Stephen Gallacher won the European Amateur Championship and soon found himself rubbing shoulders with Arnold Palmer and Gary Player now he hopes a fellow Scot can emulate him to book a spot in next year’s star-studded Open Championship in St Andrews.
Ryder Cup hopeful Gallacher enjoyed a stellar amateur career, with his 1994 triumph in the European Amateur in Finland, when he edged out countryman Gordon Sherry, among his highlights.
For the first time since 2003 at Nairn, Scotland hosts the prestigious event this year, adding to a wonderful mix of tournaments on Scottish soil in 2014, including the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open at Royal Aberdeen and the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles.
The Duke’s Golf Club, owned by the Old Course Hotel, welcomes the cream of Europe from August 6-9, with the field seeking to emulate Gallacher and other notable past European Amateur winners Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia.
When Gallacher won in 1994, the 20-year-old amateur earned a spot in the Lancome Trophy in France, playing just his second European Tour event.
Gallacher, a three-time European Tour victor, looks back fondly and said: “I won the 1994 European Amateur Championship to get into the Lancome and it featured guys such as Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Lee Trevino. It was a fabulous experience for me at that young age.
“It’s a great event, the European Amateur Championship. I can remember it well as I loved the European stage. I also did well at team level with Scotland, so they are nice memories for me.”
The European Amateur was first played in 1986, with Gallacher the only Scot to take the title to date.
Frenchman Gregory Havret, Sweden’s Carl Petterson and Victor Dubuisson are also past winners.