Scottish Men's Open Championship: Brilliant Baker storms to seven-shot victory at North Berwick
- Scottish Golf
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Eliot Baker blew away the field with an incredible performance to win the Scottish Men’s Open Championship by seven shots today at North Berwick.
The Englishman posted rounds of 67, 66, 64 and 67 for a 72-hole stroke play total of 264 (-20) to join an illustrious list of English winners including Tommy Fleetwood, Andy Sullivan and last year’s champion Dominic Clemons.
Victory at North Berwick was further confirmation of Baker’s rise in the amateur standings and builds on his win at the Portuguese Amateur Championship in February.
The 22-year-old golfer from Devon had started the final day’s play two shots behind the pace set by Australia’s Billy Dowling.
The Queenslander opened with rounds of 64 and 67 and was looking strong as he faced up to the challenge of 36 holes on the final day.
In truth, the teenager from Brisbane didn’t do much wrong – he carded a third round score of 67 and although two over par in round four he still finished on -13 for the championship and simply lost out to a player on a hotter streak of form.
Over the course of the four rounds, Baker carded 23 birdies and two eagles and it was his ability to produce the winning touch on the undulating West Links greens that got him over the line.
Baker said: “Amazing, I can’t really put this into words – just an incredible week.
“Looking at the course before we played, I thought there could be some good scores, but then I saw the weather and thought it was going to be a battle all weekend.
“In the wind we’ve had this week it was about keeping the ball under control and not trying anything stupid, trusting my game and hoping the putts dropped.
“To win a trophy with those other names on it is brilliant.
“Looking at what they’ve done, I hope I can go on and somewhat replicate that.”
The galleries that followed the play hoping for a good show from the home players were rewarded with some fine play over the three days from Crail’s Andrew Davidson, Gregor Tait from Aldeburgh and reigning Scottish Men’s Amateur champion Alexander Farmer. However, the standout Scottish performance came from closer to home in the shape of North Berwick club champion Mike Gray.
Gray tied for top Scot in seventh on -7 alongside another excellent performer, Glenbervie’s George Cannon.
However, all the championship glory belonged to Baker who was a model of consistency throughout the championship – not only in terms of ball control but also his temperament.
For that, he heaped praise on caddie and girlfriend Iona – herself a talented golfer from Nairn. Baker said: “She’s been massive for me, just keeping me calm in situations where I could have lost my head or got frustrated.
“She’s been amazing for me this weekend.”
The winner could have come from anywhere in the pack on Sunday.
At the start of play on the final day there were 15 players from six nations within seven shots of the lead.
Farmer, from Kilmacolm, had sneaked under the radar on days one and two with rounds of 70 and 67. However, a slow start to round three put paid to his hopes of a run. Davidson had catapulted his name into the frame with a brilliant round of 65 on Saturday a score that was matched by another Scottish internationalist, Tait.
Both men started round three in a tie for fifth, but just like Farmer dropped shots on the opening nine saw them drift off the pace set by Baker and Dowling. Gray’s run of run of two birdies and two eagles in five holes during round three saw him leap into contention. In the end, though, the leading group just had too much of a jump on him.
Baker made a critical move midway through his third round. A run of four birdies from the 8th hole saw him overhaul Dowling’s two-shot lead from the start of play.
The Aussie fought back and as they played the 18th they were level pegging on -15.
Baker then holed a six-footer for birdie while Dowling missed a four-foot putt to match his rival and the momentum swung in the Englishman’s favour.
After a shaky start from Dowling in round four, Baker cashed in and coming into the back nine he held a six-shot lead which he was never in danger of losing.
Indeed, he finished with a flourish, hitting the side of the 18th green with his tee shot before getting up and down for a closing birdie.
He added: “I think there’s been a confidence shift and I definitely feel a bit more comfortable in myself this year.
“I’ve done the same work as in the past but something has clicked and I hope it can continue.”
North Berwick did a fantastic job hosting this event forty years after they last welcomed a Scottish Men’s Open field and General Manager Stuart Bayne, Course Manager Kyle Cruickshank and the army of staff and club volunteers deserve praise for helping to make the championship a roaring success.
The 2026 Scottish Men’s Open Championship will switch coast and be staged on the links at Glasgow Gailes.