Some of the world’s leading amateur golfers are preparing to do battle in St Andrews this weekend.
Australian Matthew Stieger, who ranks 13th in the world, Scottish strokeplay champion Andrew Sullivan and New Zealander Ben Campbell lead the field in the contest for the St Andrews Links Trophy.
The 72-hole tournament will be played over the New Course and Old Course from Friday to Sunday, with 144 competitors from over 20 countries.
Stieger has victories under his belt already this season, having won the Tasmanian Open Championship and defeating Campbell in the Australian Amateur Championship in Melbourne.
Also with their eyes on the prize are some of Scotland’s top amateurs, including David Law from Hazlehead, who won the Northern Amateur Open in South Africa, and Troon Wellbeck’s Michael Stewart, who recently added the South African Amateur Championship to his Scottish Amateur title last year.
New Club golfers Greg Paterson, winner of the Craigmillar Park Open, and Peter Latimer and 15-year-old Ewan Scott, of St Andrews Golf Club, are also in the field.
Links Trust director of golf John Grant said, “The St Andrews Links Trophy is one of the highest-ranked events of the amateur season in the UK and it is an excellent opportunity to see at first-hand some of the most talented young players in the next generation of golfers.”