Jack McDonald joins Walker Cup team-mates at Bounce Sport

Jack McDonald has joined Grant Forrest and Ewen Ferguson, his two Scottish team-mates in the winning Great Britain & Ireland side in the 2015 Walker Cup, in the Bounce Sport stable.

The trio have been reunited after 25-year-old McDonald signed for the Edinburgh-based management company following his recent departure from International Sports Management (ISM).

In addition to Forrest and Ferguson, the talented Ayrshireman also joins 2014 Ryder Cup player Stephen Gallacher and rising star Robert MacIntyre on the Bounce Sport client list.

“I am really excited about things going forward,” said McDonald. “The fact I’m now being represented by a Scottish management company and I also know the guys in the stable really well, makes it even better.”

“The fact I’m now being represented by a Scottish management company and I also know the guys in the stable really well makes it even better.”

McDonald burst onto the scene when he won the Scottish Boys’ Stroke-Play Championship at Ladybank in 2009 at the age of 16.

He reached the semi-finals of the Amateur Championship at Royal Troon in 2012 – the year he was Scottish Amateur Golfer of the Year – before repeating that feat at Carnoustie in 2015.

A former British Universities’ champion, he was part of two notable team triumphs in 2014, helping Scotland win the European Nations Cup at Sotogrande then tasting Palmer Cup glory with Europe.

After then helping Scotland win the European Men’s Team Championship victory in 2015, he followed in the footsteps of his grandfather Gordon Cosh by playing in the Walker Cup at Royal Lytham and St Annes.

His stellar amateur career culminated with him winning two-and-a-half points from a possible three in Great Britain & Ireland’s thumping 16.5-9.5 win over the United States in Lancashire.

McDonald’s best performance since turning professional just over two years ago was tying for fifth in the Swedish Challenge hosted by Robert Karlsson last year.

“I am really looking forward to this year as I will get a run of events through this new link up on top of the category I already have for the Challenge Tour. I will be able to complete throughout the season, which is great,” said McDonald, an applied mathematics graduate from the University of Stirling.

“I think the main thing I have learned in my time as a professional has been about managing myself, both in terms of playing golf and what comes with being a professional golfer.

“I think I understand more now about things that can happen and I feel as if it is an experience thing and that I have learned a lot and that I can keep pressing forward by focusing on golf. Hopefully the good results I’m after will come in due course.

“The way I’m looking at it is that I am wanting to progress year on year and I feel that my game has improved. I don’t see why things won’t happen for me in a good way over time.”

McDonald is coached by Gregor Howie, the PGA professional at Kilmarnock (Barassie), where he joined fellow Walker Cup winners Jim Milligan and Gordon Sherry in being afforded honorary membership after being part of that triumph in 2015.

Along with the likes of Richie Ramsay, Scott Jamieson and Scott Henry, he also works with Kenny McKenzie at Clydebank-based First Tee Fitness.

“I am confident that the work I’m doing with Gregor, Kenny and the guys is all geared towards good things happening,” he added.

“Last year getting a top five on the Challenge Tour was a great achievement. It was good being in the mix and knowing that I can compete at that level.

“I really feel as if I am prepared for this season as I know how long I am going to be away for etc. It’s all there in front of me and now it’s a case of going out there and doing it.”

Iain Stoddart, Bounce Sport’s founding partner, is delighted McDonald has joined Forrest and Ferguson, as well as MacIntyre, and is looking forward to watching all four progressing over the coming years.

“We are delighted to take up what we see as a responsibility in Jack joining us as he continues his professional career and work with him as he looks to climb the ladder in world golf,” added Stoddart.