Tee times and pairings for Rounds 1-2 of the 2016 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club:

Thursday

• 8:20 a.m.: Jim Herman, Steven Bowditch
• 8:31 a.m.: Trevor Immelman, Robert Streb, Derek Bard
• 8:42 a.m.: Larry Mize, Victor Dubuisson, Kevin Streelman
• 8:53 a.m.: Sandy Lyle, Bernd Wiesberger, Vaughn Taylor
• 9:04 a.m.: Webb Simpson, Chris Wood, Thongchai Jaidee
• 9:15 a.m.: Tom Watson, Charley Hoffman, Lee Westwood
• 9:26 a.m.: Zach Johnson, Rickie Fowler, Cheng Jin
• 9:37 a.m.: Louis Oosthuizen, Jason Dufner, Patrick Reed
• 9:48 a.m.: Jordan Spieth, Paul Casey, Bryson DeChambeau
• 9:59 a.m.: Justin Thomas, Emiliano Grillo, Dustin Johnson
• 10:21 a.m.: Vijay Singh, Hideki Matsuyama, Chris Kirk
• 10:32 a.m.: Harris English, Andy Sullivan, Kevin Na
• 10:43 a.m.: Phil Mickelson, Marc Leishman, Henrik Stenson
• 10:54 a.m.: Justin Rose, Jamie Donaldson, Daniel Berger
• 11:05 a.m.: Adam Scott, Kevin Kisner, Brooks Koepka
• 11:16 a.m.: Mike Weir, Cameron Smith, Sammy Schmitz
• 11:27 a.m.: Ian Woosnam, Troy Merritt, Byeong-Hun An
• 11:38 a.m.: Darren Clarke, Billy Horschel, Matthew Fitzpatrick
• 11:49 a.m.: Mark O’Meara, David Lingmerth, Paul Chaplet
• Noon: Keegan Bradley, Brandt Snedeker, Kiradech Aphibarnrat
• 12:22 p.m.: Charl Schwartzel, Davis Love III, Rafael Cabrera-Bello
• 12:33 p.m.: Danny Lee, Russell Knox, Smylie Kaufman
• 12:44 p.m.: Bubba Watson, Branden Grace, Ian Poulter
• 12:55 p.m.: Bernhard Langer, Hunter Mahan, Romain Langasque
• 1:06 p.m.: Jason Day, Matt Kuchar, Ernie Els
• 1:17 p.m.: Graeme McDowell, Fabian Gomez, Scott Piercy
• 1:28 p.m.: Jimmy Walker, Soren Kjeldsen, Anirban Lahiri
• 1:39 p.m.: Danny Willett, Sergio Garcia, Ryan Moore
• 1:50 p.m.: Angel Cabrera, Shane Lowry, J.B. Holmes
• 2:01 p.m.: Martin Kaymer, Bill Haas, Rory McIlroy

David Law's 67 catapults him into 

Sotogrande Masters lead

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Aberdeen's David  Law (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) shot easily the best round of the day - a five-under-par 67 - to catapult himself into a two-stroke lead on three-under 141 in the 54-hole MENA Tour event, the inaugural Sotogrande Masters, at La Reserva Golf Club on Spain's Costa del Sol.

Law, pictured, who improved by seven shots on his first round score, had six birdies - the second, short sixth, long seventh, 12th, long 15th and 17th in halves of 33 (three under) and 34 (two under).
His only bogey came at the par-4 13th.
Law said later: "It was windy here today which made scoring tough. I played great from tee to green and holed some putts, highlight being a 40 footer on 17. In a great position heading into tomorrow and really looking forward to getting out there again as this course is a fantastic test."
Frenchman Mathieu Decottignies-Lafon is in second place woith 
scores of 70 and 73 for 143. 
Grantown on Spey's Duncan Stewart, now based in Edinburgh and playing out of Turnhouse Golf Club, had a double bogey 6 at the 12th which cancelled out his early b irdies at the first and fifth.
He turned a 73 for level par 144 and is lying joint third with former Scottish open amateur stroke play champion Gavin Moynihan from Ireland.
Moynihan, joint first-round leader with a 70, added a 74 for 144.
Scots Paul Shields (79-158), Danny Kay (78-163) and amateur Ben Alexander (78-173) missed the cut which reduced a field of 114 players to the top 50 and ties for the final round.

