FORMAT: 36-hole stroke play / 6 rounds of matchplay
In matchplay anything can happen and it certainly did for Angus Carrick, who rose to the occasion in some style to emulate his father and win the Scottish Amateur Championship at Murcar Links near Aberdeen.
Thirty-six years after dad David won it at Southerness, the 27-year-old qualified for the knockout stages in 45th and was taken to extra holes a few times before beating Castle Park’s Connor Wilson by birdieing the last for a two-hole victory in the final. His previous best effort in the event was a quarter-final place in 2015.
In the morning semi-final the new champion was two down with two to play against 14-year-old Connor Graham – he was bidding to become the tournament’s youngest winner – but made it through at the first extra hole.
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“It’s great to emulate dad,” Angus told Scottish Golf. “And great that we’ve now both got our names on the trophy. It’s nice, really nice, that we’ll always have that to share.”
Then playing out of Douglas Park, David Carrick beat British Amateur semi-finalist David James 3&2 at his home course in 1985.
“I’m immensely proud of him”, David told Scottish Golf. “He played great golf the last four rounds and thoroughly deserved to win. I’m delighted now to be known as Angus Carrick’s father, rather than Angus being my son. It’s a fantastic result.”
In the final Carrick was two down after four but won the eighth, 13th and 14th to get ahead for the first time and he finished strongly, recording four birdies in the last six holes to keep his opponent at bay.
The Craigielaw player added: “I knew my game was good enough to compete and to win so I went out and gave it my all.
“It was a really tough game. We both hit some great shots and even after nine rounds of golf, or whatever it is, we were both playing very well. Yeah, there were a few tired swings in there, but not many.”
In the quarter-finals Angus played arguably the best golf of the week in dispatching much-fancied Rory Franssen 4&3. He recorded just one bogey as the Missouri-based college student struggled to cope with a plethora of birdies from his opponent.
Angus crucially peaked at the right time. In the 36-hole strokeplay, which was played at Murcar Links and Portlethen, he was eight shots back of leaders Ben Murray (Portlethen), Callum Bruce and the Aussie-based Scot Josh Greer (Joonalup). Rounds of 72 (Murcar) and 70 (Portlethen) left him on one under and just two above the cut line.