Sam Locke makes winning return to Carnoustie in new Tartan Pro Tour

Sam Locke, left, and Chris Robb fought out a sudden-death play-off in the Carnoustie Challenge, the first event on the new Tartan Pro Tour

Sam Locke, the leading amateur in the 2018 Open at the Angus venue, added to his collection of cherished Carnoustie memories after winning the opening event on the new Tartan Pro Tour.

The 21-year-old beat fellow Aberdonian Chris Robb at the first extra hole in a play-off in the Carnoustie Challenge after the pair had finished tied on seven-under-par for 36 holes.

"I should maybe play here more often because it certainly provides me with good memories," said Locke, who won £4000 on this occasion to add to his Silver Medal from the world's oldest major.

Locke, who is managed and mentored by Paul Lawrie, the new circuit's founder, started the day with a one-shot lead after an opening 68.

Despite opening day two with a birdie, he found himself trailing Robb by two shots with eight holes to play as the two former Scottish Amateur champions battled it out down the stretch.

Robb eventually carded a brilliant bogey-free six-under 66 and it took a brace of birdie-2s from Locke on the back nine to force the play-off, which he won with a par-4 at the first.

"That was great scoring from Chris today and, though I don't look that much at leaderboards, I did today after nine holes.

"I saw that he'd got off to a flyer and, while I didn't have my best stuff out there today, I was chuffed how I managed to grind it out.

"I made a nice birdie at the 16th, hitting a 6-iron to 12 feet to a front pin. It's not often you birdie that hole. I then had a chance to win from around 18 feet at the last but it just slipped by.

"At the first extra hole, I thought I'd holed my birdie putt from 16 feet only to see it stop an inch short but, thankfully for me, Chris left his first putt about six to eight short and missed for par."

Due to the Covid-19 spike in Aberdeen, the second event, the Scottish Par 3 Championship at Paul Lawrie Golf Centre has been called off, meaning the Royal Dornoch Masters on 7-8 September is now set to be the second of six events.

"I was really excited about these events as they have provided us with a chance to get playing again and there's no better way to start it off," added Locke.

Scott Henry (69) and Danny Kay (71) shared third spot on four-under, one ahead of Jamie McLeary (71) with Calum Fyfe (69) the only other player to finish in red figures on two-under.

Kylie Henry, Scott's wife, and Leona Maguire, who stormed home in a brilliant 32, shared the honour of finishing as the top women on one-over

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