Scott Gillies reveals ‘rocket’ from coach spurred him on to biggest win

North Berwick golfer takes inspiration from honest words

Scott Gillies reckons a “rocket up my backside” from his coach was the key to him landing the biggest win of his professional career.

It came in the Scottish Young Professionals’ Championship at Haddington as the 25-year-old landed the title in his fifth and final attempt.

Gilles, who is attached to North Berwick, was two shots behind Scott Young, one of his colleagues at the East Lothian club, after an opening 69.

He then started the second circuit with a double-bogey before recovering to add a 67 for a four-under total and a three-shot win.

“It feels very good,” said Gillies, who was born and raised in Gullane and won the Dirleton Castle club championship as an amateur. “A bit surprised, to be honest, but delighted to pull it off.

“I get coached by Pete Arnott at Swanston, having been with him for four or five years. I like his brutal honesty. He doesn’t mince his words and that’s been good for me.

“I got a rocket up my backside a few weeks ago. He said that if I wanted to be a good golfer I had to work hard at it and that was a great message. It’s good to see the hard work pay off, having also finished second behind Chris Doakin the Kerr Investments Pro-Am in Dumfries.”

Gillies repaired the damage from that poor start to his second round with a burst of four birdies on the front nine before finishing in style with an eagle-3.

He finished three ahead of Young, as well as the Glen’s Michael Bacigalupo and Euan Ferguson (University of the Highlands & Islands).

“I’d played Haddington a lot as a junior and also in Winter League matches and I couldn’t believe how good the course was when I played my practice round on Saturday.

“The greens were so firm and quick, so it was definitely good to learn that in my practice round.

“I started with a double-bogey in the second round then shanked my second shot at the second, so that definitely focused my mind.

“But I managed to get up and down from around 100 yards and played pretty solid from then on.

“I was five behind after the first and thinking the tournament is over, but four birdies in a row got me back in it.

“I had checked the scores before teeing off at the last, hit a good drive down there and made birdie, so it was nice to finish it off in style.”

David Huish, the former North Berwick pro, won the same title in 1965 and Gillies enjoyed securing the bragging rights over Young on this occasion.

“He was on lunch duties the next day, sending him to Greggs along the street to get that for both of us,” said the new champion, laughing.