Golf: ‘Pretty tidy’ win for Oldcorn as he dominates at Gullane

ANDREW OLDCORN left his fellow competitors gaping in admiration after producing a sensational performance to win the Edinburgh & East of Scotland Alliance Championship at Gullane.

Twelve months after sharing the title, the 52-year-old claimed it on his own on this occasion with something to spare on a glorious spring day on the East Lothian coast.

He signed for a morning 64 on No. 2 and followed that up with a 61 on No. 3 for a 14-under-par total, winning by four shots from former champion David Patrick.

“It was pretty tidy,” beamed Oldcorn, who claimed his maiden win on the European Senior Tour last year when claiming the PGA title at Slaley Hall.

“I have been working really hard lately and it was nice to see that pay off with a card in my hand. I only missed two greens in regulation in 36 holes and I think a few eyebrows were raised when people saw my winning total.”

Oldcorn, who is attached to Kings Acre, finished third on last season’s Senior Tour Order of Merit and is gearing up for the start of the new over-50s season.

“It’s disappointing that we have lost two or three events from the schedule around this time of the year,” added the former PGA champion.

“But we’ve just heard that we’ll have an event in Mallorca in May. That’s good as it is a couple of weeks before the Senior PGA Championship in America so that will give me something to play in prior to that. I’ve been building my game up slowly and now need to get on the golf course a bit more so that I’m ready to start the new season.

“I will certainly take confidence from this win as it shows that all the work I have been doing has paid dividends.

“I just need to step things up a bit and have a couple of Tartan Tour events to play in before the Senior Tour starts.”

Patrick fired an eight-under 60 on No. 3 in the morning before following that with a 69, while Allyn Dick signed for scores of 68 and 64 as he claimed third, a shot ahead of Andrew Marshall and Gordon Law.

The Gavin Clark Trophy, for best net aggregate, went to Prestonfield seven-handicapper William Laing with a total of 131, also winning by four from Derek Fish (Glenbervie) and Wilson Morton (Dunbar).