Golf: Saltman hopes comeback will inspire him to further glories

LLOYD SALTMAN is hoping an amazing win on home soil at Archerfield Links will be the springboard to his best-ever season in the professional ranks.

The 24-year-old Lothians star claimed the 1,700 top prize in The Major Golf Championship after coming from nine shots behind after the opening round.

He shot a superb seven-under-par 65 in the second round yesterday to pip overnight leader Danny Belch by a shot.

"I played really well," admitted Saltman afterwards. "My coach Colin Brooks was caddying for me on Monday and, even though I shot 77, I played quite well then, too.

"The damage was done by a bogey, bogey-double, bogey finish and, having been on the bag when I've shot many good scores in the past, it was good for him to see how that happened."

Playing the back nine first, there was little sign of what was to come from the Aegon-sponsored player as he reached the turn yesterday in one-under.

However, he then birdied four holes in a row from the second and, after taking a breather at the sixth, added two more birdies at the seventh and eighth.

"I didn't know I had won when I came off the course but it still felt good to have posted a low score," added the former Walker Cup player.

"To win 1,700 on an event on your doorstep is a nice way to start the season and I'm really looking forward to getting my campaign up and running for real.

"I've got an event on the Hi5 Tour in Spain coming up and that will help get me ready for the Kenya Open on the Challenge Tour."

The Major Golf Championship is for pros aged 26 and under run by former England football player David Platt. Dale Marmion finished third on 144, with Greg McBain, winner of a similar event at Archerfield last October, a little further back on 146.

Former Scottish amateur champion Kevin McAlpine, lying second overnight, dropped back after a 77 for 147, just ahead of Steven Hume (149) and James McGhee (150) while David Laing and Zack Saltman finished on 157 and 159 respectively.

Liam Jeffrey won the amateur event with a two-round Stableford total of 69 points, with tournament host Platt unable to repeat his first-round fireworks as he finished on 63.