Walker Cup star James Byrne starts his second professional tournament in a week on Wednesday and has set his sights on winning.
The 22-year-old from Banchory is one of 15 leading amateurs in the field for the Tartan Tour’s Aberdeen Asset Management Northern Open at Meldrum House after gaining a top 30 finish at the Johnnie Walker Championship at the weekend.
It’s not just staying competitive for next week’s matches against the USA at Royal Aberdeen that interests him.
He said: “I think there is a chance to go and win. The top amateurs are not too far behind the professionals, even at the level of the Johnnie Walker Championship.
“It is good opportunity for the amateur boys to test themselves against the pros, also an opportunity to keep building momentum towards the Walker Cup if I can get a good result.
“Nigel Edwards (the GB&I captain) knew I was playing at Gleneagles and sent me a text wishing me well.”
Walker Cup reserves David Law and Ross Kellett may have something to prove this week in terms of their form, while Kris Nicol, Paul Shields, James White, Greg Paterson and Philip McLean are other members of the Scotland amateur squad to take up the invitation of sponsor Aberdeen Asset.
Greg Hutcheon will play with Byrne but twice-winner Chris Doak has been forced to pull out.
Stephen Gray and Paul McKechnie lie second and third on the money list going into the season-closing events.