Sandy Scott and Bradley Neil take first step in bid to play in 150th Open

Sandy Scott took a confident first step towards teeing up in the 150th Open at St Andrews and was joined in feeling he can use that milestone occasion to celebrate coming out of a long dark tunnel by Bradley Neil.

Nairn amateur Scott progressed to next week’s Final Qualifying in style by carding a best-of-the-day five-under 65 at Panmure in one of 15 Regional Qualifiers taking place around the UK and Ireland.

On a day when the earlier starters at the Angus venue enjoyed an easier test than those out in the afternoon, former Amateur champion Neil was also among a group of 10 players to clear the first hurdle in an exciting battle to secure spots in the season’s final major next month.

Having lost out in a play-off in his bid to make a second US Open appearance at Brookline last week, Scott was delighted to come through his latest qualifying test with flying colours as he finished a shot ahead of fellow amateur Thomas Finnegan from County Sligo.

“It was good,” said Scott, a former Walker Cup player, of his day’s work. “It was tough as it got a little bit breezier on the back nine. There are some good birdie chances on the first few holes and I took advantage of them before also making a few birdies coming in, including a nice 25-footer at the last.”

At a time when he was inside the top 10 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings, Scott was all set to turn professional when the Covid pandemic hit then suffered a wrist injury that left him fearing about his career.

“It was rough time for about a year and a half with the injury,” he admitted. “I still have to manage what I’m doing and be aware of it. As long as I do that, I can play and that’s the most important thing.

"Though I didn’t get into the US Open, the way I played in the