THE superb scenery of the Vale of Llangollen Golf Club was a fitting background for a spectacular round of golf in the latest Tamsel Tour event won by Scotland's Paul McKechnie from Milton of Campsie.

'My new coach, Colin Brooks, from Edinburgh, has spent a lot of time with me recently,' said McKechnie. 'I have to put the credit for this win down to him.

'Llangollen is a gem of a course, always in great condition, the pros love playing it and I look forward to coming back.'

The 28-year-old Glaswegian, who won a Tamsel tournament at Portal Premier in 2002, lay in a tie for second place after a first round two-under-par 70. Hoylake's Ian Keenan, of the Chartergate Group, led the field overnight with a 69.

Tied with McKechnie were Hesketh's Michael Kanski, David James from Bridgnorth, Billy Mills, the talented young amateur from Hawkstone Park, and Wrexham's Matthew Ellis (Clays).

Ellis was fresh from his great success in winning the Glenmuir Club Professionals Championship, a title which secured his place in the PGA Cup team to meet the United States. Other Tamsel Tour regulars to be lining up against the Americans are Liverpool-born Paul Wesselingh of Kedleston Park and Simon Edwards, also from Clays.

A final round 66 by Richard Hollins (Sand Moor) gave him the clubhouse lead on 141 with nine groups still to finish, a lead he held until Ellis, in the penultimate group, returned a 69 for a five-under-par total of 139 to sit in pole position with just the final group to finish.

Ellis had gone to six-under-par for the tournament after the first eight holes of his second round to forge two ahead of McKechnie at that stage. The Scottish player had started his round with a brace of birdies. Ellis dropped a shot at the ninth but still maintained a one stroke lead at the turn.

McKechnie's homeward run included some superb golf. A birdie at the 10th drew him level with Ellis and birdies at the 13th and 14th, followed by an eagle at 15, put him at nine-under-par for the tournament and four ahead of Ellis. McKechnie finished with three pars, 30 strokes for the final nine holes, 65 for his final round and a nine-under-par winning total of 135.

David James, who won the last Tamsel event at North Manchester, tied with Hollins for third spot on 141 with David Smith of Swinton Park, Bolton's Steve Parry, and Ricky Gray of Torrence House, Scotland, sharing fifth on 142.

Peter Wheatcroft from Worksop picked up the leading amateur medal with rounds of 72 and 75 for 147. Stuart Andrew (Clitheroe) moves to the top of the Order of Merit after finishing 14th, ahead of Steve Parry, with Chester's Mark Sheppard dropping to third. Ellis climbs to fifth with McKechnie in 16th.

Tamsel Tour director Les Jones joined McKechnie and his fellow pros in praise of the Llangollen course. He said: 'The course has been fantastic in recent years and this year it was even better.

'We had a fabulous two days there and I can't wait for us to return in October.'