Story of remarkable Tartan Pro Tour victory for amateur Sebastian Sandin

Sebastian Sandin, a 21-year-old amateur from Dunblane, pulled off a fairytale win on the Tartan Pro Tour after being a late addition to the field for the Cardrona Classic presented by Cala Homes.

After only finding out last weekend that some spots were up for grabs in the circuit’s third event of the season, Sandin grabbed his opportunity with both hands by producing an eye-catching performance in the Borders

Carding rounds of 66-67-69 for a 14-under-par total, he won by two shots from Edinburgh-based professional David Rudd, with 2018 Open Silver Medal winner Sam Locke, victor in the first two events of the season, having to settle for third place on this occasion.

Amateur Sebastian Sandin shows off the trophy after winning the Cardrona Classic presented by Cala Homes. Picture: Tartan Pro Tour

“It feels great. Incredible, in fact,” said Sandin, who is coached by Dullatur PGA professional Gregor Monks. “I’d planned to play a few of these events this summer, but it didn’t look as though I’d get into very many as an amateur. Then I saw this event had a few spots open, so I entered two days before the first round and to win is a huge confidence booster.”

Sandin started out on the final day sharing the lead with Rudd before quickly spurting ahead with a birdie-birdie start. But, admitting that he was feeling “nervous”, back-to-back bogeys then followed at the third and fourth before a birdie at the long sixth was given back at the very next hole.

“Having had my third bogey of the day to be level par, I just gave myself a kick up the a*** and said ‘it doesn’t matter if you win or lose, just enjoy playing golf and competing’. That instantly paid off with two birdies,” he said.

Locke, who’d opened with a 64 before slipping to a second-round 76, set the clubhouse target after signing off with a 65, but it was job done for Sandin as he followed eight pars on the back nine with a closing birdie.

“This definitely exceeds my expectations already for the summer,” he admitted, having become just the second amateur to upstage the pros on the circuit after Gregor Graham’s historic win in last season’s Blairgowrie Perthshire Masters. “I didn’t come the week with a whole lot of expectations, to be honest. It was just a case of trying to win some mental battles out on the course, I guess.

“But, for the rest of the summer, it opens my eyes to more opportunities and gives me the confidence to play well in some of the big amateur events I’ll be playing in.”

His next assignment is the Tennant Cup, which takes place at Gailes Links and Killermont this weekend, before then teeing up in a regional qualifier for The Open at Goswick on Monday week.

“I was at Lindsey Wilson College in Columbia, Kentucky, before transferring to the University of Texas in El Paso, which is in Division 1,” said Sandin. “I played my senior year there and graduated in May. I’d only played in the Scottish Men’s Open at Muirfield before this event since coming home.”

He’ll certainly savour this success and could be eligible for the prize fund before too long when he’s back on the Tartan Pro Tour. “I want to see what opportunities open up and it might be that I turn pro soon,” he admitted.