Booth pips Saltman for final spot

Published on 16/11/2012 00:00

WALLACE Booth has joined Duncan Stewart and Ross Kellett in sealing a spot on the Challenge Tour next season after the Comrie man pipped compatriot Elliot Saltman in a dramatic final-day battle at the 888poker.com PGA EuroPro Tour Championship at Woburn.

Fighting it out for the fifth and final card up for grabs from the third-tier circuit, the Scots had identical scores in all three rounds, signing off with one-under-par 71s to finish in a tie for tenth on 214.

They both picked up cheques for £875, so Booth, a member of Scotland’s Eisenhower Trophy-winning team in 2008, clinched his step up to the Challenge Tour by less than £75.

It was advantage Saltman with six holes to go, the Archerfield man standing at one-under for his round – two better than Booth. But, after picking up a shot at the 13th, the Perthshire player also birdied the par-3 17th and that proved the difference as both players could only manage pars at the last.

Stewart had already secured his card on the back of two wins earlier in the season while Kellett has graduated to the second tier in European golf next year off the Alps Tour.

Second on the EuroPro Tour money list heading into the final event, Stewart was pipped for the top spot by Paul Maddy after the Englishman claimed the £15,000 top prize with a wire-to-wire victory.

Maddy signed off with a 72 for 206, winning by three shots from compatriot Lee Clarke, with Stewart (73) finishing fifth.