David Orr produced a grandstand finish at Gleneagles to win the £55,000 Scottish PGA Championship title.
The 35-year-old East Renfrewshire pro closed with a five-under-par 67 over the PGA Centenary course for a 10-under aggregate of 278 to ease to a three shot victory over long-time leader Craig Lee.
Orr, runner-up in the national championship in 2002 and with three other top-five finishes in the event in recent years, had slipped four shots off the pace when Lee holed his second shot at the first for an eagle but the chamionship unravelled on the inward half as the destination of the crown changed dramatically.
As Lee dropped shots at the 11th and 13th and stumbled to a double-bogey at the 15th in a 71 for 281, Orr reeled off four birdies over his last five holes to power to the front and capture the £8,800 first prize.
"I knew I was playing well and even when I was behind I just stayed patient and the chances arrived for me," said Orr. "I've been close to winning this title before and it's nice to finally do it."
Lee, who has now finished runner-up three times in the national championship, was left to rue his three-over back nine as his hopes of becoming only the fifth player to win both the Northern Open and the Scottish PGA in the same season were dashed.
Colin Gillies, the Tartan Tour's all-time leading money winner, celebrated his 25th year as a professional by grabbing third place on 282 after a 71 while former PGA champion Andrew Oldcorn shared fourth with Mark Kerr of Edinburgh and Musselburgh's Fraser Mann on 284.
28 June, 2009