Spanish International Men’s Amateur last 16 ties produce high-quality golf
FORMAT: 36-hole stroke play / 6-round matchplay
The prospect of a Scotland v England final at the Spanish International Men’s Amateur became a distinct possibility today as Rory Franssen and John Gough maintained their excellent run of form.
English Amateur champion Gough (The Berkshire) stormed into tomorrow’s quarter-final line-up with a 5&3 victory over Germany’s Tim Weidemeyer at the Sherry club. Earlier in the morning he dispatched Scottish international Lewis Irvine 6&5 in the second round. Three birdies on the bounce, starting at the 10th, proved too much for the Kirkhill player.
Meanwhile Franssen (Aucterarder), who was 23 under par when he finished third at the South African Strokeplay two weeks ago, had to battle much harder to reach the last eight, especially in his last 16 tie with home player Alvaro Gomez de Linares. The Scottish ace was two down on the front nine but stuck to the task superbly to claim victory on the 17th.
John Gough wins the Spanish Amateur Championship
Tomorrow Gough, the highest remaining seed in the competition and the highest ranked player left (100), takes on Irish international Hugh Foley for a place in the semi-finals while Franssen has been paired with the impressive Norwegian teenager Michael Mjaaseth, who saw off England Boys star Josh Hill in the round of 32 at the fifth extra hole. Three years ago, then aged 16, Mjaaseth broke the scoring record at the European Masters.
Hill was one of six Brits who failed to make it out of the second round. Callan Barrow (Royal Lytham), Harvey Byers (Walton Heath), Olly Huggins (Frilford Heath) and Irvine failed all lost this morning to leave just Gough and Franssen from the Home Nations.
Meanwhile the eight quarter-finalists all come from different countries with Switzerland, Germany, Finland and Spain also represented along with England, Scotland, Ireland and Norway.