Dramatic finish sees Clark win the Chalice

Kilmacolm’s Matthew Clark won the Sutherland Chalice 72-hole SGU Order of Merit tournament at Dumfries and Galloway Golf Club last night – but victory was only sealed after a dramatic finish.

Clark had gone three shots clear of the field with a third-round 66, but overnight leader Eamon Bradley (Mount Ellen) rallied to close the gap over the final round.

In fact, Bradley holed a long birdie putt at the 16th to take a one-shot lead.

But, tragically for the Southeastern Lousiana University student from Coatbridge, he drove out of bounds at the 17th and 18th holes.

Clark finished with a three-over-par 73 – his worst of the four rounds – for a six-under-par winning total of 274.

Bradley closed with a 72 to finish two shots behind in second place on 276.

Scott Crichton (Aberdour), third last year, finished joint third on 277 with Daniel Young (Craigie Hill), winner of the Cameron Corbett Vase four-rounder at Haggs Castle the previous weekend.

Crichton may be stewing over his start to the tournament – the first hole cost him an eight.