HotelPlanner Tour: Another opportunity to shine for St Andrews rising star at The Roxburghe
- Matt Hooper
- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
Scottish Challenge supported by the R&A Preview
John Paterson won on the Tartan Pro Tour for the second time a fortnight ago, and now he will tee-it-up in the Scottish Challenge at SCHLOSS Roxburghe on the HotelPlanner Tour, in what should be another opportunity for him to shine and gain valuable experience as he makes his way on Tour.
John comes into this week with even more positive vibes after fellow local, and friend Rory Franssen's dramatic victory in last week's Estonian Challenge. The Kingsbarns golfer won for the first time on the HotelPlanner Tour after a 3-win season on the Tartan Pro Tour earned him promotion to the second tier of European golf in 2025.
The Scottish Challenge supported by the R&A gets underway on Thursday morning at the SCHLOSS Roxburghe just outside Kelso in the Scottish Borders, and this is the second time the tournament has visited this prestigious venue after a successful debut in 2025. Kingsbarns' Daniel Young claimed his breakthrough victory last summer, 64, 67, 64 and 70 all but secured his promotion to the DP World Tour for the 2026 season. Perhaps even more positive vibes for John Paterson, arriving in the Borders ahead of the tournament this week, and in fine form himself after his Tartan Pro Tour win at Downfield.
The second of his two wins on the satellite tour was a thrilling, rollercoaster of a triumph on a windy day in Dundee, and the conclusion of a wire-to-wire victory, in contrast to his come from behind win in St Andrews last September. "The biggest difference between my first two professional wins was the way I won them - St Andrews I came from behind and wasn’t around the leading score until the final few holes" said John. "At Downfield I was leading for the entirety of the tournament and that was a much different prospect. I’ve also never slept on a 3 shot lead. Although I didn’t close it out in the fashion I was hoping for, it does give me a lot of confidence that I’ve now won from behind and won wire to wire."
The Roxburghe's Golf Course opened in 1997 to grand fanfare, with a made-for-television-event broadcast Live on Sky Sports featuring a match between England, represented by Nick Faldo and Prince Andrew, and Scotland, represented by Colin Montgomerie and the late Gavin Hastings. It was thought, at the time, that the Roxburghe would go on to become a great championship course and venue, but in the last three decades it has staged just the Scottish Senior Open 2001-2005, DP World Tour Qualifying School fist stage and mostly lower level PGA Pro-ams and amateur tournaments.
That was until 5 Star Sports Agency and the Challenge Tour agreed a deal to move the Scottish Challenge from Newmachar Golf Club in Aberdeenshire to the Borders destination. In its debut year some 63 players broke par, and the cut fell at 2-under-par, and it seems likely to yield to more low scoring this week too.
"I’ve played the Roxburghe before but not very often. It’s a great course and it’s playing quite long and soft so it should play into my strengths" said John. "The green complexes are very tricky, so iron play into the greens will be very important - missing on the correct sides and putting from the correct areas will be the scoring key."
Scotland's Euan Walker shot the lowest score in last year's tournament, recording seven birdies and an eagle in a 8-under-par round of 63 in the second round. Daniel Young made 24 birdies and an eagle during the tournament on his way to victory. The course plays at 7165 yards as a par 71.
For John this is a third appearance in a tournament among the leading tiers of golf in Europe, following spots in the 2023 St Andrews Bay Championship on the Asian Tour, and the 2025 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship on the DP World Tour.
"There’s lots to be learned every time you play at higher levels and my experiences on the Asian Tour and DPWT have been brilliant" said John. "The biggest takeaway from both has been the confirmation that I can compete and hold my own at the upper levels."
John will be joined by Kingsbarns' Rory Franssen, and a host of other emerging golfers from across Scotland, along with the leading contenders for a DP World Tour card in 2027.
Chris Wood is having a career resurgence after the former Ryder Cup player and past BMW PGA Champion endured a nightmare slump. A decade ago Wood rose to as high as World Number 22, but a complete loss of form and confidence, along with injury saw the Bristol man fall to as low as World Number 2300 in early 2024.
However, the tall and likeable 38-year-old rebuilt his game, playing on the MENA Tour and earning a place on the HotelPlanner Tour. A victory in the Italian Challenge Open in May has seen him move into serious contention for one of the 15 DP World Tour cards on offer at the end of the season.
15 winners from the 2026 HotelPlanner Tour season, the leading 5 players on the Tartan Pro Tour, past winners on the DP World Tour, former Ryder Cup players, and emerging talents from across Europe will get the Scottish Challenge underway on Thursday. Tee-times can be viewed here.
www.shank.golf will have daily reports, and progress updates for golfers of interest including John Paterson and Rory Franssen.
SHANK, by Matt Hooper
Matt Hooper is an associate member of the Sports Journalists Association
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