Day 2 Report: Scottish Boys’ Amateur Championship


Local knowledge pays off for Graham at


Blairgowrie


FROM CAMERON McLAY

Local knowledge has been a key factor for Gregor Graham (pictured) who clinched the top qualifying spot in the match-play section of this week's Scottish boys' amateur championship over the Blairgowrie Lansdowne course.

Graham, who has played at Blairgowrie since the age of eight, opened round two on his home course with a birdie which would set the tone for his bogey-free, five-under par round of 67.
Speaking to "Scottish Golf" following his round, Graham said:
 “I tried to make my life as easy as possible today and managed to do that by hitting a lot of greens in regulation and giving myself good birdie chances.
"It’s been amazing to play at my home course this week; the club have always been so supportive of me and being able to perform well wouldn’t be possible without everything they have done to help me develop.”
Looking ahead to the match-play stages, Graham added, “The aim for the next few days is to just take it match by match and see where that takes me. It would be nice to be in the final but it’s just about focusing on each game and performing well.”
Royal Aberdeen’s Liam Waldron jumped 12 places up the leaderboard after recording a second-round 69 on the Lansdowne course.
Waldron, who was one-over par at the turn, carded four birdies on the back nine to finish three-under par. Speaking to Scottish Golf after his second round, Waldron said
“The front nine was very up and down and I was struggling to get anything going but I started to roll the ball nicely on the greens in the back nine and I was able to make a few more birdies.”
Waldron was one of three Scottish Golf Performance Academy players who had the opportunity to play alongside Richie Ramsay in last week’s pro-am at the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open and he said the advice received from the European Tour star last week has helped him with his approach to this week’s event, adding:
“It was great to play with Richie last week and what he was saying about staying patient, knowing that your game will come, was definitely good advice for me to follow today.”
The boys' match-play ties get underway from 07.05am on Friday.
The Scottish girls’ amateur championship, with two stroke-play qualifying rounds, will also tee off at Blairgowrie on Friday.