Monday October 19th 2026
Charlie Thomson, 14, from Cambuslang Golf Club claimed the Colt Cup on the Eden Course
Written by Midlothian View Reporter, Liam Eunson
Two junior golfers have been crowned the first winners of the Road to the Home of Golf.
Charlie Thomson, 14, from Cambuslang Golf Club claimed the Colt Cup on the Eden Course, while Lukas Marr, 12, from Anstruther Golf Club won the Young Tom Trophy on the Strathtyrum.
The new tournament, launched by St Andrews Links Trust in collaboration with Scottish Golf, is designed for both male and female golfers aged 9 to 18 with handicaps between 8.5 and 54. It provides a pathway into golf for youngsters who may have found opportunities for competitive play limited and places a particular focus on fun, development and breaking down barriers to competitive play.
Young players from across Scotland competed in the final rounds of the competition yesterday (Sunday 18 October), with Charlie Thomson and Lukas Marr claiming the top spots.
Thomson, a 12.0 handicap who was playing in St Andrews for the first time, shot 75 on the Eden Course for a winning score of 44 Stableford points. Whilst Marr, a 27.4 handicap, shot 77 on the Strathtyrum Course for a winning score of 50 Stableford points.
The two winners commented after their round:
Charlie Thomson, 14, from Cambuslang Golf Club, said: “It feels amazing. I didn’t play my best yesterday, but I tried my hardest today. It was special, it was really fun. The highlight of my round was a chip in for a birdie. It feels amazing to get the win.”
Lukas Marr, 12, from Anstruther Golf Club, said: “I’m surprised because I didn’t think I could play as well as I did today, but I’m very happy with the win. I just didn’t think much ahead and focused on each shot I needed to play and just simply hit the greens and hit the fairways. I had a lot of birdie opportunities but secured pars, very happy. I enjoyed the event a lot as I got to know more players and play great golf.”
Players from 73 clubs across 24 of Scotland’s 32 local authorities competed in the competition’s final, from Golspie in Sutherland to Powfoot in Dumfries and Galloway. A travel bursary was offered to rural and remote clubs, with 28 golf clubs and 43 players receiving this support.
A total of 120 juniors competed this weekend after the field was extended due to strong demand, with the size of each division increasing from the original 51-player field to 60. Scottish professional golfer John Paterson joined the players on Saturday, which was a dedicated practice day, for a ‘Beat the Pro’ activity.
Players also had access to a dedicated lounge, which provided complimentary hospitality and range balls.
Richard Holland, chief executive at St Andrews Links Trust, said: “We’re really pleased to have hosted the inaugural Road to the Home of Golf in collaboration with Scottish Golf.
“The demand for this new competition, alongside the breadth of clubs represented from across Scotland, showcases how important it is to create inclusive opportunities for junior golfers. These players are the future of the sport, and it is our responsibility to make sure they have the chance to experience the excitement of golf in a competitive, fun and friendly environment, develop their skills and grow in confidence.
“Congratulations to Charlie and Lukas, and everyone that took part, on their brilliant performances.”
Robbie Clyde, chief executive at Scottish Golf, said: “It was fantastic for us to work on this event and support the next generation of golfers as they continue to develop their skills and personalities through playing our national sport.
“Scottish Golf’s National Junior Framework is an incredibly important part of the strategic work we do at grassroots level in partnership with our affiliated clubs.
“Everything we do is centred on encouraging as many people as possible from all backgrounds to pick up a club, get active and develop a lifelong love of the sport.
“The Road to the Home of Golf event aligns perfectly with our framework – offering youngsters the chance to play in a fun environment and expand their horizons.
“For many this will have been their first trip to the Home of Golf – a truly memorable experience.
“Without doubt, the buzz around this event is something our participation team will look to build on for 2027 in collaboration with our friends at the St Andrews Links Trust.”
Results for the tournament are available via this link.
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