Teenage Sensation Connor Graham Fired-Up For Junior Ryder Cup In Rome

2 years ago by Comments Off on Teenage Sensation Connor Graham Fired-Up For Junior Ryder Cup In Rome

Scottish teenage sensation Connor Graham excitedly jets out to Rome on Friday with his Junior Ryder Cup team-mates looking forward to ending a six straight and now 17-year long European losing streak to their American rivals.

Graham, who turns 17 at the end of next month, wound-up his Rome preparations sharing 22nd place after receiving an invitation to contest the Tartan Tour’s St. Andrews Classic but ending in bright and extremely windy third and final round conditions on the Jubilee Course at the Home of Golf.

Clydebank’s John Henry emerged with a second Tour win, grabbing five birdies in a closing 68 and winning by a shot at seven-under.

The recently-married Henry was pretty chuffed with his success having his photograph taken with the trophy down near the entrance to the locker-room of the New Clubhouse then on the first tee and even climbing up to roof of the building before back on the opening tee and standing alongside his golf bag.

Henry said: “It feels pretty good, to be honest.  It feels as though I’ve been knocking at the door all year and it’s good to finally get the foot down.”

Paul Lawrie, and looking to celebrate the 22nd anniversary in winning the inaugural Dunhill Links Championship on the adjoining Old Course, imploded in posting two final round ‘7s’, first in going ‘OB’ with his second shot at the 12th and then coming-up the last, and with the wind right in his face, he sent his drive up against an ‘OB’ fence down and found a greenside bunker with his fourth to tumble from the overnight lead and finish with a 75 for sixth place.

And Lawrie, who owns and runs the Tartan Tour, was not about to hang around, heading straight from the scorer’s room to his vehicle and back to his beloved Aberdeen.

The former Open Champion later posted his congratulations to Henry saying:  “Nice win john well done pal thank you everyone @TheHomeofGolf golf course was great and lovely touch with range balls for all the players all week  big thanks to @fugro for your continued support always much appreciated”.

Graham was one of two players to be afforded an invitation and with the dual Crail Golfing Society and Blairgowrie member returning to the Home of Golf a fortnight after becoming the youngest player, and on either the GB & I and USA sides, to play in a Walker Cup.

Now he’s headed to Italy to play early next week under Captain Stephen Gallacher’s European Team, as the only Scot in the six boys and six girls side, and hoping to win the trophy and on the same Marco Simone host course as Luke Donald will be also seeking to achieve later next week.

Connor, who is a dual Crail and Blairgowrie member, said: “I’ve played a lot of golf lately but today was probably the windiest conditions I’ve played in all year though it was nice to receive the invitation to compete.

“It was a bit like the conditions we had on the last day of the Walker Cup but just a whole lot trickier.

“I had just so much fun being a member of the Walker Cup team and now the Junior Ryder Cup should be just as good but hoping we can win back the Junior Ryder Cup trophy as it’s been a long time since Europe won the trophy”.

Indeed, Graham was not even born when Europe last won the 2006 Junior Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor.

Graham said: “It’s going to be great playing on the same course at the Ryder Cup while they’ve arranged for us to remain in Rome to watch the Ryder Cup so that’s going to be great.

“What would be really good if both European teams were to win.  That would make it extra special”.

And the Junior Ryder Cup will not be a last team event for the ultra-talented young Scot as he’s off to Abu Dhabi mid next month while Graham has been afforded an invitation to tee-up on October 30th to November 3rd in the Justin Rose Junior Golf Championship at Quinta do Lago in Portugal.



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