Connor shows he's top Down Under

The reigning Australian Amateur champion, from Drumoig, made the trip Down under to compete in three tournaments.

The second event, the New South Wales Open, saw him tie for 20th place in a field of experienced pros.

The highlight of the trip to Oz was his appearance at the Australian Open, a massive tour event which attracted some of the biggest names in golf, Adam Scott and eventual winner Jordan Spieth amongst them.

But Syme, who intends to stay amateur for another couple of seasons, showed no signs of inferiority to his competition, eventually missing the cut mark by just two shots.

Speaking to the Herald and Citizen this week, he said: “It was obviously disappointing to miss the cut by a few shots in the end.

“The first two events had gone ok.

“The New South Wales Open was good until a slightly disappointing last round but it was great experience.

“I’ll learn a lot from this trip that’s for sure.”

Syme is to continue his learning experience with Scottish Golf after he, along with Chloe Goadby from St Regulus, were been selected for the 2016/17 national squad.

Their inclusion sees the pair given support across the season by Scottish Golf - and the body has typically pulled out all the stops to help aid their development.

Historically squad players from Scotland have been taken to the UAE for off season training in the winter, but this year that’s been switched to the Bishops Gate Golf Academy in Florida.

The intensive winter training camp – part funded through support from national team sponsors Aberdeen Asset Management, the Alfred Dunhill Links Foundation and sportscotland – will see each player work over different periods from 19 November 19 to December 10.

Helped by members of the Scottish Golf coaching team – including national coach Ian Rae and girls’ and boys’ coaches David Patrick and Spencer Henderson – the group, some of them already based in the States at colleges, will work closely on their games, as well as being involved in physical screening and strength and conditioning work, taking advantage of the warm winter climate, with further input from sportscotland institute of sport staff.

“This is another great opportunity for the players to work on their golfing skills and fitness for an extended period,” said Rae, who was delighted to welcome European Tour winner Scott Jamieson to a squad session in St Andrews earlier this week before the US departure.

“It is a fantastic facility, an hour from Orlando, and the camp will allow us to improve links with the US-based players and their coaches.

“There will be 17 players involved in total across the three weeks.

“We want to build on what’s been another successful season.”

Syme, though, didn’t head to the States due to his involvement at the events in Australia.