Golf: Dick left in the lurch after funding is withdrawn

LOTHIANS ace Allyn Dick has lost his funding to play top-level amateur golf – after being tossed on the Scotland scrapheap at the age of 33.

The Kingsknowe player made his debut in the Home Internationals in Ireland less than two years ago, forming a winning foursomes partnership with James Byrne.

But since losing his place in the team for last year’s four-cornered contest he’s suffered another devastating blow.

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“I’ve lost my sportscotland funding, having been told I’m too old at 33,” revealed Dick after finishing third behind Glenbervie’s Graeme Robertson in the Craigmillar Park Open.

“I’m not a full-time amateur and was told that someone, I won’t reveal who, wanted to work with younger players.”

Dick, the 2010 Lothians champion, received £1,500 from sportscotland last year to help with his expenses.

With that having gone for this year, he’s not playing in next month’s Lytham Trophy, the first big tournament of the season.

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“I received a condescending letter from [SGU performance manager] Steve Paulding saying that my performances last year hadn’t been up to scratch,” he added.

One of three co-leaders at the halfway stage in the Capital event, Dick closed with rounds of 68 and 67 for an 11-under-par total of 269.

He finished two shots behind Robertson, who held off a back-nine charge from former winner Craig Watson in the final round to claim the title by a single shot.

• STEPHEN GALLACHER is up to 12th in the Race to Dubai after finishing second behind Louis Oosthuizen in the Malaysian Open in Kuala Lumpur. The Lothians star picked up a cheque for just over £173,000.

• PEEBLES player Craig Howie, a member at Craigielaw, became the first Borderer to win the Scottish Boys’ Championship after beating Ewan Scott of St Andrews by 7 and 6 in the final at Murcar Links.