Tournament sponsored by Kings Links Golf Centre in its 25th year

Kyle Godsman wins NE District Open by a shot

 Jim Hunter, president of the North-east District of the SGU, tournament winner Kyle Godsman, and Chris Law, representative of sponsors Kings Links Golf Centre. Picture by Cal Carson Golf Agency


By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Moray Golf Club member Kyle Godsman, 24, from Hopeman achieved his first SGU 72-hole Order of Merit tournament victory at Cruden Bay today when he won the North-east District Open amateur championship by one stroke in a tight finish.
The tournament was again sponsored by the Kings Links Golf Centre, Aberdeen, now in its 25th year
Godsman finished third in this event 12 months ago and last year lost a play-off for the North of Scotland Open stroke-play so he deserved a change of luck.
He won the prestigious title, the trophy and the maximum £500 amateur voucher prize in the end with a closing round of two-over-par 72 for an aggregate of two-over 282, a total surpisingly high in relatively benign conditions which substantiates the belief that Cruden Bay, although short of 7,000yds in length makes up for the lack of distance by being one of the toughest par-70 links in the business.
Godsman, who played on the American college circuit for four years, shared the halfway lead with Cameron Franssen (Inverness) and broke two shots clear of the field, even with a third-round 72 for level par 210 over 54 holes.
Franssen slipped back with a 78 for 216 and Liam Johnston (Dumfries and County), with a 73 for 212, took over as the leader's main challenge, albeit still two shots off the pace.
The final round was not without its crises for Godsman who had a double bogey at the second and another at the ninth. Birdies at the first, third and fourth helped him to reach the turn in two-over-par 38.
Three putts for a bogey at the 12th had Godsman rocking a bit but a birdie at the 13th calmed him down and he parred the remaining holes to hold Johnston, another former US college circuit player, at bay by a single shot.
"I knew I had a slender lead if any coming down the closing holes but birdies were hard to come by so I set my sights on parring the last five holes and thought that might be good enough to win," said Godsman who works full time in the winter to finance his golfing travels during the competitive season.
His ambition is still to gain a Scotland cap before he considers turning professional.
Johnston signed off with a 73 for 283, one behind the winner.
"I bogeyed the 14th and 16th in the final round," said Johnston. "And that made the difference between victory and defeat."
Cameron Franssen finished third with a level par 70 - the best score of the afternoon - for 286.
Brother Rory finished fifth with a 70 for 290.
The trophy for the best performance by a North-east player was won by young Chris Lamb (Newmachar) who finished 10th overall on 293

 AND A WORD FROM THE SPONSORS
Paul Girvan, director of the Kings Links Golf Centre, said: “We have always been a keen supporter of amateur golf and to mark our 25th anniversary, we are proud to be title sponsor of the North-east’s flagship amateur championship event. It’s been great to see so many familiar faces out playing this weekend and on behalf of Kings Links, our congratulations go to Kyle Godsman, a true champion on one of the best links courses in the country. Many thanks to the North East District Association and Cruden Bay Golf Club for organising and hosting such a fantastic event.”