VIKKI LAING GETS IT

TOGETHER AT LAST

FOR A TOP-10 FINISH

AND $1,554 PAY DAY

Former star amateur Vikki Laing's tour professional career has never really got off the ground but, at the age of 26, the Musselburgh exile still harbours hopes that she will turn her fortunes around one year.
It could be this one.
In the latest event on the United States Futures Tour - the Jalapeno Classic over the Palm View course at McAllen in southern Texas, Vikki, pictured right, had her first pay day and her highest finish for some time.
Miss Laing, a one-time Curtis Cup player for Great Britain & Ireland and once ranked in the top-20 US college players during her four years at the University of California-Berkeley, finished joint seventh in Texas with scores of 74, 69 and 71 for a two-under-par total of 214. Her pay check amount to $1,554 - not enough to throw a party but enough to suggest that the good times may not be too far away for the blonde Scot.
Emily Bastel from Ohio collected the $10,500 first prize with scores of 70, 68 and 72 for a six-under-par tally of 210.
Another Ohio player, Angie Hill came second with 71, 70 and 71 for 212. She earned $7,500.

CATHY PANTON-LEWIS JOINT

FIFTH IN ROEHAMPTON

GOLD CUP

Scot Cathy Panton-Lewis, pictured right, finished joint fifth in the Roehampton Gold Cup 36-hole women's open tournament, one of the few on the golfing calendar which is open to both amateurs and professionals at the London course.

Cathy, retired from Ladies European Tour a number of years but still a spasmodic competitor on the United States Legends Tour, had rounds of 80 and 73 for a total of 153. Her 73 was the second-best score in the second round.

Professional Kirsty Taylor and Kent county amateur team player Claire Aitken tied on level par 144 to share the handsome gold trophy, six strokes ahead of the field of 60. Claire looked to have one hand on the cup when she shot a 69 in the first round while Kristy had a 75 but the scores were reversed in the second round.
Kirsty Taylor (Kirsty Speake that was), from Clitheroe, Lancashire, turned professional as along ago as 1995. She won the Roehampton Gold Cup for the first time in 1999. Newly moved south to Gloucesterhsie and attached to Minchinhampton Gold Club, Kirsty is looking forward to another year on the Ladies’ European Tour.
Claire Aitken, aged 21 with a handicap of +1, plays out of The London Club in Kent. She is quite clearly on a roll because she went into the Roehampton Gold Cup with confidence sky high following her capture of the Hampshire Rose.
Claire was also runner-up in the recent Kent women’s county championship, which she won in 2006. She will be hard to beat playing for Kent in the forthcoming county week at Littlestone.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 144
Professionals denoted by p after their names.
144 Kirsty Taylor (Minchinhampton) p 75 69, Claire-Aitken (The London) 69 75.
150 Susan Moon (Denham) p 76 74.
151 Joanne Mills (unatt) p 76 75.
153 Cathy Panton-Lewis (The Berkshire) p 80 73, Katherine Russell (Royal Ashdown Forest) 76 77.
154 Marie Allen (Brookmans Park) p 79 75, Tracy Loveys (remedy Oak) p 77 77, Claire Duffy (Test Valley) p 76 78, Wendy Dicks (unatt) p 75 79.
155 Lauren Diggle (Celtic Manor) p 79 76, Danielle Gibb (Rochester & Cobhan) 76 79, Kristy S Taylor (Sandford Springs) p 73 82.
156 Joanne Oliver p 80 76, Kerry-Anne Haskell 77 79.
157 Sarah Clinton p 79 78, Samantha Lovell 77 80, Alison Johns p 75 82, Laura Culter 75 82.
158 Sophie Huner – 80 78.
159 Sarah Heath p 81 78, Leah Occleshaw 80 79, Elizabeth Over 80 75.
160 Laura Webb 83 70, Beverley New 79 81, Laura Eastwood p 78 82.
161 Alex Banham 83 78, Felicity Johnson p 80 81, Georgina Hunt 79 82, Sian James 79 82, Frances Finney p 78 83.
163 Louisa Stirling 84 75, Emma Brown p 84 79, Hannah Ralph 83 80, Roz Adams 81 82, Samantha Round 78 85.
164 Laura Jones 80 84.
165 Katie Thompson 83 82, Claire Brown 78 87.
167 Vanessa Bell p 81 86.

FIFE WIN PROVAN SALVER WITH STRONG FINISH TO BEAT CLACKMANNANSHIRE

Fife won the inter-area men’s match-play team tournament for the Provan Salver with a 5 ½-2 ½ win over Clackmannshire at Burntisland Golf Club.
In the other match of the final programme, Angus beat Perth & Kinross 5-3 at Arbroath.
Fife topped the final table with 2pt out of 3, Clackmannanshire and Perth & Kinross shared second place with 2pt and Angus were the wooden spoonists with 1pt.
Clackmannanshire, team picture above by Hugh Hunter, had high hopes of retaining the trophy when they were up in four matches, square in two and down in only two at the turn of their match against Fife.
Steven Horne (Tulliallan) won the top match for Clackmannanshire by beating James White (Lundin), last year’s Scottish boys’ match-play champion, by 4 and 2.
Winners for a Fife team who finished their ties strongly were Brian Souter (Leven Thistle, Scott Michie (Thornon), David Imrie (Thornton), Alex Main (Thornton) and Sutart Meiklejohn (Aberdour).
Details:
FIFE 5 ½, CLACKMANNANSHIRE 2 ½
Fife names first
J White (Lundin) bt S Horne (Tulliallan) 4 and 2, S Elder (Kirkcaldy) halved with M Crichton (Tulliallan), B Souter (Leven Th) bt D Hulston (Dollar) 1 hole, G McNab (Leven Th) lost to J Aitken (Alloa), S Michie (Thornton) bt R Benvie (Braehead) 2 and 1, D Imrie (Thornton) bt S Moffat (Braehead) 3 and 2, A Main (Thornton) bt C O’Connor (Alloa) 1 hole, S Meiklejohn (Aberdour) bt I Ross (Alloa) 2 and 1.
Other result:
ANGUS 5, PERTH & KINROSS 3

