Two rising stars of the amateur game notched stunning wins on Thursday in flagship Scottish Golf junior events.
In the 54-hole Scottish Boys’ Under 16 Open Championship at East Kilbride Golf Club, England’s AJ van Emmenis posted a final round 67 (-4) to earn a three-shot victory in a field that featured 144 golfers from 20 nations.
A few miles across Lanarkshire at Hamilton Golf Club, another young English golfer, Serafima Taylor from Sutton, carded a 2-under par score of 70 in her final round to take the 54-hole title by two shots from compatriot Selina Bartarya, with 13-year-old Scot, Stella Walters from Blairgowrie a further shot back.
Find out more about each below.
Immense Van Emmenis soars in Scotland
In the 54-hole Scottish Boys’ Under 16 Open Championship at East Kilbride Golf Club, England’s AJ van Emmenis posted a final round 67 (-4) to earn a three-shot victory in a field that featured 144 golfers from 20 nations.
A few miles across Lanarkshire at Hamilton Golf Club, another young English golfer, Serafima Taylor from Sutton, carded a 2-under par score of 70 in her final round to take the 54-hole title by two shots from compatriot Selina Bartarya, with 13-year-old Scot, Stella Walters from Blairgowrie a further shot back.
Find out more about each below.
Immense Van Emmenis soars in Scotland
AJ van Emmenis showed his class with a final-day 67 to storm to a three-shot victory at the Scottish Boys’ Under 16 Open Championship.
The 15-year-old from Wentworth underlined his credentials as one of the rising stars of junior golf with a 4-under par round to complement opening scores of 69 and 70 for a 54-hole total of 206 (-7).
That allowed him to close out victory ahead of fellow Englishmen Oliver McEvoy (-4) and Ezra Hartland (-3). Van Emmenis was thrilled with how he kept his cool in the heat of battle to emerge victorious against a field of 143 rivals from 20 nations around the world.
After receiving the trophy and accepting the applause of the appreciative East Kilbride crowd, Van Emmenis said: “I was trying to be as calm as possible and not get the heart rate level up or get too excited ,and I was pleased with how I came in. I felt very comfortable compared to yesterday (Wednesday) when I had six dropped shots. I had just the one today. I managed my mistakes very well and quite liked everyone chasing me behind my back. I wasn’t too worried about that.”
Van Emmenis, who won the Hazards Trophy for Under 14 boys at the Carris Trophy as well as the South African Under 15 Boys’ Championship earlier this year, was delighted to have enjoyed his first success in Scotland. He added: “I’d say this is joint first of all my achievements so far, but this one FEELS the best. I always love playing in Scottish Golf events and look forward to coming back in the future."
Read more by clicking here.
The 15-year-old from Wentworth underlined his credentials as one of the rising stars of junior golf with a 4-under par round to complement opening scores of 69 and 70 for a 54-hole total of 206 (-7).
That allowed him to close out victory ahead of fellow Englishmen Oliver McEvoy (-4) and Ezra Hartland (-3). Van Emmenis was thrilled with how he kept his cool in the heat of battle to emerge victorious against a field of 143 rivals from 20 nations around the world.
After receiving the trophy and accepting the applause of the appreciative East Kilbride crowd, Van Emmenis said: “I was trying to be as calm as possible and not get the heart rate level up or get too excited ,and I was pleased with how I came in. I felt very comfortable compared to yesterday (Wednesday) when I had six dropped shots. I had just the one today. I managed my mistakes very well and quite liked everyone chasing me behind my back. I wasn’t too worried about that.”
Van Emmenis, who won the Hazards Trophy for Under 14 boys at the Carris Trophy as well as the South African Under 15 Boys’ Championship earlier this year, was delighted to have enjoyed his first success in Scotland. He added: “I’d say this is joint first of all my achievements so far, but this one FEELS the best. I always love playing in Scottish Golf events and look forward to coming back in the future."
Read more by clicking here.
Taylor made for Serafima!
