Consistency pays off as Hannah wins back-to-back Order of Merits - but will remain amateur

McCook retains her No.1 title after fine season on domestic circuit while Farrell and Wood top their respective Order of Merits as busy season closes

By SCG Newsdesk

Scottish golf’s orders of merit have been finalized with Hannah McCook, Jillian Farrell and Sheena Wood winning their respective domestic titles for 2017.

Grantown-on-Spey’s McCook has secured back-to-back triumphs in the women’s standings, with Wood from Aberdeen Ladies Golf Club doing likewise in the senior women’s rankings. At girls’ level, Jillian Farrell from Cardross emerged victorious to cap her fine season.

McCook racked up 1,046 points in the women’s standings, ahead of Aboyne’s Shannon McWilliam on 962 and Clara Young (North Berwick) who was third on 700 points.

CONSISTENT

The 24-year-old posted an impressive seven top-10s from 11 events to highlight her consistency, including third in the Welsh Ladies, fourth in the Munross Trophy and a tie for ninth in the Helen Holm Scottish Women’s Open. McCook also won the end of season Scottish Women’s Champion of Champions event at Gailes Links.

“I’m very happy, especially doing it back-to-back as well,” said McCook, who will stay in the amateur ranks next year. “I felt like last season was pretty successful and this year has been even better. I had a lot more top-10s than last year, so I’ve been consistently better.

“I work with David Torrance at Nairn Dunbar and I feel as though everything has come on a lot. There is no wild stuff, which I used to have sometimes, so that has made a big difference and I’ve holed more putts even though I still have more work to do. I’m looking forward to a good winter of work and Scottish Golf’s help over the last 12 months has helped massively.”

Farrell earned the girls’ title with a superb tally of 1,703 points from nine events, ahead of McWilliam on 1,178, as the Aboyne player finished runner-up in both merit tables. Louise Duncan (West Kilbride) was third.

Farrell won twice, at the Scottish Junior Tour U18s and the Stephen Gallacher Foundation Championship, as well as adding three second-place finishes.

“I’m really pleased to have won the Order of Merit this year, I played pretty well this season so winning this is just a bonus,” said Farrell, 18, who is in her first college year at the University of North Carolina Charlotte. “Winning the Order of Merit was a great end to my junior golf.

“I would say most of my success is because of the work that I did during the winter months with my coach and our national coach David Patrick. I spent a lot of time working on my short game and putting which definitely helped me towards my success this season.”

In the seniors, Wood again came out on top, posting 782 points from five events. She won the North Division Championship and the SVLGA Championship, beating Fiona de Vries (St Rule Club) into second place, with Tain’s Mary Smith in third spot.

“I had a good season and I’m delighted to have won the Order of Merit again,” said Wood, 53, who won her three singles tie at the Home Internationals. “My hard work has paid off.

“I enjoy Senior’s golf, there are a lot of events to play in and I enjoy trying to improve.”

The Men’s, Boys’ and Senior Men’s Orders of Merit were finalised last month when their fixture lists were completed, with Calum Fyfe from Cawder, Peebles’ Darren Howie and Stewart Henderson (Hamilton) winning the three titles respectively.

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