JILL MELDRUM (14) HEADS

D&A QUALIFIERS

AT MILNGAVIE

Dullater’s Jill Meldrum, the Scottish Under-14 girls championship winner at Deeside last summer, headed the 16 qualifiers for the match-play stages of the Dunbartonshire & Argyll women’s county golf championship at Milngavie Golf Club today.
On a bright, sunny day with a cool easterly wind, Jill, pictured right, who has a handicap of five, returned a 77, only three over the CSS.
Scottish senior international team player Helen Faulds (Douglas Park) claimed the No 2 seed berth with a 78, one shot ahead of another over-50s cap Anna Telfer, playing over her home course.
Three other Milngavie Golf Club members will also figure in the first round of the match-play on Tuesday morning – Karen Maxwell, the No 4 seed with an 83, Katy MacAulay and Jill Foggo, the eighth and ninth qualifiers respectively on the 88 mark.
Scotland international Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) is not defending her title. She is playing in the Welsh women’s open stroke-play championship at Newport Golf Club this coming weekend.
QUALIFIERS
77 Jill Meldrum (Dullatur).
78 Helen Faulds (Douglas Park).
79 Anna Telfer (Milngavie).
83 Karen Maxwell (Milngavie).
85 Babs Robertson (Helensburgh), Laura McGeachy (Windyhill).
87 Isobel Harvey (St Rule).
88 Katy MacAulay (Milngavie), Jill Foggo (Milngavie).
90 Enid Young (Balmore).
93 Ann Sinclair (Hilton Park).
94 Lynn McColl (Bearsden).
95 Margaret Kinvig (Vale of Leven), Annabel Struthers (Buchanan Castle).
96 Leanne Johnston (Windyhill), Margaret Stirling (Cardross).
AUTOMATIC DRAW
Meldrum v Stirling, Foggo v MacAulay, Robertson v McColl, Kinvig v Maxwell.
Telfer v Struthers, Sinclair v McGeachy, Harvey v Young, Johnston v Faulds.

EXPERIENCE HAS ITS DAY IN ANGUS
COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP AT PANMURE

Experience triumphed over youth in the early match-play stages of the Angus women’s county golf championship to the extent that only one of the semi-finalists when the competition resumes at Panmure Golf Club, Carnoustie on Sunday will be under the age of 50.
Former Scottish girls championship finalist Fiona Gilbert (Carnoustie Ladies), the No 2 seed, is the exception. She will play former Scottish seniors champion Kathlee Sutherland (Royal Montrose), the No 11 qualifier, while top seed Heather Anderson (Downfield) will meet the No 12 qualifier, Lynne Fotheringham (Grange), conqueror of defending champion Jane Tough (Brechin) in the quarter-finals..
Mrs Anderson has only recently back to the Angus area after living down south for many years. She’s recently married and newly retired.
In the handicap championship, the “young pups” redressed the balance with Ailsa Summers (Panmure Barry) and Fiona Blair (Monifieth) winning through to battle it out in the top half of the draw.
Results:
SCRATCH
First round - H Anderson (Downfield) bt S Bushby (Letham Grange) 5 and 4, S Murray (Edzell) bt S McGregor (Edzell) 4 and 3, L Fotheringham (Grange) bt F Millar (Carnoustie Ladies) 2 and 1, J Tough (Brechin) bt M Summers (Panmure Barry) 2 and 1.
R BWilson (Monifieth) bt L Fenton (Grange) 6 and 5, K Sutherland (Royal Montrose) bt A Hunter (Monifieth) 3 and 2, J Brown (Monifieth) bt J Taylor (Edzell) 4 and 3, F Gilbert (Carnoustie Ladies) bt A Hay (Letham Grange) 4 and 3.
Quarter-finals – Anderson bt Murray 5 and 4, Fotheringham bt Tough 3 and 1, Sutherland bt Wilson 6 and 5, Gilbert bt Brown 7 and 6.
HANDICAP
First round – A Summers (Panmure Barry) bt C Healey (Carnoustie Caledonia) 5 and 4, S Arbuckle (Panmure Barry) bt A Chree (LPM) 6 and 4, A Hemings (Ballumbie Castle) bt S Baxby (Panmure Barry) 5 and 3, F Blair (Monifieth) bt J Wilson (Downfield) 1 hole, J Henderson (Royal Montrose) bt N Turner (Grange) 2 holes, M Faulkner (Royal Montrose) bt M Duthie (Panmure Barry) 2 and 1, S Todd (Panmure Barry) bt J Ganson (Arbroath) at 19th.
Quarter-finals – Summers bt Arbuckle 3 and 2, Blair bt Hemings 3 and 2, Faulkner bt Henderson 2 holes, Hutcheson bt Todd 1 hole.

JENNY MILNE WINS NORTHERN COUNTIES TITLE AT LAST

Experienced Elgin player Jenny Milne won the Northern Counties women’s golf championship for the first time at Royal Dornoch Golf Club today when she beat the No 1 qualifier, Donna MacLeod (Inverness) by 3 and 2 in the final.
“I’ve lost count of the number of finals I’ve lost – it could be four or five – so I’m really pleased to have won the Mary Benton Trophy at last,” said Jenny, pictured right after her success.
Donna had the edge on the way out and was one up at the turn but Miss Milne never looked back after winning the 10th to square the contest. When Miss MacLeod’s short game let her down over the closing holes, Jenny was able to win the 12th, 15th and 16th and halve the 17th for victory.
The handicap championship for the Chetham Trophy was won by 13-year-old Julie Vass (Tain) who beat Marion MacKay (Wick), 45 years her senior, by 7 and 5 in the final. Julie plays off 16 and Marion eight.
Results:
SCRATCH
Semi-finals – D MacLeod (Inverness) bt G Dowling (Inverness) 3 and 1, J Milne (Elgin) bt M Smith (Tain) 5 and 4.
Final – Milne bt MacLeod 3 and 2.
HANDICAP
Final – J Vass (Tain) (16) bt M MacKay (Wick) (8) 7 and 5.

