Crow Wood pair secure Gleneagles slot

Panel beater Craig Taylor (right) hammered the opposition at Crieff Golf Club to reach the Lombard Trophy grand final at Gleneagles.

Taylor teamed up with Crow Wood Golf Club professional Ian Graham to record an eight-under-par round of 63.

The pair were one of the early starters and, after setting their rivals a target, they proved impossible to beat.

The Glaswegian duo did not drop a shot all day and they will now play in the £80,000 final over the PGA Centenary Course at Gleneagles between September 1-2.

They pipped Gary Forbes and Greg Walker (Murcar Links Golf Club) and Alan Reid and Ian Cox (West Lothian Golf Club) into joint second place.

“I know Ian well, we play on a regular basis anyway, so that helped us,” said Taylor, aged 22.

“We went there to try and enjoy it and not put any pressure on ourselves, but we knew that our score would put us in contention.

“We had a long wait to find out we’d won though.”

Taylor, who plays off a handicap of four, admitted the pair did some homework before the event.

“Ian knows someone at Crieff so we met up for a few holes on Monday night,” he said.

“Nothing too serious but Ian told me it was the sort of course where you can manufacture a few shots.”

It is the first time Graham has made the final - although he has played at Gleneagles before.

“It’s a course I know well as I’ve played there in the Scottish PGA Championship before,” said Graham.

“But this’ll be special as it’s the first time I’ve made the final - it was only my third attempt!

“I’ve never got close before.”

Graham has been a member at Crow Wood since he was a boy – and he is one of the youngest PGA Professionals working as a club pro north of the border.

But he admitted he could not have won without a strong display from his playing partner on the day.

“We gelled well,” said Graham.

“Craig went round in level-par and made three birdies himself so it was a good performance.

‘We’re certainly looking forward to playing in the final now.”