Drysdale top Scot for fifth time this season as Maclean shines again in amateur ranks

David Drysdale finished as leading Scot for the fifth time in a European Tour event this season as Christopher Maclean produced another eye-catching performance in the amateur ranks.

Drysdale, who’d already achieved the feat in the SA Open, Qatar Masters, Joburg Open and has san trophy, added the Open de Portugal to his list after a solid if unspectacular performance behind wire-to-wire winner Matt Wallace.

The 42-year-old from Cockburnspath closed with a 72 for a five-under-par 287 aggregate, finishing two shots ahead of both Paul Lawrie (74) and Grant Forrest (76), with Duncan Stewart (71) a further two strokes behind.

While a share of 48th wasn’t what Drysdale, pictured, would necessarily have been looking for in an event that saw half the field made up by Challenge Tour players, it was yet another example of his impressive consistency.

Tied for fifth at the halfway stage, Forrest had his momentum halted by dropping four shots in three holes in the third round before running up 7 at the tenth in the last round as he finished joint-59th. However, that sort of disappointment is all part of the 23-year-old’s learning curve in his rookie season and he will still head into this week’s match-play event on the Challenge Tour in Spain in good fettle.

Wallace, a 27-year-old Londoner, saw a three-shot overnight lead twice reduced to just one before ending up where he started the day as he claimed his maiden European Tour triumph at Morgado Golf Resort in Portimao with a 21-under-par 271 total.

Meanwhile, ma clean under lined his emergence as a growing force in the amateur game as the Balmore man finished joint-second in the Irish Open Stroke-play Championship at Royal County Down.

In an event won by home player Peter O’keefe, Maclean covered the last seven holes in two-under to finish with a five-over-par aggregate of 289, which included a brilliant 67 in the second round at the Irish Open venue. Earlier in the year, the Stirling University student led the qualifiers for the Spanish Amateur Championship at El Saler.

Adding to a strong Scottish showing in the Irish event, Drumoig’s Connor Syme and Peebles player Craig Howie were joint-seventh while Liam Johnston (Dumfries & County) ended up in a share of 10th spot. In the women’s equivalent at Co Louth, Kilmacolm’s Eilidh Briggs finished joint12th, just ahead Chloe Goadby (St Regulus), as that title also ended up in home hands, Maria Dunne winning by two shots from English duo Sophie Lamb and Gemma Clews.