MARY SMITH ONLY FORMER WINNER IN LAST
FOUR OF NORTHERN COUNTIES' CHAMPIONSHIP

Tain’s Mary Smith is the only previous title-winner through to Monday’s semi-finals of the Norther Counties Ladies Golfing Association championship at Royal Dornoch Golf Club.
In a bitterly cold North-east win, Mary advanced to a last-four meeting with the experienced Jenny Milne (Elgin) by beating Winnie Ross (Elgin) 7 and 6.
The other semi-final will feature the top qualifier, Donna MacLeod (Inverness) against clubmate Gillian Dowling.

QUALIFIERS
84 D MacLeod (Inverness) better inward half, J Milne (Elgin).
85 M Smith (Tain) better last six, E Manson (Thurso).
87 G Dowling (Inverness).
89 W Ross (Elgin).
91 A MacDonald (Tarbat) bih, S MacVicar (Gairloch), T Weekes (Royal Dornoch), D Hume (Fortrose & Rosemarkie), S Vass (Tain), A Dunnett (Thurso).
93 D McKinnon (Durness).
94 M Howieson (Inverness) bih, P Morrison (Muir of Ord), S MacKenzie (Elgin).

MATCH PLAY
First round – MacLeod bt MacKenzie 8 and 7, MacVicar bt Weekes 7 and 5, Dowling bt Dunnett 1 hole, Manson bt McKinnon 3 and 2, Smith bt Howieson 4 and 3, Ross bt Vass 2 and 1, Hume bt MacDonald 4 and 3, Milne bt Morrison 3 and 2.
Quarter-finals – MacLeod bt MacVicar 6 and 4, Dowling bt Manson at 195th, Smith bt Ross 7 and 6, Milne bt Hume 5 and 3.

MELISSA REID RETAINS HELEN HOLM TITLE

Derby's 19-year-old Curtis Cup player Melissa Reid, with the help of an incredible course-record round of 12-under-par 63 over Troon Portland, won the Helen Holm Scottish women's open amateur stroke-play golf championship for the second year in a row today (Sunday).

The only other person to win the prestigious 54-hole tournament two years in a row was Muriel Thomson, now professional at Portlethen Golf Club, in 1975 and 1976.

Melissa's second-round effort included a hole in one and, after two Saturday rounds over Troon Portland, she started today's final round over the Royal Troon championship links with a six-shot lead from England team-mate Rachel Bell (Ganton) whose course-record 65 on Friday stood for only 24 hours!

But Miss Reid, who will probably turn professional at the end of this year – "I wouldn't stay amateur just to get a second Curtis Cup honour at St Andrews in 2008, saw her considerable advantage disappear after only eight holes and she had to win the title all over again after that.

"The Royal Troon greens were a completely different pace from Troon Portland on Saturday and I was all at sea on them. I three-putted the first, third, seventh and eighth – and, standing on the ninth tee, I had lost my lead and Rachel was level with me," said Melissa.

"I three-putted twice more before the finish but Rachel bogeyed the ninth and 10^th and that gave me the breathing space to regroup and just take each hole at a time on the inward half."

Melissa, who had been 17 under par after rounds of 70 and 63 at Troon Portland, signed off with a three-over-par 78 (40-38) at Royal Troon for a final total of 14-under-par 211, which equalled the tournament low record set by compatriot Emma Duggleby from Yorkshire in 2004.

Rachel Bell scored 65, 74 and 75 (35-40) to finished three shots behind on 204.

"I played like a wally on the inward half of the final round. I had little or no chance at the start, being six shots behind Melissa. But, having made up these six shots over the first eight holes on Royal Troon, I should have gone on from there to win. But I just couldn't get the putts to drop and couldn't get a birdie on the way home. Three putts on the last green meant I finished three shots behind her."

Melissa Reid collected three awards at the prizegiving – the Helen Holm Trophy, the international team trophy for England in conjunction with Kerry Smith (Waterlooville), the Under-21 trophy and the Hole in One Trophy.

Scotland's Krystle Caithness (St Regulus) and Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) finished runners-p in the international team event.

Jenna was the leading Scot, officially placed fifth with scores of 70, 73 and 77 for 220, having a better last six holes than the French girl, Caroline Afonso, who also totalled 220 and finished with a 77.

Heather MacRae (Dunblane New), third at the start of the third and last day and playing in the final threesome with Melissa Reid and Rachel Bell, finished joint seventh on 221 with scores of 70, 70 and 81.
The CSS for the third round went up to 77, a reflection of the higher scoring today due to a cold east wind.

HELEN HOLM FINAL TOTALS FROM TROON

HELEN HOLM SCOTTISH WOMEN'S OPEN AMATEUR STROKE-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP

First two rounds over Troon Portland, third round over Royal Troon.

FINAL TOTALS

Par 225 (3 x 75). CSS 74 74 77

211 M Reid (Chevin) 70 63 78.

214 R Bell (Ganton) 65 74 75.

217 A Decharne (France) 71 73 73.

219 B Loucks (Wrexham) 72 73 74.

220 J Wilson (Strathaven) 70 73 77, C Afonso (France) 73 70 77.

221 C Hedwall (Sweden) 77 66 78, H MacRae (Dunblane New) 70 70 81.

222 K Caithness (St Regulus) 76 73 73, A Vilatte (France) 69 79 74.

223 C Lennarth (Sweden) 69 73 81, D Montgomery (The Lambourne) 70 75 78.

224 M Bernard (France) 74 74 76, K Smith (Waterloovile) 72 73 79, R Connor (Manchester) 72 73 79, E Duggleby (Malton & Norton) 75 70 79.

