Scottish pair team up to win The Nickaus Senior Invitational at Muirfield Village

Scottish duo Ronnie Clark and Derek Paton recorded a notable victory in the US at the world-famous venue created by 18-time major winner Jack Nicklaus.

The tartan twosome triumphed in The Nicklaus Senior Invitational, four-ball better-ball event held at Muirfield Village in Dublin, Ohio.

“It was the toughest golf course we will ever play,” Clark told The Scotsman. “You either hit the fairway or you were dead!”

Ronnie Clark and Derek Paton show off their trophies after winning The Nicklaus Senior Invitational at Muirfield Village | Contributed

The Scots were three behind the leaders heading into the final round but battled right to the end to get the job done.

“We both got off to a good start thanks to having hot putters,” added Clark, an Erskine stalwart who won the Scottish Men’s Senior Open in 2018 and 2022, with Dunnikier Park player Paton claiming that title as well in 2023.

“We both doubled the par-3 12th and fell two back but then reeled off three straight birdies. Derek hit a ‘worldy’ 3-wood to the par 5 to nine feet, narrowly missing for an eagle. He then a holed great eight-footer on last in regulation to force a play off..I didn't fancy my 4' down the slick green if he'd missed”

In the play-off, Paton found the creek on the left while Clark was in a fairway bunker on the right. “I had 155 yards to a front pin, hit it to eight feet and holed for birdie to seal the deal,” he said of what happened from there.

“We were both pretty emotional after a rollercoaster last round for a first win in the States and at Jack's place, where we stayed in his house on site for what was an unbelievable win.

“We had a young Belgian guy called Thibault as a caddie who was absolutely outstanding.”