PAUL LAWRIE YP TOURNAMENT

BIG TOM BUCHANAN BEATS CHRIS CAMPBELL
IN FINAL AT NEWBURGH ON YTHAN
[Photo right L to R: beaten finalist Chris Campbell (Carnegie Club, Skibo Castle), Paul Lawrie business manager John Caven, winner Tom Buchanan (Duddingston, Edinburgh).]
Stranraer-born Tom Buchanan (Duddingston), top seed through winning the qualifying tournament at West Lothian GC, beat title-holder Chris Campbell (Carnegie Club) by 5 and 3 to win the Paul Lawrie young professionals’ match-play golf tournament at Newburgh-on-Ythan Golf Club today.
Buchanan, a 6ft 3in 26-year-old who tips the scales at 18stone, was a senior football prospect in his youth. He played a trial for Rangers and trained with Kilmarnock.
As a pro golfer, being East of Scotland Alliance champion was big Tom’s best achievement until this week. His name was on the Paul Lawrie Trophy from the start.
He lost only four holes in total while winning four ties and never played the 17th and 18th holes.
In the final, Buchanan was an approximate two under par and was roughly four or five under for the tournament.
“I didn’t get all that many birdies but I made very few mistakes and very few bogeys over the two days,” said Tom who earned £800 for his victory. Beaten finalist Chris Campbell received £600.
Campbell – “I just never got going in the final” – lost a ball off his first tee shot and was three down at the turn, losing a second ball at the ninth. He won only one hole, the sixth.
Buchanan consolidated his winning position with a par at the 12th and a third birdie of the round at the 15th.
Paul Lawrie was unable to present the prizes as he is on European Tour duty in Germany. His business manager, John Caven, deputised. Peter Lloyd, the Tartan Tour supremo who officially retires at the end of the season, paid tribute to Paul Lawrie's genorosity, not only for this tournament - for which he paid the £5,000 prizefund out of his own pocket - but for young professionals in the PGA Scottish Region over the years since he won the Open at Carnoustie in 1999.
While they remained in the tournament, accommodation was provided free of charge for all 16 competitors by Stewart Spence, the proprietor of The Marcliffe at Pitfodels Hotel, near Aberdeen.
As luck would have it, Tom Buchanan and Chris Campbell were room-mates for the two nights.

Results:

FIRST ROUND
T Buchanan (Duddingston) bt C Gordon (unatt) 3 and 2.
A Brown (Whitecraigs) bt N Holligan (Royal Burgess) 2 and 1.
C Smith (Royal Musselburgh) bt N Huguet (Royal Musselburgh) 4 and 3.
S Taylor (Bothwell Castle) bt J Anton (Noah’s Ark) at 22nd.
J Cliff (Murrayfield) bt M Loftus (Cowglen) 4 and 3.
C Campbell (Carnegie Club) bt C Russell (Dunbar) 1 hole.
B Wallace (Forrester Park) bt H Patullo (Blairgowrie) 4 and 2.
G Rankin (Stirling) bt D Watters (Largs) 2 and 1.
QUARTER-FINALS
Buchanan bt Brown 3 and 2.
Taylor bt Smith 3 and 1.
Campbell bt Cliff 2 holes.
Rankin bt Wallace 2 and 1.
SEMI-FINALS
Buchanan bt Taylor 8 and 6.
Campbell bt Rankin 4 and 3.
FINAL
Buchanan bt Campbell 5 and 3.