As the calendar turns into May it means only one thing…Major Month!

The EuroDov Cup, the Tour’s opening Major feels long in the past and news of its winner, David McColgan, is long forgotten, but after 2 Order of Merit events the Tour’s finest assemble to take on the challenge of winning the Invitational Tournament.

The tournament stands alone on the Tour as the only event that requires pre-qualification. Invitation to take part is extended to the top 8 players from the previous seasons Montgomery Cup – the Tour’s oldest Major played over 18 holes of strokeplay. Added to those elite 8 are any previous winner who still holds their 2-year exemption.

In 2024 Stuart Sutherland, Scott Gowens, Daniel Peck, David McColgan, Richard Mair, Paul Gowens, Alan Duncan and Ally Greenshields all qualified and Kevin Brannan joined the field by virtue of his Invitational win in 2023.

However, the field was reduced by 2 players due to McColgan’s off-Tour commitments and Alan Duncan incurring a back injury.

Even with the reduced numbers the field boasted 3 Major wins, 9 Order of Merit wins, and 12 other honours.
The Tour hosted the event for the first time at Kirkcaldy Golf club, a beautiful rolling parkland course that presented a tough challenge for the platers.

Over 36 holes of tension, birdies, and brilliance, Paul Gowens emerged, carding an exceptional 140 – for a 2-under par round - to edge Richard Mair by two strokes in one of the tightest tournaments of the season.

Round One: A Fast Start and Early Contenders

From the outset, Mair looked determined to dominate. He opened with a par and then notched a tidy birdie on the par-3 2nd, taking an early lead. But Gowens responded with a scorching stretch, going -2 through the first four holes, including a brilliant birdie on the tough 3rd—a hole that tripped up many.

Peck had a rollercoaster start with a triple-bogey on 3, but clawed back with a string of pars. Sutherland remained steady, though an 8 on the par-5 5th derailed momentum.

By the turn, Gowens had taken control with a front-nine 33, his birdie on 8 a standout—a 20-foot putt that ignited his round.

Back Nine, Round One: Momentum Shifts

The back nine of Round One saw Sutherland fight back with a birdie on 12, while Greenshields kept a low profile with consistent bogeys, staying just off the pace. Gowens, though, stayed clinical. He parred every hole from 10 to 17, then closed with a clutch birdie on 18, giving him a commanding 68 to lead after round 1.

Round Two: The Charge and the Collapse

Round Two began with Mair firing back—birdie on 1, followed by another on the par-4 4th, briefly tying him with Gowens, who bogeyed 2. Peck came out hot, birdieing 1 and 2, but disaster struck with a double on the 11th.

Brannan quietly made up ground, recording pars on 10 straight holes. His consistency kept him in the conversation until the final three holes, where a bogey-double-bogey stretch cost him dearly.

Meanwhile, Gowens put together a clinical back nine. Despite a hiccup with a double on 11, he responded in style with a birdie on 13 and a second birdie on the par-3 18th, sealing the win.

Paul Gowens’ name is now etched on the trophy, his performance a masterclass in composure and shotmaking. With this victory, the question now looms: Is this the beginning of a new dynasty on the EuroDov Tour? Only time will tell.