PEEBLES golfer Craig Howie equalled the Western Gailes course record on Saturday morning on his way to an impressive third place finish in the Carrick Neill Scottish Amateur Open Championship, boosting his Walker Cup chances.

The 22-year-old, who was fourth in the same event last year, produced a brilliant birdie blitz on the Ayrshire links during his second round to fire a seven-under par 64, giving him a share of the lead going into the final day of the country’s biggest amateur event.

An indifferent front nine on the third round hampered Craig's title chances.

But he fought back superbly to record two birdies and an eagle in his final five holes to go into the final round just one shot behind leader Liam Johnston from Dumfries & County.

Unfortunately, his momentum was halted in the closing round as Scotland team-mate Johnston pulled clear for his second major victory of the season, but Howie chipped in for a birdie three on the 72nd hole to clinch third place, with a 72-hole aggregate of 279, five-under par.

Having also performed well in the English equivalent a fortnight ago, Howie goes into this weekend’s St Andrews Links Trophy in good form, an event where he finished in the top-10 last year and tied third in 2015.

To follow Craig’s progress in The Home of Golf this weekend, visit www.standrews.com for live scoring.