COWAN BEATS CAMERON IN OPTICAL EXPRESS PLAYOFF AT DUDDINGSTON

The PGA Optical Express Tour fourth event in the series lived up to the new circuit'ss reputation for producing exciting finishes. The rain did not dampen the excitement as Englishman George Cowan from the Newcastle club Westerhope beat Aberdeenshire man Ross Cameron from Ellon at the second extra hole at Duddingston this evening (Wed). They had tied on eight under par 136, Cowan returning a pair of 68s, Cameron and 67 and a 69. At the second extra hole, both men were about 20ft from the flag in two. Cowan putted up close, Cameron not close enough and his second putt horseshoed out to leave him with the £1,500 second prize with Cowan collecting £1,800. Stephen Gray (Hayston) finished third on 137 with scores of 67-70 to earn £1,200. Overnight leader and favourite Greig Hutcheon (Banchory) surprisingly faded into a tie for fourth place on 138 (66-72) alongside Elliot Saltman (Archerfield Links) (72-66) and Scott Grieve (Turnhouse) (67-71) Leading final totals Par 144 (2x72) 136 George Cowan (Westerhope) 68 68, Ross Cameron (Saltire Energy) 67 69 (Cowan, £1,800, bt Cameron, £1,500) at the second hole of a sudden death play-off. 137 Stephen Gray (Hayston) 67 70 (£1,200). 138 Greig Hutcheon (Banchory) 66 72, Elliot Saltman (Archerfield Links) 72 66, Scott Grieve (Turnhouse) 67 71. 139 Graham Fox (Rowallan Castle) 69 70, David Patrick (Elie SC) 68 71, Gareth Wright (West Linton) 67 72. 141 Paul Affleck (unatt) 70 71, Neil Fenwick (Dunbar) 69 72. 142 James McGhee (Duddingston( 70 72, Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills) 70 72. 143 Greig McBain (Gamola Golf) 74 69, Jordan Findlay (Fraserburgh) 73 70, Andrew Crerar (Panmure) 72 71, Zack Saltman (Archerfield Links) 70 73, Shaun McAllister (Craigielaw) 70 73, James McKinnon (Irvine) 69 74. 144 John Gallagher (Swanston) 74 70, Mark Kerr (unatt) 74 70, Scott McGrenaghan (Cochrane Castle) 75 69, David Orr (Mearns Castle) 72 72, Graeme Brown (Montrose Links) 71 73, Jonathan Lomas (unatt) 70 74. 145 Scott Herald (Mearns Castle) 73 72, Craig Matheson (Falkirk Tryst) 71 74, Tom Higson (Eng) 71 74. 146 Christopher Currie (Caldwell) 70 76, Malcolm Isaacs (Nairn Dunbar) 71 75, Jason McCreadie (Buchanan caste) 71 75, Scott Henderson (Kings Links) 75 71, Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs) 74 72, Wallace Booth (Comrie) 72 74. ends