The Northern Open is a golf tournament played annually in Scotland since 1931. For some years it was one of only two 72-hole tournaments on the "Tartan Tour", the PGA Tour in Scotland's schedule, the other being the Scottish PGA Championship, but since 2019 the event has been played over 36 holes.
The Scottish PGA Championship was originally called the Scottish Professional Championship and was only open to professionals while the Northern Open was also open to amateurs.
History The tournaments were originally played over 2 days with 2 rounds played each day. In 1947 the event was extended to a third day with one round played on the first two days. The leading 50 players and those tied for 50th place played two rounds on the third day. Originally called the "Northern Open Amateur and Professional Golf Tournament", the name was changed "Northern Open Championship" for 1948. The 1948 event was reduced to two days again with play in groups of three on the first day and a cut reducing the field to 80 for the final day. With a large number of entries the 1949 event was again played over three days. The playoff between Ballingall and Thomson was played at Murcar, the day after the Championship finished. The day had been allocated for Scottish qualifying for the Daily Mail Tournament. Thomson practised in the morning while Ballingall played a competitive round. The two played together in the afternoon, Ballingale scoring 72 to Thomson's 74.
Winners Year Tour Winner Score To par Margin ofvictory Runner(s)-up Winner'sshare (£) Venue Ref.Northern Open 2026 Haydn McCullen 127 −15 1 stroke Ethan Hurst 3,200 Moray 2025 Craig Lee (2) 132 −8 5 strokes Matt Ford Alastair Forsyth Jason Freeman 3,200 Royal Dornoch 2024 Graeme Robertson 137 −3 Playoff Joe Bryce 3,200 Cruden Bay 2023 Graham Fox 140 −2 1 stroke Paul O'Hara 3,200 Moray 2022 Greig Hutcheon (3) 135 −9 1 stroke Chris Doak Cameron Marr Graeme Robertson 3,200 Portlethen 2021 Paul O'Hara (2) 132 −12 3 strokes Chris Doak Rory Franssen (a) Gavin Hay 3,000 Portlethen 2020 Ross Cameron 67 1 stroke Gavin Hay Scott Henderson David Rudd (a) Calum Scott (a) 2,560 Spey Valley 2019 Alastair Forsyth (2) 133 3 strokes Graham Fox 1,000 Newmachar 2018 Gareth Wright 276 1 stroke Gavin Hay 1,100 Nairn Dunbar 2017 Paul O'Hara 277 7 strokes Gavin Hay Greg McBain Paul McKechnie 1,400 Moray 2016 Greig Hutcheon (2) 267 6 strokes Chris Kelly 3,900 Royal Dornoch 2015 Chris Kelly 267 5 strokes Gareth Wright 4,250 Cruden Bay 2014 David Law (2) 207 3 strokes Greig Hutcheon 6,000 Murcar Links 2013 James Byrne (2) 261 1 stroke David Law 4,000 Meldrum House 2012 James Byrne 268 5 strokes David Law David Orr 4,000 Meldrum House 2011 David Law (a) 266 2 strokes Stephen Gray (4,000) Meldrum House 2010 Greig Hutcheon 132 1 stroke Scott Larkin (a) 3,800 Meldrum House 2009 Craig Lee 281 5 strokes Martyn Hamer 2,500 Spey Valley 2008 Chris Doak (2) 274 3 strokes Lee Harper 8,000 Spey Valley 2007 Murray Urquhart 282 1 stroke David Patrick 8,000 Skibo Castle 2006 Jason McCreadie (2) 276 Playoff Chris Doak 8,000 Skibo Castle 2005 Chris Doak 277 4 strokes Dean Robertson 7,500 Skibo Castle 2004 Jason McCreadie 212 3 strokes Scott Henderson 4,250 Skibo Castle 2003 Gordon Law 275 Playoff Colin Gillies 4,500 Cruden Bay Grampian International Freight Northern Open 2002 EPT Fraser Mann 277 −11 3 strokes Colin Gillies Martin LeMesurier 6,500 Newmachar Northern Open 2001 Graham Rankin 203 Playoff Mark King 4,300 Murcar 2000 Jim Payne 266 1 stroke Ralf Geilenberg 3,600 Forres 1999 Alastair Forsyth 276 2 strokes Craig Ronald 3,600 Nairn Dunbar 1998 Lee S. James 279 2 strokes Euan Little 3,600 Royal Aberdeen 1997 David Thomson 267 6 strokes Andrew Crerar John Greaves David Valentine 3,750 Elgin 1996 Scott Henderson 281 2 strokes Steven Thompson 3,750 Cruden Bay 1995 Joe Higgins 276 Playoff Steve Martin 3,250 Nairn 1994 Kevin Stables (2) 