St Andrews Links Trophy
Craig Watson gave himself a boost prior to the defence of the Amateur Championship at Muirfield in a week's time with a win in the St Andrews' Links Trophy yesterday.
The 32-year-old, who won the title in 1992, carded final rounds of 71 and 72 for an 11-under-par total of 276 to come home two shots clear of England internationalist Simon Dyson.
''The way I've been playing recently this win is more a surprise to me than anything else but I'm delighted,'' said Watson.
Back-to-back birdies at the fourteenth and fifteenth holes gave the Scotland cap breathing space, and he could afford the luxury of three-putt bogeys at the sixteenth and seventeenth and still win comfortably.
The only disappointment in the dropped shots was the fact he did not set a tournament record but Watson had an explanation for the slip, albeit a tongue-in-cheek one.
''I spoke to Graham Ogilvy half-way round who was in a terrible huff because of his putting. It wouldn't have been nice to rub salt into his wounds by taking his record as well - I hope we're still pals.'' Leading aggregates:
276 - C Watson (East Renfrewshire) 70, 63, 71, 72. 278 - S Dyson (Sand Moor) 68, 70, 71, 69. 281 - D Patrick (Mortonhall) 71, 64, 73, 73. 282 - T Immelman (S Africa) 73, 67, 73, 69; G Ogilvy (Australia) 71, 63, 72, 76. 283 - M Pilkington (Pwllheli) 70, 70, 73, 70. 285 - D de Vooght (Belgium) 69, 70, 75, 71. 286 - J Donaldson (Macclesfield) 73, 72, 73, 68; S McCarthey (Royal North Devon) 71, 71, 75, 69; R Reid (South Africa) 68, 72, 74, 72; M Hilton (East Sussex National) 67, 68, 74, 77. 287 - J Hugo (South Africa) 69, 75, 71, 72; C McMon-agle (Dunfanaghy) 73, 68, 73, 73. Other scores included; 288 - H MacDonald (Old Ranfurly) 69, 71, 73, 75. 289 - E Forbes (Turriff) 74, 71, 75, 69. 291 - L Kelly (Cowal) 71, 72, 71, 77. 293 - G Campbell (Blairgowrie) 71, 74, 75, 73; S Walker (West Linton) 70, 71, 77, 75. 294 - G Rankin (Palacerigg) 71, 69, 77, 77. 295 - S Horne (Tulliallan) 70, 70, 76, 79;
M Rose (Pitlochry) 73, 67, 77, 78. 297 - W Bryson (Drumpellier) 75, 70, 79, 73. 300 - I Campbell (Hilton Park) 70, 74, 78, 78. 303 - N Steven (St Andrews) 70, 75, 83, 75; R Jenkins (Crow Wood) 72, 73, 79, 79.
q Neither Stephen Gallacher nor Mike Miller were able to get among the bigger prizes when the Modena Classic concluded in Italy.
Leading final scores (British and Irish unless stated):
270 - M Pendaries (France) 64, 66, 69, 71. 271 - P Hughes (Finland) 69, 67, 68, 67. 274 - G Baruffaldi (Italy) 70, 71, 66, 67. 275 - L Westerberg (Sweden) 66, 68, 69, 72; R Winchester 66, 69, 70, 70. 276 - B Telleria (France) 70, 71, 65, 70; M Rantanen (Finland) 70, 73, 66, 67; M Olander (Sweden) 69, 69, 67, 71. 277 - S Watson 69, 70, 70, 68. 278 - M Anglert (Sweden) 69, 71, 67, 71; S Alker (New Zealand) 72, 68, 70, 68. Other GB&I scores: 280 - W Bennett 74, 66, 69, 71; S Gallacher 71, 68, 69, 72. 283 - D Lee 69, 73, 67, 74. 284 - P Streeter 74, 68, 67, 75. 285 - M Miller 73, 66, 71, 75; D R Jones 72, 70, 70, 73. 287 - S Cronin 70, 72, 72, 75. 288 - S Andrew 71, 70, 72, 75. 290 - M Hazelden 71, 72, 73, 74; A Butterfield 69, 71, 73, 77.
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