TROON LINKS BY STEWART MCCONNELL

Hugely emotional home club player Blair Morton edged out an opponent more than twice his age on Saturday night to capture a second Troon Links Championship. success and said: “It’s great to win and I think because I hit the ball low and in dry conditions that gives me an advantage.

“It was great to win it again and hopefully it won’t be as long till the next time.

“It’s always an honour to win at Royal Troon. But I was knackered, that’s 12 rounds I’ve played over 11 days.”

The Troon Links win was the second leg of a unique treble which was completed by Blair 24 hours later with success in the Royal Troon Club Championship as he defeated Paul McKenna 5&4.

Four weeks earlier he had landed the Hillhouse Cup over the same course.

Added Blair: “I was absolutely delighted to win the Club Championship as I lost the final last year, they tell me I’m the first player to win all three titles in the same session so that’s a great feeling.”

Beaten finalist and three-time Troon Links winner Stewart said after Saturday’s final: “I had been confident going into the match as I played all week.

“But Blair drives the ball further and played better over the back nine. That was their key.”

It was a see-saw final played in nearperfect conditions.

Morton showed his early intent with a birdie three at the first.

Blows were traded down the front nine and Stewart fought back to go 2-up at the turn after holing an eight-foot birdie putt.

However, he conceded the 10th through a lost ball and it was all-square at 11 after more problems for the Portland player.

Stewart conceded 15 to put Morton 1-up but it was back to all square on 16 before a grandstand finish on the last.

However at the 18th, Morton showed his class after a fine drive put him in the driving seat to seal victory.

He also won the prize for leading