Past Italian Open champion and present University of Stirling coach Dean Robertson was full of praise for Cormac Sharvin after the 22-year old’s impressive seven under par 65 on the opening day of the St. Andrews Links Trophy.
Sharvin, who plays out of the Ardglass club in Co. Down, went out in six under par and missing by centimetres a hole-in-one at the ninth hole before braving the tougher and windier inward half conditions on the Jubilee Course.
Sharvin, who has a year remaining of study at the University of Stirling, is one of the most in-form amateurs at present finishing joint runner-up in last month’s Lytham Trophy, third a fortnight ago at the Irish Amateur Stroke-Play while he was also third in last week’s Scotland Open Stroke Play Championship at Moray.
Ardglass golfing gem Cormac Sharvin posts a flawless seven under par 65 on day one of the 2015 St. Andrews Links Trophy.
“Cormac is certainly some talent and he’s riding a very good wave of form at present,” said Robertson.
“He played a superb round out there and was saying his six under outward nine of 30 was his lowest-ever nine holes, so it’s a great start for him.”
However Sharvin also has plenty of Scottish home grown talent close behind including Kilmarnock Barassie’s Jack MacDonald and Drumoig’s Conor Syme just a stroke back with six under par 66s.
In fact, MacDonald went closer than Sharvin in nearly acing the par three, fifth hole and with the 22-year old’s ball coming to rest a ball’s width from the left edge of the cup.
MacDonald, recently completed a Pure Maths degree also from the University of Stirling, like most made his score on the outward nine with five birdies, including three in succession from the third hole.
His inward half was a mirror of Sharvin’s with an 11th hole birdie and eight pars.
Syme will be out to make amends for his surprise Battle Trophy defeat on the acclaimed Gil Hanse designed Craighead Links course at Crail.
The 19-year old Syme got himself into a match-play scenario at golf’s seventh oldest club with final round playing partner and reigning British Amateur champion Bradley Neil, who he had lost to in the semi-final last year at Royal Portrush, on route to shooting a final round 76 and see the Battle Trophy handed to good friend Daniel Young.
“I played solid today and was always in position,” said Syme who capped his round with an 11th hole eagle.
