22/07/12
Kilmacolm's Matthew Clark, runner-up in last month’s Tennant Cup, continued his recent form to claim success in the latest Men’s Order of Merit event, the 72-hole Newlands Trophy at Lanark Golf Club.
In windy conditions for the final 36 holes today, first-round leader Clark overhauled overnight pace-setters Stewart Henderson (Hamilton) and Michael Daily (Erskine) thanks to a 67, before firing a clinching 72 for a four-under-par winning total.
Clark is currently tied sixth on the SGU Men’s Order of Merit table, but is sure of a rise following another impressive showing.
Clark triumphed by three shots from 2007 Scottish youths champion Scott Borrowman (Dollar) after he maintained his recent good form with closing rounds of 71 and 70.
Of the SGU National Men’s Squad players, Scott Crichton (Aberdour) and Paul Shields (Kirkhill) were three strokes further back in a tie for third place along with Henderson.
Baberton’s Paul Ferrier, a semi-finalist in The Amateur Championship last month, was sixth on his own while current Order of Merit leader, Ross Bell of Downfield, shared 17th spot.
>> Click here for more information on the Newlands Trophy
Round-up
* Congratulations to Lauren Whyte, the 16-year-old St Regulus club member from St Andrews, who won the Paul Lawrie Foundation Scottish Under-18 Girls’ Championship on Saturday.
At Crail Golfing Society’s Craighead course in Fife, Whyte beat Ailsa Summers from Carnoustie Ladies by 4&2 in the 18-hole final.
Whyte, who had beaten the top seed and 2010 champion Lesley Atkins (Gullane Ladies) in the semi-finals, played quality golf to take the measure of international team-mate Summers, who is the Angus girls’ and women’s county champion.
* At The Open Championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes, Paul Lawrie was the leading Scot, as a stunned Ernie Els lifted his second Claret Jug after Adam Scott bogeyed the final four holes in a dramatic climax.
Joint-fourth at the start of the third day, Lawrie closed with rounds of 76 and 72 for a four-over-par total as he struggled with the putter.
The Aberdonian, whose Foundation also sponsor the Scottish Boys Championship, finished tied 34th overall to still pick up more valuable Ryder Cup points.
Indeed, Lawrie is fourth on the European Points List as he chases a second cup appearance at Medinah in September. Only four counting events remain with the European side finalised after the final putt at the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles on August 26.
Meanwhile, Martin Laird, the other Scot to make the cut at Lytham, closed with a level-par 70 for an 11-over-par total and a share of 72nd spot. Laird’s damage was done yesterday when he carded an 82.