TWO East Lothian residents played alongside two household names from the world of golf as the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open celebrated local heroes.

Tranent fundraiser and DJ Davie Martin and occupational therapist Lorne Logan, from Pencaitland, were given the opportunity to play the exclusive Renaissance course, by Dirleton, ahead of last week’s Scottish Open being held there.

They were selected thanks to the tournament’s #Medals4Heroes initiative, which celebrates local heroes who have helped their community during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The pair were nominated by members of the public and teed off in a fourball match, using their own golf clubs, last Tuesday, two days before the four-day competition begun at The Renaissance Club.

Davie played with English golfer and previous Masters winner Danny Willett and Lorne with Scotland’s Paul Lawrie, a previous Open championship winner.

During lockdown, Davie raised money and collected items for several groups, including for local hospitals and healthcare facilities, and wheelchairs and electric buggies for disabled people.

Recently he has been attending funeral services for people who have passed away during the Covid crisis and performing music as the families enter – in his words, to make it “a bit more comforting”.

Danny said: “We see the news and we see all the people, the frontline workers, doing all these things and it’s nice to actually meet some of them.

“He’s [Davie] raised a lot of money, raised money to help with thermometers when they were running out, he helped raise money for wheelchairs to help disabled people.

“It’s been a nice afternoon to bring you back down to earth a little bit and realise that we are a very fortunate few people that get to play golf for a living.”

Lorne is mum to two young children, Jonathan, seven, and three-year-old Charlotte.

During lockdown, she decided to isolate from her children and her partner and went to work with coronavirus patients in the community.

Lorne said: “Covid was a challenge, difficult to know what to do, issues with PPE and things.

“The job wasn’t tough because everybody, all my colleagues were in the same boat.

“But the challenging bit was probably the more personal part of it. I didn’t like not seeing my children. I didn’t like not seeing my partner.

“But everybody was having a difficult time, it wasn’t just me. So I think that helped me.”

Davie described her as “a real hero and deserving nominee”.

Paul said: “Quite humbling doesn’t do it justice, to be honest.

“Without people like Lorne, it would have been obviously far worse than it was, so to put herself through that and do what she did, it’s amazing.”

Lorne and Davie found out they had won the opportunity in an email from the European Tour a few days beforehand.

Davie said he “felt so humble” and described the invitation and nomination as “an honour”.

He added: “Me being here has given the community that has helped me through the years some recognition. We’re in a great little village here and they are just immense.

“It’s nice to be recognised but it’s teamwork. I couldn’t do it without them.”

He said the day was “one that will stay with me for the rest of my life”, adding that he was “treated like royalty”.

Lorne said it was “one of the best days of my life” and a “once-in-a-lifetime experience”.

As well as a round of golf on the course, Lorne and Davie picked up some tips from the professionals along the way.

At the end, the pair were gifted a special medal by Danny with the words ‘Golf for good’ engraved on the front and also took home some Scottish Open merchandise.

It was a closely fought match but Lorne and Paul took the win by one shot.

Lorne won a year’s supply of Callaway chrome soft golf balls and the chance to play another fourball match at the course.