Alyth man's second win in North of Scotland open amateur stroke-play

KEVIN McALPINE WINS DAVID BLAIR TROPHY

BY FOUR SHOTS AT LOSSIEMOUTH

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Former Scottish stroke-play and match-play champion Kevin McAlpine (Alyth) was a smooth an impressive winner of the North of Scotland open amateur stroke-play golf championship by four strokes over the Moray Golf Club Old Course today.
The 25-year-old son of the former Dundee United goalkeeper, Hamish McAlpine, had rounds of 69, 68, 70 and 67 for a 1o-under-par aggregate of 274.
In theory Kevin was put under pressure by a brilliant Sunday best from Downfield’s Ross Bell who covered the last two rounds in 10-under-par 132 – two 66s – to set the clubhouse target of six-under-par 278.
That meant that McAlpine, leader by two shots at the halfway stage and five clear from Bell after 54 holes, had to score at least a one-under-par 70 in his last round to win.
In reality, Kevin coasted to victory with final-round birdies at the first, sixth, seventh, ninth, 10th, 11th and 13th to compensate for bogeys at the third, fifth and 12th,
McAlpine required a cruciate ligament knee operation on February 4 after injuring playing football. He was out of golf until making a tournament comeback in the East of Scotland Open at the end of June.
This was his fifth tournament on the comeback trail.
“I hit the ball well and holed a few putts in the last round. It was probably the best I’ve played over four rounds since I came back to golf,” said Kevin.
“The knee injury ruined all my hopes of chasing a Walker Cup place and playing in the home internationals but I’m still going to have a second go at the Tour School.”
By a curious conincidence, all McAlpine's big wins have been scored at North venues - the Scottish match-play championship at Nairn, the Scottish stroke-play championship at Royal Dornoch, and now the North of Scotland open stroke-play for the David Blair Trophy twice ... he won it at Nairn Dunbar in 2006. Perhaps the fact that they are all excellent links courses has had something to do with it.

Ross Bell’s two 66s catapulted him into contention on the final day. He had 11 birdies over the two dream rounds which saw him finished five shot clear of the third-placed Fraser Fotheringham (Nairn) who lost a play-off to Kris Nicol (Fraserburgh) for this championship 12 months ago at Nairn.
Nicol and Philip McLean (Peterhead) , who had contested a play-off in the previous weekend’s North-east District Open at Peterhead, finished in joint seventh position on 286. Nicol had Sunday rounds of 67 and 69 after saddling himself with a 78 in Saurday’s second round.
McLean killed off his hopes with a quadruple bogey 8 at the 13th in a third-round 77 which also included double bogey 6s at the second and seventh hole. Philip steadied up with a closing round of 70. .
FINAL TOTALS
Par 284 (4x71) CSS 73 73 73 73.
274 Kevin McAlpine (Alyth) 69 68 70 67.
278 Ross Bell (Downfield) 75 71 66 66.
283 Fraser Fotheringham (Nairn) 73 70 70 70.
284 Mark Bookless (Sandyhills) 71 69 74 70.
285 Daniel Somerville (St Andrews) 70 75 72 68, Bobby Rushford (Grangemouth) 74 71 69 71.
286 Kris Nicol (Fraserburgh) 72 78 67 69, Peter Spearman-Burn (NZ) 75 71 71 69, Michael Daily (Erskine) 70 74 70 72, Danny Edwards (Elgin) 72 71 72 71, Philip McLean (Peterhead) 71 68 77 70..
288 Gary Thomson (Moray) 75 74 68 71, Alex Main (Thornton) 74 71 73 70.
289 Alexander Culverwell (Dunbar) 74 74 67 74, Calum Stewart (Brora) 72 73 7173.
291 Malcolm MacLeman (Moray) 77 70 77 67, Kevin Matheson (Royal Dornoch) 72 70 78 71
292 Mark Hillson (Craigielaw) 76 72 71 73.
294 Craig Watson (East Renfrewshire) 74 75 72 73, Scott Borrowman (Dollar) 75 72 72 75, Gordon Yates (Hilton Park) 69 73 79 73.
295 Michael Main (Thornton) 72 71 77 75, Graham Robertson (Silverknowes) 75 67 78 75.
296 Mike MacDonald (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) 74 76 75 71, Ian Angus (Duff House Royal)75 75 75 71. Richard Graham (Hayston) 68 81 72 75, Chris Robb (Inchmarlo) 71 72 77 76..
297 Adam Dunton (McDonald Ellon) 75 74 73 75.
298 Gregor Stewart (Murcar Links) 73 74 76 75, Dean Yeats (Nigg Bay) 74 68 75 81..
299 Darren Gould (Ladybank) 79 71 77 72, John Duff (Newmachar) 73 77 72 77, Robert Sheils (Moray) 74 74 78 73.
300 Ewan Forbes (Inverness) 75 75 80 70, Kevin Thomson (Moray) 74 75 71 80, Robert McKerron (Forres) 75 74 77 74, Michael Watson (Elgin) 73 75 75 77.
304 Graham Murray (Cullen) 75 71 80 78.
305 Lyle McAlpine (Invergordon) 74 75 79 77.
309 Christopher Forman (Peterehead) 76 71 85 77.
NRs: Allan Cameron (Inverness) 76 74 79 NR, Scott Little (Moray) 71 74 86 NR.
Retired (ill): Sam Binning (Ramfurly Castle) 75 74 - -.