YOUNG LIAM BREAKS RECORD TO WIN TENNANT CUP

By COLIN FARQUHARSON Colin@scottishgolfview.com Dumfries teenager Liam Johnston, pictured, played the round of his life today - an eight-under-par, course record of 62 - at Killermont to win the Glasgow Golf Club's prestigious Tennant Cup. Johnston, 19, who has just completed his freshman year at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, shaved a shot off the course record to win with a one-under-par total of 281 for the 72-hole tournament of which the first two rounds were played on Saturday in wind and rain at Glasgow Gailes. RUNNER-UP TWICE LAST YEAR Johnston, who was runner-up last year in both the Scottish boys' match-play championship (beaten at the 38th) and stroke-play events, was in joint 19th position after opening rounds of 76 and 75, 11 shots behind the halfway leader, Scott Crichton (Aberdour). But Crichton could do no better than rounds of 73 and 74 in the warmer, drier weather at Killermont.  After three rounds, Crichton still led on 213, two shots ahead of Matthew Clark(Kilmacolm) who had had a 68 for 215 with Johnston still six shots off the pace on 219.  Crichton, Cameron Corbett Vase winner in Glasgow last year, had shot his bolt with his two very good, weather-beating rounds on the Saturday. He finished joint third on 287 alongside Fraser McKenna (Balmore), who set the low-scoring ball rolling with a third-round 65 on Sunday morning after Saturday scores of 76-79, and Michael Daily (Erskine). Johnston covered his Sunday best 36 holes in 10 under par with a third-round 68 which moved him up to joint seventh and then that marvellous final round of 62 for 281 which pipped Matthew Clark by a single shot. Clark's scores were: 71, 70, 68 and 67 for 282. Defending champion James White (Lundin) finished joint seventh on 289. FINAL TOTALS Par 282 (2x71, 2 x 70) CSS 75 74 70 69 281 Liam Johnston (Dumfries and Co) 76 75 68 62. 282 Matthew Clark (Kilmacolm) 77 70 68 67 287 Scott Crichton (Aberdour) 71 69 73 74, Michael Daily (Erskine) 76 74 71 66, Fraser McKenna (Balmore) 76 79 65 67. 288 James Ross (Royal Burgess) 74 72 72 70. 289 James White (Lundin) 74 75 68 72, Graeme Robertson (Glenbervie) 75 74 71 69, Daniel Young (Craigie Hill)B 78 77 68 66. 290 Brad Moules (Australia) 75 76 72 67, Ross Bell (Downfield) 75 76 71 68. 291 Heath Riches (Australia) 74 70 72 75, Sam Davis (NZ) 71 71 75 74, Benjamin Weilguni (Austria) 71 71 75 74, Sam Binning (Ranfurly Castle) 81 71 68 71 293 Craig Watson (East Renfrewshire) 75 74 73 71. 294 Kit Holmes (Hunstanton) 75 75 75 69, Steven Maxwell (Windyhill) 70 80 70 74, Conor O'Neil (Pollok) 75 75 72 72, Scott Borrowman (Dollar) 75 75 74 70. 295 Chris Robb (Inchmarlo) 80 74 71 70, Alisdair McDougall (Elderslie) 82 73 73 67. 296 Nick Macandrew (Royal Aberdeen) 75 69 75 77, Kyle McClung (Wigtownshire Co) 77 73 73 73, Colin Thomson (East Renfrewshire) 77 77 74 68. 297 Alexander Culverwell (Dunbar) 79 72 75 71, Steven Rennie (Drumpellier) 81 73 71 72, Adam Dunton (McDonald Ellon) 79 76 71 71. 298 Stephen Spence (Irvine) 80 73 72 73, Scott Stewart-Cation (The Duke's) 78 74 72 74 300 Scott Davidson (US) 80 71 72 77, Michael Smyth (Royal Troon) 77 78 69 76' 301 Craig Hamailton (NZ) 75 76 79 71, Graham J Gordon (Newmachar) 75 80 75 71. 302 Stephen Speirs (Australia) 72 76 76 78, Jamie Lamb (Lanark) 75 77 75 75. 303 David Booth (Rotherham) 76 73 77 77 306 Michael Bacigalupo (Longniddry) 79 75 76 76, Richard Doherty (Bearsden) 81 73 76 76, Oliver Roberts (Hong Kong) 79 74 77 76 307 Paul Gault (Westerwood) 77 77 78 75 309 Fraser Moore (Glenbervie) 74 80 78 77.