Duncan triumphs as top amateur
GEORGE Duncan displayed nerves of steel and a brilliant short game to lift the Scottish Men’s Amateur title at Royal Aberdeen.
The 21-year-old from Windyhill defeated Nairn’s Andrew Burgess 3&1 in their 36-hole matchplay showdown after both produced impressive results to seal final spots.
After Burgess ended the hopes of hot favourite Connor Syme, firing a brilliant 66 for a one-hole victory in their semi-final, the Highlander was fancied to hold the edge in the final. But Duncan battled back from two down after 13 holes to achieve a two-hole lead after the opening 18 holes, and never let his advantage slip.
The Dunbartonshire player, who has climbed to eighth place on the Scottish Golf Men’s Order of Merit and will secure a world ranking by virtue of his success, consistently showed his skills around the greens after lunch before closing out the match when Burgess found trouble at the short 35th.
A student at Lincoln Memorial University in Tennessee, Duncan, no relation to Scotland’s 1920 Open champion and former Ryder Cup captain, said: “It’s the best feeling I’ve had in golf by a long shot. I can’t believe I’ve won the Scottish Amateur, considering I didn’t even get past the second round last year in my first attempt.
“The final was the best I’ve struck the ball all this week and my short game really pulled it through for me. I just need to thank my putter, which was brilliant.”
Duncan, who was aided by his father, also George, on the bag, works with George Boswell and has won the last five Windyhill club championships. He added: “Sometimes my downfall is my nerves, but I loved it. I told myself just to enjoy it and not get angry if I hit a bad shot. Everyone usually says I have a good poker face, but my heart was going, especially down the back nine.”
Burgess, 21, had beaten South African Amateur champion Craig Ross on the way to the final as well as GB&I cap Syme, the Australian Amateur champion.
The student, from Armstrong State University in Savannah, Georgia, who will also rank in the world standings, said: “I’m obviously disappointed but I did really well to get this far, and I can’t really complain too much, the better man won on the day.”