SCHOOLBOYS CHAMPION SYME IN LAST EIGHT AT ST ANDREWS

Scottish schoolboys champion Connor Syme, son of the Dumfries and County GC professional, won twice today to reach the quarter-finals of the St Andrews boys' open tournament over the Eden Course. Syme was 28th of the 32 qualifiers for the match-play stages but he settled to show better form. Murray Naysmith (Marriott Dalmahoy) and Ross Dallas, son of Kirriemuir club pro Karyn Dallas, the Nos 2 and 3 seeds, were eliminated. Top qualifier Johnathan Noble (Delamere Forrest) is still there. Eden Course MERCHANTS CUP First round - J Noble (Delamere Forest) bt M McInulty (Glenbervie) 6 and 5, K Yule (Goswick) bt C Farrell (Cardross) 3 and 2, R Kemsley (Balmore) bt W Kerr (Craigielaw) 4 and 3, D Sutton (Walsall) bt H Woolfall (Hessle) 3 and 2, A Davidson (Charleton) bt A Fortune (Kelso) 4 and 3, L Sutton bt J Allan (Chelmsford) 2 and 1, C Syme (Dumfries and Co) bt J Douglas (Aberdour) 2 and 1, T Godfrey (Frilford heath) bt B Bannerman (Strathmore) 5 and 4. M Naysmith (Marriott Dalmahoy) bt G Forrester (Lundin) 3 and 1, N McMullen (Lochgelly)  R Thompson (Boldon) 3 and 2, L Tomlinson (West Lancs) bt R Robertson (Ranfurly Castle) 2 holes, S Irving (Falkirk) bt G Duncan (Windyhill) 3 and 2, B Carnegie (Dunblane New) bt R Dallas (Kirriemuir) 4 and 2, B David (Colchester) bt T Hein (Germany) 4 and 3, J Hogg (The Duke's) bt R Millar (Whitekirk) 3 and 1, A Loch (Pumpherston) bt C Anderson (Sandyhills) 3 and 2. Second round - Noble bt Yule 3 and 2, D Sutton bt Kemsley 2 and 1, L Sutton bt Davidson at 21st, Sume bt Godfrey 4 and 2, McMullen bt Naysmith 1 hole, Tomlinson bt Irving 6 and 5, Carnegie bt David 2 and 1, Hogg bt Loch 2 holes. MURRAY MITCHELL TROPHY (Handicap) First round - D Illingsworth (Formby) (6) bt L Parker (Notts) (5) 3 and 1, R McKinnon (Inchmarlo) (4) bt S Gillies (Gullane) (5) 3 and 2, B Callaghan (Clydebank and Dist) (5) bt M Paterson (Bruntsfield Links) (4) 5 and 4, T Simmonds (Gullane) (4) bt C Campbell (St Andrews) (4) at 19th. I Ferguson (Drumpellier) (4) bt F Kane (Kirkhill) (5) 1 hole, J Schuermann (Germany) (3) bt G Swan (Gullane) (5) at 23rd, I Simpson (Tankersley Park) (5) bt M Sutton (Etchinghill) (5) 4 and 3, S Murray (Inchmarlo) (3) bt S McLeod (Kinross) (5). ends