SOTOGRANDE MASTERS
La Reserve Golf Club, Sotogrande
LEADING SECOND ROUND SCORES
Par 144 (2x72)
141 D Law (Sco) 74 67
143 M Decottignies-Lafon (Fra) 70 73
144 D Stewart (Sco) 71 73, G Moynihan (Ire) 70 74.
145 J Gallegos (Spa) 71 74, R Sanjust (Ita) 72 73
146 C Hanson (Eng) 73 73, Z Scotland (Eng) 76 70.

OTHER SCOTS' SCORES
152 R Kellett 77 75 (T37)

MISSED THE CUT 
158 P Shields 79 79 (T66)
163 D Kay 85 78 (T86)
173 B Alexander (am) 95 78 (T107)

 TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES

CLICK HERE

Ireland's Chloe Ryan wins women's championship at St Andrews

Stirling's Eggenberger beats Wilson at fifth 

hole of sudden death play-off at St Andrews

Chloe Ryan and Mathias Eggenberger,  winners of the women's and men's sections of the R and A Foundation Scholars tournament at St Andrews. Picture by courtesy of the R and A.

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Defending champion and Swiss international player Mathias Eggenberger (Stirling University) won a sudden-death, one-hour,  five-hole play-off against Andrew Wilson (Northumbria University) to win the coveted R and A Foundation Scholars' Tournament men's title
for the second year in a row at St Andrews today.
After 27 holes over the Eden Course and 18 holes today (Tuesday) over the Old Course, they had tied on five-under-par 172.
Eggenberger had scores of 67-34-71; Wilson 71-32-69.
Wilson had a disastrous double bogey 6 at the Road Hole 17 and needed a birdie 3 at the last to salvage a 69, after going out in 33, for 172.
Eggenberger birdie the 14th and 18th in his closing 71 (36-35).

The players matched each other for four holes of the play-off on the 1st and 18th holes before Eggenberger holed a 12 foot putt on the 1st green - the fifth extra hole -  to achieve a memorable win.

So Eggenberger, by this victory, is guaranteed a place in the Europe line-up to play the United States team in the Palmer Cup transatlantic students' contest at Formby Golf Club, Lancashire in June.
+  More about Mathias Eggenberger after the final totals below.

Ronan Mullarney from Maynooth University, Ireland finished third on 174, two behind the play-off participants with scores of 68-36-70.
Irish international Chloe Ryan (Dublin University) won the women's title and with it a place in a Ladies European Tour event. She scored 72-36-72 for a six-under-par total of 180.
Ryan, who had 10 birdies over the 45-hole tournament, including five in her closing four-under-par 72 on the Old Course, finished two ahead of Belfast's Jessica Ross (Queens University) who scored 77-37-68 for 182
Scotland's Eilidh Briggs (Stirling), second overnight, slipped back to a final placing of 183 with rounds of 75-35-73. She was on course to challenge for the lead when she birdied the second, fourth, eighth and ninth in 34 to the turn over the Old Course.
But Eilidh was one over par for the second nine with a bogey at the 11th in 39 shots to come home.
Scottish universities champion Gemma Batty (Stirling), one of the favourites for the Scholars' title tied for fourth place on 186 with Stirling team-mate and Irish international Sinead Sexton.


