Scots pair progress to Aussie Am quarters

• Connor Syme and Grant Forrest through to quarter-finals
• Forrest knocked out fellow Scot Jack McDonald in last 16
• The players are on opposite sides of the draw

Last year was one to remember for Scotland’s amateur golfers with victory at the European Team Championships, a Boys Home Internationals success and three players making the Walker Cup squad at Royal Lytham & St Annes.

And 2016 has the potential to start in a similar fashion with both Connor Syme and Grant Forrest making it through to the last eight of the Australian Men’s Amateur Championship.

Forrest’s fellow Walker Cup teammates Ewen Ferguson and Jack McDonald also made it through to the matchplay stages, but Ferguson fell at the first stage, losing 5&3 to Welshman Evan Griffith, while McDonald progressed through to the last 16 before getting knocked out on the 18th by his Scottish Golf teammate Forrest.

A good win for @grantforrest against friend @jmcdonaldgolf. A pity someone lost as a great match #2scotsinlast8 pic.twitter.com/c7o9oTicBT

— Ian Rae (@ianrae59) January 15, 2016

Drumoig’s Syme, meanwhile, has shown excellent form throughout the tournament so far, leading the four Scots in the strokeplay qualifying before a 4&3 win over Mitchell Smith in the first matchplay stage. The same margin saw off Dylan Perry in the round of 32, while William Heffernan was his third Aussie victim in a row as he secured a 2&1 win in the last 16.

A great win for @connor_syme, now in the last 8 of Aussie am #doingit pic.twitter.com/uuOF7PwexZ

— Ian Rae (@ianrae59) January 15, 2016

Syme and Forrest are on opposite sides of the draw, raising the possibility of an all-Scottish final come Sunday.

The list of quarter-final ties are (local times):

• 7.30am – Charles Pilon (Aus) v Evan Griffith (Wal);
• 7.40am – Harrison Endycott (Aus) v Connor Syme;
• 7.50am – Travis Smyth (Aus) v Grant Forrest;
• 8.00am – Austin Bautista (Aus) v Shae Wools-Cobb (Aus).

Australian Amateur :: A Scottish winner?

Do you think Grant Forrest or Connor Syme will be taking home the Australian Amateur title come Sunday? Leave your thoughts in the ‘Comments’ section below.