Kevin Duncan lets big cheque opportunity slip 

through his fingers on PGA EuroPro Tour

Cruden Bay's Kevin Duncan, well placed after rounds of 66 and 70 to collect a four-figure prize in this week's PGA EuroPro Tour event at Close House, Northumberland, slumped to a closing seven-over-par 78 for a one-over-par total of 214. He earned £383
Top  Scot was Paul Shields (Kirkhill) who earned £715 for a joint 15th finish on 210 with rounds of 71, 70 and 69 - eight behind the winner of the £10,000 first prize, Marcus Armitage (Howley Hall) (67-67-68 for 11-under 202).
The Saltman brothers from Archerfield Links, Elliot (68-70-73 for 211) and Lloyd (68-71-73 for 212) shared 19th and 22nd places respectively. Elliot earned £500 and Lloyd £465.
Scott Borrowman (Dollar) finished joint 39th on 215 (70-68-77) for a payslip of £340.
Michal Stewart (Troon Welbeck) faded after a bright start, shooting 67, 73 and 76, for 216 and joint 46th position for which the payment was £312.
 
Second £10,000 win of season by Armitage
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Marcus Armitage moved a step closer to a full Challenge Tour card with his second HotelPlanner.com PGA EuroPro Tour win of the season, taking home the Tree Of Life Championship title from Close House.

The 28-year-old finished the tournament 11 under par with a final-round 68, three under par. Ireland’s Brian Casey (Headford Golf Club; 68, 67, 68) went two under the card for his concluding 18 but finished second on nine under. Sebastian George Garcia Grout (Golf de Poniente Mallorca; 68, 69, 68) of Spain came third with a score of eight under.

Armitage led throughout the final round having started with a one-shot advantage. He negotiated the front nine with seven pars, a birdie at 7 and a bogey at 8 but pulled away from the field with an eagle at the 10^th. He holed out on the 15^th for birdie when a bogey looked likely and concluded the Tree Of Life Championship with three pars for victory.

The win is Armitage’s third on Europe’s third-tier tour and his second this season after success at Cumberwell Park. His £10,000 win sees him move up to fourth on the Race To Desert Springs, from which the top five at the end of the season progress to the Challenge Tour

“I feel great,” said Armitage, who also takes home a brand new Motocaddy trolley, Bushnell Tour X Range Finder, Bolle sunglasses and £500 to spend at HotelPlanner.com.

“I have played very solidly this week and have trusted myself to get the job done. I hit 15 greens and only had to chip on two holes, which is key around here.

“I thought  the 5-wood on the 10^th might have been a bit soft and a bit short but we got up there and it was a five-foot putt so I was really pleased. The 15^th was massive; I missed it in a real bad spot there and it needed something special.

“It is massive to be in that top five because you are always looking to move up. I am looking for another win now to secure it because now I want to win the Order of Merit.

“Moor Allerton is close to my house and the extra day could suit me. It is great to be going there off a win. It is a good track where I have played a lot of golf so I am really looking forward to it.”

Aaron Rai (DCD Group; 67, 68, 72) consolidated his place in the all-important Race To Desert Springs top five with a tied fourth finish at Close House.

Highlights of the Tree Of Life Championship will air on Sky Sports on Tuesday, September 1. The next HotelPlanner.com PGA EuroPro Tour event is the 72-hole Clipper Logistics Players Championship at Moor Allerton Golf Club in Leeds, the first time a third-tier tour has staged a four-round tournament.