East Lothian golfers to follow Dustin Johnson's route

The ten players will be flying the flag for the East Lothian Junior League in the “Winternational” competition at Pinehurst in North Carolina.

The event has been running for 24 years and the group from Scotland’s Golf Coast will be competing against players from US schools.

Johnson played in it when he was cutting his competitive teeth, as did two other major winners, Webb Simpson and Jason Dufner.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for these young players to experience different types of golf courses to those traditional links courses we find in East Lothian and to mix with players and coaches from schools in the US,” said League secretary David Warren.

“Together with Ric Foulner, the captain-elect of Tantallon Golf Club and their long-time junior convenor, we are delighted to be co-leading this group of young people to Pinehurst.

“It is something we hope to do annually if there is more funding available. On this occasion our team is comprised only of boys, but there are already plans to take a girls’ team on a similar trip on a future occasion.”

The group heading out on February 9 is made up of  players from six clubs – Josh Grahame and Lewis Irvine of Craigielaw, Longniddry’s James Morgan, Haddington duo  Harry Rogan and Jack McDonald, The Glen’s Ross Lunn, William Ladbrooke and Liam Currid of Gullane and Musselburgh pair Jack Noon and Lewis Hannah.

The goup will also play a match against Pinecrest High School and, in total, they will play nine rounds of golf in nine days, as well as having access to excellent practice facilities and short courses.

Two of these rounds will be over Pinehurst No 2, which has hosted three US Opens, most recently when Martin Kaymer won in 2014, and a Ryder Cup.

“The players have been selected from the Orders of Merit based on our league fixtures or from outstanding performances in our other competitions,” added Warren.