ALEXANDER CULVERWELL IS NEW SCOTTISH AMATEUR CHAMPION
FEELING JUST CHAMPION! SCOTTISH AMATEUR CHAMPION ALEXANDER CULVERWELL WITH THE TROPHY. Picture by courtesy of KENNY SMITH
FROM THE SCOTTISH GOLF UNION WEBSITE
By ED HODGE, PR and Media Executive, SGU
Dunbar’s Alexander Culverwell tonight
achieved his biggest success in the game after seeing off James White in
a tight tussle to win the Fairstone Scottish Amateur Championship.
The
25-year-old was never behind in claiming a 2 and 1 victory in the
36-hole final over Blairgowrie’s pristine Lansdowne Course. There were
never more than three holes in it during a tense, closely-fought
contest, but Culverwell’s overall steady play ultimately saw him home.
In
following in the footsteps of Craigielaw’s Grant Forrest who won the
event last year, Culverwell keeps the Scottish Golf Union’s flagship
title in the Lothians, while joining an impressive winners’ list that
includes Ronnie Shade, Charlie Green, Colin Montgomerie, Stephen
Gallacher and Dean Robertson.
Culverwell’s previous biggest success to date was his 2011 victory at the Battle Trophy on the SGU Men’s Order of Merit.
“I’m
ecstatic, it’s unbelievable. I didn’t expect to do this at the start of
the week but I knew I could potentially do it,” said Culverwell, who is
going into his final year at the University of Stirling, where he is
coached by former European Tour winner Robertson. “I just tried to play
some good, solid golf and thankfully today it was good enough. It’s an
amazing feeling.
“I’ve beaten some good
names this week and James is a great player too. He tried to keep the
ball in play, much as I did. That’s the key element on the golf course.”
Lundin’s
White, the SGU Men’s Performance Squad player who won the SGU Order of
Merit in 2011, added: “My swing just wasn’t there today, I kind of
struggled right from the off.”
Having
taken the scalps of former Boys’ Stroke Play champion Greig Machbank and
Forrest, Culverwell was in confident mood on a pleasant, if breezy day.
He birdied the first two holes and was three-under-par through eight
holes to hold a three-hole lead at the turn.
But
White reduced his arrears to one at lunch after a fine approach to the
16th which struck the flag and Culverwell’s failure to pitch up and down
at the 18th. Culverwell was round in one-under-par 71, a shot better
than his opponent.
Good crowds enjoyed
the action, with two-time Ryder Cup player Tommy Horton, Honorary
Captain for the Junior Ryder Cup at Blairgowrie next year, among them.
The
blustery conditions continued after lunch and it was the Lothians man
who edged back two-ahead at the 21st after White sliced into the trees
off the tee. The Fifer hit back at the next after Culverwell went long,
but it was back to two when Culverwell fired closed at the short 23rd
and White struggled from the bunker.
Still,
White refused to go away and chipped in at the 25th to win before
scrambling well for pars at the next two to mean Culverwell was only one
ahead at the turn.
However, White again
went into the trees to the right of the 29th and his bogey cost him the
hole. Culverwell made a nice birdie at the 30th to ease a vital three
ahead, only to concede the next and give White hope.
Three holes were halved, the 16th with birdies, before Culverwell’s par-5 at the 35th was good enough for success.
“Zander
played solid, really nicely, and made it difficult for me,” added
White. “Zander hit more fairways and greens than me, so fair play to him
in tough conditions. I battled my hardest to make it a close game and 2 and 1 is probably fair enough.”
Culverwell,
meanwhile, reserved praise for Walker Cup hopeful Graeme Robertson who
stepped in to caddy in the final after his girlfriend, the former
Scotland international Becka Wilson, had to work this morning and put
down the bag.
“Zander played really well,
he was really steady. I guess I’m his lucky charm this week as I was
caddying for him when he won the Battle Trophy in 2011,” said Becka
after the prizegiving. “I try and caddy for him in Order of Merit events
when I can, but this week is obviously special now.”
Blairgowrie
staged the Scottish Amateur Championship for the first time and were
superb hosts with the Lansdowne layout simply immaculate. See you all at
Downfield in 2014!
>> Click here for videos and photos from the Championship on SGU Facebook Labels: Amateur Men
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