Calum Fyfe (L) and Sandy Scott (R) shot 8-under in stroke play
qualifying at Prestwick and head into match play as the top seeds
PRESTWICK, AYRSHIRE, SCOTLAND (August 1, 2017) - Scotland internationalists Sandy Scott and Calum Fyfe led the qualifiers at the new-look Scottish Men’s Amateur Championship in Prestwick.
The pair posted fine 36-hole totals of eight under par over Prestwick and Prestwick St Cuthbert’s to comfortably finish clear at the top of the 264-player field in Ayrshire.
Related: Scottish Amateur: Sandy Scott Leads After Day One
The top 64 players and ties booked their spots in the matchplay 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 come Saturday.
“One of the goals for the week was to try and win the strokeplay,” 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 strokeplay leaderboard, with Rory Franssen (Inverness) and Sam Locke (Banchory) finishing on two under.
Locke, 19, playing just his second Scottish Men’s Amateur, said: “It was tough day, but I played pretty solid both days for two under. 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 matchplay.”
Late in the day, as a glorious sun sparkled across the Prestwick links, 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 a comfortable qualifier on two under. Other fancied players like the Howie brothers from Peebles, Darren and Craig, also progressed, as did Kirkhill’s Craig Ross, Matthew Clark (Kilmacolm), Chrisopher Maclean (Balmore) and Turnhouse’s Euan McIntosh.
Local lad Jim Johnston (Ayr Belleisle) eased through on one under, the same mark as Clydebank & District’s Steven Stewart who produced a superb 65 over St Cuthbert’s. Another local, Prestwick St Nicholas’ Sandy Buchanan, finished inside the top 30 to keep his hopes alive also.
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.
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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