Davidson Ends 22-Year ‘Home’ Drought Capturing Crail’s Battle Trophy

4 weeks ago by Comments Off on Davidson Ends 22-Year ‘Home’ Drought Capturing Crail’s Battle Trophy

Crail Golfing Socieity’s Andrew Davidson proudly ended a 22-year ‘home’ victory drought by capturing the 25th edition of the famed Battle Trophy.

Davidson, 31, posted a closing round two-under-par 70 to win by four shots with a 279 total over the acclaimed Craighead Links course at Crail.

Bathgate’s James Wood, who played the closing two rounds in Davidson’s company, signed for 68 to finish runner-up and a 283-tally.

Roxburghe’s Jack MacDonald, and winner of the event when last played in 2023 (2024 washed out), signed for a closing 71 to be third with a 285 tally.

Davidson had heralded his intent in Saturday’s afternoon second round when he posted a sizzling six-under 66 that included an opening hole eagle.  His effort would be the lowest round of the four.

Davidson headed into the final 18 holes four shots clear of Wood and again sensationally ignited his round landing a 5-iron second shot to some 10-feet at the par-5 opener and calmly draining the eagle ‘3’ putt while Wood stumbled in three-putting for par.

Davidson bogeyed the par-3 third hole but bounced back with a super tee shot for a close-range birdie the par-3 fifth hole to get back to three-under for his round until a three-putt bogey on the par-3 17th ahead of a closing par.

“It’s good to win such a prestigious trophy as the Battle Trophy on your home course”, said Davidson.

“I was under a little bit of pressure before the week started being a Crail member and even though I don’t play the Craighead Links course all that often, you know the golf course well and you know where to miss it.

“This is about the eighth occasion I have contested the event and it always attracts the best amateur fields of the year, being one of the first big events of the year, so I’m delighted for the win.

“Looking ahead, I haven’t really planned my season for this year but I am going to play the Lytham Trophy in a few weeks, so it’s going to be good heading to the event having won here at Crail.

”So, hopefully I can use this win to build on my season”.

Among those also first on hand to congratulate Davidson was his proud father Jack, who runs the family fishing business and who had walked all four rounds with his son.  Also present was fellow Crail member and good friend Fraser Carr and a smiling McDonald who shook Davidson’s hand saying:  “About time you won again, so well done”.

Two years ago Davidson captured the East of Scotland Open while he was a member of last year’s GB & I Walker Cup side.

Davidson becomes just the second Crail member to win the gleaming silver trophy after Ross Forgan won in 2003 while the inaugural 1998 event was a closed club competition.

FOOTNOTE …. Double Drama for Davidson.

There had been a double dose of drama over the final round for eventual Battle Trophy winner Andrew Davidson.

Firstly, at the ‘blind’, slightly dog-leg, uphill par-4 third hole where he elected to play a provisional shot after his first was clearly into small trees and deep rough right side of the fairway.

This journalist was walking with the last group and along with Davidson’s father all four of us began searching for his ball.  With little time remaining under the Rules of Golf, Davidson still had not found his ball and was heading to his provisional down the left side of the fairway while I continued searching.

Andrew Davidson plays a superb second shot from deep rough and tree stumps down the right side of the par-4 fourth hole at Craighead Links course during the final round of the 2025 Battle Trophy. Image @TourMiss

Just a few moments later I saw a ball amid the deep rough and tree stumps.  I immediately called out to Andrew.

“Andrew?  What ball are you playing?”.  He called back from the fairway: “A Titleist with a light blue dot.  It also has a blue line on it”.  I replied:  “Andrew, this is your ball”.

A relieved Davidson played a great shot, digging the ball out to find the edge of the green with his second but then three-putting for a bogey ‘5’.

That was not his only concern as his motorised pull trolley then broke down near the fourth green with battery trouble.  I offered to help and Andrew asked if I could obtain a full trolley for him and I, of course, agreed.  I jogged back to the clubhouse where I bumped into fellow club member Fraser Carr who had been competing in the Battle Trophy and was in the process of packing-up and heading off after his four rounds.

Fraser told me to take his motorised trolley out to Davidson and he would collect from him afterwards. Thanks to the Crail Pro Shop, the trolley was placed in a motorised buggy that I drove out onto the course before catching-up with Davidson on the sixth tee.

Once he transferred over his golf bag to Fraser’s motorised trolley, I asked how he got on at the par-3 fifth hole.

“Hit it close and holed the birdie putt”, he said smiling.

 

 

 

 



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