Robert Dinwiddie cantered to a four shot victory at the Scottish Challenge presented by Bank of Scotland Corporate title with a final round performance oozing class and confidence at the Macdonald Cardrona Hotel Golf and Country Club.

The 24 year old Englishman may have bogeyed the last hole of the tournament, but by that time had written his name on the trophy and first place cheque for €32,000 with an excellent five under par 67 to record a winning total of 20 under par 268 – four strokes clear of second placed Jamie McLeary of Scotland.

Dinwiddie, who reset the Macdonald Cardrona Hotel and Country Club course record with a second round 63, was in imperious form throughout the week and thoroughly deserved his maiden professional victory.

“It is always going to be a milestone to get you first professional win and to do it in the UK makes it that little bit more special,” said Dinwiddie.

“It’s also a great feeling to win in my first year as a professional because it means I am improving and progressing. I always felt that I was good enough to win on the Challenge Tour but saying and doing it are two different things so I am delighted to have won.”

With a packed leaderboard just a few strokes behind Dinwiddie at the start of the day, it was hard to escape the notion that someone would emerge from the chasing pack to pile the pressure on the Englishman.

That charge came in the form of McLeary and Irishman David Higgins, but, in terms of the outcome of the tournament, was rendered meaningless by Dinwiddie’s sensational form.

Five birdies on the front nine from Dinwiddie mean there was only ever going to be one winner, but McLeary and Higgins did their own causes no harm with their final round surges.

Higgins, whose outstanding seven under 65 that contained a hole in one on the par three fifth hole catapulted him from 21st place to third on the final leaderboard, while McLeary’s rousing finish of four birdies in his closing five holes ensured a final round 67 and the second place prize money of €22,000.

That was good enough to see the Scotsman vault 75 places on the Rankings, from 101st to 26th, while Higgins also made a significant move from 126th to 46th.

Other big movers following the Challenge Tour’s third richest event on the 2007 Schedule included Dutchman Joost Luiten, whose share a fourth place at the Macdonald Cardrona Hotel Golf and Country Club took him back to the top of the Rankings.

Felipe Aguilar of Chile moved to second place, while the Scottish Challenge presented by Bank of Scotland champion climbed to eighth spot.

Contact: mgibbons@europeantour.com
Phone: +44 (0) 7740 393 484