Jamie McLeary notches first pro win

in Scottish Challenge at Aviemore

From Michael Gibbons, Challenge Tour Press Officer
Jamie McLeary finished off a superb weekend for the Challenge Tour’s Scottish contingent by becoming the first home winner of the event since its inception in 2006.
The 28 year old (pictured right by Cal Carson Golf Agency)stormed to a two stroke victory - his first as a professional - from Italy’s Edoardo Molinari at the Macdonald Spey Valley course, Aviemore to pick up the £27,500 first prize and set up a golden opportunity to win a place on The European Tour next season via the top 20 on the Challenge Tour Rankings.
McLeary’s victory moved him from 57th to 11th on the Rankings with 10 events of the season remaining. The top 20 players at the end of the Challenge Tour season gain promotion to The European Tour.
With an eight under par total of 276, the record books will show that McLeary recorded an easy victory but he was under pressure throughout the day until his nearest challenger, overnight leader Molinari, came unstuck with a double bogey 6 at the 15th hole.
“I didn’t really know the situation until the 15th. I had birdied 13 and 14 and then I asked my dad (James) where I was because that was going to determine what I did off the 17th. Someone from Scottish Hydro actually told me that Edoardo had double-bogeyed 15 so I decided to play 17 very conservatively and it all worked out alright in the end.
“I would have been happy with second or first this week and I had checked with my dad what third place was and he said that I was three ahead of that. It is a great feeling to win my first event as a pro. I am delighted to finally get over the line. I was second in this event two years ago and it is very satisfying for me.
“Since this event started in 2006 everyone who has won this event has gone onto get their Tour card and that is what we all want to do. The challenge Tour is a great place to learn your trade but we all want to playing on The European Tour and seeing how we do against the best players in the world. I am in the top 20 on the Rankings now and have to try and stay there.”
Joining McLeary in that all-important top 20 is Fifer Peter Whiteford, who took third place at the Macdonald Spey Valley Golf Club to claim £12,000 and move to 13th on the Rankings.
Former Open Champion Paul Lawrie finished the week in 50th spot after a disappointing weekend performance, but the exposure he brought to the event certainly made his appearance worthwhile.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS

Par 284 (4x71)
276 Jamie McLeary (Sco) 69 67 72 68 (32,000 Euros).
278 Edoardo Molinari (Ita) 69 71 67 71 (22,000 Euros).
279 Peter Whiteford (Sco) 70 70 70 69 (14,000 Euros).
281 Peter Baker (Eng)( 68 72 72 69, Carlos Rodiles (Spa) 70 74 71 66.
282 Sion E Bebb (Wal) 68 74 69 71, Gary Boyd (Eng) 75 71 68 68, Scott Jamieson (Sco) 70 68 73 71, James Ruebotham (Eng) 71 69 68 74, Steve Surry (Eng) 76 69 73 64, Mark Tullo (Eng) 72 689 73 69 (5,533 Euros each).
Selected scores:
288 Scott Henderson (Sco) 72 73 74 69, Andrew McArthur (Sco) 67 73 72 76, Andrew Oldcorn (Sco) 72 69 77 70 (jt 27th, 1,600 Euros each).
289 Greig Hutcheon (Sco) 70 76 71 72, Duncan Stewart (Sco) 71 72 75 71 (jt 36th, 1,280 Euros each).
290 Ross Cameron (Sco) 70 71 78 71 (jt 43rd, 1040 Euros)
292 Paul Lawrie (Sco) 71 71 75 75, Eric Ramsay (Sco) 71 75 74 72 (jt 50th, 795 Euros each).
298 Raymond Russell (Sco) 74 70 71 83 (64th, 540 Euros).