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Thursday, January 14, 2016

AUSTRALIAN MENS AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP - McDonald through to matchplay stages

Jack McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie) has succesfully qualified for the matchplay stages of the Australian Mens Amateur Championship in Melbourne, alongside the other 3 Scottish players taking part in the event.
(Report courtesy of the www.scottishgolf.org website)
All four Scottish players have qualified for the matchplay stages at the weather-affected Australian Men’s Amateur Championship.
After severe weather forced a suspension of play in Melbourne, players returned early on Thursday morning to finish their second rounds.
Walker Cup winners Grant Forrest, Ewen Ferguson and Jack McDonald, as well as compatriot Connor Syme are all competing Down Under.
The event involves two rounds of strokeplay before the top 64 qualify for the matchplay event, with Syme (Drumoig), Kilmarnock Barassie’s McDonald and Ferguson (Bearsden) safely securing places inside the four over par cut mark when play resumed.Extreme heat, with temperatures over 40°C, forced players from Melbourne’s Metropolitan and Kingswood golf courses at 3.50pm on Wednesday, then just as the field was returning to position for a 6pm resumption, lightning and fierce winds sent players and spectators scurrying again.
Syme battled hard to fire rounds of 73 and 71 for a level par total, with Ferguson a further shot back after his topsy-turvy second round of 74. McDonald also progressed on two over par.
Craigielaw’s Forrest had the most anxious wait, after his 77 on day two left him sweating on a top-64 place. But last year’s Amateur Championship runner-up was left to reflect on a clutch eight foot par putt on the 18th to see him also qualify.


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