4th June 2023

Connor GRAHAM (SCO) produced a final round 63 (-7), the low round of the Championship, to win the Scottish Men’s Open Championship at Meldrum House.

Conor Graham (Photo: Scottish Golf)

Graham produced four under par rounds for a 265 (-15) total to secure the biggest win of his young, but already very impressive, amateur career.

It was another very good performance for the Blairgowrie man after his tied 10th place finish in last week’s Brabazon Trophy and obviously a further boost to his Walker Cup hopes.

Connor Graham’s Championship Scorecard (Graphic: Scottish Golf)

Rounds 4

Connor GRAHAM (SCO) showed no sign of final round nerves and took control of the Championship over the front nine. Five birdies saw him go out in 30 and after he eagled the 564 yard par 5 11th the trophy was very much his to lose.

He offset two bogeys with two birdies over his remaining eight holes to record a sparkling 63 and ultimately a four shot victory.

Experienced South African, Altin VAN DER MERWE, kept the pressure on Graham through out with his own 66 on the final loop but despite his efforts never had a sniff of the title.

Zach CHEGWIDDEN (ENG) was rewarded for making the long trip north from Essex with a good third place finish and will be pleased with his final day rounds of 67 and 68.

Jordan BURNAND (RSA) -7 took the 4th place prize with Max HOPKINS (ENG) -6 5th on count back (last 3 holes) from Connor MCDADE (AUS) -6 who had to settle for 6th.

Seb CAVE (ENG) completed a brilliant final three rounds with a second Sunday 66 to finish 7th on -5.

Final Results (Graphic: Scottish Golf)

Click here to view the – 2023 Scottish Men’s Open Championship Leaderboard

Round 3

Sunday’s morning round saw Connor GRAHAM (SCO) take the solo lead on -8 after a 2-under 68.

Playing partner Altin VAN DER MERWE (RSA) was 1-shot back on -7 and fellow South African Jordan BURNAND tied 3rd, alongside Zach CHEGWIDDEN (ENG) 67, after his 65 lifted him nicely up the leaderboard.

Connor’s older brother Gregor GRAHAM (SCO) fell back into 4th on -5 after a 71.

David LUNDGREN (SWE), Seb CAVE (ENG), Darren STRACHAN (FRA), Nathan LEGENDRE (FRA) all posted 66’s to move into the top 10 heading into the afternoon’s final round.

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3rd June 2023

Round 2

Altin VAN DER MERWE (RSA) from Bellville G.C. in Cape Town shot a joint best of the day 66 to move into a tie for the 36 hole lead at the Scottish Men’s Open Championship. Van Der Merwe started with three birdies in his opening four holes and added a further one on the short par 4 17th.

Altin Van Der Merwe’s Round 1 & 2 Scorecard (Graphic: Scottish Golf)

Brothers Connor GRAHAM (SCO) 67 and Gregor GRAHAM (SCO) 69 both enjoyed solid rounds and head into the final day also tied for the lead on 134 (-6) after 36 holes.

Jamie VAN WYK (ENG) 67, Tom BASTOW (ENG) 68, Lewis IRVINE (SCO) 71 and Zach CHEGWWIDDEN (ENG) 72 are all tied 4th, three shots behind the trio of leaders.

Jason BRUCE (SCO) moved up 38 places into a four-way tie for 8th after he also produced his own 66 on Saturday.

Jason Bruce’s Round 1 & 2 Scorecard (Graphic: Scottish Golf)

England’s Mason ESSAM and Jack MCPHAIL moved into contention on -2 and -1 respectively after they recorded 67’s.

47 players made the 36 hole top 40 and ties cut which fell at +3.

Seb CAVE (ENG) and Ruben LINDSAY (SCO) both shot 67’s and Ben CARBERRY (SCO) a 68 in Round 2 to make the cut on the mark.

Scoring at Meldrum House was better in Round 2 with 26 players breaking par and 14 players shooting level par 70’s.

Round 2 Leaderboard (Graphic: Scottish Golf)

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2nd June 2023

Round 1

Zach CHEGWIDDEN (ENG) and Gregor GRAHAM (SCO) lead the Scottish Men’s Open Championship after both player’s posted a 65 (-5) on Day 1.

Both players enjoyed seven birdies but also bogeyed two holes in their impressive opening rounds.

Zach Chegwidden’s Round 1 Scorecard (Graphic: Scottish Golf)

Gregor Graham’s Round 1 Scorecard (Graphic: Scottish Golf)

Lewis IRVINE (SCO) -4 is 3rd, Connor GRAHAM (SCO) & Phoenix CAMPBELL (AUS) -3 tied 4th and Altin VAN DER MERWE (RSA) -2 6th.

There were 15 under par rounds and 13 even par rounds today from a starting field of 144 players.

Round 1 Leaderboard (Graphic: Scottish Golf)

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1st June 2023

The 56th Scottish Men’s Open Stroke Play Championship starts on Friday 2nd June at Meldrum House Country Hotel & Golf Course near Inverurie in Aberdeenshire.

Format

This open scratch amateur competition consists of 72 holes of stroke play.

18 holes will be played on both Friday 2nd and Saturday 3rd June.

