EAST OF SCOTLAND OPEN

McNICOLL WINS FIRST 72-HOLE EVENT

AFTER LIGHTNING SUSPENSION

  

Carnoustie's Keith McNicoll, third in the St Andrews Links Trophy, finally achieved his first-ever 72-hole victory and his biggest prize yet when he won the Swallow Hotels East of Scotland Open at Lundin Golf Club today.

Play was suspended for just over an hour in mid-afternoon when thunder, lightning and torrential rain raged over and down on the Fife links course.

It was touch and go during the hiatus whether the fourth and final round would be abandoned, which would have left long-time leader John Gallagher (Swanston) as the winner, seven days after his come-from-behind win in the Tennant Trophy.

But the threat of lightning disappeared - although the rain did not until late in the day - and out the players went to resume the fourth round.

McNicoll, 21-year-old son of a former Dunfermline footballer, seemed to benefit most from the bad weather hold-up. Keir had already birdied the third and fourth before being called in. When he resumed he birdied the ninth, 10th, 13th and 16th for a brilliant closing round of six-under-par 65 and a final total of of 16 under par 268.

He won in the end by a single shot from Walker Cup man Lloyd Saltman (Craigielaw) and Gallagher.

Saltman birdied the 13th, 16th and 17th in his final round but could get the last-hole birdie that would have put him into a play-off. He finished with a 67 for 269.

Gallagher, whose game "went flat" after the rain delay, birdied the 13th and 15th to leave him needing one more birdie to make it a play-off. But he couldn't get one ... not even from six or seven feet at the last.

 FINAL TOTALS (Par 71)

 

268 K McNicoll (Carnoustie) 72 64 67 65.

269 L Saltman (Craigielaw) 69 66 67 67, J Gallagher (Swanston) 66 64 69 70.

270 S Jamieson (Cathkin Braes) 66 68 69 67.

271 G Murray (Earlsferry Th) 70 71 64 66, I Colquhoun (Ranfurly Castle) 70 67 67 67, D Stewart (Grantown on Spey) 68 65 71 67.

273 M Kerr (Dalmahoy) 70 65 70 68.

274 S Mann (Carnoustie) 68 65 69 72.

275 C Watson (East Renfrewshire) 70 68 70 67, S Borrowman (Dollar) 65 70 73 67.

276 S McEwan (Barassie) 70 71 66 69.

277 M Lamb (Haddington) 73 69 67 68, S Henry (Cardross) 71 70 66 70.

278 J McGhee (Gullane) 70 70 70 68, P O'Hara (Colville Park) 69 68 69 72, B Fotheringham (Forres) 65 69 69 75.

279 G Paterson (St Andrews New) 72 70 68 69, W Booth (Comrie) 72 70 70 67, L Kirton (Newmachar) 66 70 70 73.

280 R Kellett (Colville Park) 71 70 67 72, R Knox (Inverness) 69 69 72 70, J Findlay (Fraserburgh) 68 69 70 73, C MacAulay (Tulliallan) 69 67 68 76.

281 J King (Glasgow) 72 68 72 69.

282 E Saltman (Craigielaw) 71 71 71 69, J Mathers (Haggs Castle) 72 67 71 72, T Mathieson (Murcar Links) 66 71 74 71.

284 R McKnight (Barassie) 69 71 69 75, S McAllister Craigelaw) 70 69 73 72, R Taylor (Downfield) 69 67 74 74.

285 P McLean (Peterhead) 69 73 69 74, S Clark (Haggs Castle) 72 70 71 72.

287 C Colraine (Windryhill) 67 75 70 75, James White (Lundin) 72 68 73 74.

289 R Crowe (Newcastle Utd) 74 68 72 75.

290 J Byrne (Banchory) 69 71 80 70.

291 A Main (Thornton) 68 73 73 77, A Anderson (Bruntsfield Links) 73 67 72 79.

292 C Gray (West Kilbride) 71 70 79 72.

294 S Elder (Kirkcaldy) 73 69 72 80.

Retired - B Innes (Murcar Links) 68 70 71 - .