Craigmillar Park Open joy for Old Course Ranfurly player as he holds off challenge of Dumfries & County’s Mitchell Cowie down the stretch
Stewart Watt secured his first Scottish Order of Merit title in fine style, birdieing the final two holes to win the Craigmillar Park Open by three shots.
FORMAT: 72-hole stroke play
The Renfrewshire Stroke Play champion enjoyed a great ‘last nine’ battle with a charging Mitchell Cowie (Dumfries & County) on his way to collecting his first WAGR points.
The 30-year-old accountant started the final round two behind 54-hole leader Jack Mcdonald (Roxburghe), who eventually finished fourth, but a closing 65 (-5) kept Cowie at bay while Castle Park’s Connor Wilson nipped in for third.
“It was unexpected but I was delighted,” said Watt, playing in the event for the second time.
“I played really well across all four rounds and, when I missed the greens, did a good job of getting up and down.”
The 2023 Scottish Order of Merit fixtures
• April 8-9: Craigmillar Park Open (Cat 4)
• April 22-23: Battle Trophy (Cat 4)
• April 20-23: Welsh Open Stroke Play (Cat 3)
• April 28-30: Lytham Trophy (Cat 2)
• May 11-14: Irish Amateur (Cat 3)
• May 25-28: Brabazon Trophy (Cat 2)
• June 2-4: Scottish Men’s Open (Cat 2)
• June 9-11: St Andrew Links Trophy (Cat 2)
• June 17-18: Tennant Cup (Cat 4)
• June 19-24: The Amateur (Cat 1)
• June 24-25: East of Scotland Open (Cat 4)
• July 8-9: Cameron Corbett Vase (Cat 4)
• Aug 1-5: Scottish Men’s Amateur (Cat 2)
• Aug 5-6: Amateur Champion Gold Medal (Cat 2)
• Aug 19-20: North East Open (Cat 4)
• Aug 26-27: North of Scotland Open (Cat 4)
• Aug 26-27: South East District Championship (Cat 4)
Watt was just one ahead of Cowie playing 16 and things weren’t looking good as he missed the green with his approach while his nearest challenger had a six-foot birdie chance.
The Old Course Ranfurly man chipped stone dead to secure his par and that was enough to keep him one clear with the Dumfries & County golfer failing to capitalise on his excellent approach shot.
At the par five 17th, Watt once again got up and down after chipping to five feet. Cowie was also close in two but he failed to hole out from 15 feet and fell two back.
Watt then played the textbook closing hole, sending his second into the heart of the green and both leading players had 20-foot birdie chances, Cowie going first without success while the leader, with three for it, made no mistake.