Teenage amateur Sandy Scott got huge consolation for missing out on Scotland’s European Team Championship side in Austria by securing a slot in the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open.
The 19-year-old from Nairn finished just behind experienced pros Gareth Wright and Jack Doherty for the third of four spots in the qualifying competition for this week’s $7m event at Dundonald, held at Kilmnarnock Barassie over the weekend.
A second round six-under 67 in heavy rain yesterday, with birdies at the each of the final two holes, booked Smith his place among the likes of Rory McIlroy, Henrik Stenson, Adam Scott and Rickie Fowler in this week’s field just up the road at Dundonald.
Scott had hoped to be part of the six-man Scotland team defending the European Championship title but admitted that playing in his first European Tour event more than made up for that disappointment.
“To be honest I hadn’t expected to play because I’ve been making the re-adjustment between playing back home and at college in Texas,” he said. “I’ve been playing pretty solidly since I came back and played really well today, so I’m excited to have the chance to play at Dundonald.”
For Wright and Doherty it’s the second year in succession both have qualified for the Scottish, although this year it’s for much more money with the event’s prizefund ballooning as part of the European Tour’s lucrative Rolex Series.
Wright has qualified in all three of these events and Saturday’s 64 did all the work he needed, a two-under 71 helping him to the £4500 winners cheque.
“Saturday made today a whole lot easier than it might have been because I knew i just had to keep it together,” said the Lothians-based Welshman, who shot a 62 in a Tartan Tour event around Dundonald.
“It’s going to be great to play in a Rolex Series event with the great changes they’ve made to the curse and I can’t wait to get there.”
Doherty is similarly familiar with Dundonald after he birdied the last to claim secind place in the qualifying tournament on his own.
“It’s great to qualify again after doing it last year, and even better to qualify to play a course that’s only 15 minutes from my front door,” he said.
The fourth and final place at Dundonald was won by Northern Open champion Paul O’Hara, who eagled the first play-off hole to knock out Kirkhill’s amateur Craig Ross, after the pair had tied on six-under.
Final positions
135 – G Wright (West Linton) 64 71
138 – J Doherty (unattached) 69 69
139 – S Scott (Nairn, am) 72 67
140 – P O’Hara (North Lanarkshire) 72 68, C Ross (Kirkhill, am) 69 71
142 – E Walker (Kilmarnock Barassie, am) 73 69, R Arnott (Bishopbriggs GR) 73 69, R Cameron (unattached) 70 72
143 – C Kelly (Stirling) 73 70, W Booth (unattached) 73 70, J McDonald (unattached) 73 70, J Savage (Cawder) 70 73
