DEBUT MAN LINDSAY BLAIR WINS SCOTTISH SENIORS TITLE

And the winner is ... Lindsay Blair from Grangemouth. Image by courtesy of Steve Ellis. NEWS RELEASE FROM THE SCOTTISH GOLF UNION Lindsay Blair of Grangemouth Golf Club held his nerve to land a debut success and the biggest title of his golfing career at the Scottish Seniors Stroke Play Championship today. The 55-year-old Scot, eligible for the seniors’ event for the first time, claimed a narrow one-stroke victory over the links of Luffness New after a superb up-and-down at the last. During a difficult three days for scoring on the east coast, with play delayed for a lengthy spell yesterday due to fog, Blair posted a nine-over-par total to edge out Liberton’s Robert Jack. The Stirlingshire County player, a member at Grangemouth for 24 years and a six-time club champion, posted scores of 74, 70 and 75 for a 219 total over the demanding par-70 course where the rough was high. Blair used all his powers of recovery to muster what proved a clinching bogey at the last, putting up the ridge off the left-hand fringe to get down in two. IN SUPERB CONDITION “I didn’t believe I could win, so I just did my best,” admitted Lindsay. “I didn’t realise how big an event it is, playing in it for the first time, so that probably helped me. “The course was in superb condition, but it was really tough. I putted well the whole week, especially my long putting like at the last. It’s an amazing win for me.” Blair’s win was also tinged with a hint of sadness, his famous triumph coming exactly a month after the funeral of his father, Peter. “He was my No 1 fan and he would have been proud of me,” added Lindsay, a one-handicapper who had already posted two top-12 finishes in Order of Merit events this season.  “The competition was played in fantastic spirit in difficult conditions and I’m delighted.” Jack was the only man to match the par on the final day and his rounds of 73, 78 and 70 for 220 saw him surge up the leaderboard to within a shot of the victor. COSTLY CLOSING BOGEYS The Lothians man was to rue bogeys at the closing two holes which saw him just miss out. Former shinty player John Fraser (Royal Burgess) finished joint third on 223, alongside long-time leader John Baldwin (Sunningdale), with Callander’s Gordon Macdonald sharing fifth with Andrew Stracey (Denham). Bladwin claimed the over-65s first prize, but dropped out of the chase for the trophy with a final round 81. Fellow Englishman and defending champion, Charles Banks, shared 14th spot. The challenge of last year’s Order of Merit winner, Tulliallan’s Bob Stewart, also petered out after his closing score of 80. Next year’s Scottish senior men's amateur championship will be held on the Fife links of Elie. FINAL TOTALS Par 210 (3x70). SS 72. CSS 73 74 74 219 Lindsay Blair (Grangemouth) 74 70 75. 220 Robert Jack (Liverton) 72 78 70. 223 John Fraser (Royal Burgess) 75 76 72, John Baldwin (Sunningdale0 70 72 81 224 Gordon MacDonald (Callander) 74 76 74, Andrew Stracey (Denham) 76 72 76. 225 Michael Wilson (Strathpeffer Spa) 76 75 74, Leslie Wallace (Melrose) 73 77 75, Peter Jack (Carlistle) 78 71 76, James Bruce (Edzell) 71 76 78. 226 Ashley Brewer (Denham) 72 76 78 227 Terence Brown (Stand) 74 79 74, James Watt (Edzell) 71 79 77. 228 Charles Banks (Stanton-on-the-Wolds) 78 72 78, Tony Pattersn (Sunningdale) 73 76 79 229 David Gillespie (Turnhouse) 76 76 77, Derek Murphy (Kinross) 77 75 77, Fraser McCluskey (Royal Burgess) 75 76 78, Bob Stewart (Tulliallan) 73 76 80, James Kinloch (Cardross) 74 75 80. 230 Ian Brotherston (Dumfries and Co) 74 78 78, Stephen Ellis (Innellan) 75 75 80.. 231 Colin Christy (Kilmacolm) 75 77 79, Ian Gillan (Bishopbriggs) 77 75 79, Keith Yuille (Luffnewss New) 73 78 80. 232 Ron Humble (Kilspindie) 80 74 78, Richard Gray (Irvine) 73 78 81, Lindsay Gordon (Turnhouse) 72 79 81 233 Allister Raphael (Littlestone) 79 76 78, Alan Gillespie (Cliteheroe) 80 75 78, Ian Dickson (Lundin) 74 81 78, Colin Halcrow (Windyhill) 76 77 80, Stuart Pond (Worksop) 73 79 81, Ian Angus (Duff House Royal) 75 77 81, Douglas Cameron (Moor Park) 77 74 82 234 Frank Jules (US) 72 80 82, Kipp Mintner (US) 75 77 82 235 David Miller (Kilmarnock Barassie) 80 76 79, David Gardner (Broomieknowe) 78 78 79, David Imrie (Thornton) 78 76 81. 236 Iain MacDonald (Bruntsfield Links) 76 80 80, Ian Stewart (Turnberry) 79 77 80, Stuart Fawcett (Southport and Ainsdale) 77 79 80, Graham Cox (Pollok) 77 77 82, Michael Baker (Chester Le Street) 76 78 82 237 Alistair Fiddes Murcar Links) 76 79 82, Ian Randall (Silverknowes) 78 77 82. 239 Graham Meddings (Pedham Place)78 78 83 242 Geoffrey Franklin (Beaconsfield) 79 77 86 Retired: David Millar (St Andrews New) 77 75, Jim McArthur (St Andrews New) 79 74, Angus Lamond (Haggs Castle) 73 82, David Lane (Goring and Streatley) 74 81, George Paterson (Northern) 76 80. No Return: Peter Saggers (Nairn) 74 82.