282 1 stroke Campbell Elliott 3,250 Royal Dornoch Clydesdale Bank Northern Open 1993 CHA Kevin Stables 278 −6 1 stroke William Guy 4,250 Nairn Dunbar 1992 CHA Peter Smith 264 −20 6 strokes Craig Cassells Gary Orr 4,100 Murcar 1991 CHA Craig Cassells 279 −5 3 strokes Frank Coutts Alastair Webster 3,700 Lossiemouth Northern Open 1990 Colin Brooks (2) 274 3 strokes Brian Barnes Paul Lyons 3,300 Nairn Dunbar 1989 CHA Colin Brooks 274 −6 2 strokes Ian Spencer 3,300 Cruden Bay 1988 David Huish (4) 281 1 stroke Mike Miller 3,300 Moray 1987 Adam Hunter 287 Playoff Kevin Stables Donald Stirling 3,300 Royal Aberdeen 1986 Russell Weir 283 1 stroke Ross Drummond 3,300 Nairn 1985 Brian Barnes (2) 274 1 stroke Ewen Murray 2,500 Elgin 1984 David Huish (3) 281 2 strokes Brian Barnes 2,500 Murcar Links 1983 Derrick Cooper 287 3 strokes Garry Harvey Russell Weir 1,750 Royal Dornoch 1982 Tony Minshall 288 1 stroke Bill Lockie 1,750 Cruden Bay 1981 Alistair Thomson 285 2 strokes Jim Farmer Tony Minshall 1,400 Moray 1980 David Huish (2) 293 1 stroke Jim Farmer 1,400 Royal Aberdeen 1979 Jim Farmer 285 5 strokes Ross Drummond Willie Milne 1,400 Nairn 1978 Brian Barnes 282 2 strokes Bob Jamieson Elgin 1977 Ewen Murray 292 5 strokes David Huish Bill Lockie Hugh Stuart (a) 1,000 Royal Dornoch 1976 David Chillas 289 4 strokes David Ingram 1,000 Royal Aberdeen 1975 Willie Milne (2) 289 5 strokes David Webster 1,000 Nairn 1974 Willie Milne 277 6 strokes Harry Bannerman 1,000 Murcar Links 1973 David Huish 289 3 strokes Bernard Gallacher John Garner 500 Royal Dornoch 1972 Harry Bannerman (3) 286 2 strokes Brian Barnes 400 Royal Aberdeen 1971 Frank Rennie 281 6 strokes Derek Small Nairn 1970 Sandy Pirie (a) 215 1 stroke Harry Bannerman (300) Cruden Bay 1969 Harry Bannerman (2) 295 2 strokes John Panton 300 Moray 1968 David Webster 278 7 strokes Harry Bannerman Lionel Platts 300 Murcar Links 1967 Harry Bannerman 285 6 strokes Iain Clark 300 Royal Dornoch 1966 Robin Liddle 294 2 strokes Marshall Douglas 300 Elgin 1965 Jock Brown 139 1 stroke Stuart Murray John Panton Royal Aberdeen 1964 Lew Taylor 285 Playoff George Will Nairn 1963 George Will (2) 287 Playoff Lew Taylor Cruden Bay 1962 John Panton (7) 300 1 stroke Bob Tuohy Moray 1961 Harry Weetman 282 2 strokes Harold Henning Murcar Links 1960 John Panton (6) 301 2 strokes Eric Brown 125 Royal Dornoch 1959 John Panton (5) 284 2 strokes Ian Smith Peterhead 1958 George Will 291 Playoff Willie Macdonald Harry Weetman Cruden Bay 1957 Eric Brown (5) 290 6 strokes John Panton Nairn 1956 John Panton (4) 290 Playoff Eric Brown Moray 1955 Eric Brown (4) 283 Playoff John Panton Murcar Links 1954 Eric Brown (3) 307 2 strokes Gregor McIntosh Royal Dornoch 1953 Eric Brown (2) 281 1 stroke John Panton Cruden Bay 1952 John Panton (3) 289 5 strokes John Campbell 90 Royal Aberdeen 1951 John Panton (2) 285 5 strokes Hector Thomson Nairn 1950 Eric Brown 294 1 stroke John Panton Moray 1949 Hamish Ballingall (2) 296 Playoff Hector Thomson Royal AberdeenMurcar Links 1948 John Panton 288 3 strokes Hamish Ballingall Sandy Sinclair (a) 65 Inverness 1947 Hamish Ballingall 300 6 strokes Hugh Watt 60 Peterhead 1946 Willie Forrester 305 2 strokes Ian Macpherson 35 Murcar Links 1940–1945: No tournament due to World War II 1939 Jack McLean (3) 285 Playoff Hector Thomson (a) 30 Nairn 1938 Tom Haliburton 294 1 stroke Wilie Don 28 Peterhead 1937 Jack McLean (2) 294 Playoff Gordon Durward 25 Moray 1936 Dick Walker (a) (2) 290 10 strokes Tom Dobson Willie Don (25) Deeside 1935 Dick Walker (a) 298 Playoff Willie Spark (25) Royal Dornoch 1934 Jim Forrester 287 6 strokes Ken Forbes (a) 25 Inverness 1933 Jack McLean (a) 294 1 stroke Jack McMillan (20) Murcar Links 1932 James Henderson 292 Playoff Jimmy McDowall 20 Nairn 1931 Jimmy McDowall 289 7 strokes Julian Jaffray 20 Royal Aberdeen Source:
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