After a scrappy opening hole, McEwan looked the more composed of the two in the early stages and seized the initiative with wins at the 2nd, 3rd and 4th to race to a three-hole lead. The Caprington man birdied the 5th to go four up, before Macaulay won his first hole of the day with a birdie four at the 6th.

That seemed to ease Macaulay's nerves and the reigning Scottish Golfer of the Year settled into his game in front of the large galleries. The gap was closed to two holes when McEwan bogeyed the 9th, but the former Scottish Boys Strokeplay champion bounced back with a 20-foot birdie putt at the 11th.

The momentum swung again at the 12th when Macaulay holed a mammoth 60-foot putt from off the green for a spectacular eagle, with McEwan just missing his eagle attempt from closer range.

McEwan's lead was back to one hole after he three-putted the 13th and after both players birdied the 14th, Tulliallan ace, Macaulay levelled with a par at the 15th. Neither player could capitalise on excellent tee shots at the long par three 16th hole and the 17th was also halved after both players found the bunker with their approach.

Macaulay's tee-shot at the final hole of the morning found the fairway bunker, whilst McEwan rifled in a superb long iron to the heart of the green. However, Macaulay recovered with an excellent 15-foot par saving putt whilst McEwan's birdie try narrowly slipped by.

In the afternoon, McEwan, who currently leads the SGU Order of Merit standings, was the first player to make an early break seizing a one-hole lead with a par at the 2nd, which Macaulay bogeyed, leaving the momentum with McEwan for the next four holes.

When play resumed after a thunderstorm-induced delay, Macaulay got back into the match with a birdie at the 7th which left the players level pegging again.

McEwan had an unfortunate run of bogeys from the 9th to the 11th, from which he could not recover as the winning momentum had swayed to favour Macaulay.

A spirited display from last year's order of merit winner over the closing holes saw Macaulay birdie the 12th to extend his lead before the 15th was conceded for the Tulliallan star to claim a five-hole unassailable lead.

Both players received their medals in front of large crowds boosted by a strong Caprington Club contingent, who had decided only the night before to change their planned club outing to Dumfries to support their fellow clubmate at the famous Angus links instead.

Macaulay was presented with his trophy by former Open winner Paul Lawrie, who claimed the title at Carnoustie back in 1999.