Notable absentees in Scottish Amateur Championship at Gullane

Showing that the national championship no longer holds the standing it once had, Connor Graham, Cameron Adam and Jack McDonald are all playing instead in other events.

Blairgowrie teenager Graham, who played in The Open a fortnight ago, is teeing up in the Farmfoods Scottish Challenge at Roxburghe Schloss, where McDonald is also in the field as an amateur.

Meanwhile, 2023 winner Adam, who also played at Royal Portrush two weeks ago, is competing in the Western Amateur in the US along with Niall Shiels Donegan, who would have been another leading contender for the Scottish crown.

It means that the likes of Farmer, 2022 winner Oliver Mukherjee and two-time beaten finalist Gregor Tait are some of the top names heading into battle on the East Lothian coast.

Not since Charlie Green achieved the feat 42 years ago has a player successfully defended this title but, on the back of his victory at the Castle Course in St Andrews 12 months ago, Farmer is ready to give it a go.

“I’ve never played Gullane, so I’ll get two practice rounds in and get to know the courses and, hopefully, make it through to the match play,” said the 20-year-old Kilmacolm player.

“In match play anything can happen. You can play really well one day and the other guy plays better, or you can play badly and win. Match play is weird that way.”

Fraser Walters among the locals to look out for

A field of 256 players will tackle Gullane No 1 and No 2 over the opening two days on Tuesday and Wednesday, with the top 64 progressing to the knock-out stage.

Other likely contenders include Ross Laird, who played in this year’s Palmer Cup, as well as Battle Trophy winner Andrew Davidson while locals to look out for include newly-crowned Lothians champion Jamie Duguid and rising star Fraser Walters from Craigielaw.