O'Hara denied title defence by Hay

Nairn Dunbar's Gavin Hay (above) is the new Scottish Young Professionals' champion after a dramatic finish to the tournament at West Lothian Golf club.

Hay, the first-round leader, beat the defending champion and halfway pacemaker, Paul O'Hara with a birdie at the third hole of a sudden death play-off.

But the drama had started before that.

First Hay had regained the lead with a great third round of 66 for a 54-hole tally of 203 - one shot ahead of O'Hara who had a par 71 for 204.

Then the final round saw O’Hara birdie the 17th and 18th for a 67 and 271 aggregate.

Hay then faced a 12ft putt for birdie and kept cool to slot the putt for a 68.

On to the play-off which saw the first two holes halved in pars before Hay scored his biggest ever win.

The win earned Hay a cheque for £1,000 but, as Scottish Young Professional champion, the Nairn Dunbar man will find a lot more tournament doors opening for him over the next year or so.

O'Hara's consolation prize amounted to £900 but full credit to for making such a stout defence of his title.

Hay and O'Hara finished 11 shots ahead of the joint third place finishers, Sam McLaren (Blairgowrie) and Keir McNicoll (Gullane).