Scots duo fly flag in South Africa

AS the Fife flame was extinguished – Scott Crichton and James White both bowed out at Randpark – it was left to a couple of west coast men to carry Scottish hopes into the quarter-finals of the South African Northern Amateur Open.

Kirkhill’s Paul Shields and Fraser McKenna, of Balmore, each negotiated two ties on the opening day of the match-play phase to stay on course in their bids to emulate compatriot David Law, last year’s winner in Johannesburg.

Shields, a Great Britain & Ireland squad member, advanced with a one-hole victory against Pedrie Oosthuizen before chalking up a 3 and 2 success against Otto Van Greunen in the last 16. The Lanarkshire man has come close on three occasions in the past to landing top match-play titles, twice losing in the final of the Scottish Boys and also finishing runner-up to compatriot Michael Stewart in last year’s South African Amateur.

But, with leading Springbok Shaun Smith, conqueror of White, standing in his way in the last eight, then either McKenna or Brandon Stone, the South African No 1, awaiting in the last four, Shields is going to have to do it the hard way if he’s finally to go one better.

McKenna, a former British Boys’ finalist, chalked up a 4 and 3 victory over Victor Lange then followed that with a 3 and 2 success against Michael Loppnow.