A Paul McGinley masterclass helped the European Ryder Cup captain to victory against his host at the annual Paul Lawrie Challenge Match yesterday.
Lawrie had triumphed in the inaugural match against Jose Maria Olazabal last year but it was Irishman McGinley who enjoyed a three-stroke victory at the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre. More than 600 people watched last year’s match and it was another healthy turnout for the event with free entry.
McGinley had pulled out of last week’s French Open with a shoulder injury but showed no signs as he flushed a wedge on the opening hole and duly sank the putt to take an early one shot lead.
Lawrie levelled the scores at the 106yd second with a sublime approach to four feet for a tap-in birdie.
And the exhibition golf continued at the third with McGinley’s tee shot landing a couple of feet from the hole for another birdie, with Lawrie’s eight foot putt lipping out.
Par golf followed at the next four holes – although Lawrie was unlucky not to chip in on the fifth – before McGinley stretched into the lead at the 182yd eighth. Lawrie dropped back to level par after finding the water off the tee and did well to salvage a bogey, while McGinley calmly rolled in a nine foot putt for a third birdie.
Both players parred the final hole to ensure McGinley claimed the trophy, while the Aberdeen Oilmen’s Golf Association handed over £26,500 that was raised at their annual golf outing at Gleneagles to the Paul Lawrie Golf Foundation.