Jack McDonald back to study after title win

“It’s back to the Maths degree for me now, so that will knock me down a peg or two,” said the Stirling University student.

Victory in the South-East District Open at West Linton on Sunday confirmed McDonald as Scotland’s most consistent player this season and, having chalked up three wins in the process, he is in pole position to be crowned as the SGU’s Amateur Golfer of the Year for the second campaign running.

“I had a really good 2012 season and it was always going to be tough to emulate it,” said the 20-year-old Ayrshireman of reaching the semi-finals in the Amateur Championship then making the cut in the Scottish Open at Castle Stuart. “But I feel this year has been better, especially in terms of achieving some consistency in stroke-play events. That’s something you need if you want to become a Tour player, as I do.”

That’s still a bit down the road as McDonald, who underlined his potential when winning the Scottish Boys’ Stroke-Play Championship four years ago, is determined to see out the remaining two years of that Maths degree. “It’s something I feel I need to have behind me as it is so tough to make it as a professional now,” he remarked with a refreshing honesty.

Meanwhile, newly-crowned British Boys’ champion Ewen Ferguson has been confirmed as the winner of this season’s Scottish Hydro Boys’ Order of Merit.