Golf: Oldcorn ends East Alliance 25-year wait

CAPITAL ace Andrew Oldcorn bridged a 25-year gap to get his name back on the Edinburgh & East of Scotland Golf Alliance Championship trophy at Gullane yesterday.

But, on this occasion, the King's Acre touring pro had to share the honour with Peebles amateur Jamie Morris. Both players carded 69s on No.?2 in the morning before adding 65s on No.?3 as they finished a shot ahead of Eyemouth trainee Daniel Wood and Royal Burgess amateur Ian Taylor.

And, with a precedent having been set in 2003, the UniRoyal Trophy was shared for only the second time in the event's history.

Wood, who has been a consistent performer in the final few weeks of the season, shot a best-of-the-day 62 over No.?3, while Taylor showed his game is in good nick ahead of his club's Inter Cities Cup clashes with rounds of 67 and 66.

Those scores saw Taylor secure the Gavin Clark Trophy for the best net aggregate of the day of 133, while former Mortonhall man David Patrick put up a good defence of his title, finishing in a tie for fifth alongside Craig Gordon and Alan Reid.

On an excellent day on the East Lothian coast, top spot in the handicap section was also shared by Lochend's David Graham and Grant Skinner of Glencorse. Both playing off four, Graham signed for scores of 73 and 63, with Skinner's cards being for 71 and 65, while Scottish captain Scott Knowles finished a shot behind the duo, as did David McKean, Iain Melville and Thomas Melville.

There was an intriguing internal competition involving a father and three sons - Peter Lamb and his boys, Jordan, Justin and Stephen. On the day, it was Justin who claimed the bragging rights with rounds of 72 and 67.

The event also saw the conclusion of the scratch order of merit, which was won by Greenburn's Scott Catlin with 683.5 points beating long-time leader Chris Morris, the Kingsknowe pro, into second spot on 644.5.

Borderer Mike Thomson was third with 620, just 1.5 points more to pip Andrew Marshall (Houston DR).