Armstrong in awe of

Booth driving eight

Craigmillar par-4s

FROM THE SCOTSMAN.SPORT.COM WEBSITE
By MARTIN DEMPSTER, Edinburgh Evening News golf writer
Former professional Steven Armstrong (pictured right by Cal Carson Golf Agency) reckons he's got his work cut out these days to make his presence felt in Scotland's top amateur events.
The Turnhouse star played in both the Scottish Champion of Champions at Leven and the Craigmillar Park Open, securing a top-10 finish in the latter. But, after closing with two excellent rounds of 68 and 65 in the Scottish Order of Merit event, he admitted:
"To have a chance, I've got to be playing 100 per cent over four rounds while the likes of Gavin Dear and Wallace Booth can play slightly less than that and still win."
Like many others, Armstrong was astonished by some of the big-hitting on display in the Capital last weekend, the power stakes being spearheaded by the muscular Booth.
"I heard Wallace saying that he could drive eight of the par-4s and that's quite astonishing," he added. "These guys hit the ball miles now and, in all honestly, the advancement in golf club technology these days is just ridiculous."
Next up for Armstrong is the forthcoming Lothians Championship, an event he won in 2004, while he's hoping to get into the St Andrews Links Trophy later in the season.
"I might also play in the Scottish Amateur Championship, which is being played this year at Royal Troon," he added.
Meanwhile, rising Lothians star James Ross reckons his work with Stephen Bryan, the professional at Royal Burgess, is really starting to pay off as far as getting a few extra yards are concerned.
While disappointed with his putting display at Craigmillar Park – the 19-year-old never managed better than 34 putts in four rounds – Ross was delighted with his ball striking.
"I'm finally starting to hit the ball a bit farther and that's down to the work I've been doing with Stephen," he said."That means I can compete in events like these and the only thing which let me down last weekend was my putting, which is normally the strength of my game."
Ross will now compete in the Edward Trophy, the next Scottish Order of Merit event, at Glasgow Gailes at the end of the month before trying to go one better in the Lothians Championship, having lost to Mark Hillson in the final two years ago.
Hillson and Keith Young, meanwhile, have been replaced by Graham Robertson and Graham Davidson in the Lothians team for this Sunday's friendly against Borders at Haddington.
CHARITY DAY AT MUIRFIELD
Entries are being welcomed for a charity golf day at Muirfield later in the year.
The event, on October 22, is being held by The Lin Berwick Trust with Ken Wood, the current Lothians District president, as its organiser.
"Judging by charity days held at Muirfield in recent years, it is advisable to apply early as, in all cases, they have been oversubscribed," said Wood.
The cost to enter a a team of four is £1,000 and entries can be made to Ken Wood on 01620 823620.
TOP PSYCHOLOGIST'S LECTURE
Top sports psychologist Karl Morris' public lecture at the Braid Hills Hotel has been moved back 24 hours to next Wednesday, starting at 6.30pm.