LINCOLNSHIRE'S LATHAM WINS SCOTTISH SENIOR AMATEUR STROKE-PLAY TITLE

Lincolnshire's Richard Latham and Richard Partridge from the Wildernesse club, Kent made it an England 1-2 at the end of the final day of the Scottish senior men's open amateur stroke-play championship at Golf House Club, Elie today (Friday).
Latham, three shots clear overnight, had rounds of 70, 69 and 69 for a two-under-par total of 208.
Partridge shot 72-70-68 for 210.
Although Latham birdied the second and fourth, it was not quite as comfortable a win as the figures suggest. There was a two-stroke swing in Partridge's favour when he birdied the 15th and Latham bogeyed it.
That left the Lincolnshire man only one shot ahead with three holes to play but Partridge could not get the birdie that would have forced a play-off and, in fact, going for the birdie at the last hole, the Kent man three-putted for a bogey to allow Latham to go two shots clear in the final totals.
Defending champion Lindsay Blair (Grangemouth) tied for third place on 216 with Alan O'Neil (West Lothian) and Anthony McLure (Longhirst).

SCOTTISH SENIOR MEN'S OPEN AMATEUR STROKE-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
Golf House Club, Elie
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 210 (3x70) SS 70 CSS 72 72 71
208 R Latham (Woodhall Spa) 70 69 69.
210 R Partridge (Wildernesse) 72 70 68
216 A O'Neil (West Lothian) 73 70 73, A McLure (Longhirst) 70 73 73, L Blair (Grangemouth) 71 71 73.
218 J Fraser (Royal Burgess) 75 75 68, B Stewart (Tulliallan) 76 71 71
219 J Willis (Carlisle) 781 76 72, K Bruce (Edzell) 75 73 71, D Murphy (Kinross) 74 69 76, I Gillan (Bishopbriggs) 74 74 71
220 L Gordon (Turnhouse) 73 76 71, Glyn Rees (Fleetwood) 72 74 74, S Fawcett (Southport and Ainsdale) 76 70 74.
221 D Cameron (Moor Park) 73 78 70, F McCluskey (Royal Burgess) 74 74 73.
222 P Jack (Carlistle) 78 72 72, D Gardner (Broomieknowe) 73 77 72
223 J Johnston (Northumberland) 76 76 71
224 P Slater (Sandiway) 76 75 73, W Erskine (Kilsyth Lennox) 77 74 73, B Humble (Kilspindie) 68 81 75, T Daggett (Ringway) 78 73 73.

Lethal Latham Claims Third Win in a Row with Scottish Seniors Success

  NEWS RELEASE FROM SCOTTISH GOLF UNION

  By ED HODGE

Red-hot Richard Latham secured a notable England-Scotland double after claiming a two-shot victory in the Scottish Seniors Open Stroke Play Championship at sun-kissed Elie today.

Latham, the General Manager at Woodhall Spa, only became eligible for the seniors’ amateur circuit when he turned 55 in May and has since enjoyed a devastating spell of form which has even left him stunned.

Two weeks ago at Bristol, Latham claimed the English Men’s Seniors Championship and then added the Seniors County Championship in Lincolnshire to his CV.

A week later and he is now enjoying a third straight success after holding off the challenge of fellow Englishman Richard Partridge (Wildernesse) to triumph at the fast-running par-70 course in Fife. 

Played out in glorious conditions at The Golf House Club, Elie over the last three days, overnight leader Latham closed with a one-under-par 69 to finish the only player under par after 54 holes on two-under 208.

“It’s unbelievable, staggering, I can’t believe it,” said Latham of his purple patch. “I’m based at Woodhall Spa, the home of England Golf, and I prepared for two years for the seniors, with the help of my coach, David Ridley. Three wins means two years of hard work has paid off.” 

Asked if he was impressed with Elie, the author of four golf books added: “I love this part of the world, I could live here!”

Partridge did his best to eat into Latham’s three-shot advantage after 36 holes, closing with a fine 68 for 210,  which even included a three-putt bogey at the last. 

A trio of players shared third spot on 216, including Grangemouth’s Lindsay Blair, who last year claimed a one-stroke victory at Luffness New on his event debut.

Blair put up a strong defence and said: “It’s a good finish for me and more Order of Merit points. The course was lovely, as was the weather, but it wasn’t easy with the ground being so firm and with a little breeze today.” 

Alan O’Neill (West Lothian) and Anthony McClure (Longhirst) joined Blair on 216. John Fraser from Royal Burgess matched Partridge’s closing 68 for 218, the same final total as Tulliallan’s Bob Stewart.