Szczesny loan deal

Arsenal have agreed to extend goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny’s loan with Italian club Roma for another year. Oban’s Robert MacIntyre hopes to continue his fine recent match play form when he defends the Scottish men’s amateur championship title at Royal Aberdeen this week.

The Glencruitten player became the first left-hander in living memory to claim the crown at Muirfield 12 months ago, beating Craigie Hill’s Daniel Young by two holes.

This season he was a member of Scotland’s European amateur team championship-winning line-up and finished runner-up at the British amateur championship in Wales.

MacIntyre is encouraged by his run to the final of the Amateur at Royal Porthcawl and playing his part in Scotland’s defence of the European team title in France.

The 19-year-old, who represented GB&I in retaining the St Andrews Trophy last week, said: “I’ve never played Royal Aberdeen so it’s going to be a first. The Scottish boys’ has been there a couple of times but I was too young to play then, so it will be exciting.

“I’ve played Murcar Links and, from what I’ve heard, Royal Aberdeen is kind of like Muirfield, perhaps more demanding. It’s hopefully another good week. I’ve only one player to think about and that’s Chris Curran, who I play in the first round on Tuesday. I have to take it one round at a time like I did last year. Each round is going to be tough.”

256 players representing 129 clubs will compete for one of Scottish golf’s leading titles.

While Ewen Ferguson is resting his hand injury and Grant Forrest misses out after a hectic schedule of amateur and pro events, a quality field which includes

Robert MacIntyre is ready for his Scots title defence