Scottish Under-18 boys' open amateur stroke-play at Cardrona

JAMES BYRNE BEATS MICHAEL STEWART

IN PLAY-OFF FOR FIRST NATIONAL WIN

Banchory's James Byrne, the long-time leader, eventually had to come from behind to score a memorable win in a dramatic finish to the Scottish boys' open amateur stroke-play championship over a sodden Cardrona Hotel & Golf Resort course near Peebles.

He finally got the better of his lone pursuer Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) at the third hole of a sudden death play-off after they had tied at 14-under-par 274.

It was a roller-coaster day of 39 holes for both boys.

Byrne started it with a five-shot lead which Stewart slashed to one with a superb 65 in the rain.

Stewart kept up his momentum in the early holes of the fourth round to be three shots clear of his golfing buddy with nine to play.

Then Byrne holed a 90yd approach for an eagle 3 at the 10^th and birdied the 12^th for both boys to be 15 under par with six holes to play.

Then Stewart bogeyed the 13^th and Byrne birdied the 15^th and 16^th to be three ahead on the 17^th.

But, like the Open championship, the drama was packed into the final two holes.

Byrne took a double bogey 6 after driving into the wet clingy rough at the 16^th and then bogeyed the last. Stewart got a brave 4 to make it a tie after 72 holes.

At the third extra hole, Stewart played a glorious fairway bunker shot of about 100 yards to 12ft but Byrne, on the fairways after using an iron from the tee, put his approach to within 5ft of the hole and sank it for a birdie to win the hole, the play-off and his first national title after finishing runner-up in the Scottish men's amateur stroke-play championship at Royal Dornoch earlier in the season.

Byrne will be too old to play in the Scottish boys' open stroke-play at Blairgowrie next year but Stewart still has another year of elibility for Under-18 events. Atlhough James was a worthy winner, Stewart almost deserved to be "joint winner," so well did he play on the last day. Even at this early stage, he looks favourite to go one better next year.

Daniel Young (Craigie Hill) won the George MacDonald Memorial Trophy for the best performance by an Under-16 competitor.

Daniel finished a creditable fifth overall on 287, behind Neil Henderson (Glen) and Andrew Wallace (Glenbervie) who shared third place on 284.

FINAL TOTALS

Par 288 (4 X 72)

274 J Byrne (Banchory) 67 69 69 69, M Stewart (Troon Welbeck) 69 72 65 68.

284 N Henderson (Glen) 71 72 70 71, A Wallace (Glenbervie) 71 71 72 70.

287 D Young (Craigie Hill) 74 71 71 71.

290 C Robb (Inchmarlo) 76 71 71 72, C Gaittens (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) 69 75 71 75, F Fotheringham (Nairn) 73 69 75 73, S McLaren (King James VI) 70 74 75 71.

291 T Spencer (Inchmarlo) 74 74 72 70, S Binning (Ranfurly Castle) 72 72 66 81, A McLachlan (Bonnyton) 74 68 75 74.

292 T Blennerhassett (Marriott Dalmahoy) 74 75 74 69, G Richards (Kingsknowe) 74 71 70 77, D Parlane (Helensburgh) 72 74 70 76, P McPhee (King James VI) 75 72 72 73, S McGarvey (Glencorse) 72 72 75 73.

293 M Bookless (Sandyhills) 77 70 73 73, I Allan (Hopeman) 75 71 71 76, J Hamilton (NZ) 75 71 72 75, A Dunton (McDonald Ellon) 75 72 73 73.

294 J Hunter (US) 74 73 77 70.

295 C Green (US) 71 76 76 72.

296 C Thomson (East Renfrewshire) 73 74 72 77, N Macandrew (Cullen) 73 73 76 74

297 A Murdoch (Stranraer) 75 76 74 72, R Satterley (Longniddry) 75 72 76 74, J Bradley (Paisley) 73 75 76 73.

298 G Duncan (US) 77 74 72 75, F McKenna (Balmore) 76 74 74 74, E Brown (Barassie) 76 70 75 77.

299 I Redford (King James VI) 75 76 71 77, J Hendrick (Pollok) 7279 72 76, A Cappi (Loretto School 77 73 74 75, B Jamieson (St Andrews New) 75 73 75 76, G Davidson (Winterfield) 69 77 73 80.

301 S Fraser (Royal Aberdeen) 72 79 76 74.

302 R Storrier (Downfield) 75 75 75 77.

306 M Cunningham (Longniddry) 73 77 80 76, G Hydbom (Sweden) 77 73 80 76.

308 G McDougall (Bishopbriggs) 72 78 77 81.

309 M Kelly (Kirkhill) 70 80 77 82.

NR G Reid (Newbattle) 73 77 80 NR.

+Apologies for not being able to display pictures of the prizewinners until I get back to base on Saturday night - Colin Farquharson.