German teenager Rotluff wins Scottish title at a canter

MAXIMILLIAN Rottluff, a 17-year-old from Dusseldorf, became the fourth continental player to win the Golf Data Lab Scottish Youths' Championship after turning the final two rounds at Monifieth yesterday into a procession.

Just one shot ahead at the halfway stage, Rottluff opened up a six-shot advantage following a third-round 69 before closing with a 68 to claim the title by ten shots on 279, five-under-par.

Torwoodlee's Simon Fairburn, who, a day after turning 18, picked up three birdies in his final four holes, and Paul McPhee of King James VI, shared second spot, the best they were going to achieve after Rottluff made a stunning recovery following a shaky start to the event.

After six holes in his opening round, he was six-over-par but managed to limit the damage to a 76 before producing some stunning golf over the remaining three rounds to follow in the footsteps of Swede Adam Mednick (1986), Frenchman Gregory Bourdy (2002) and Spaniard Francisco Pintor (2006).

"I'm not used to wind on the greens and it was really difficult (at the start]," said Rottluff, who admitted this victory was better than a success in the Harder German Junior Masters last year. "However, I relaxed after that and started to play better, holing some good putts in the last three rounds."

Rottluff, whose only previous experience of links golf had come in last year's British Boys' Championship at Royal St George's, will be back in Scotland for that event at Barassie in August, but has an open mind about following his golfing idol, Martin Kaymer, into the paid ranks.

"That (turning professional] is my dream but I have two years to go at school and I will see what happens during that time. I may want to experience college golf, perhaps in America or, alternatively, England or Scotland."

McPhee, the 18-year-old son of former Dundee United and Forfar Athletic player Paul, closed with rounds of 67 and 72 to secure his share of second place.

"Today was like night and day to the first two rounds," said McPhee. "It was a mental test more than ability for the first two days – you couldn't get up at the first six holes."

He finishes school today and is off to America after the summer holidays, having signed up to follow in the footsteps of both Gavin Dear and Keir McNicoll by taking up a four-year scholarship at Linn University in Florida.

GOLF DATA LAB SCOTTISH YOUTHS CHAMPIONSHIP (Monifieth)

279 M Rottluff (Germany) 76 66 69 68.

289 P McPhee (King James VI) 76 74 67 72; S Fairburn (Torwoodlee) 73 72 75 69.

290 M Dailly (Erskine) 73 74 71 72.

291 W Bremner (Edzell) 72 74 72 73; L Johnston (Dumfries & County) 76 72 71 72.

292 P Spraggs (Stowmarket) 74 74 73 71; J Brooks (Pleasington) 80 71 75 66; M Walz (Germany) 77 67 78 70.

293 S Gibson (Southerness) 72 73 72 76; F Moore (Glenbervie) 73 70 74 76; A Wallace (Glenbervie) 75 73 75 70.

294 T Putkonen (Finland) 77 75 73 69; K McClung (Wigtownshire County) 72 74 73 75.

295 N MacAndrew (Cullen) 75 75 72 73; J McDonald (Barassie) 72 74 74 75.

296 J Milne (Elgin) 75 76 72 73; S Brown (Turnberry) 69 77 73 77.

297 F Thain (West Linton) 72 75 74 76; M Smith (Troon Welbeck) 74 77 73 73; C Kolloss (Germany) 76 74 75 72; G Duncan (Kingsknowe) 76 71 78 72.

298 A Campbell (Dumbarton) 74 75 72 77, A Palmer (Chorley) 78 71 74 75; M Morrisey (Ireland) 75 73 71 79.

300 A Leitmannstetter (Germany) 75 75 73 77; G Smail (Craigielaw) 72 76 76 76; J Savage (Cawder) 74 78 76 72; S Bolton (Goring & Streatly) 76 76 77 71; D Kay (Dunbar) 75 72 74 79.

301 A Sweeney (Carnoustie) 78 70 79 74; J Rhind (Uphall) 74 78 76 73; D Keddie (Belton Park) 75 73 80 73.

302 M Thomson (Grange) 78 72 72 80; A Allan (Alva) 79 73 71 79; G Roberts (Eaton) 78 74 80 70.

303 S Boyle (Harburn) 79 73 77 74.

304 D Harrison (Crieff) 72 78 75 79.

305 B Mommaerts (Belgium) 77 74 76 78.

306 G Stewart (Crieff) 79 73 72 82.

310 A Welsh (Torrance House) 72 77 79 82.