The 2025 EuroDov Tour season was one for the ages. It began with familiar storylines: David McColgan favoured, Richard Mair the steady threat, and Paul Gowens seeking his breakthrough. It ended in chaos at Craigielaw, with record-breaking scores, McColgan collapsing to last, and a debutant lifting the Tour Championship trophy.

The James Braid Quaich changed hands, careers were reborn, and reputations were shattered. Here’s how each player fared — graded on performance versus expectation.
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Tournament by Tournament: Report Card Highlights

St Andrews Open (April)
• Top Grades:
o Scott Gowens (A+) – 10th wasn’t spectacular, but for a debutant it matched the modest expectations.
o David McColgan (A) – Lived up to his billing as the favourite, making it three wins in four appearances at the Eden.
o Paul Gowens (A) – Runner-up on debut at the Eden; an over-performance that set the tone for his Quaich run.
o Richard Mair (A-) – 3rd place, consistent as ever.

• Lower Grades:
o Alan Duncan (C+) – With past Eden success, expectations were higher than his 12th place.
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Kinghorn Classic (May)

• Top Grades:
o David McColgan (A) – Another win, proving untouchable in spring.
o Stephen Orr (B-) – Runner-up, living up to his “boom-or-bust” tag on a course he loves.
o Daniel Peck (B-) – 2nd place proved his consistency.

• Lower Grades:
o Callum McNeill (C) – Down in 10th, underwhelming given prior success at Kinghorn.
o Kevin Brannan (B-) – 9th on return from injury, but expected more.
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MCM @ Pitfirrane (June)

• Top Grades:
o Paul Gowens (A) – A home win that reinforced his Quaich credentials.
o Richard Mair (A-) – 2nd place, again reliable but again not converting.

• Lower Grades:
o Daniel Peck (B-) – 6th place when tipped as a contender.
o Alan Duncan (C+) – Another low finish (11th) despite home-course advantage.
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Dodhead Invitational (July)

• Top Grades:
o Kevin Brannan (A) – Emotional victory on return from injury.
o Stuart Allan (B+) – Runner-up, showing his mid-season consistency.

• Lower Grades:
o David McColgan (B-) – Runner-up was still solid, but didn’t dominate as expected on his old home course.
o Ally Greenshields (C+) – 13th place undid steady early-season progress.
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King’s Cup @ Canmore (July)

• Top Grades:
o Alan Duncan (A+) – Shock win rolled back the years and rescued his season.
o Kevin Brannan (B-) – 3rd place confirmed his resurgence.
o Stuart Allan (B+) – Top-7 again, quietly steady.

• Lower Grades:
o Paul Gowens (C) – Surprisingly low in 8th for a former champion here.
o Daniel Peck (B-) – 5th respectable, but hype for a win remains unfulfilled.
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Forrester-Lochgelly Open (August)

• Top Grades:
o David McColgan (B-) – Another win, making him favourite heading to Craigielaw.
o Paul Gowens (A) – Runner-up, proving his major-event mettle.
o Stuart Allan (B+) – 3rd place, his best FLO showing yet.

• Lower Grades:
o Denis Duncan (C) – 8th place; not the push he needed.
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Tour Championship @ Craigielaw (August)

• Top Grades:
o Scott Gowens (A+) – Record-breaking -14 and a 62 in the afternoon. A debutant victory for the ages.
o Paul Gowens (A) – 2nd place, enough to secure the James Braid Quaich.
o Richard Mair (A-) – 3rd, again in contention but again falling short.

• Lower Grades:
o Denis Duncan (C) – 10th, disappointing for a player with past Craigielaw pedigree.
o David McColgan (F) – Last place (+17), his worst ever finish. Aura shattered.
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Season Long Grades -

Paul Gowens – A

• Predicted finish: 4th
• Actual finish: 1st (James Braid Quaich Champion)
• Season highlights: Wins at MCM and runner-up at Forrester-Lochgelly, runner-up at St Andrews, runner-up at Tour Champs.

Consistency defined Gowens’ season. Once considered a “sprinter” best suited to short formats, he proved himself across the full rota. His St Andrews runner-up set the tone, Pitfirrane victory gave him momentum, and his Lochgelly defence almost succeeded. But it was Craigielaw where he delivered: a cool 2nd-place finish secured him the Quaich and confirmed his reinvention as one of the Tour’s most complete players.

Grade: A – Not flawless, but a career-defining season.
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Richard Mair – A-

• Predicted finish: 3rd
• Actual finish: 2nd
• Season highlights: 2nd at Pitfirrane, 3rd at Tour Champs, never outside top 4 until FLO DNP.

The “boring golfer” tag remains, but so does his reliability. Mair never dipped outside the top 4 until missing Lochgelly, and once again placed highly at the Tour Champs. Yet his critics will note the absence of silverware — he contended everywhere, but didn’t win. In another year, his consistency would have delivered the Quaich. In 2025, it left him in Paul Gowens’ shadow.

Grade: A- – A brilliant season, just lacking ruthlessness.
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David McColgan – B-

• Predicted finish: 1st (7/4 favourite)
• Actual finish: 3rd
• Season highlights: Wins at St Andrews, Kinghorn, FLO; runner-up at Dodhead.

On paper, three wins and a third-place finish overall looks strong. But context matters. McColgan’s aura collapsed at Craigielaw, where he finished last (+17) as the field broke scoring records. For four years he was the immovable object of the Quaich race — now he looked vulnerable, even obsolete. He remains elite, but 2025 was the year the field stopped fearing him.

Grade: B- – A strong year soured by a catastrophic finish.
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Stuart Allan – B+

• Predicted finish: 7th
• Actual finish: 4th
• Season highlights: Runner-up at Dodhead, 3rd at FLO, 4th at Tour Champs.

