EWEN FERGUSON hopes a winning run at the Scottish Amateur Championship can help him achieve a dream debut at the Walker Cup.
The 19-year-old enjoys matchplay golf having won Scottish and British Boys titles and eased into round two at Muirfield yesterday with a 4&3 victory over Arbroath Artisan’s Scott Graham.
The Scots trio of Ferguson, Grant Forrest and Jack McDonald appear to be in the GB&I frame for September’s match against the US at Royal Lytham and the Bearsden player knows emulating his run to the quarter-finals of the Scottish Amateur at Blairgowrie two years ago would help him stay in captain Nigel Edwards’ thoughts.
Asked of his Walker Cup chances, Ferguson said: “It’s a really hard one. I feel as though I’m just outside the team just now, as so many guys are playing well.
“If you had asked me a year ago, I would have said ‘no chance’ but it’s really cool to be in with a chance just now and I know Nigel has been watching me play at my last four events. It’s always been my goal to play a Walker Cup. I’ve not got a target this week, I can only take it one round at a time.”
Ferguson is the second seed at Muirfield, a venue where he watched former amateur star Matt Fitzpatrick win the Silver Medal for top amateur at the 2013 Open Championship.
The renowned layout was again playing rather differently to that sun-kissed summer as rain, especially late in the day, made conditions challenging.
Barry Hume last played the course competitively in 1998, the year a certain Sergio Garcia won The Amateur Championship, but his experience proved useful as he secured a 5&4 victory over Michael Daily from Erksine.
The 2001 Scottish Amateur champion at Downfield said: “I actually hadn’t played the course since 1998 up to about a month ago. A few memories came back, as it’s more about playing this course rather than the opponent.
“It’s a quality field this week, and there are some tough draws. Even in the first round, you have to be right on it. Playing Michael was maybe a third or fourth round match in the past, so it shows the level of player here.”
The South African Amateur champion and seventh seed, Craigie Hill’s Daniel Young, also progressed to round two, seeing off Newmachar’s Christopher Simpson 3&2, with the third seed, Jack McDonald, also continuing his recent good form to defeat Christopher Rossi from Western Gailes 6&5.
McDonald, one of six members of Scotland’s European Amateur Team-winning side competing at Murfield, said: “I was three up after seven holes and picked a few more wins up from there. I played really nicely. I’m just trying to stick to my game plan of taking one shot at a time and seeing how it goes. It’s a strong field and anyone can beat anyone with a good round.
“The course is set up so well and it was playing lovely this morning with just a wee breath of wind.”
Of those to make notable exits, Scotland cap Matt Clark lost to local lad Michael Bacigalupo (Longniddry), while the Scottish Boys champion Will Porter and 2013 Scottish Amateur winner Alexander Culverwell also made early departures to David Murray (Blairgowrie) and Christopher Low (Tantallon) respectively. Evergreen Bryan Fotheringham from Inverness racked up a fine win, defeating John McMahon 7&5.
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