The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
International pair finish well clear in qualifying
Scott and Fyfe comfortably move into match play stage
Scotland internationalists Sandy Scott and Calum Fyfe led the qualifiers at the new-look Scottish Men’s Amateur Championship in Prestwick.
The pair posted 36-hole totals of eight under par over Prestwick and Prestwick St Cuthbert’s to finish clear at the top of the 264-player field in Ayrshire.
The top 64 players and ties booked their spots in the match play stages, as the event takes on a new format this year falling in line with other national bodies. The famous links of old Prestwick, which first hosted The Open Championship in 1860, will now decide the winner on Saturday.
“One of the goals for the week was to try and win the stroke play,” said Cawder’s Fyfe, who posted a pair of 67s, before being joined at the summit in the early evening by Scott (66, 68).
“I played well, played solid. I just tried not to make any silly mistakes as that can be tough to come back from over 36 holes. I’m just trying to keep it going, more of the same, sticking to the same plan and focusing on my own game.”
Fyfe, who never went beyond the third round in the former format of the event, added: “I feel Prestwick suits my game with the tight fairways, you have to plot your way round it and have the putter working.”
Nairn’s Scott was joined by other north-based players high on the stroke play leaderboard, with Rory Franssen (Inverness) and Sam Locke (Banchory) finishing on two under.
Locke, 19, playing just his second Scottish Men’s Amateur, said: “I’ll take each match as it goes now and get as far as I can – and obviously try and win it. The course provides an exciting finish for match play.”
Late in the day, Ed Wood (Crow Wood) and Anglo-Scot Ryan Lumsden from Royal Wimbledon reached three under par to share third spot. Euan Walker from Kilmarnock Barassie was also qualified on two under.
Other fancied players like the Howie brothers, Darren and Craig, also progressed, as did Carnoustie pair Will Porter and Liam Balneaves.
The cut mark fell at seven over par, with last year’s champion from Windyhill, George Duncan, among those to miss out on eight over.
Other players to make it through were Blairgowrie’s Blair Bannerman, Comrie’s Call umMcGuigan,NHM Beat tie of St Andrews, Aberdour’s Hamish Gorn, Greg Wishart of Lundin and Alyth’s Michael Brodie.