Junior win for Connor in sudden death play-off
Consecutive weekend triumph for Blair High pupil
Blairgowrie’s Connor Graham backed up his win the previous weekend in the Barrie Douglas Scottish Junior Masters by adding the Paul Lawrie Junior Jug in front of the 1999 Open champion at Newmachar on Sunday.
Graham and Ciaran Paterson, of Royal Burgess, shared the lead on four-under-par after the opening two rounds over the Swailend track at the Aberdeenshire course on
Saturday.
Graham, the younger brother of 2020 Stephen Gallacher Foundation Trophy winner Gregor, followed an opening 71 with a 69 while Paterson signed for scores of 73-67.
On a day when all the competitors found the Hawkshill course a tougher proposition, the pair were still locked together after carding matching 76s in the final circuit the following day.
That meant a sudden death play-off, which was won by Graham at the first extra hole with a par after Paterson had strayed out of bounds on the right.
Next up for Graham is a chance to match his brother’s feat in the Stephen Gallacher Foundation Trophy at Castle Park.
His most recent success came hot on the heels of producing a sublime Strathmore show to finish top of the Barrie Douglas Scottish Junior Masters leaderboard.
The Blairgowrie golfer was crowned winner of the under-16 event on May 31 after surging comfortably clear of the rest of the field.
Still only 14 and a +2.5 handicapper, Graham opened up with a four-under par 68 before adding scores of 70 and 73 at the popular course near Alyth.
The Blairgowrie High School pupil said: “The conditions were really nice so I was hoping to come out of the blocks really quickly.
“I was expecting the scoring to be pretty low and needed to make a few birdies early doors.
“I started to hole nice eight to 15-footers, which managed to get me under-par.
“And I just tried to keep adding shots to my lead after the first round and keep on trying to make birdies.
“I had quite a comfortable lead after two rounds so thought, if I went out and played a solid round, I should be able to win.
“Winning the first main event of the year gives you confidence.
“I’ve been working really hard to get ready for this year.”
Megan Docherty of Bishopbriggs Golf Club was the girls’ scratch winner.
And taking home the boys’ under-18 trophy was Pitlochry member Josh Dolzanski.
The conditions were really nice so I was hoping to come out of the blocks really quickly