By George - he's the new Scottish champion

Scottish Amateur champion George Duncan (Pic Kenny Smith)

The 21-year-old lifted the title with a 3 & 1 win over Nairn’s Andrew Burgess in the final at Royal Aberdeen.

Duncan became the second player from his club Windyhills to lift the national crown, following in the footsteps of Andrew McArthur who claimed this prize in 2002 at Western Gailes.

And Duncan, who is currently studying at Lincoln Memorial University in Tennessee, admitted his success had exceeded his expecxtations going into the competition.

He said: “I’m speechless. It’s the best feeling I’ve had in golf by a long shot.

“I can’t believe I’ve won the Scottish Amateur Championship, especially as I wasn’t able to get past the second round last year.”

Duncan defeated Paul Tulleth (St Andrews) 2 & 1, Connor Neil (Blairgowrie) 2 & 1, Kenny Gunnyeon (Murcar) 6 & 4, Craig Morrison (Haggs Castle) 4 & 3, Malcolm Pennycott (Royal Burgess) by one hole and Alasdair McDougall (Elderslie) at the second extra hole to reach the final.

After 13 holes of the 36-hole final Duncan found himself two down but his back to win four holes in a row and halves the 18th to end the first round two up.

And in the afternoon round Burgess couldn’t get any closer as Duncan’s lead fluctuated between two and three before he finally clinched the title when his opponent conceded at the 17th.

Duncan said: “The final was the best I’ve struck it all week and my short game really pulled it through for me. I just need to thank my putter, to be honest, which was brilliant.

“Sometimes my downfall is my nerves, but I loved it,” added George, winner of the last five Windyhill club championships.

“I just told myself to just enjoy it and don’t get angry if I hit a bad shot. Everyone usually says I have a good poker face, but my heart was going, especially down the back nine.”

On the back of his succss George then completed a remarkable week by being called up for his international debut when he was named as part of an 11-man team playing in this week’s Fairstone Home Internationals at Nairn.

The annual four nations event sees the Scots taking on the best amateurs from England, Ireland and Wales, seeking to win the trophy for the first time since they last hosted the matches at Glasgow Golf Club’s Gailes Links in 2012.

Duncan has climbed to eighth place on the Scottish Golf Men’s Order of Merit following his victory in the north-east.