Lifted by an eagle 2 at the 12th, Ross Drummond chased Jose Rivero right to the final hole of the Charles Church Scottish Seniors Open yesterday, but ultimately in vain.
Rivero, who began with a three-shot lead, held on by a single stroke to win the £33,750 top prize with a two-under-par 70 for a 10-under total of 206 while Drummond's 68 took the £22,500 second prize.
The Prestwick man birdied the 11th and then holed out with a wedge from 117 yards at the 403-yard 12th on Dalmahoy's East Course.
When Rivero dropped a shot at the 14th the pair were tied, but Drummond promptly drove into rough at the 15th and took a bogey before the Spaniard birdied the 16th to go two clear.
After the Scot holed from 20 feet for a birdie 3 at the last, Rivero was left with the formality of two putts from much closer range for victory.
Drummond never won in 24 years on the European Tour but had two runners-up finishes, the same as he has now had in his rookie senior year.
Rivero, 52, the former caddie who was a four-time European Tour winner and who was on the winning Ryder Cup sides in 1985 and 1987, was thrilled at his maiden victory in Scotland. "I had a couple of good finishes in the Scottish Open, but to win here means a lot," he said.
Sam Torrance, the 54-year-old defending champion, was sixth after a 69 for 213.
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