Excitement has started to build in advance of the 2021 Anstruther Medal following the qualifying round draw.

The Anstruther Medal will kick-off with a a qualifying round that will see winners progress into the Medal bracket and losers move into the Plate bracket. In total a team will need to win 3 matches in a row to lift the Medal trophy.

Let's take a look at the four qualifying round matches.

Match 1 - Green/McColgan v Baxter/Brannan

Green/McColgan land themselves with a first match draw against a pairing that must be considered one of the favourites to lift the medal. However Green/McColgan have all the potential to cause an upset in the qualifying round and with both teams playing the course for the first time who knows what could happen. Baxter/Brannan is a partnership that could find themselves dovetailing really well, and it will be important for them to do so. Both players have birdies in them but they both the potential for bad holes too. Ensuring they don't have bad holes at the same time will be vital.

Match 2 - Cunningham/Seath v Hamilton/Lynch

This match ahs turned on its head since the teams were initially announced. Allan/Duncan's withdrawal has seen the pre-tournament favourites blow the tournament wide open. Cunningham/Seath however could step right into their shoes. A strong pairing who's steady golf could fair them well across the Fourball format. However, in their way stands a partnership that has a both a strong understanding of each others game and the potential to match boom with bust that could see them dovetailing well and going deep into the tournament.

Match 3 - Love/McCran v Robertson/Strachan

Make no mistake, whilst this match has the highest combined handicaps , it will be fiercely contested, and the winner might find themselves with the confidence to go all the way . Love/McCran is the "People's Partnership" and will fight for every shot out there. Robertson/Strachan might be slightly better tempered but the combination of steady play and power could see them over power the course and their opponents.

Match 4 - Kinnear/Sutherland v Connor/Peck

All eyes will be on Kinnear to see if he can over power this course. The big hitter has a strong track record in pairs formats on Tour, going 3 for 3 in Greensomes matches at the RyDov Cup. However how will he fair in the Fourball format compared to alternate shot. Their opponents Connor/Peck are hugely underrated in the Medal, they are two consistent players with strong golfing pedigree, which will stand them in good stead in the matchplay format.

The inaugural Anstruther Medal will take place on Sunday 1st August 2021 at Anstruther Golf Club.