Ukraine-born golfer lands stunning St Andrews success in Links Trophy

Lev Grinberg, an 18-year-old who was born in Ukraine but now represents France, stormed to a stunning seven-shot success in the Links Trophy in St Andrews.

Grinberg, who has sights set on becoming “the world’s No 1 in golf and play the Ryder Cup for Europe, left a world-class field trailing in his wake in the final two rounds on the Old Course.

After opening with a 66 on the New Course on Friday then adding a 66 on the Old Course on Saturday, Grinberg led by two shots at the halfway stage before stretching that advantage following a bogey-free five-under-par 67 in the penultimate circuit.

Lev Grinberg shows off the Links Trophy after his seven-shot success in St Andrews | St Andrews Links Trophy

Continuing to produce some very impressive golf, he then birdied the fifth, eighth and ninth to be out in 33 in the closing circuit before adding a ninth birdie of the day at the par-4 13th.

Even though dropping back-to-back shots at the 15th and 16th, Grinberg had plenty of shots in hand as he tackled the notorious Road Hole, which he duly parred to steady the ship.

Signing off with a 70, he finished with an 18-under-par total, with Dutchman Melvin Muller, who’d been his closest challenger after two rounds, staying in second spot after closing rounds of 70 and 72.

It was the biggest winning margin in the St Andrews Links Trust event since Dutchman Daan Huizing pulled off an astonishing 14-shot victory in 2012. “It feels great to have my first big win here,” admitted Grinberg. “It’s one of the best and most historic courses in the world.”

Blairgowrie’s Connor Graham, who started the day in third spot, had to settle for a share of seventh spot on seven under, starting double bogey-bogey in the final round before battling back to salvage a 67.

Spaniard Eugenio Chacarra shows off the trophy after winning the KLM Open in Amsterdam | Getty Images

Glenbervie’s George Cannon also finished in the top 20 on three under, with St Andrews player Finlay Galloway and Crail’s Andrew Davidson ending up on par and one over respectively.

Won by Spaniard Eugenio Chacarra, Calum Hill finished as the leading Scot in joint-14th the DP World Tour’s KLM Open at The International in Amsterdam.

On the HotelPlanner Tour, meanwhile, Marc Warren signed off with a 63 to finish joint-second, ten shots behind runaway winner Matthew Southgate, in the Swiss Challenge at Golf Sempach in Lucerne.