Robert Coles won his maiden Legends Tour title after pipping home favourite Paul Lawrie to the Staysure PGA Seniors Championship.
The Englishman carded a final round of 71 (-1) to win by a single shot on four-under-par, as Aberdonian Paul Lawrie – who led by four into the final round – had a finish to forget at Trump International Golf Links.
It was a testing day out on the links with more defence of the golf course from the wind than had been seen on any day so far this week.
Coles had signed for rounds of 69, 69 and then 75 so far this week and went into the final round in the final group but aware there was a tough task ahead. This is a victory which he will savour for some time to come: “It's amazing, obviously it hasn't quite sunk in yet, Paul was unlucky at the last and it was a real battle at the end.
“I think my short game's been exceptional this week. A few weeks ago, a few months ago, I was just not good enough – so, I've worked hard at that. To hit those sort of shots, the chip on 16 and I had to scramble my way around today because I wasn't playing great. It was tough and I leaned on my short game heavily.
“I’ve been so disappointed with myself, because I felt like I put myself in a few opportunities to win, I was getting really frustrated with myself this season, to be perfectly honest.
“Patience is a big word that everyone uses, but I was a little bit more patient and that probably helped me this week with it being so tough. Par was actually a good score!
“I won the club Pro Senior PGA this year at Moorpark, so I've managed to do the PGA double which I'm thrilled about.
“I'm sure the local favourite is Paul, but the crowd were really fair and gracious. I really appreciate what they brought to the event.”
Paul Lawrie is the local hero and it seemed that 25 years on from his Open Championship victory at Carnoustie he was in pole position to win at the club where he is a member, just down the road from his Aberdeen home.
Level-par for the day through 15 holes, he continued to hold the advantage – however, bogeys at 16 and 17 before a double-bogey at the last would see his grip on the title slip away as he finished with a 76 to end the week three-under-par and just one shot behind Coles.
Tournament host Colin Montgomerie would end his week in a share of seventh place alongside Michael Campbell on two-over-par.
Monty’s final duty as host for the week was to hand out the trophy to the winner alongside Eric Trump and Ryan Howsam (Chairman of the Legends Tour), before Coles received a phone call of congratulations from former US President Donald Trump.