Arnott victorious at Silversea Senior PGA Professional Championship

Rob Arnott sailed to victory as he became the third successive Scot to win the Silversea Senior PGA Professional Championship.

The 52-year-old followed in the footsteps of Kenny Hutton (Downfield) and Fraser Mann (Carnoustie Links) as he captured the Bernard Hunt Trophy and cheque for £6,000 at Foxhills, which he hailed as ‘the biggest win of his career’.

Starting the day with a two-shot advantage over South Winchester’s Richard Adams, Arnott’s lead was never troubled as the breezy conditions and testing nature of the Bernard Hunt course enabled him to protect his lead.

Arnott, who hadn’t made the cut on his previous two appearances at Foxhills, said: “This has to be the best thing I’ve won. This is a national event and I’ve never won a national event so this has got be up there as number one.

“It feels fantastic. I made it quite hard towards the end. I had a four shot lead coming down the last I thought I’d just plod my way up and was a wee bit careless as I missed from six inches. But I am delighted as I worked hard all day.Conditions certainly helped me. I had a couple of shots lead at the start of the day and only two guys are under par so no-one was going to go five or six under in these conditions.”

Defending champion Mann shot a well-crafted final round on two-under 71, which saw only one dropped shot – at the 10^th – with three birdies for good measure. It left him at one-over and picking up a cheque for £4,500.

He said: “I played very steady all week. I knew par would be there or thereabouts with the conditions being so difficult. I just had to keep my head down and just keep chipping and putting and just try and stay in contention.

“I had my best round today and just gave myself lots of birdies and chances and made one or two. I know how difficult the course is I would have loved to have shot five or six under but I just did the best I could.”