Foundation backing helps Scotland’s rising stars follow path to the top

Scottish Golf’s long-standing partnership with the Alfred Dunhill Links Foundation continues to thrive.

In 2026, backing from the Foundation enabled five of the country’s leading male amateurs to travel to South Africa and compete in two world-class amateur events.

Ewen Farquhar (St Andrews New), Finlay Galloway (St Andrews), Kiron Gribble (Dunbar) and Dominic McGlinchey (The Renaissance Club) competed in the South African Amateur Championship at Pretoria County Club back in January.

Farquhar, Galloway and Gribble were then joined by Crail’s Andrew Davidson for the Golf RSA International Amateur at Houghton Golf Club in Johannesburg. 

These five golfers followed a path treaded in the past by current tour players and former amateur internationals such as Daniel Young, Robert MacIntyre, Connor Syme, Grant Forrest and Ewen Ferguson. 

Down the years, Scotland’s up-and-coming male amateur golfers have enjoyed great success on South African soil after taking full advantage of the opportunities presented by the Foundation, who have been hugely supportive of Scottish Golf’s performance programme. 

Five Scots have won the South African Amateur Championship in the last 15 years – Gregor Graham (2024), Craig Ross (2016), Young (2015), Brian Soutar (2012) and Michael Stewart (2011). 

Young, who will tee it up this week at the Dunhill Links Championship and play on his home track of Kingsbarns, believes the South African trip was for him – and remains for others – an important staging post on the road from amateur to pro level. 

He said: “These trips are so beneficial. We had a lot of success during my trips there when the winter weather in Scotland is not the best. 

“To get down there, play some top-class courses, competing with some of the best amateurs in the world can only benefit the guys.

 “After those trips, you are prepared and can hit the ground running compared to guys who didn’t have that luxury.” 

This year’s trip was the first for new men’s national coach Scott Wilson who oversaw the squad alongside fellow coach Oliver Morton with John Rushbury acting as team captain.

In addition to playing two events, the Scots party were able to maximise the opportunity to use warm-weather training facilities and take part in the annual friendly match against Golf RSA and the South African Golf Development Board.

Galloway – the 2025 Scottish Boys’ Amateur champion – was a rookie on the trip. 

Ironically, a year ago, the University of Minnesota student was the one supporting Dunhill. 

The 18-year-old volunteered to act as a walking scoreboard carrier at the 2025 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship won by fellow Scot MacIntyre. 

Galloway said: “Working at the Dunhill was a great experience for me – just another opportunity to be up close and learn from some of the best players in the world.” 

And on the South Africa trip, he added: “I’ve spoken to quite a lot of people who have been on the trips in the past. You also look to see past players who have been on the trip and where they are now. It’s about adding bits of experience here and there and trying to build it all up.”