R and A FOUNDATION SCHOLARS' TOURNAMENT
Eden Course first 27 holes, Old Course last 18 holes.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
MEN
Par 177 
172 A Wilson (Northumbria) 71 32 69, M Eggenberger (Stirling) 67 34 71 (Eggenberger won play-off at fifth extra hole)
174 R Mullarney (Maynooth) 68 36 70.
175 J A Wilson (Stirling) 73 36 66, D Reidy (Sligo) 72 35 68, C Howie (Stirling) 70 33 72
176 D Hau (South Wales) 74 36 66, S Flanagan (Maynooth) 71 34 71, A Gleeson (UCD) 71 37 68, M Howard (Edinburgh) 71 35 70
178 L Michel (Australia) 75 35 68, T Beasley (St Andrews) 74 36 68
179 G Burns (St Andrews) 76 35 68, A Lowry (Maynooth) 73 36 69, S Grehan (Maynooth) 77 33 69, R Dawson (Maynooth) 72 40 67, G Leon (St Andrews) 72 33 74.
180 J Glenn (Durham 75 35 70.
182 C Edgar (Stirling) 75 36 71, K McCarron (Maynooth) 72 38 72.
184 K O'Connor (Loughborough) 73 38 73
185 M Bacon (Birmingham) 78 37 70.
186 C MacLean (Stirling) 76 36 74, J Sutherland (Queens) 80 38 68, E Smith (Maynooth) 80 37 69, J Rooney (Edge Hill) 74 39 73, J Shelley (Liverpool JM) 73 39 74.  

TO VIEW ALL THE MEN'S FINAL TOTALS

CLICK HERE

WOMEN
par 186
180 C Ryan (Dublin) 72 36 72
182 J Ross (Queens) 77 37 69
183 E Briggs (Stirling) 75 35 73
186 G Batty (Stirling) 77 40 69, S Sexton (Stirling) 78 39 69.
189 S Stone (Exeter) 77 39 73
191 B Davies (Myerscough) 78 35 78.
193 M Brain (St Andrews) 80 39 74
194 J Saxton (Stirling) 78 41 75,  A Herbaut (France) 78 37 79
196 B Morris (Cardiff) 78 41 77, C Goadby (Stirling) 80 38 78
197 T Mactaggart (Stirling) 77 40 80
199 M Lockett (Birmingham) 81 39 79
203 N Greville (Stirling) 80 40 83
218 H Holden (Sheffield) 89 45 84.


To view all the final totals 


CLICK HERE

MEET MATHIAS EGGENBERGER

 Mathias is 24 and will finish his Bsc (Hon) in ‚Business Management and Marketing‘ in May this year. He is finalizing his thesis next week, he hopes. And then he will see what he will do in golf. 
Mathias has a double citizenship. He is‚ Liechtensteiner‘ (due to his mother’s nationality) and Swiss through his father. The family live in Liechtenstein as dad has worked and lived there for more than 40 years. 
Mathias has his own website www.mathiaseggenberger.com

Scottish U18 boys' championship Day 2 report from Murcar Links

Top seed Sandy Scott's brother Calum

 (only 12)  makes it to Round 2

Rory Franssen from Inverness in action. Picture by Kenny Smith


By ED HODGE 
 Scottish Golf PR and Media Manager.
Big brother was watching but Calum Scott, the second-youngest player in the field, proved he could handle the attention as the 12-year-old produced one of the highlights on day two of the Scottish U18 boys’ championship at Murcar Links.
With Sandy Scott, 17, the top seed, continuing his progress to reach the third round at the North-east venue, his younger sibling made sure he enjoyed some family bragging rights of his own as Calum achieved his goal of booking his place in round two at such a young age.
Helped by regular tips from his brother over the Nairn links, diminutive Calum won the battle of the seven-handicappers to defeat Campbell Gibson from Blairgowrie 2 and 1.

View results from the Scottish boys championship

“I feel quite good, but I was quite nervous this morning,” said the youngster. “I came here to try and make the second round so I’m happy. I play with Sandy a lot at Nairn and he gives me tips. He is great at golf.”

