Martin Dempster: How dream dying for talented Scottish duo wasn't end of world

Before Bob MacIntyre and his buddies arrived on the scene, it’s no secret that Scottish golf endured a frustrating period of genuine amateur talent failing to make the transition as professionals.

For a good decade and maybe even two, a long list of Scots looked as though they had all the attributes to become successful in the paid ranks only to quickly have their dreams dashed.

By sheer coincidence, I caught up with two such players recently for chats and what both Stephen Dundas and Lorne Kelly had to say as they reflected on playing careers that were cut short was well worth hearing.

Through Dundas, a Glasgow boy who played his golf at Cowglen, spending his summer holidays visiting his granny in Dunoon, where Kelly was brought up and cut his golfing teeth at Cowal, the pair have been friends for a long time. “His mum made the best full breakfast in Scotland,” recalled Kelly, laughing, of his occasional stay with the Dundas family as their careers started to flourish.

Dundas won the Amateur Championship at Carnoustie in 1992, becoming the first Scot to claim that coveted title for 35 years. Flying the Saltire with equal success, Kelly lifted the Lytham Trophy and played on triumphant Great Britain & Ireland teams in both the Eisenhower Trophy and Walker Cup.

Alas, their subsequent professional careers were short-lived and, around 20 years on in both cases, they were happy to reflect on that and, in doing so, told tales that will probably resonate with many others.

“Not at all,” insisted Dundas, who has gone on to carve out a successful career in golf club management, currently holding the grand position of San Roque Club president in his role for a Russian company, in reply to being asked if he’d ever wished he’d given