THE AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP - Jack McDonald into the quarter finals

Jack McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie) is one of three Scots who progressed into the quarter finals of the 2015 Amateur Championship on Thursday, 18^th June, over the Carnoustie Championship course.

McDonald, along with Greig Marchbank (Thornhill) and Grant Forrest (Caraigielaw), continue their title bid on Friday morning, alongside one Englishman and four Frenchmen who remain in the last eight of the competition.

McDonald, who reached the semi finals of The Amateur Championship the last time it was held in Scotland at Royal Troon in 2012, had a very tight match with Welshman David Boote (Walton Heath) in the second round on thursday morning.

McDonald lost the first hole to par but par fours at the next two holes were sufficient for the Ayrshire player to turn the deficit into a one hole lead, which was extended further when Boote bogeyed the par five sixth hole. The next two holes were exchanged, with par sufficient to win both, and McDonald remained two up at the turn.

At the start of the inward half, Boote hit back with two birdies in three holes, coupled with a bogey from McDonald at the other hole, to take the lead in the match for the first time since the opening hole.

A birdie four at the fourteenth was only good enough for McDonald to half the hole and when he bogeyed the next hole he went two down, for the first time in the match, with only three holes remaining.

A half in par threes at the sixteenth left McDonald two down with two to play but Boote could only bogey the final two holes, allowing McDonald to square the match with two finishing pars.

The nineteenth hole was halved in bogey fives but a par four at the twentieth from McDonald was enough to see him through to the next round and a clash with fellow Scot Robert MacIntryre (Glencruitten)

In the third round tie on Thursday afternoon, MacIntyre took first blood with a birdie three at the third hole, but successive bogeys at the sixth and seventh holes from MacIntyre allowed McDonald to edge in front.

Par figures kept McDonald one hole ahead at the turn, but MacIntryre had no answer to a run of three birdies in four holes from the twelfth by McDonald, resulting in the Ayrshire player booking his place in Friday morning’s quarter finals with a 4 & 3 victory.

Jack McDonald continues his title bid at 08.45 on Friday, 18^th June, with a match against the one remaining English player in the championship, Sean Towndrow (Southport & Ainsdale).

The full line up for the quarter finals is :-

Alexandre Daydou (France) Vs. Antoine Rozner (France)

Greig Marchbank (Thornhill) Vs. Grant Forrest (Craigielaw)

Jack McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie) Vs. Sean Towndrow (Southport & Ainsdale)

Romaine Langasque (France) Vs. Robin Sciot-Siegrist (France)