Scott boosts Walker Cup bid as Maguire storms to Links Trophy victory
Nairn’s Callum Scott boosted his hopes of returning to St Andrews for the Walker Cup in September by finishing jointthird in the Links Trophy, one of the ‘majors’ in the amateur game.
Pride of place in the St Andrews Links-run tournament went to Alex Maguire as the irish man closed with splendid scores of 66 and 64 on the
Old Course to win by five shots on 21-under-par.
The Laytown & Bettystown member became the fourth Irish player to claim the coveted prize as he emulated alan dunbar (2009), Con or O’ rourke (2016)andjohnmurphy(2019).
Swede Albert Hansson finished as Maguire’s closest challenger, with Scott a further shot back along with Englishman Harry Crockett. It was a brillianteffort from scott, especially as it came in his first outing since returning home after the
end of the US college season for the Texas Tech player.
Scott followed in the footsteps of his big brother, Sandy, by becoming a ‘Red Raider’ and is now bidding to join him as a walker cup per, with sandy having already represented
Great Britain & Ireland in the 2019 contest at royal liverpool.
Bidding to make fellow Scot Stuart Wilson’s side for the latest edition of the biennial bout against the Americans in September, Scott’s performance over the past three days will certainly have enhanced his prospects.
After opening with a 68 on the New Course on Friday, the teenager then carded scores of 68-69-67 on the Old Course, where the 49th Walker Cup is being held.
Maguire’s success came hot on the heels of a victory in the East of Ireland Amateur Open last week after also finishing fourth in the Irish Amateur Open. “It feels absolutely amazing to be able to call myself the St Andrews Links champion. What a place to win. You couldn’t pick a better place to have a victory than the Old Course. I’m absolutely delighted,” said the 22-year-old.
“It was my first time playing the Old Course this week. Two titles in two weeks. I knew it was a big event, but id idn’ t really feel much pressure.”