Dumfries joy for Lothians player Ross

ROYAL BURGESS star James Ross has chalked up his first Scottish Order of Merit title – the second in three events by a Lothians player.

It came in the Sutherland Chalice at Dumfries & Galloway and followed the win by Kingsknowe’s Allyn Dick in the East of Scotland Open at Lundin a fortnight ago.

Ross trailed joint-leaders Ross Bell (Downfield) and Scott Crichton (Aberdour) by three shots heading into the final round. But a closing 70 secured the spoils as Bell and Crichton blew their chances by signing off with 74 and 75 respectively.

Ross, who won by a single shot, first underlined his potential when reaching the final of the Lothians Championship at Bruntsfield Links in 2007.

His game has come on leaps and bounds since he went to college in the United States, initially at Michigan State but now at the University of Houston.

He reached the semi-finals of the Scottish Amateur at Western Gailes last summer, losing to eventual winner David Law.

And this win will give him bags of confidence when he bids to improve on that effort in this year’s event at Royal 
Dornoch at the end of this month.

Two Lothians players had holes-in-one in the Dumfries event – the Glen’s Neil Henderson and Jordyn Rhind from Uphall.