Michael Stewart, winner of the Allied Surveyors Scottish amateur championship at Gullane (image by Cal Carson Golf Agency).

 JUST CHAMPION! THAT'S MICHAEL STEWART

THE 20-YEAR-OLD PRIDE OF AYRSHIRE

Michael Stewart, 20-year-old Troon Welbeck player, was the toast of Ayrshire golfers last night (Sunday), after winning the Allied Surveyors Scottish men’s amateur championship over the Gullane No 1 course at East Lothian.
Stewart, the No 3 seed and winner of the Scottish boys’ match-play championship in 2008, beat the unseeded Jordan Findlay, 22, from Fraserburgh and a long-time golfing buddy, by 3 and 2 in the 36-hole final.
The last Ayrshire man to win the national men’s title was Hugh McKibbin in 1996.
For once there is no danger of the new Scottish champion turning pro within a few months. Stewart has quit East Tennessee State University – where Findlay was also a student – halfway through a four-year course and intends to be a full-time amateur for the next 18 months.
The prime target for Stewart, backed by coach Ian Rae, is to win a place in the Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup team for next year’s match against the United States at Royal Aberdeen.
“It’s a great feeling to have won. Jordan didn’t give me any holes out there. I had to win them. I tried to put it to the back of my mind that we’re great friends and just played the best I could,” said Stewart.
Understandably, Findlay was very disappointed, the only consolation being that if he had to be beaten by someone then he was glad it was to one of his best golfing friends.
"From tee to green in the final, that was probably the best I've played well week. If only I had putted as well as I did in beating James Byrne in the semi-finals," said Jordan. "But I will be taking a lot of positives from the week. I think I am a better player now than I was when I failed to get through the Tour School first stage last year. I am think I am ready and better prepared to have another go at it."
THE MATCH
In windy conditions, Stewart took the lead for the first time by winning the sixth and the seventh in the morning. He was never pulled back to square by Findlay.
At the end of the first round, Stewart was four holes up, having gone round in three-under-par 68 to Findlay’s one-over 72.
Findlay’s title hopes were alive again when he slashed his deficit to two holes by winning the 20th with a birdie 3 and the 21st where Stewart lost his ball in the rough.
But the next eight holes were halved as the players wrestled to gain the initiative.
Findlay bogeyed the 29th – his first bogey in 20 successive holes – to put Stewart three up and the Ayrshire man promptly got an eagle 3 at the long 30th to regain a four-hole lead.
That was the decisive holes of the final.
Findlay came back with birdies at the short 31st and 33rd to get back to two down but he was rapidly running out of holes.
Stewart ended an absorbing final in the grand manner with a birdie 2 from 6ft at the short 34th.
For the day, Stewart was four under par and for the week he was more than 30 under par. And just think he was three down after 11 holes to Kyle McClung before beating him at the 20th in the second round.

FINAL (36 holes)
*Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) bt Jordan Findlay (Fraserburgh) X and X.

*denotes seeded player.

SCROLL DOWN TO READ A RUNNING REPORT OF THE FINAL

Jordan Findlay with the silver medal as beaten finalist and his American girl friend and caddie, Tara (image by Cal Carson Golf Agency.