Lane retains Senior Open as love affair with Scottish golf continues

SCOTTISH specialist Barry Lane completed a hat-trick of victories in the home of golf after holding off the spirited challenge of American Gary Koch in an exciting two-horse race over the final nine holes to win the Cleveland Golf/Srixon Scottish Senior Open.

The 51-year-old Englishman, who sparked his love affair with the game north of the Border by claiming the Bell’s Scottish Open at Gleneagles in 1988, added a six-under-par 66 to opening rounds of 67 and 69 for an aggregate of 14-under, becoming the first player to successfully defend the title in this event since it was launched in 1993.

“I just love playing in Scotland. Maybe it’s the air and the golf courses. Certainly this one suits my eye,” said Lane, who picked up a cheque for just under £38,000. “I love courses where you have to use your imagination to get it round.”

While Lane’s win was the fourth on the trot in the event by an Englishman, at least he provided a Scottish touch by wearing a striking pair of red tartan trousers on the final day. He bought them in China six years ago but admitted he hadn’t been “brave enough” to wear them until now. “I’ve not got a clue what tartan they, though it is an authentic one as far as I know,” added the winner. “I took a ribbing from some of the guys when they saw me this morning, but now I might wear them again at Gleneagles this week when I play in the Johnnie Walker Championship.”

Tied for the lead with Australian Peter Fowler heading into the final round – Koch was a shot behind – Lane started with a birdie then holed a putt from 30 yards to pick up another shot at the fifth.

But Koch, a 58-year-old who recorded top-10s in the Open Championship in his hey-day, made him fight to the bitter end.

Locked together on ten-under at the turn, Lane’s sole three-putt of the week cost him a birdie chance at the long tenth, but he then picked up shots at both the 11th and 12th, holing from 15 feet and five feet.

His lead was up to three after Koch, better known these days as a TV pundit with NBC, dropped a shot at the 13th, but the American rallied again with back-to-back birdies at the 14th and 15th, Lane holing a crucial par putt at the latter after coming up 20 yards short with his approach out of a divot.

That kept the Englishman one in front playing the last and he signed off in style with an eagle-3, hitting his 5-iron second shot to 18 feet and rolling in the putt to win by two shots after the American made had made his birdie. Fowler, who closed with a 70, tied for third with Irishman Des Smyth (67) on 206.

“It is always nice to defend a title and I am also delighted with the way I won,” admitted Lane. “I may have managed to keep myself competitive over the years, but they don’t give it to you out here and Gary played well.

“It was nip and tuck all the way round and even when I went three clear I stood on the 14th tee and told myself to stay aggressive and stay focused because you never know what is going to happen. I managed to do that and then to hole the putt at the last was great.”

Lane turned down the chance of a more lucrative payday on the Champions Tour in America to play in Fife and is almost certain to make the same decision next year.

“Once I made the decision not to play in TPC, that was it done and dusted. I felt I needed to defend this title and I’m glad I did,” he said.

“I’m going to try and qualify for the Champions Tour next year but if I am successful it is likely to be the main European Tour that I will stop playing on and I will still support this Tour.”

Prestwick-based Ross Drummond finished as highest-placed Scot, the 54-year-old signing off with a 68 to tie for seventh with Welshman Ian Woosnam on 210. Drummond was five-under after ten before a double-bogey 5 at the 11th halted his momentum. But a brace of birdies to finish put a smile back on his face.

“I lost my rhythm after the double-bogey, which was caused by a plugged lie in a bunker, but it was good to finish strongly,” said the Scot after his fourth top-10 finish of the season.

Bill Longmuir closed with a 71 to finish in a tie for 22nd on 216, the same mark as Andrew Oldcorn after his 74. Gordon Brand Jnr (72) was on 218, followed by Sam Torrance (72) and Peter Smith (75) on 220. After rounds of 74, 76 and 74, an off-form Sandy Lyle was left languishing in a tie for 55th on 224.