Connor Syme had to battle all the way in the second round of the Scottish Amateur Championship at Royal Aberdeen but is into today’s third round with a potential crunch match against former champion Barry Hume looming.
The Drumoig and Scotland star hasn’t been blessed with the easiest of draws at Balgownie with Lawrence Allan, a player on the fringes of the international set up who reached the last 32 in the Amateur at Royal Porthcawl, his first dangerous opponent in yesterday’s second round.
In the end Syme managed to keep his nose in front to close out the match on the final green and he now meets Robert Watson of Muckhart in today’s third round.
Beyond that is a possible meeting with Hume, the 2001 Scottish champion who has returned to elite amateur golf with the Welsh Open title this season and winning back his international place.
Hume made short work of Bothwell Castle’s Colin Baird yesterday and Kieran Cantley – who ended the hopes of Paul Lawrie’s younger son Michael in the second round – stand in his way in today’s third round.
It wasn’t an easy passage for the other favourite Robert MacIntyre yesterday in his first round match despite racing to a four-up lead after seven holes against Christopher Curran (Hartburn).
In the end it needed a fine bunker shot at the 18th by the defending champion to win the last hole and secure a two-hole victory. MacIntyre will have two matches today as the bottom half of the draw catches up.
There’s plenty of experience and youth left in the draw with cap Matt Clark joining fellow 34-year-old Hume in the second round while 2014 runner-up Graeme Robertson, looking for a Scotland recall for the Home Internationals, also came through.
On the youth side Scottish cap Sandy Scott was a big winner over Scott Carmichael while there were also wins for Boy’s champion Eric McIntosh, Scottish cap Calum Fyfe and Blairgowrie’s Connor Neil, the elder brother of former Amateur champion Bradley.
