10/08/12
Wallace Booth, whose professional career has been ravaged by a shoulder injury, today celebrated far happier times after claiming his first win in the paid ranks at the MarHall.com Scottish Classic.
Perhaps inspired by younger sister Carly – a two-time winner in Europe this season including a home victory at the Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open – Wallace has triumphed on the EuroPro Tour to kick-start his golf.
Booth has had a tough time of late, having been out of the game for 18 months after a shoulder injury which eventually required surgery. But the 27-year-old former Walker Cup player, indeed a member of Scotland’s winning side at both the European Amateur Team Championship and the World Amateur Team Championship, has illustrated his talent with a fine success.
With the lead changing hands constantly, and seven golfers in close contention throughout the final round, it was one of the closest finishes of the campaign. Booth, who shot a four-under-par 66 in the final round, concluded the 54-hole event 11-under-par to win by two strokes, with Paul Maddy, Daniel Wardrop and Order of Merit leader Stuart Manley tied for second.
Booth, who has moved to second in the 888poker.com PGA EuroPro Tour Order of Merit, was three shots behind at the halfway point of his round. He replied, though, with three consecutive birdies from the 10th and a fourth at 15 took him to the top of the leaderboard on 10-under. Booth’s 18th hole birdie putt then sealed his win.
“I looked at the leaderboards and knew where I stood but I didn’t allow that to bother me,” said ex-Scottish Stroke Play champion Booth after banking £10,000.
“I was three behind at one point but I just relaxed and played my golf. I had missed my last three cuts and I had a chat with my coach so he told me to relax because I was just trying too hard. My caddy kept me in a good frame of mind on the last round and I didn’t put too much pressure on myself.”
>> Click here for completed scores from the EuroPro Tour
* Matthew Clark leads Scotland’s bid going into the final round of the European Amateur Championship at Carton House, Ireland.
The Kilmacolm player is on five-under-par, eight shots behind Swedish leader Pontus Widegren. Graeme Robertson of Glenbervie is the next best Scot on four-under.
Scott Crichton (par), Brian Soutar (one-over) and Paul Shields and James White (two-over) all made the cut for the top 60.
>> Click here for all the third-round results from the European Amateur
* Team Scottish Hydro's Andrew McArthur launched himself right into contention at the Norwegian Challenge after he carded a second successive five-under-par round of 67 to move to within four shots of the lead held by former Ryder Cup player Oliver Wilson.
* Ian Brotherston (Dumfries & County) shared sixth place after the conclusion of the Senior Open Amateur Championship at Machynys Penninsula, Wales. He was six shots behind American winner Chip Lutz, who retained his crown.