Orr swing as smooth as silk
in Lothians triumph

FROM THE EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS WEBSITE
By MARTIN DEMPSTER
Chris Orr, who once shared a flat with 2006 US Amateur champion Richie Ramsay, is the new Lothians champion, having landed the prestigious title at the first attempt.
The 25-year-old, who only became eligible for the event after joining Craigielaw earlier this year, beat Steven Armstrong, the 2004 winner, at the 20th hole in a closely-fought final at Longniddry on Saturday.With a swing as smooth as silk, Orr, who ended North Berwick teenager Oliver Huish's heroic run in the Forth Engineering-sponsored event in the morning semi-finals, was never behind in his title showdown with Turnhouse star Armstrong.
After exchanging the opening two holes – Armstrong three-putted the first and Orr did likewise at the second – Orr got his nose in front again at the fourth, where his opponent was unable once more to get down in two putts on surfaces that were a touch bumpy.
Orr, who played his golf at Lanark until he moved through to Dalkeith to take up a job as a chartered accountant in the Capital with Tenon, then missed good opportunities to stretch his lead by failing to sink birdie putts from inside ten feet at both the eighth and ninth holes.
In what was fast turning into a putting competition as both players hit green after green in regulation, Armstrong couldn't believe his eyes as good birdie attempts stayed above ground at the tenth and 11th holes.
Finally, he got one to go in at the par-3 13th, the former professional throwing his arms in the air in celebration as a 15-footer across the slope disappeared into the hole.
Wide with his tee shot at the next, Orr, who shared digs with Ramsay when they were both on the golf programme at Stirling University, was unable to reach the green in two.
Armstrong was right up the middle with his drive but a pushed approach found sand. And, after watching Orr almost hole his pitch, the man who has served the Lothians so well since being reinstated to the amateur ranks found himself facing a real test of nerve.
He was up to the task, though, and, after escaping with a half, he repeated the feat from another greenside bunker at the next, this time holing from about eight feet.
Armstrong was closer of the two at the short 16th but, from about 12 feet, he missed on the right, the same side Orr sent his effort when he had a chance to go in front from about the same distance at the next.
Having boomed one right up the middle, it was advantage Armstrong after both had hit their drives at the last, 432-yard par 4. But it was Orr who came closest to snatching victory there, the 25-year-old seeing a 40-foot putt from the front edge just miss on the right.
Armstrong, who was closer in two but probably not as close as he'd have liked as he stood over his second shot, left his first putt four feet short but kept cool to take the match into extra holes. At the 19th, Orr missed a good chance from 12 feet and it would have been him to putt first again had Armstrong not stepped in and offered the half, declaring: "I wouldn't want to win anything like that."
That was sporting of him and so, too, was his decision not to ask Orr to hit again after he had played out of turn from the tee at the second hole.
While Orr was on the fairway, Armstrong pulled his drive into the left rough, from where he found a bunker and, in the end, could only make a 5.
Safely on in two, Orr was unable to knock in his birdie putt from ten feet but a 4 was good enough to secure the biggest win of his career to date.
"When I teed it up in the qualifying last weekend, I suppose you could say my main aim was to get to know some of the guys in the Lothians," said the new champion, the second Craigielaw player in succession to claim the crown following the success of Mark Hillson 12 months ago.
"I never really thought about winning but I'm delighted I have and I don't think there is any doubt I was helped by the fact I felt I had nothing to lose in any of my matches because I didn't know who I was actually playing."
While Orr beat Huish by 5 and 4 in their semi-final – the youngster can still take a lot of heart from his performance in the event – Armstrong was involved in a much tighter tussle with Duddingston's David Miller.
Indeed, after watching his opponent claw his way back into the match after being three down with seven to play, it took a majestic approach from Armstrong at the last to set up the birdie that closed the door on Miller.