St Andrews student George Burns produced the result of the day to knock out top seed Grant Forrest and reach the quarter-finals of the Fairstone Scottish Amateur Championship.

With the third and fourth seeds, Jack McDonald and Connor Syme, also exiting yesterday, the famous title is certainly up for grabs at renowned Open venue Muirfield.

Indeed, only three seeds remain, namely two members of Scotland’s victorious European Amateur Team Championship side – Greig Marchbank and Graeme Robertson – and the South African Amateur champion Daniel Young. The 2001 Scottish Amateur winner, Barry Hume from Haggs Castle, also moved menacingly into the last eight after coming through a titanic battle with McDonald on the 18th.

Given the quality of the 256-man field – the handicap ballot was 0.2 – every player can have his day to shine, and Burns produced his best to book his place in the last eight for the first time.

The 18-year-old from Williamwood, only recently back playing after a foot injury, came through 4&3 against Craigielaw’s Forrest, a finalist in The Amateur Championship last month.

Former Scotland Boys cap Burns, who won the Stephen Gallacher Foundation Trophy and helped Great Britain & Ireland triumph in the Jacques Leglise Trophy last year, then continued his form to see off Leven Thistle’s David Mitchell by two holes.

“I had nothing to lose after coming back from injury, playing the first seed, with nothing expected of me. I didn’t really expect anything of myself,” admitted Burns, who now meets Robert MacIntyre in the quarters, a repeat of their Scottish Boys clash last season.

“But I birdied the first two holes and was three ahead after seven and was up the whole way. I didn’t play as well in the afternoon, but I managed to grind it out again and win on the last.

“There is no pressure on me. I’ll just see what happens and whatever I do now will be a bonus.”

Glencruiten’s MacIntyre, who reached the last-16 of The Amateur at Carnoustie, came through two tight games, against Ryan Lumsden and Craig Chalmers respectively.

Possibly under the radar this week given he was late into the season after finishing the first year of his college career in the US, the former Scottish Youths champion said: “I’m feeling quite relaxed and trying not to get too down if I hit a bad shot or worry about things. At the end of the day, given the quality of the course, the best player is probably going to win here.”

With the summer sun finally arriving over the famous links, a testing breeze made life difficult, but Marchbank certainly relished the task as he booked his spot in the quarter-finals after a 3&1 success over Moray’s Kyle Godsman.

Marchbank, who finished in style after striking a rescue club from 275 yards to four feet for a conceded eagle at the 17th, has built on his form at The Amateur, where he lost out to Forrest in the quarters, and his key semi-final singles victory over England that helped achieve European Team glory in Sweden.

Having celebrated his 21st birthday last week, he is chasing a late present here and said: “I played really good for the first four rounds, but it was tougher against Kyle and I was one down after eight. But I feel mentally stronger now, if I hit a bad shot I’m not as hard on myself.”

Marchbank’s opponent today is Angus Carrick, the recent University of Stirling graduate, who came through with a birdie at the 19th against Drumoig’s Syme.

Carrick, 21, played much of his University golf alongside McDonald at Stirling and such experiences, plus swing changes made towards the end of last year, appear to have helped him click.

The Douglas Park member is also chasing history this week, given his father, David, triumphed in the Scottish Amateur at Southerness in 1985.

“My mum, Alison, brought up my dad’s success after my first round victory,” admitted Angus. “It would be good to follow him 30 years on, but I’m just taking things a round at a time.

“I three-putted the 18th to go to extra holes against Connor, but managed to come back with a 7-iron to 15 feet for a birdie at the 1st.”

McDonald was bidding to emulate his grandfather, Gordon Cosh, the victor on the last staging of the event at Muirfield in 1968. But Hume was never behind as the former professional showed impressive accuracy to come through a tight contest by 1 hole.

“It was one of the best matches I’ve been involved in,” said Hume, who has set up a rematch of last year’s semi-final with Glenbervie’s Robertson. “It was also one of the most enjoyable. I always just felt in front, but Jack is a top player and I hope he makes the Walker Cup team.”

In the final quarter, Perthshire player Young held his nerve to win another tight match in the last-16, ending the interest of local lad Calum Hill at the 19th. Hill had earlier won the Tantallon battle after seeing off club-mate Christopher Low. Young now meets Stuart Robin of Prestwick St Cuthbert, the victor against Chris MacLean from Balmore.