Australian Wayne Perske wins inaugural Scottish Open for Golfers with a Disability

Australian Wayne Perske, centre, flanked by the other category winners in the inaugural Scottish Open for Golfers at Cardrona Cardrona Golf Hotel and Spa. Picture: Scottish Golf

Cardona champion was delivered gloomy outcome after suffering spinal damage in 2020

Australia’s Wayne Perske admitted winning the inaugural Scottish Open for Golfers with a Disability is the most satisfying victory of his career just four years after being told by doctors he’d never play again.

The 49-year-old entered the 36-hole stroke play event at Cardrona Golf Hotel and Spa as the hot favourite based on his pedigree in the professional ranks with two wins in Australia and Japan.

However, this was a win he couldn’t have predicted in 2020 when a third major op to repair spinal damage offered a gloomy outcome. Yet the man from Brisbane never gave up hope, rebuilt his confidence, adapted his swing and this year – after a further operation – decided to play in disability events.

His decision paid dividends when rounds of 68 and 75 gave him a three-under-par aggregate score of 143 for a three-shot win over Royal Musselburgh’s Gordon McLay. England’s Cassidy Steffens took third spot after a countback.

“It’s amazing and I’m so proud to win in Scotland,” said Perske, who also qualified for the 2006 Open Championship at Royal Liverpool before his injuries. “I had given up for six years. I battled with surgeries and multiple setbacks. My surgeon told me I’d never play golf again.

“At one stage I had no feeling in my leg. One further surgery gave me a 20 per cent chance of getting through and, fortunately for me, I’ve always been one to work hard and here we are. To get to a level where I can win is special – probably more special than winning before.”

There were two Scots winners at Cardrona - Alan McAlpine from Craigmillar Park finishing top in the handicap section and Gogarburn’s Andrew Stevenson scooping honours in the Stableford competition.