Your Scot Jack McDonald is keen to toast the 25th hosting of the Battle Trophy by retaining the famed Crail Golfing Society reward.
The Schloss Roxburghe golfing resort attached McDonald had been runner-up in 2022 and then in 2023 celebrated his 21st birthday year with victory over the Craighead Links course at golf’s seventh oldest club at the East Neuk of Fife in Scotland.
However severe flooding in the East Neuk region meant the cancelling of last year’s event and with McDonald just as eager as he was a year ago to again add his name to the gleaming silver trophy.
Jack McDonald holds aloft the spoils of his 2023 Battle Trophy success. Image Kenny Smith
“It was nice today driving back up here to Crail as it brought back many good memories but then also, of course, a little bit of pressure being the defending champion”, he said.
“It was just unfortunate last year’s hosting of the event had to be cancelled, however the weather looks good for the weekend, so I’m looking forward to hopefully again winning the trophy”.
McDonald handled the then very windy conditions of two years ago posting opening Saturday rounds of 73 and 74 for a one-stroke lead and then added final round scores of 69 and 70 to brilliantly win by a remarkable nine shots over the Gil Hanse designed lay-out.
The Battle Trophy. Image @TOURMISS
“Looking back on my win, I controlled the wind very well and while there were a lot of players losing balls and getting into trouble, I kept my drives really low, got it running and also putted really well”, he said.
“I would say I holed a lot of putts but my pace putting was really good and that was important in the wind.
“So, I didn’t do everything well and didn’t do anything poorly while I played the par-3s well which is key around here”.
In returning to the tournament McDonald reveals his role at the Schloss Roxburghe club has changed since he last visited Crail.
“I’m a greenkeeper now at the club and also undertaking some maintenance work and, in fact, I am coming off working 45-hours over the past four days”, he said.
“So, we’ll see what the game is like but I am sure it will be fine.
“I’m still getting to play a lot of golf while I was away again in South Africa at the start of the season so that was again a nice reward, and as it would be again this week”.
Also in this year’s field is Bathgate’s James Wood, the reigning 2024 Scottish Boys Amateur Champion and winner late last month of the Scottish Student Sport Championships (BUCS) 2025 event at the Moray Club.