Jamie Stewart began his week in good form

For his part in-form Scott, who went out in the afternoon and wasted little time in reaching round three with a 6 and 5 win over Aboyne’s Kyle Harker, he admitted it was more stressful time watching his wee brother.
“Calum potters about at Nairn with his little pals, but I will play and hit balls with him as well,” he said. “I was very nervous watching him play, I saw him for a few holes before my match. I was more nervous than I was playing (on Monday).”
On an improved weather day at Murcar, where the wind also picked up, the fancied players continued their progress. Inverness’ Rory Franssen (pictured top), the second seed, began his title tilt with a 4 and 2 success over Kilmarnock Barassie’s Ewan Milligan, son of past GB and I Walker Cup player, Jim.
It was Franssen’s first matchplay tie since he lost at the first hurdle in the South African Amateur Championship in February, having won the strokeplay event with rounds of 64 and 68. 
“I probably do prefer strokeplay,” said Rory. “It’s nice to be classed as the second seed and I can hopefully fulfil it.”
Franssen is in the same half of the draw as Calum Ross, the American who qualifies for the event through his father, Bob, who hails from Glasgow and has accompanied him to Scotland. Coinciding with Spring Break in the US, he is enjoying the links… and weather challenge. “I didn’t realise Aberdeen was so far north in Scotland,” laughed Ross, 15, who stays near Atlanta. 
The colder climate didn’t affect Ross, though, winning comfortably 7 and 5 against John McGowan from Shotts.
Meantime, Jamie Stewart, the third seed from Old Course Ranfurly, also reached round two after his 5 and 4 victory over Carluke’s Graeme Greer.
Like top seed Scott, he has not been past the third round but the Global Golf Post Scottish Boys’ Under-16 Open winner last year is in optimistic mood.
“I’m hoping to go as far as I can,” said the 16-year-old, who plays off plus two. “I’m taking it a game at a time really, I’ve not actually looked at the draw. Graeme actually messaged me so that’s how I knew I was playing him.

The busy driving range at Murcar this week

“Graeme is a good player, a scratch golfer, so I had to play well and my putting was good. It wasn’t a great ball striking day but I got the job done.”
Also reaching round two was Callan Harkness (Lochmaben), who ended the hopes of Bothwell Castle’s Scott MacPherson, the grandson of renowned Scottish football commentator, Archie.
Late in the day, as round two got underway, No 1 seed Scott was joined in the third round by Michael Lawrie (Deeside), again watched by his dad, Paul, the former Open champion. 
But there was a shock as the fourth seed, Darren Howie, the 2015 Paul Lawrie Scottish schoolboys title-winnerfrom Peebles, lost on the last to Craig Leith from Royal Aberdeen.
The biggest win of the event so far then came from Tom MacKenzie after his 9 and 8 thumping of Michael Walker (Hazlehead), setting up a clash with Lawrie in round three.
Images: Kenny Smith


TO VIEW ALL THE RESULTS SO FAR AND KEEP UPTODATE WITH WEDNESDAY'S TIES

CLICK HERE

y

 Spectators' lunch at Masters won't break

 the bank!

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

Walking up and down the hills of Augusta National can certainly work up an appetite. Luckily for the ‘patrons’ this week, taking a break for lunch won’t break the bank.

One of the many traditions at the Masters is the low priced, own-brand concession stands. Stop at one of the dozens of them around the property and you’ll be greeted by none of your usual brands but plenty of southern hospitality.

A typical lunch at the Masters? Total price? $6.00.


Yup, for the price of one premium golf ball you can fill up with enough food and drink to power you up the hill at the par five eighth or the long walk down to Amen Corner.

Some of the other items available at the concessions.

Packet of chips $1.00
Breakfast sausage biscuit $1.50
Pimento cheese sandwich $1.50
Fresh iced tea $1.50
Fresh fruit salad $2.00
Domestic beer $4.00

For many fans, the money saved at the concession stands equates to more money to spend at the Masters shop. And there’s plenty to spend it on there. Take a look inside the shop.

