Flying high
Ross believes EuroPro Tour win will give him confidence to go on to further success
Cambuslang golf champion Craig Ross reckons his first victory on the EuroPro Tour as a professional has done wonders for his confidence.
The Kirkhill golf club member rocketed up the Order of Merit to third in the overall standings and put him in contention for a Challenge Tour card.
He carded rounds of 68, 64, and 68 to win by three shots and scoop £10,000 in prize money at the PGA EuroPro Tour’s Clipper Logistics Championship at Moor Allerton Golf Club in Yorkshire last week.
And as Craig, who turned pro last September, reaches the midway point of the season, he is focussed on cementing a top five finish come September to reach the second-tier of men’s professional golf.
The 25-year-old told the Reformer: “It felt amazing.
“I played really solid and was feeling good throughout the tournament. I felt like it was in my control for the most part.
“I knew if I played as well as I did in the first two days I’d be in with a shot of winning it.
“I bogeyed at the third but after that I got a birdie on the fifth and kept plugging away from there.
“With turning pro at the end of last year I knew it would be tough to win it.
“To get a professional win so quickly into my career will help my confidence and game improve.”
Ross headed into the final round after carding the joint lowest round of the tournament on day two, picking up just a single bogey and eight birdies to finish on a score of 10-under par.
He started the third as co-leader with playing partner Josh Hilleard. And it took until the seventh hole before Ross could put some distance between them.
Again Ross had a difficult start as he hit a bogey on the third before a big eagle miss on the seventh which could have led to disaster for the Scot.
But there was no signs of stopping him as he ended with a run of three birdies in four holes.
Kirkhill Golf Club professional Duncan Williamson was delighted for his prodigy and believes a trips to Denmark for the Rudersdal Open as a youngster stood Ross in good stead.
“That win has put him on the map,” he said. “It was his second, his first as a professional.
“And hopefully his golf on the EuroPro Tour will lead to a Challenge Tour Card. I’m really pleased for him to be honest because it shows if you put the work in you get something out of it.”
He added: “When we went to Denmark, it put him on the big stage, it put him up against the big guns.
“It was a great experience for him to know what a big tournament was like.
“He’s been a junior here since he was six years old and has represented the club very well.”
Highlights of the Clipper Logistics Championship will air on Sky Sports on July 24.
The PGA EuroPro Tour continues at Wychwood Park Golf Club with the Ablrate.com Championship, from July 18-20.