Young Perthshire golfer Connor Graham pens latest success story with second place finish at Lytham Trophy

After every event it seems the same question arises: “Where does this latest result rank for you?”

Connor Graham ponders for a moment when reflecting on his latest success and responds “It’s certainly up there”.

The young golfer from Perthshire may only still be 15 years of age but, at the weekend, he penned the latest chapter in a growing list of impressive achievements out on the course.

A Blairgowrie Golf Club member, he finished second at the Lytham Trophy - a prestigious early season tournament which welcomes some of the best male amateur players from the UK and indeed Europe.

Rounds of 71, 71, 70 and 69 for a one over par total at Royal Lytham and St Anne’s Golf Club - an Open Championship venue and one of the country’s toughest links tests - earned him further deserved plaudits.

“I didn’t hit too many balls beforehand because I had a couple of problems with my back,” Connor explained to the Perthshire Advertiser.

“I wasn’t able to hit many with the driver leading up to it so I really just worked on my putting and short game.

“That really helped for the tournament. The short game needs to be good to keep a solid scorecard.

“It was a really tough golf course which is demanding off the tee, with a lot of bunkers up the fairways.

“And the greens are pretty small too so you needed to be good tee-to-green.”

As the tournament progressed, Connor remained right in the mix for top honours and had posted the clubhouse lead. But a late birdie on 17 in the final round allowed Englishman John Gough to come out on top by a solitary shot.

“It was 36 holes on the final day and I played solid in that third round,” Connor said ".I had a chance in the final round and knew, if I made a few birdies, I could catch up.

“There were a