Bidwells Scottish men's open amateur stroke-play championship

Richie Ramsay's record 62

is up for grabs at Murcar

Links this weekend

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Richie Ramsay’s course record of nine-under-par 62 for Murcar Links is set to be surpassed in the Bidwells Scottish men’s open amateur stroke-play championship which tees off on Friday with the first of four rounds.
Former US amateur champion Ramsay had the ability as an amateur to produce some very low scores. He won this title at Lundin Links in 2004 with an aggregate of 269, the lowest four-round total in the 42-history of the national stroke-play.
And, two years ago, in the EuroPro Tour’s Scottish Challenge at Murcar Links, Ramsay, playing as an amateur, finished fourth with a nine-under-par total of 275. He had two superlative record-breaking rounds in that event – a 63 in the second and a 62 in the fourth.
Murcar Links’ 6,516yd lay-out is short by modern standards – the Northern Open has been played this week over a 7,118yd Spey Valley track – and if the wind doesn’t blow, some of the world’s best amateurs in the field of 144 are liable to indulge in a birdie-eagle fest this weekend.
A new amateur record mark will be set, says Scottish Golf Union tournament director Euan Mordaunt.
“The course is slightly longer and more bunkered than it was when Ramsay had his 62 and he did not play off the new 15th tee which we will be using,” he said.
On R&A World Amateur Rankings alone, England’s Sam Hutsby (Liphook), pictured above, ranked No 10, starts favourite and he has a winning record in Scotland. Sam won The Duke of York Young Champions’ Trophy event at Dundonald Links in 2006.
Then there’s the world No 15, Matt Jager from Australia, South Africa’s Adrian Ford (No 27), Portuguese open amateur champion Dale Whitnell (Five Lakes) who was third in this year’s Lytham Trophy and fourth in the Brabazon Trophy, and compatriot Matt Haines (Rochester & Cobham Park) who was runner-up in the Welsh stroke-play last weekend, having won the Lytham Trophy in 2008.
In all there are five leading Aussies and seven South Africans in the field
But the Scots, bless their tartan socks, have a happy knack of rising to the occasion to repel all boarders in their national stroke-play. Scott Henry (2006), Kevin McAlpine (2007) and Comrie’s Wallace Booth (2008) are the most recent home-bred winners.
Gavin Dear (Murrayshall), the highest-ranked Scot at No 28 - he would dearly love to get into the top 10 before he turns pro in September - won the Irish open amateur stroke-play at Royal Dublin in early May when he beat Wallace Booth in a play-off, Booth having been three strokes ahead during the final round.
Dear says he has shaken off the bug that had him feeling under par in health but not scoring terms in the Brabazon Trophy and a fortnight’s rest since then – he did not play in last week’s Welsh stroke-play, in which Scott Borrowman (Dollar) was the top Scot in joint fifth place – should have the Scone man raring to go to underline his Walker Cup team selection claims.
The Bidwells Scottish open amateur stroke-play championship is being played at Murcar Links because it is their Centenary Year. Honoured with the club captaincy in this memorable 12 months for which is next-door-neighbours to Royal Aberdeen is former Walker Cup player Hugh Stuart, originally from Forres.
Hugh won the Scottish boys championship at North Berwick in 1959 and the Scottish men's amateur match-play championship at Prestwick in 1972 when he beat North-east colleague Sandy Pirie in the final. Hugh will be shaking a few hands at Murcar Links over the next four days.


TOP TEE TIMES FRIDAY
07.00 (first tee time) Fraser McKenna (Balmore), Alexander Culverwell (Dunbar), Chris Robb (Inchmarlo).
08.00 Gavin Dear (Murrayshall), Adrian Ford (South Africa), Sam Hutsby (Liphook).
08.10 Ross Kellett (Colville Park), Steven Ferreira (South Africa), Luke Goddard (Hendon).
08.20 David Law (Hazlehead), Matt Jager (Australia), Matt Haines (Rochester & Cobham Park).
08.30 Keir McNicoll (Carnoustie), Daniel Nisbet (Australia), Tommy Fleetwood (Formby Hall).
09.20 Scott Borrowman (Dollar), Mattias Nordqvist (Sweden), Bryan Innes (Murcar Links).
10.00 Cameron Gray (West Kilbride), Gregor Stewart (Murcar Links), Mark Bookless (Sandyhills).
12.00 Wallace Booth (Comrie), Brendan Smith (Australia), Paul Williams (Hlllside).
12.10 Steven McEwan (Caprington), Bryden MacPheson (Australia), Todd Adcock (Nevill).
12.20 James Byrne (Banchroy), William Wilcox (US).
12.30 Paul O'Hara (Colville Park), Yubin Jung (South Africa), Dale Whitnell (Five Lakes).
12.40 Glenn Campbell (Blairgowrie), Mark Fensham (South Africa), Kevin Duncan (McDonald Ellon).
12.50 Gordon Yates (Hilton Park), Jake Redman (South Afrfica), Eddie Pepperell (Drayton Park).
01.00 Greg Paterson (St Andrews New), Rae Mackie (South Africa), Philip McLean (Peterhead).
03.2o (last tee time) Fraser Fotheringham (Nairn), Euan McIntosh (Newmachar), Bobby Rushford (Grangemouth).