SENIOR PGA PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP - Bill Lockie wins in dramatic fashion

Celebrated Ayrshire professional Bill Lockie won the Senior PGA Professional Championship at Northamptonshire County Golf Club today in dramatic fashion, holing a monstrous 75-foot putt for eagle at the 18th to snatch the title.

Lockie's three at the 504-yard par five final hole gave him a two-under-par 68 for the round and gave him a one stroke victory in the tournament with 211, 1 over par.

A bogey at 16 looked to have cost Lockie, but he hit a huge drive at the last followed by a long wood from the fairway to the front of the green.

"I was just thinking 'don't do anything silly," Lockie revealed. "I learned a lot from Bill McColl's putt which was in a similar place and I saw it slow up. I couldn't believe it when it dropped."

Lockie, who teaches at North Gailes in Irvine, had been two shots off the pace overnight and appeared to be slipping out of contention when he reached the turn in 36, but a superb 32 on the inward half saw him edge out Mike Gallagher and Donald Stirling for the title and winners cheque for £4,750.

Both his nearest challengers Gallagher, from Farthingstone, and Stirling, who is based in Austria, had putts on the 18th to force a play-off but both failed to convert their efforts, leaving Lockie victorious.

In interview, Lockie commented "This is a wonderful end to my career - I'm not going to play much tournament golf after this. This is my career major. It's my first British title. I lost a play-off here in 2003 and thought my chance had gone. To do this at 60 is wonderful."

Undoubtedly this is a highlight of Bill Lockie's long career, which started in ernest with victory, as a 13 year old, in the 1961 Ayrshire Boys Championship and again in 1965, betwen which he recorded a win in the Scottish Boys Championship in 1964.

A long professional career followed when he entered the paid ranks in 1970, during which he spent many years at Kilmarnock (Barassie), gaining repute as a teaching professional which led to senior posts in coaching with both the Scottish Golf Union and Scottish Ladies Golfing Association.

very many congratulations to Bill Lockie from all in Ayrshire on his latest achievement in winning this national title.