MARTIN LAWRENCE'S DEBUT WIN IN SANDY PIPEY YOUNG MASTERS

Winner Martin Lawrence flanked by (left) Hamish Macrae, the Royal Dornoch club captain, and (right) Andrew Crerar (Panmure), the PGA Scottish region captain. Image by courtesy of Robin Wilson, Brora.                     By COLIN FARQUHARSON Colin@scottishgolfview.com  No matter what he may go on to achieve in his chosen career as a PGA professional, Martin Lawrence will never forget today. The 24-year-old Newmachar assistant professional, in his first-ever assistants' golf tournament, won the new Sandy Pipey Young Masters – and he did it over 36 holes of the world-ranked links at Royal Dornoch Golf Club. "Martin only entered the event last week," said Scottish PGA Tournament Director Roy Murray, "so it was definitely a late decision that paid off." Lawrence, who hails from Kintore in Aberdeenshire, turned pro two years ago and has gained tournament experience on the PGA EuroPro Tour. Over the last month his game has started to fall into place and he finished first and second in two North-east Alliance competitions. He has has just returned from The Belfry after his PGA introduction towards becoming a qualified professional. Lawrence led overnight as the only man to match the par of 70 on Sunday and there were no visible sign of nerves as he continued to lead the field down the home straight. There was still a wind around for the second day to make the Royal Dornoch links a test for the best. But Martin not only retained the lead, he doubled it to a two-stroke margin with a 72 for a two-over-par total of 142 to collect the new Sandy Pipey Trophy, in memory of a local caddie who died earlier this year. Alongwith the trophy he received a cheque for £800, his biggest pay-day so par as a professional. Lawrence birdied the eighth, long ninth, long 12th, short 13th and 17th but had a double bogey 6 at the 16th and dropped other shots at the short 10th, 14th and 18th. But there was never any real threat from behind. Runner-up Mark Kerr (Murrayfield) was having problems of his own in handling Royal Dornoch. He had a double bogey 6 at the seventh and bogeys at the 14th and 18th with only one birdie, at the long ninth, to offset the damage as he returned a three-over 73 for 144 which earned Kerr £700. Third-placed finisher Malcolm Isaacs (Nairn Dunbar) was the only man to break par over the two rounds. He scored 76 and 69 for 146, birdiieng the seventh, short 13th and 14th  and limiting his bogeys to the fourth and eighth. Malcolm earned £600. Neil Fenwick (Dunbar), who finished joint eighth on 140 (74-076) and earned £226, won the PGA Scottish Region Assistants Order of Merit. That will enable him to get into most Tartan Tour events next season. LEADING FINAL TOTALS Par 140 (2x70). Yardage 6697. 142 Martin Lawrence (Newmachar) 70 70 (£800). 144 Mark Kerr (Murrayfield) 71 73 (£700). 145 Malcolm Isaacs (Nairn Dunbar) 76 69 (£600). 147 Malcolm Murray (Bearsden) 73 74 (£500). 149 Graeme Nethercott (Deeside) 77 72, Ross McConnachie (Peterculter) 74 75, Graham Forbes (Gourock) 71 78 (£350 each). 150 Terry Mathieson (Murcar Links) 76 74,Neil Fenwick (Dunbar) 74 76, Michael Patterson (Kilmacolm) 74 76, Graeme Brown (Montrose) 74 76, Joel Hopwood (Carnegie Club) 71 79 (£226 each). 151 Nikki Christie (Carnoustie Golf Links) 72 79 (£160). 153 Sean Thompson (Renaissance Club) 79 74, Scott Herald (Adam Hunter Golf) 75 78, Gordon Hillson (Dunbar) 73 80 (£120 each). 154 Cameron Tortolano (Stirling) 80 74, Andrew McIntyre (Ranfurly Castle) 80 74 (£85 each). 155 Andrew Rollo (Moray) 78 77, Chris Brown (Kemnay) 76 79 (£67.50 each). 156 Shaun Clark (Elie Sports Centre) 81 75, Christopher McMaster (Panmure) 81 75, Ryan Stirling (Lanark) 78 78 (£55 each). 157 Daniel Wood (Eyemouth) 82 75, Joseph McBrearty (Haggs Castle) 79 78, Ross Dixon (Renaissance Club) 77 80, Sean Bissett (Renaissance Club) 76 81, Sven Nielsen (Turnberry Hotel) 76 81, Stuart Williamson (West Kilbride) 76 81 (£14 each).