225 P Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) 74 76 75, L Herman (Belgium) 71 78 76.

226 C Wolf (Austria) 77 71 78, B Harries (Haverfordwest) 78 69 79.

227 C Booth (Comrie) 74 72 81.

228 L Gustafsson (Sweden) 75 76 77, N Edwards (Ganton) 76 75 77, N Muehl (Austria) 76 73 79, E Alonso (France) 72 76 80, D Smith (Co Louth) 72 76 80, C Lee (West Lancs) 72 76 80, H Barwood (Knowle) 71 74 83, M Thomson (McDonald Ellon) 74 72 82.

229 H Aitchison (The Bedfordshire) 80 75 74, E Sheffield (Newark) 71 80 78, R Svahn (Finland) 74 75 80, E Moffat (St Regulus) 75 73 81, S Stubbs (Shifnal) 76 72 81, R W Thomas (Vale of Glamorgan) 72 75 82.

230 J Hedwall (Sweden) 76 76 78, R Livingstone (Musselburgh Old) 74 73 83, L-A Stempfle (Germany) 73 72 85.

231 S Harju (Finland) 78 77 76, B Mullins-Lane (Harefield) 74 80 77, K Walker (Buchanan Castle) 78 76 77, C Fallay (France) 78 74 79, S Evans (Vale of Llangollen) 72 79 80, M Ricordeau (France) 76 71 84, L Hall (Royal Porthcawl) 73 73 85.

232 L Gendronneau (France) 75 75 82, L Bennett (Brokenhuret Manor) 70 76 86.

233 L Collin (John O'Gaunt) 77 77 79, T Boyes (Meon Valley) 77 75 81, M Pow (Selkirk) 80 71 82, K MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) 74 72 87.

234 S Attwood (Gog Magog) 75 78 81, T McDonnell (Ennis) 78 75 81, F Lockhart (St Regulus) 79 73 82, J Hodge (Knowle) 79 70 85.

235 S Garbutt (Ganton) 79 76 80, J Turner (Mortonhall) 80 74 81, C-M Carlton (Fereneze) 79 74 82.

236 N Craven (Brough) 74 81 81, S Faller (Galway) 76 79 81, R Crepiat (France) 79 76 81, A Riguelle (France) 75 75 86, B Genuini (France) 73 73 90.

237 T Davies (Holyhead) 74 81 82, A Laing (Vale of Leven) 79 75 83.

238 C Douglass (Brocket Hall) 80 75 83, E Westrup (Sweden) 77 77 84.

239 E Tipping (Sandiway) 74 79 86.

240 A Ramsay (Kirriemuir) 79 75 86, C Hargan (Mortonhall) 76 75 89.

242 S Mantyniemi (Finland) 77 74 91.

The following players missed the cut (155) after two rounds:

157 L Hendry (Routenburn) 83 74, A Korkeila (Finland) 78 79, F Hernandez (France) 74 83, L Ball (Matfen Hall) 77 80, C Gruber (Royal Dornoch) 76 81, M Bazin de Jessey (France) 83 74, K Harper (Inverness) 79 78.

158 L Murray (Alford) 80 78.

159 D Dewar (Monifieth) 82 77, L Roberts (Holyhead) 82 77, C MacDonald (Gullane Ladies) 80 79.

160 M Briggs (Kilmacolm) 77 83.

161 H Schilling (Germany) 80 81.

162 L Robertson (Ranfurly Castle) 78 84.

174 E Lowrey-Gold (Eaton) 84 90.

INTERNATIONAL TEAM EVENT

435 England (M Reid 211, K Smith 224).

442 Scotland (J Wilson 220, K Caithness 222).

448 France (C Afonso 220, E Alonso 228).

454 Austria (C Wolf 226, N Muehl 228).

456 Wales (B Loucks 219, T Davies 237)

460 Finland (R Svah 229, S Harju 231).

462 Ireland (D Smith 228, T McDonnell 234).

466 Sweden (L Gustafsson 228, E Westrup 238).

VIKKI HAS A 69 ON US FUTURES TOUR

Musselburgh exile Vikki Laing had her best round for some time to qualify with easy for the final round of the Jalapeno Futures Classic at McAllen, Texas.

The Scot had rounds of 74 and 69 for a one-under-par tlaly of 143 - six shots inside the qualifying limit. Vikki is five shots behind the leader, Emily Bastel from Ohio, with 70 and 68 for 138. Emily leads by one shot from another American, Danah Ford, with 68 and 71 for 139.

Brenda McLarnon from Belfast failed to beat the 36-hole cut. She had scores of 83 and 77 for 160.

 

MATTHEW CLARK WINS EDWARD TROPHY

 

Kilmacolm's Matthew Clark won Glasgow Gailes Golf Club's 36-hole open tournament for the Edward Trophy by two strokes in blustery conditions on Saturday.

Clark had two par-matching rounds of 72 for 144, finishing two shots ahead of last year's winner, Craig Watson (East Renfrewshire), and Keith Hamilton (Whitecraigs). Both players scored 71 and 75 for 146.

 

LEADING TOTALS

 

144 M Clark (Kilmacolm) 72 72.

146 K Hamilton (Whitecraigs) 71 75, C Watson (East Renfrewshire) 71 75.

147 J King (Glasgow) 75 72.

148 K Smyth (Windyhill) 76 72.

150 G Bolton (Bute) 77 73.

151 T McInally (Louden) 75 76.

TOP SCOT HEATHER IS SEVEN BEHIND LEADER MELISSA

 MAGNIFICENT NEW COURSE RECORD ROUND OF

12-UNDER-PAR 63 BY DEFENDING CHAMPION

Scotland's leading challenger Heather MacRae (Dunblane New) is in third place on 10-under-par 140 with one round to go in the Helen Holm Scottish women's open amateur stroke-play golf championship at Troon.

But despite a pair 70s, Heather is seven shots behind the leader, defending champion Melissa Reid.

The Derby girl played the round of her 19-dear-old life to score a 12-under-par 63 and go six strokes clear of the field after 36 holes.

