The final day of 150th The Open was held on Sunday July 17th and it was the second biggest event in Fife that day. Yes, the EuroDov Tour was back in competition with the 5th Order of Merit event in 2022.

The Kings Cup saw the biggest win margin of 2021, when Andy Love carded a 7-under par round to run away with it and a 13-man field arrived at Canmore – in varying degrees of preparedness – to stake their claim to lift the trophy in 2022.

As the season approaches the business end, and all eyes are on the Tour Championships, it was an incredibly bunched leaderboard with 10 players within 3 shots of the lead through the first 8 holes.

However, a birdie-eagle round the turn from Paul Gowens followed with an eagle on the 17th saw him lift his second OoM event in three appearances.

We sat down with Paul for the third time this season with him winning the MCM @ Aberdour and the Inchkeith Cup and adding the Kings Cup after an impressive 3-under par round.

Paul, welcome back into the winner’s circle, or should we call it Paul’s circle at the minute? How does it feel to lift your third honour of the year?

“Hi guys – its pretty good to have won again on the EuroDov Tour and I am really pleased that I managed to do it playing well.

I felt I had some poor shots, and that’s to be expected, but I played equally good shots and I felt I played a really balanced round on my way to carding my score.”

You’ve lifted 2 OoM events out of 3 in 2021 and have the Inchkeith Cup in your trophy cabinet, could you have imagined this at the start of the year?

“Not even close to it.

This is my first year on the EuroDov Tour and I was just hoping to play more golf and get some competition under my bet.

It’s been a great year playing so much and my game has improved immeasurably.”

Let’s focus on the Kings Cup, you started off well, but you really put your foot down on 10 and 11. You carded a birdie-eagle in two holes that blew the leaderboard to pieces. Talk us through those holes?

“I think I have said it before that the shorter holes always suit me. My secret to success this year has been keeping the ball out of trouble and felt I did it well on 10 and 11.

Both of those holes have OB and lots of rough and trouble around, but my focus was always just on having a next shot.

I can’t lie that the putter got a bit hot on those holes and that massively helps the scorecard.”

The leaderboard got tight again, Denis Duncan finished at -2 and you were still on the 16th hole, but you carded a second eagle on 17 talk us through that hole?

“To be honest I had a poor 16, I chipped when I should have putted and that cost me.

I got a good drive away on 17, and it’s a long hole so left myself with a 3-wood in. It was a great connection, and the ball ran off the green. The difference maker was a putt instead of a chip, and it was good to learn from my mistake just one hole earlier.”

The eagle on 17 gave you a two-shot lead going up 18, how did it feel having that cushion?

“I know it’s a tired adage, but I just tried to hit my shots.

In truth I had a poor 18th but thankfully there are no pictures on scorecards.”

Let’s look at what your win means in the Order of Merit. You’ve jumped from bottom to 4th in three events, you are now only 1650pts behind McColgan who leads the OoM, first place must surely be in sight now?

“I think that’s a bit of a stretch. My aim is just to hot good shots and score as best as I can.

We’ll see where I finish at the end of the day.”

The win today also propels you to #4 in the Official Tour Rankings – how does that feel?

“I must admit it feels pretty good.

It’s a great benchmark for me to measure myself against the rest of the Tour and it spurs me on to improve my game.”

You’ve lifted 3 honours this year, and sit high in the OoM rankings and the OTR what is the goal for the rest of the season?

“My goal hasn’t changed. This year wasn’t about trophies and honours but a personal benchmark – reach an 18 handicap.”

Well looking at your performances so far that doesn’t seem too far out your grasp and we’ll keep and eye on that as the season progresses.

Gowens next commitment is the Forrester-Lochgelly Open in August where he’ll be vying for his third OoM victory of the year. And is anyone willing to bet against that?