Golf: Lloyd Saltman heading to Kenya in buoyant mood after win

LOTHIANS golfer Lloyd Saltman will head to Kenya later this month on Challenge Tour duty in a confident mood following his second pro win in a row.

The Archerfield ace cruised to a five-shot victory in the Hi5 Pro Tour's Polaris Condado de Alhama Open in Murcia yesterday as his build-up to the new Challenge Tour campaign gathered pace.

Former Open star Saltman, who led by four shots heading into the closing round in Spain, signed off with a two-under 70 for an 11-under 205 and won by five strokes from Holland's Floris De Vries and former Scottish Amateur champion Callum Macaulay.

Aegon-backed Saltman's success, which earned him almost 2,000, was his second title in just over a week following victory in the Major Golf Championship at his home course of Archerfield last Tuesday.

His older brother, Elliot, shared 11th spot on 221 after a 72 while youngest sibling Zack posted a 76 for 227.

• FORMER Lothians champion Stuart Smith made the most of home advantage to take the scratch spoils in the Edinburgh & East of Scotland Alliance event at Duddingston.

He shot a 67 to win by two shots from a group four players – Ratho Park pro Andrew Erskine, Elie's David Patrick, Mike Thomson of Torwoodlee and last, but certainly not least, Duddingston senior Ian Fraser.

Playing off four, Fraser claimed the top handicap prize, the Thornton Cup, with a 65, winning by two shots from Duddingston clubmate Alex Kemp.

Terry Mathieson (Kings Acre) was top trainee on 72, with Steve Gilhooley and Hinton Bootland rounding off a successful day for the host club as they shared the senior spoils with Linlithgow's Donald Sutherland following net 70s.

The final event of the 2009-2010 season, the Championship, takes place at Gullane on 24 March.