Connor Syme reaches Australian Amateur final

Drumoig's Connor Syme has teed up an opportunity to become the first Scot to win the Australian Amateur Championship in more than a decade.

The 20-year-old stormed into the final at the Metropolitan Golf Club in Melbourne today with two impressive victories and now meets home player Travis Smyth in the 36-hole title showdown.

Having earlier recovered from being behind early on to defeat Australian Harrison Endycott 2&1 in the last eight, Syme then crushed Welshman Evan Griffith 6&5 in the semi-finals.

The two wins have left Syme, son of current PGA in Scotland captain Stuart, on the brink of following in the footsteps of both Jack Doherty and Eric Ramsay, who won this event in 2003 and 2005 respectively.

“I’m starting to get a good feel for the greens, which is nice,” said Syme, a semi-finalist in the 2014 Amateur Championship at Royal Portrush and also a member of Scotland’s title-winning side in the European Championship in Sweden last year.

Smyth, a 21-year-old from Sydney, ended the hopes of Grant Forrest, beating the Craigielaw man 4&3 in the last eight before sweeping aside compatriot Austin Bautista 5&3.

“I’m really happy with the way I played,” said Smyth of his day’s work. “I putted well and didn’t make too many mistakes. And I managed to get my way out of trouble when I did make a bad swing, so it was pleasing.”

On world rankings, Syme will head into the final as favourite, sitting 146th on the global list with Smyth at 227th. “It’s been a great week and Connor has a great chance tomorrow,” said Scottish national coach Ian Rae.