In high winds that sent scores soaring, Murray Urquhart, the 34-year-old Inverness professional, yesterday hailed his Northern Open victory over the Carnegie Links as the biggest success of his career.
The unique Andrew Carnegie flag comprising a Union flag on one side and the stars and stripes on the other was trying hard to free itself from the flagpole outside the clubhouse as Urquhart came in with a five-over-par 76 for a two-under aggregate of 282 and the clubhouse lead.
Unaware of what was happening in the final group, there was an anxious wait before he learned that neither Chris Doak (79) nor Paul McKechnie (78) had overtaken him and the £8000 prize was his. "It's the biggest pay cheque of my life and it's a bit of a breakthrough for me," said Urquhart, who equalled the course record of 65 in the second round. "I've waited long enough, and to do it locally is a bonus."
The money, he said, was arriving at a good time because he and girlfriend Iona are expecting their first child in July.
It was Urquhart's first four-round Tartan Tour order-of-merit win in 10 years as a professional, and it redeemed his Scottish championship near miss in 2001 when he lost in a play-off to John Chillas.
Now he feels ready to step up a level and tackle the Challenge Tour again.
"I was pleased with the way I handled it today," he added. "I said to myself before I went out not to worry about the consequences, just hit the shots and free my mind up a bit, and I hit the ball really well."
Yardage books were useless yesterday when Urquhart found himself hitting a nine iron 60 yards into the wind, coming up 30 yards short, and 190 downwind going through the green by 25 yards.
He still described it as the hardest putting day he has known, with the wind so strong that it was difficult to take the club back straight. "It was like holding an eel," he said.
At the start of the day there were 21 players below par, a number that dwindled to two. The only other one was runner-up David Patrick, five behind at the start and whose battling 72 came up one short.
In joint third with McKechnie on a level-par aggregate of 284 was James Gunn of Dornoch, who won the amateur prize after a 73. The 26-year-old rarely travels to the main events, but will be tackling the Scottish Open Amateur Strokeplay Championship over his home course in a fortnight in a bid to make his mark.
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