GARRICK PORTEOUS WINS SCOTTISH STROKE PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP BY FOUR STROKES
Picture by courtesy of Kenny Smith
MEDIA RELEASE FROM SCOTTISH GOLF UNION
By ED HODGE
Garrick
Porteous became the third Englishman in the last five years to claim
the Scottish Amateur Stroke Play Championship, winning the Carrick
Neill-sponsored event,
by four strokes at a blustery Southerness today.
On
the beautiful Solway Firth, Porteous further heightened his Walker Cup
claims by building on his overnight one-shot lead for his first major
success.
The
23-year-old from Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland, ranked 67th in the
World Amateur Golf Ranking, has quickly gone one better than his
runner-up result at the
Welsh Stroke Play last month.
Porteous
finished on one-over-par 277, four clear of Irish pair Dermot McElroy
(Ballymena), who eagled the last for a best-of-the-day two-under 67, and
Richard O’Donovan
(Lucan), as well as Moor Park’s Callum Shinkwin.
Of
the Scots, three finished inside the top-10, indeed seven in the top-20
– Jack McDonald, Scott Borrowman, James Ross, Charlie Macneal, home
member Scott Gibson,
Ewan Scott and Sam Binning.
McDonald
of Kilmarnock (Barassie), the 2012 Scottish Amateur Golfer of the Year,
was top Scot in sixth place after a superb closing round of 68, while
Dollar’s Borrowman
rallied to share seventh and James Ross of Royal Burgess tied for
ninth.
SGU
Men’s Performance Squad player McDonald was six shots adrift of
Porteous and the 20-year-old was left to reflect on a double-bogey on
the par-5 18th on day one
that ultimately hit his hopes.
After
a pleasant start to the final 36 holes with only a light breeze, the
wind, a factor overall all three days, again picked up to make scoring
hugely difficult
– but Porteous reigned supreme.
The
England Golf National Squad player, a graduate of the University of
Tennessee, said: “I’ve had a lot of top-five finishes, but this is my
first win so it’s special.
“It
was just a grind. The Lytham Trophy was tough last month, but this was
colder and windier. I was just solid inside six feet, with some great up
and downs.”
Asked
of his Walker Cup hopes, he said: “It’s a big win for me early in the
season, so we’ll just wait and see. There are more big events to come,
as it’s a hectic
time.”
McDonald
was pleased with his week’s work, feeling he can now focus on his golf
after finishing a pure maths exam at the University of Stirling late
last month.
In his afternoon round of level-par 69, he was a model of consistency, carding just one five – a par at the final hole.
“It
was really tough in the wind, but that’s as good as I’ve played this
year,” said the 20-year-old. “I feel my game is coming back after my
exam. I only had the
one this year, as I’ve still two years left at Stirling, and it’s out
of my head now.”
McDonald,
coached by Gregor Howie and Dean Robertson, added: “I’ve been playing
really nicely and not getting the results, so hopefully I can kick on
now this summer.”
The biggest recovery story came from Borrowman, the reigning SGU Men’s Order of Merit champion.
The
26-year-old holed out a 150-yard pitching wedge for an eagle three on
Saturday to make the cut on 10-over-par with nothing to spare. Rounds of
69 and 70 followed
to secure his top-10 finish.
“I
struggled over the first two days to get the ball in play and I didn’t
think I would make the weekend, to be honest,” said Borrowman.
“I had a bad run of holes at the end of the second round, with a double bogey on 15 and then bogeys on 16 and 17.
“So
to hole my pitching wedge was massive. I knew it was close but didn’t
see the ball finish, so put my club in the bag and started walking.
“Then I saw Matt Clark waving his arms about at the green and I knew it was in.
“I
was a shot away from missing the cut and now I’ve finished inside the
top 10, so it’s turned out a quite nice weekend for me.”
SGU
Boys’ Performance Squad player Scott, from St Andrews, secured a
creditable tie for 16th spot, as the 18-year-old continued his progress
at Men’s level, with
Macneal of Prestwick sharing 11th.
But
there were disappointing final rounds for the Scottish Boys champion
Bradley Neil (81) and Irish Open joint runner-up Graeme Robertson (80)
as they slipped well
down the field.
Aussie
Brady Watt, the second-ranked amateur in the world, also found the
going tough, finishing on 23-over-par, one stroke more than Neil.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 276 (4x69)
277 G Porteous (Bamburgh Castle) 68 69 72 68281 D McElroy (Ballymena) 69 70 75 67, R O’Donovan (Lucan) 68 70 72 71, C Shinkwin (Moor Park) 71 68 70 72282 N Kimsey (Woodhall Spa) 66 77 70 69283 J McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie) 71 72 72 68
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 276 (4x69)
277 G Porteous (Bamburgh Castle) 68 69 72 68281 D McElroy (Ballymena) 69 70 75 67, R O’Donovan (Lucan) 68 70 72 71, C Shinkwin (Moor Park) 71 68 70 72282 N Kimsey (Woodhall Spa) 66 77 70 69283 J McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie) 71 72 72 68
Labels: Amateur Men
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Sunday, June 02, 2013
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