By Steve Scott, golf correspondent

A BLISTERING FINISH by East Renfrewshire’s David Orr turned a five-shot deficit with nine holes to play into a three-shot victory over Craig Lee in the Gleneagles Scottish Professional Championship yesterday.

After a weekend of fog delays on the PGA Centenary Course, former European Tour player Lee looked set to win the national title for the first time when he eagled the first hole of yesterday’s final round and led by five shots over the field at the turn.

However, as the Stirling man faded on the back nine, Orr, four times a top-five finisher in the Scottish PGA, stormed through on a run of four birdies in the last five holes to snatch the title away.

Orr birdied the 14th, 15th, 16th and 18th holes—having made a superb sand save at the 17th to keep his momentum going—having completed his third round in the exact same way during Saturday’s play, when fog delayed competitors for three hours.

He finished with a final-round 67, the best return of a muggy, misty final day, for a 10-under aggregate of 278, three shots ahead of Lee and four over twice former champion Colin Gillies.

“I knew that simple fairways and greens golf could do it, and it was just a case of clearing the mind and going for it,” said the 35-year-old.

“I’ve been listening to a Bob Rotella CD in my car which is all about preparing yourself on the greens, and it was just reminding myself to “be clear, no fear” over every putt.

“I’m not technically-minded about golf and I’m quite consistent swing-wise, so I concentrate on the mental side which tends to be more rewarding for me and this CD has been very helpful this season.

“I’ve always done well in this championship and I was a member here for a few years so I know the course well and have always enjoyed it, and it’s just brilliant to have won the national title at last.”

It didn’t seem on when Orr saw his one-shot deficit behind Lee at the start of play quadruple, after the two had played one hole.

Lee holed his wedge second shot from 116 yards out at the first while Orr bogeyed and, although Orr fought back to reach the turn one-under for the day, Lee had continued to press on and was five ahead.

However, things started to go wrong for the 31-year-old with bogeys at 11 and 13 and then a double bogey at the 15th, when he hit a drive wide left, took a penalty drop but still couldn’t shift his ball.

Orr, in the group ahead, had already birdied the 14th and 15th and continued to capitalise with a birdie at the long 16th.

“I hit a tee shot down the flag at the 17th and it just slipped into a bunker, but it was a good strike and I splashed out to a foot to keep the run going,” he said.

“At the last I knew what Craig was doing, so it was a case of playing the hole sensibly and getting the birdie.”

Lee birdied the 16th and had a chance at the 17th, but when he missed his birdie putt there was too much to do.

“It’s very disappointing not just because I’m second for a third time but also because I was aiming for the place in the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles that goes to the winner,” he said. “All credit to David—that was a magnificent finish when he needed one.”

Winner of the Northern Open last month, Lee still extended his lead in the Tartan Tour Order of Merit which secures 2010 European Tour starts at Wentworth, Loch Lomond and Gleneagles to the eventual winner.

Gillies also birdied four of the last five to claim third place on his own, with veterans Andrew Oldcorn and Fraser Mann sharing fourth with the up-and-coming Mark Kerr.

Final scores:

278—D Orr (East Renfrewshire) 69 73 69 67 (£8800).

281—C Lee (Unattached) 68 71 71 71 (£6700).

282—C Gillies (Perry Golf) 72 71 68 71 (£5100).

284—A Oldcorn (Kings Acre) 71 70 74 69, M Kerr (Bathgate) 72 72 70 70, F Mann (Musselburgh) 74 72 68 70 (£2783 each).

285—R Arnott (Bishopbriggs) 71 71 72 71.

287—C Matheson (Falkirk Tryst) 73 69 73 72.

288—S Gray (Hayston) 71 76 73 68.

289—A Lockhart (Ladybank) 73 72 73 71, J McGhee (Turnhouse) 72 72 72 73, J Lomas (unattached) 68 70 76 75, M King (Kingsfield) 68 72 72 77.

290—C Nicoll (Prestwick) 72 72 75 71, L Mann (Carnoustie) 68 73 76 73, P McKechnie (Braid Hills) 75 69 73 73, J McCreadie (Buchanan Castle) 69 74 72 75.

291—S Henderson (Kings Links) 73 74 75 69, M Loftus (Cowglen) 77 72 72 70, T Buchanan (Duddingston) 70 77 72 72.

292—R Cameron (McDonald) 69 76 75 72, E Thomson (Senit Associates) 72 72 74 74, L Harper (Archerfield) 71 74 76 71.

293—J McKinnon (Irvine) 74 70 75 74, S Herald (Mearns Castle) 69 77 72 75, I Taylor (Drumpellier) 76 70 76 71, G Law (Uphall) 76 67 77 73.

294—H Kemp (Bishopbriggs GR) 74 72 71 77, J Sharp (Carrick at Cameron House) 69 75 77 73.

295—C Robinson (Dumfries & Galloway) 76 74 72 73.       

296—S Duncan (Balbirnie Park) 76 74 75 71.

297—E Cameron (Hamilton) 75 75 70 77.

298—M Finlayson (Edzell) 78 71 75 74, K Walker (Castle Park) 71 73 77 77.

299—G Fox (East Kilbride) 75 75 77 72, D Patrick (Elie) 75 74 77 73, N Fenwick (Dunbar) 75 74 76 74, S Craig (Paragon Golf) 74 73 75 77.

300—G Wright (West Linton) 73 77 76 74.

301—D Park (Wishaw) 75 73 76 77.

302—P Mitchell (Hermitage) 71 77 83 71.

304—R Rafferty (Unattached) 75 75 76 78, N Murray (Cruden Bay) 78 73 72 81.

305—C Ronald (Carluke) 76 75 76 78.

306—A Reid (West Lothian) 77 74 81 74, A Reid (West Lothian) 77 74 81 74, S Lamb (Broomieknowe) 74 74 77 81.

307—A Love (Charleton) 79 72 77 79.

309—K Campbell (Machrihanish) 76 75 80 78.

310—P Wytrazek (Burntisland) 75 75 81 79.