Atlantic Power Northern Open

English tour professional Lee James was ''down to my last buck'' until he won the Atlantic Power Northern Open championship at Royal Aberdeen yesterday.

James shot rounds of 68 and 72 on the final day for a one-under-par total of 279, winning by two shots from Euan Little, who finished with a 74 for 281.

James started the day seven shots behind overnight leader Donald McKay, who was blown right out of the picture by a 25mph wind whipping in from the North Sea.

McKay toiled to a third-round 77 for 209, and, at lunchtime, James and Little shared the lead at three-under 207.

Little led on his own early in the fourth round at four under after birdieing the first, but a double-bogey 6 at the fifth caused him to drop back to one under and pass the initiative to James.

James, who had to take out a bank loan to compete this year, finished with a no-risk 72 for 279 compared with Little's 74 for 281.

Glenbervie professional John Chillas shot a 68 in the testing conditions to tie for third place with Irishman Peter Lawrie and Englishman John Metcalfe on two-over-par 282.

Bruce Davidson won a place in the Compaq European Grand Prix as leading Scot attached to a club.

Chillas should have collected this but turned it down due to a previous committment.

''I had made arrangements for that week and they involve members of my club.

''I couldn't let them down.'' he said. Final aggregates (*denotes amateur):

279 - L James (East Dorset) 69, 70, 68, 72.

281 - E Little (Portpatrick) 70, 69, 68, 74.

282 - J Metcalfe (Boldon) 73, 69, 69, 71; P Lawrie (MMI) 70, 71, 68, 73; J Chillas (Glenbervie) 70, 70, 74, 68.

283 - D Prosser (Three Hammers) 76, 68, 69, 70.

284 - B Davidson (King's Links) 74, 71, 72, 67; S Downton (Orsett) 73, 68, 70, 73; J Stevenson (Braehead) 73, 67, 74, 70.

285 - A Marshall (ALMA Consulting) 74, 71, 70, 70; R Tinworth (Hever) 73, 71, 71, 70; N Turley (Kidderminster) 67, 75, 73, 70; M King (Deer Park) 71, 71, 75, 68.

286 - S McAllister (Charing Cross) 73, 72, 71, 70; C Brooks (Port Royal) 70, 68, 71, 77.

287 - M Hastie (Turnberry Hotel) 71, 72, 69, 75; J Hepworth (unatt) 73, 69, 68, 77; A Barnett (Royal St David's) 73, 69, 73, 72; S Hurd (Horsforth) 73, 68, 73, 73.

288 - P Dwyer (Stoneham) 71, 73, 70, 74; F Mann (Musselburgh) 74, 70, 73, 71; C Challen (Stoke Poges) 74, 69, 72, 73; M Urquhart (Inverness) 75, 67, 75, 71; P Smith (Newmachar) 73, 67, 75, 73.

289 - J Livesley (Moor Park) 74, 68, 72, 75; D Downie (Brunston Castle) 73, 68, 74, 74; M Gray (Ladybank) 71, 69, 75, 74; G Spring (Woodstock) 68, 68, 74, 79; D McKay (Wellsgreen) 66, 66, 77, 80.

Other aggregates included: 290 - C Kelly (Turnberry Hotel) 68, 74, 71, 77. 291 - G Weir (King's Links) 77, 67, 70, 77; S Thompson (Glasgow) 76, 68, 75, 72. 293 - D Orr (East Renfrewshire) 74, 71, 75, 73. 302 - C Mitchell (*Blairgowrie) 75, 69, 79, 79.