Recently reinstated amateur Chris Kelly will face strong competition teeing-up in this weekend’s 24th playing of the prestigious Battle Trophy at Crail Golfing Society at Crail in Fife.
This weekend’s hosting of the Battle Trophy over 72 holes on the acclaimed Craighead Links course also coincides with the 25th anniversary of the opening of Gil Hanse designed course.
Crail’s Battle Trophy
Craighead Links was Hanse’s first solo golf course design project and since then he’s progressed to design many other famed golf courses including Castle Stuart in northern Scotland, the 2016 Rio Olympic Games host course in Brazil and with Hanse working on the restoration of the North Course at the Los Angeles GC that in less than two months will play host to the 2023 US Open.
Scotscraig-attached Kelly is a past triple winning Scottish PGA champion, capturing the Tartan Tour flagship event in 2003, 2015 and 2017.
However, the 45-year-old Kelly chose to return to the amateur ranks and after a six-month process was afforded the required R & A approval earlier this year to now again compete as an amateur.
Scotscraig’s Chris Kelly (Photograph Scotscraig GC)
“It was great to see Chris’ name when the entries began to arrive for the Battle Trophy”, said David Roy, Manager of Crail Golfing Society.
“To win three Scottish PGA titles was a great accomplishment while Scottish golf fans will be aware he also played a number of European Tour and Challenge Tour events.
“So, it will be great to welcome Chris from our sister club, Scotscraig and to wish him well in this special Craighead Links hosting of the Battle Trophy”.
While it will be exciting to see how Kelly performs on Craighead Links this year’s tournament will be without defending champion Matthew Wilson, and along with ultra-talented Crail member, Connor Graham, who are competing for Scotland in the European Nations Championship that ends Saturday (April 22nd) at Sotogrande in Spain.
In Connor’s absence, golf’s seventh oldest club will be proudly represented by the Crail foursome of Andrew Davidson, Fraser Carr, Alistair Scott and Scott MacPherson.
Former champions in the prior 24-year history of the Battle Trophy proudly include past and present DP World Tour players: George Murray (2005, 2006), Daniel Young (2015), Grant Forrest (2016) and Connor Syme (2017).
