Golf: Vaisanen does Finn job to win Scottish Boys' Open

NEWLY-CROWNED Scottish Boys' Open Strokeplay champ Linus Vaisanen may have been unknown in Lothians golfing circles before his triumph at Craigielaw last night but the Finnish teen could become a familiar face on the local scene in the coming months.

The 18-year-old from Helsinki, who was making his competitive debut on Scottish soil this week, posted closing day rounds of 73 and 69 for a three-under aggregate of 281 and a narrow one shot win over Pollok's Conor O'Neil.

Vaisanen, runner-up in the Finnish Boys' championship the week before the Craigielaw event, is set to return to Scotland in September to begin an economics and finance degree at Edinburgh University. "This was my first time playing in Scotland and my first taste of links golf and I've loved it," said Vaisanen. "I finished second in the Finnish Boys' championship last week and despite my lack of experience at this type of golf I came to this event with lots of confidence."

Vaisanen's Craigielaw success saw him join Scottish Open Strokeplay champion Romain Wattell of France, Scottish Open Youth's winner Max Rotluff from Germany and Switzerland's new Scottish Open under-16 champion Remon Fueg on the list of foreign winners of a SGU title this year. He looked to be cruising home when he eased into a three-shot lead with three holes to play and despite suffering a late wobble, Vaisanen held his nerve on the last and holed an eight-footer for birdie to secure the win.

That crucial putt denied Glasgow youngster O'Neil, who had moved into the title reckoning with closing day rounds of 69 and 71 which set the early clubhouse target of 282.

Falkirk's James Lynch hit a 72 and a 70 to claim third on 283 while 54-hole leader Scott Gibson slumped to a closing 76 and had to settle for fifth on 285.

Craigielaw's Grant Forrest, the winner of the national boys' matchplay crown in April, saw his hopes of a double ended with a final round 75 as he finished seventh on a 287.

Another Craigielaw teen, Ewen Donaldson, and West Linton's Fraser Thain were the next best locals in a share of 11th on 291 while Lothians Boys' champ Simon Fairburn finished in a tie for 15th on 292.