CHRIS ROBB TOP SCOTTISH QUALIFIER
NINE SCOTS MAKE IT THROUGH TO
MATCH-PLAY AT ROYAL PORTRUSH
England’s Daniel Brown led the qualifiers after the second stroke-play round of the Amateur Championship today.
There are nine Scots through to the match-play stages at Royal Portrush:
Chris Robb (pictured left) (Meldrum House), Liam Johnston (Dumfries and Co), Grant Forrest (Craigielaw), James Ross (Royal Burgess), Connor Syme (Dumfries and Co), Calum Hill (Tantallon), Bradley Neil (Blairgowrie), Jack McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie) and Jamie Savage (Cawder).
And the 2013 Irish champion Cormac Sharvin (Ardglass) is a Stirling University student.
Top seed Daniel Brown made history in 2012 when he became the youngest ever Yorkshire amateur champion and his second-round, 4-under-par 67 at Portstewart gave him an 8-under-par total of 133, the second lowest aggregate total since qualifying was introduced to the Amateur Championship in 1983.
He was one shot outside the record low 132 total of David Horsey in 2007.
“It would be massive if I were to win this and play in The Open Championship, but I’ll try my best not to think about that,” Brown said.
The 27-year-old feels at home on Royal Portrush, having played in the North of Ireland amateur championship on several occasions. Bridges qualified last year too, but lost to Paratore in the third round.
“I had great rhythm today,” Bridges said. “I knew when I got on the range that my game was good. I felt really confident. I brought a bit of form with me this week after reaching the semi-finals of the Irish close championship last week.”
Palmer Cup player Brandon Hagy, the world number 22, is one of two Americans through to the match play rounds along with Myles Lewis. 23-year-old Hagy finished joint sixth leading qualifier after a 139 total.
Hagy, who has just graduated from the University of California after three wins in his final college season, is playing links golf for the first time. The highlight of his second round came at Royal Portrush’s 211-yard, par-3, 14th hole, known as Calamity, when he hit a 5-iron to six feet and holed the birdie putt.
Belgium’s Thomas Detry (12), Mario Galiano (13) of Spain and Scotland’s Grant Forrest (17) take their place in the draw. Forrest arrives in Northern Ireland fresh from winning the St Andrews Links Trophy in his last start.
Labels: Amateur Men