Inverness Four Day Open winner Jamie Whittet. Picture: Callum Mackay.
Jamie Whittet has been crowned Inverness Four Day Open winner for the first time in his career after defeating defending champion Jordan Shaw in the final.
The Nairn Golf Club member, who is from Muir of Ord, claimed victory by 2&1 as both men shook hands on the 17th.
Whittet recovered from a poor start in the final after Shaw from Boat of Garten found himself two up after the first three holes.
But Whittet (32), who works a project engineer for Diageo, recovered to go in front and take a slender lead in the final which he did not relinquish.
Speaking about his victory, Whittet said it was a proud moment in his golf career.
He said: “It is quite surreal after the last couple of weeks had not gone my way.
“To get this one over the line has been tough, but well rewarding.”
In the first round, he beat Lewis Reid 4/3 before defeating John Forbes at the 18th in the quarter final.
In the semi final, Whittet defeated Ryan Copland 3/2 to set up his clash with Shaw in the final which was decided at the 17th.
Inverness Four Day Open finalists Jordan Shaw and Jamie Whittet. Pictures: Callum Mackay.
Whittet said his route to the final couldn’t have been any tougher, which made his victory even more sweeter.
He said: “The scoring was fantastic this year, the qualifying score was quite low and I played really well on Monday night in bad conditons.
“But I was consistent all week and I have managed to come out on top.”
Speaking about facing Shaw in the final, Whittet said: “He is a fantastic player, but all four matches were very tough.
“I couldn’t have had a harder run, but it makes it sweeter. I have played a lot of golf with all of them so I know how good they are.”
Talking about his performance in the final, Whittet said: “I had a terrible start, I was two down after three and lost a couple of balls.
“But then I started playing good and I got the last couple that helped me over the line.”
It is the latest major victory for Whittet, who also won the Scottish Golf North Matchplay Championship last year.
He says to have his name on the Rosswood Trophy is a special moment for him.
He said: “It is huge, everyone probably feels they have underachieved in their career, I certainly do.
“But the last couple of years I have started to win some big ones so I am delighted.”
In addition for the first time, the Inverness Four Day Open is a World Amateur Golf Ranking event.
Whittet says to receive WAGR points makes the win extra special.
“I have never had any WAGR points before so I am delighted.
“I have not had a good stab at defending my order of merit crown this year, so this will hopefully jump me back into contention.”
In the other competitions, Dougie Gordon became the first player since current PGA Tour player Russell Knox to win a section three years in a row by defeating clubmate Eric Brown 4&3 to claim the Section One title.
In Section Two, 12 years after his first victory, Stuart Caithness lifted the Tom Sutherland trophy for the second time by winning a close match with Steven Grant by two holes.
In Section Three, Lewis Nesbitt and Jamie Cameron couldn’t be separated after 18 holes, Lewis eventually winning a playoff at the 20th hole to claim th
Stewart Coghill Trophy:
In the last match of the 4 Day Open week, Brian Davidson beat Max Henderson to win the Stewart Coghill Trophy for the first time.
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