PEEBLES golfer Craig Howie stormed to an emphatic eight-shot victory to lift his second Craigmillar Park Open trophy.

The 22-year-old joins an illustrious list of double winners of the capital’s Scottish Golf Order of Merit event.

Craig was a model of consistency as he decimated the field with three consecutive rounds of 66 to open up a four-shot lead going into the final round, before cruising to a three-under 67 to finish with a 15-under total of 265.

His nearest challenger for much of the tournament – the opening event of the domestic Order of Merit series – was his young brother Darren, who led after a superb first round 65.

After slipping back with a second round 72, Darren then closed the gap on Craig to four shots with another 65 as the Peebles siblings were sitting first and second, before falling back to a share of third spot after his final round 72.

Craig is just the ninth player in the tournament’s history to win it more than once, joining the likes of Ronnie Shade, Charlie Green, Ian Hutcheon, George Macgregor and current European Tour star Marc Warren.

“It’s hard to compare my two wins as they came at totally different times in my career,” said Howie

“This one is just as sweet, nonetheless. I hit the ball great all weekend and it was good to play the last round pretty stress-free.

"It was quite strange having Darren as my closest challenger.

"I was up with him at Monifieth in the Scottish Boys Championship, so was willing every putt to go in for him there, and I’d rather it had been someone else chasing me in the final round. I’m buzzing for him, though, as he’s had a good start to the year.”

It proved to be an excellent week for Darren, having also finished third in the Scottish Boys Stroke Play Championship at Monifieth Links on the Friday.

The 17-year-old had held a share of the lead going into the final day, but he was overtaken by eventual winner John Paterson from St Andrews who closed with a superb 67.