McLaren makes North-east District Open at
Newmachar his first ever 72-hole victory
Newmachar his first ever 72-hole victory
David Fleming, left, president of the North-east District of the SGU, with the championship
winner Stuart McLaren. Picture by Cal Carson Golf Agency
winner Stuart McLaren. Picture by Cal Carson Golf Agency
By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Edinburgh's Stuart McLaren, 22-year-old member of Bruntsfield Links Golfing Society, chalked up his first-ever victory in a 72-hole tournament at Newmachar Golf Club today (Sunday) when he won the North-east District Open by three strokes.
It was an event of "two halves" for Stuart. He was 10 under par at halfway with rounds of 69 and 65 for 134, but he was seven over par for the final 36 holes with rounds of 75 and 76 for 151.
"I hit my irons well on Saturday and my putting was good. The final two rounds were a bit of a scramble. I three-putted three times over the 72 holes, twice on Sunday," said investment banker McLaren who has won the Lothians Order of Merit and will be back at Newmachar next month as a member of their squad in the Scottish area team championship.
"Great to make my first four-round victory an Order of Merit event but to tell you the truth my feelings are more of relief than
anything else."
And nice to hear Stuart say that he would not be considering turning professional following this win. He has a good job with good prospects and he will always be an amateur golfer.
McLaren, who led by five shots at halfway and by eight after 54 holes, won in the end with a three-under tally of 285 - three strokes ahead of James Wilson (Balmore), who closed with a 68 for 288, and five ahead of third-placed Calum Fyfe (Cawder) who had a 68 in the third round.
McLaren was the only player in the field to have an under-par aggregate.
It might have been a different story had Newmachar player Gordon Munro, pictured right, lying second at halfway, not run up a 12 at the par-5 eighth in his third round, having hit four balls out of bounds. The round cost him an 83, 11 over par, and he finished joint seventh on 293, eight behind the winner.
Another Newmachar player, Christopher Lamb, had more to smile about. He won the trophy for the highest finish by a North-east player in the championship, finishing joint fourth on 292 alongside defending champion Stephen Roger (Cruden Bay) who lost out to Lamb in a comparison of their final rounds (72 to 73).
It was an event of "two halves" for Stuart. He was 10 under par at halfway with rounds of 69 and 65 for 134, but he was seven over par for the final 36 holes with rounds of 75 and 76 for 151.
"I hit my irons well on Saturday and my putting was good. The final two rounds were a bit of a scramble. I three-putted three times over the 72 holes, twice on Sunday," said investment banker McLaren who has won the Lothians Order of Merit and will be back at Newmachar next month as a member of their squad in the Scottish area team championship.
"Great to make my first four-round victory an Order of Merit event but to tell you the truth my feelings are more of relief than
anything else."
And nice to hear Stuart say that he would not be considering turning professional following this win. He has a good job with good prospects and he will always be an amateur golfer.
McLaren, who led by five shots at halfway and by eight after 54 holes, won in the end with a three-under tally of 285 - three strokes ahead of James Wilson (Balmore), who closed with a 68 for 288, and five ahead of third-placed Calum Fyfe (Cawder) who had a 68 in the third round.
McLaren was the only player in the field to have an under-par aggregate.
It might have been a different story had Newmachar player Gordon Munro, pictured right, lying second at halfway, not run up a 12 at the par-5 eighth in his third round, having hit four balls out of bounds. The round cost him an 83, 11 over par, and he finished joint seventh on 293, eight behind the winner.
Another Newmachar player, Christopher Lamb, had more to smile about. He won the trophy for the highest finish by a North-east player in the championship, finishing joint fourth on 292 alongside defending champion Stephen Roger (Cruden Bay) who lost out to Lamb in a comparison of their final rounds (72 to 73).
Andrew Campbell (Murcar Links), whose birthday it was on Saturday, celebrated with a hole in one at the ninth (181yd) with a five-iron in the third round.
Labels: Amateur Men
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Sunday, August 20, 2017
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home