Scottish Amateur Championship

Kiwi Liam throws an ace and a holed 9-iron at

unlucky Rory Smith from Dalmahoy

SCOTTISH GOLF NEWS RELEASE

 By ED HODGE

Have you heard the one about the New Zealander, playing out of Carnoustie, competing in his first Scottish men’s amateur championship who holed two shots en route to the third round at Prestwick? No. Then read on...

For Liam Balneaves, pictured right, it really was a day to remember on the famous Ayrshire links as he produced one of the stories of the week. While more fancied players continued their progress, the scratch handicapper composed a remarkable round to beat Rory Smith from Dalmahoy 4 and 3.

The 29-year-old hails from Invercargill but has been living in Scotland for the last four years, with his mum and dad both born here. Working out of the famous Auchterlonie's golf shop in St Andrews, he has kept his eye in on the golf course, ahead of returning to his native New Zealand next month.

That was never truer than at a rainy Prestwick where he produced the third hole-in-one of his golfing life at the second hole with a well-struck 8-iron, before holing from 145 yards with a 9-iron for an eagle at the 12^th. His opponent, Smith, probably didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

 “I felt sorry for Rory, I did,” admitted Balneaves. “It was a crazy day, I’ve never had anything like it in golf. I’m hitting it really well. I love the course, and it’s fun for match-play.”

He then joked: “Our weather back home is similar to here, so I’m comfortable in wind and rain!”

Elsewhere, top-ranked players also handled the conditions. There were comfortable early second-round victories for favourites Craig Howie (Peebles) and Sandy Scott (Nairn), who have now set up a mouthwatering meeting in the opening match of the last-32.

Howie, a former Scottish boys champion, has one goal in mind this week – simply to win. “I played pretty solid, didn’t make too many mistakes,” he said. “I’m loving the course, it’s quirky, but it really tests your ball striking.

“I want to win as the GB and I Walker Cup team is a target this year, but to start thinking about the Walker Cup while I’m out on the course is probably the worst thing I can do so I’m just trying to take it game by game.”

Craig’s younger brother, Darren, was also a notable winner, taking out fellow Scotland international Rory Franssen from Inverness with a 3 and 2 triumph.

Kirkhill’s Craig Ross continued his progress, as did Ryan Lumsden from Royal Wimbledon, who represented Scotland in the recent European Amateur Team Championship.

Another ex-Scottish boys’ champion, Carnoustie’s Will Porter, also showed his liking for match-play once more. The 19-year-old, who is working with coach Fraser Mann, defeated Lewis Irvine by one hole and said:

 “It’s a long week, so we’ll see what happens. I actually try to treat it as stroke-play and enjoy it. I l have memories of my win in 2015 in the Boys at Dunbar so hopefully that inspires me.”

While Walker Cup captain Craig Watson from East Renfrewshire bowed out, losing 3 and 2 to young Calvin Cheyne from Newmachar, another intriguing story could unfold as Australia-based Scot Robbie Morrison, who plays out of Royal Perth, progressed after beating Brendan McKenna (Pollok) 4 and 3.

 

FIRST ROUND RESULTS
S Roger (Cruden Bay) bt N McConnachie (Balmore) 2 holes.
G Telfer (Prestwick St Cuthbert) bt J Rogers (Rockliffe Hall) 5 and 3.
M Napier (Turnhouse) bt J Haggarty (Loudoun Gowf) 1 hole
N Gold (Bonnyton) bt R Gordon (Alford) 1 hole.
 C Low (Tantallon) bt S Manning (Pollok) 5 and 3.
S Brown (Prestwick St Cuthbert) bt A Thomson (Lanark) 5 and 4.
A Murray (Troon Welbeck) bt M Brodie (Alyth) 5 and 4.
D Anderson (Lochwinnoch) bt C Telfer (Prestwick St Cuthbert) 2 and 1.
P Gault (Haggs Castle) bt G Lawrie (Prestwick) 5 and 4

SECOND-ROUND
S Scott (Nairn) bt E McBride (Lenzie) 4 and 3.
C Howie (Peebles) bt C McGuigan (Comrie) 6 and 4.
J Wright (Forres) bt H Gorn (Aberdour) at 20th.
W Porter (Carnoustie) bt L Irvine (Kirkhill) 1 hole.
S Locke (Banchory) bt D McNeill (Powfoot) 19th.
M Smyth (Royal Troon) bt N Blyth (Germany) 4 and 3.
J Wilson (Balmore) bt B McLeod (Musselburgh) 4 and 2.
M Watt (Inverallochy) bt C Gaittens (Fortrose and Rosemarkie) 3 and 2.
B Bannerman (Blairgowrie) bt E Wood (Crow Wood) at 20th.
N H M Beattie (St Andrews) bt E McIntosh (Tiurnhouse) 4 and 3.
S Stewart (Clydebank and Dist) bt A Thurlow (Murrayfield) 3 and 2.
M Clark (Kilmacolm) bt S Buchanan (Prestwick St Nicholas) 4 and 2.
A McDougall (Elderslie) bt E Walker (Kilmarnock Barassie) at 21st.
 C L Cheyne (Newmachar) bt C R Watson (East Renfrewshire) 3 and 2.
 A R Ni (Murrayfield) bt J McMorris (East Kilbride) 3 and 2.
G Wishart (Lundin) bt S Blair (Royal Musselburgh) 4 and 3.
 S Easton (Irvine) bt L Breslin (Fereneze) 5 and 4.
 B Caldow (Kilmarnock Barassie) bt J Johnston (Ayr Belleisle) 1 hole.
 B Henderson (Deeside) bt C Edgar (Elderslie) at 22nd
D Howie (Peebles) bt R Franssen (Inverness) 3 and 2.
 L Balneaves (Carnoustie) bt R J Smith (Dalmahoy) 4 and 3.
 C Ross (Kirkhill) bt M Hislop (Glenbervie) 4 and 3.
 R Morrison (Australia) bt  B McKenna (Pollok) 4 and 3.

R Lumsden (Royal Wimbledon) bt Roger 5 and 4
T White (Kinross) bt Telfer at 21st
G Burns (Williamwood) bt Napier 3 and 2.
E Bradley (Mount Ellen) bt Gold at 21st
J King (Glasgow) bt Low 3 and 2 
Brown bt K Godsman (Moray) 1 hole.
C Maclean (Balmore) bt Murray (Troon Welbeck) 1 hole.
F Davren (Williamwood) bt Anderson 1 hole.
C Fyfe (Cawder) bt Gault 4 and 3.

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