In-form Gregor Graham eyes Italian job after 'solid week' in Spain

Blairgowrie player ‘gutted’ for younger brother after hand issue flared up at Sotogrande

Blairgowrie's Gregor Graham has made a strong start to the 2024 campaign and is now competing in this week's Italian International Amateur Championship in Turin. Picture: GolfRSA

Gregor Graham is aiming to maintain his strong start to the 2024 campaign when the Blairgowrie player spearheads a five-strong Scottish contingent in this week’s Italian International Amateur Championship in Turin.

Graham was crowned as South African Amateur champion in the middle of a string of eye-catching displays during a trip there as part of a Scottish Golf squad earlier in the year before giving another good account of himself when finishing second behind Welshman James Ashfield in the individual standings in the European Nations Championship at Sotogrande last week.

At the halfway stage in Spain, a Scottish side that also included Gregor’s younger brother Connor, Gregor Tait and James Morgan led the team event before having to settle for fourth, which, in fairness, was a praiseworthy performance in the end after Connor Graham was unable to play in the final two rounds as his hand issue flared up.

“It was a great week,” said Gregor, who shot rounds of 69-70-75-71 for a three-under-par total to finish two shots behind Walker Cup player Ashfield. “I always love playing in a team format. It was obviously gutting that Connor couldn’t play in all four rounds, but I felt very proud of how the team responded given we were playing with a man down.

“I played a very patient week of golf. That course can bite you in an instant if you’re not careful, so it’s really about being sensible and making smart decisions. It was something that we talked about as a team with Spencer Henderson (Scottish Golf’s men’s performance coach) and John Rushbury (team manager). Obviously we’d have loved to get the win, but it was still a solid week.”

Graham is now set to fly the Saltire along with Tait, Morgan, Matthew Wilson and Jack McDonald in the Italian International Amateur, which starts at Royal Park Golf & Country Club - I Roveri on Wednesday, with the top 60 and ties after 54 holes going forward to the final round on Saturday.

“These events are all important as far as GB&I selection is concerned, so hopefully I can have another good week,” added Graham, who is aiming to be in new captain Dean Robertson’s team for the St Andrews Trophy against the Continent of Europe at Royal Porthcawl in July.