The James Braid Quaich has always been the Tour’s toughest prize to win. More than a single event, more than a hot streak, it demands a season of steady resilience across all the courses and conditions the order of Merit calendar can conjure. It is a test not of brilliance in the moment but of durability across months. For years, Paul Gowens has been the quiet master of that craft — consistent, tactical, often close, but never quite the man holding the Quaich aloft.

At Craigielaw in August 2025, that changed.

With rounds of 66 (-5) and 69 (-2), Paul secured not only a podium finish at the Tour Championships but the greater prize — enough points to leapfrog David McColgan, the season’s dominant force, and claim his first James Braid Quaich. It was, in his own words, a surprise. “I must admit I never thought it was ever possible even at the start of the year, never mind the start of the day,” he reflected. “I suppose I have been steady all season.”

Steadiness, finally, was enough.
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A Season of Steadiness

Paul’s 2025 campaign was not built on streaks of dominance but on an accumulation of finishes that always kept him near the top. At the St Andrews Open, he opened with a runner-up finish — a result that established his intent early. At the Kinghorn Classic, he kept himself in the mix with a solid 6th, before seizing his first victory of the season at the MCM @ Pitfirrane.

That win, on his home course, was pivotal. “Pitfirrane was big for me,” Paul admitted later. “Getting a win there gave me belief.”

Through the summer, he remained in contention. An 8th at the King’s Cup showed he could grind it out even on Canmore’s crucible of iron-play. At the Forrester–Lochgelly Open, he once again pushed McColgan all the way down the 18th, eventually finishing 2nd in a count-back. And finally, at the Tour Championships, he capped his season with another runner-up finish — the consistency of a man who never drifted out of sight.

Across six events, his record read: 2nd, 6th, 1st, 8th, 2nd, 2nd. A model of the resilience the Quaich demands.
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A Morning to Remember

At Craigielaw, that resilience turned into silverware. His campaign began with a bang — a morning 66 that tied the lead and gave him the platform he needed.

“I think the course set up and the weather helped,” he explained. “It was playing from the blues this year with loads of run out and low winds — all of which suited me, as I don’t normally have the game on the championship courses over 36 holes. Also, I hit either four to six provisional balls on the day, and Mair and McColgan both found balls for me, saving me shots in the spirit of the game.”

Even in success, Paul’s humility shone through: credit to the course, to the weather, even to his competitors for helping him keep the round alive.
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Holding Steady in the Afternoon

If the morning was about surge, the afternoon was about survival. Paul signed for a 69, a round that contained one “blow-up” — an untidy 8 — but otherwise radiated composure.

“As you said, it was steady,” he admitted. “No real blow ups, albeit one 8. I tried to look at other things — eating and drinking as needed, using a buggy — just to make sure the wheels didn’t fall off.”

It was, in many ways, the perfect encapsulation of his season: not flawless, not flashy, but resilient and unbroken.
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Watching Scott Rewrite History

The story of the afternoon belonged to Paul’s son, Scott Gowens, who produced a record-breaking 62 (-9) to storm the Tour Championships. Paul, busy plotting his own round, only learned of it through whispers and leaderboard updates.

“I didn’t play any rounds with him, so I wasn’t aware shot by shot,” Paul admitted. “Nobody was more surprised than me with his score. I got the leaderboard update when he went -10, and to be honest I didn’t expect him to be able to keep it up. Good on him — especially with a few folk going under par — but he appeared to have the two rounds of his life.”

Was he aware that he was witnessing something historic? “Not really,” Paul said. “I knew it was a good score. I suppose I didn’t realise how good till after the event.”

For father and son, it was a weekend of mutual triumphs — Scott with the Championship, Paul with the Quaich — a family double act that may be remembered as a pivot point in Tour history.
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The Meaning of the Quaich

For Paul, lifting the Quaich was a career-defining achievement, one he never expected. “Very, very surprised,” he admitted. “I’ve always been more of a sprinter — doing okay on shorter courses and in matchplay events. This was definitely a surprise.”

Did he realise mid-round that he was on course to overtake McColgan? “I was aware after the lunchtime announcements that if I kept ahead by a place, it would be enough. McColgan also mentioned it as we came off 17, so although I didn’t know the detail of the leaderboard, I was pretty sure of the overall result.”

There was no sense of revenge, though, in flipping the script after losing to McColgan at Lochgelly. “It wasn’t in my mind to flip the script,” he shrugged. “Just to play golf and let the scores and placing look after themselves.”
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Rivals, Respect, and the State of the Tour

Paul was quick to acknowledge the depth of the competition. “If you look at the field, lots of players were under par and posted under-par rounds,” he said. “Rich [Mair] is always in the running and loads of his matches have gone to count-back. I think the strength in depth is there for all to see, with lots of players dropping handicap. Denis has improved massively, Callum is well into single figures. Wins across all competitions and formats have been spread across the board with multiple winners across multiple formats.”

On McColgan, he was measured. “Nope, not at all,” he said when asked if Craigielaw marked the end of the McColgan era. “With McColgan’s elite status and handicap, it means with the shots he gives to the course and the whole field, he has to play excellent every round, whereas the others all have it in them to have their worldly round. Today at Craigielaw just wasn’t his day.”

It was a generous assessment — McColgan’s fall was dramatic, but Gowens’ respect for his rival’s pedigree remained intact.
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A Champion’s Message

Asked what message his victory sends, Paul was characteristically understated. “I think just don’t give up and never write yourself off,” he said. “Everyone on the Tour has a win or improvement in them.”

It is a fitting mantra for a player who has built his career on patience and persistence, who has chipped away rather than blasted his way to the summit.
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Looking Ahead

And the future? Paul is in no rush to declare dynasties. “Not really thought of 2026 yet,” he smiled. “Enjoy, improve, repeat. Play the courses and the scores and handicap will take care of themselves. And there’s the small matter of the RyDov to think about before we consider goals for 2026.”

For now, he can savour the moment. He is the EuroDov Tour – Champion Golfer of the Year - built on a season of relentless consistency: 2nd at St Andrews, 6th at Kinghorn, 1st at Pitfirrane, 8th at Canmore, 2nd at Lochgelly, 2nd at Craigielaw.

On the sun-kissed links of East Lothian, the Quaich finally found his hands. And the Tour, as it so often does, found a story worthy of its history.