McKinney Masters St Andrews Links

St Andrews, Scotland: Australian Amateur champion Connor McKinney received the perfect homecoming present when he triumphed in the St Andrews Links Trophy.

The Scottish-born Australian posted rounds of 71 and 65 over the Old Course after opening on the Jubilee with a 64 and a 72. His 16-under 272 gave him a two-shot victory from fellow Perth resident Adam Brady.

McKinney, who was born in Dunfermline but now lives in Perth, Australia, joins the top-30 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) with a move of 23 spots to 28th.

“To win the Australian Amateur was my previous highlight, but to win at the Home of Golf is pretty special, you can’t ask for more than that. I was born just an hour from here as well,” McKinney told Golf Australia.

He added: “Back in Perth nearly every afternoon we get a good bit of wind, and my home course (Joondalup) is pretty exposed to it, so even though it was tricky I was used to it.

“It’s pretty cool to play the course as it’s getting ready for the 150th Open. You’re picking the lines off the tee off the TV towers, and walking up 18 was a pretty special thing.”

McKinney is part of a Golf Australia development squad touring the United Kingdom to play in big amateur events, and he became the first Australian to win this event at the Home of Golf since Stuart Bouvier in 1990.