Allan Kournikova rules at Longniddry

LONGNIDDRY proved a happy hunting ground for Anna Kournikova’s younger brother for the second year running in the US Kids Golf European Championship.

A closing 34 over a shortened nine-hole course gave Allan Kournikova, who is based in Palm Beach, Florida, a four-shot victory in the eight-and-under event. For the second day running, he signed off with an eagle-3, having earlier offset two birdies with a brace of bogeys.

With a 27-hole total of 101, Kournikova won comfortably from fellow American Rafe Cochran, who bagged four birdies and an eagle in his closing round of 33.

Jaivir Pande, the third American who’d shared the lead after the opening round, crashed to a closing 45, taking 9 at the third, as he finished in joint fifth on 117.

Kournikova’s previous seven-and-under title stayed on the other side of the Atlantic after Sihan Sandhu from Ashburn in Virginia closed with three birdies in his 33 to win by a shot from Floridian Jonathan Pollak.

Other early winners included South African Casey Jarvis, who clinched the boys’ nine-and-under title with a total of 147 over Gullane No 3, where one of his nearest challengers was English youngster Max Faulkner, namesake of a former Open champion.

A compatriot of Jarvis, Kiera Floyd won the youngest girls’ title at Longniddry, where Singapore’s Yoko Tai stormed to a six-shot success in the girls’ nine-and-under event.

The event draws to a conclusion today with the Van Horn Cup, an event featuring some of the older age-group winners over Gullane No 1.