Allied Surveyors Scottish Men's Amateur Championship

Buchan men McLean and Findlay

in good form on Day 1 at  Gullane

FROM THE SCOTTISH GOLF UNION WEBSITE
Order of Merit leader Philip McLean made light work of his opening match to storm through to the second round of the Allied Surveyors Scottish Amateur Championship at Gullane this afternoon.
The 23-year-old from Peterhead, pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency, whose best performance in the event was reaching the fourth round at Carnoustie two years ago, fired birdies at the third and fifth to move into a four hole lead after just five holes in his match against Martin Stein (Craigielaw). A further birdie followed at the par five 12th hole and a par at the next was good enough to seal a commanding 6 and 5 win ensuring a safe passage into the second round.
“The important thing was winning the opening match and I played some good, solid golf tee to green this afternoon. I’m pleased to get a win under my belt and hopefully I can build on it. The rough is really penal so it’s vital you keep the ball in play off the tee which I was able to do.” said McLean, runner-up in the St Andrews Links Trophy earlier this season.
Fellow North-east star Jordan Findlay maintained his good form of late, easing past George Robertson (Irvine Ravenspark) by a 6 and 4 margin. The former British boys' champion looked in confident mood on the East Lothian links and now faces another North-east player, Newburgh’s Grant Carnie, a quarter-finalos last year, for a place in the third round.
Lundin’s James White, the No 5 seed who won his first SGU Order of Merit event at the Sutherland Chalice earlier this month, fought back from two down after seven holes to record a 3 and 1 victory over Hayston’s Grant Minnes.
White, a final-year Business Studies student at the University of Stirling, took time to get going in his match but clinched a win on the 17th hole after his opponent lost a ball in the thick Gullane rough.
The 2006 Scottish boys' match-play champion admitted: “It took me a while to get going today but I managed to find some rhythm around the turn and played steady par golf after that. I’m feeling confident after my win at Dumfries and drove the ball well, which is vital round here. I reached the last sixteen in 2009 so hopefully I can progress even further this time around.”
Meanwhile, runner-up from two years ago Steven McEwan rediscovered some form to post a 5 and 3 win over Steven Carruthers, while Ayrshire team-mate Euan Brown (Barassie) dug deep to overcome Crieff’s Angus Weir with a win at the 21st hole. Brown reached the quarter-finals at Royal Troon 12 months ago.
Duddingston’s David Miller recovered from a hedge-cutting accident on Saturday to bounce back with a stunning 7 and 6 win over Pollok’s James Hendrick. The 32-year-old was rushed to hospital after slashing open his knee while trimming his garden hedge, but found form with another blade this afternoon:
“I only had 15 putts in the 12 holes of my round so I’m delighted with the way I played. Sitting in hospital for an hour and a half on Saturday, I didn’t think I’d be able to compete but the pain wasn’t too bad and you know what they said about an injured golfer!” joked the Carrick Neill Golf Insurance manager.

Click here for the rest of Monday's results.