Scots put up a good fight as Irish ace Moynihan wins

Dublin golfer Gavin takes title as  home stars put on show at Panmure

EIGHT Scots finished inside the top 20 at the Carrick Neill Scottish Open Strokeplay Championship - but none could stop Ireland’s Gavin Moynihan taking the title.

Wallace Booth was the last Scot to win the trophy back in 2008 and, although this year’s home contingent put up a good fight, it was Moynihan who took the spoils at Panmure.

Southerness golfer Scott Gibson was the leading Scot in the field and finished in a share for seventh on one-over, while Scottish Boys’ international Murray Naysmith was a shot further back after a round of 69 left him two-over in ninth place.

“It’s my first men’s strokeplay event so I’ve exceeded my expectations,” said Naysmith. “I thought that if I could play all four rounds I would be happy. It was about experience for me so I was pleased.”

FLOURISHED

Moynihan overturned a six-shot deficit at the start of the day to take the championship ahead of overnight leader Geoff Drakeford.

With the wind picking up on the final day, it was 2013 Walker Cup player Moynihan who flourished as Drakeford stuttered in the tough conditions.

Having carded a quintuple bogey at the par-4 12th in the third round, the Dubliner could have been forgiven for thinking his tournament was finished. However, he went on to card three birdies for a 68, before shooting a 67 in the final round.

CONTROL

Moynihan set Drakeford a five-under-par target, in the closing holes but the Australian was still well in control as he made the turn on the final day. A double-bogey on the 12th and back-to-back bogeys to finish brought an end to those hopes.

“After making the nine, I was just trying to finish in the top 15, to be honest,” said Moynihan. “I thought my tournament was over, but I played really well from there and this win is very nice.”

Photo: Kenny Smith

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