Bell is chasing famous hat-trick in the seniors

Graham Bell is the man to beat as he chases a third Scottish Senior Men’s Open Championship title at Banff’s Duff House Royal on Wednesday.

Scottish international Bell, who won the title in 2017 at Royal Burgess Golfing Society and regained it in 2019 at Luffness New, defends after last year’s championship was cancelled.

Bell faces strong competition, with 2018 champion Ronnie Clark, from Erskine, leading the Scottish challengers.

Sunningdale’s Rupert Kellock, who became the fifth player to claim backto-back titles at the English Senior Men’s Stroke Play Championship at Blackmore and the Army Club last week, leads the English challengers.

Kellock beat former champion Ian Attoe by a single shot and Attoe (Worplesdon) will also be in the field at Duff House Royal as will Stephen Jensen (The Wisley) and Richard Jones (Rotherham) who finished tied third at the English event alongside former Amateur champion Warren Blaydon (Kenilworth).

The last English player to claim the Scottish Senior Men’s title was Stephen East back in 2016.

The championship is contested over 54 holes of stroke play with a cut after Thursday’s second round.

The top 60 players and those tied for 60th place after the opening 36 holes will progress to the final round on Friday.

All players compete for the Scottish Senior Men’s Open title and there is also a separate competition for players in the over-65 age group with the first three players in that category all winning prizes.

Graham Bell defends, but faces strong competition.