An eagle three at Muirfield’s 17th hole helped Banchory’s James Byrne book his place in the match play stages of The Amateur Championship as he finished tied second in the stroke play qualifying.

The 21-year-old Scotland international posted a second round two-under par 69 over the famous East Lothian links, finishing strongly with a birdie two at the 16th before eagling the next. His aggregate of 137 left in a group of three players in a tie for second place, two behind last year’s Scottish Stroke Play Champion Tommy Fleetwood who topped the pile after a superb 65 at North Berwick.

Fraserburgh’s Jordan Findlay posted his second consecutive 71 to finish on level par to qualify in 45th place, the same mark as St Andrews Trophy runner-up Philip McLean, Kirkhill’s Paul Shields and Aberdour’s Scott Crichton after the Fifer’s excellent second round 68.