Alyth’s Kevin McAlpine stepped up his comeback from injury as he squeezed into the second round of the Scottish Amateur championship at Royal Troon.

The 24-year-old 2006 champion has returned to action after seven months out of the game following a cruciate ligament injury which required surgery.

And McAlpine had to fight his way back from four down after the first nine holes against Stuart Smith to claim a one-hole win on the last green.

McAlpine, who will now face Scott Stewart-Cation on Wednesday, said: “Being out was quite depressing and like any sportsman I was desperate to play again.

“When you’re on the sidelines for so long you wonder if you still have it but my love for golf drove me on.

“I had no real expectations but it was great to taste competitive action again.”

Meanwhile Paul McKellar struck another blow for golf’s golden oldies by knocking one of the top young guns out of the Allied Surveyors Scottish Amateur Championship at Royal Troon.

McKellar, 53, used his years of his experience to triumph over 19-year-old prospect Michael Stewart 4 & 3 in the opening round.

The pick of his shots was a brilliant 30-foot putt for a Birdie on 15.

And coming so soon after veteran Tom Watson’s runner-up finish at the Open, former Walker Cup player McKellar admitted he had not followed the script by knocking Stewart out in front of an expectant crowd.

He said: “Michael is obviously very highly rated and I suppose I felt a bit like the man who shot Santa as he had all his family out watching.

“Things started to go my way on the back nine and that putt at 12 was a big moment as I think that really sickened him.”

No. 1 seed Gavin Dear laid down a marker in his 6 & 5 defeat over Joe Lockie.