Melissa, from Chevin Golf Club and a Curtis Cup player last year, had a hole in one with a seven-iron at the 156yd 16^th plus two eagle 3s, at the sixth and 12^th, and seven birdies, at the second, third, fourth, ninth, 10^th, 15^th and 18^th in halves of 33 (five under par) and 30 (seven under par).

"I learned from the mistakes I made in my first-round 70. That's basically why I was able to improve by seven shots," said Melissa.

"My dad and I worked out a game plan on Friday night for the second round and, even though there was a much stronger wind, it worked like a dream.

"Yes, I believe I am a better all-round player than when I won the 'Helen Holm' last year but I think the biggest improvement I have made is in my mental approach. I'm going out there and thinking positive, not defensively."

Melissa's 63, which included only 28 putts, slashed two shots off the new record set only 24 hours earlier by England team-mate Rachel Bell from Ganton, Yorkshire.

Her figures were:

OUT – 5 4 3 2 4 3 4 4 4  - 33.

   IN – 2 5 3 4 3 4 1 4 4 - 30

With a 36-hole tally of a staggering 17-under-par 133 after two rounds over Troon Portland, Miss Reid carries a six-shot lead over Rachel and the rest into the final round over Royal Troon's championship links which are likely to be a different kettle of finish, even although Melissa is playing "out of her skin" at the moment.

Rachel Bell "sagged" by nine shots to a second-round 74 – still one under par.

"I had a couple of three putts and didn't get the breaks I did in the 65 but six shots to make up is not impossible. I was eight shots behind last year after two rounds  and then had a 71 over Royal Troon and finished third behind Melissa, so I'm looking forward to the last round," said Rachel.

The next best Scots after third-placed Heather MacRae are Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) on 143 (70-73), Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon) on 146 (74-72) and, also on that mark are 14-year-old Carly Booth (Comrie), home from America with scores of 74 and 72, and 16-year-old Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) with 74 and 72.

Carly was set to break 70 until she ran up a bogey and then a double bogey over the closing holes.

Players with two-round totals of 155 or better qualified for the final round.

 

QUALIFIERS

 Par 150 (2 x 75). CSS 74 74

 133 M Reid (Chevin) 70 63.

139 R Bell (Ganton) 65 74.

140 H MacRae (Dunblane New) 70 70.

142 C Lennarth (Sweden) 69 73.

143 J Wilson (Strathaven) 70 73, C Hedwall (Sweden) 77 66, C Afonso (France) 73 70.

144 A Decharne (France) 71 73.

145 R Connor (Manchester) 72 73, H Barwood (Knowle) 71 74, L Stempfle (Germany) 73 72, D Montgomery (The Lambourne) 70 75, B Loucks (Wrexham) 72 73, E Duggleby (Malton & Norton) 75 70, K Smith (Waterlooville) 72 73.

146 L Hall (Royal Porthcawl) 73 73, M Thomson (McDonald Ellon) 74 72, B Genuini (France) 73 73, L Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor) 70 76, C Booth (Comrie) 74 72, K MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) 74 72.

147 R Livingstone (Musselburgh Old) 74 73, B Harries (Haverfordwest) 78 69, R Thomas (Vale of Glamorgan) 72 75, M Ricordeau (France) 76 71.

148 E Moffat (St Regulus) 75 73, S Stubbs (Shifnal) 76 72, M Bernard (France) 74 74, E Alonso (France) 72 76, A Vilatte (France) 69 79, D Smith (Co Louth) 72 76, C Lee (West Lancs) 72 76.

149 N Muehl (Austria) 76 73, J Carthew (Ladybank) 73 76, L Herman (Belgium) 71 78, R Svahn (Finland) 74 75, K Caithness (St Regulus) 76 73, J Hodge (Knowle) 79 70.

150 P Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) 74 76, A Riguelle (France) 75 75, L Gendronneau (France) 75 75.

151 S Mantyniemi (Finland) 77 74, S Evans (Vale of Llangollen) 72 79, C Hargan (Mortonhall) 76 75, M Pow (Selkirk) 80 71, N Edwards (Ganton) 76 75, L Gustafsson (Sweden) 75 76.

152 T Boyes (Meon Valley) 77 75, F Lockhart (St Regulus) 79 73, J Hedwall (Sweden) 76 76, C Fallay (France) 78 74.

153 E Tipping (Sandiway) 74 79, C-M Carlton (Fereneze) 79 74, S Attwood (Gog Magog) 75 78, T McDonnell (Ennis) 78 75.

154 L Collin (John O'Gaunt) 77 77, A Ramsay (Kirriemuir) 79 75, J Turner (Mortonhall) 80 74, K Walker (Buchanan Castle) 78 76, B Mullins-Lane (Harefield) 74 80, E Westrup (Sweden) 77 77, A Laing (Vale of Leven) 79 75.

155 C Douglass (Brocket Hall) 80 75, N Craven (Brough) 74 81, S Garbutt (Ganton) 79 76, S Faller (Galway) 76 79, T Davies (Holyhead) 74 81, H Aitchison (The Bedfordshire) 80 75, S Harju (Finland) 78 77, R Crepiat (France) 79 76.

DID NOT QUALIFY

157 L Hendry (Routenburn) 83 74, A Korkeila (Finland) 78 79, F  Hernandez (France) 74 83, L Ball (Matfen Hall) 77 80, C Gruber (Royal Dornoch) 76 81, M Bazin de Jessey (France) 83 74.

158 L Murray (Alford) 80 78.

159 D Dewar (Monifieth) 82 77, L Roberts (Holyhead) 82 77, C MacDonald (Gullane Ladies) 80 79.

160 M Briggs (Kilmacolm) 77 83.

161 H Schilling (Germany) 80 81.

162 L Robertson (Ranfurly Castle) 78 84.

174 E Lowrey-Gold (Eaton) 84 90.

 

 

NORTHERN COUNTIES WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIERS

 

Donna MacLeod (Inverness) beat Jenny Milne (Elgin) in a card countback (better inward half) to earn the No 1 seed position at the end of the qualifying round today (Sat) for the match-play stages of the Northern Counties women's golf championship at windswept Royal Dornoch.

