Lowson loss at 53 stuns Scottish golf

Scottish golf has been left stunned by the sudden death of Graham Lowson, a former national men’s champion, on the eve of his 54th birthday.

The Auchterarder man represented Scotland in the Home Internationals four times between 1989 and 1997 but enjoyed his finest hour in the 1991 Scottish Amateur Championship at Downfield.

After beating one of the title favourites, Garry Hay from Hilton Park, in the semi-finals, he found himself up against host club member Len Salariya in the final but capped a terrific match-play display with a 4&3 victory.

Tributes have been flooding in on social media from many of Lowson’s former team-mates, including three-time European Tour winner Stephen Gallacher, who succeeded him as Scottish Amateur champion.

Referring to how Lowson was affectionately known, Gallacher said on Twitter: “Golf lost one of the good guys yesterday in my pal Lumpy. Quality golfer and also a great bloke.”

Former Scottish Golfer of the Year Scott Knowles added of his first international foursomes partner at Conwy in 1990: “Great golfer, great guy and will be sadly missed.”