Terrific trio battle to first place

A three-way battle for top spot lit up the Scottish Midland Golfers' Alliance competition at Strathmore Golf Club.

By the end of the day, former PGA Cup player Craig Matheson (Falkirk Tryst, above), Graham Brown (Montrose Links) and Dunkeld scratch amateur Stuart McKendrick could not be separated, each returning with four-under-par scores of 68 to take a share of the spoils.

Scotland amateur international James White, a plus three member of Lundin Golf Club, finished fourth, one stroke behind on 69.

There was also a three-way tie for the top handicap award with Ryan McGuigan, who plays off three at Monifieth, Alister Duncan, a four-handicapper at Murrayshall, and Blairgowrie's Scott Miller, who plays off 12, all returning net scores of 69. 

Ryan also helped his team of Graham Milne (Aberdour) (5), Ron Bell (Pitlochry) (7) and Bert MacKay (Pitlochry) (14) to win the team competition with a net score of 57.