Stewart aims for big finish as he plays last amateur event

MICHAEL Stewart is aiming to savour his last appearance as an amateur this week, having decided to stick with his plan to turn professional after the South African Open, despite failing in two separate bids to earn a Tour card for next season.

The 21-year-old Ayrshireman earned his place alongside home favourites Ernie Els and Retief Goosen in the line up at Serengeti Golf Club after winning the South African Amateur Championship earlier this year.

His appearance is the sole reason Stewart delayed his switch to the professional ranks, having seen the majority of his Walker Cup team-mates, including James Byrne and Tom Lewis, end their amateur careers straight after Great Britain & Ireland’s success over the United States at Royal Aberdeen in mid-September.

Lewis, of course, made an immediate impact as a professional by pulling off a sensational success in the Portugal Masters but, like Byrne, Stewart fell at the first hurdle in the European Tour Qualifying School.

More recently, the Troon Welbeck player also failed to secure a card for the Alps Tour, one of the third-tier European circuits, but he is pressing ahead with his plans and will make his first appearance as a professional in the Far East next month.

“I’m feeling great about the SA Open,” said Stewart, who is set to sign with Andrew ‘Chubby’ Chandler’s ISM stable when he joins Byrne and two-time Scottish champion David Law in the paid ranks.

“I played the Alps Tour School last week as preparation, which was good. It felt a bit strange with a card in my hand again and I was a bit rusty. But my game feels like it’s close to being where I want it to be.

“I’m looking forward to this week’s event and think it will be a great learning experience before I turn pro. It’s my last event as an amateur, so I want to sign off on a good note.

“After this week, I’m flying straight to Abu Dhabi for two weeks of practice, then I’m playing the Thailand Open on 15-18 December, which will be my first event as a pro. I am looking forward to starting out on my career.”

For some of the other Scots in this week’s field, the challenge will be trying to extend their European Tour careers. David Drysdale heads into the event lying 109th on the money-list, while Steven O’Hara (134th) and Lloyd Saltman (136th) both need to finish third or better to have a chance of climbing into the all-important top 115.

Marc Warren, who is precariously placed in 111th, is still on the reserve list in South Africa, as is Alastair Forsyth (140th), but Peter Whiteford, lying 62nd and chasing a place in the Dubai World Championship, is also in the field along with Scott Jamieson, Alan McLean, George Murray and Elliot Saltman.