McLean storms to Cruden Bay victory

Philip McLean scored a good a two-under-par 68 as wind battered the Cruden Bay course during the North-East Alliance fixture.

Peterhead-based McLean, playing out of the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre, won by two shots from stablemate Kris Nicol from Fraserburgh.

Lee Vannet (Craibstone) was a third professional in the top four, sharing fourth place on 72 with Newmachar amateur John Duff.

Meanwhile Fraserburgh's Jordan Findlay, a third Paul Lawrie Golf Centre player among the top five, had a 73.

McLean birdied the first, third, 11th, 12th, 13th and 17th in halves of level-par 36 and two-under 32. He bogeyed the fifth, ninth, 16th and 18th.

Nicol had only two bogeys, at the seventh and ninth, in halves of 37-33 but he found birdies hard to come by in the windy conditions. His only two sub-par figures came at the third and 10th.

Duff stood on the 18th tee needing a birdie three to finish second on his own or a par four to share the runner-up spot.

But he ran up a double bogey six and finished on 72 (37-35).

Findlay had a double bogey seven at the seventh and a double bogey six at the 17th in halves of 38-35.