Lee Takes Glenmuir Title

James Lee, despite carding a closing 79, came off a gale-swept Dundonald Links as the new Glenmuir PGA Professional champion.

The 40-year-old Welshman from Caerphilly had begun the day with a five-shot cushion over 2006 winner and playing partner, Paul Wesselingh, and, as Lee admitted later, his thought processes as he reached the turn still four ahead went along the lines of "barring disqualification I'm guaranteed victory here."

But as he bogeyed 10 and 11, and double-bogeyed 12, he suddenly realised just how difficult the course was.

"Fortunately for me Paul was having as much trouble as I was, and then I played the next three holes really well, and that settled me". He eventually won by four strokes.

Another calming influence, he claimed, was the presence of his 14-year-old nephew, Alex, who'd had permission to be off school to caddie.

"I promised him before we came up I'd give him £1,000 if I won the £10,000 first prize. I think he's got his eye already on a new set of irons and a phone."

Lee will also lead the 10-man Britain and Ireland PGA Cup team to play the United States in September at Carrick on Loch Lomond.

But it was James Harris who set the championship alight with a final-round 67, the best of the week. The 33-year-old from Tonbridge jumped from 20th to second place with a 295 aggregate, and walked straight into the PGA Cup team.

A card boasting seven birdies and two bogeys defied belief on yet another day of 25mph gales, which ran most of the 53 players ragged.

Said Harris "It would be undignified of me if I said I could've done better. It was for me just the perfect round of golf. Anything from 10 feet and closer went in the hole, and my long game was nicely under control.

"I came out thinking something under par would give me a top finish but I knew I wouldn't win it."

Harris professed to know little about the significance of the PGA Cup matches, but was soon enthusing as he was given some background on the classy biennial event that's been going since 1973.

In contrast, Wesselingh came off the gale-swept course feeling 'absolutely battered'.

The 47-year-old Kedleston Park pro had just endured five hours of being 'put through the wringer', and eventually signed for an eight-over 80, but still managed to take third place.

Wesselingh had at least two consolations - he picked up £4,500 and was a certainty for selection for his sixth successive PGA Cup.