Connor Syme’s win hailed by leading Scots

Credit: The R&A

• Leading Scottish players hail Connor Syme’s Oz victory
• The Drumoig man beat Travis Smyth 3&2 in the final
• Paul Lawrie credited Syme’s ‘awesome display’

Open champion Paul Lawrie and Richie Ramsay were among a host of Scottish players to congratulate Connor Syme after he became the first Scot to lift the Australian Men’s Amateur title since 2005.

Syme, 20, who plays out of Drumoig Golf Centre in Fife, clinched a 3&2 win over home player Travis Smyth in the 36-hole final at Metropolitan GC in Melbourne – his biggest title in the game to date and one which secured a return Down Under in November for the Australian Open.

And Lawrie, who was up preparing for his final round at the Joburg Open, was delighted to wake up and hear the news of Syme’s victory.

Congrats @connor_syme Australian Amateur champion awesome display dear boy

— Paul Lawrie (@PaulLawriegolf) January 17, 2016

As was three-time European Tour winner Ramsay, who is out in the Middle East ahead of this week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship.

@connor_syme congrats on a great win #aussieamchamp #winningmatters

— Richie Ramsay (@RamsayGolf) January 17, 2016

Meanwhile, Syme, who was part of the winning European Amateur Team Championship side in Sweden last year, couldn’t quite believe what he’d achieved in Melbourne, despite only trailing to Smyth for two holes midway through the first 18 holes. “It’s not quite sunk in yet for sure, it’s absolutely amazing,” said Syme, who is now expected to rise significantly up the World Amateur Golf Rankings with him currently No.146. “It’s been a long week and I’m absolutely delighted. I’m following in good footsteps among the past champions.” Scottish national coach Ian Rae also paid tribute to Syme and also to Grant Forrest, Jack McDonald and Ewen Ferguson, with all of them reaching the matchplay stages – top 64 out of 234 in the strokeplay – and Forrest making it as far as the quarter-finals after beating McDonald in the last 16. “It’s a terrific win and Connor played awesome all day,” said Rae. “He hit fairways and greens, and his short game and putting were tremendous. He made it really difficult for his opponent to compete. I’m so proud of his golf and the way he conducted himself all week.” And he also tweeted:

A great team of players, caddie and Scottish support @scottishgolf#winnerpic.twitter.com/Z9gH7vjaoh

— Ian Rae (@ianrae59) January 17, 2016

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Connor Syme :: What a way to start 2016!

After such a successful 2015 on the amateur circuit for Scotland’s golfers, what do you think lies ahead in 2016 for Connor Syme and his Scottish Golf teammates? Leave your thoughts in the ‘Comments’ section below.