McNicoll’s strong finish

Carnoustie's Keir McNicoll, who played off +6 at his peak as an amateur, achieved one of his best performances as a professional in winning the Shotts Young Pros' 54-hole Order of Merit event at the Lanarkshire venue.

McNicoll (above) playing out of Gullane Golf Club, shot a pair of three-under-par 67s over the final 36 holes to surge past the first and second round leader, Paul O'Hara (Clydeway).

McNicoll, whose sister Katy is a LETAS professional and whose father Dave was a professional footballer with Dunfermline Athletic, finished with a six-under-par total of 204 over the par-70 Shotts lay-out to win by two strokes from O'Hara whose last round 72 allowed McNicoll to turn over five shots on him.

It was McNicoll’s first win in 11 starts this season and earned him £698, which is not his biggest this year. His joint 11th place finish in the Gleneagles Scottish PGA Championship at the end of July earned him £933.

McNicoll finished strongly with an eagle at the par five 10th and birdies at the 11th and 12th.

In contrast, O'Hara, younger brother of Steven, bogeyed the 11th and 12th and had a double bogey 6 at the 15th in his final round. 

McNicoll and O'Hara finished well clear of the field.

Ross McConnachie (Peterculter) finished third on 214 - eight shots adrift of runner-up O'Hara.