Teen puts on stunning display but is pipped for top spot

Another stunning performance from Old Ranfurly GC teen Jamie Stewart saw him seal second spot in the Brabazon Trophy.

Stewart produced a fantastic final two rounds that saw him finish them on 11 under par.

However, a great display from South Africa’s Kyle McClatchie ensured that it was Stewart’s counterpart that came away with the trophy.

Stewart admitted he was disappointed not to have sealed the silverware, but was pleased with his performance.

He said: “It really kicked off over the last two rounds and I almost got into a tie, but I couldn’t have done any more.

“Fair play to Kyle, he played great and was a deserving winner.”

Stewart started the final day of play on four under, and looked to be out of it after two bogeys in the first three holes.

However, he continued to plug away over the course of the round and finished in seven under par, with an eye-catching birdie on the final 18th.

That rounded off four birdies in his final five holes for last year’s Scottish Golf Boy’s order of merit winner.

Consistent results have seen him get off to a good start to the season, and that has been aided by some great approach play.

The highlight of his round was his second shot finish on a downhill bunker slope at the last, but he deftly flipped the ball to within two feet of the hole.

But it wasn’t to be for Stewart, as he finished just one shot behind McClatchie at Woodhall Spa Golf Club.

McClatchie finished on 10-under par, after getting up and down from a bunker to birdie the last hole and hang on to his slender one-shot lead.

McClatchie becomes the first South African to win the English men’s amateur open stroke play title since Charl Schwartzel in 2002.

He added: “This is just amazing, I can’t believe it’s actually happened.

“I’ve been working my whole life for something like this and all the hard work has paid off.”

For Stewart’s fellow Scots, Drumoig’s Connor Syme battled back from a first round 78 to share eighth place, with Stuart Easton from Irvine the next best Scot in a tie for 13th.

Craig Ross, Robert MacIntyre and Craig Howie all posted top-25 finishes, with Craig’s younger brother, Darren, just outside the top 40.