10am round-up: Euan McIntosh wins Scotland cap at 47

Euan McIntosh will cap a remarkable comeback at Nairn.

His selection among nine automatic picks for the four-cornered event is a reward for the Turnhouse man having turned back the clock this season after being reinstated to the amateur ranks 12 months ago.

He lost in a play-off to Craigielaw’s Grant Forrest, the Scottish No 1, in the Battle Trophy at Crail in April and has since added three more top-four finishes in Order of Merit events.

“I’m absolutely delighted, as excited as I was back in 1989,” said McIntosh, who played on the Challenge Tour as a professional. “It was fantastic to see the email saying I was in. I’m enjoying competing again and it’s been great playing with the younger guys coming through.

“If it hadn’t been for Braid Hills Golf Centre teaching professional Colin Brooks, who has helped massively with my game, I certainly wouldn’t have had the chance to be playing at Nairn.”

Further experience at Nairn, where the Scots will be bidding to land the title for the first time since 2012, will be provided by fellow 34-year-olds Matthew Clark (Kilmacolm) and Barry Hume (Haggs Castle).

The others selected so far are Craig Howie (Peebles), Liam Johnson (Dumfries & County), Craig Ross (Kirkhill), Jamie Savage (Cawder) and Sandy Scott (Nairn). The team will be finalised by two picks after next week’s Scottish Amateur Championship at Royal Aberdeen.

Meanwhile, Paul Lawrie’s youngest son, Michael, has been named in the Scottish side for the boys’ equivalent, which takes place at Ballyliffin on 2-4 August. It also includes Ben Ferguson, who lives in Australia but is eligible through his Scottish mother and father.

Scotland men’s team (two further players to be selected after Scottish Amateur Championship)

Matthew Clark (Kilmacolm, 34)

Calum Fyfe (Cawder, 19)

Craig Howie (Peebles, 21)

Barry Hume (Haggs Castle, 34)

Liam Johnson (Dumfries & County, 23)

Euan McIntosh (Turnhouse, 47)

Craig Ross (Kirkhill, 23)

Jamie Savage (Cawder, 21)

Sandy Scott (Nairn, 18)

Scotland boys’ team

Ben Ferguson (The Vines, 18)

Rory Franssen (Inverness, 17)

Graeme Greer (Carluke, 17)

Darren Howie (Peebles, 16)

Lewis Irvine (Kirkhill, 16)

Michael Lawrie (Deeside, 17)

Sam Locke (Banchory, 17)

Mathew McCulloch (Portpatrick, 18)

Eric McIntosh (Bruntsfield, 17)

Jamie Stewart (Old Ranfurly, 16)

Marc Watt (Inverallochy, 16)

***

On-form Ross Kellett is lying second, one shot behind Clément Sordet, at the halfway stage of the Le Vaudreuil Golf Challenge in France.

Kellett, who tied for third in La Gomera last week, backed up his opening 64 with a 67 to sit tucked in behind Sordet after the Frenchman moved to the top of the leaderboard with a second-round 64.

Sordet, winner of this season’s Turkish Airlines Challenge, played in last week’s Open at Royal Troon after qualifying through a runner-up finish in the Thailand Golf Championship.

Madrid Challenge winner Duncan Stewart is seven off the lead after rounds of 68 and 69 while fellow Team SSE Scottish Hydro member Paul Shields made the cut with a second-round 65 that contained eight birdies.

***

Rising MENA Golf Tour star and UAE No 1 amateur Rayhan Thomas won the weather-hit Scottish Boys’ Open Stroke Play Championship at Lanark.

The 16-year-old Dubai-based prodigy, who is supported by the Shaikh Maktoum Golf Foundation, defeated Australia’s Ben Ferguson at the second play-off hole with a par after the pair finished tied at the top on five under.

“This is a good event to win, as Scotland has some of the best under-18 players,” said Thomas, who is currently on a five-week tour of the UK which culminates in him playing at the Boys Amateur at Muirfield.

The plus-two player added: “It’s too hot to play in Dubai in the summer so I thought ‘why not try Scotland?’ This is one of the biggest events I’ve won.”

***

Troon Ladies member Hazel MacGarvie is the new Scottish Girls’ champion after claiming the title in a weather-hit event at Baberton.

MacGarvie beat Jillian Farrell from Cardross in a play-off to secure the coveted crown in an event that is now played as stroke-play as opposed to match-play.

“I was quite annoyed after doubling the last hole, so just wanted to get it done in the play-off,” said 16-year-old MacGarvie.

She recently finished 13th in the individual standings in the European Girls in Norway and added: “I knew I was playing well and I came here hoping to win so I’ve met my goal.”

***

US Open champion Dustin Johnson and Luke List remain tied for the lead at halfway in the RBS Canadian Open ay Glen Abbey.

The pair followed up opening 66s with matching 71s to sit one ahead of three players, including John Rahm, the Spaniard who was world amateur No 1 before recently joining the paid ranks.