Opening Golf to the World
Championships
Morton and Volckens claim early advantages at Boys’ and Girls’ Amateur
10 Aug 26
5 mins
Frankie Morton made an early statement of intent as the English teenager set the standard on day one of qualifying in The R&A Boys’ Amateur Championship at Gailes Links.
The 17-year-old from Essex, who is making his debut in the under-18s showpiece, carded a nicely assembled seven-under-par 64 to finish two shots clear of Daniil Sokolov from Qatar and Spain’s Gonzalo Banos Ramos. The winner of the Lagonda Trophy earlier this season, Morton reeled off eight birdies in total with his only dropped shot coming on the 16th. It was a minor bump in the road as he responded swiftly with a brace of birdies to finish at 17 and 18. “I’ve had a good season so far and this was a continuation of that form,” said last year’s English under-18s champion. “I just tried to be sensible off the tee, keep my ball in play and go for it when a chance opened up. “The Boys’ Amateur is one event that’s straight in the diary. It would be a great one to win but there’s a long way to go before we start thinking about that.” Sokolov, the Russian-born 15-year-old who has spent the last decade or so in Qatar, continued his links education at Gailes Links and passed this latest test with flying colours. Back in May, Sokolov missed the cut in the Scottish Men’s Open Amateur Championship after rounds of 76 and 70 over the same Ayrshire course.
Daniil Sokolov enjoyed an impressive opening day at the Boys' Amateur.
He returned with purpose and a five-under 66, while playing in the very first group of the day, left him well-placed in the qualifying race.
“I struggled a bit here the last time but it was my first time playing links golf and I wasn’t quite sure how to deal with it,” admitted last year’s Pan Arab Junior champion. “But I have learned from that coming into this week.”
Sokolov has racked up numerous junior wins in the Middle East and has played in the Qatar Masters on the DP World Tour. Of other notables today, Banos Ramos, the winner of the Spanish Amateur Strokeplay title this season, picked up three birdies just after the turn in his 66 while Ireland’s Adam Fahey and Scotsman, Aidan Lawson, opened with 68s.
Elsewhere, Cecilie Volckens sits atop the leaderboard after the opening round of The R&A Girls’ Amateur Championship at Craigielaw.
Cecilie Volckens leads the Girls' Amateur at Craigielaw.
The 16-year-old German carded a five-under-par 66, with Hong Kong’s Sabrina Wong two shots off the lead. Fourteen-year-old Wong is chasing silverware and exemptions.
This week’s winner, by tradition, earns an invitation to the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, along with entry into the 2027 Women’s Amateur, the US Girls’ Junior Championship and Final Qualifying for the 2027 AIG Women’s Open.
“Winning this week and getting an invite to Augusta were my two big goals at the start of this season,” the Scottish-based Hong Kong native admitted. “Getting to play Augusta would be a dream come true.”
Wong, the highest-ranked player in the field, is seeking to add this title to the Girls’ U16 title she won last year to emulate Scotland’s Hannah Darling, who also won both championships.
Volckens made eight birdies in her round as she looks to add to a fine fourth-place finish in the Girls’ U16 in April. Compatriot Lena Geier is a shot behind in second place on four-under.
Hannah Ounap leads the home charge. The 17-year-old Loudoun Gowf member is tied for third on three-under with Wong and Czech Republic player Anna Ludvova.
The Girls' Amateur Championship is taking place at Craigielaw.