Title triumphs for Orr and Johnston
Scottish golf enjoyed a successful day as Gary Orr and Liam Johnston landed a title double. Helensburgh man Orr won the Scottish Seniors Open at Craigielaw –his first victory in the over 50 s ranks. And Johnston from Dumfries claimed the Challenge Tour’s Kazakhstan Open in Almaty.
Liam Johnston effectively secured his European Tour card for next season after recording a second win of the year on the Challenge Tour with victory in the Kazakhstan Open.
The 25-year-old from Dumfries capped a brilliant performance at Zhailjau Golf Resort in Almaty by closing with a five-under-par 67 for a 24-under-par 264 total. He won by two shots from Englishman Tom Murray, who was tied for the lead before finishing with two bogeys as he signed off with a 65.
Johnston earned £64,000 for his win in one of the secondtier circuit’s majors, lifting him 36 spots to fourth in the Road to Ras Al Khaimah rankings. The top 15 secure main Tour cards and the Scot, who also won the Andalucia – Costa del Sol Match Play 9 in May, is now in a strong position to earn a step up with just five events to go. “I started the season with no category at all and was just playing off invites,” said Johnston, who is in his first full season in the paid ranks, as he savoured his latest success. “That first win was huge for me in taking the step on to the Challenge Tour and it seems like this one’s going to be a huge win in taking a step
on to the European Tour.” The 2017 Scottish Stroke Play champion made three cuts in his next 11 Challenge Tour events after that victory earlier in the season but picked the perfect week to rediscover his best form. “I couldn’t even imagine this was going to happen starting this year in January with the goals that I’d set for myself,” he added after becoming the second Scot to win in Kazakhstan after Scott Henry in 2012.
Johnston’s latest victory was the fourth Scottish success of the season on the Challenge Tour. David Law won the SSE Scottish Hydro Challenge at Macdonald Spey Valley in Aviemore while Calum Hill triumphed in the Northern Ireland Open at Galgorm Castle.