MERIT WINNER BORROWMAN SAYS HE'S NOT READY TO TURN PRO

NEWS RELEASE FROM THE SGU

Scott Borrowman, a member of Scotland’s victorious Home Internationals team, has expressed his delight after capping his year by winning the 2012 SGU Men’s Order of Merit.

Borrowman, the 25-year-old from Dollar, has finished top of the standings after a hugely consistent season and will receive his title at the glittering Annodata Scottish Golf Awards next spring.

The former national youths champion made his full Scotland debut in the Home Internationals at Glasgow Golf Club’s Gailes Links last month and played his part in the host nation’s first triumph for six years, collecting one and a half points. Borrowman posted an impressive six top-10s in 11 merit counting events, including a runner-up finish in the Newlands Trophy and third place at both the Leven Gold Medal and the East of Scotland Stroke Play Championship.

The Clackmannanshire player finished just nine ranking points ahead of the fast-finishing Adam Dunton (McDonald Ellon) and his fellow Home Internationals team-mate Matthew Clark (Kilmacolm). Dunton’s win at the final event – the South East District Championship – saw him come up just short of Borrowman’s 285-point total. Downfield’s Ross Bell, another Scotland debutant, finished just outside the medal places in fourth spot with 268 points to his name.

Borrowman, who becomes is the second player from the Clackmannanshire area to win the Order of Merit title in the last five years following Callum Macaulay’s success in 2007 and follows last year’s winner James White, who finished 13^th in this season’s rankings, said: “Winning the Home Internationals was such a highlight and now it’s a great year to also win the Order of Merit.

“It’s frustrating I’ve not won in 2012, but I’ve been consistent throughout and moved in the right direction the whole year. I’ve already begun working on what I need to do this winter, like my short game. I’ve won the Order of Merit, but the target for next year is to win on the circuit.

“I’d like to thank my coach Gregor Monks (Scottish Golf National Academy Coach – Central Region) who has worked as hard as I have. I see to speak to him most weeks and he’s always willing to help. That has kept me quite consistent this year.”

Borrowman, who combines his golf while working for a local removal company, will stay as an amateur next year but has designs on the professional game.

“My ambition is still to turn professional, I’d love to be able to do that, but I’ve been working full-time for the last two years really so it’s hard to juggle both,” he added. “It’s a decision I would have to make with my family. But, right now, I’m not ready to be a pro.”