Veteran Bermudian golfer Robert Vallis yesterday clinched the biggest victory of his career – and perhaps the biggest ever by any local player – when he won the 41st Senior British Amateur Championships at the historic Prestwick Golf Club in Scotland.

The 56-year-old Mid Ocean Club member and former Bermuda Amateur Strokeplay Champion, won by two shots over Canada's Graham Cooke and defending champion, American Paul Simson.

One of the Island's leading amateurs over the past three decades, Vallis carded a one-over-par 73 in his final round yesterday for a 54-hole total of 224.

Irish Seniors Champion, Maurice Kelly (227) returned a five-over-par 77 to take fourth place with Scotland's Tony Stafford who finished with a 75.

According to a report posted by the Royal and Ancient (R&A), golf's governing body and the organisers of this week's Championships, Vallis emerged from a final day of fluctuating fortunes to take charge over the last couple of holes.

He took the outright lead at the 17th, sinking a snaking 24-foot birdie putt to move to at eight-over-par.

Vallis couldn't be reached by The Royal Gazette last night but he told Scottish reporters: "Coming from a small island, I have won a few events at home but this is my first significant win.

"It's nice to shoot some good scores. It's hard to believe and down in your heart of hearts you wonder if you are good enough to do it."

The ear, nose and throat doctor has now earned an exemption for next year's Senior Open Championship at Carnoustie as well as for next month's US Seniors Amateur.

"I am delighted to get the chance to play in these events." Vallis added. "I love links golf, it's been a great Championship"

Despite leading from the first round, runner-up Cooke saw his hopes of completing victory thwarted with a damaging inward half as he missed out on the title again, having finished second and third in previous years.

"It's another near miss," he said. "I think I will drop my putter somewhere over the Atlantic on the way home.

"This is a true, old links course. It's a great pleasure to play here. I will come back next year with a new putter."

Defending champion Simson saw his hopes dashed with an opening round of 80, although he finished with a much-improved 75.

Joint overnight leader Kelly was disappointed with his performance. A bogey six at the par five seventh and another dropped shot at the eight halted the Irishman's bid for the title.

"The bogey at the seventh really killed me and from then on it was a struggle," said the 59-year-old.

n But for three bogeys over the last four holes, professional Michael Sims might have made it a day of double celebration for Bermuda golf.

Midway through the second round of the Nationwide Tour's Wichita Open, the 30-year-old Bermudian had climbed into a tie for fourth at seven-under-par.

But all of his earlier good work on the 6,886-yard, par-71 North Course at the Crestview Country Club, where he started his second round at the 10th hole, came undone at the finish as he dropped shots at the sixth, seventh and ninth holes.

By the end of the day he had slipped to a position in the mid 20s at four-under for 36 holes but was certain to make the half-way cut.

Sims started the $550,000 event with a bang on Thursday, firing a three-under 68, finishing his first round in style with an eagle three at the par-five 18th.

He carried that form over to yesterday, shrugging off a bogey at his first hole (the 10th) to record birdies at 11, 13, 15 and 17 for an outward four-under 32.

And he remained at seven-under overall until his blunders at the final four holes.