Brian McEwan sinks blind putt to seal back-to-back Seaton Carew titles
Sinking a six-foot putt in front of the members standing next to the 18th green to secure a Club Championship is a dream scenario for any golfer.
But for 44-year-old Brian McEwan, the moment he sealed his second consecutive Seaton Carew Golf Club Championship was missing one crucial element. He didn’t know he had won!
The Scotsman, originally from Glasgow and a veteran of 22 years in the RAF, successfully defended his title after a gruelling 36 holes of golf on the historic links.
Despite travelling regularly to the coast from his North Yorkshire home in Northallerton, McEwan has found a golfing home by the North Sea since joining four years ago from Bedale Golf Club.
Now, his name is firmly etched into the club’s history once again.
Going into Sunday’s final round, the leaderboard was tightly packed.
Following a fiercely windy Saturday, 17 players sat within seven shots of the lead.
McEwan had carded a five-over-par on day one, leaving him chasing Alex Robertson and Mark Westmoreland, while sitting one shot ahead of Lewis Marr.
By the time Sunday’s final group reached the 18th tee, McEwan had intentionally avoided checking the live scores. He was told Marr was one shot ahead and he was a hole in front.
Knowing he was leading his own playing partners by a single stroke, McEwan believed he was fighting just to keep his championship hopes alive.
McEwan said: “I thought I needed a par for a play-off with Lewis. All three of us parred the 18th. I rolled in a good six-footer for my par only to find out that was actually to win the club championship on the 18th green – I really didn’t know!”
With around 50 spectators gathered, the pressure was immense.
He said: “I did have a bit of a shake while I was behind the marker before I putted. I genuinely thought it was for a play-off. I thought there was no point leaving it short and, after holing it, I walked over thinking I was heading into the play-off and everyone started to congratulate me.”
McEwan suggested there wouldn’t have been a huge reaction out of respect for his competitors even if he had known, but was understandably “overwhelmed’ after his achievement was clear.
The weekend offered a stark contrast in playing conditions. Saturday saw players battle horrendous coastal winds.
McEwan’s five-over-par round was a testament to his grit, standing as the third-best round of the day.
Sunday brought calmer, improved conditions. McEwan played steady, sitting one-under through nine, and level par walking off the 16th, before a bogey on 17 set up the dramatic final-hole par.
“Looking back on it, I won by three or four last year, and this time was different,” McEwan said. “Knowing how tight it was and what I had to do, I had the thoughts about the play-off and still managed to pull it off.
“When I got home on Sunday night, I was exhausted. More mentally overwhelmed and getting the job done.”
McEwan moved to Seaton Carew four years ago for its year-round playability, having become frustrated by the winter closures of inland parkland courses.
He said: “The conditions at Seaton 12 months of the year are unlike any other golf course. It is unreal – extra unreal what Tom Coulson and the green staff do for the course.
“Playing in the team has also been brilliant since I joined, I have really good friends, so it was nice to have people walking around the green hugging me as I came off – it keeps making me smile now, how fortunate I am to have great friends there after just four years.”
Having previously won club championships at Bedale and other clubs, defending the title at Seaton Carew has felt that little bit different.
“I looked at the board and there have been a few over the years who have won it back-to-back, but it still feels extra special,” McEwan said.
“Seaton is the best club and means everything to be on the board. To have that feeling for the first time a year ago was amazing, the second time feels like personal validation. For myself, it cemented the job done.”
