ON the same green where Phil Mickelson lifted the Claret Jug at Muirfield two years ago, another “leftie” had his moment at the renowned venue yesterday. After producing a quite stunning comeback, Robert MacIntyre claimed the Fairstone Scottish Amateur Championship, becoming the first left-hander in living memory to lift the title.
Two days before his 19th birthday, the Oban player, attached to the Glencruitten club, gave himself an early birthday present with a two-hole victory over Craigie Hill’s Daniel Young.
On a blustery day in East Lothian, MacIntyre’s bid looked set to be blown off course when he trailed to his fellow Scotland international by four holes at lunch in the 36-hole final.
Young, the reigning South African Amateur winner, showed his matchplay pedigree to carve an impressive lead.
But former Scottish Youths champion MacIntyre dug deep to produce a stunning comeback to level the contest at the 27th. Young edged ahead once more with an immediate birdie at the 28th, but MacIntyre went ahead for the first time in the match at the 31st.
MacIntyre’s bogey at the 32nd levelled the showdown again but the Argyll & Bute teenager went one up when Young missed from four feet at the 35th he and went on to clinch the win on the final green.
“It feels unbelievable,” said MacIntyre, who is coached by George Boswell, and emulates past Scottish Amateur winners such as Colin Montgomerie. “It’s my first victory at men’s level in Scotland so I guess it’s not a bad one to win. I believed I had a chance this week, coming in with a relaxed mindset.”
Young said: “I’ve said all week that two, three or four up is nothing round a course like this.”
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