William to get sneak preview after West Lothian win

Stirling Golf Club Captain William McQuillan is planning a Spanish scouting mission after reaching the SkyCaddie PGA Pro-Captain Challenge final.

McQuillan and PGA Professional Kenny Monaghan sealed their place on the plane to Mallorca by winning the Scottish qualifying event at West Lothian Golf Club.

The duo produced an impressive seven successive birdies on the back nine to win the event by one point ahead of Stuart Wilson and David Fleming of Portlethan Golf Club.

Monaghan and McQuillan, who works for Falkirk Council, will now play in the £22,000 final, in association with Golfplan, which takes place between November 6-7 at Arabella Golf Mallorca.

But 16-handicapper McQuillan said he will be hoping to take a sneak preview of the showpiece venue while on holiday next week.

“It was a fantastic day, and I was in shock by the end of it, but delighted as well,” said the 55-year-old, who has been a member at Stirling for the past eight years.

“But I’m flying to Parma on Friday so I may see if I can check out the venue we’ll be playing at,  and maybe get a quick 18 holes in!

“The day was so well organised and I felt almost semi-professional myself. To shoot 48 points was brilliant.”

Monaghan has been close to getting to the final before after narrowly missing out two years ago when the event was staged at Haggs Castle Golf Club.

But he has marked his first year as Head Professional at Stirling by going one better this time.

“We both played very well, particularly on the back nine, we had one stumble after the first par five, when we looked like we were about to drop shots, but I managed to chip in for a birdie which dropped in like a butterfly,” he said.

“But the conditions were good for a Scottish summer! We’ve had much worse.

“It’s the first time I’ve made this final, a couple of years ago I missed out by one shot. Now I’m very looking forwards to that.”

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