GLENMORANGIE ANNOUNCE JUSTIN ROSE AS NEW

GLOBAL GOLF AMBASSADOR

 

NEWS RELEASE

Glenmorangie is proud to announce Justin Rose as the brand’s new 

golf ambassador.  

 

Justin, who came to prominence as a 17 year-old amateur with a fourth-place showing at the 1998  Open, is considered the perfect golfer to help the single malt whisky celebrate its partnership with The Open Championship.

The 35 year-old superstar embodies Glenmorangie’s ethos of going to untold lengths to create its whisky, borne out of his selfless dedication to performing on golf’s biggest stages. 

Glenmorangie, the Spirit of The Open, will feature Justin as the face of their campaign. The star golfer will appear in a series of brand films toasting a shared belief in the uncompromising pursuit of excellence, meticulous preparation and attention to detail.  

Justin’s role will be to share and celebrate Glenmorangie’s ethos around the world with his new partnership with the brand including scheduled appearances in the US and the UK during 2016. 

Justin has firmly cemented himself among golf’s elite competitors with 19 worldwide titles, including seven wins on the PGA Tour and eight victories on the European Tour. Justin’s march to victory at the 2013 U.S. Open has been the Englishman’s greatest achievement to date, becoming the first Brit in 40 years to emerge victorious at one of golf’s toughest challenges.  

However, it was Justin’s remarkable finish at Royal Birkdale, holing his 50-yard approach from the rough on the 72^nd hole that made him part of Open Championship folklore and a fitting partner to lead Glenmorangie’s Open Championship association.  

Marc Hoellinger, President and CEO of The Glenmorangie Company, said:  “We are delighted to introduce Justin as an ambassador for Glenmorangie, The Spirit of The Open.  

“Justin has inextricable links with The Open Championship, an event we have proudly partnered with for a number of years. A proven winner, Justin leaves no stone unturned in his quest to be the best. 

“At Glenmorangie, it is a belief in being unnecessarily well made that drives the creation of our award winning whisky. There is a great deal of similarities in both our approaches and what we are trying to do in our respective fields”. 

Justin Rose, currently ranked 7^th in the official world golf rankings, said: “It is an honour to forge a partnership with such an iconic malt whisky and I am excited to be part of Glenmorangie’s plans to celebrate The Open Championship and what it stands for.  

“Glenmorangie is a whisky I enjoy, and I have an appreciation of the history, traditions and years of experience and dedication that have gone into crafting its unique flavour and finish”.

Just for a change, Trump shows the likeable side of his character

Donald Trump’s support leads Jim Herman’s middling golf career to Masters

Jim Herman reacts after his par putt on the 18th green to win the Houston Open golf tournament, Sunday, April 3, 2016, in Humble, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)

STORY AND PICTURE, COURTESY OF THE WASHINGTON POST

By Jim Litke - Associated Press

AUGUSTA, Georgia. — An invitation to the Masters might be only the second-best offer Jim Herman got this week.
Less than 24 hours after winning the Houston Open, Donald Trump joked that Herman, a former assistant golf pro at one of his resorts, might be considered for a cabinet-level post in a new Trump administration.
“That’s a character — the kind of character — you want. Somebody who can handle the pressure,” Trump said on Monday between campaign stops in Wisconsin.

