TOP THREE SEEDS STILL STANDING IN LAST 32 OF FAIRSTONE SCOTTISH AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
FROM THE SCOTTISH GOLF UNION WEBSITE
By ED HODGE
On a day when the Fairstone Scottish Amateur
Championship sprung up typical surprises, the top three seeds in the
initial 256-man field were all left standing.
Craigielaw’s
Grant Forrest, the defending champion, continued his comfortable
progress to round four, with Jack McDonald of Kilmarnock Barassie and
Glenbervie’s Graeme Robertson joining him late in the day after tough
tests. But, elsewhere, the seeds simply tumbled.
Most
impressively, part-time baker boy Greig Marchbank found all the
ingredients to dish up third-round success against the fourth seed,
Scott Borrowman.
Marchbank, 19, has failed to make a cut this season but has found his form over Blairgowrie’s Lansdowne layout.
Dollar’s
Borrowman helped Scotland reach the final of the European Men’s Team
Championship earlier this month, but he was on the end of a 7 and 5
defeat.
Ex-Scottish Boys Stroke Play
champion Marchbank, who works nightshift at his dad’s bakers in
Thornhill, said: “This year has not been great, but I’ve found my
confidence this week.
“I’ve just been
trying to get better and play more consistently. With helping my dad at
night, I sleep during the day and play golf later on – but he has given
me time off this week.”
Borrowman was one
of four seeds to fall yesterday, with James Ross, Daniel Young and
Blairgowrie member Bradley Neil also exiting.
Neil,
the Scottish Boys champion, lost four of the opening six holes to
fellow Scotland squad player Lawrence Allan (Alva) and was unable to
claw back the deficit, losing 4 and 3.
Neil,
17, said: “I could easily sit and mope around, but I’ve got to get over
this and prepare for the Europeans next week and then the Home
Internationals.”
But Allan, who recently
completed his first year at Southeastern Louisiana University, then lost
out to Royal Aberdeen’s Nick Macandrew, while Ross’s conqueror, Fraser
McKenna, was beaten by Mark Riddell of Baberton. Bradley’s brother,
Connor Neil, also lost out to end the five-strong Blairgowrie challenge
as early as round two.
While Forrest eased past Bathgate’s Simon Lockhart, there were far harder tests for McDonald and Robertson.
McDonald
hurt his right wrist escaping from under a tree at the 16th and was
visibly in pain as he came through at the 18th against Marc Owenson of
Longniddry.
“The wrist hasn’t swollen up
so, touch wood, I’m okay,” said McDonald, who faces past
quarter-finalist Conor O’Neil of Pollok in round four. “I’ve had tight
matches so far, but at least I’ve been under pressure.”
Robertson,
meanwhile, staged brilliant late comebacks in both his ties yesterday
to oust Steven Hume of Craigie Hill and Bothwell Castle’s Colin Baird.
The Glenbervie man birdied 15, 16 and 17 in the Hume game, before
reaching the last-32 thanks to a holed bunker shot for an eagle 3 at the
long 17th against Baird.
The
fourth-round has now thrown up some intriguing ties, with James White of
Lundin notably meeting fellow SGU Men’s Performance Squad player
Robertson.
White played a gruelling 42
holes today, going to the 24th to finally dispatch Keith Shanks of Golf
House, Elie, before coming back from four down after five to beat Murray
Naysmith (Marriot Dalmahoy).
Kilmacolm’s
Matt Clark, who ended the run of Craig Lawrie, also has an exciting
tie, on paper, against Scottish Schools champion Connor Syme.
Clark
said: “Connor is not someone I’m familiar with, but I hear he is a
talented player with loads of ability, so it’s going to be a tough
match. I’ve putted well, but nothing has dropped so I’m due some.”
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IN THE ROUND OF THE LAST THIRTY-TWO
Labels: Amateur Men
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