Teenage golfer Alasdair wins Disabled British Open Golf Championship

Sep 4 2009 by John Woods, Irvine Herald

TEENAGE golf sensation Alasdair Berry shocked a field of more experienced opponents by winning the inaugural Disabled British Open Golf Championship last week.

Alasdair, who was born with no hands, stunned the experts by carding a 78 and a 75 on the notoriously difficult par 72 Old Thane Golf and Country Club Course – which was designed by Peter Alliss – to win his category in the Sky-televised tournament at Liphook in Hampshire.

Former Greenwood Academy pupil Alasdair, 17, uses wrist attachments designed by his car mechanic dad Eddie, also a member of Ravenspark Golf Club, to select and hold his clubs – and once he's lined up he plays his shots just like any able-bodied competitor.

"It was a fantastic experience," said Alasdair, of Steps Road, Irvine. "We had two practise rounds on the Sunday and then the competition was held on the Monday and Tuesday and I was just over the moon when I realised I'd won it.

"And being presented with the trophy by Peter Alliss was a marvellous moment"

Eddie, who acts as Alasdair's 'daddy-caddie' said he was thrilled at his son's performance.

"It was a really difficult course and for him to be just nine over for the two rounds was fantastic," he added.

"The greens were lightning quick – even worse than Augusta – and one six-handicapper who hit his tee shot to within 20 feet of the pin actually took four putts to get down. "It was a fabulous display from Alasdair and we're all so proud of him."

But Alasdair, who is about to start a college course in accounting, hasn't had time to savour his success just yet.

On Thursday he teamed up with Ravenspark clubmates Christopher Hobson, Christopher Butler and Brad Cathie to beat Ballochmyle 4-0 and march into the Ayrshire Scratch Final, but 24 hours later he failed to make the final of the Six-Man Nett Competition when Ravenspark took a 4-2 first leg lead to Kelburne but crashed out after a 5½-½ defeat.

Then on Sunday he teamed up with dad Eddie again when the duo finished seventh in Ravenspark's annual father and son competition and, on September 13, he squares up to Willie McGill in the club's Matchplay Singles Final.

"It's all been really hectic and what I achieved last week just hasn't sunk in yet," said Alasdair.

"But it will eventually hit me."