James Wood crowned Scottish Boys Amateur champion

Bathgate ace James Wood ends five-day event with 2&1 triumph over Jack McDonald at Scotscraig Golf Club

Article Source: Scottish Golf
Last Updated: 22 July 2024 13:30

James Wood has revealed how a Scottish Golf video clip featuring three-time tour winner Ewen Ferguson inspired him to victory in the 2024 Scottish Boys’ Amateur Championship.

The Bathgate golfer defeated Jamie McDonald from the New Club St Andrews by a margin of 2&1 in Sunday’s thrilling final at Scotscraig Golf Club in Fife.

It was an exciting climax to a hectic week of golf with Wood emerging from the field of 126 starters to join the likes of Ferguson and current Tour players such as Grant Forrest and David Law on the tournament’s roll of honour.

Prior to the five-day event teeing off, Wood watched a social media post of past winner Ferguson talking about how his triumph in 2014 at Western Gailes is still something that crops up in conversations with other Scots players on tour.

That gave Wood the extra incentive he required to battle through two rounds of stroke play qualifying and then six match play ties to claim the silverware.

After a 12-foot birdie putt sealed the win with a hole to spare, Wood said: “It’s weird, I saw Ewen Ferguson on Instagram last week talking about sitting with other players and talking about the Scottish Boys.

“I didn’t realise that Ewen had won it. When I saw that, I thought it would be cool to win the same thing he did and follow what he’s done.

“It makes you realise it can happen to some people if you do the right things.”

The final with McDonald was nip-and-tuck with only one hole ever separating the players until Wood’s decisive putt dropped on the 17th green.
Wood reached the turn in three-under par but only held a one-hole advantage.

That was pulled back by McDonald on the 11th before a birdie on 13 edged Wood ahead once more.

McDonald’s tidy birdie on 15 levelled the match before his par putt lipped out on 16 and gave Wood the lead which he was able to convert into a win the birdie on 17.

Wood admitted the victory was the culmination of a lot of hard work and has helped him achieve a target he set out for himself at the start of the season.
He added: “Winning it feels amazing. It’s all I’ve ever worked for.

“It means everything – it’s the one you look for when the dates for the season come out. It’s the one you dream about.

“It was nerve wracking. – it was a tough slog. No-one got more than one ahead – if Jamie made a birdie, I’d make on one the next hole. It was back and forth and a really good game.

“It wasn’t until 16 when he had a pretty dirty lip out and I won the hole, that I thought if I made birdie on 17 I’d be more than likely to win.”

McDonald was naturally disappointed to miss out on the win, but also proud of how he played over five days of tough competition.

Despite only qualifying as the 48th seed, he hit his stride in the match play. Top seed from the stroke play, Harvey Allan from St Andrews, was despatched in the Round of 16 while other notable scalps included Scotland Boys’ squad player Finlay Galloway and Doha-based Dominic McGlinchey.

He said: “It’s been a great week and I’ve played some really good golf.

“I made a slow start in the stroke play but bounced back in the match play.

“I felt I played well…I didn’t make a bogey all day and had a couple of lip-outs. I played well but all credit to James for playing as he did and winning.”

• The 2025 Scottish Boys’ Amateur Championship will be held at Blairgowrie Golf Club from 16-20 July.

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