The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Top seed survives scare at Scottish Amateur
Number one seed survives scare to advance in championship
Callum Bruce has answered the challenge already during his first year in America – and is ready to do the same as he battles through the Scottish Amateur Championship at Blairgowrie.
A little surprised at himself for being number one seed going into the matchplay rounds beginning yesterday, Bruce recovered from a morning scare in his first round match to defeat Inverness’s highly-rated Rory Franssen in the last 32.
That set up a tasty match with veteran internationalist Matthew Clark in this morning’s third round.
However, Bruce has already had some year, building himself from a budding player no big college would take a chance on into a prospect fielding texts and offers from some of the biggest universities in the USA.
The 19-year-old did not have the SAT academic scores to impress for a fouryear full scholarship, so instead opted for a two-year one at Midland in Texas, home town of former President George W Bush and a place where many Scots have studied before.
“The option was, come to Midland, play well and you might get a transfer to a big Division One college,” he said. “It was a free scholarship so it was an easy choice for me in the end.”
And had he not made that decision, he would not have played so well – four wins, four second places, out of the top 10 only twice all season – and never have met Jack Nicklaus in June.
Such was his form that Callum was named National Junior College player of the year, won the Jack Nicklaus Award for top junior college player and was presented with the trophy by the man himself.
Named in PING’s All-America college team, Callum’s profile has rocketed and he is now getting contact from those bigger universities.
“I’ll go back to Midland and finish my two years there and then we’ll see what’s available,” he said.
“The way I look at it is if I hadn’t chosen to go there and worked so hard to improve, I wouldn’t be getting these offers now.”
After his 66 leapt him up into first seeding, he avoided the traditional first seed’s first round demise but only at the third extra hole against Craigmillar Park’s Conor O’Toole. Franssen, the Scottish national squad member from Inverness, presented a much tougher assignment in the afternoon.
However, Bruce never trailed, although it took a clutch birdie putt at nine to keep him one-up at the bend.
The two traded the two par fives to start the back nine, but Callum won 14 to go back to two-up and closed out the match at the short 17th.
“It was a good, tight match and there wasn’t much between us, but I managed to get myself in front and stayed there,” said Callum.
His next test is against Clark, the bank manager from Kilmacolm aiming for a seventh successive Home Internationals cap.
He came from behind to edge Lundin’s Greg Wishart, the Fifer having produced the shock of the day with a defeat of former Order of Merit winner Calum Fyfe in the opening round.
That looks like the choice match of the last 16, while Jamie Stewart looks in ominous form, needing just 29 holes to win his two matches yesterday, a 3 and 2 win over the consistently tough Jeff Wright (Forres) coming in the second round.
Local interest now rests with Royal Perth’s Robbie Morrison, a comfortable 5 and 4 winner over Stuart Thurlow in the last 32.
Alyth’s Michael Brodie, after beating the veteran Mark Halliday in the first round, went down 5 and 4 to James Johnston (Ayr Belleisle).
The tie of the last 32 probably was international Euan Walker against former Scottish Boys champion Eric McIntosh and it was the Barassie man who prevailed.
And the Scott brothers from Nairn are still in with a big shout, younger sibling Calum recording a handsome 5 and 4 win over Lewis Maynard-Pryce from Moray, while elder brother Sandy, the No 2 seed and Scotland team regular, came back from an early deficit to defeat the New Club’s Ben Caton.
Calum now faces Conor McKinney, while Sandy takes on Stephen Roger (Peebles).