The From the Locker Room team had a welcome break from the Order of Merit at the start of August and made the trip along the Fife coast to Anstruther. More famed for its fish and chips than its Golf, Anstruther played host to the inaugural Anstruther Medal, and we were there for all the action.

It wouldn’t be 2021 without some covid-19 implications and three days before the tournament three players withdrew to comply with Covid-19 isolation protocols. The field was reduced to 14 players resulting in D.McColgan and G. Baxter competing as solo players alongside six Fourball pairs.

The event saw 12 matches in total, with seven of them being won on countback showing how hotly contested the day was. Our eventual winner was the countback King and we sit down with him now.

Greig Baxter, one of two solo players in the field, overcame three pairs to lift the inaugural Anstruther Medal, how does that feel? “Winning any tour event is always an emotional occasion but to be the first name on a new event trophy makes it extra special.”

It’s Baxter’s second win on the EuroDov Tour, but his first since 2018 when he lifted his first major at the EuroDov Cup in Quinta da Marinha. Looking to the rest of the season Baxter said, “to now be a two-time winner on the EuroDov tour is something that has sent confidence and self-belief sky high.

Instead of as before being there to make up the numbers I now feel like I can compete and be in contention for most events. Looking ahead for the rest of 2021 it would be great to take home the RyDov cup with the rest of the boys, especially in my first year as Captain. Doing that would round off a great season.”

It wasn’t the Anstruther Medal we thought we’d get with 8 pairs facing off against each other, due to Covid-19 protocols Baxter had to play solo but it obviously never affected his game. He said, “competing Solo although being at a marked disadvantage did not phase me. I thrive in match play and feel it is where I can play some of my best golf. All the games I played were cracking matches with some great golf from both sides and having to go down the 9th on all three occasions it certainly tested my resolve.

I do however want to say a big shout out to RyDov cup Vice Captain and the partner I should have been playing with Kevin Brannan, I'm gutted we never got to play together as I believe with the form we are both showing at the minute, that we would have been unstoppable. I feel he deserved this trophy as much as I do.”

A touching moment there from Baxter which might make the fact that he dumped Vice Captain Brannan and his partner Green out in the qualifying round. It appears there was no hard feelings though as Brannan remarked, “Greig has skills!!! Steve and I played Greig in our opening match and let him off the hook. We were 2 UP with 2 to play so he should have been dead and buried after one match. But fair play to him, he defied the odds,” when he stopped by the FTLR media tent earlier.

Baxter dug deep in every match and should great resolve visiting the 9th green every time with the match in the balance, he said, “I was pushed all the way. The last hole became a bit of a do or die situation on what was a very tricky long Par 3. I feel I handled the pressure well and played some great long iron shots to put me in excellent position to put pressure on the others. Although uncharacteristically my chipping at times was a bit ropey my long iron and putting was solid throughout the day which I feel kept me in contention.”

The Anstruther Medal and Fourball match play is an entirely new format to the EuroDov Tour, what did our eventual winner think of the day? “It's no secret that I love a match play tournament and really enjoyed the set-up of this event. It levelled the playing field and gave everyone something to play for throughout the day. Although it would have been nice to have a partner to bounce off!”

Baxter defied they odds took on the field solo and triumphed. His victory will go down in the ages and start a long history of great results and stories from Anstruther Medal. As the victor he’ll be seen as must-have partner for the 2022 field so let’s ask him who he has his eyes on to partner with in 2022? “Andy Love and I have been a great pairing in the RyDov Cup with some excellent performances to boot. But I have to say I was really looking forward to playing with Kevin Brannan in this event. It's always a pleasure to play with him and is something I hope we can set back up for next year. Plus, for shear entertainment value it would be a shame to split up the double act of Love/McCran.”

Well, there we have it folks our 2021 Anstruther Medal champion, flying solo in 2021, but back with Brannan for 2022.

The 2022 Anstruther Medal will take place at Milnathort Golf Club on Sunday 31st July 2022.