Panmure duo hope to cook up a storm

An Angus publican and his PGA Professional playing partner are set to team up for a championship final at Gleneagles, just three weeks before the Ryder Cup visits the same venue.

Craig McKinlay will play alongside his Panmure PGA pro Andrew Crerar in the £43,600 Lombard Trophy grand final over the King’s Course on September 2-3.

The 16-handicapper (pictured right) was in fine form during the regional final at Ladybank, hitting two nett eagles as the duo secured a one-shot win over their nearest challengers.

But he admitted the pressure was off at the Fife venue, as it was not until he was sat in the clubhouse after his round that he realised just what was at stake.

The event is the largest pro-am in Europe, with more than 700 clubs competing across 16 regional venues for a place in the final.

McKinlay, a golfer of five years, runs a gastropub in Monikie which he bought after returning to the family’s roots in Scotland to look after his mother and father.

His previous home had been in Surrey, where he had owned an IT firm and, before that, a veterinary surgery.

And he now hopes that the dynamism he has shown in his career will come in handy when the Panmure duo hit the fairways of Gleneagles.

“I was lost for words when I realised we were going to make it through to a final at Gleneagles,” he recalled.

“To get through was amazing, and it came as a bit of a shock – I’m not sure I really understood the scale of the whole thing until after we had qualified.

“Andy had told me a few bits, but it wasn’t until we got back to the clubhouse after the round that he told me about the final at Gleneagles and what’s at stake.

“Obviously that means there will be a little more pressure this time but I think we stand a good chance.

“Andy was very good in the regional final, we could rely on him to get the scores we needed to make it through to the final.”

Crerar, meanwhile, is confident they can be in the running at the prestigious Auchterarder resort.

“We can’t wait, it’s going to be absolutely brilliant for us to go there and compete in such a big final,” he explained.

“I haven’t played much this year but Craig was on fire and he helped us make inroads on the scoring.

“He must have hit two or three nett birdies and two nett eagles, he was incredible.

“This is an event that hasn’t just been a target for the year – I’ve wanted to be involved in it for the last 10 or 12 years.

“I’ve come close a few times but have never made it to the final. I’m glad we’ve managed to change that now.”