Connor Syme
(Scottish Golf Photo)
ABERDEEN, Scotland (July 25, 2016) -- Connor Syme lived up to his pre-tournament billing to ease through on day one of the Scottish Men’s Amateur Championship at Royal Aberdeen, along with a number of other fancied players.
Having lifted the Australian Amateur title at the start of the year, Syme recently celebrated his 21st birthday after helping Scotland secure back-to-back European Amateur Team titles and last week played his part in GB&I’s defence of the St Andrews Trophy.
Ranked inside the world’s top-30, Syme is a hot favorite this week, especially with Grant Forrest and Ewen Ferguson missing out, and moved swiftly into round two of Scottish Golf’s flagship matchplay event with a comfortable 6&4 win over Aberdour’s Hamish Gorn.
A challenging tie awaits against Alva’s Lawrence Allan today, a player who has been performing well on the US college circuit, but Syme hopes to maintain his form. “We had a good match and I managed to keep my ball out of trouble which is key around this course,” said the Drumoig man. “I’m looking forward to the challenge tomorrow as Lawrence is having a good season.
“I’m enjoying the expectation this week, but you can only go out and play one match at a time. I’ve never been past the last-16 in the Scottish Amateur so it would be nice to do so this week.”
On a day when all four seasons seemed to arrive, with play delayed for 35 minutes due to some freak flooding, the top-ranked players weathered any storms.
Two other national title holders, South African Amateur winner Craig Ross and Welsh Open Amateur holder Barry Hume also progressed, with Haggs Castle’s Hume firing five birdies in a “solid” 4&3 triumph over Troon Welbeck’s Ross McEwan.
Kirkhill’s Ross, meantime, recaptured his early season form to ease through with a 5&3 success and the semi-finalist at Blairgowrie in 2013 found the conditions to his liking.
“I’ve played well here, I remember doing well in the Scottish Boys back in 2009,” said the 23-year-old. “The course suits my game and I played solidly, with not much wrong. I didn’t make any birdies despite regularly putting it in to 10 to 18 feet, but got the job done. I’m away to practice my putting now.”
There were big 8&7 wins for Liberton’s Kieran Cantley and Craig Howie (Peebles), another European Amateur team winner earlier this month, with Cantley noting: “For me, it’s all about keeping it in play off the tee here, that’s where you can score from.”
Cantley now faces Deeside’s Michael Lawrie, watched on by his father and Ryder Cup vice-captain Paul, after he edged through at the 19th against Stuart Houlden from East Kilbride.
Other winners included Turnhouse’s Euan McIntosh, named in Scotland’s Home Internationals side next month, and Howie’s younger brother, Darren.
ABOUT THE Scottish Amateur
The Scottish Amateur Championship began in
1922 and has witnessed many famous victors,
including legendary amateurs Ronnnie Shade
and Charlie Green as well as some of the stars
of the modern game, Colin Montgomerie and
Stephen Gallacher.
Entry to the Championship is open to any male
golfer who was either born in Scotland, has
Scottish parentage, permanent residency in
Scotland for not less than 5 years and has not
played international golf or competed in a
closed Championship for any other country
other than Scotland. The starting field shall be
256 and, in the event of an over-entry, the
number shall be reduced in order of exact
handicap. Each match shall consist of one
round of 18 holes except the final which will be
played over 36 holes.
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