Connor aims to drive his way to Links Trophy title

Connor Syme is gearing up to take part in one of the strongest amateur competitions of the season.

Played over St Andrews’ New and Old Courses, the St Andrews Links Trophy attracts the world’s leading amateur golfers to north east Fife each year.

Past players have gone on to enjoy success on the PGA and European tours, notably Ernie Els, Lee Westwood, Trevor Immelman, Geoff Ogilvy, Padraig Harrington, Justin Rose and Rory McIlroy.

The R&A World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR) ranks the St Andrews Links Trophy as one of the strongest amateur tournaments in the world, based on strength of field, and it is arguably one of the strongest outside the Amateur Championship in the British Isles.

Nobody is better prepared to win the competition that the in-form local golfer Syme.

At the beginning of the season he won the Australian Amateur Championship in Melbourne.

Over the weekend he was in contention at the Carrick Neill Scottish Open Stroke Play Championship at Gullane.

A third round 65 saw him compete at the top of the leader board, bidding to become the first home player to take the title since Wallace Booth eight years ago.

But all found Australian Cameron John too good and he shot an amateur course record 63 on his way to victory.