Andy Collier’s football career may have been prematurely ended by his diabetes, but the 21-year-old now plans to make his mark in golf, starting at the Fairstone Scottish Amateur Championship.
His condition meant he had to cut short a promising goalkeeping career with East Fife and Airdrie.
However, a single-figure handicap from a young age, he’s now intent on getting down to scratch and maybe using his other sporting talent as a new career.
Making his debut in the Scottish Amateur at Downfield this week, the Glenrothes player defeated Scott Graham (Arbroath Artisans) at the first extra hole of their first-round tie.
“Basically, I couldn’t play any more after I was diagnosed, even though it might be possible if I managed it well enough,” said the one-handicap Balbirnie Park member, who has type 1 diabetes. “I was just permanently tired, always thirsty and needing to pee, not exactly ideal if you’re a keeper.
“There was a point where I had to drink a two-litre bottle of water every hour. It just became increasingly difficult to play.
“I’d always been keen on my golf and I thought I’d try that instead.
“Obviously after concentrating on football for so long I’m four to five years behind the guys in the international squads, but I’m trying to make up ground quickly.”
It’s quite a change for Andy, but he’s hugely positive about his future.
“In a strange kind of way, the diagnosis might have been a good thing for me, now that I’m managing the condition,” he said. “I’ve got my own business doing sports coaching for kids, and I’m really optimistic about my golf future.”
The quality of the field at Downfield in pristine condition this week is underlined with the number of seeded casualties already.
James Ross and Jamie Savage, two members of the six-man European Team championships side, tumbled out in the very first round.
Savage fell to Carnoustie’s Daniel Elder, despite being three up after four and Elder hitting the wrong ball to lose the first hole.
“I hardly hit a bad shot after that, making birdies on the fifth, sixth and 10th to really get myself back into it,” said the 25-year-old who is off +3.5 at Carnoustie.
“I kicked on from there and could see Jamie was getting a little agitated, so it was great to come through and win on the 16th.
“I’ve never been past the second round in the Scottish Amateur, so it’s going to be a big day.”
Bradley Neil continued his relatively seamless progress with a 7&6 second-round win over 16-year-old Joseph Bryce, while 2012 champion and second seed Grant Forrest got through a difficult match emotionally against clubmate and friend Greg Smail.
Forrest and Smail have been playing golf together since they were 13 and Smail caddied for his friend during the Open Championship at Muirfield last year, but Forrest’s class showed in a 4&3 victory.
Possibly the most impressive performance at Downfield yesterday was Barry Hume’s turning back the clock to his dominating performance in the 2001 championship.
Taking on Connor Neil elder brother of Bradley Hume won 6&5 with six birdies, continuing the form over the Dundee course that saw him 40-under for 139 holes in winning the title 13 years ago, when he was one of the most promising young players in Europe.
His professional career, despite twice qualifying for the Open, never quite took off, and the 32-year-old was reinstated as an amateur this winter.
“I just really enjoy this place,” he said. “I played in the Boys’ Stroke Play here in 1997 and finished third when I was just 15. I loved it then and obviously the same for the Scottish when I was a wee bit older.
“You have to have a good strategy and good execution here, you can’t get away with much. I just tried to focus on my own game if it’s good enough then great, if I’m outplayed then fine.”
Hume now runs a scholarship company for young footballers, so his opportunities to play are limited, but he feels he could contribute at the highest level of the amateur game.
“I don’t have the time to dedicate to being a full-time 72-hole tournament player like the young guys at the elite level, they’re basically semi-professional now,” he continued.
“I feel in matchplay it’s a little bit different, I’ve got a chance because not every shot counts.”
Playing for Scotland again is not on his radar, he says.
“I’m available for selection and I could go and do a job, could win points, but if I wouldn’t be considered, I’m fine with that,” he said.
“I would hate to take the place of a young player playing well.”
He added: “Bradley winning the Amateur is an amazing achievement. He gets the invites to Augusta and so on, but the accolade of being the British Amateur champion is what’s important.
“Jamie Savage won the Irish, Ewen (Ferguson) has the three boys titles at the same time, and Grant (Forrest) winning the Links Trophy, it’s fantastic.”