Winning is never easy in this game. Jordan Sundborg will vouch for that after he endured a golfing rollercoaster ride at Crieff before finally getting over the line to capture the Scottish Young Professionals’ Championship title.
The Royal Burgess trainee went through the full gamut of ups, downs, twists and turns on his way to a play-off victory over Scott Thomson of Kings Acre on a day of intriguing competition at the delightful Perthshire venue.
Sundborg, six shots off the lead at the halfway stage of the 72-hole showpiece, had assumed command over the closing 36-holes and his assault was aided by an outrageous eagle from behind a tree on the fifth hole of his final 18.
What the golfing gods giveth, they taketh away, however, and a late trio of bogeys in an eventful 70 almost scuppered his title hopes.
Thomson, meanwhile, had mounted the kind of charge that could’ve featured mounted cavalry as he reeled of closing rounds of 68 and 66 – he birdied his final hole - to get to a five-under aggregate with Sundborg.
With halfway leader Taylor Kerr drifting out of the picture with a 77, Sundborg and Thomson were left to fight it out in the sudden-death shoot-out.
The sparring duo couldn’t be separated during three trips down the 18th, but Sundborg delivered the decisive blow at the fourth time of asking.
From the edge of the green, the 26-year-old dinked a chip to three-feet and holed his birdie putt to clinch the biggest win of his professional career. It had been earned the hard way.
“It was a struggle,” gasped Isle of Wight exile Sundborg, who studied at Stirling University. “I was in cruise control on the back nine for a spell and then had three bogeys on 15, 16 and 17.
“To be honest with you I just got nervous. There was a lot at stake, and I was on the brink of a big win. You’re not in this type of position very often.
“It was a rollercoaster. I was well behind, then leading, then it looked like I would lose it then I made it in a play-off. It was tough but I’m delighted.”
Sundborg, who tied for first place in the Young Professionals’ Sprint Series event at Hilton Park in May, picked up the first prize of £1300 and added his name to a list of champions which includes the late Ryder Cup player Norman Wood, the 1999 Open champion Paul Lawrie and DP World Tour winner Alastair Forsyth.
“Hopefully my boss lets me out to play a bit more,” he added with a chuckle.
Alex Chalk, beaten in a play-off in last year’s championship, made another good account of himself and shared third with Fraser Hughes on three-under while defending champion David Booth was eighth on level-par.
Click here for all the scores from Crieff.
