Irish Walker Cup player Jonathan Caldwell secured his place in the matchplay stages of the British Amateur Championship at a windy Turnberry this morning.
The 23-year-old from Clandeboye mastered the testing conditions over the Ailsa course and battled to a one-over-par 71 for a three-under aggregate of 140 to set the early qualifying pace.
Caldwell, who helped Ireland win the European Team Championship title at Western Gailes last summer, made an early move with a 35-foot uphill putt for birdie at the sixth, and he found another at the ninth to reach the turn in 33.
As the wind strengthened, Caldwell fought against the elements on the inward half and despite spilling a trio of shots at 12, 13 and 17, the South Alabama University graduate was more than content with his effort over the course that will stage next year's Open.
'Given the conditions, I would have gladly taken a 71 at the start of the day,' said Caldwell, who picked up one-and-a-half points from a possible three during Great Britain and Ireland's narrow Walker Cup defeat to the US at County Down last September.
'The main aim is to qualify for the matchplay and now that I've got the first job out of the way I can prepare myself for the next stage.'
As Caldwell eased into the knockout phase, defending champion Drew Weaver of the US saw his hopes suffer a crippling blow as he slipped to a 78.
Weaver, who claimed an emotional win at Royal Lytham last season barely two months after emerging unscathed from the horror of the Virginia Tech College massacre, finished with an total of 153 and was set to miss the qualifying cut.
