008 are a prime example of the advantages the Scottish Challenge offers Scottish players, and we look forward to witnessing the talent which will emerge from this year’s tournament.”