Mixed fortunes for Scots in Amateur

Eliminated: Scotland’s highest ranked player, James Byrne, was one of many Scots to fall at the first hurdle

Five Scottish players progress to Matchplay stage of Amateur Championship

There was frustration, encouragement and disappointment in equal measure for Scotland’s leading players following the Strokeplay qualifying stage for this year’s Amateur Championship.

Five Scots made it through to the last 64 after two rounds at Hillside and Hesketh Golf Clubs, while some of the country’s brightest talents were eliminated at the first hurdle.

St Andrews’ Greg Paterson led the Scots five-some in qualifying, posting a one-under par total of 140. Scottish Amateur champion Michael Stewart wasn’t far behind on 144 thanks to consecutive rounds of 72.

Glaswegian Mark Bookless of Sandyhills also qualified on the same total, adding a 71 at Hesketh to his opening round of 73 at Hillside. Walker Cup squad member Kris Nicol revived his title ambitions with a second round one-under 70 to make it through on 146.

2010 SGU Boys Order of Merit champion Conor O’Neil is making his debut in the championship, and thanks to a birdie on the 18 ^th hole, the Pollok teenager secured a place in the Matchplay stages at the first attempt.

The final hole was not so kind to Scotland’s highest ranked player and last year’s losing finalist, James Byrne of Banchory, who slipped to a damaging double-bogey on the 18^th at Hesketh to miss qualifying by a single stroke.

Paul Lawrie’s protégé David Law dented his Walker Cup hopes as he missed out by five shots. “It is a huge blow missing out,” said the 21-year-old from Hazlehead. “I needed a good week but I did not play well enough on the first day and left myself with too much to do,”

Fellow Scotland squad members James White, Paul Shields, Jordan Findlay, Ross Kellet and Philip McLean accompanied Law on the trip back north of the border.

Bryce Ritchie is the Editor of bunkered and, in addition to leading on content and strategy, oversees all aspects of the brand. The first full-time journalist employed by bunkered, he joined the company in 2001 and has been editor since 2009. A member of Balfron Golfing Society, he currently plays off nine and once got a lesson from Justin Thomas’ dad.

Editor