Dominic Clemons (Scottish Golf Photo)
Dominic Clemons’ love of East Lothian links reached new levels today when he blew away the field to claim a stunning 17-shot victory at the Scottish Men’s Open Championship.
The 21-year-old Englishman carded rounds of 68-65-65-62 for a total of 24-under and a hugely impressive win at Muirfield.
From a field of 144 starters from 24 nations around the world, it was the golfer from Cambridge who proved a class above his rivals with a near-flawless performance to leave runner-up
Jordan Burnand from South Africa and Australia's Kai Komulainen trailing in his slipstream.
Clemons moves up to No. 295 in the Golfweek/AmateurGolf.com World Rankings with the win.
In the course of 72 holes over the renowned Open Championship venue, Clemons posted 28 birdies and just four bogeys to become the 11th English winner of this event.
And it’s not the first time the Stetson University student has lifted silverware on Scotland’s Golf Coast.
Eight years ago, Clemons traveled north and won the Scottish Boys’ Under 14 Open just a few miles down the coast from Muirfield at Craigielaw.
Today, his game was on a different level to his fellow competitors as he proved that despite the passage of time his mastery of the links remains intact.
With dad Mike on the bag, Clemons built on a one-shot lead after 36 holes. In fact, he wiped out his rivals by shooting 15 under par for his two Sunday rounds and had Muirfield club historians digging out the record books.
He said modestly:
"When it's your day, it's your day," Clemons said. "When I was out there, I wasn't thinking about what it means to win around Muirfield, but now it's sinking in.
"My dad was pushing the trolley and tee to green we shared a few opinions but he left me to it. He's laid-back and it was good to have him out there and to have family around me after all they've done down the years.
This was the first time since the inaugural event in 1967 that Muirfield had staged the championship – and the host venue met with universal approval from the players, guests, and spectators.
The leaderboard throughout the three days of competition had an international flavor – ably demonstrated on day one when Denmark’s Jamie Nielsen held the top spot.
Not that Nielsen had it all his own way – hot in pursuit, albeit three shots back, was a group of seven players from six different nations, including Komulainen, America’s Emil Riegger, Saudi Arabia’s Khaled Attieh, and England’s Charlie Forster.
Day two was played in near-perfect conditions with bright sunshine and nothing more than a gentle breeze drifting off the Firth of Forth.
Clemons made the most of the fine weather to follow up his opening round of 3-under 68 with a blistering run of five birdies on the front nine en route to posting a fine score of 65.
That gave the Englishman the halfway lead on nine-under par.
However, the chasing pack did carry a menacing look. South African Burnand’s seven-under par round of 64 had taken him into second place a shot behind the leader.
Ominously for the field, Burnand’s countryman Altin Van Der Merwe, the highest-ranked player in the event, added a 67 to his opening day 68 to lie two shots off the pace.
A total of 44 players made the cut which fell at 2-over and headed into a demanding Sunday schedule of 36 holes to determine the champion.
Round three, once again belonged to Clemons as he showed no sign of nerves.
While van Der Merwe and Nielsen drifted with over par rounds in the blustery wind and Burnand treaded water, Clemons put on a masterclass. A round of 65 included seven birdies and just one dropped shot.
ABOUT THE Scottish Open Amateur Stroke Play
The Scottish Men’s Open Amateur Stroke Play
Championship is open to Male Amateur
Golfers
of
all Nationalities. 72-hole stroke play
championship.
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