SSE Scottish Hydro today announced continued support for the Team SSE Scottish Hydro programme which provides financial support and advice for emerging talented professionals on both the European Challenge Tour and the Ladies European Tour.
Andrew McArthur, Jamie McLeary, George Murray, Duncan Stewart, Wallace Booth and Jack Doherty are the Challenge Tour players who will be centre of attention when the SSE Scottish Hydro Challenge hosted by Macdonald Hotels and Resorts takes place from June 25-28.
McLeary, a former winner of his home Challenge Tour event who returns to the second tier after a season on The European Tour last year, was one of the first recipients of support in 2011 and is an example of how the programme continues to help players as their career develops.
“I have really benefited from being a part of Team SSE Scottish Hydro and to be offered this support once again is a great boost as I try to win my European Tour card back and use the experience I gained last year.
“I know it will not be easy but I felt that I learned a lot from last year’s experience and I am looking forward to the challenge this year.”
In addition to the Challenge Tour players, Chris Kelly will continue to receive support on the Tartan Tour and he will also play at the SSE Scottish Hydro Challenge in Aviemore. For the ladies, Pamela Pretswell continues to receive support for a third year and is joined this season by 2014 LET Rookie of the Year runner-up Sally Watson.
Last year was one of the most successful years for the programme as Kylie Walker secured two victories on the Ladies European Tour and Andrew McArthur won for the second time on the European Challenge Tour.
Whilst Kylie Walker secured her highest finish on the Order of Merit in 11th place, McArthur narrowly missed out on winning his full European Tour card and hopes that this year, he can finally turn his consistency into a top 15 finish and a place on the European Tour.
He said: “I am extremely grateful for the continued support from SSE Scottish Hydro. This will be my fourth year as part of the team and I am hopeful that this year will be the one that sees me secure my Tour card. I have had opportunities to play on the European Tour last year and I hope to have several starts again this year so I know what to expect and I know what I need to do to get there.”
Colin Banks, acting Head of Sponsorship at SSE Scottish Hydro, said: “We are delighted to continue our support for some of Scotland’s top emerging golf professionals. Last season was a very exciting one for both Kylie and Andrew and we hope that this year’s professionals can continue this success. Team SSE Scottish Hydro has now provided support to 16 men & women over the past five years and this initiative is a key part of our growing golf programme.”
All of the Challenge Tour players will be returning to Aviemore to compete in the SSE Scottish Hydro Challenge hosted by Macdonald Hotels & Resorts in what will be the 10th consecutive year that the Challenge Tour has been staged in Scotland. Both Jamie McLeary and George Murray are previous winners of this event in what is universally regarded as one of the headline events on the European Challenge Tour.