The soaring temperatures may have made Hamilton Golf Club feel more like the South of France than South Lanarkshire, but Serafima Taylor kept a cool head to claim the 2026 Scottish Girls' U16 Open Championship.
She posted rounds of 72, 68 and 70 to lift the trophy for the first time after three days of excellent golf in the sunshine. Thrilled to be taking the title home to Sutton, she said: "It feels so good to be champion, I played so good on the back nine today, so I'm thrilled. It means a lot to have my name on the trophy. I'm sure there are amazing players who have won it so it's great to follow in their steps."
Taylor had thrown down the gauntler on day two, stating she was pleased to be ahead and welcomed the chase. Commenting on that again after her win, she said:"I knew I was in the lead. There is nothing better than going into the back nine of a championship and leading it. I enjoyed having that lead today."
A total of 77 players from around the world arrived at Hamilton hoping to etch their name onto a trophy whose previous winners include some of the brightest talents in the game. With temperatures climbing throughout the week, scoring was just as hot.
Day one belonged jointly to England's Georgia Richardson and Scotland golfer Stella Walters. Richardson marked her championship debut in style, holing a birdie putt at the 18th to card 2-under (70) and draw level with Walters at the top of the leaderboard.
If day one belonged to Richardson and Walters, then day two was all about Taylor. The English player lit up Hamilton with a superb 68, making six birdies to move two shots clear heading into the final round. However, she wasn't the only player making moves.
Fellow English golfer Selina Bartarya matched that excellent 68 to storm into contention, climbing into 2nd place at 3-under overall after an impressive display.
With Taylor leading, Bartarya chasing and both Walters and Richardson still well within striking distance, the stage was set for a fascinating finale. Remarkably, Taylor, Richardson and Bartarya were inseparable through the opening nine holes, reaching the turn tied at 4-under before Taylor and Bartarya began to pull away. They went on to the final two holes separated only by two shots but Taylor made par on each to maintain her lead and secure the championship.
She posted rounds of 72, 68 and 70 to lift the trophy for the first time after three days of excellent golf in the sunshine. Thrilled to be taking the title home to Sutton, she said: "It feels so good to be champion, I played so good on the back nine today, so I'm thrilled. It means a lot to have my name on the trophy. I'm sure there are amazing players who have won it so it's great to follow in their steps."
Taylor had thrown down the gauntler on day two, stating she was pleased to be ahead and welcomed the chase. Commenting on that again after her win, she said:"I knew I was in the lead. There is nothing better than going into the back nine of a championship and leading it. I enjoyed having that lead today."
A total of 77 players from around the world arrived at Hamilton hoping to etch their name onto a trophy whose previous winners include some of the brightest talents in the game. With temperatures climbing throughout the week, scoring was just as hot.
Day one belonged jointly to England's Georgia Richardson and Scotland golfer Stella Walters. Richardson marked her championship debut in style, holing a birdie putt at the 18th to card 2-under (70) and draw level with Walters at the top of the leaderboard.
If day one belonged to Richardson and Walters, then day two was all about Taylor. The English player lit up Hamilton with a superb 68, making six birdies to move two shots clear heading into the final round. However, she wasn't the only player making moves.
Fellow English golfer Selina Bartarya matched that excellent 68 to storm into contention, climbing into 2nd place at 3-under overall after an impressive display.
With Taylor leading, Bartarya chasing and both Walters and Richardson still well within striking distance, the stage was set for a fascinating finale. Remarkably, Taylor, Richardson and Bartarya were inseparable through the opening nine holes, reaching the turn tied at 4-under before Taylor and Bartarya began to pull away. They went on to the final two holes separated only by two shots but Taylor made par on each to maintain her lead and secure the championship.
ENDS
Contact details:
Tom Vale, Press & Media Manager
Tel: 07912 240850
Email: tom.vale@englandgolf.org
www.englandgolf.org
Contact details:
Tom Vale, Press & Media Manager
Tel: 07912 240850
Email: tom.vale@englandgolf.org
www.englandgolf.org