Airdrie save the best for last

Airdrie Golf Club emerged from the pack to secure a trip to Morocco for the SkyCaddie PGA Pro-Captain Challenge final.

Captain Brian Jamieson and PGA professional Simon McLean combined to finish with three successive birdies and clinch victory in the Scottish qualifying event held at Haggs Castle Golf Club in Glasgow.

That gave them 43 points from a seven under par round as they beat three other teams into second spot.

Fraser Malcolm and Jim Sear (Glen Golf Club), Colin Ferguson and Paul Little (Newbiggin-by-the-Sea Golf Club) and Mark Ridley and David Elgy  (South Moor Golf Club) all tied on 41 points.

The Airdrie pairing will now play in the £22,000 Morocco final, in association with Golfplan, which will be held between November 21-22 at Mazagan Beach Resort, Casablanca.

And 12 handicapper Jameson (pictured right with Simon McLean [riught]) was able to contribute with four nett birdies - one on the front nine and three on the back as the North Lanarkshire duo ended the day in winning fashion.

“Simon drove the ball magnificently even though he’s not playing a lot of golf at the moment,” said Jamieson, a 57-year-old electronic engineer who has been a member at Airdrie for 25 years after swapping rugby for golf.

“He excelled himself and he could’ve had another three or four birdies to be honest. We said we had a great score at the end, but it could’ve been even better. He had birdie opportunities at the majority of holes.

“It’s a great prize for us to go to Morocco but I didn’t know what was at stake during the event. You’re generally only captain for a year so you don’t realise what tournaments you can be invited to, this came along and Simon said I should make sure I can play as it’s a good fun day.

“But Haggs Castle was an excellent course, the greens were fantastic, and the hospitality was tremendous. So to get to the final in Morocco was a great bonus.”

McLean was left celebrating the fact that they produced their key shots right at the end.

“It was a really strong finish that got us over the line, I thought we were running out of holes but Brian chipped in with two nett birdies and I birdied the 18th hole,” said McLean.

“Seven under par was good because it wasn't easy, it was windy and blustery. But the course was a joy, it’s hard to imagine a better putting surface than Haggs Castle.”