02/05/12
Clydebank's Scott Henry, the two-time former Scottish Boys champion, defeated a strong field to claim success in the Optical Express PGA Tour event at Spey Valley.
Henry, the European Challenge Tour player, birdied the second extra hole to win a four-man sudden-death play-off at the end of an exciting tournament in Aviemore.
Amid glorious scenery in the Highlands, Henry (The Carrick on Loch Lomond) tied on eight-under-par 136 after two rounds. The 25-year-old was locked at the top with joint first-round leader Chris Doak (unattached), Jason McCreadie (Buchanan Castle) and Callum Macaulay (Tulliallan).
But Henry prevailed, after McCreadie missed a chance at the first extra hole, by hittiing his approach at the 18th to three feet to earn the £1,750 first prize.
Henry, also a former Boys’ and Men’s Stroke Play champion, turned pro in late 2008. After playing on the Challenge Tour in 2009, he earned a place back on the 2012 circuit via the Alps Tour last season after a consistent season which featured a debut professional title in Austria.
After achiveing a second professional win, Henry said: "It was a lot of fun and great to win. There were a lot of good players in the hunt coming down the stretch so it was exciting."
Lloyd Saltman and Andrew McArthur, both impressive former amateurs, were two shots further back on 138, while Conor O’Neil, the SGU National Men’s Squad player performed well to finish on 139. Conor was the only amateur in the field, closing out creditably in seventh place.
Two-time Scottish Amateur champion David Law, making his pro debut in Scotland, and established tour player Alastair Forsyth were among those placed on 141.
Henry is currently 48th in the Challenge Tour rankings after two events, while Doak and Macaulay are inside the top 20.