O'Hara in winning form for Northern Open title defence

Paul O'Hara is heading into his Northern Open title defence at Nairn Dunbar with three triumphs under his belt already this season.

The 31-year-old is bidding to become the first player since James Byrne five years ago to win the Tartan Tour Order of Merit event back-to-back.

He finished seven shots clear of the field at Moray Golf Club in Lossiemouth 12 months ago and is the man to beat again this time around.

O'Hara has claimed wins in the Ayrshire Hospice Pro-Am at Trump Turnberry and the Bishopbriggs Pro-Am on the PGA in Scotland circuit so far this season.

The North Lanarkshire Leisure Ltd-attached player also landed a £10,000 pay-day by winning the Motocaddy Masters, the opening event of the year on the PGA EuroPro Tour, at Frilford Heath.

"It was a good win for me in the Northern Open last year," recalled O'Hara, who was three shots clear at the halfway stage before extending his advantage to five following a 66.

After closing with a 71, he was the only player in an 86-strong field to break par with seven-under 277 total.

"The weather for the first two rounds up at Lossiemouth was horrendous and it was just a battle of survival, really," he added.

"That was a big victory for me as you always want to do well in the 72-hole events as they are the ones that help get you into the PGA Play-Offs for that chance to qualify for European Tour events."

Nairn Dunbar is staging its fourth Northern Open, Colin Brooks having won in 1990, Kevin Stables triumphing three years later then Alastair Forsyth claiming the title in 1999.

"While I've played at Nairn a lot over the years, I've never played Nairn Dunbar before so I will need to use my practice rounds to get to know the course," continued O'Hara.

"I was disappointed to miss the cut in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth after being three-under for the tournament through 31 holes only to three-putt the 14th the four-putt the 15th.

"I had been hitting the ball so good and those blips came out of nowhere, really, especially when my putting is normally so reliable.

"It was good to get back to winning ways in my next outing in the Bishopbriggs Pro-Am, even more so due to the conditions being quite tough in that with the wind gusting to 20-30mph and the course being like concrete due to the recent dry weather."

Forsyth, now attached to Mearns Castle Golf Academy after ending his European Tour career, will be among O'Hara's rivals on June 5-7, as will 2016 winner Greig Hutcheon (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) and Scottish Par 3 champion Louis Gaughan from Bathgate.

“We’re pleased to have an 80-strong field once again in the first 72-hole event on this year’s Tartan Tour," said Shona Malcolm, PGA Regional Manager - Scotland.  

"Nairn Dunbar is an excellent test of golf, a beautifully presented course and will provide an appropriate challenge for the Northern Open, one of the oldest tournaments on The PGA’s calendar.  

"We’re looking forward to great competition and a worthy winner at the end of the week