Scott Crichton is able to stomach a belly putter

By MARTIN DEMPSTER
Published on 02/08/2012 00:00

AFTER experiencing a bellyful of long putters in professional events over the past few weeks, a noticeable lack of players wielding them has proved a refreshing sight in the Scottish Amateur Championship.

Unlike the Open Championship and the Senior Open Championship, where a quarter of the fields had either long or belly putters in their bags, such implements have been few and far between in the SGU’s flagship event in the Highlands.

Even one of the odd men out, Aberdour’s Scott Crichton, provided food for thought as the R&A and USGA consider outlawing them by admitting that he hadn’t turned to a belly model earlier this year due to being a poor putter.

“I started using it around May, but it wasn’t because I had the yips, more a case of trying to freshen things up,” said the 24-year-old Scottish squad member after beating Troon Welbeck’s Marc Smith – another player, ironically, using a long stick – by 2 and 1 in the third round.

“I’ve always been known to be a good putter, but I took a normal one and a belly putter to a demonstration at St Andrews and, once I tried a belly putter, I could see a difference in the roll and my putting has definitely become more consistent.”

Crichton admits he’s struggled to adjust to links conditions on the domestic circuit this season.

He arrived in the Highlands with slim hopes of earning a spot in the Scottish side for the Home Internationals in Ayrshire in a fortnight’s time, but, as he’s progressed, the seeds have been scattered to the wind.

Only Graeme Robertson (Glenbervie) and Matthew Clark (Kilmacolm) are still standing among the octet after Fraser McKenna (Balmore), Brian Soutar (Leven Golfing Society), Paul Ferrier (Baberton) and Jack McDonald (Barassie) all fell on day three. McDonald, another Stirling student, failed to get the job done in his last-64 clash after seeing opponent Greig Marchbank, the newly-crowned Scottish Boys’ Stroke-Play champion from Dumfries & County, hit a hole-in-one at the 180-yard 13th on his way to a last-green success.

Scottish Amateur results

Second round

Second quarter

C Trahan (Meldrum House) bt G Watson (Meldrum House) one hole; S Moffat (Braehead) bt S Scott (Baberton) one hole; G Munro (Fraserburgh) bt K Hamilton (Ayr Belleisle) 3 and 2; D Watson (Peterhead) bt G Robertson (Silverknowes) one hole; A Hutchison (Kinross) bt D Dickson (Eastwood) one hole; A McDougall (Elderslie) bt L Chambers (Cardross) 2 and 1; J Ross (Royal Burgess) bt L Allan (Alva) 4 and 3; C Porciani (Ayr Belleisle) bt C Hill (Tantallon) 3 and 2; A Culverwell (Dunbar) bt S Fraser (The Duke’s) 6 and 4; R Docherty (Bearsden) bt D Curtis (Cathkin Braes) 3 and 2; C Baird (Bothwell Castle) bt F McKenna (Balmore) one hole; S Robin (Prestwick St Nicholas) bt S Graham (Blairgowrie) 3 and 2; A Davidson (Charleton) bt C Wedgeworth (Cowglen) 3 and 1.

Third quarter

R Hinshelwood (East Kilbride) bt C Lawrie (Deeside) 2 and 1; C Neil (Blairgowrie) bt C Telfer (Prestwick St Cuthbert) one hole; R Carson (Marriott Dalmahoy) bt J Pol (Blairgowrie) 4 and 3; E Wilson (Goswick) bt C Low (Tantallon) 3 and 2; N Peoples (Tantallon) bt A Hain (Ladybank) at 19th; I Rennie (Hindhead) bt S Loughrey (Australia) 2 and 1; N MacAndrew (Royal Aberdeen) bt E Donaldson (Craigielaw) one hole; D Young (Craigie Hill) bt S Lawrie (Portlethen) 2 and 1; L Mutch (Duff House Royal) bt D Wilson (Troon Welbeck) 5 and 3; C Gaittens (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) bt C Corbett (Dumfries & Galloway) 6 and 5; J Aitken (Alloa) bt W Campbell (Kirkintilloch) 3 and 2; C Farrell (Cardross) bt M Hislop (Glenbervie) 2 holes; C Young (Cardross) bt S Stewart-Cation (The Duke’s) 1 hole; J Milne (Elgin) bt J Fleming (Bonnyton) 20th; J McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie) bt R Johnston (Glenbervie) 7 and 6; G Marchbank (Dumfries & County) bt M Macdonald (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) 6 and 5.

Fourth quarter

G Minnes (Kirkintilloch) bt S Lockhart (Bathgate) 3 and 2; M Clark (Kilmacolm) bt J Duff (Fraserburgh) 4 and 3; D Macandrew (Royal Aberdeen) bt L Pirie (Millport) 2 and 1; A Ferguson (Renfrew) bt K Reid (Loretto School) 2 and 1; L McAlpine (Royal Dornoch) bt M Dickson (Mortonhall) 3 and 2; G Forrest (Craigielaw) bt D Strachan (Turnberry) 1 hole; A Dunton (McDonald) bt D Thompsett (Aboyne) 3 and 2; S Henderson (Hamilton) bt S Binning (Ranfurly Castle) 4 and 3; G Smail (Craigielaw) bt G Gordon (Newmachar) 6 and 5; S Borrowman (Dollar) bt A Wilson (The Renaissance) 1 hole; B Renfrew (The Wynyard) bt J Hogg (The Duke’s) 4 and 3; D Flannery (Peebles) bt C Lamb (Newmachar) 7 and 6; F Moore (Glenbervie) bt J Duff (Newmachar) 2 holes; J Savage (Cawder) bt B Soutar (Leven GS) 4 and 3; M Smyth (Royal Troon) bt A McDonald (Crow Wood) 4 and 3; J Wright (Forres) bt A Ross (Deeside) 5 and 4.

Third round

First quarter

C MacNeal (Troon Welbeck) bt C Robb (Meldrum House) 2 and 1; G Robertson (Glenbervie) bt A MacLennan (Kings Acre) 3 and 2; C Deerness (Harburn) bt C Heslip (Chipping Norton) 2 and 1; S Crichton (Aberdour) bt M Smith (Troon Welbeck) 2 and 1; J White (Lundin Links) bt N Robson (Meldrum House) 1 hole; G Stevenson (Whitecraigs) bt C McNeil (Lauder) 2 and 1; K Shanks (Golf House Club, Elie) bt N Melvin (Newmachar) 6 and 5; B Fotheringham (Inverness) bt S Brownlie (Burntisland) 3 and 1.

Second quarter

C Ross (Kirkhill) bt P Ferrier (Baberton) 2 and 1; C Trahan (Meldrum House) bt J Binning (Ranfurly Castle) 5 and 4; Moffat bt Munro 19th; Watson bt Hutchison 4 and 2; Ross bt McDougall 4 and 3; Culverwell bt Porciani 4 and 3; Docherty bt Baird 2 and 1; Robin bt Davidson 3 and 2.

Third quarter

Hinshelwood bt Neil 2 and 1; Wilson bt Carson 1 hole; Rennie bt Peoples 4 and 3; Young bt MacAndrew 4 and 3; Mutch bt Gaittens 3 and 2; Aitken bt Farrell 3 and 1; Young bt Milne 3 and 2; Marchbank bt McDonald 1 hole.

Fourth quarter

Clark bt Minnes 4 and 2; Macandrew bt Ferguson 2 holes; Forrest bt McAlpine 3 and 2; Henderson bt Dunton 3 and 2; Smail bt Borrowman 3 and 2; Flannery bt Renfrew 1 hole; Moore bt Savage 1 hole; Smyth bt Wright 4 and 3.