DALMAHOY'S ALAN TAIT and JOHN LAWSON WIN LAS VEGAS TRIP

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Marriott Dalmahoy's Las Vegas-bound pair of John Lawson (left) and pro Alan Tait with a representative of the sponsors at Crieff Golf Club. Picture by Matthew Lewis of Getty Images.

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE PGA
Dentist John Lawson produced a polished performance to earn a trip to Las Vegas in the Virgin Atlantic PGA National Pro-Am Championship qualifier at Crieff Golf Club this week
Lawson teamed up with Marriott Dalmahoy PGA Professional Alan Tait and insisted it was the best day of his golfing life as the duo took the honours in a close finish.
The Dalmahoy pair tied at the top with Loch Ness Golf Club’s Martin Piggot and Andrew Clark as both recorded a seven under par round of 64.
But the countback was over the final six holes and Tait and Lawson narrowly came out on top. Both Tait and Martin Piggott won £425 each.
The top two edged out the Gleneagles pairing of pro Russell Smith and Andrew Lothian who posted a six under par round of 65. Smith's consolation prize was a cheque for £250.
But it is Tait and Lawson who will take part in the Grand Final of Europe’s biggest Pro-Am event, which will be held at the Loews Lake Las Vegas Resort in Nevada from December 5-6.
They will make their appearance in the 36-hole final - supported by SkyCaddie and BMW - which is being staged over the Jack Nicklaus-designed SouthShore course.
Lawson, 44, who plays off a nine handicap, said: “I was buzzing at the end. It was the best moment of my golfing life - and I’ve been playing 20 years.
“But I’d never won a medal event before the one that got me through to this qualifier, and then it’s carried on by us both getting to Las Vegas.
“Alan’s a good player. We’ve never played in a pro-am before but he took the pressure off me which meant I could go for some of my shots.
“We weren’t sure at the end whether we’d won, and because we finished quite early we thought someone would pip us. But they didn’t.
“To go to Las Vegas is fantastic - I might be cancelling some patients at the surgery that week.”
Tait added: “I’ve never been close to making this final before. But John was a tidy player and I said to him that something around seven under par might be enough to win it.
“I have to praise the Crieff greenkeeper though; the greens were just about the best I’ve played in the last few years. They should be very proud.
“We came here to play well and enjoy the day, so to win and go to Las Vegas was a nice surprise.”
The PGA National Pro-Am Championship is now its 27th competitive year with the award-winning Virgin Atlantic long haul airline sponsoring the event for the third successive year.
The winning professional at the Grand Final will take home a cheque for £5,000.

VIRGIN ATLANTIC PGA NATIONAL PRO-AM CHAMPIONSHIP supported by SkyCaddie and BMW
Regional Final at Crieff Golf Club
LEADING TEAM SCORES
Par 71
T1 64 Marriott Dalmahoy (pro Alan Tait and amateur John Lawson); Loch Ness (pro Martin Piggot and amateur Andrew Clark) (Marriott Dalmahoy won card play-off on better last six holes) £425 to Alan Tait, £424 to Martin Piggot.
3 65 Gleneagles Hotel (pro Russell Smith and amateur Andrew Lothian) £250 to Russell Smith.

OTHER TEAM SCORES INCLUDED:
66 Carlisle, Clober, Kilspindie. £83 to each team pro.
67 Alyth, Crow Wood, Drumpellier, Grangemouth.
68 Greenburn, Craigie Hill, Roxburghe, McDonald Ellon, Pitlochry.
69 Archerfield, Forfar, Kings Acre, Dunfermline.
70 Airdrie, Balbirnie Park, Edzell, Murcar Links, Paisley. Turriff, Ballumbie Castle, East Renfrewshire, Banchory, Newmachar, North Berwick.
71 Baberton, Loch Lomond, Muckhart, Ratho Park, Westhill.

Full results from the regional final at Crieff can be found at:
http://pgagbi.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/pgagbi11/event/pgagbi1120/contest/1/leaderboard.htm