A 36 hole cut will then take place with only the leading 40 competitors and ties qualifying for the final two rounds which will be played on Sunday 4th June.

In the event of a tie for the Championship there will be a sudden death play off. All other ties will be resolved via card count back.

Field

144 competitors will start the 2023 Championship.

The field is made up of entries based on highest WAGRs and lowest handicaps and players that came through a Pre-Qualifying event that took place earlier this week (see below).

A combination of factors means this year’s Championship has disappointingly not attracted a top class field. The parkland venue, Meldrum House, is not easily accessible being 100 miles north of St. Andrews and a good two hour drive north from there. It comes in the middle of the main amateur season and therefore a number of players have chosen to use it as a rest week. Finally it clashes with the East of Ireland Men’s Open Amateur at County Louth which is a more attractive option for the majority of Ireland’s best players.

I expect Zach CHEGWIDDEN (ENG), Will COXON (ENG), Andrew DAVIDSON (SCO), Hugh FOLEY (IRL), Matt GAUNTLETT (ENG), Connor GRAHAM (SCO), Lewis IRVINE (SCO), Zach LITTLE (ENG), David LUNDGREN (SWE), Darren STRACHAN (FRA), Gregor TAIT (SCO) and Matthew WILSON (SCO) to feature highly on the leaderboard.

Long time Scottish International Matthew CLARK (SCO) is a member at Meldrum House and has been afforded the honour of hitting the opening tee shot. 2022 Scottish Boys champion Fraser LAIRD (SCO) is another local player who should be comfortable in his surroundings.

Liam Johnston was the last Scottish winner back in 2017.

Australia, New Zealand and South Africa are all going through transition periods so their touring players are not as strong as we have seen in previous years.

Pre-Qualifying

Scottish Golf held their first 18 hole Pre-Qualifying event in 2022 and repeated it this year on Tuesday 30th May at Kemnay G.C. just down the road from Meldrum House.

Ruben LINDSAY (SCO) earned medalist honours with a course record round of 66 (-5).

45 players from a pre-qualifying field of 64 are now in the Championship’s starting line-up with others added to the Reserve List.

Click here to view the – 2023 Scottish Men’s Open Championship Pre-Qualifying Results

Meldrum House Golf Club

Located relatively close to last year’s venue, Cruden Bay G.C., Meldrum House is about 20 miles north west of Aberdeen.

The Knights course was designed by Graeme Webster and features tree line fairways and numerous water features. A modern layout it is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.

The course has been set up to play to 6,884 yards and with three par 5’s and five par 3’s it has a challenging par of 70.

(Photo: Meldrum House)

Tee Times / Scores

Click here to view the – Scottish Men’s Open Championship Web Page 

Prizes

The Winner receives the distinctive silver Championship Trophy and a Crystal Award.

Crystal Awards are also given to the runner-up and third place finisher.

Weather Forecast (last updated Thursday 1st June, 3.00pm)

The current weather forecast is excellent with a dry weekend forecast and relatively light breezes expected throughout.

Fri 2nd June – Sunny / Wind 10 mph E / Temp. Min. 5°C / Max. 15°C,
Sat 3rd June – Sunny Intervals /  Wind 9 mph E / Temp. Min. 5°C / Max. 16°C
Sun 4th June – Sunny / Wind 9 mph SE / Temp. Min. 6°C / Max. 17°C

2022 Results

Charlie THORNTON (ENG) won the 2022 Scottish Men’s Open Championship at Cruden Bay G.C. with a total of 278 (-2).

Charlie Thornton (Photo: Thornton Family)

Thornton, who has now turned pro, overturned a 3-shot deficit with a superb bogey-free final round of 66 to secure the biggest win of his amateur career.

John GOUGH (ENG), who finished on 279 (-1) was 2nd, Ireland’s Hugh FOLEY (+4) 3rd after final day rounds of 71 and 68, Scotland’s Ben MURRAY (+4) 4th on countback and David LUNDGREN (SWE), who came through the field in Round 4 with a best of the week 65 which included six birdies, 5th on +5 .

Round 4 Scoreboard (Graphic: Scottish Golf / OCS Sport)

Click here to view the – 2022 Scottish Men’s Open Championship Live Scores

Past Winners

The Scottish Men’s Open Amateur was first contested in 1967 and has an impressive list of past winners. Here are some of them: –

2011 – Andy Sullivan (ENG)
2009 – Tommy Fleetwood (ENG)
2004 – Richie Ramsay (SCO)
2003 – Gary Wolstenholme (ENG)
1997 – Barclay Howard (SCO)
1996 – Alastair Forsyth (SCO)
1995 – Stephen Gallacher (SCO)
1992 – Dean Robertson (SCO)
1991 – Andrew Coltart (SCO)
1985 – Colin Montgomerie (SCO)
1981 – Philip Walton (IRE)
1980 – Gordon Brand Jr (ENG)
1975 and 1984 – Charlie Green (SCO)
1971, 1974 and 1979 – Ian Hutcheon (SCO)
1970 – Dale Hayes (RSA)
1968 – Ronnie Shade (SCO)
1967 – Bernard Gallacher (SCO)

A full list of the past winners can be viewed here – Scottish Open Amateur Winners

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