Booth holds his nerve in sudden-death shoot-out to win Scottish Young Professionals’ Championship

David Booth added his name to a decorated roll of honour as he claimed the Scottish Young Professionals’ Championship title at Crieff.

On an intriguing final day of ebb, flow, nip and tuck, Bothwell Castle assistant Booth (pictured above, on left) held his nerve at the first play-off hole to edge out Alex Chalk after both players had finished locked at the top on 10-under aggregates.

The victory by the former Stirling University student from Yorkshire put him alongside a list of champions which includes the 1999 Open champion Paul Lawrie, former Ryder Cup player Norman Wood and two-time DP World Tour winner, Alastair Forsyth.

Booth had led the way at the halfway stage of the 72-hole contest after opening his challenge with a 69 and a 67. By the end of the third round, though, it had developed into a two-horse race with Booth and Chalk tied at the summit on eight-under, five ahead of their nearest rivals.

Bathgate’s Joe Bryce did his best to muscle into the title race with a rousing late charge in the final round and his eight-under 62, which featured an eagle and five birdies between the third and the ninth, set a new Crieff course record. Bryce’s eight-under tally ultimately left him two shots off the pace.

Chalk, meanwhile, had mounted a purposeful offensive by picking up fives birdies on the last six holes of his outward nine to move ahead. He picked up another shot on the 14th to fortify his position but a ruinous run of three bogeys at 15, 16 and 18 in a 69 opened the door.

Booth birdied the last in a 69 of his own to finish on 10-under and he took the honours at the first play-off hole when he holed a short par putt to seal the deal.

Bryce’s gallant charge left him in third with Peter Maxwell taking fourth on six-under.

Crieff Golf Club had put on a fine show and David Longmuir, the manager of The PGA in Scotland, expressed his gratitude to the host venue.

He said: "On behalf of the PGA in Scotland can I pass on our sincere thanks for an outstanding three days at Crieff for the Scottish Young Professionals Championship. We had everything – a beautifully presented course, some good old mixed Scottish weather, a dramatic play off and a magnificent professional course record from Joe Bryce. We couldn’t have wished for a better Championship. Congratulations to David Booth and commiserations to Alex Chalk who will no doubt learn a lot from his experience.

“Charlie and the green staff were a pleasure to work with and their attention to detail produced a course befitting of our premier event for our young Professionals. Derek and the hospitality team delivered excellent food and service and I was pleased that many of the players took advantage of the offerings.”

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