Scottish Amateur: First Test for Aussies
BY Anthony Powter | World Amateur Mens Tour | 2008 Scottish Open Amateur Stroke Play | Preview | 29 May 2008
Seven Australians are set to contest the Bidwells Scottish Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship, which gets underway this Friday at The Duke’s Golf Club in St Andrews, Scotland. The Australian contingent is headed by former Australian Amateur Champions, Tim Stewart and Rohan Blizard.
They are supported by fellow countrymen, Matthew Gleeson, Jonathan Welsh, Leighton Lyle and Tom Prowse. Prowse only just arriving in the UK after competing last weekend for Yarra Yarra in the Victorian Division 1 Pennant Final.
Also spearheading the Australian contingent is Scott Arnold, the 2008 Riversdale Cup champion, who along with Blizard and Stewart, arrived in Europe earlier this season to prepare for the UK major amateur titles. Arnold is eager to improve on his finishes last season in Europe, where he sees is professional career starting.
“We’ve rented a house in St Andrews and will be using that as our base for a while so as to get accustomed to the conditions here,” remarked Scott Arnold, who’s travelling with Tim Stewart and Rohan Blizard.
Arnold finished runner-up at the 2007 St Andrews Links Trophy and arrived earlier in Scotland earlier this year with his good mates, so they could train together and get accustomed to the conditions.
“It’s a different style of play here and it’s where I want to start my professional career,” says Arnold.
“You hit a lot of knock down shots, which suit my style of game. I love this place. Who wouldn’t and I’m really looking forward to returning to play the Old Course next week in the St Andrews Links Trophy and see if I can go one better this time.”
A strong international field has assembled for this week’s Scottish Amateur, with many using it as a warm-up for the St Andrews Links Trophy, starting 5th June. The Scottish Amateur has attracted entrants from USA and South Africa, as well as a good showing from European nations.
It will give many of the Australian a taste of international competition, in what is for Lyle, Prowse and Gleeson, their first international event this season.
Arnold, Blizard and Stewart have already commenced their overseas campaigns, playing and training in Spain since early May. Arnold and Stewart also competed in the English Men’s Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship a fortnight ago, finishing in the middle order of the field in the Brabazon Trophy event.
This week, Scotland’s Kevin McAlpine, will be vying for a second consecutive win in the Scottish Amateur, along with one of last year’s runners-up, France’s Alexandre Kaleka. European Amateur Champion Benjamin Herbert from France, runner up in last weekend’s Brabazon Trophy, is another likely contender for the title, along with the newly crowned Brabazon Champion, England’s Steven Uzzell.
The top 40 players plus ties, from the 144 starters, will contest the last 36 holes in Sunday’s final in the 72 hole competition. Colin Montgomerie, Andrew Coltart and Alastair Forsyth are among the former champions of the title.
