Hometown hero Grant Forrest cruises to victory at Nexo Championship

The Scot was in dominant form over the weekend in tough conditions at Trump International Golf Links to secure his first success since landing the Hero Open at Fairmont St Andrews four years and two days ago.

His fourth-round lead was immediately trimmed to two, but once he carded his first birdie at the fourth, in turn with Todd Clements' triple bogey at the same hole, to open a five-shot advantage, Forrest never looked back.

He signed for a closing 72 to finish with a total of eight under par, four ahead of Joe Dean who parred the last to claim second place as only nine players finished the tournament in the red numbers.

With this victory, the World Number 294 climbed to the summit of the Closing Swing rankings with only next week's Danish Golf Championship to play.

"It's amazing, just speechless," said Forrest.

"I think it is the same week as I won four years ago on the calendar so just amazing, that must say something about this week and being at home.

"It was a tough day out there today, didn't play my best stuff at all but made a lot of good par saves on the front nine. Obviously I was pretty nervous coming down the last there - there was no chance that tee shot was going right with the red stakes.

"I just can't believe it. It's been such a tough year on the golf course. It's just a crazy game that you can go and come out and do this, with what feels out of nowhere.

"It certainly has (turned my season around). I was way down the rankings a couple of months ago, tried to play a bit better but at this stage of the season, I was right on the bubble.

"It's just that old chestnut that one week can turn things around and it has."

Forrest had to be patient once again as he fought through his first three holes in level par, with Clements birdieing the opening hole to cut the gap on the leader to two.

The 32-year-old was fortunate to escape without dropping a shot at the third when wayward with his tee shot at the par-three hole, however, by the fourth, Forrest was leading by five.

He narrowly missed his eagle putt, which would have been only the second one of the week, as he climbed to nine under, while Clements slid down with a triple bogey on the same hole.

That left Kristoffer Reitan as his nearest challenger at four under, but Forrest extended his advantage when birdieing the short par-four seventh to reach double figures.

The chasing pack could not make a dent as the leader moved on to the back nine, where he instantly added his third birdie of the day from 20 feet.

At this point, the leader was the only player of the field to not blot his scorecard, however, his first bogey came at the 12th.

Forrest's advantage was reduced to five when Denmark's Jacob Skov Olesen birdied the 13th to jump into solo second at five under.

The leading Scot parred his way to the last, where he found the thick stuff, but despite finishing with a double bogey, Forrest had enough in hand for the victory.

Dean mixed three birdies and two dropped shots in his 71 to finish at four under, with Skov Olesen, Norway's Reitan and John Parry one shot back.

English pair Clements and Jordan Smith were at two under and Finland's Oliver Lindell and Andy Sullivan finished at one under.

Forrest had double reason to celebrate after winning the $10,000 bonus on offer from sponsor Nexo for setting the course record of 66 in Aberdeenshire. He carded seven birdies and a bogey on Friday, which set him on his way to success.

In a one-off for the Nexo Championship, Forrest also earned an additional $50,000 award in NEXO Tokens.