NI NICKS PLAY-OFF AT FALDO SERIES SCOTLAND, 

BRUISING BATTLES AT BRUNTSFIELD GOLF CLUB

Andrew Ni battled through a three-way play-off to win the Faldo Series Scotland Championship at Bruntsfield Golf Club this week.

The fourth oldest club in the world was treated to a dramatic tussle between Andrew Ni, Andrew Thompson and Rachel Foster. 

The trio lay even after three days before a birdie on the first extra hole secured the win and a spot in the Grand Final for Ni.

The Overall Champion Ni commented: “I hit a nice run of birdies at the end there. I felt confident in my game because of all the hours of practice I’ve been putting in the US.

"My pitching and putting has been in a groove recently. I can’t wait to compete in the Grand Final and I’ll be giving my best shot to win it.’’

The course at Bruntsfield was in great shape and Edinburgh’s weather stayed relatively calm and fair for the three days. After Ni, Thompson and Foster ended on identical scores the players headed to the first hole, a 419 yard par 4 and Ni immediately found a birdie to claim victory. It was his 4^th birdie in five holes – part of a superb home stretch.

The Under-21 division proved incredibly competitive with Hamish Gorn, Andrew Ni and Andrew Thompson all playing extremely high quality golf. Gorn recorded the best day one score but Ni’s scores of 71, 68 and 71 left him level par overall. Thompson matched the feat as he struck three rounds of 70 and a playoff was needed to split them.

It was a more straightforward finish in the Under-18 division as Gallagher fired scores of 74, 69 and 72 to finish ahead of Liam Currid by a six-shot margin. Gallagher roared into a lead with a brilliant front nine on day two and maintained a solid cushion thereafter. Like Ni he will now line up in his first Grand Final.

The Boys’ Under-16 category was a tight contest with four players split by just two shots. Cameron Adam looked to be in total control after two lovely rounds of 70 and 68 but he opened the door to his rivals when his levels dropped a fraction on day three. Adam recovered his poise to birdie the last two holes to avoid a playoff and take a one-shot victory ahead of Ben Hunter and Joseph Cookson.

Alison Muirhead locked in a battle with fellow Scot Megan Robb in the Girls’ Under-21 category. Muirhead fired 73, 75 and 72 and Robb shot 71, 74 and 75. 

The pair fought tooth and nail down to the last hole until they were left level after three days and had to be separated on countback. The UAE based Muirhead will draw on her previous experience of a Grand Final when she competes at Al Ain in November.

Rachel Foster missed out on the overall title but she had no trouble in dispatching her rivals in the Under-16 division. Foster fired rounds of 71, 72 and 70 to finish level par. She will mount a significant challenge at the Grand Final if she maintains this level.

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Leading final scores: 

Boys’ Under-21: 

210 – Andrew Ni 71-68-71, Andrew Thompson 70-70-70

212 – Hamish Gorn 68-73-71.  

Boys’ Under-18: 

215 – Cameron Gallagher 74-69-72

221 – Liam Currid 75-76-70.  

Boys’ Under-16: 

214 – Cameron Adam 70-68-76

215 – Ben Hunter 75-73-67, Joseph Cookson 73-72-70.  

Girls’ Under-21: 

220 – Alison Muirhead 73-75-72; Megan Robb 71-74-75

228 – Joanne Free 80-74-74.  

Girls’ Under-16: 

213 – Rachel Foster 71-72-70

230 – Porscha Wilson 78-77-75.

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