Steven Pears is the first-ever winner of the Russell Knox Junior Open, a new prize donated by the PGA Tour star for young golfers in the Highlands.
Knox, who played at Inverness and Nairn Dunbar before moving to the US to pursue his dream of becoming a top tour pro, put his name to a trophy for the North District Golf Association junior Order of Merit event, staged this year at Inverness. It will take place next year at Nairn Dunbar, alternating between the two venues each year.
Pears, right, the 16-year-old junior champion at Nairn Dunbar, shot an impressive 69 at Inverness Golf Club’s Culcabock course to win the trophy by two shots from Danny Doogan of Golspie. Third was Jamie MacKintosh, a member of both Nairn and Inverness, with Angus Davidson from Nairn Dunbar fourth.
The handicap section was also won by a Nairn Dunbar member, Breagha MacKintosh, with a net 60. Runner-up was Liam Shewan of Inverness with a net 65, ahead of Luke Young of Inverness on 66 and Thomas Bremner of Rothes on 67.
Inverness Golf Club president Gordon Fyfe commented: “Russell is truly honoured that his former clubs are recognising his achievements in this way. He learned his golf while growing up in the Highlands and says he owes so much to these early days.”
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