Wilkinson puts rivals to the sword
02/07/2015
James Wilkinson fired an eight--under-par 63 at Montrose Links to win the Eagle Orchid Scottish Masters.
It was the Cumbrian’s first HotelPlanner.com PGA EuroPro Tour title.
He began the final round five shots behind overnight leader Neil Fenwick but walked off the 18th three shots clear of Fenwick, Paul Reed, Robert Sutton and Darren Wright.
Wilkinson (Brampton Golf Club) had five birdies on the front nine and four more at 11, 13, 14 and 15 saw him to 13 under par and on course for a nine-under round which would equal the course record.
He dropped a shot coming in at 17, but still signed for a final-round 63, eight-under the par 71, to put the pressure on the field.
Reed birdied 15 to move to ten under with three to play but a bogey at the 17th signalled the end of his challenge and he joined those tied for second.
Darryn Lloyd (Stamford Marquees) also birdied 15 to move to ten under par, but bogeys at 16 and 18 saw him finish tied sixth.
“I was swinging it quite well on the range this morning and for the first few holes wanted to keep it steady,” said Wilkinson, who wins £10,000, a brand new Motocaddy trolley, Bushnell Tour X range finder, Bolle sunglasses and £500 to spend at HotelPlanner.com.
“It was a bit windy out there today. I wanted to get off to a nice start and managed to get four under early on. I didn’t think about winning it at all, I was just trying to shoot the best score that I could and keep hitting it close.
“I stuck to my process all day and that helped me shoot 63, I am delighted. The course record would have been the icing on the cake but I wasn’t thinking of that. I just wanted to keep hitting the shots and I got rewarded. I can’t believe it, I am over the moon.”
Highlights of Wilkinson’s win at Montrose Golf Links will air on Sky Sports on Tuesday, July 14. The next HotelPlanner.com PGA EuroPro Tour event is at Mar Hall in Glasgow, commencing Wednesday, July 15.
