Old Course Ranfurly’s 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.
The club’s current Club Champion enjoyed a tough battle with a charging Mitchell Cowie (Dumfries & County) on his way to collecting his first WAGR points.
Stewart started the final round two behind 54-hole leader Jack Mcdonald (Roxburghe), who eventually finished fourth, but a closing 65 (-5) was enough to secure the title.
Watt was just one ahead of Cowie playing 16 and 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.
Stewart joins an illustrious list of past winners of the event, including Nick Faldo, and peaking after the victory, he said, “I’m absolutely delighted to have won the 72-hole open at Craigmillar Park GC this weekend. This is the strongest field I have won an event against and to do it over 72 holes makes it even sweeter. It’s a long two days however my golf, and body thankfully, held up well as I made 19 birdies and 2 eagles en route to victory.
“It’s a great honour to win an event of this calibre especially when you take a glance at the Past Champions board. To be able to add my name to that list is very special and is something that will live long in the memory.”