Connor Syme slips to final-round 79 but


wins Battle Trophy by five strokes


By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Drumoig's Connor Syme made all the running to win the Battle Trophy with a three-under-par total of 285 over Crail Golfing Society's Craighead Links in Fife.

Syme was heading for a very low aggregate after rounds of 68, 68 and 70 but a strong wind blew him slightly off course with a final round of seven-over-par 79 which included eight bogeys and only one birdie, at the 15th.
The former Australian open amateur champion was the only competitor to have a sub-par final total.
“It was a real grind this afternoon,” said Syme. “It was 40mph winds, it was tough and everyone struggled. The pins were in tough positions so it was difficult to get it close and easy to drop shots.
“I was six over after 11 and knew I had a few tough holes coming, so I went and had a talk with myself and refocused. It was one of those days, but I’m pleased to get the job done having come close in this event the last two years.
“I’m delighted to win as it sets me up for the next few weeks, going to the Lytham Trophy and to Ireland, in what is a Walker Cup year.”
The 21-year-old, coached by his father Stuart at Drumoig Golf Centre (which he owns), finished five ahead of Steven Stewart from Clydebank and  District on two over, with Old Ranfurly teenager Jamie Stewart a stroke further back.
Banchory's improving Sam Locke shared fourth place with Craig Ross on 292.

Stewart  stepped in to fill second place on 290 when first Callum Bruce (Duff House Royal) fell by the wayside with closing rounds of 78 and 82 for 298, followed by Calum Fyfe (Cawder) crashing to a last-round 84 for 296 after three very steady rounds of 71, 71 and 70.
Stewart had rounds of 72, 70, 73 and 75.


BATTLE TROPHY
Crail Golfing Society
Craighead Links.
FINAL TOTALS


Par 288 (4x72). SSS 74 CSS 74 74 75
285 C Syme (Drumoig) 68 68 70 79.
290 S Stewart (Clydebank and Dist) 72 70 73 75.
291 J Stewart (Old Ranfurly) 74 68 74 75


292 S Locke (Banchory) 74 70 76 72, C Ross (Kirkhill) 72 72 73 75, S McLaren (Bruntsfield Links) 73 70 74 75.


293 M Clark (Kilmacolm) 71 75 69 78, J Wright (Forres) 71 71 75 76.
295 B McLeod (Musselburgh) 74 75 70 76.
296 A R Ni (Murrayfield) 74 75 72 75, A J Sutherland (Cupar) 73 73 72 78, D Howie (Peebles) 74 70 73 79, M Watt (Inverallochy) 75 69 71 81, C Fyfe (Cawder) 71 71 70 84.
297 J Wilson (Balmore) 74 77 71 75, G Robertson (Glenbervie) 74 74 73 76.
298 D Dougan (Drumpellier) 75 75 72 76, G Wishart (Lundin) 72 75 73 78, C Lamb (Newmachar) 72 71 77 78, C Bruce (Duff House Royoal) 68 70 78 82.
299 E Bradley (Mt Ellen) 76 74 72 77, K Cantley (Liberton) 72 73 75 79.
302 A McDougall jun (Elderslie) 77 74 78 73, T Beasley (Hunstanton) 75 76 75 76, E Wood (Crow Wood) 77 72 76 77, S Roger (Cruden Bay) 73 74 75 80, L Johnston (Dumfries and Co) 70 76 76 80, S Blair (Royal Musselburgh) 69 74 79 80.
303 Eric McIntosh (Bruntsfield Links) 78 72 76 77, A Carrick (Douglas Park) 71 75 80 77, C Maclean (Balmore) 77 71 77 78, A Carrick (Douglas Park) 71 75 80 77.
305 M Fitzimmons (Ire) 71 79 76 79, A McDougall (St Andrews New) 77 72 76 80.
306 A Davidson (Charleton) 75  74 80 77.
308 M Pennycott (Royal Burgess) 75 75 79 79.
309 G Greer (Carluke) 79 72 77 81, G Munro (Newmachar) 76 75 76 82, D Mitchell jun (Leven Th)  79 71 79 80.
310 J Shaw (Boat of Garten) 76 74 791 81, K McClung (Wigtownshire) 75 76 78 81, J Harling (Banchory) 74 72 85 79, C Wilson (Castle Park) 74 71 87 78.
No Returns: L Morgan (Dunbar) 76 73 71 NR, C Smith (Camperdown) 71 72 83 NR
Retired: K Godsman (Moray) 73 70 ret.