Poignant time for Innes in Amateur

Bryan Innes has experienced the highs and lows going into the Amateur Championship, which starts at Nairn today.

The Murcar Links golfer made history earlier this month by becoming the first player from outside the four original Links clubs to win the Aberdeen Links Championship after beating Matt Smith (Bon Accord) 6 and 5 in the final.

Until that point, only players from Bon Accord, Caledonian, Northern and the defunct Victoria had picked up the sought-after silverware.

To boost numbers a few years ago, the competition was opened up to entrants who compete in the Aberdeen Pennant League.

Innes went from being on cloud nine to losing his 85-year-old dad, James, which put his Granite City triumph in perspective.

Bryan, 51, said: “Sadly my dad passed away on Thursday. He had been taken into hospital more than a week ago and I knew he was dying.

“In some ways, it was great to win the Aberdeen Links Championship and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t doing it for him.

“It just puts a lot of things in perspective. To have the chance to show him the trophy was great. It was quite a tiring week, to be honest.

“I played fantastic. I have put a lot of work in during the last six months and it is great to see the returns coming.

“My dad was 85 and he had dementia. He’s now in a better place.”

The pain of losing his dad sits alongside his desire to continue his sparkling form and he has opted to compete at Nairn.

Innes explained: “I’m going to play. The last time I played the Amateur was 11 years ago when it was at Muirfield.

“I thought my chance had gone, to be honest. There are not many benefits of Covid, but no one’s really travelling.

“So I chanced my arm and had a low enough handicap to get in.

“Some people may not agree with the changes made at Nairn, but I think they’re fantastic.

“They have really enhanced what is a fantastic golf course.

“You go there with an open mind, do the basics, make sure you qualify and then, in some ways, you hope the wind blows and it’s a tough test.”

He added: “I played at Nairn in the Northern Counties two years ago and it’s an absolute joy to play.”

The winner secures qualification exemption for the Open and the US Open and, by tradition, an invitation to play in the Masters Tournament.

And Innes said: “Any R&A event is a privilege to play in, the way they set up the course.

“They just set the course up incredibly fairly. Whoever wins will be a worthy winner. There are no gimmicks.”

The action starts today, with Calum Scott, of Nairn, teeing off at 7am.