Scottish Am: First Duncan then Rudd rewrites course record
David Rudd (Crail Golf/Twitter photo)
It didn’t take long for David Rudd to make his mark on the Scottish Amateur. Rudd, who plays out of Longniddry Golf Club not only set a new scoring record at Crail Golfing Society’s Balcomie Links in Fife, Scotland, he edged another course record that had just been set earlier in the day.
Rudd holds a one-shot lead going into the second round after stealing the headlines from Liam Duncan’s bogey-free round of 61. Rudd did one better with a a 9-under 60 which included included one stretch of six birdies in a row.
Speaking to Scottish Golf after his round, Rudd admitted he was unaware of just how good a round he had until coming off the 18thgreen.
“I didn’t really realize where I was in terms of scoring to be honest, I knew it was low but I didn’t realize it was that good. As soon as I came off the last, it hit me, and I realzsed how well I had played.”
On the Craighead Links, 12-year-old Connor Graham became one of the youngest players to ever teed it up in the Scottish Amateur. He opened with 74.
“It was a tough course as I can’t reach some of the holes, but I shot three-under my handicap so overall I was really pleased with today’s round,” he said.
Connor’s older brother, Gregor, is the low family member after a 63 that left him tied for ninth. Their father Stuart finished at 4 under.
“It’s really good going for all of us, I am a little bit annoyed because my dad beat me by so many but I am just here to enjoy myself because I will have plenty more years to play in this competition.”
Quotes and information from Scottish Golf used in this report
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.
View Complete Tournament Information