GREG McBAIN WINS PAUL

LAWRIE YOUNG PROS'

QUALITY FINAL

Former Newmachar amateur Greg McBain, playing out of Royal Dornoch Golf Club, returned to the North-east of Scotland to win the £850 first prize in the Paul Lawrie Young Professionals' match-play tournament at Newburgh-on-Ythan Golf Club, near Cruden Bay today.
McBain, pictured right, beat Aberdonian Graeme Lornie (Kings Links), the favourite on the strength of his good performance in the recent Gleneagles Scottish PGA championship, by 6 and 4 in quality final. The better ball for the match was eight or nine under par for the 14 holes. McBain himself was six or seven under par at the finish.
McBain started well and was three up after five holes. Lornie won back the sixth and seventh with birdies but lost a ball at the eighth, which was probably the turning point in his fortunes. McBain won the eighth and ninth to turn with a three-hole advantage.
Lornie received a cheque for £630.
In the morning semi-finals, McBain beat James McGhee (Turnhouse) 5 and 4 while Lornie beat Jamie Wales (King's Acre 6 and 4.
The four beaten quarter-finalists received £425 each, second-round losers £320 and first round losers £210 each - all thanks to the generosity of the 1999 Open champion Paul Lawrie.
Stewart Spence, owner of The Marcliffe at Pitfodels Hotel, provided free accommodation to the competitors.
Friday's results:
SEMI-FINALS
G McBain (Royal Dornoch) bt J McGhee (Turnhouse) 5 and 4.
G Lornie (Kings Links) bt J Wales (King's Acre) 6 and 4.
FINAL
McBain bt Lornie 6 and 4.