PAUL McKECHNIE WINS OPTICAL EXPRESS PRO TOUR EVENT 2

By ALAN TAIT

The winner today of the second event in the Optical Express Pro Golf Tour was 34 year old Paul McKechnie from Braid Hills Golf Centre, Edinburgh.

Paul McKechnie continued his good run of form this season scoring a total of 135 (five under par) to win by three shots at Hilton Park from David Orr and John Gallacher.

The overnight leader by five shots, McKechnie made a superb start to his second round with an eagle 3 at the first hole. Paul's front-nine total of one-under-par 34 allowed him a stress-free back nine of 37 to pick up the winner's cheque for £1,500.

The former PGA EuroPro Tour No.1 said: “The two days at Hilton Park have been exceptional. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed playing here and I’m delighted to win the overall event at such a challenging and well maintained golf course. The quality of players has been excellent and I am already looking forward to the next event at The Westerwood in Cumbernauld!”

Corisande Lee from West Lancs, a regular on the Ladies European Tour, declined an invitation to the ‘Slovakian Open’ this week to travel north for the Optical Express Pro Golf Tour. It was a worthwhile trip as Cori posted consecutive scores of 72 for a 4 over par total of 144 to become the leading lady professional at the Hilton Park event.

Cori said “I have really enjoyed being back at Hilton Park and is a course that I am obviously very comfortable on. Although I shot the same score today as yesterday, I hit the ball so much better today and dropped a couple of silly shots towards the end of my round.

"I am looking forward to playing in next week’s ‘Dutch Open’ and this has been ideal preparation. Where my schedule allows, I look forward to competing in the remaining events on this year’s Optical Express Pro Golf Tour”.

Lorne Kelly, owner of Pro Dream USA, who has competed in the first two events said:”I work closely with amateur and elite players and as the Optical Express Pro Golf Tour is open to amateurs, I believe it is an ideal platform for all levels of players to improve their game. I would be very keen to work with the Tour in the future, both on a personal playing level and also to give my Pro Dream USA players an opportunity to test themselves against a professional field”.
Gordon Simpson, General Manager and Head Professional of Hilton Park Golf Club has been delighted with events over the last two days: “Despite the weather, I have been so impressed by the standard of golf and the Optical Express Pro Golf Tour is a great addition to the Hilton Park yearly rota.
"Many of the members have commented on how much they have enjoyed welcoming the professionals and very much hope that Hilton Park will be part of the Tour’s future for many years to come. The event has also given us great exposure and the atmosphere around the club the last couple of days has been great!”
Vincent Brown, Host Professional at The Westerwood, who will host the next event, has been competing this week at Hilton Park. Although Vincent’s performance was below his own expectations, he is looking forward to welcoming the Optical Express Pro Golf Tour to the Westerwood on July 19th and 20th.
Vincent said “Both the members and I are very much looking forward to hosting the third event. I have been really impressed by the organisation and the professionalism of the Tour. Westerwood has undergone significant changes to the golf course in the last three years with the creation of new holes and some re-designed holes.
"We are keen to showcase these changes on the Optical Express PGT Tour and to the members. I just hope I can get some practice in before July and be on the right side of the leader board the next time!”
FINAL TOTALS
Par 140 (2x70)
135 Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills) 64 71 (£1,500).
138 David Orr (Eastwood) 71 67, John Gallagher (Swanston) 71 67 (£800 each). 
140 James McGhee (Bishopbriggs Golf Range) 71 69 (£575).
141 Graeme Brown (Montrose) 69 72 (£475).
142 Eric Ramsay (Carnoustie) 70 72, Mark Kerr (Murrayfield) 69 73 (£365 each). 
143 Alan Reid (West Lothian) 73 70, Jason McCreadie (Buchanan Castle) 73 70, Campbell Elliott (Haggs Castle) 72 71, Scott Herald (Mearns Castle) 71 72, Shaun McAllister (Craigielaw) 70 73, Graham Fox (North Gales) 69 74 (£241.66 each) 
144 Zack Saltman (Craigielaw) 74 70, Corisande Lee (West Lancs) 72 72, Mark King (Kingsfield) 73 71, John Henry (Clydebank and Dist) 72 72, Steven Duncan (Loch Lomond) 72 72 (£170 each). 
145 Chris Kelly Cawder 76 69 (+5) 145 £ 123.00
Ed Wood Crowwood 74 71 (+5) 145 £ 123.00
Robert Arnott Bishopbriggs Golf Range 74 71 (+5) 145 £ 123.00
Keir McNicoll Carnoustie 72 73 (+5) 145 £ 123.00
Kevin McAlpine Alyth 71 74 (+5) 145 £ 123.00
146 Katy McNicoll Carnoustie 76 70 (+6) 146 £ 29.29
Craig Gordon Edinburgh Golf Centre 75 71 (+6) 146 £ 29.29
Ben Irving The Pines 75 71 (+6) 146 £ 29.29
Mark Loftus Adam Hunter Golf 72 74 (+6) 146 £ 29.29
David Roger Windyhill 72 74 (+6) 146 £ 29.29
Lindsay Mann Carnoustie Links 72 74 (+6) 146 £ 29.29
Lee Harper Archerfield 72 74 (+6) 146 £ 29.29
147 Andrew McIintyre Ranfurly Castle 78 69 (+7) 147
Tim Rich Royal Lytham St Annes 76 71 (+7) 147
Stewart Savage Dalmuir 73 74 (+7) 147
148 Alan Lockhart Ladybank 74 74 (+8) 148
Neil Fenwick Dunbar 74 74 (+8) 148
149 Alistair Brown Whitecraigs 76 73 (+9) 149
Chris Currie Caldwell 72 77 (+9) 149
Lauren Mackin Son Gual 76 74 (+10) 150
150 James Erskine Portpatrick 75 75 (+10) 150
Stephen McAllister Renaissance 75 75 (+10) 150
Scott Pithie Carluke 72 78 (+10) 150
Craig Ronald Carluke 71 79 (+10) 150
151 Lorne Kelly Pro Dream USA 76 75 (+11) 151
Francisco Pintor Smith The Dukes 75 76 (+11) 151
152 Iain Colquhoun Dundonald 77 75 (+12) 152
Heather MacRae Gullane 75 77 (+12) 152
Michael Paterson Kilmacolm 74 78 (+12) 152
153 Malcolm Isaacs Nairn Dunbar 78 75 (+13) 153
Ian Redford St Andrews New 77 76 (+13) 153
Barry Campbell Vale of Leven 75 78 (+13) 153
155 Stephen Clark Unattached 77 78 (+15) 155
Tracey Boyes Meon Valley 74 81 (+15) 155
156 Alastair Thomson Douglas Park 79 77 (+16) 156
157  James Smallwood Fereneze 78 79 (+17) 157
Andy Fullen Largs 76 81 (+17) 157
158 John Green HDA Properties 83 75 (+18) 158
Scott Garett Irvine Bogside 82 76 (+18) 158
159 David Snodgrass Hilton Park 76 83 (+19) 159
160 Alan Waugh Clydebank & District 76 84 (+20) 160
163 Eric Walker Burntisland 80 83 (+23) 163
164 Paul Gallacher Dalmuir 83 81 (+24) 164
Paul Robinson 81 83 (+24) 164
Brian Smith Golfing 4 All 80 84 (+24) 164
165 Vincent Brown Westerwood 84 81 (+25) 165
NR Ross Dixon Renaissance 84 N/R N/R
WD Gary Cooke Aspire 83 W/D W/D
WD Stuart Burns 79 W/D W/D