JOHN GALLAGHER TOP SCOT AS KEIR McNICOLL STUMBLES

By COLIN FARQUHARSON Colin@scottishgolfview.com Swanston's John Gallagher finished the top Scot after a last-round slump by Carnoustie's Keir McNicoll in this week's PGA EuroPro Tour event at De Vere Mottram Hall, Cheshire. Gallagher, pictured, a former Scottish amateur champion with a cack-handed grip, had scores of 76, 66 and 71 for a three-under-par total of 213. He earned £375. McNicoll, Ross Cameron (McDonald Ellon) and Zack Saltman (Archerfield Links) tied for 38th place on 216, each earning £235. McNicoll, in with a chance of a top-10 finish after opening with rounds of 69 and 71, double bogeyed the short seventh and dropped four shots on the inward half at the 10th, 13th, 14th and 17th for a disappointing score of four-over 76.  Birdies at the long first and long eighth repaired only part of the damage. as much to his confidence as to his score. Cameron had rounds of 72, 71 and 73, Saltman 71, 70 and 75. Paul Doherty (Vale Hotel) tied for 49th place on 218 and earned £202 for scores of 70, 72 and 76. Another former Scottish boys match-play champion, Lee Harper (Archerfield Links) finished last of the 54 qualifiers with scores of 73, 70 and 79 for 222. His payslip amounted to £180. Harper had a disastrous eight-over-par run over nine holes - the third to the 11th - in which he had three double bogeys and two bogeys. The £10,000 first prize was won by Chris Hanson (Woodsome Hall), his third victory of the season on the satellite circuit. His total prizemoney this season adds up to more than £36,000  He had seven shots to spare over the field with scores of 67, 63 and 71 for an aggregate of 15-under-par 216. Kevin Harper picked up the £5,000 runner-up prize with rounds of 69, 71 and 68 for 208. Leading final totals Par 216 (3x72) 201 Chris Hanson (Woodsome Hall) 67 63 71 (£10,000). 208 Kevin Harper (East Devon) 69 71 68 (£5,000. 210 Liam Burns (Sundridge Park) 70 73 67, Zane Scotland (Princes) 73 68 69, Sean Whiffin (Eng) 68 73 69, Jon White (Saunton) 68 71 71 (£1,700 each). SCOTS SCORES 213 John Gallagher (Swanston) 76 767 71 (T18) (£375). 216 Ross Cameron (McDonald Ellon) 72 71 73, Zack Saltman (Archerfield) 71 70 75, Keir McNicoll (Carnoustie) 69 71 76 (T38) (£235 each). 218 Paul Doherty (Vale Hotel) 70 72 76 (T49) (£202). 222 Lee Harper (Archerfield) 73 70 79 (54th) (£180).