AMERICAN WINS WITH GRANDSTAND FINISH AT DALMAHOY

 Laura Murray (left), the Tour Order of Merit winner, and Beth Allen (right), the Tour Championship winner with the imposing Marriott Dalmahoy Hotel as a backdrop. Picture by Nicola Melville.

BETH ALLEN FINISHES WITH EAGLE TO

PIP HEATHER MacRAE BY ONE SHOT

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
American Beth Allen, produced a brilliant inward half of six-under-par 32, capping it with an eagle 3 at the last to pip defending champion Heather MacRae by one shot for the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre Ladies Tartan Tour Championship at Marriott Dalmahoy today

The 32-year-old from California, a regular on the Ladies European Tour, was not high enough up the pecking order to get into the field for the last of the 2014 lady pro majors, the Evian Championship in France this week.

But Beth likes coming to Scotland. This was her second win in three starts on the Paul Lawrie Tour this year. And she did it in some style with rounds of level par 68 on Wednesday over the shorter West Course and then a six-under-par 68  today over the longer, tougher East Course for a total of six-under-par 136 at the parkland Edinburgh venue.

Gleneagle Hotel staff pro MacRae,with an eagle 3 at the ninth, led with nine holes to go by two shots from five players - Allen, overnight leader Gemma Webster, Helen Searle, Vikki Laing and Sally Watson.

MacRae birdied the 11th, 15th and long 16th for a bogey-free second round of four-under 69 and a total of five-under 137. A noble effort in defence of the title.

But it was not quite enough to hold Allen at bay.

Beth  had bogeyed the first but got back to level par with a birdie 4 at the long ninth.

Then Allen's round took off - birdies at the 11th, 12th, 13th and long 16th, which left her one behind leader MacRae with two to play.

A par at the 17th did not change that so the American stood on the 18th tee needing an eagle 3 to win - and she got it!

What a way to win a Tour Championship and a £2,750 first prize!

Heather MacRae earned £1,650

Third place went to Ladies European Tour player Sally Watson (Castle Stuart), South Queensferry-born but now based at Elie, Fife. She shot 67 73 for 140 and a £1,000 reward.

Gemma Webster could not hold on to the overnight lead but a 76 for 142 saw her finish fourth for a £750 reward.

Alford's Laura Murray (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre),who finished fifth on 143 (70-73) and earned £500, topped the Tour's Order of Merit, which means she will have her flights and accommodation paid at the next Ladies European Tour Qualifying School in Morocco.

PAUL LAWRIE GOLF CENTRE LADIES TARTAN TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP

Marriott Dalmahoy Hotel courses, Edinburgh

FINAL TOTALS

Par 142 (West course 68, East Course 74)

136 Beth Allen (USA) 68 68 (£2,750)

137 Heather MacRae (Gleneagles Hotel) 68 69 (£1,650)

140 Sally Watson (Castle Stuart) 67 73 (£1,000)

142 Gemma Webster (Succession Group) 66 76 (£750)

143 Laura Murray (Paul Lawrie Golf Centre) 70 73 (£500).

144 Heather Stirling (unatt) 68 76, Vikki Laing (Kings Acre) 67 77 (£300 each).

145 Helen Searle (Gailes Golf & Leisure) 69 76 (£200).

147 Jessica Rigby (Oberhessischer GC) 74 73 (£175)

148 Kiran Matharu (Cookridge Hall) 73 75 (£150)

150 Lisa Shervill (unatt) 77 73 (£125)

151 Jorden Ferrie (Hilton Park GC) 76 75, Laura Harvey (Cleveland GC) 72 79 (£50 each).

152 Jane Turner (Craigielaw) 78 74, Katy McNicoll (Carnoustie Links) 73 79

155 Ailsa Bain (unatt) 72 83

157 Emilee Taylor (Holmhall) 76 81

158 Nichola Ferguson (American Golf) 76 82

159 Rebecca Tully (Carnoustie Links) 79 80

160 Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) (am) 82 78

167 Zoe Allen (Lurgan) 83 84.