Danny Kay excited to 'get in the ring' with Matteo Manassero and Paul Dunne in Scottish Challenge

Kay, who lives in Dunbar and is based at The Renaissance Club, secured a spot in the Farmfoods Scottish Challenge supported by the R&A through his endeavours on the Tartan Pro Tour this season.

He’s part of a hefty home contingent at Newmachar, where the event has been resurrected by Paul Lawrie after it fell off the Challenge Tour schedule following David Law’s win at Spey Valley in Aviemore in 2018.

“It’s a really good opportunity and I’m grateful to get it,” said Kay, who joins Jack McDonald in flying the flag for the Tartan Pro Tour in the £230,000 event at the Aberdeenshire venue.

“I played in this tournament a couple of times when it was held at Spey Valley in Aviemore and I’m looking forward to getting in the ring again.”

Though indirectly, among those he’ll be trading punches with over the next four days are Italian Matteo Manassero and Irishman Paul Dunne.

Manassero became the youngest-ever winner on the DP World Tour at just 17 in the Castello Masters then created history again, this time at Bernard Gallacher’s expense, by becoming the youngest BMW PGA champion at 20.

Dunne, meanwhile, beat a field that included Rory McIlroy to win the British Masters at Close House in 2017 - two years after he’d led as an amateur heading into the final round of The Open at St Andrews.

“It’s a strong field, but that’s what you want if you really want to get where you feel you can be in this game,” said Kay, who lost to Law in the final of the 2011 Scottish Amateur at Western Gailes. “It’s definitely a good thing playing against these guys and I’m really looking forward to it.”

Edinburgh-based duo Neil Fenwick and Kieran Cantley are among the other Scots to have secured a chance to ignite their careers in an event won by Brooks