Golf: Mike Thomson too good for pros

AMATEUR ace Mike Thomson upstaged the pros as the East Alliance came out of cold storage at Gullane yesterday.

The former Scottish Mid Amateur champion from Torwoodlee shot a 65 over the No.3 Course to claim the scratch spoils by a shot from Greenburn's Scott Catlin and Scott Grieve from Turnhouse.

Merchants pro Neil Colquhoun was a shot behind in joint-fourth with Deer Park's Mark Chaplin. Falkirk Tryst's Ian Wyse claimed the overall prize, the John Glen Trophy, with a net 63 playing off 11.

He pipped Baberton's Gordon Brown by virtue of a better inward half, with Lochend's David Graham a shot behind in third.

Prestonfield's William Laing and Jim Greenan of Duddingston both shot 65s.

Pumpherston's Alan Mackay was top trainee with a scratch 68, with Gullane's Gordon Bell, off three, and six-handicapper John Denham from Torwoodlee sharing the seniors' spoils with a net 66.