Where to start with highlighting the incredible all-round sporting prowess of Edinburgh teenager, Sam Shannon?
Maybe Tuesday’s trip to Wimbledon having qualified for the UK finals of a national tennis doubles competition (East and North Scotland) along with partner Ray Gallacher?
However, that might be just an encore to a week just ended that saw Sam play both competitive golf and 72 social holes in one day with two friends for a charity project!
A nice interlude from some dark winter evenings when his focus is squash at Edinburgh’s Waverley Club where he is men’s champion?
Whatever, the 72 hole charity challenge came in aid of prostate cancer at his home club, Craigmillar Park, where he is junior champion and was conducted in the company of friends Chris Keerie and Ewan Dunlop, Sam undertaking the last round in stocking feet due to blisters.
Oh, and by the way, Sam, who plays off a handicap of 2.9, had a hole-in-one at the 200 yard 7th during the marathon!
But those 72 holes might even be regarded as light relief in comparison to the rest of Sam’s golfing week which read:
Sunday: Qualifying Round for Lothian Boys’ Championship at Braid Hills brought a scratch score of 68 to earn the Lindsay Trophy for lowest qualifying scratch score
Monday: defence of South West Edinburgh Junior Open title at Baberton GC where he came third.
Tuesday : 10:15 am – North Berwick Junior Open where he posted a scratch score of 74. 5pm – Quarter Final of Lothian Boys brought a 3 & 2 win.
Wednesday: Team match at Ratho Park followed by the semi-final of the Lothian Boys Championship where he lost on the 20th hole.
Thursday: 72 holes for prostate cancer charities at Craigmillar Park (start 6am, finish 7:30pm). Four rounds brought scratch scores of 76, 68, 69 and 69.
Understandably proud dad Andy says: “Additional info that Sam never talks about but I feel is remarkable in an individual sportsperson of his age:
* Played tennis at county level (under 12) and won prestigious Waverley Open then switched focus to squash and won Scottish National titles at U11, U13 and U15. Has played many times for East of Scotland in county championships and been capped twice for Scotland at European National Championships in Netherlands and Poland.
* Plays men’s first team squash for Waverley and won the club’s Men’s squash championship the first time this year.
* Recently won the tennis boys’ doubles U18 Area Competition (East and North Scotland) in the annual LTA ” Play Your Way to Wimbledon” with Ray Gallacher and is heading to Wimbledon on Tuesday to play in the national finals.
* Coaches squash and tennis at the Waverley club.
* Just graduated from James Gillespie’s High School: only pupil in its history to be awarded the prestigious Sportsman of the Year Trophy at both junior (1st -3rd year ) and senior ( 4th -6th year ) level.
Now a new chapter is about to begin for this extraordinarily talented sportsman as he prepares to enrol at the University of Stirling to study economics and finance.
We may not have heard the last of him in a sporting context – but which sport?
Evergreen sports journalist. Previously published in many publications around the world. Send me your local sports stories. billlothian1008@gmail.com
