St Andrews teenager Ewan Scott is in the Scotland six-man team to challenge for the European Team Championship in Denmark next month.
The 18-year-old, runner-up in the Scottish Boys Championship this year and a semi-finalist in the South African amateur, is in a much-recast team, with only GB&I squad member Graeme Robertson surviving from last year’s Eisenhower Trophy team.
Robertson is joined by Jack McDonald, controversially left out of the Eisenhower team last year despite winning the SGU’s own player of the year honours.
Dollar’s Scott Borrowman, James Ross from the Royal Burgess club in Edinburgh and Scottish champion Grant Forrest the best of the Scots at the Amateur Championship last week with a last-32 finish complete the team to compete at Silkeborg from July 9-13.
Scott is still a member of the SGU Boys’ Performance Squad, but has impressed playing a schedule of men’s events prior to his leaving for college in America in August.
Union performance manager Steve Paulding said youth performances had put pressure on established contenders.
“I’m really encouraged by the number of young players stepping up to the mark this year, especially the SGU Boys’ Squad players impressing at men’s level.
“At the same time, there are a number of more senior members of our men’s squad who, having not made this team, will need to look to have stronger performances to make the home internationals.”
McDonald, who played for Scotland three times at European boys’ team level, said: “I’m looking forward to it. I think we have a very good team and we’re all playing well, as everyone has had strong finishes this season.
“The first task in Denmark is to qualify for the top flight and then I would fancy our chances in the matchplay. I don’t see why we can’t do well.”
Scotland last won the European crown in 2009.
The team championships are a major pointer for the GB&I selectors towards the Walker Cup in New York later this year.
Scotland also have boys champion Bradley Neil and Daniel Young, both from Perthshire, as two further additions to the six-man team to compete in the European individual championships at El Prat, near Barcelona, from August 7-10.
Neil will lead the Scotland team in the Boys European Team Championships, being held at Murcar Links in the same week as the mens’ event.
Men’s Team Scott Borrowman (Dollar), Grant Forrest (Craigielaw), Jack McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie), Graeme Robertson (Glenbervie), James Ross (Royal Burgess), Ewan Scott (St Andrews).
Boys’ team Ewen Ferguson (Bearsden), Calum Hill (Tantallon), Robert MacIntyre (Glencruitten), Bradley Neil (Blairgowrie), Connor Syme (Dumfries & County), Euan Walker (Kilmarnock Barassie).