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The Republican presidential front-runner was laughing, but dead serious when he added, “I’m very happy and proud to have helped him out.”
The self-taught scrambler who wouldn’t give up the game and the mogul with a love for golf first came together in 2006. Mickie Gallagher, a mutual friend and the head pro at Trump National in Bedminster, New Jersey, hired Herman as one of his assistants. Soon enough, Herman got a call that the boss was headed over to play and wanted him to join the foursome.
“I don’t know what it is; when I play with him, I usually play pretty well,” Herman recalled on Monday. “But yeah, he’s been a big supporter of mine. He helped me early on in my years financially and maybe just a little shot in the arm of confidence.”
Trump backed up his claim by staking the then-struggling 28-year-old to enough money to take a shot on the Web.com Tour.
“I play with many people. Lots of them think they’re going to be pros, but you and I know that’s not usually the case,” Trump said.
“He’d shoot really low rounds when we played and … I’d ask him after a round, ‘Where are you going after this?’ and he’d say ‘I’m giving somebody a lesson,’” Trump added. “I’d say, ‘You got to give [pro golf] a shot. You got a real chance to be something special.’”
Herman had tried for the first time in 2000, but he struggled on the Florida mini-tours and moved into the golf shop in 2004 in search of a steady paycheck.
With Trump’s stake, Herman finally advanced far enough through Q-School to earn a Web.com Tour spot in 2008. He played 114 events and finally won one. He moved up to the PGA Tour in 2011, but was 0-for-106 in tournaments until Sunday. On the 72nd green at the Shell Open, Herman, 38, needed to two-putt from 20-feet for a win, a two-year tour exemption and the Masters invitation.
His former boss was in Wisconsin when he learned Herman was in contention. He immediately ordered the channel changed to NBC.
“I mean, those guys aren’t pushovers, so it was great see him going down the last fairway,” Trump recalled. “That last drive, the last three shots, that wasn’t an easy two-putt, it’s up on a hill and something like 20 feet.
“But he did great,” he added. “I’m not surprised.”
Herman, despite being ranked 191st in the world at that moment, was surprisingly calm when he won.

It turned the rest of his schedule topsy-turvy.
“I was planning on watching. I really enjoy watching the Masters,” he joked. “I’ve been a fan of golf my whole life, dreaming of playing here and now it’s happened. I was planning on flying home last night, and I was going to get home at midnight, see my kids this morning, take my daughter to school and that’s obviously changed.”
With most of the rest of his family scrambling to get to Augusta National ahead of Thursday’s start, Herman has plenty of planning and practicing to do before teeing off. He has only played the course once: His agent set up a round with a member in November and he carded a 1-under-par 71.
One thing that won’t change, though, are the ball markers that Herman uses on the greens. Steven Wyder, a friend and high school teacher back in Florida, sends Herman a number of presidential dollar gold coins to use, depending on where he’s playing.
“I’m expecting we’ll probably have President Eisenhower this week,” Herman chuckled, understanding Eisenhower was a member.
Any chance he’ll return next year with a Trump marker?
“He’s doing great in what he’s doing now,” Herman said, “and we’ll see how far that goes.”

Rio 2016: Olympic golf winners to get majors exemptions

The exemption would be unlikely to benefit world-leading players such as 2015 Masters champion Jordan Spieth

Venue: Augusta National Dates: 7 April to 10 April

Coverage: Live on BBC TV, Red Button, Connected TVs and online from Saturday. Listen live on Radio 5 live or 5 live sports extra and follow live text on the BBC Sport website from Thursday. Full details

Gold medal-winning golfers at the Olympic Games in Rio will win exemptions to next year's majors.

It means the men's winner this summer will win entry to next year's Masters, US Open, Open and US PGA Championship.
Exemptions for the 2016 Evian Championship and next year's ANA Inspiration, Women's PGA Championship, US Women's Open and Women's Open will be given to the winning woman.
Golf is returning to the Olympics in August for the first time in 112 years.

• Your complete guide to the 2016 Masters
• Masters on the BBC - coverage details

Masters chairman Billy Payne told a news conference at Augusta National: "We believe our game's visibility will be dramatically elevated by the global platform that only the Olympics offer.
"From this greater visibility, we believe will evolve greater participation in our game, and it will be a certain beneficiary."
While some of the world's top players would already hold exemptions to the majors, Pete Bevacqua, the chief executive officer of the PGA of America, said: "From our perspective, whether it's someone that is in the top rankings of the world or someone who is that Cinderella story, in both ways it's a positive."
Exemptions for major tournaments can be achieved in a variety of ways, such as being a previous winner, while world rankings can also play a part.

