Coles comes up Trumps

Robert Coles won his maiden Legends Tour title by beating the home favourite in Scotland to take victory in the Tour's flagship event, 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.

Simon Khan was the final member of the final group and also the only other player to end the week under-par. The Englishman would score 74 on Sunday to complete his week at one-under-par.

Tournament host Colin Montgomerie would end his week in a share of seventh place alongside Michael Campbell on two-over-par. His Thursday round of 71 was followed by three consecutive rounds of 73. A decent finish for the Scot, who was pleased with his week in Aberdeenshire: "It was difficult, it was cold and windy and I've never been a fan of windy conditions but we did OK.

"The hosting duties this week were full on - it is difficult to play and to host a tournament and I haven't been well. I'm going home and looking forward to taking a minimum of two months off. I have never done this in 40 years so I'm looking forward to it. I think I should come back this season, we will see how it goes. I can't say yay or nay. I'm 61 and I haven't had a rest since I was 21, I haven't stopped so I'm looking forward to it.

"I hurt my back in a bunker at 13 trying to get the ball out. It was on a downslope - that wasn't good, everything is falling to bits!"

"But I have enjoyed it and it has been a great tournament, the facilities here are fantastic, the hospitality has been great - everything has been super.

"It would have been nice to do better, but that wasn't the reason I'm here, I was here to host this event."

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.

The result moves Robert Coles up to 5th place on the MCB Road to Mauritius rankings.

Richard Green continues to lead the list, just ahead of fellow Australian Scott Hend, with Peter Baker in third place.

The next event on the Legends Tour schedule is in Africa intwo weeks-time, for the inaugural Zambia Legends Championship at Bonanza Golf Club in Lusaka.

For the full leaderboard from the Staysure PGA Seniors Championship and the latest news and schedule from the Legends Tour, go to legendstour.com