Ruben Lindsay claims top spot at The Amateur Championship

Just like the Women’s Amateur, the Men’s Amateur was impacted thanks to strong storms on Tuesday, forcing the R&A to shorten stroke play qualifying to just 18-holes for each championship. 16-year-old Scotland native Ruben Lindsay was able to tame the 10-time Open host Royal Birkdale with a 4-under 67 to claim the No. 1 overall seed as match play is set to begin Thursday morning. The 2019 Scottish Boys’ Amateur Champion tallied four birdies and an eagle en route to his stroke play victory. His morning match will be accompanied by Sam Bairstow in the Round of 64. “I am very pleased, I played some really good stuff out there,” Lindsay told the R&A. I just didn’t really make any mistakes until the last. I am really pleased with that round.” Seeing just two bogeys in the duration of his round, Lindsay secured the top spot by a single spot Englishman Mason Essam who posted a 3-under 68 to claim the No. 2 seed. England’s Sam Broadhurst would have had a shot at the top spot if it weren’t for a pesky triple-bogey on the 3rd. “Obviously it was not the ideal start, I blocked a 9 iron into the rough and it was quite thick so I struggled to get it out,” Broadhurst said. “Walking off the green I was thinking there was a lot of golf to be played and par-5’s to take advantage of so I knew it wasn’t the end of the world.” Broadhurst recovered well and finished with a 2-under 69, good for a tie for third. The Round of 64 will be cut to 16 with two rounds of play Thursday with the championship match set for Saturday.