Bidwells Scottish open amateur stroke-play

Byrne breaks record with a 65

and jumps clear of field

The southeasterly wind was still blowing across the Murcar Links today but did not stop James Byrne, the 20-year-old Banchory and Arizona State University player, from surging clear of the early finishers with a superlative round of six-under-par 65.
As some of the holes have been changed since Richie Ramsay shot 63, then 62 in the Scottish Challenge in 2006, the pair of 66s by English teenagers Matt Haines and Tommy Fleetwood were accepted as a new course record.
And that record last fewer than 24 hours before Byrne brought it down by a shot after a brilliant outward half of six-under-par 60.
Byrne birdied the second from 5ft, grabbed an eagle 3 at the fourth after a huge drive downwind of 350yd and a 50 degree lob wedge to within 6ft of the stick, then strung together a hat-trick of birdie 3s from the seventh to the ninhe, holing from 15ft at the seventh, 8ft at the eighth and driving the 323yd ninth green with a three wood (!) and two-putting from 20ft.
Byrne improved to a high point of seven under par by holing from 15ft at the 11th.
"The wind, as in the first round, made it tough from there but I was able to escape with only one shot dropped, at the short 16th where it is so difficult to hit the green with the cross wind," said James.
"I did scramble a bit and holed some part-saving putts over the last few holes - the same holes that cost him five shots to par on Friday - including a good one at the last where I was way long and left with my second but was able to run my chip down the slope with within 3ft of the hole to get away with a par."
Byrne had therefore set the clubhouse lunchtime target with his addition of 65 to his first round of 72 ... five-under-par 137.
But for losing his place in the Arizona State University team who were playing in the NCAA Division 1 championship finals this past week, Byrne would not have been able to come home early and play in the Brabazon Trophy and here at Murcar Links.
"Arizona State have a very, very strong team and over the last few weeks I was not able to win a place in it. I hear they've recruited a very good young American for next season, so it's going to be even tougher to get into the team of five that plays in tournaments. But that's the way I like it, " said James who is halfway through his four-year scholarship.
Defending champion Wallace Booth from Comrie could do with some of the James Byrne inspiration. Wallace, who started with a one-over-par 72, had a 73 today for 145, despite betting through the first 11 holes in three under par.
A bogey at the 12th and a triple bogey 7 at the 13th undid all his good work. He did birdie the long 14th but there were two more bogeys lurking over the closing holes .. at the 15th and the 18th where he bunkered his drive left for 39 home.
"It's tough out there when you play as badly as I did," said 23-year-old Wallace. "James Byrne has shown with his score that the wind doesn't have to make all that difference to your score. I am just going through a frustrating period and I am pretty upset with myself. Today was much worse for me than yesterday was, even though in scoring terms it was only one shot worse."
At 3pm Byrne's lead stood at four shots from Englishman Dale Whitnell (71 for 141) and Eddie Pepperell (Drayton Park) 73 68.
SECOND-ROUND TOTALS (at 3pm)
Par 141 (2 x 71) CSS 74 tbc
137 James Byrne (Banchory) 72 65.
141 Dale Whitnell (Five Lakes) 70 71, Eddie Pepperell (Drayton Park) 73 68.
142 Jake Redman (SAf) 71 71.
143 Daniel Jennevret (Swe) 71 72.
144 Glenn Campbell (Blairgowrie) 72 72.
145 Jamie Mackay (Kilmarnock Barassie) 74 71, Wallace Booth (Comrie) 72 73, Philip McLean (Peterhead) 75 70.
146 Colin Thomson (East Renfrewshire) 73 73, James He ndrick (Pollok) 68 78.
147 Mark Fensham (SAf) 75 72, Paul Shields (Kirkhill) 76 71.
148 Paul O’Hara (Colville Park) 73 75, Greg Paterson (St Andrews New) 76 72, Sandy Bolton (Magnolia Park) 70 78.
149 Scott Gibson (Southerness) 77 72, Paul Betty (Hayston) 75 74, Peter Latimer (St Andrews New) 73 76.
150 Stephen Clark (US) 74 76, Sebastian MacLean (Bolivia) 77 73, Steven McEwan (Caprington) 74 76, Kevin Duncan (McDonald Ellon) 73 77.
151 Kyle McClung (Wigtownshire Co) 78 73. Brendan Smith (Aus) 77 74, Gordon Yates (Hilton Park) 74 77, Sean McGarvey (Glencorse) 77 74, Martin Lawrence (Newmachar) 76 75, Mike MacDonald (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) 74 77.
152 Bryden MacPherson (Aus) 76 76, Andrew Wallace (Glenbervie) 76 76.
154 Neil Henderson (Glen) 79 75, Rae Mackie (SAf) 78 76, Michael Downes (Mere) 78 76.
155 Todd Adcock (Nevill) 77 78, Duncan Raitt (Murcar Links) 75 80,Allan Reith (Royal Aberdeen) 78 77.
156 Garry Wood (Crow Wood) 76 80, Graeme Robertson (Glenbervie) 78 78.
157 Andrew Campbell (Deeside) 77 80, George Finlay (Ballumbie Castle) 80 77, Michael Daily (Erskine) 79 78.
159 Kromer Kajetan (Aut) 80 79, Michael Gray (Lanark) 77 82, Jordan McColl (Scotscraig) 77 82, Nthan Kinch(Aus) 81 78.
160 Myles Cunningham (Craigielaw) 79 81.
161 Euan Kennedy (Stonehaven) 80 81, William Wilcox (US) 77 84.
162 Joshua Clarke (Royal Montrose) 83 79, Scott Stewart-Cation (Ladybank) 84 78.
163 Yubin Jung (SAf) 82 81, Keith Hird (Murcar Links) 82 81.
164 Jordan Findlay (Fraserburgh) 83 81, Paul Williams (Hillside) 83 81, Fraser Moore (Glenbervie) 86 78, John Duff (Newmachar) 80 84.
167 Rodger Clarke (Moray) 82 85.