GRANT FORREST, the top seed, admits there would be no better place to win his second Fairstone Scottish Amateur Championship title than Muirfield, after he moved menacingly into the last-32.
The local lad, attached to the Craigielaw club, eased past Bon Accord’s Barrie Edmond 3&2 to reach today’s fourth round, alongside a number of other in-form players.
Forrest won the crown at Royal Dornoch in 2012 and has built on that success in recent years, including reaching the final of The Amateur Championship last month and helping Scotland become European Team champions a matter of days ago.
At a venue he knows well, hosting the Scottish Amateur for the first time since 1968, Forrest hopes he can continue to fire and further boost his Walker Cup hopes.
“I always felt in control and played pretty solidly, hitting a lot of greens, although not really holing any putts,” said the 22-year-old, who got off to a flying start after three birdies in the opening five holes.
“You can’t spray it around here and get away with it. The guy who plays the best golf here is going to win it. Life is difficult from the rough.”
Asked if pleasant memories were flooding back after his victory three years ago, he said: “I took it one round at a time at Dornoch and then the next thing I knew I was in the final.
“Yeah, of course it would be nice to win another one here, and there would not be many better places to do it.”
Forrest is into round four alongside members of Scotland’s winning team in Sweden earlier this month, among them Drumoig’s Connor Syme, who came through a tough match against Scott-Thorn Robertson of Hazlehead at the 19th, and Glenbervie’s Graeme Robertson.
Robertson is something of a veteran of the event, making his eighth appearance, and reached last year’s final at Downfield, before losing out to Chris Robb.
After just three bogeys across his three rounds so far, he said: “My game has been good, and the more I stay in the event the sharper my game will get.”
The left-hander Robert MacIntyre, twice a national champion at Boys’ level in 2013, is also looking good, moving into round four without playing the final two holes yet this week.
MacIntyre’s draw has perhaps opened up for him after the surprise exit of seventh seed Craig Ross in the first round.
“I’m playing well and confident with my game,” said MacIntyre, who enjoyed a strong first season at McNeese State University in Louisiana.
“It suits my game out here and I’ m just going out and enjoying the challenge of a great golf course.
“It’s not often you are going to get the chance to play a few games here during one week, so why not enjoy it? I reached the last-16 of the Amateur at Carnoustie last month and I enjoy the one-on-one challenge. Ultimately, the way the course is set up, the best ball striker will win here.”
Forrest has set up a re-match against Williamwood’s George Burns, whom he beat last year en route to the quarter-finals.
St Andrews student Burns has only recently returned to playing after he was ruled out for three months with a stress fracture in his right foot.
Burns, who lost a ball at the 17th before two good blows up the last saw him home against Carnoustie’s Daniel Elder, said: “I played very well and feel as though I can beat him [Forrest] if I play well. I’ve beaten some of the top amateurs before.
“I’ve missed a lot of the season, but I’m just trying to get back playing well. I finished 11th in the Boyd Quaich at St Andrews last week and was in contention until the final round.”
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