Published: Thursday, 2nd July, 2009 8:35am

Talented teen tees up for school challenge triumph

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A YOUNG West Fife golfer who has only been playing for three years got victory down to a tee in the Alfred Dunhill Schools Challenge.

Colin Hempseed (15), an S4 pupil at Dunfermline High School, won the junior boys" section at the prestigious competition, held at the Kittocks Course at St Andrews recently.

He posted a score of 67, off a handicap of 21, over 18 holes to take the prize.

Colin, of Lime Grove, said, 'I was quite shocked actually – the first round was rubbish but I must have pulled it back in coming into the clubhouse.

'On the first nine the weather was quite bad with the wind blowing and my shots going all over the place.

'It was a challenging course – the tees are a lot further back, the fairways are wider and there"s a lot of water.

'I am excited and just happy to win it. I just went out to have fun and play a new course – it"s quite expensive, that course! – and I didn"t expect to win.'

Colin only picked golf up in 2006 after watching his uncle and cousins play, and seeing the PGA tour on television.

The talented teen, who plays at Pitreavie, also represents his school at football.

He will now have the chance to rub shoulders with celebrities when he is presented with his award at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in October.

In addition, he will get admission to the final day of the tournament and attend a golf clinic with top golfing coach Robert Baker.

However, Colin is not letting success go to his head – he"s just happy his handicap could be coming down following his win.

He said, 'I need to go up next year to do it again to keep my name on the trophy – once you have won you have to go up and defend your title.

'But I am just going to keep having fun and playing new courses.'