Allied Surveyors Scottish Amateur Championship Day 2

James Byrne in action during his second-round victory over Scott Borrowman at Gullane today. Picture by Kenny Taylor.

Byrne edges past Borrowman 2 and 1 in second round

By ROSS DUNCAN
Scottish Golf Union Marketing and Sponsorship Manager
Top seed James Byrne, Boys Order of Merit leader Simon Fairburn and Newlands Trophy winner Allyn Dick were among the first players to reach the third round of the Allied Surveyors Scottish Amateur Championship at a sunny Gullane this afternoon.

In the match with top billing among the East Lothian golf faithful, Byrne edged past former Scottish Youths Champion Scott Borrowman (Dollar) with a 2 and 1 win to set up a clash with Craigielaw’s Shaun Deegan, who was a 4 and 3 victor over Keith Anderson (Charleton).

Borderer Fairburn celebrated his call-up to the Scotland Boys Home Internationals side with comfortable 4 and 2 win over Kilsyth’s Thomas Morrison and will now face Kingsnowe’s Allyn Dick in the third round after the former double Mid-Amateur champion overcame Daniel Kay.
Scottish Boys Champion Grant Forrest continued his good progress in the match play with a 5 and 4 win over East Lothian rival Alexander Culverwell to book his third round spot, while Forrest’s Scotland boys team-mate Scott Gibson, who finished fifth in the Boys Stroke Play down the coast at Craigielaw last week, defeated Steven Robertson 3 and 2.
The number eight seed Greg Paterson is also safely though after a 5&3 win over Niall Lamond and fellow seed Kris Nicol joined him in the third round with a hard fought 2&1 win against Troon’s Paul Maultrie.
In the final quarter of the first round matches played this afternoon, Colville Park’s Ross Kellett, seeded two this week enjoyed a 4&2 win over former British boys finalist Fraser Fotheringham (Nairn Dunbar) while the 1991 champion Graham Lowson rolled back the years with a narrow one hole win against Archerfield’s Gregor Munro.
Another Craigielaw player Mark Hillson is also through to round two after his 2&1 win over Leven’s David Mitchell and the host club’s Martin Hopley won at the first extra hole in his match against Elgin’s Derek Ramsay.
Earlier winners on Day 2 included No 3 seed Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck). After trailing on the outward journey, he beat Brian Soutar (Leven Golfing Society) 4 and 3.

Defending champion David Law from Aberdeen started with a good 3 and 2 win over Craig Hamilton from New Zealand. The Hazlehead 19-year-old was one down at the turn but finished his match in style with a putt for a birdie 2 at the 16th.

Tain’s Munro Ferries and Darren Hulston (Hayston) achieved the longest match so far in the week-long championship. It went to the 23rd before the man from the Far North triumphed.

The tournament's first day and half had been devoid of any major form upset until ... Craigmillar Park Open winner Matthew Clark (Kilmacolm), seventh on the SGU Order of Merit went down by one hole to Thomas Sharkey from Helensburgh.

A reminder of the eight seeds named for the championship:

1 James Byrne, 2 Ross Kellett, 3 Michael Stewart, 4 Kris Nicol, 5 James White, 6 Philip McLean, 7 David Law, 8 Greg Paterson.

Click here for the Day 2 results from Gullane.