Lorna Bennett wins Scottish Vets Championship

Lorna Bennett (Ladybank) won the Scottish Veteran Championship 2009 for the second time, the first being in 2004. She beat Moira Thomson (East) at the 19th after a most exciting final, when the spectators were treated to a veritable golfing display, incorporating a plethora of birdies.

The day dawned a little dull and certainly threatened rain on many occasions but nothing ever came of it. In the morning Lorna played Sheila Cuthbertson of Peebles, a game which could have gone either way if Sheila had persisted with yesterday's putting but this was not to be. Lorna played the tighter game and emerged the victor by 4 and 3.

In the other half, Moira played Lynne Terry and although Lynne had her name first on the board, Moira soon got back to all square and played securely. Holes were won in general with pars but it was enough and the game finished at the 14th.

In the afternoon Moira took the first hole when Lorna got herself in difficulties in a bunker but pars followed at the second and third. Lorna won the 4th to bring the score back to all square. On the short fifth, Moira was nearer the pin but Lorna swept the ball right across the green for a two. Nothing daunted, Moira reciprocated and sank hers also for a two.

Thereafter followed a ding-dong of a hole exchange with neither player ever getting more of a lead than one hole. Lorna won the 13th with a par to go one up but Moira got it back on the 15th. The next three holes, when nerves must surely have been coming to the fore, were halved in par and with the game all square, the two proceeded to the first hole again to begin afresh. Good drives , two good lay-ups and both pitching well to the green, left the possibility of either one finishing the game with a birdie, but for an entirely strange reason, Moira was overly positive and left herself too much to do. Lorna sank hers and won the Championship. A great game.