It’s been a weary morning at the typewriter as the dust settles after the opening event, and Major, of the 2024 EuroDov Tour season.

9 players descended on Cascais, Portugal, for the third playing of the Open de Cascais, and the 2024 EuroDov Cup.

The players arrived playing a new rota from the previous 2 Open de Cascais with Quinta da Marinha being the only course to feature in all three Opens.

The opening shot of the 2024 season was the honour of the defending EuroDov Cup champion Kevin Brannan, and with it the season was underway.

Quinta da Marinha, host to all 3 rounds in 2019, and the final round in 2023, was a challenging opening day for the field with its incredibly firm fairways and raised greens testing the early season swings of the players.
And whilst the players got into the competition quickly no one set the pace quite as fast as Paul Gowens. Returning for his first full season after facing a serious medical condition in 2023 he started birdie-birdie as he raced off to a 5-under par opening 9.

Gowens’ front nine included four birdies and an eagle on his way to a magnificent opening to the tournament. The closest person to Gowens after nine holes was McColgan at 3-over part, a whole 8 shots adrift.

However, Gowens’ opening salvo was soon quietened as the round went on starting the back nine bogey, double bogey. However, he steadied the ship and managed to finish the day 2-over part and 2 shots in the lead.

After day 1 the standings were P. Gowens (+2), D. McColgan (+4), S. Allan (+8), A. Love (+10), G. Connor (+12), S. Green (+17), K. Brannan (+19), D. Denis (+26).

As the players retired on day 1 all the talk was about Paul Gowens emphatic front nine and the clubhouse lead after day one.

Day two was a new challenge, Oitavos Dunes, a brand-new course on the EuroDov Cup rota and new to all 8 players in the tournament.

The course started off with 4 holes that were reminiscent of Quinta da Marinha on day one. Very tight and tree lined. However, Gowens’ opening salvo wasn’t quite as prolific as day one and an opening hole double bogey saw him tie for the lead for the first time since the opening hole on day 1 with David McColgan.

However, the lead would only be tied till the third when McColgan double bogeyed the par 3 to leave Gowens solo in 1st. It would be short lived though as McColgan took the lead on the 5th hole, thanks to a bogey by Gowens, McColgan’s lead would stretch to 3 by the 7th hole after McColgan hit a Driver and 4w in the par 5 securing a birdie, whilst Gowens could only manage a bogey.

However, McColgan would drop 2 straight shots at the end of the back nine and Gowens birdie on the tricky par 3 9th saw him tie for the lead once more.

McColgan would start the back nine with a birdie and Gowens drop a shot opening up a 2 shot lead, and McColgan would keep that lead all the way to the 17th hole. With tired legs and lack of concentration he found himself scrambling from the brush he’d drop a shot and then a further 2 shots on the 18th slipping back to 9 over par.

At the end of day 2 the scores were P. Gowens (+8), D. McColgan (+9), S. Allan (+15), G. Connor (+18), A. Love (+27), K. Brannan (+29), S. Green (+35), D. Duncan (+42)

The final day was poised to be a great battle with Gowens, McColgan and Allan heading out in the final group and there was no better canvas for it than Penha Longa’s Atlantico course. With its lush green fairways and perfect greens, it was a course that was befitting the situation.

As the groups went out it was clear all players were focused on the task at hand and the final three players set out in fine fashion carding pars to get the day underway. Gowens was the first player to make a move carding a birdie to stretch his lead to 2 over McColgan.

A double bogey from McColgan on the par 4 fourth saw Gowens’ lead stretch to four where it would remain until a bogey by McColgan on the 5th would see it stretch to 5.

Gowens would shoot a level par opening nine and hold a 4-shot lead over McColgan who’s 3 over par wasn’t in keeping with the pace Gowens intended to set.

As the players went into the last nine of the tournament it was P. Gowens (+8), D. McColgan (+12), ⁠G. Connor (+25), ⁠S. Allan (+27), ⁠K. Brannan (+31), ⁠A. Love (+37), S. Green (+42), D. Duncan (+48).

Whilst everyone wanted to be fitting it out at the top, it was clearly there were battles right through the leaderboard, and with Official Tour Ranking points at stake everyone was knuckling in for a charge through the leaderboard.

The 10th hole saw Gowens’ lead reduced by one as he carded a bogey to McColgan’s par. The par 4 11th, the highest point on the course saw another closing of the gap. McColgan’s drive set him up with 134 to the pin and with a strong wind into and across the hole he sent a 7 iron touring to the raised green.

