Matthew Wilson, from Inverness, Scotland, pulled off a hard-fought win at the North of Ireland Open Amateur, proving his resilience at Royal Portrush—a course famous for hosting The Open Championship in 1951 and 2019.

Starting the final day tied for the lead at 6-under after two solid rounds of 69-69, Wilson was neck-and-neck with Ireland’s Paul Caughlan. Caughlan managed to edge ahead by one stroke after a morning 74 to Wilson’s 75, setting up a tense final round.

But Wilson found his rhythm when it mattered most. His steady front-nine 35 gave him the cushion he needed as Caughlan stumbled with a 39. Though Wilson’s back nine wasn’t flashy, it was enough to keep control, finishing with a final round of 71. Caughlan, despite a determined 74, couldn’t close the gap, finishing second.

James Morgan of Scotland took third place, finishing at 3-over after rounds of 70-75-75-71.

Currently ranked No. 137 in the Golfweek/AmateurGolf.com World Rankings, Wilson has come a long way since finishing 16th last year and missing the cut in 2022. This year’s tournament drew 113 players, with only 29 making the halfway cut, showing just how tough the competition was.