Scotland captain Matt Clark produced one of the great British Amateur Championship stroke play rounds this afternoon to leave himself top of the standings in the 36-hole qualifier.
The 39-year-old international (pictured above) had never made it to the matchplay stages of the competition before but at his 11th attempt put that right in some style, breaking the course record at Nairn with a staggering nine-under-par 62.
The bank manager from Aberdeen also had a 15-footer on the last for his first ever 10 under par round but a safe two-putt meant he finished on eight under, one clear of Essex Walker Cup player Jack Dyer, who followed up yesterday’s 68 with a 67.
“In the context of the competition it has to be my best ever round,” said the Kilmacolm and Meldrum House member, who is 1357 in the official World Amateur Rankings.
“I have set quite a few course records with nine under but to get one on a course steeped in this much history is quite a cool thing.
“I actually didn’t putt that well but the key to Nairn is driving in my opinion and I am known as one of the straightest drivers.
“Today I took on drives that other longer players maybe wouldn’t. When I am swinging well I know I can get my ball down tight alleys.”
Having recorded a one over par 72 yesterday, Matt’s extraordinary effort kicked into life at the third where he started a run of brilliant approach shots. He birdied four holes on the trot and his longest putt was six feet.
Next came the only poor shot of the round. A bad swing for his second on the par five seventh left him with a shot off the beach.
“Thankfully the tide was out,” added Matt.
The rules allowed him to play from the sand and he got his third to the side of the green before getting up and down having chipped close. Further pars at eight and nine meant he turned in 31.
Birdies at 10 and 11 – he holed his longest birdie putt at the par three (13 feet) – had him considering the prospect of finishing top with the wind favourable on the four closing holes.
“I saw holes 12 through 14 as being particularly tricky but I played them well and knew I had a chance.”
He birdied 15 from close range, narrowly missed doing the same at the next before stiffing his wedge to a couple of inches on 17 to leave himself level with Dyer.
With a par five to finish, a rare fairway miss left him with a decision to make with 269 yards to the pin.
Matt added: “I knew a birdie would win qualifying and normally I might lay up with an 8 iron but it was a decent lie and when it’s your day it’s your day. I hit a three quarter, punchy 3 iron and it landed about 50 yards short before bounding forward. I actually thought it had actually gone in but it finished 15 feet past the pin.
“I knew I had that for a 10 under round but I wasn’t going to put it four feet past either and the putt kind of dribbled up to the side of the hole.”
The winners of the strokeplay at the British Amateur do get a small prize and he intends to give it to one of his best friends and fellow Kilmacolm member Stuart Gray, who has been hugely helpful during his time playing elite-level amateur golf.
For all the scores click here
For the full matchplay draw click here