Jack shatters Craighead Links course record
Published: Last updated:
The 17th playing of Crail Golfing Society’s Battle Trophy tournament witnessed a shattering of the long standing Craighead Links course record by 21 year old Jack McDonald (pictured) of Kilmarnock Barassie GC.
The previous record of 68 for the par 72 course was first broken by Jamie Savage of Cawdor GC with a third round 65, but with an outstanding nine under par 63 in the fourth and final round, McDonald took the record with a flawless display of nine birdies and no dropped shots.
Playing off a handicap of plus 4, Stirling University maths student McDonald took full advantage of the relatively benign conditions to produce his extraordinary round.
“Our Craighead Links course is a tough proposition, even in good conditions,” said Society Captain Eric Morris. “Of the 72 competitors in this year’s Battle Trophy, only three finished the tournament under par, showing just how exceptional was Jack’s score.”
Last year, McDonald won the British Universities championship over Craighead Links. “He is already a member of the UK universities’ team to play against the American universities’ team for the Palmer Cup,” said Eric Morris. “With this performance, he must surely be in contention for a place in the Walker Cup team.”
The four round Battle Trophy was played over the Easter weekend with the cream of Scottish amateur golf playing two rounds each day. The winner, Nick MacAndrew of Royal Aberdeen, finished on a two under par total of 286. McDonald finished two shots adrift in fourth place, having had a poor second round of 79.
The Craighead Links course was designed by American course architect Gil Hanse, who is designing the course for the 2016 Olympics in Brazil.
It opened in 1998 and is Crail Golfing Society’s second course, the first being the Tom Morris designed Balcomie Links, which opened in 1895. Crail Golfing Society is the seventh oldest golf club in the world.
