The Firth of Forth coastline once again served as a proving ground for one of the EuroDov Tour’s most enduring contests. Across the hilly fairways of Kinghorn, the rugged elegance of Pitfirrane, and the wind-brushed greens of Burntisland, the 2025 Inchkeith Cup unfolded in classic Scottish fashion — unpredictable, competitive, and entirely compelling.

Seventeen players entered the three-course gauntlet, but only one would leave hoisting the trophy awarded for the best net score to par across two of the three rounds. With the final putt dropped and calculators consulted, David McColgan emerged victorious, edging out Richard Mair in a dramatic tiebreak decided — as per tradition — at Burntisland.

Round One – Kinghorn: A Course of Statements

The early drama was sparked at Kinghorn Golf Club, where the swirling wind and tricky greens set the tone. McColgan quickly threw his name into the ring with a polished -2 under par, one of the cleanest cards of the round.

However, it was Paul Gowens who posted the most eye-catching score — +2 — only for it to be revealed later as his weakest round. The course separated the steady from the shaky: while Ally Greenshields (+3) and Greig Baxter (+11) struggled to find rhythm, Stevie Orr kept things tidy with a level-par and Daniel Peck stayed in the mix at even par.

Round Two – Pitfirrane: When the Wind Turned

The leaderboard was shuffled in dramatic fashion at Pitfirrane, where the low scores came in thick and fast. Gowens dazzled, shaking off his Kinghorn showing with a tournament-best -4 round. Mair joined the hunt with a confident -3, while Orr continued his steady hand with a -2, setting himself up for a deep run.

McColgan, meanwhile, didn’t blink — firing a -1 that kept him in prime contention and proved crucial in the composite scoring. With several contenders showing one elite round and one middling effort, the strategy became clear: play smart and hope your best two held firm.

Final Round – Burntisland: The Decider

By the time players teed off at Burntisland, the title race had narrowed. Only a handful of golfers had two viable rounds in the red, and with the Burntisland score serving as the tiebreaker in the event of a tie, every stroke carried weight.

McColgan’s nerves of steel shone through yet again with a -1 under performance — his third consistent round under par. Mair, locked in a dead heat with McColgan at -3 overall (best two rounds combined), could only manage level par here, leaving the tiebreak in McColgan’s favour.

Orr, who had a golden chance to steal the Cup with a strong showing, collapsed under the Burntisland breeze, carding a crushing +14 — the second worst score of the round and a dagger to his campaign.

Post-Round Reactions

“What a day it was out there [at Burntisland] but I have to say I am absolutely delighted to have won the InchKeith Cup for the second year in a row,” said McColgan, grinning on the 18th green. “You never know how these things will shake out, especially with the best-two-rounds rule. I just tried to keep it steady.
Burntisland has always been kind to me.”

Mair was gracious in defeat. “We both played great. I knew it might come down to Burntisland. Just couldn’t quite find the magic on the greens today.”

For Stevie Orr and Paul Gowens, it was a case of what might have been — a single better round would have turned the tide in their favour.

The Inchkeith Cup Legacy Continues

This year’s Inchkeith Cup delivered on every promise: drama, suspense, and a battle decided not just by raw talent, but by strategy and resilience. McColgan’s consistency, highlighted by three under-par scores across three distinct courses, proved the winning formula.

As the EuroDov Tour rolls onward, the Inchkeith Cup will be remembered not only for its breath-taking scenery and brutal pin placements, but for crowning a champion who earned it the hard way — shot by shot, fairway by fairway, green by green and hole by hole.