FORMAT: 36-hole stroke play qualifier / 7 rounds of matchplay
The first England v Scotland encounter in the matchplay stages of this year’s Amateur Championship will tomorrow pitch Lytham Trophy winner John Gough against former World No 5 Sandy Scott.
Both men impressed today in reaching the last 32 with Gough demolishing Denmark’s Frederik Birkelund 8&6 while Scott, who was out of action for 18 months with a wrist injury, was four up thru 11 against Matt Roberts (Royal Porthcawl) and eventually saw it out 2&1.
The English Amateur champion from Beaconsfield also extended his remarkable run in elite-level matchplay ties. His emphatic victory was his 11th in a row and his 19th in his last 21 head-to-heads.
For Scott it has been a completely different story over the last 18 months. Last year he was forced to withdraw from the Walker Cup at Seminole and arrived back from the USA this week having had two operations. His last major event was the 2020 US Open at Winged Foot 21 months ago – he didn’t make the cut – and he has been battling to get fit since returning to action across The Atlantic in April.
“I first started noticing some pain probably July two years ago,” said the Nairn player, whose little brother Calum lost this afteroon to Ireland’s Jack Hearn.
“So it’s been close to two years I’ve been dealing with it but I was fully out of the game for about 18 months and it was the hardest time of my life. I’m just grateful to be back playing golf again and really, really happy that I’m here.
To view all the scores from today’s The Amateur Championship click here
“Two surgeries is a lot to come back from. I’ve made it to this point and it’s the best I could possibly have thought of. I just hope it keeps going and I’ll continue to do my stuff to keep it in check. I’ve been doing rehab over a year. It’s pretty tiresome but it’s well worth it for me to get to this point. Warm it up a little bit and I’ve just got to be smart with how much volume I’m doing golf-wise and practice-wise.
“Being nervous, playing against the best amateurs in the world, that’s what I really missed. So it’s great to be in that environment again and hopefully I can keep it going.”
His opponent Gough, who also who won the Spanish Amateur earlier this year, was delighted with his error-free effort against the Dane.
“I didn’t really make any mistakes today,” said the England international. “I put my opponent under pressure straightaway, going up early. Through six holes, I was three-up.
“I made a few good birdies and putter was hot. If it stays hot for the week, I think I’ll be in good hands and give everyone a good match, which is my plan.”
The return to a properly international British Amateur is emphasised by the fact the 32 player to make it through today’s second round come from 13 different countries.
Ireland has the largest contingent left (six) and 2021 Walker Cup player Mark Power will take on his fellow countryman Alex Maguire while it was also a good day for the Welsh with Luke Harries (Tenby), Archie Davies (Carlisle) and James Ashfield also making it through . The Delamere Forest player, who reached last year reached the semi-finals, saw off Aussie Jushua Greer 6&4.
England are down to just four players with top-ranked Sam Bairstow (Hallowes) first out against No 1 seed Jonathan Broomhead while 2020 runner-up Joe Harvey (The Kendleshire) takes on French international Nathan Legendre.
It was also an excellent day for Belton Park’s Will Hopkins, who saw off American Jack Gnam and his reward for a 4&2 success is a clash with relatively unheralded Aussie Max Charles.
Apart from Scott, the only other Scot in the last 32 was the hero of Monday Jamie Roberts. The Muckhart player, who shot 66 at Lytham in the first strokeplay round, will take on American Sam Murphy, who this week is making his first visit to the UK. This afternoon Roberts overcame Finland’s Markus Luoma 3&2.