28/07/10
Fourth and sixth seeds Kris Nicol and Philip McLean made early exits from the Allied Surveyors Scottish Amateur Championship with a combination of young and old taking their scalps this afternoon at Gullane.
McLean, the current SGU Order of Merit leader, was ousted as a result of a fantastic performance by Elderslie youngster Alasdair McDougall, with the 15-year-old winning 2&1. McLean paid tribute to his younger opponent, the youngest player in the field, saying:
“All credit to Alasdair who played superbly today. He holed some great putts at crucial times and hit some big shots when it mattered. He’s a talented young player and deserved his win. I’m disappointed not to get a better run in the championship again but it wasn't to be.”
Royal Troon club champion Paul Moultrie knocked out number four seed Nicol with a hard fought one hole win. The 45-year-old Ayrshireman was four up on the Lytham Trophy runner-up but the North East man clawed back three holes on the inward nine. Nicol needed to hole a 20-foot birdie putt on the last to force extra holes after Moultrie’s par, but his putt slid just past to hand Maultrie the victory.
Kingsnowe’s Allyn Dick continued his excellent progress with a 7&6 thumping of Boys Order of Merit leader Simon Fairburn, while number one seed James Byrne – in the same quarter of the draw as Dick – marched on with an impressive 4&3 win over Craigielaw’s Shaun Deegan.
Deegan’s club-mate Myles Cunningham faired better with a 2&1 win over Jamie Arthur to book a spot in the fourth round, but Grant Forrest’s dream of a boys and men's match play double is over after he lost 2&1 to Ayr Belleisle’s Keith Hamilton.
Former Scottish Boys Champion Michael Stewart moved up a gear with a 5&3 win over Kyle McClung, firing seven birdies in his fifteen holes, to set up a fourth round clash with Kyle Godsman (Hopeman). The 20-year-old from Troon Welbeck was delighted with his performance, admitting:
“That’s the best I’ve played for a while to be seven under for fifteen holes was really pleasing. I hit the ball great and holed some good putts. I’ve got some good momentum going and I’ll get some rest tonight and look forward to tomorrow.”
Stewart’s former East Tennessee University team-mate Jordan Findlay is also through to round four after a comfortable 3&2 win over David Millar (Duddingston), while Ed Wood won the battle of Crow Wood after he defeated club-mate Robert Jenkins with by a convincing 5&4 margin.