Mr. Consistency rediscovered his groove. Five top-10s and two podiums proved his reliability, but like Mair and Peck, he lacked the killer edge. His Dodhead runner-up was the high point, Craigielaw top-5 a fitting close. The putter still streaky, but his iron play makes him a perennial threat.

Grade: B+ – Not spectacular, but firmly in the top echelon.
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Daniel Peck – B-

• Predicted finish: 2nd
• Actual finish: 5th
• Season highlights: Runner-up at Kinghorn, consistent top-6 finishes.

The Tour’s nearly man stayed nearly. Peck was tipped for a breakthrough, but the win never came. His reliability — rarely outside the top 6 — masks the frustration of another trophyless season. At Craigielaw, where he was tipped to thrive, he finished 7th and out of contention.

Grade: B- – Steady, but the absence of a win keeps him below expectations.
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Scott Gowens – A+

• Predicted finish: 14th (outsider, 33/1 at Tour Champs)
• Actual finish: 6th overall, Tour Championship winner
• Season highlights: Record-breaking -14 at Craigielaw, debut season crown.

The story of the season. Written off as a longshot, Scott produced the round of a lifetime at Craigielaw — a 62 in the afternoon — to smash the Tour Champs record and announce himself as a future star. His season overall was quiet until then, but one magical Sunday made it historic.

Grade: A+ – From outsider to Champion. A debut for the ages.
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Callum McNeill – B

• Predicted finish: 15th
• Actual finish: 7th
• Season highlights: 5th at FLO, 4th at Tour Champs.

Perennial steady hand. McNeill rarely threatens to win, but he’s always there or thereabouts. FLO saw him maintain his “Lochgelly specialist” tag with another top-5, and Craigielaw delivered his joint-best finish of the season. A quiet success story.

Grade: B – Outperformed expectations, even if still winless.
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Kevin Brannan – B-

• Predicted finish: 5th
• Actual finish: 8th
• Season highlights: Winner at Dodhead, podium at Canmore.

The wildcard returned from injury and proved he could still win. Dodhead was a masterclass, but inconsistency held him back elsewhere. Missed FLO when momentum was with him, and Craigielaw was disappointing. Dangerous on his day, but 2025 was stop-start.

Grade: B- – A season of flashes, but not sustained.
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Ally Greenshields – C+

• Predicted finish: 6th
• Actual finish: 9th
• Season highlights: 6th at Tour Champs.

The form was patchy, the confidence fragile. A poor mid-season run cost him dearly, but he salvaged some pride with another strong Tour Champs finish, proving again he thrives under pressure. Needs more consistency to justify his talent.

Grade: C+ – Too streaky, but ended on a positive.
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Alan Duncan – B-

• Predicted finish: 16th
• Actual finish: 10th
• Season highlights: Stunning King’s Cup win.

A rollercoaster. Duncan was tipped for a poor year, and for the most part delivered just that. But his shock King’s Cup triumph reminded everyone of his ability to pull magic from nowhere. Without that win, 2025 would be forgettable. With it, he leaves with pride.

Grade: B - – One shining moment saves a mediocre season.
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Stephen Orr – B-

• Predicted finish: 13th
• Actual finish: 11th
• Season highlights: Runner-up at Kinghorn, 4th at FLO.

Boom-or-bust by reputation, and 2025 was no different. Nearly stole Kinghorn, then surprised with a top-5 at Lochgelly. Missed Tour Champs, which denied him a chance to consolidate. A disruptive presence, never boring.

Grade: B- – Over-performed in flashes, but inconsistency remains.
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Denis Duncan – C

• Predicted finish: 5th
• Actual finish: 12th
• Season highlights: Winner at Canmore (King’s Cup).

A season of peaks and troughs. The King’s Cup was a heartbreak loss on countback, but elsewhere he flattered to deceive. At Craigielaw, where he once finished runner-up, he collapsed to 10th. His ceiling is high, but his floor too low.

Grade: C – Rescued by one brilliant week.
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Stuart Sutherland – C-

• Predicted finish: 11th
• Actual finish: 13th
• Season highlights: 3rd at Canmore.

Expected more after a stellar 2024. Showed flashes (3rd at King’s Cup), but DNPs and absences blighted his campaign. Needed consistency, found only disappointment.

Grade: C- – Below par.
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Jim Robertson – D+

• Predicted finish: 12th
• Actual finish: 14th
• Season highlights: 7th at FLO.

The sentimental favourite struggled badly. Health recovery framed his season, but results were poor. A single top-10 at Lochgelly was the only bright spark. Courageous effort, but far from competitive.

Grade: D+ – Earns admiration, not points.
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Greig Baxter – D

• Predicted finish: 8th
• Actual finish: 15th
• Season highlights: 7th at Dodhead.

Predicted mid-table, but barely scraped points. Looked rusty after years out, and never found rhythm. Needs a strong 2026 to avoid irrelevance.

Grade: D – Missed expectations by a wide margin.
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Joel Morrison – D

• Predicted finish: 9th
• Actual finish: 16th (0 points)
• Season highlights: None — failed to start an event.

Touted as a breakout candidate, but never appeared. On talent alone he has promise, but 2025 was a non-season.

Grade: D – Needs to regroup and commit.
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Final Reflections

• Top of the Class: Paul Gowens (Quaich + consistency), Scott Gowens (Tour Champs shocker), Richard Mair (relentless podiums).
• Disappointments: McColgan (implosion at Craigielaw), Denis Duncan (inconsistent), Joel Morrison (no-shows).
• Narrative of 2025: The end of McColgan’s aura, the rise of Gowens father and son, and the tightening depth of competition across the Tour.