Paul O'Hara followed in the footsteps of former title-holders such as Paul Lawrie, Alastair Forsyth and Craig Lee by winning the Scottish Young Professionals championship over 72 holes at West Lothian Golf Club, Bo'ness today.
When Paul, younger brother of Steven O'Hara who has played on the European Tour, extended his lead to six shots with a 68 for a three-round tally of 200, O'Hara had a chance to beat previous lowest winning aggregate of 266, by Callum Nicoll in 2006.
But the 26-year-old Motherwell man, in his first year of PGA training at Clydeway Golf, Uddingston after playing on Continental tours, signed off with his poorest round of the four, a one-over 72 for a total of 272.
Paul, three times beaten finalist in the Scottish amateur championship and a Walker Cup team contender before he turned pro, bogeyed the 14th and had a double bogey 6 at the 16th in his last circuit.
But he still won the £1,000 first prize by six shots from the experienced Neil Fenwick (Dunbar) who found his form with a last-round, six-birdie 66 to share second place on 278 with Daniel Flannery (Caldwell).
Flannery had a little bit of everything in his closing round, from an eagle 3 at the 12th and three birdies to six bogeys, including shots dropped at the 15th and 16th which cost him second place on his own.
SCOTTISH YOUNG PROFESSIONALS CHAMPIONSHIP
West Lothian Golf Club, Bo'ness
FINAL TOTALS
Par 284 (4x71)
272 P O'Hara (Clydeway Golf) 65 67 68 72
278 N Fenwick (Dunbar) 70 6874 66, D Flannery (Caldwell) 70 66 70 72.
280 S McLaren (Blairgowrie) 67 70 71 72
281 G Paterson (St Andrews LGA) 70 72 70 69
284 C Robinson (Portpatrick Dunskey) 73 71 70 70
287 K McNicoll (Gullane) 72 75 71 69, J Mackay (North Gailes) 70 74 70 73, P Betty (Hamilton) 69 73 74 71, P Robinson (Largs)_70 74 70 73.
290 L Gaughan (Bathgate) 73 74 72 71, C Robinson (Prestonfield) 71 74 73 72, R Jack (North Gailoes|) 74 68 75 73
292 C Brown (Carrick on Loch Lomond) 72 77 71 72,
