Sandy Scott claims Boys Order of Merit title

• Sandy Scott caps off fine season by topping Boys Order of Merit
• Moray’s Kyle Godsman clinches the Men’s Order of Merit
• Walker Cup pick Ewen Ferguson wins Amateur Golfer of the Year

Nairn youngster Sandy Scott has been rewarded for his exceptional 2015 season by winning the Boys Order of Merit for the first time.

The 17-year-old, who finished 24th in the Order of Merit standings last year, burst onto the scene earlier this summer with three wins in just 40 days at the Stephen Gallacher Foundation Trophy, East of Scotland Championship and a dominant, wire-to-wire win at the Scottish Boys Open Stroke Play Championship at Royal Burgess.

And after edging out last year’s winner Calum Fyfe into second place, Scott was overjoyed to win the coveted title.

“It’s been a great year for me and one I will look back on proudly” – Sandy Scott

“It’s a good end to the season,” said Sandy Scott, who also helped GB&I retain the Jacques Leglise Trophy at Royal Dornoch two weeks ago. “I wasn’t thinking about the Order of Merit coming into the year, but I performed consistently in a lot of events to rack up the points.

“I’ve just tried to play as many events as possible and gain experience and points. It’s been a great year for me and one I will look back on proudly. Hopefully I can keep progressing.”

In the Men’s equivalent, Kyle Godsman made it a unique double success for the North after achieving six top ten finishes, including a win at the North East Open over Drumoig’s Connor Syme and Forres’ Jeff Wright.

“It’s a great honour and achievement to win the Order of Merit” – Kyle Godsman

“It’s a great honour and achievement to win the Order of Merit, during a strong year for Scottish amateur golf, with three players in the Walker Cup this weekend,” said the 24-year-old. “I was consistent last year too, so managed to build on that. There is a lot of travelling for me, driving up and down the A9, so it definitely makes it all worthwhile at the end of the year.”

CONTINUES BELOW… 

Credit: Kenny Smith.

Meanwhile, the main award of Scottish Amateur Golfer of the Year went to Bearsden’s Ewen Ferguson, who is one of three Scots, along with Grant Forrest and Jack McDonald, representing GB&I in the Walker Cup at Royal Lytham & St Annes this weekend.

The 19-year-old, who started the season in 289th place on the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR), soared up to 44th by last Friday’s cut off point after an excellent season which included his first Men’s 72-hole strokeplay victories at the Scottish Champion of Champions and Craigmillar Park Open.

And the teenager had no shortage of rivals for the accolade. A record eight Scots currently populate the top 100 on the WAGR, with Walker Cup team-mate Forrest only four places behind in 48th place.

“I’m absolutely delighted to win Scottish Amateur Golfer of the Year,” said Ferguson, who is coached by Gregor Monks and supported by the national coaching structure. “I remember when Michael Stewart won it in 2011 and I was thinking it must be so cool to win the award. Some very good names have won it before and it’s great to think that I will always be on that list.”

Scottish Golf award winners :: Your thoughts

What do you make of the three SGU award winners? Leave your thoughts in the ‘Comments’ section below.