Dunfermline man is Over-50s title-winner, 31 years after his last title

J Scott Macdonald with the Scottish seniors amateur championship trophy at Pollok Golf Club today. Image by courtesy of Andy Forman.

Great Scott! Macdonald is a Scottish champion once more
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FROM THE SCOTTISH GOLF UNION WEBSITE
Dunfermline’s Scott Macdonald clinched victory in the Scottish Seniors Amateur Championship by one shot at Pollok this afternoon – 31 years after lifting the national men’s stroke play title.
The former Walker Cup man, who defeated American Tom Kite back in 1971, posted a level par 71 in the final round to finish on 213, one ahead of English Senior international Dave Jessup.
Kilmalcolm’s Colin Christy fired a best of the day four-under par 67 to share the bronze medal with Ian Taylor (Royal Burgess) and Glen Macbryde (Stone), a further three shots back on 217.
Going into the final round tied for the lead with Berwick’s Dave Millar, Macdonald dropped a shot on the first hole, but recovered his composure with birdies at the 6th, 7th and 13th to open up a commanding lead, as Millar had a day to forget.
Jessup, a six-time gold medallist at the World Speedway, got within touching distance of the lead by holing a superb 40-yard pitch at the par five 15th for eagle to apply some pressure to Macdonald, the 1969 Scottish Stroke Play champion.
Further drama followed at the 16th when Macdonald’s playing partner played his ball by mistake, leading to a dropped shot by the leader and after paring the 17th, Macdonald found sand with his approach shot to the final green, with a two-shot cushion. An exquisite bunker shot to ten feet gave the 65-year-old two putts for victory, and he made no mistake to clinch the win with a final hole bogey.
The delighted Fifer said:
“I’ve played really good golf all week, especially my iron play and it feels great to win the national championship. It’s 31-years since I won the Scottish Men’s title at Carnoustie, so it’s nice to come out on top again.
“There was a tricky wind out there today which made choosing clubs quite difficult, but I coped well. I got a nice break at the 10th when I came up right on the edge of the burn, but I got a good up and down there which settled me.”
Macdonald, who played in the same Walker Cup side as Hugh Stuart, Charlie Green and George McGregor, concluded:
“I was always a very good bunker player – I reckon only Gary Player was better than me in my day – so I was confident on the last hole. I hit a nice shot out and it was good to get round in level par. Hopefully I’ll get into the Scotland Seniors Team this year and keep the momentum going from here.”
Jessup, who finished third at the English Seniors Championship, was also pleased with his finish:
“I had a good chance last week at the Welsh Seniors but went on the attack too early. I was nice and patient out there today and knew that pars would be good. The eagle at 15 was great but not quite enough in the end, but I’m pleased to come all the way up to Scotland and get the Silver Medal.”

FINAL TOTALS
Par 213 (3x71)
1 MACDONALD, Scott (65+) Dunfermline 70 72 71 213
2 JESSUP, Dave Rochester and Cobham Park 71 73 70 214
T3 CHRISTY, Colin Kilmacolm 71 79 67 217
T3 TAYLOR, Ian Royal Burgess 70 76 71 217
T3 MACBRYDE, Glen Stone 76 68 73 217
T6 KING, Geoff (65+) West Essex 70 77 71 218
T6 STAFFORD, Tony Dun Ochil 72 74 72 218
T8 MILLER, Derek Murrayfield 72 74 73 219
T8 STRACEY, Andrew Littlestone 72 73 74 219
T8 WIGLEY, Michael Royal North Devon 75 68 76 219
T11 SMETHURST, Roy (65+) Crewe 73 77 70 220
T11 KINLOCH, James Cardross 71 75 74 220
T11 BALDWIN, John (65+) Sunningdale 71 74 75 220
14 SLATER, Philip Sandiway 72 74 75 221
T15 MACINTYRE, Bill Harpenden 78 72 72 222
T15 LANE, David (65+) Goring & Streatley 75 74 73 222
T15 MILLER, David Kilmarnock (Barassie) 76 72 74 222
T15 JERMINE, John (65+) Sunningdale 72 75 75 222
T15 WATT, Jim Edzell 76 71 75 222
T15 ARNOLD, Douglas Copthorne 75 70 77 222
T21 REES, Glyn Fleetwood 76 73 74 223
T21 JOHNSTON, John Lanark 73 76 74 223
T21 GORDON, Lindsay Turnhouse 71 74 78 223
T24 GRIFFITHS, Basil Llanymynech 73 77 74 224
T24 GRIEVE, Brian (65+) King James VI 76 73 75 224
T24 POND, Stuart Worksop 74 74 76 224
T24 MARKS, Jonathan (65+) Woodbridge 71 76 77 224
T24 ERSKINE, William Kilsyth Lennox 75 72 77 224
T24 STEWART, Iain Curragh 74 73 77 224
30 HUTCHEON, Ian (65+) Monifieth 72 77 76 225
T31 DONKERSLEY, Adrian Gerrards Cross 70 80 76 226
T31 WHYMARK, Stephen Woodbridge 78 71 77 226
T33 GROUNDS, Aidan Falkirk Tryst 75 75 77 227
T33 PAYNE, George Prestbury 76 73 78 227
T33 MITCHELL, Billy Effingham 73 76 78 227
T36 EDGAR, Bob Blackpool North Shore 73 77 78 228
T36 MILLAR, Dave Berwick-upon-Tweed 70 72 86 228
T38 HALL, Duncan Whitecraigs 77 73 80 230
T38 PATERSON, George Northern 75 74 81 230
40 TEMPLE, Martyn (65+) United States 72 78 81 231
+SCOREBOARD FROM THE SGU WEBSITE