Macintyre among eight Scots to progress to match-play in Amateur Championship

also made it with nothing to spare as the pair progressed along with fellow Great Britain & Ireland squad members Craig Howie (Peebles), Sandy Scott (Nairn) and Craig Ross (Kirkhill).

Howie, the leading qualifier at Carnoustie two years ago, produced another polished stroke-play performance with rounds of 68 and 69 for a fiveunder-par total, getting the job done quite comfortably. As did Scott, with matching scores though the other way around, and Ross as he carded an eagle and ten birdies over two days.

It was a solid rather than spectacular performance by Christopher Maclean as the Balmore player progressed as the leading Scot in joint sixth on six-under after a pair of 68s. “It was nice walking up the last knowing I had six or seven shots to play with,” he said in leading a tartan contingent completed by Barassie’s Euan Walker and Ryan Lumsden (Royal Wimbledon).

Still on the amateur front, John Fraser will be hoping to make local knowledge count in the Scottish Seniors Open Championship when it gets underway today at Royal Burgess. Graham Bell, last year’s Scottish Seniors Order of Merit winner, is also in the field.