It’s a long way from Murcar to the Masters but when things get cracking at Augusta today, Sandy Scott won’t have to look too far for inspiration.
Russell Knox, the Inverness exile who makes his debut in the opening major of the men’s season, was nurtured by Scott’s current coach, David Torrance, in his formative years and has since gone on to become the leading Scotsman on the world rankings. “I’ve never met Russell but I’m certainly inspired by him,” said Scott of his fellow highlander who has hit the giddy golfing heights.
Scott was certainly inspired in round three of the Scottish Boys Championship. A 9&8 walloping of Haggs Castle’s Glen Burrett underlined the 17-year-old’s billing as No 1 seed and probably caused the kind of quaking commotion through the rest of the field that would have registered on a seismic monitor.
Scott won the first eight holes and was on course to complete the ultimate conquest in matchplay golf; the 10&8 drubbing. A birdie putt of 12-feet to win the ninth, however, just burned the cup and stayed out and a flustered Burrett managed to stem the fearsome assault and halve the hole. Cue a rousing comeback? Not quite. Scott duly birdied the 10th to put the tin lid on a thumping triumph and continue his title charge.
“It was a mixture of Glen having a nightmare and me playing well,” added Scott, the reigning Scottish Boys Strokeplay champion who would have impressed Peter McEvoy, the watching GB&I selector, with his purposeful display. “I know how good a player Glen is and he was one of the best players at Scotland under-14 level when we played together. It was just one of those off days for him. Sometimes you play well, others you don’t. We all have them.”
Scott will now face Fintan McKenna, a member at the Royal Aberdeen club which is just across the fence from Murcar. His local knowledge has certainly come in handy so far this week and in his three matches en route to the last 32, McKenna has won 7&6, 5&4 and 7&5. Scott could be in for a tough tussle.
Joining them in the fourth round is Michael Lawrie, the son of former Open champion Paul, who battled to a 2&1 win over Tom MacKenzie, the East Renfrewshire teenager who raised eyebrows on Tuesday with his own 9&8 success in round two.
One young lad relieved to be in the latter stages was Balfron High School pupil, John Paterson, who had been four-up at the turn against Portpatrick’s Matthew McCulloch but had to hold on grimly for a 2&1 win. “Sorry, I’m a bit stressed,” puffed Paterson afterwards. The golf writers tend to have that effect on people.
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