Locke reaches final on back of Lawrie boost

Banchory’s Sam Locke fed off the encouragement of former Open champion Paul Lawrie to seal a dream spot in the Scottish men’s Amateur Championship final at Prestwick.

The 18-year-old is relishing his biggest moment in the game to date after taking the scalps of Nairn’s Sandy Scott and Alasdair McDougall (Elderslie) to reach today’s 36-hole showdown.

Locke has played for the Scotland Boys’ side at national and European level and is also part of the Paul Lawrie Foundation, with the Ryder Cup stalwart tweeting his support of Locke over the Ayrshire links this week.

“Paul helps me a lot with my game, like the mental side and managing it, so it’s much appreciated,” said Locke, whose dad, Andrew, is a coach at Lawrie’s Golf Centre on the outskirts of Aberdeen.

“I pick up the phone to him now and again. When I started in the foundation Paul gave me his number and said: ‘Look, anything at all, give me a call, no matter how silly you may think it is’.

“A lot of guys won’t have someone like that to learn from, an Open champion and Ryder Cup winner. He’s been there and done so much, so it’s amazing to learn off him. When you do things well like this week, it’s good to get compliments as it gives you a big boost.”

Locke was impressive in seeing off the challenge of Scott, a European Amateur team winner with Scotland last summer, and maintained his consistency to defeat McDougall.

McDougall had earlier secured the third hole-in-one of the event at the 11th in his morning win over Matthew Clark, but Locke was too strong as he achieved back-to-back 3 and 2 wins.

It is a member of this year’s Scotland European Amateur team that Locke now faces in the final, namely Ryan Lumsden.

The London-born player, who is attached to Royal Wimbledon, plays for Scotland through his Edinburghborn grandparents.

The 20-year-old, who works with Scots coach David Inglis at Northwestern University in the US, still enjoys trips to North Berwick to visit family.

Lumsden finished with an eagle at the 16th to defeat Chris MacLean from Balmore 3 and 2, having beaten Irvine’s Stuart Easton by the same margin in the quarter-finals.

Quarter-final scores: S Locke (Banchory) bt S Scott (Nairn) 3 and 2, A McDougall (Elderslie) bt M Clark (Kilmacolm) 1 hole, R Lumsden (Royal Wimbledon) bt S Easton (Irvine) 3 and 2, C Maclean (Balmore) bt G Burns (Williamwood) 1 hole.

Semi-finals: Locke bt McDougall 3 and 2, Lumsden bt Maclean 3 and 2.

Sam Locke: into today’s final after two 3 and 2 victories.