When the group made it to the green his ball was sitting little more than 4 feet from the pin, and he duly dispatched it for a well-earned birdie, the lead was no 2 to Gowens.

The par 5 12th had just seen Stephen Green chip in from off the green for an eagle when McColgan sent his second shot, a 4 wood from 240 yards into the greenside bunker. Gowens chose to lay up and with 130 yards he hit his 7 iron, and as it bounced on the front of the green it checked up perfectly and released to within 6 inches of the cup.

With 6 holes to go Gowens held a 4 shot lead.

On the 13th hole, McColgan took the aggressive line over the trees and around the corner, Gowens, as ever, straight down the middle. McColgan played on to the green first and lay 5 feet from the pin, Gowens’ approach landed directly on top of McColgan’s ball and saw his shot finish 25 feet to the right of the pin.

Gowens settled himself and drained his putt for a birdie, McColgan in his effort to keep up with Gowens saw his putt slide agonizingly past. With 5 holes to go Gowens’ lead was 5.

Tiredness was setting in as the players were clocking up over 50 holes in 3 days and Gowens’ tee shot down 14 was as steady as ever. McColgan pulled his way left towards tree trouble and hit a provisional just in case.

Gowens’ visibly tired by this point, made his first double mistake which saw him struggle down for a double bogey. McColgan, annoyed by his first tee shot, was amazed to find it in play only 60 yards off the green and took advantage of the good fortune to card a par and reduce the lead to just 3.

The par 3 15th, was playing 130 yards, downhill, all carry over water. It was also playing straight into a gusting wind. Gowens’ tee shot was his first fault off the tee all day, carrying the water he found the deep rough to the left of the green.
Following him, McColgan sent a 7-iron to the heart of the green, leaving himself 20 feet, and made a par.
With 3 holes to go the lead was just 1.
The 16th hole is the hardest on the course, and requires an accurate tee shot and an approach to a raised green. Gowens’ and McColgan both found the fairway but McColgan’s approach fell short and found tree trouble. Gowens found short right allowing him a simple shot on to the green.

McColgan’s bogey would see the lead stretch to 2 as Gowens carded a Par.

With 2 holes to go, Gowens and McColgan made their way to the par 3 17. Gowens once again found trouble for the second consecutive par 3 and McColgan found the greenside bunker. After taking a penalty drop Gowens found more trouble, requiring another penalty drop, he’d struggle down for an eventual quadruple bogey.

McColgan had the greenside tree to thank when his bunker shot flew from the bunker, caught it square on and landed on the front edge of the green. McColgan’s bogey however was enough for him to take a 1 shot lead down the 18th hole.

After 53 holes, it was all coming down the final hole – with many commentators reminiscing about the EuroDov Cup in 2022. Standing on the 18th tee Gowens had 515 yards left and the chance to win the season opening Major.

Gowens’ tee shot was as steady as he had been for the majority of the event and found the middle of the fairway. McColgan, who had hit 13 out of 14 fairways the day before and had been imperious with the driver all week snap hooked his tee shot into the trees. Up on re-teeing he hit it left again. Advantage Gowens.

McColgan’s first tee was lost and hitting his provisional ball, he stung a 2 iron just short of the green.

Gowen’s laid up ready for an approach to the green.

McColgan’s approach to the green fell short but Gowen’s shot found the green side rough, just short of the bunker. Gowens’ 4th shot compounded his earlier error and found the greenside bunker.

McColgan chipped to 8 feet just behind the hole.

As Gowens’ played his 5th from the bunker he found the green eventually carding a bogey.

As the crowd gathered around the 18th green McColgan stalked his putt, knowing that if the putt dropped, he’d win the EuroDov Cup, and his 11th Major.

As he steadied over the ball, the crowd fell silent, as he sent the ball just outside the left edge of the hole and watched it swing back to the center of the cup and drop for the win.

It was a EuroDov Cup for the ages, after three days of competition it all came down to the final hole of the tournament. There were so many story lines that could have, should have, come out of the EuroDov Cup.

Gowens’ return and performance was exceptional – no one, including himself, expected to compete, but his game was perfect for the vast majority of the event and his 2024 looks bright.

Could Brannan defend, it wasn’t to be, could Allan or Connor win their first Majors, not this time.

Looking at the field for the EuroDov Cup 2024 could be one of the most unpredictable season we’ve ever had, and I for one can’t wait for it.

McColgan’s display off the tee was dominate throughout the week, and his game was able to hold together under the pressure from the entire field. The first Major of the season belongs to him, but the rest of the season certainly doesn’t look boring!