In what will surely be the first of many major amateur titles, 16-year-old Connor Graham spreadeagled the field yesterday in winning the Scottish Men’s Open at Meldrum House.
FORMAT: 72-hole stroke play
The precocious Blairgowrie junior also took a giant step towards Walker Cup selection with a stunning four-shot victory, closing with a 63 to to finish on 15 under.
Graham, who finished second in the French Boys in April and won the R&A Junior Open by five shots last year, has hit top form at a critical time in the season with the St Andrews Links Trophy (June 9-11) and Amateur Championship (June 19-24) following in quick succession.
He said: “It was definiely one of my best performances.
“It is my first win in a major men’s event and I played really good golf all week.
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“Obviously in terms of the Walker Cup it should really help me and also the fact the St Andrew Links is taking place at the same place as The Walker Cup makes that especially important. And I really like The Old and The New. They are two nice golf courses.”
The Scotland international made a blistering start to his final round having started one ahead of playing partner Altin Van Der Merwe, who was one ahead of South African compatriot Jordan Burnand and Essex’s Zach Chegwidden.
But the pack were trailing in his wake as he opened with four birdies in his first five holes. He eventually burst clear by getting to seven under for his round after 11.
The teenager’s irons were really dialled in from the off. At one, two and four he knocked his approach to six feet to ensure he started with four threes and then at the par five fifth stuck his third to 12 inches.
Graham then drained a 15-footer on the eighth before collecting his eighth three of the round at the par five 11th. He had 180 yards left for his second and fired his seven iron to 10 feet, sinking his eagle effort to get to 15 under for the tournament.
Western Province champion Van Der Merwe was just about holding on to his coat-tails thanks to birdies on two, six, nine and 11 and then both leading members of the final group bogeyed 13th, Graham making his first major error of the round off the tee. Having missed left he had to chip out and then just missed from eight feet.
The duo also both birdied the par five 16th after the leader took on a second shot loaded with jeopardy – water short of the target was waiting for a miscue. He “flushed” his two iron from 250 yards and then went close with his eagle try from 20 feet.
His lead became five at the next where he drove the green at the short par four with a three wood and made no mistake in getting down in two from 50 feet.
A three-putt at the last could not take the gloss off a stunning performance while England international Chegwidden claimed third, a shot ahead of Burnand.