To paraphrase those singing siblings, The Proclaimers, it was a case of "I would walk 500 yards" for local amateur Calum Hill in the first round of the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open qualifier at North Berwick yesterday.
Playing in his own backyard, and vying for one of five spots on offer for this week's domestic showpiece at nearby Gullane, the 19-year-old made the most of local knowledge to conjure a purposeful seven-under 64 to move into contention for a coveted place on the draw sheet alongside the likes of Rory McIlroy, Phil Mickelson, Rickie Fowler, Justin Rose and others.
"I live 500 yards from here and it was good when the crowds started to swell towards the end of my round," said Hill, a student at the University of Louisiana Monroe in the US. He put on a show for his followers and trundled in a 15-footer on the 18th for his eighth birdie of the day as he finished a shot outside the course record. "It was nice to get a cheer when that went in," he added. Play was delayed for a couple of hours due to morning weather but when it got going, the low scores flew in.
Gareth Wright, the former Scottish PGA champion, won through a shoot-out at North Berwick to qualify for the Open in 2013 and the Welshman showed his fondness for the East Lothian links with a superb 64 of his own.
"It could have been a ridiculous score as I missed from three-feet for an eagle at the eighth and also from inside six feet a couple of times for birdies," said Wright, who almost holed his second shot from 85 yards on the 12th.
Jamie McLeary, a recent winner on the European Challenge Tour, posted a six-under 65 as he sought to make up for missing out in a play-off for The Open at Gailes earlier in the week. Ross Dixon, a pro based at The Renaissance club near Gullane, also hit a 65 while Greig Hutcheon, last year's Tartan Tour No 1, charged home in 29 to finish on six-under.
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