GOLFING fan Gary Fraser has raised nearly £5,500 for charity after taking on a mammoth round in one day.

Gary, from Port Seton, played 17 courses in a single day, cycling 68 miles between them.

Starting at dawn in Musselburgh last Monday, Gary finished at Kilspindie in the evening and was helped over the finish line by daughter Lara, aged seven, who joined him on the final mile of his journey.

Money raised from the event will be split between five charities – CHAS, Teenage Cancer Trust, Cahonas Scotland, St Columba’s Hospice and Edinburgh Sick Kids.

And Gary still has a final raffle for people who donated to his cause which will be held next month.

Gary said the fundraising idea came after he decided to make a kind-hearted gesture for his birthday last year.

He said: “I did not want any presents and requested that people made a donation instead, and the whole golf/cycle idea mushroomed out of that.

“I had17 golf courses on board and played two holes at Longniddry to make the 18 for the round."

Gary's epic round was hampered by heavy rain for parts of the day and he finished at Kilspindie in the dark.

He said: "My usual golf game did not stand up to the strains of the day and I just missed out on breaking my target of 100 - nerves got the better of me at the start, then the rain kicked in - surprisingly though I finished strong with three consecutive pars at Luffness, Craigielaw & Kilspindie - must have been the allure of the finishing line and the 19th.

"Believe it or not I actually found the whole day quite enjoyable and my fellow golfers and support team helped me make it to the end."