Doak lands Northern Open title

Published on Friday 16 May 2008 23:12

CHRIS Doak continued his dominance of this season's Tartan Tour as he powered to his third successive order of merit triumph in the Northern Open at Spey Valley yesterday.

The 30-year-old from Greenock closed with a rousing six-under 66 for a 14-under aggregate of 274 to win by three shots from Archerfield's Lee Harper and land the prestigious title for the second time in four years.

Doak, the former Tartan Tour No1, had already claimed back-to-back order of merit crowns at Craigielaw and Barassie before completing a hat-trick in Aviemore last night which handed him 8,000 and cemented his place at the top of the domestic circuit's rankings. "I've probably played some of my best golf over these past few weeks and to win three order of merit events in a row is very pleasing," said Doak. "I've won this before, but this one feels more satisfying. It's always hard to win a tournament for a second time and I'm delighted with this."

Harper, who shared the lead with a round to go, made a spirited challenge with a closing 69 but he had no answer to Doak's five-birdie haul on the inward half and had to settle for the runners-up spot with a 277.

"I didn't lose it today, Chris won it very well," admitted the former Scottish Boys' champion who pocketed a consolation prize of 6,000.

Paul McKechnie and Euan Little shared third on 281, while Tartan Tour No1 Greig Hutcheon and two-time Northern Open winner Jason McCreadie tied for fifth.