Matthew Clark is looking for a Kilmacolm double at Royal Troon this week in the Amateur Championship.
He opened his qualifying campaign with a two-over 73 round the tough Open venue to stay on course for one of the 64 match-play spots on offer.
Clark's Kilmacolm clubmate Andrew Farmer won the British Mid-Amateur title at Royal Troon 12 years ago.
Clark said: "Andrew sent me a text reminding me of his win here and wishing me good luck.
"I wanted to have him on my bag this week as he knows the course well.
"This was a decent start but it could've been better. I had plenty of birdie chances."
At nearby Glasgow Gailes, Mount Ellen's Eamon Bradley made a solid start with a one-over 72.
The former West of Scotland Boys' stroke-play champ had three bogeys in a row from the seventh but he repaired some of the damage with a hat-trick of birdies at 12, 13 and 14.
Balmore's Fraser McKenna, a double winner on the domestic scene this season, birdied the first and 18th at Gailes on his way to an opening 73, while Kirkhill's Paul Shields had a 74. Drumpellier's Steven Rennie had a nine-over 80.
Elsewhere, Lee Westwood plans to move to America at the end of the year in a bid to maximise the remainder of his playing career.
The 39-year-old, who lives in Nottinghamshire, has yet to claim a major despite winning 40 professional titles.
Westwood said: "With our weather it is hard to practise when you want. I want to give myself the best chance of staying there as long as I can."