BYRNE COMING HOME TO CHALLENGE NORTHERN OPEN RECORD

JAMES BYRNE COMING HOME IN BID 

TO  EQUAL ERIC BROWN HAT-TRICK

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Thailand-based James Byrne from Banchory will bid to follow in the famous footsteps of Eric Brown as the only three-in-a-row winner of the Northern Open championship at Murcar Links next month.
"I have entered the Northern Open and I will be flying home to the North-east from Thailand next week," said Byrne, a former Walker Cup player and British amateur championship runner-up, whose stellar amateur form has not transferred with him to the professional ranks.
But he has played well enough to win the Northern Open at Meldrum House in 2012 and 2013. This year's 72-hole tournament, organised by the PGA in Scotland, will be hosted by Murcar Links Golf Club from June 17-19.
With sponsorship from the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre, the Northern Open will have a £30,000 prize fund.
Ryder Cup man Eric Brown won the Northern Open five times - two fewer than his great rival, John Panton. 
The "Brown Bomber" triumphed in 1950 (Lossiemouth), 1953 (Cruden Bay), 1954 (Royal Dornoch), 1955 (Murcar), and 1957 (Nairn).
Rather fitting that Brown's Northern Open hat-trick was completed at Murcar where Byrne will be attempting to claim a share of the three-in-a-row record.
Another link with Murcar Golf Club is that it was the venue in 1933 for the first Northern Open.