FORMAT 72-hole stroke play
The cold weather ensured it was not quite a duel in the sun but Charlie Thornton and John Gough enjoyed an epic fourth-round battle in the Scottish Men’s Open yesterday with the former triumphing on an extraordinary final day at Cruden Bay.
Yorkshireman Thornton, who put together a stellar effort to win the West of England Stroke Play title at Saunton last month, once again pulled out all the stops when he really needed it to win by one from English Amateur champion Gough, who this year has won the Lytham Trophy and Spanish Amateur.
With 36 holes being played on the final day in tough conditions there was always a good chance a lot could happen but Thornton’s bogey-free, four-under-par final came on the back of halfway leader Casey Jarvis (South Africa) enduring a torrid time around the turn in round three to bring about ten players right back into the title reckoning. The teenager, who led by four after Saturday night, dropped nine shots in the space of five holes while Gough surged into the lead on the back of a third-round 67 (-3).
After lunch it quickly turned into a battle between Thornton and Gough, who were playing in the penultimate group, with the former taking the lead at 15 and hanging on in superb fashion. Ireland’s Hugh Foley and Ben Murray (Portlehen) were a further five shots back of Gough in third and fourth.
For Thornton, who plans to turn professional unless he wins the British Amateur at Royal Lytham next month, tackling one of the best players in the world for a such a big title was a huge thrill
“You just know someone like him (Gough) is not going to make mistakes,” said the 23-year-old.
“I am a big leaderboard watcher so I knew what was going on and with about nine to go we were about five ahead so for the back nine it did feel more like matchplay golf.
“And It was really really tough out there and it was so cold. My hands were going numb. The last five holes are all played into the wind and there are a few blind shots in there.
“But I had played the closing stretch pretty well in the previous three rounds and once I went ahead I thought if I could par in it would be enough.”
Thornton was on the money with what was required after he birdied the par three 15th and Gough made a four. The then-leader had missed the target to the right while his playing partner had stuck a four iron to 15 feet. The chip that followed just got inside Thornton’s ball and then the White Rose golfer drained it before his title rival just miss the 14-footer.
Both players parred 16 but Thornton’s approach at par four 17 ballooned up into the wind and he was left with a semi-blind chip up to a raised green while Gough was on in two. The Yorkshireman managed to clip one to two feet and tap-in and at 18 both players found the middle of the fairway.
Thornton added: “I wasn’t sure what to hit in but then John his his wedge long so all I had to to do was smack one into the middle of the green but left it 30 feet short.”
Gough almost holed his third, evoking memories of his remarkable chip-in on his way to winning the Lytham Trophy last month, but the leader was still left with a tricky two putt for the biggest title win of his life.
“I didn’t feel comfortable over it,” admitted Thornton. “Thankfully I got it to two feet and was able to tap it in.”
With 23 holes to go Thornton had been six back of Gough after the Beaconsfield player birdied 14 to get to two under par.
However critically for the eventual champion he birdied 15 and also 18 while the leader bogeyed 17 to cut the gap to a much more manageable three shots going into the afternoon finale.
Thornton then birdied the first and BB&O ace bogeyed seven which left his lead at one.
They were level after 11 as Gough bogeyed the short par three but he went back ahead with a birdie at the next before the tournament took a decisive twist three holes later.