Golf: 2008 champ Davidson is one to beat

WINTERFIELD'S Graham Davidson, the 2008 winner, has put himself in the frame for another title triumph in the Lothians Champion of Champions.

He knocked out four-time winner Keith Nicholson in the third round and now meets Craig Johnstone of Prestongrange in the last 16.

Making the most of home advantage at his Dunbar club, Davidson beat Nicholson 3 and 2, while Johnstone also used local knowledge to good effect as he progressed with a 6 and 5 success against Aegon's Gordon Duff.

In the same quarter of the draw, Murrayfield's Nairn McLeod chalked up a good win over clubmate Stephen Marshall to set up a clash with Liberton's Iain Neilson, who won at Ravelston against Ian Thomson.

Among the others still standing are Alan Hogg and Lindsay Gordon, who aren't getting any younger but are still a match for some of the young guns on their day. Representing Dundas Park, Hogg is up against Brian Tait of Watsonians in round four, while Gordon faces a tough test at Glencorse against Keith Young.

Stephen Neilson (Craigmillar Park), Ross Noon (Craigielaw) and Malcolm Campbell (Swanston New) are still going strong in the top half of the draw as well. But Dunbar Castle's Michael Cresey has gone out after he suffered a shock home defeat at the hands of Michael Burnett of Harburn.

Lochend's David Graham is through after he notched a notable success against Stuart Crookston, the former pro from Bathgate. This year's semi-finals and final are at North Berwick in early August.