by Adam Todd

FORMER Irvine golfer Jack Doherty narrowly missed the cut at the 2017 Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open.

The ex-North Gailes professional, who now plays out of Rowallan Castle in Kilmarnock failed to repeat last year's heroics at Castle Stuart as he came agonisingly close to making the weekend, missing out by just a single shot.

The Scot carded a one-over par 73 on the opening day of the flagship tournament at Dundonald Links and was left frustrated at the end of his round after making a bogey on the last.

His second round was a better affair with the Kilmarnock-based player hitting a one-under par 71 to take him back to level par overall despite playing in the worse of Friday’s conditions.

However, despite making the cut at the domestic showpiece last year, Doherty, who plays out of Rowallan Castle, was one of 16 players who missed the cut by one shot with fellow Scots Russell Knox and Marc Warren also failing to progress to the weekend on the same score.

Speaking after his second round, Doherty said: “Overall, I wasn’t far away, obviously you want to make the cut, but I was here competing and gave myself a chance so can’t be too unhappy.”

“It’s always nice to play in the big events and this is one of the biggest on the European Tour and it was nice to be a part of it. It’s so nice to stay in your own bed for a tournament, and it’s not very often you get friends and family getting the chance to watch you.”

Doherty will now go back to the Challenge Tour for the rest of the year with the Scot aiming to get a full European Tour card for next season so he can play in golf’s biggest tournaments more regularly.