Priest Alex Davie is convinced God is on his side after surviving two lightning strikes as he played golf during a Clergy Golfing Society competition in West Lothian.

As it began to rain and thunder, Father Davie, 32, was struck twice within minutes as electricity surged through his umbrella, he continued to defy the elements and completed the game with a best-of-the-day score of 74.

After suffering nothing more than a painful arm he believes God must be looking out for him, and said: ''I always thought you got frazzled when you got hit by lightning.

''I am a fairly lucky man. This maybe means that I have got some purpose in life and He is maybe looking after me.''

It happened during the Irish Colleges Golf Trophy organised by the Catholic clergy at Bathgate Golf Club. The nine-handicap golfer, who regularly plays with other priests throughout Scotland, had come first in the same tournament last year, winning an all expenses paid trip to Ireland.

When the heavens opened as Father Davie and playing partners Fathers Joe Daly and Frank Stewart approached the fifth green, and the sky was lit by forks of electricity, he refused to retire to the clubhouse.

''I was the defending champion and I did not want to give in. It started pelting down and when we got to the fifth lightning was flashing everywhere.

''I putted out and picked up my brolly and I swore there was a flash. I felt a shock go through my arm and I dropped the brolly.

A curate at St Mary's Metropolitan Cathedral in Edinburgh, Father Davie took shelter near some trees, but only minutes later sparks flew again, and another bolt coursed through his umbrella and up his arm.

''The siren went off telling us to abandon the course, but I love my golf and we soldiered on.

''Every time I picked up a club I thought I was going to get a shock. In the end my 74 score was the best of the day, but as the competition was abandoned due to bad weather it did not count.''

The priest, who played centre half for Scottish Second Division football club Arbroath for six years, said the shocks had not put him off golf, and certainly had not caused his faith to waver.

Now as he strolls along the fairway he holds a one iron for protection.

''There are a few folk laughing about it. Some of my golf mates are a bit jealous and say it is a pity I was not hit a third time,'' he joked.

Father Joe Daly said yesterday playing on during the thunder storm had been a dangerous idea.

The priest who leads the worship at St John Ogilvie's in Wester Hailes, Edinburgh, said: ''We had nowhere to go so we were sitting under our umbrellas.

''I tried to get them to come back in after about nine holes, but Alex would hear none of it.''