Scottish duo set up last-eight clash in Amateur Championship

A Scottish semi-finalist has been guaranteed in the 124th Amateur Championship after Sandy Scott and Euan Walker set up a last-eight clash at ?Portmarnock.
Sandy Scott said he was 'scrambling like mad' against  Eugenio Lopez-Chacarra.Sandy Scott said he was 'scrambling like mad' against  Eugenio Lopez-Chacarra.
Sandy Scott said he was 'scrambling like mad' against Eugenio Lopez-Chacarra.

The duo both dug deep to keep their title hopes alive, Scott beating Spaniard Eugenio Lopez-Chacarra by two holes while Walker recovered from two down with five to play to beat Finland’s Jonatan Jolkkonen at the 20th.

“After a long day, to be able to play tomorrow is fantastic,” said Nairn man Scott. “I was all over the place at times against Eugenio, who is a really strong player. I was scrambling like mad and I think he got a little frustrated when I was making pars from the rough. I kept doing it and he had good chances that he missed. When I got my chances, I was able to convert them.”

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Also still standing are Irish duo James Surgue and Ronan Mullarney, as well as England’s Benjamin Jones.

One of Scott’s clubmates, meanwhile, is out in front after two rounds in the Scottish Senior Men’s Open at Luffness New. After carding a 71 in blustery conditions on the East Lothian coast for a one-over-par total, Robert Smith moved into a two-shot lead over Downfield’s Graham Bell and English duo Ian Attoe and Ian Clarke.

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Gemma Dryburgh marked her major debut with with a battling effort in the opening round of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Hazeltine.

The Aberdonian was four-over after seven holes but covered the last 11 holes in one-under to salvage a 75.

That matched an earlier effort by Solheim Cup captain Catriona Matthew as the Scottish duo ended the day just inside the projected cut mark.

Australian Hannah Green leads in Minnesota after carding a 68 to sit a shot ahead of England’s Mel Reid and Hyo Joo Kim from Korea.

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Martin Laird upstaged former winner Russell Knox in the opening round of the Travelers Championship on the PGA Tour.

Laird’s bogey-free three-under-par 67 left him sitting tied for 25th while Knox is sitting joint-61st following a 69.

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Six players are tied for the lead on 64 - American trio Ryan Armour, Bronson Burgoon and Zack Sucher, Canadian Mackenzie Hughes, Korea’s Kyoung-Hoon Lee and Mexican Abraham Ancer.

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Liam Johnston was the best-placed Scot at the end of a weather-affected opening day in the BMW International Open in Munich.

The Dumfries man was two-under-par after 14 holes when play was halted for the day.

Italy’s Andrea Pavan had set the clubhouse target with a 66, one ahead of home favourite Martin Kaymer and England’s Oliver Wilson.

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Former Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore has been named as one of the members of the European Tour’s new Ryder Cup committee.

He is joined by Ian Ritchie, former CEO of the Rugby Football Union and the All England Lawn Tennis Club and currently chairman of Premiership Rugby.

Also on the committee, which is being chaired by Sir Damon Buffini, are former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley, European Tour chief executive Keith Pelley and Guy Kinnings, his No 2.
The group’s aim is to “enhance the commercial and brand value of one of the world’s leading sporting events”.

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A second-round 65 moved Ryan Campbell into second spot, three off the lead, heading into the final round of the EuroPro Tour’s Diamond X Open at Cumberwell Park.

Sam Locke and Neil Fenwick are both a shot further back in joint-third as the Scottish trio bid to catch Englishman Luke Joy over the closing 18 holes.

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