The 2023 EuroDov Cup saw the Tour return to competition on the continent. 8 players travelled to Cascais, Portugal, site of the last continental competition to compete over 3 very different courses Estoril Golf Club, Penha Longa and Quinta da Marinha.

The field included previous winners David McColgan and Greig Baxter alongside Stuart Allan, Kevin Brannan, Graeme Connor, Denis Duncan and Stevie Orr.

The field arrived at Estoril to find a short, but challenging course that was verging on claustrophobic in parts, with tight fairways, obscured tee-shots and tight doglegs. The small and firm greens were the perfect protection for the short course, as the players were soon to find out.

McColgan led the field out, after his win in 2022, and he – and the entire first group – found trouble left. McColgan, opting for his trusty 2 iron off the tee, slammed it into the netting protection housing by the course. Baxter would clear the netting forcing him to play three of the tee and Green, who hit the best tee-shot out of the group, would eventually lose his ball and incur penalty strokes.

Despite a seemingly easy hole, none of the 8 man field played it with ease.

The course from there meandered through the hills of Estoril, with challenging par 3’s and sloping par 4’s.

By the 10th hole the field was fairly spread out but Stuart Allan was the one standing above all else as he entered the back 9 level par. Stevie Orr was one off the lead and Denis Duncan and David McColgan 2 shots back.

The back 9 was a different proposition, slightly softer greens but much tighter tee shots and the course definitely started to take it’s toll on the players. Duncan would drop 10 shots on the back 9 itself With David McColgan and Greig Baxter making the best of the back 9 scoring by only dropping 2 shots.

After 18 holes the leader was Stuart Allan – who dropped 5 shots on the back 9 – to finish the day 5-over par. McColgan was 1 behind, Orr, 2 and Connor 3. Stephen Green and Denis Duncan would find themselves 7 off the lead, Brannan 8, and Baxter 9.

Round 2 saw the players arrive at Penha Longa – Championship Course. The much anticipated course was dampened by rain most of the morning, but as the players arrived and took to the practice facilities the sun began to shine and a perfect day for golf was ahead of them.

In direct contrast to Estoril, Penha Longa was a finely manicured course, with Augusta like vibes and large, pure greens. The course was open and expansive, allowing players the confidence to swing big on a hugely risk and reward course.

The overnight leader was out in group two and found difficulty quickly, losing tee shots on 1 and 2. His struggles persisted for much of the front 9 where he dropped 11 shots in total.

He wasn’t alone though, despite the course being fairly open, the strategic front 9 posed problems for many players with Greig Baxter dropping 15 shots, Denis Duncan 10, and Stephen Green 7.

By the end of the front 9 the leader was Stevie Orr, who navigated the front 9 with an impressive 1-over par and led by 5 strokes over McColgan. Brannan had turned his over night 7th place position into 3rd with a 2-over front 9.

However, the joys of the front 9, would come crashing around Orr’s head as he started the back 9 with a 10, 11, 9 in a stretch of holes that cost him 15 strokes in total. The best back nine actually belonged to Stuart Allan and Denis Duncan who both navigated the holes with a 3-over par score and Allan’s round could have been so much better but for an unfortunate bounce on 16 that saw his ball dribble down the cart path in to a bush after his approach to the green.

Despite an 8 and 9 on consecutive par 5’s in the front 9 McColgan would find himself in the last group of the tournament leading on 17-over. However, it was a tight event with Allan’s impressive back 9 placing him 2nd on 19-over. A trio of players Brannan, Connor and Orr were all on 20-over and just outside that group sat Duncan on 25-over.

The story however of the day was the announcement and subsequent withdrawal of Greig Baxter. Baxter won the EuroDov Cup in Cascais in 2019 but following a 15-over front nine and a poor start to the back 9 he announced his withdrawal on course.

As the players were getting ready for the final 18 holes, only 8 strokes separated the top 5 players in what was set to be a tense final 18 holes.

Quinta da Marinha, isn’t a stranger to the EuroDov Tour, as the sole course of the 2019 tournament. The players were greeted with a course that was a mix of the two previously played offering some real risk and reward holes, but also some tight and challenging shots that require accuracy and tactics.

Through the front 9 holes the field began to bunch greatly with McColgan holding his lead at 24-orver, Brannan on 25 over, Duncan on 26 and Connor on 27. Stevie Orr was 14 over through 9 resulting in his score of 34 over being all but out of the competition.

As the old saying goes, it all comes down to the back 9 on Sunday (or Saturday in the case of the Tour).
McColgan started the back 9 with a par on the challenging par 5 however Brannan and Connor would birdie the hole putting Brannan two shots in the lead of Connor and three in front of McColgan.

The group would remain like that walking on to 12th, a shortish par 4 dog leg left. In the group ahead, Connor would par the hole to stay at 27-over. Brannan sent his drive straight down the middle but McColgan would double-cross himself off the tee and slam his ball into the trees lining the fairway. The resulting double bogey would be compounded by an eagle 2 from Brannan putting him 2 shots ahead of Connor and 5 shots ahead of McColgan.

Connor would bogey the 13th hole and McColgan would par it was Brannan’s turn to get in trouble off the tee carding an 8 to put Connor and Brannan tied with McColgan 1 behind. The following par 3 saw all players par the hole but McColgan and Connor both had tree trouble down 15. McColgan would card an 8, effectively ending his hopes of retaining the EuroDov Cup.

Connor would hold out for a 6 putting him 4 shots off the lead as Brannan managed to card a par. In the group in front Connor bogeyed the par 3 16th, but Brannan could only manage a double bogey 5 reducing his lead to 3.

Connor carded a fantastic birdie 3 on the 17th and following in the group behind it was Brannan’s turn for tree trouble. A chip sideways was the only option and after reaching the green he faced a 15 footer downhill to save par. Brannan sunk the putt and moved to the 18th hole with a 2 shot lead.

Up ahead Connor was finishing out his round with a par to finish the tournament on 29-over par, but back at the tee Brannan found the trees left, and had to hit a provisional off the tee.

Brannan located his ball, but the tree canopies limited his shot and all he could do was advance the ball out on to the fairway. He’d reach the green and two putt for a bogey, enough to finish the tournament on 28-over par and ensure he was the one left holding the trophy at the end of play.

Brannan was T6th after the first 9 holes of the event, 9 shots behind the leader, by 18 he was T7th 8 shots behind. In round 2 he moved to 3rd after 27 holes still 7 off the lead and after 36 was T3rd 3 shots behind. By 45 holes he was 2nd 1 shot behind and at the end of play was sitting 1st by a stroke.

His determination and grit to compete throughout the tournament cannot be doubted and he showed that events like the EuroDov Cup aren’t won and lost on the first day.

With his win Brannan becomes the 7th Major winner in Tour history but mention needs to go to Graeme Connor who has now finished 2nd in 3 separate Majors – an impressive feat, but still not quite enough to get his hand on some silverware.