Ferguson is 'Golfer of the Year'

Walker Cup star Ewen seals Scottish Golf title after impressive WAGR performance in 2015

Ewen Ferguson is the Scottish Amateur Golfer of the Year, with North pair Kyle Godsman and Sandy Scott winning the respective SGU Men’s and Boys’ Order of Merit titles.

Ferguson, who won the Boys’ Amateur Championship in 2013 and added the Scottish Boys’ and Scottish Boys’ Strokeplay titles last year to become the first player to hold all three trophies, has enjoyed an impressive first full season at men’s level.

The 19-year-old started the season in 289th place on the WAGR but soon climbed after strong finishes as part of the SGU performance programme in South Africa and his first men’s 72-hole strokeplay victories at the Scottish Champion of Champions and the Craigmillar Park Open.

Ferguson also had top-five finishes at the Irish Amateur and the Carrick Neill Scottish Strokeplay, before playing his part in Scotland’s European Amateur Team Championship triumph and qualifying for the US Amateur. He ended the season ranked 44th on the WAGR.

“I’m delighted to win Scottish Amateur Golfer of the Year,” said Ewen, coached by Gregor Monks and supported by the national coaching structure. “Some very good names have won it before and it’s great to think that I will always be on that list.”

Meantime, Godsman and Scott are celebrating a unique double after two players from the North won the men’s and boys’ Orders of Merit for the first time.

Moray’s Godsman reeled off six top-10 finishes from 12 appearances, including victory in the North East Open, to beat Drumoig’s Connor Syme and Jeff Wright of Forres to the title.

Scott, meanwhile, topped the boys’ rankings by over 300 points from last year’s winner, Cawder’s Calum Fyfe.

Shannon McWilliam from Aboyne, was crowned the winner of the Ladies’ Order of Merit in 2015, becoming one of the youngest ever champions of the annual rankings.

 The 16-year-old won by 136 points from Chloe Goadby of St Regulus. The highlights for Shannon were a third place finish in a strong field at the Helen Holm Ladies’ Open Strokeplay Championship and a sixth place result at the St Rule Trophy.

Goadby consoled herself with the Girls’ Order of Merit spoils. The 18 year-old won by just 72 points after a close battle throughout the year with McWilliam.

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