They both returned 84s – eight over par on a day when the CSS was literally blown up to 79.

The championship continues Sunday and Monday with the match-play stages.

QUALIFIERS

84 D MacLeod (Inverness) better inward half, J Milne (Elgin).

85 M Smith (Tain) better last six, E Manson (Thurso).

87 G Dowling (Inverness).

89 W Ross (Elgin).

91 A MacDonald (Tarbat) bih, S MacVicar (Gairloch), T Weekes (Royal Dornoch), D Hume (Fortrose & Rosemarkie), S Vass (Tain), A Dunnett (Thurso).

93 D McKinnon (Durness).

94 M Howieson (Inverness) bih, P Morrison (Muir of Ord), S MacKenzie (Elgin).

AUTOMATIC DRAW

8.30 MacLeod v MacKenzie, Weeks v MacVicar, Dowling v Dunnett, McKinnon v Manson.

9.02 Smith v Howieson, Vass v Ross, MacDonald v Hume, Morrison v Milne.

 

 

MELISSA SPREADEAGLES FIELD WITH A 63

HELEN HOLM REPORT AT 5PM 

Defending champion Melissa Reid from Derby played the round of her 19-year-old life to score a 12-under-par 63 and go six strokes clear of the field with one round to go in the Helen Holm Scottish women's open amateur stroke-play golf championship at Troon today (Saturday).

Melissa, from Chevin Golf Club and a Curtis Cup player last year, had a hole in one with a seven-iron at the 156yd 16^th plus two eagle 3s, at the sixth and 12^th, and seven birdies, at the second, third, fourth, ninth, 10^th, 15^th and 18^th in halves of 33 (five under par) and 30 (seven under par).

"I learned from the mistakes I made in my first-round 70. That's basically why I was able to improve by seven shots," said Melissa.

"My dad and I worked out a game plan on Friday night for the second round and, even though there was a much stronger wind, it worked like a dream.

"Yes, I believe I am a better all-round player than when I won the 'Helen Holm' last year but I think the biggest improvement I have made is in my mental approach. I'm going out there and thinking positive, not defensively."

Melissa's 63, which included only 28 putts, slashed two shots off the new record set only 24 hours earlier by England team-mate Rachel Bell from Ganton, Yorkshire.

Her figures were:

OUT – 5 4 3 2 4 3 4 4 4  - 33.

   IN – 2 5 3 4 3 4 1 4 4 - 30

With a 36-hole tally of a staggering 17-under-par 133 after two rounds over Troon Portland, Miss Reid carries a six-shot lead over Rachel and the rest into the final round over Royal Troon's championship links which are likely to be a different kettle of finish, even although Melissa is playing "out of her skin" at the moment.

Rachel Bell "sagged" by nine shots to a second-round 74 – still one under par.

"I had a couple of three putts and didn't get the breaks I did in the 65 but six shots to make up is not impossible. I was eight shots behind last year after two rounds  and then had a 71 over Royal Troon and finished third behind Melissa, so I'm looking forward to the last round," said Rachel.

Scotland has provided the winner only twice in the last 15 years. Leading home hope is Jenna Wilson from Strathaven. She has had rounds of 70 and 73 for 143.

 

LATER SCORES FROM HELEN HOLM

 

HELEN HOLM SCOTTISH WOMEN'S AMATEUR STROKE-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP

Troon Portland.

SECOND-R0UND TOTALS (at 5pm)

Par 150 (2 x 75)

 

133 M Reid (Chevin) 70 63.

139 R Bell (Ganton) 65 74.

143 J Wilson (Strathaven) 70 73, C Hedwall (Sweden) 77 66, C Afonso (France) 73 70.

144 A Decharne (France) 71 73.

145 R Connor (Manchester) 72 73, H Barwood (Knowle) 71 74, L Stempfle (Germany) 73 72, D Montgomery (The Lambourne) 70 75, B Loucks (Wrexham) 72 73, E Duggleby (Malton & Norton) 75 70, K Smith (Waterlooville) 72 73.

146 L Hall (Royal Porthcawl) 73 73, M Thomson (McDonald Ellon) 74 72, B Genuini (France) 73 73, L Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor) 70 76, C Booth (Comrie) 74 72.

147 R Livingstone (Musselburgh Old) 74 73, B Harries (Haverfordwest) 78 69, R Thomas (Vale of Glamorgan) 72 75.

148 E Moffat (St Regulus) 75 73, S Stubbs (Shifnal) 76 72, M Bernard (France) 74 74, E Alonso (France) 72 76, A Vilatte (France) 69 79, D Smith (Co Louth) 72 76.

149 N Muehl (Austria) 76 73, J Carthew (Ladybank) 73 76, L Herman (Belgium) 71 78, R Svahn (Finland) 74 75, K Caithness (St Regulus) 76 73.

150 P Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) 74 76, A Riguelle (France) 75 75.

151 S Mantyniemi (Finland) 77 74, S Evans (Vale of Llangollen) 72 79, C Hargan (Mortonhall) 76 75, M Pow (Selkirk) 80 71.

152 T Boyes (Meon Valley) 77 75, F Lockhart (St Regulus) 79 73, J Hedwall (Sweden) 76 76, C Fallay (France) 78 74.

153 E Tipping (Sandiway) 74 79, C-M Carlton (Fereneze) 79 74, S Attwood (Gog Magog) 75 78.

154 L Collin (John O'Gaunt) 77 77, A Ramsay (Kirriemuir) 79 75, J Turner (Mortonhall) 80 74, K Walker (Buchanan Castle) 78 76, B Mullins-Lane (Harefield) 74 80, E Westrup (Sweden) 77 77.

155 C Douglass (Brocket Hall) 80 75, N Craven (Brough) 74 81, S Garbutt (Ganton) 79 76, S Faller (Galway) 76 79, T Davies (Holyhead) 74 81, H Aitchison (The Bedfordshire) 80 75, S Harju (Finland) 78 77.

