Wright wins Northern Open at Nairn Dunbar

Gareth Wright held off strong last-day challenges from both defending champion Paul O'Hara and Gavin Hay, a former assistant at the host club, to win the Northern Open after a thrilling last day at Nairn Dunbar.

The West Linton professional birdied the last to come out on top in the Tartan Tour Order of Merit event, adding this coveted title to his brace of Scottish PGA Championship successes.

Wright had led by five shots heading into the final 36 holes but ended up having to dig deep to claim a £1100 top prize after first seeing O'Hara become a serious threat then watching Hay sign off in style with a last-hole eagle.

A closing 71 gave Wright a 12-under-par 276 total, winning by a shot from Hay, who stormed home in 32, five-under, to pip O'Hara for second spot.

“It’s been a brilliant week," admitted Wright, a former PGA Cup player. “I played just as well today as the opening two rounds but holed absolutely nothing for two rounds.

“Apart from the 15th this afternoon, I hit the ball really nicely for four rounds. That was the key. For four rounds my golf was impeccable."

Commenting on the venue, where one of the Tartan Tour's leading events was being held for the first time since 1999, the winner added: "This is a fabulous golf course."

Hay had no complaints about being pipped for glory by Wright, having earlier carded two eagles and five birdies but also eight bogeys in his third-round 71.

“Towards the end of that final round I just felt that Gareth gave me a couple of chances coming in after I picked up birdies on 12 and 13 and he dropped shots on 14 and 15," said the runner-up.

“But he made a great up-and-down at the 16th out of a bunker to get his birdie-4, and although I eagled the last for the third round in a row, it just wasn’t quite enough.”             

O'Hara, who'd been a wire-to-wire winner at Moray Golf Club in Lossiemouth 12 months ago, reckoned he'd been unable to convert a good a chance to retain the title after closing the gap to just one after a third-round 67.

“It was really disappointing, that’s the only word for it," said the North Lanarkshire Leisure Ltd player. "Silly shots at the par-5s, especially on the back, nine cost me.”    

Nairn member David Sanderson won the Bookless Cup for top amateur on 290, finishing five shots ahead of Carnoustie’s Will Porter.