Amateur or pro ... why not play in a pro-am at Palmares on the Algarve:?

Scottish boys' championship: Day 1 

Summary and pictures from misty Murcar

 

 

 Images: Kenny Smith

By ED HODGE 
 Scottish Golf PR and Media Manager.

Top seed Sandy Scott and local hopeful Michael Lawrie drew on their battling qualities to survive scares and be among the early winners after the first round of the Scottish Boys’ Amateur Championship at Murcar Links.
On a damp, grey day in the north east, there were still many bright moments as the nation’s leading young male players began their quest for glory in the Under-18 flagship event.
Scott, along with Inverness’ Rory Franssen, is being hotly tipped for success over the venue that hosted Paul Lawrie’s European Tour matchplay event last season – but the 17-year-old had to dig deep to maintain a favourites’ tag.
Out early in the third game of the day, reigning Boys Order of Merit champion Scott had built a two-hole lead by the 14^th, only to then knock his drive out of bounds at the next and give hope to his opponent, Fifer Greg Cessford from Balbirnie Park.

 View results from the Scottish Boys

Conditions were difficult on day one

However, Nairn’s Scott kept his cool to triumph 2&1 as the Scotland Boys’ international seeks to add the matchplay crown to the strokeplay title he won last summer.
“Match play can be pot luck so I will take each match as it comes,” admitted Scott, who heads for college at Texas in the summer. “I guess, being the first seed, there is a little expectation, but I’m just looking to beat the guy in front of me. My previous best in the Scottish Boys is the third round from my four appearances, so I’m looking to improve.”
Behind Scott, the Lawrie-Thomas Boyd match up drew a healthy crowd, with two famous names among them. Proud dads, former Open champion Paul, and ex-Scotland football defender, Tom, watched on as their offspring put them through the mill.
There was never more than a hole in it, as four-handicapper Boyd – a useful footballer himself who was on the books of Hamilton – gave local Deeside lad Lawrie a real fright when he lead by a hole going up the last.
Scratch player Lawrie, though, showed incredible resolve to strike a wedge to three feet at the last and then conjure another superb birdie at the 19^th to progress.
“It was nip and tuck, it’s never nice to lose on the first extra hole,” said Boyd Jnr, making his first appearance in a national championship. “My dad said to me ‘have fun and enjoy it’, and it was nice to play in front of an Open champion. It’s not often that happens.”

West Lothian’s Andrew Benson 

Tom Boyd, the 72-capped ex-Celtic and Motherwell player, added: “It was much more nerve wracking watching Thomas play, than playing in front of 60,000 at Celtic Park. It was very difficult, especially when you can’t coach or shout abuse, like I used to take!
“It was a great game, and it was good that Thomas showed his ability.  In the end, Michael’s quality came through, getting back-to-back birdies on 18 and 19.”
Lawrie Jnr, who played in his first Scottish Boys at Murcar in 2012, added: “Thomas is a really good player, who hit some nice shots and got it round well. I’d love to go past the quarter-finals that I reached last year (at Dunbar), and I’ve played Murcar many times, as a lot of junior north east golf has been played there.”
Two-time Ryder Cup man Paul added: “It’s not great walking round as a parent. It’s nerve wracking. I went through all this with (older son) Craig, and it doesn’t get any easier. When you are up against it, one down playing the last, and then finish birdie birdie to turn it round, that’s proper matchplay.”
Elsewhere, last year’s runner-up, Ross Callan from Bathgate, suffered a surprise defeat at the hands of Dunbar’s Connor Wilson, but seeds Darren Howie (Peebles), seeking to emulate his brother, Craig, the 2012 winner, and Matthew McCulloch (Portpatrick Dunskey) were among those to progress.
There were also some notable big wins, as Fintan McKenna, from the neighbouring Royal Aberdeen course, triumphed 7&6 against Shaun Wilson from Hazlehead, while Inverness’ Lewis Fraser thumped Logan Millar (Downfield) 8 and 7.