Teenager Connor Wilson wins Lothians Championship

Castle Park's Connor Wilson shows what winning the Evening News Trophy means to him after his title triumph at Prestonfield

Castle Park's Connor Wilson is the new Lothians champion after becoming just the third player to claim the title as the leading qualifier.

The 19-year-old joined Stuart Middleton (1990) and Lee Morgan (2016) in the elite club to do the double with a polished performance at Prestonfield.

He dug deep to beat Scott Candless by two holes in the semi-finals after the Bathgate man had fought back on the back nine to square matters with five holes to play.

That set up a title decider with West Lothian's Andrew Benson, who beat Stuart Thurlow from Murrayfield by 4&3 in the other last-four clash, and Wilson finished off the job in style with a 3&2 success.

"It is great," he said of adding this title to a 2018 victory in the Scottish Boys' Championship. "It is always good to win but especially this year when there's not been much to play in.

"It's a pretty special win and it's pretty cool to get my name on a trophy that includes the likes of Bernard Gallacher."

Wilson's win is Castle Park's first in a Lothians event while it was also met with delight by the Stephen Gallacher Foundation as one of its ambassadors.

"My strength in the match-play phase was definitely my short game," he added. "I holed some crucial putts, both long ones for birdies and some crucial short ones.

"My pitching was also very solid, which meant I was able to get myself out of some tricky positions."

The only disappointment for Wilson, who started the knock-out phase by beating Newbattle's Elliot Innes 2&1 on Friday, is that his 2020 season is now over.

"That's it, unfortuately," he said. "I don't have anything else competition-wise until next year. But what a great way to finish this season off."

RESULTS

Quarter-finals

Connor Wilson (Castle Park) bt Elliot Innes (Newbattle) 2&1

Scott McCandless (Bathgate) bt Keith Reilly (Silverknowes) at 19th

Andrew Benson (West Lothian) bt Ricky Moffat (Turnhouse) 3&2

Benn McLeod (Musselburgh) lost to Stuart Thurlow (Murrayfield) 5&4

Semi-finals

Wilson bt McCandless two holes

Benson bt Thurlow 4&3

Final

Wilson bt Benson 3&2

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