Rookie Scot Craig Howie brilliantly grabbed a second top-five finish in just five main Tour starts along with a tee-time this week in Spain after an impressive final round 65 at the ISPS Handa UK Championship at The Belfry.
Howie, 26 belied also his lowly Tour and World Ranking stature with a bogey-free display in a ‘preferred lie’ rule on the famed Brabazon course.
Nineteen-year old Dane Rasmus Hojgaard won the second Tour title in the 2019/20 wraparound season thanks to a par at the second extra play-off hole after also shooting a last day 65 to be then joined at 14-under by South African Justin Walters, who was left to rue an eighth hole triple-bogey, in signing for his 70.
Germany’s Martin Kaymer let slip making the play-off after his only bogey at the 17th in a round of 69 to share third place at 13-under par with Frenchman Benjamin Hebert, also with a 69.
Howie, who had ended his round tied for the lead, eventually shared fifth at 12-under par with reigning Scottish Open champ, Bernd Wiesberger, who had earlier also shot a 65.
Howie, who was coached by Open Champion Paul Lawrie and is now managed by Lawrie’s 5-Star Sports, had a prior best finish of fourth some six weeks ago behind fellow Scot and Austrian Open winner, Marc Warren.
Howie was not into this coming week’s Andalucia Masters but his top-10 finish earned him a tee-time on a third straight former Ryder Cup venue at Valderrama.
Howie said: “I feel great and that was a brilliant last round.
“I went out there not expecting a lot and just went out there to have a bit of fun and to shoot a 65 was pretty pleasing.
“It’s the first time I’ve been in contention on the European Tour, so it made for an exciting day.
“I haven’t really played a lot given the quarantine period and also being a Challenge Tour player, there hasn’t been that many events.
“So, to have some time on the golf course of late has been much appreciated.
“The course was still playing quite tricky today and it’s tough to get a good score but then after a few early birdies, I managed to play a good back nine and now that I have finished top-10 I also get to play this week in Spain.”
Howie’s effort has seen him jump 53 places to 120thh on the Race to Dubai money list and just outside the top-115 that will ensure full 2021 main Tour membership.
Howie teed-up on the famed Belfry course in just his fifth European Tour after spending all of last year, and his maiden year as a pro, on the secondary Challenge Tour.
The Scot went into the final round just outside the top-10 and he soon heralded his intentions with back-to-back birdies at two and three.
Howie then birdied the eight and for a second day running the young Scot birdied the famed 12th hole, and with Tour officials as is customary bringing the tee forward to tempt players go for the water-guarded green.
Howie then birdied the par-5 15th for a third occasion before SKY Sports finally, and disappointingly, caught-up with the young Scot on the 16th fairway who was then six-under for his round.
Howie pared 16 and then pulled off the shot of his round at the par-5 17 when after missing the green way left with his second he chipped to within inches of snatching an eagle and tap-in for birdie that put him into a then four-way share of the lead at 12-under par.
Wiesberger then made it five atop of the board and grabbed the clubhouse lead in birdieing his closing four holes in a round in his 65.
Howie then pared the last to join reigning Scottish Open winner, Wiesberger at 12-under.
Fifer Calum Hill grabbed his second straight top-10 with a round of 66 that included eight birdies and two bogeys for a share of ninth place at 10-under par.
It is the 25-year old’s second successive top-10 after finishing eighth last week in Wales.
He said: “I hit the ball great from the start today and it was a very good ball-striking day and giving myself lots of chances though I just didn’t manage to capitalise with the putter.
“All in all, it was a good round and a good week. It was good also to have a calm day and that has been reflected in the scoring, and just nice for me to keep progressing upwards with each round.”
OTHER SCOTS –
286 – Richie Ramsay (Last round – 71)
287 – Marc Warren (70)
290 – Stephen Gallacher (77)
295 – Liam Johnston (74)
