Andrew Farmer

wins Scottish

Mid-Amateur

final at 19th

Kilmalcolm’s Andrew Farmer survived a storming fight back from Nicky Barr to clinch the 2009 DM Hall Scottish Mid-Amateur Championship after drama at the first extra play-off hole this afternoon at a wet Royal Burgess, Edinburgh.
Farmer, who had seen a four-hole lead slip away on the back nine, salvaged a remarkable up and down on the first extra play-off hole after finding an horrendous lie in the greenside bunker. The 35-year-old Renfrewshire player managed to splash out to 12-feet then sink the putt for a par, while opponent Barr agonisingly three-putted to see his come back hopes dashed.
The title win gave Farmer a unique mid-amateur (over-25s) double, having won the British equivalent nine years ago at Troon and came as a relief to the former Scotland international who was not enjoying the heavy rain in Edinburgh on the closing stretch:
“The back nine was tough for me so I’m delighted to have come through and won at the play-off hole. I really don’t enjoy playing golf in the rain and I’ve actually struggled a bit with my swing over the last couple of days.” admitted Farmer, a Commercial Manager with the Clydesdale Bank.
“I’m the second banker from Renfrewshire to win the title over the past three years, with my team-mate Matthew Clark winning at Duddingston in 2007, so it’s nice for golf in our Area. I’m proud to win a national title, especially as I’ve not had too much time on the golf course recently as I’ve been spending time with my young kids. My commiserations go to Nicky, who put up a great fight and played some great golf this weekend.”
Farmer was a member of Scotland’s winning European boys team championship squad back in 1992, playing in the same team as Stephen Gallagher and Gordon Sherry. He also represented the Scotland men’s team in 1997 and 1998.
He got his match off to a great start winning three of the first holes then hit a superb second shot into 18 inches at the par-5 sixth hole to set up a winning eagle. Barr rallied with some fine iron play. However he failed to convert some great chances to claw back Farmer’s lead.
Finally a birdie putt dropped at the tenth to reduce the lead to three holes and bogeys at the 15th and 17th after some errant Farmer tee-shots took the match to the final green.
Barr’s birdie at the final hole took the match into sudden death and just when it looked like his comeback was complete, Farmer’s sand save banked a memorable D M Hall Scottish mid-amateur championship victory.
It was Farmer's second 19th-hole win of the day. He had to go to an extra hole to take the measure of defending champion Ross Coull (Edzell) in the morning semi-finals.
At the presentation, D M Hall partner Chris Simpson paid tribute to both players:
“We’ve had some fantastic golf at Royal Burgess over the weekend and credit to both finalists for a great match. It was fitting that it came down to Andrew and Nicky today, having led the qualifiers on Saturday.”
“D M Hall is delighted to support the SGU in what is our ninth year of sponsorship of this event and thank our friends at Royal Burgess for being such great hosts this weekend.”
Picture above of Andrew Farmer with the trophy is by courtesy of Rob Eyton-Jones.