JAMES ROSS WINS SUTHERLAND CHALICE IN TIGHT FINISH

Edinburgh's James Ross, on summer holidays from US college in Houston, Texas, won the Sutherland Chalice and the £500 premier voucher by a single shot in a tight finish to the SGU Order of Merit 72-hole golf tournament at Dumfries and Galloway Golf Club today. Royal Burgess member Ross shot 70, 68, 68 and 70 for a four-under-par total of 276 With a round to go the lead was shared by Downfield's Ross Bell and Scott Crichton (Aberdour). Bell sagged to a final round of 74 after scoring 67-67-69. Crichton's slump was even worse. After very good scores of 67-66-70, he had a 75 which dropped him a a four-way tie for fourth place on 278, two behind the winner and one behind runner-up Bell. The others were James White (Lundin), Mathew Clark (Kilmacolm) and Michael Daily (Erskine). Clark (65) and Daily (66) were the only players to break the par of 70 in the last round. Unusual to see a player of Paul Shields' calibre nearer the bottom than the top of the field. Paul's Sunday rounds of 74 and 80 contrasted with his 69-71 on Saturday. Two players had holes in one during their second rounds - Jordyn Rhind (Uphall), young brother of Lee, and Neil Henderson (Glen). Rhind's ace came at the 187yd 13th, Henderson's at the 142yd fourth. Rhind shared the lead on five-under-par 65 with James White after the first round. LEADING FINAL TOTALS Par 280 (4x70) CSS 71 71 71 71 276 James Ross (Royal Burgess) 70 68 68 70 (£500 voucher). 277 Ross Bell (Downfield) 67 67 69 74 (£350 voucher) 278 Scott Crichton (Aberdour) 67 66 70 75, James White (Lundin) 65 72 70 71, Mathew Clark (Kilmacolm) 69 70 74 65, Michael Daily (Erskine) 71 69 72 66 (£150 vouchers each). 279 Fraser McKenna (Balmore) 71 66 68 74, Sam Binning (Ranfurly Castle) 69 69 73 71 (£85 vouchers each). 281 Euan Walker (Kilmarnock Barassie) 71 69 68 73 (£70 voucher) 282 Scott Borrowman (Dollar) 71 66 72 73, Craig Hamilton (Omanu) 69 69 68 76(£55 vouchers each) ( 283 Liam Johnston (Dumfries and Co) 69 72 72 70, Adam Dunton (McDonald Ellon) 70 72 70 71 (£43 vouchers each) 285 Alexander Culverwell (Dunbar) 67 72 68 78, Graham J Gordon (Newmachar) 67 73 72 73 (£33 vouchers each). 286 Allyn Dick (Kingsknowe) 72 67 73 74, Colin Thomson (East Renfrewshire) 69 72 69 76 (£15 vouchers each) 287 Jordyn Rhind (Uphall) 65 71 76 75, Rory Thompson (Dumfries and Galloway) 73 72 69 73 288 Neil Henderson (Glen) 72 72 72 72. 289 Sam Davis (NZ) 70 72 69 78, Fraser Moore (Glenbervie) 71 74 69 75. 290 Graeme McDougall (Bishopbriggs) 70 74 70 76 291 Kyle McClung (Wigtownshire and Co) 72 69 74 76, Ryan Campbell (Falkirk) 70 73 78 70, Conor Syme (Dumfries and Co) 72 72 72 75, Scott Gibson (Southerness) 74 70 72 75, Alan Sutherland (Ladybank) 75 70 75 71, 292 Conor O'Neil (Pollok) 72 67 74 79, Scott Larkin (Royal Aberdeen) 75 70 78 69. 293 Kenny MacAskill (Turnberry) 73 68 80 72, Nick Macandrew (Royal Aberdeen) 74 70 74 75, Steven Rennie (Drumpellier) 73 72 73 75. 294 Paul Shields (Kirkhill) 69 71 74 80, Keith Shanks (Golf House Club) 71 71 74 78  295 Daniel Kay (Dunbar) 70 73 76 76. 296 Colin Baird (Bothwell Castle) 70 73 76 77 297 Daniel Thompsett (Aboyne) 76 78 74 79 298 Scott Brown (Turnberry) 74 71 76 77, Marc Owenson (Longniddry) 74 70 86 78