Craig Howie leads eight Scots into match-play

FROM THE RandA WEBSITE
Scot Craig Howie and New Zealander Ryan Chisnall finished as the leading qualifiers after the second stroke-play round of the 120th Amateur Championship at Carnoustie and Panmure today.
After rounds over both courses, the cut fell at one-over-par 143 and 64 players qualified for the match-play stage which gets underway at Carnoustie tomorrow.
The 22-year-old Howie posted a five-under-par round of 67 at Carnoustie, which included an eagle at the par four 11th, to qualify for the match play stage for the first time. 
The Stirling University Sports Studies student is in fine form following a tied-third place finish at the recent St Andrews Links Trophy tournament
Chisnall managed three birdies on the front nine at Panmure on his way to a two-under-par 68 to finish tied for the lead. The 20-year-old won the South Island stroke-play championship in his native country last year.
Iceland’s Gudmundur Kristjansson  tied third on five-under-par 137 with Englishman Jack Yule and Germany’s Yannik Paul to qualify. Kristjansson, who is in his third year at East Tennessee State University, mixed five birdies with a single dropped shot at Panmure. Paul’s brother Jeremy also qualified after finishing on level par.
Craigielaw's Grant Forrest finished on three-under-par 139 alongside fellow Scot Craig Ross, who won a PGA EuroPro Tour event on home soil last year, and the 2014 Scottish boys and Scottish boys stroke play champion Ewen Ferguson, a former British boys' champion.
They were joined 139 by Sweden’s Marcus Kinhult, the Lytham Trophy champion, who, at third in the World Amateur Golf Ranking^TM, is the highest-ranked player in the field.
Spain’s Ivan Cantero shot a remarkable six-under-par round of 64 at Panmure, which featured an eagle, seven birdies and three bogeys, to finish on two-under-par 140 and secure his place in the match play stage of the Championship.
Key quotes:
Craig Howie
“This will be my first taste of the match play stage at this event and I will stick to the same game plan.  If I keep playing well and holing some putts it should be a good week.
“There is a lot at stake this week but I don’t think about that. I have done the hard work and made the cut so I’m just going to take one round at a time.”
Ryan Chisnall
“Match-play is one of those games where anyone can beat anyone so you have just got to stay on top of your game and hopefully everything goes well.”
Gudmundur Kristjansson
“I have played in this chmpionship  a couple of times before and never been close to the cut so it’s about time. I’m very glad that I qualified. I am playing well and I am optimistic for tomorrow.”
Yannik Paul
“My brother caddied for me which was really nice. He played Carnoustie yesterday and it was definitely a big help. On the first nine I struggled a bit with my ball striking but my putting speed was really good. I made some nice putts especially on the 18th. 
“It’s a new game now and a new start. I am looking forward to playing again here and we will see how it goes.”

The match play stage will get underway at 8.30am tomorrow.  For the draw, scoring and the full list of qualifiers visit championships.randa.org

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THE EIGHT SCOTS WHO HAVE QUALIFIED FOR THE MATCH-PLAY