157 L Hendry (Routenburn) 83 74, A Korkeila (Finland) 78 79, F  Hernandez (France) 74 83, L Ball (Matfen Hall) 77 80, C Gruber (Royal Dornoch) 76 81, M Bazin de Jessey (France) 83 74.

158 L Murray (Alford) 80 78.

159 D Dewar (Monifieth) 82 77, L Roberts (Holyhead) 82 77, C MacDonald (Gullane Ladies) 80 79.

160 M Briggs (Kilmacolm) 77 83.

161 H Schilling (Germany) 80 81.

162 L Robertson (Ranfurly Castle) 78 84.

174 E Lowrey-Gold (Eaton) 84 90.

 

 

HELEN HOLM SATURDAY SCOREBOARD FROM TROON

HELEN HOLM SCOTTISH WOMEN'S AMATEUR STROKE-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP

Troon Portland.

SECOND-R0UND TOTALS at 2.30pm

Par 150 (2 x 75)

 

145 R Connor (Manchester) 72 73.

146 L Hall (Royal Porthcawl) 73 73, M Thomson (McDonald Ellon) 74 72.

147 R Livingstone (Musselburgh Old) 74 73, B Harries (Haverfordwest) 78 69, R Thomas (Vale of Glamorgan) 72 75.

148 E Moffat (St Regulus) 75 73, S Stubbs (Shifnal) 76 72.

149 N Muehl (Aut) 76 73.

150 P Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) 74 76.

151 S Mantyniemi (Fin) 77 74.

152 T Boyes (Meon Valley) 77 75.

153 E Tipping (Sandiway) 74 79, C-M Carlton (Fereneze) 79 74, S Attwood (Gog Magog) 75 78.

154 L Collin (John O'Gaunt) 77 77, A Ramsay (Kirriemuir) 79 75.

155 C Douglass (Brocket Hall) 80 75, N Craven (Brough) 74 81, S Garbutt (Ganton) 79 76, S Faller (Galway) 76 79, T Davies (Holyhead) 74 81, H Aitchison (The Bedfordshire) 80 75.

157 L Hendry (Routenburn) 83 74, A Korkeila (Fin) 78 79.

158 L Murray (Alford) 80 78.

159 D Dewar (Monifieth) 82 77, L Roberts (Holyhead) 82 77, C MacDonald (Gullane Ladies) 80 79.

160 M Briggs (Kilmacolm) 77 83.

161 H Schilling (Ger) 80 81.

162 L Robertson (Ranfurly Castle) 78 84.

174 E Lowrey-Gold (Eaton) 84 90.

 

 

VIKKI OPENS WITH A 74 IN FUTURES CLASSIC EVENT

Vikki Laing from Musselburgh returned a first-round score of two-over-par 74 (35-39) to be lying joint 47th in a field of 143 for the Jalapeno Futures Classic on the United States Futures Tour over the Palm View course at McAllen in southern Texas.Brenda McLarnon from Belfast had an 83 (41-42) to be 137th.Danah Ford from Indianapolis led the field in the 54-hole event by two strokes with a 68 (35-33) over the par-72, 6,379yd course.

JAMIESON DROPS DOWN HOOTERS TOUR
LEADERBOARD WITH 74 - BUT MAKES CUT

Rookie Scott Jamieson dropped down the leaderboard with second-round 74 - seven shots more than he required for the first round - in the NGA Hooters Tour event, the Savannah Lakes Resort Classic at Monticello Golf Club.
The Glasgow man's 141 tally led him in joint 28th place but safely inside the cut mark of 144.
David Kirkpatrick from Edinburgh originally will also be playing the last two rounds after scoring 70 and 74 for joint 54th place on 144.
A third Scot, Colin Spiers, was not so lucky. He shot 77 and 70 for 147 and 85th place.
LEADING SCORES
137 K Blanks 71 66, T Biershenk 67 70, R Scott 67 70, M Connell 70 67, M Henderson 69 68, E Jorgensen 68 69.
Other scores:
138 G Maybin (NIre) 72 66 (jt 7th).
141 S Jamieson (Sco) 67 74 (jt 28th).
144 D Kirkpatrick (Sco) 70 74 (jt 54th).
Non-qualifiers included:
147 C Speirs (Sco) 77 70 (jt 85th).

LUKE DONALD LEADS BYRON NELSON CLASSIC
BUT MICHAEL SIM SLUMPS OVER CUT MARK

Aberdonian Michael Sim dropped from joint ninth overnight over the cut-off mark at the halfway stage of the Byron Nelson Classic at Irving, Texas.
Michael, brought up in Australia from the age of seven, followed up a 68 in the first round with a bogey-ridden 74 today for a 36-hole tally of 142 - one shot too many to make the cut for the final 36 holes.
Sim, watched by his parents from Perth, Western Australia - on their way to a holiday in Aberdeen, had bogeys at the second, third, fourth, 11th, 12th and 17th, which was most uncharacteristic. He had birdies at the eighth and 14th.
The good news is that Englishman Luke Donald leads the field with 67 and 66 for 133 - one shot ahead of Brett Wetterich, Fredrik Jacobsen and Sean O'Hair.
LEADING SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
133 Luke Donald (Eng) 67 66.
134 Brett Wetterich (US) 66 68, Fredrik Jacobsen (Swe) 67 67, Sean O'Hair (US) 65 69.
Other qualifier:
139 Ian Poulter (Eng) 70 69.
Non-qualifiers included:
142 Michael Sim (Sco) 68 74, Greg Owen (Eng) 73 69.
145 Brian Davis (Eng) 73 72.

