Oban’s Robert MacIntyre couldn’t hide his disappointment after missing the cut on his Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open debut.
Playing alongside Rory McIlroy and Rickie Fowler, the 22-year-old missed out by a stroke after following up an opening 68 with a 70 for a four-under total.
But the Glencruitten member, who now heads to Royal Portrush for his maiden major appearance, says it was a competition he won’t forget.
He said: “The support I have had this week has been great. At the start of the week, if you had said I would finish four under after playing two rounds with those two, I would have probably taken it.
“But with the way I was playing, I should have made this cut no bother so to miss it is going to be a sore one. I’m 22, it is a dream to play with these guys. I thought I put up a good fight. I’m just gutted to miss out.”
Five of the 15 Scots made the cut with Crook of Devon’s Calum Hill leading the way on 10 under followed by Glaswegian Scott Jamieson after he birdied the closing three holes to reach eight under with an excellent 64.
Grant Forrest and Richie Ramsay are seven under, while David Drysdale made the mark on five under.
However, it was disappointment for Marc Warren and Stephen Gallacher, who missed by a shot. Warren shot his second 69 in a row, while Gallacher improved his opening 70 by two strokes but fell just short.
Inverness golfer Russell Knox, also in the field for next week’s major, exited on two under after successive rounds of 70, while Liam Johnston (-2), Fraserburgh’s Kris Nicol and Greenock’s Chris Doak (both -1) also missed out.
Aberdeen’s Paul Lawrie finished level after rounds of 73 and 69 but described his second round as “encouraging” ahead of next week’s Open. Glasgow’s Scott Henry also finished level, while Aberdeen’s David Law was six over after a 77 and 71.