Robin Wilson's picture in the Royal Dornoch clubhouse of Hamish Macrae (Royal Dornoch vice-captain) presenting the winner's cheque to Gareth Wright. Runner-up Mark Kerr comes next followed by joint third finishers Malcolm Isaacs (Nairn Dunbar).

Gareth Wright wins Royal Dornoch Young

Masters title despite mediocre finish

Former Welsh amateur international Gareth Wright, son of the West Linton club pro near Edinburgh, won the Royal Dornoch Young Masters title and cheque for £840 in less than convincing manner over the world-ranked links course today.

Wright, leader by two shots after an opening round of one-under-par 69, slipped to a 74 second time round for a three-over-par total of 143. He did not have a single birdie in his second round and was four over par for the last six holes - double bogey at the short 13th, bogey at the 14th and a three-putt bogey at the 18th for 39 home.

Fortunately for Gareth, his nearest challengers at the start of the day were not able to take advantage and it was Mark Kerr, who had an opening 74, who made a run with a 70 which came up one short of forcing a play-off with a 144 aggregate. The Dalmahoy player birdied the first, ninth, 10th and 15th but shed shots at the eighth, 12th, 13th and 16th in halves of 34 and 36.

Kerr collected £644 for second place. Neil Fenwick (Dunbar), with the day's joint best round of 69, and Nairn Dunbar's Malcolm Isaacs, who had a 71, tied for third place on 145 and earned £451 each.

LEADING TOTALS

Par 140 (2x70)

143 Gareth Wright (West Linton) 69 74 (£840).

144 Mark Kerr (Marriott Dalmahoy) 74 70 (£644).

145 Neil Fenwick (Dunbar) 76 69, Malcolm Isaacs (Nairn Dunbar) 74 71 (£451.50 each).

146 Bobby Wallace (Bearsden) 74 72 (£329).
147 Alastair Thomson (Douglas Park) 74 73, Iain Colquhoun (Dundonald Links), Graham Fox (West Kilbride), Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills) 71 76 (£241.50 each).
148 Mark Finlayson (Edzell) 75 73, Ross Neill (Drumpellier) 72 76 (£182 each).
149 Greg McBain (Royal Dornoch) 7 74, Matthew Burt (Helensburgh) 74 75, Malcolm Murray(Bearsden) 74 75 (£147 each).

150 Graeme Brown (Montrose), Michael Rae (Alyth) 80 70, David Patrick (Elie) 80 70, James McGhee (Turnhouse) 76 74, Andrew Rollo (Moray) 74 76, Terry Mathieson (Kings Acre) 74 76.

151 Daniel Wood (Eyemouth) 77 74, Gareth Hardy (Ayr Belleisle) 77 74, Peter Mitchell (Hermitage) 76 75 (£103.36 each).

152 David Broadfoot (Dumfries & Co) 80 72, Alan Gibson (Troon Municipal) 77 75, Chris Conroy (Paisley) 75 77, Nathan Keast (Duff House Royal) 73 79 (£97.30 each).

153 Alan Martin (Dunbar) 80 73, Alan Mackay (Pumpherston) 76 77 (£93.10 each).

155 Ross Ewen (West Lothian) 80 75 (£91).

156 Christopher Currie (Caldwell) 83 73, Alastair Love (Charleton) 81 75, Steven Mann (unatt) 79 77, Andrew McIntyre (Ranfurly Castle) 76 80 (£87.50 each).

157 Michael Sweenie (Turnberry) 84 73, David Snodgrass (Hilton Park) 82 75, Michael Patterson (Kilmacolm) 81 76, Alistair Brown (Whitecraigs) 81 76, Peter McLachaln (West Kilbride) 78 79, Mark Barnard (unatt) 76 81, Alasdair McDonald (Elie) 75 82 (£69 each).

158 Scott Herald (Mearns Castle) 83 75, Stuart McEwing (Montrose) 81 77.

159 Graham Mackay (Prestonfield) 81 78, Robin Gaden (unatt) 80 79.