DAVID WILSON COMES BACK FROM SIX DOWN TO WIN AT 38TH

David Wilson receives the Scottish boys' championship trophy from SGU vice-president Maurice Shields. Image by courtesy of SGU photographer Joe Kelly.

FROM THE SCOTTISH GOLF UNION WEBSITE
Troon Welbeck’s David Wilson produced an astonishing comeback to beat Dumfries and County’s Liam Johnston at the second extra hole of a pulsating 36-hole final to lift the Scottish boys' championship at Dunbar today.
The 16-year-old from Troon’s championship challenge looked dead and buried as he found himself eight down after the first 15 holes, six down at the end of the first round  and still seven down with 14 holes to play.
But David, a clubmate of Michael Stewart who won the Under-18s national title in 2008 and the Scottish men's amateur championship last year, fought back with a superb display of golf in the afternoon round to become the first play-off winner of the event since Andrew Coltart’s triumph at the same venue back in 1985.
Johnston, runner-up in the SGU Boys’ Order of Merit last season, had a 10ft eagle chance to close out victory at the 37th hole, but his putt failed to drop, allowing Wilson to take the match up the 38th after he calmly rolled in his birdie putt from three feet.
Playing the par five second extra hole, Johnston’s approach shot sailed over the green. He faced a difficult up and down for par which he couldn’t convert, leaving Wilson two putts for a championship-winning par.
An elated Wilson commented: “Once I got a couple of holes back at the end of the morning round I knew I had a chance. My putting finally game good and I managed to get some momentum going after that.”

“It’s fantastic to win such a big tournament and it gives me belief I can on and achieve more. I feel for Liam as he played great this morning but I’m obviously delighted to have fought back so well this afternoon.” added Wilson, who becomes the third winner of the championship from the Troon Welbeck club after Andrew McQueen (1985) and Michael Stewart (2008).

In the morning round, Johnston looked the more assured player and was eight holes in front after pitching in for birdie from 30 yards at the par four 15th. Just as it looked like the Dumfries 18-year-old was running away with the match, Wilson responded to win the 16th and 17th and salvaged an important half at the 18th to be six down at the halfway stage.

Johnston extended his lead to seven after almost holing a bunker shot for eagle at the 22nd and Wilson three-putted for a par, but the Troon youngster bounced back immediately with a fine birdie 2 at the short 23rd and won the next after a Johnston bogey.
The gap was reduced to four after Wilson holed a 20-foot putt at the 26th and he found himself just three down after sinking a 6-foot birdie putt at the 27th.
The fightback continued as he won the 30th and 32nd, but Johnston halted the momentum by winning the 33rd and had a chance to win the match at the 35th, but three-putted from long range after an excellent bunker shot approach.
Wilson’s razor-sharp short game helped him save par at the 36th holes to extend the match as Johnston’s 30-foot par attempt slipped past.
Despite his loss, an upbeat Johnston said afterwards: “I found too many bunkers this afternoon off the tee and that’s when it started to slip. I had my chances to win but all credit to David who played great under pressure and produced some fantastic golf. However, I can take a lot of positives from the week and reaching the final.”

FINAL (36 holes)

David Wilson (Troon Welbeck) bt Liam Johnson (Dumfries and Co) at the 38th.

In the morning round
Johnston won ten holes (2nd, 4th, 5th, 7th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 15th).

Wilson won four  holes (3rd, 8th, 16th, 17th).

Four holes were halved (1st, 6th, 14th, 18th).

Johnston six up after 18 holes.

AFTERNOON ROUND:
19th Halved.
20th Halved.
21st Halved.
22nd Johnston won to go seven up.
23rd Wilson won to be six down.
24th Wilson won to be five down.
25th Halved.
26th Wilson won to be four down.
27th Wilson won to be three down.
28th Halved.
29th Halved.
30th Wilson won to be two down.
31st Halved.
32nd Wilson won to be one down.
33rd Johnston won to be two up
34th Halved - Johnston two up with two to play.
35th Wilson won to be one down.
36th Wilson won to square the match.
37th Halved.
38th Wilson won the hole and the match.

CHECK ALL THE FIGURES IN THE FINAL ON THE SGU WEBSITE


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