In 2023 the EuroDov Tour announced it would introduce a Q-School for the Order of Merit. This was in response to growing interest in the event and managing numbers appropriately.

In 2024 5 players registered for the first ever Q-School and competed over 6 events in total. A total of 2 players would qualify from Q-School into the Order of Merit in 2025.

It was an incredibly close-run event with qualification and the winner coming down to the last event of the year. Following the completion of the 6th round of Q-School Scott Gowens won the event by just 100 points qualifying for the Order of Merit in 2025.

We sat down with Gowens Jnr. to hear his thoughts on his first full season on the EuroDov Tour and what winning Q-School meant for him.

Congratulations Scott on winning the first ever Q-School, how does it feel?

“It feels good, and I am shocked to be honest with you. The competition throughout the year was of very good standard and I’d like the congratulate all the players on how they performed throughout the year.”

Looking back to your first event in April, did you think this was on the cards at all?

“Not at all, I had really low expectations at the start of the event. To be honest all the way back in April I just hoped not to make a fool of myself and in all honesty my initial goal was to not finish last.”

Well, you certainly achieved both of those goals.

Let's go back to your first event - the Kinghorn Classic - you're first match was in round 2 and Grieg and Craig had tied 1st at St Andrews. You managed a second-place finish, did that exceed your expectations?

“Massively, it was a course I had never played before and if I’m being honest I didn’t know what to expect, there was certainly some first tee nerves.

However, as the round went on I just focused on my own game I didn't look at the leaderboard until the 18th green I was pleasantly surprised at my second place finish.”

The next event was on home turf at Pitfirrane, and I think you'd agree wasn't your best, with a last place finish what was the expectation levels like then?

“I was really disappointed with my round at Pitfirrane, again I was just solely focused on my own game rather than the leaderboard on the day. Being my home course, I knew I had the opportunity to post a low score, but it was not meant to be it was a real low point in the season for me.”

At the halfway mark you had just 400 points and sat over 500 points off the promotion spots, was there a hope you could break into them?

“The next event was at Burntisland a course I knew well, honestly at this point my goal for the season changed after the last place finish at Pitfirrane. I set myself the goal of promotion, I knew in my head that if I played well at the next event, I could be in contention 2nd half of the season.”

You were in more than contention in the second half of the season, your dominance was incredible with 2 first place finishes and a tied 1st - what changed?

“I knew it was now or never really.

Teeing up on the first at Burntisland I knew that if I could get in the top 2 the promotion charge could be on, walking off 18th having won my first singles event there was a massive mentality shift for me, what seemed like a pipe dream back in April was now possible.

However, I quickly refocussed on the next event. At Canmore I had a very good front 9 and posted a personal best score through 18, again I did not check the leaderboard till the 18th tee, but I knew I was in with a great chance at back-to-back victories. In the end it wasn’t to be on the day, but it was still a great performance under pressure.”

Heading into Lochgelly you knew you were guaranteed promotion, but sat 100 points behind Baxter in the battle for the top spot - how determined were you to win that?

“If I’m being honest, I knew going into the event that the only way to guarantee winning Q-School as a whole was to come 1st at Lochgelly, I kept telling myself that I had already overachieved in my own expectations for the season in an aim to not put myself under pressure on the day. I told myself that what will be will be on the day but that all changed after the first few holes.”

Did the chance to win it all affect your game on the day, or was it out of your mind?

“I had a slow start on the day but as the round went on, I found myself looking at the leaderboard more than normal. I finally admitted I was lying to myself and even though I never imagined myself to be in with a chance of winning Q-School I now really wanted to win.

In all honesty I think it was detrimental to the golf I played after the 9th hole although I scored well, I found myself more focused on Grieg’s game than my own.”

Your promotion to the Order of Merit opens a lot of doors, including a trip to the Tour Champs at Craigielaw next year, how excited are you to go up against the players in the OoM?

“I know a few of the guys on Tour and I am excited to play with everyone and try and prove myself wrong again next year in the OOM.”

It was quite the weekend for the Gowens family with Gowens Snr. winning the Matchplay and the Lochgelly-Forrester Open, but Scott’s performance over the season has been nothing short of perfect.

If Scott had been in the Order of Merit this year his 5 appearances would be good enough for 1650 points which would place him 12th heading into the Tour Championships, a respectable haul and a good chance of staying in the Order of Merit for another year.

It’s been an incredible rookie season for Gowens Jnr. and many players will be looking forward to what 2025 will bring as he steps up to the Order of Merit.

As ever, we’ll be hear to bring you all the news, insight and analysis between now and then.