Vaisanen in love with links game

FINLAND'S Linus Vaisanen became the fourth overseas winner of a SGU national title this season when he landed the Scottish Boys' Open Amateur Strokeplay championship at Craigielaw last night.

The 18-year-old from Helsinki, 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.

"This was my first time playing in Scotland and my first taste of links golf and I've loved it," said Vaisanen, who will return to Scotland in September to begin an economics and finance degree at Edinburgh University.

Glasgow youngster O'Neil, who moved into the title hunt with a 69 in the morning's third round, set the clubhouse target in the afternoon with a 71 for 282 but Vaisanen looked to be cruising when he eased into a three-shot lead with three holes to play. The Finn suffered a late wobble with a trio of bogies to give O'Neil hope but he held his nerve on the last and holed an eight-footer for birdie to win. Falkirk's Jamie 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 had around of 75 to finish seventh on 287.