New tournament by St Andrews Links Trust and Scottish Golf welcomed 120 young golfers from across Scotland.

Charlie Thomson, 14, from Cambuslang Golf Club, and Lukas Marr, 12, from Anstruther Golf Club, claimed the inaugural Colt Cup and Young Tom Trophy respectively on Sunday 18 October at St Andrews. Thomson secured the Colt Cup on the Eden Course, while Marr won the Young Tom Trophy on the Strathtyrum Course in the new tournament launched by St Andrews Links Trust in collaboration with Scottish Golf.

The competition, designed for male and female golfers aged 9 to 18 with handicaps between 8.5 and 54, aims to provide a pathway into golf for youngsters who may have found limited opportunities for competitive play. It places a particular focus on fun, development, and breaking down barriers to competitive play. Young players from across Scotland competed in the final rounds, with Thomson, a 12.0 handicap, shooting 75 on the Eden Course for a winning score of 44 Stableford points. Marr, a 27.4 handicap, shot 77 on the Strathtyrum Course for a winning score of 50 Stableford points.

Charlie Thomson expressed his excitement after his win. “It feels amazing. I didn’t play my best yesterday, but I tried my hardest today. It was special, it was really fun. The highlight of my round was a chip in for a birdie. It feels amazing to get the win,” he said. Lukas Marr also shared his surprise and happiness: “I’m surprised because I didn’t think I could play as well as I did today, but I’m very happy with the win. I just didn’t think much ahead and focused on each shot I needed to play and just simply hit the greens and hit the fairways.”

Players from 73 clubs across 24 of Scotland’s 32 local authorities competed in the competition’s final. The field was extended to a total of 120 juniors due to strong demand, with the size of each division increasing from an original 51-player field to 60. A travel bursary was provided to rural and remote clubs, supporting 28 golf clubs and 43 players. Scottish professional golfer John Paterson joined the players on Saturday, a dedicated practice day, for a ‘Beat the Pro’ activity, and participants also had access to a dedicated lounge offering complimentary hospitality and range balls.

Richard Holland, chief executive at St Andrews Links Trust, commented on the event: “We’re really pleased to have hosted the inaugural Road to the Home of Golf in collaboration with Scottish Golf. The demand for this new competition, alongside the breadth of clubs represented from across Scotland, showcases how important it is to create inclusive opportunities for junior golfers. These players are the future of the sport, and it is our responsibility to make sure they have the chance to experience the excitement of golf in a competitive, fun and friendly environment, develop their skills and grow in confidence.”

Robbie Clyde, chief executive at Scottish Golf, added: “It was fantastic for us to work on this event and support the next generation of golfers as they continue to develop their skills and personalities through playing our national sport. Everything we do is centred on encouraging as many people as possible from all backgrounds to pick up a club, get active and develop a lifelong love of the sport. The Road to the Home of Golf event aligns perfectly with our framework – offering youngsters the chance to play in a fun environment and expand their horizons.”