HEATHER ANDERSON LEADING QUALIFIER IN
ANGUS WOMEN'S COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP

Downfield’s Heather Anderson was the surprise leading qualifier for the match-play stages of the Angus women’s county championship at Panmure Barry this evening.
She had a round of 77, four over par but only two over the CSS to claim the top seed spot ahead of Fiona Gilbert (Carnoustie Ladies) with a 78.
Two other players, Angus girls champion Rebecca Wilson (Monifieth) and defending champion Jane Tough (Brechin), also returned 78s but were placed third and fourth in the draw on a scorecard countback.
One of the features of the qualifying was the closeness of the scoring, only nine shots covering all 16 players, which promises some close ties when the match-plY starts at the same venue on Sunday.
QUALIFIERS
Par 73. CSS 75
77 H Anderson (Downfield).
78 F Gilbert (Carnoustie Ladies), R Wilson (Monifieth), J Tough (Brechin).
79 F Millar (Carnoustie Ladies).
80 A Hunter (Monifieth), J Brown (Monifieth), S McGregor (Edzell).
81 S Murray (Edzell), J Taylor (Edzell), K Sutherland (Royal Montrose).
83 L Fotheringham (Grange), M Summers (Panmure Barry).
84 L Fenton (Grange).
85 A Hay (Letham Grange).
86 S Bushby (Letham Grange).
AUTOMATIC DRAW
10.0 Anderson v Bushby. Murray v McGregor, Millar v Fotheringham, Summers v Tough.
10.32 Wilson v Fenton, Sutherland v Hunter, Brown v Taylor, Hay v Gilbert.
HANDICAP CHAMPIONSHIP DRAW
11.10 A Summers (Panmure Barry) v C Healey (Carnoustie Caledonian), A Chree (LPM) v S Arbuckle (Panmure Barry), S Baxby (Panmure Barry) v A Hemings (Ballumbie Castle), F Blair (Monifieth) v J Wilson (Downfield).
11.40 J Henderson (Royal Montrose) v N Turner (Grange), M Faulkner (Royal Montrose) v M Duthie (Panmure Barry), J Ganson (Arbroath) v S Todd (Panmure Barry), A Smith (Monifieth) v A Hutcheson (Panmure Barry).

Golfers win awards at Aberdeen Sports Council dinner

Proud dad Paul and son James Byrne from Banchory at tonight's Aberdeen Sports Council Awards Dinner at the Beach Ballroom. Richie Ramsay (Royal Aberdeen) was named the city's sportsperson of the year for his capture of the United States amateur championship among other very good performances. Richie was unable to collect the trophy in person. His father Iain deputised.

RACHEL BELL BURNS UP TROON
PORTLAND WITH 65 IN
HELEN HOLM FIRST ROUND

Yorkshire’s Rachel Bell led the sub-par surge in the first round of the Helen Holm Scottish women’s open amateur stroke-play championship with a magnificent round of 10-under-par 65 over the Troon Portland course today.
It is almost certainly a record although the organising Scottish Ladies Golfing Association officials could not confirm this in the past. England’s Joanne Hockley and Fiona Brown had 67s over the same course on their way to victories in 1996 and 2001 respectively.
Miss Bell, pictured right, a Ganton Golf Club member who spent four years on the American college golf circuit as a student at Southern California University, had one eagle and nine birdies in her halves of 30 and 35.
Astonishing for such a low round, Rachel had one bogey – at the 17th.
Her figures were:
OUT: 5 4 4 2 3 3 3 2 4 – 30.
IN: 3 5 4 4 3 4 3 5 4 – 35.
The eagle was a 3 at the sixth and the birdies came at the second, fourth, fifth, seventh, eighth, ninth, 12th, 15th and 18th.
She covered the six holes from the fourth to the ninth inclusive in seven under par with a run of five birdies and an eagle.
The par-5s at Troon Portland are two-shotters to the quality of player in this field, the strongest ever assembled for the championship. Even so, the scoring on the first of a three-day schedule for the first time, was very good. So much so that the CSS was 74 – one below par, which is unusual.
Rachel Bell has gone four strokes clear of Alexandra Vilatte from France and Sweden’s Camilla Lennarth. There are two rounds to go, another over Troon Portland on Saturday with the leading 66 players and ties at the end of 36 holes going forward to the testing championship links of Royal Troon on Sunday.
Leading the Scottish challenge on five-under-par 70 were Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) and Heather MacRae (Dunblane New). They are in joint fourth position with a score that in most years would have gone close to leading the first-round field.

SPANISH OPEN CHAOS AS 39 GROUPS STILL
TO FINISH SECOND ROUND ON SATURDAY

It will be after lunchtime on Saturday before the qualifying cut mark at the halfway stage of the European Tour's Spanish Open is known at the new Centrol Nacional in Madrid.
The long suspension of play due to heavy rain on Thursday has caused a long backlog of matches. A total of 39 groups have still to finish their second rounds on Saturday morning.
COMPLETED SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 144 (2 x 72).
Players from GB&I unless stated.
(x) denotes amateurs
136 Stuart Little 67 69.
137 Charl Schwartzel (SAf) 69 68, Nick Dougherty 66 71, Mark Foster 68 69.
138 Andrew Raitt 68 70, Simon Dyson 69 69.
140 Terry Price (Aus) 70 70, Graeme McDowell 71 69, Niclas Fasth (Swe) 68 72.
141 Alexander Noren (Swe) 70 71, Bradley Dredge 69 72, Andres Romero (Arg) 70 71, Martin Kaymer (Ger) 71 70.
142 Andrew Coltart 70 72, Alastair Forsyth 68 74, Alvaro Salto (Spa) 69 73
143 Gary Orr 71 72.
144 David Carter 71 73, Richard McEvoy 75 69, Marcus Higley 74 70 , Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (Spa) 70 74.
145 Juan Parron (Spa) 75 70, Darren Fichardt (SAf) 71 74, Patrik Sjoland (Swe) 71 74.
146 Simon Khan 72 74, Rafael Cabrera Bello (Spa) 75 71.
147 Sam Walker 73 74, Ricardo Gonzalez (Arg) 74 73.
148 Alessandro Tadini (Ita) 74 74, Kyron Sullivan 78 70.
149 Maarten Lafeber (Net) 72 77, Richard Finch 71 78, Pelle Edberg (Swe) 71 78.
150 Joakim Haeggman (Swe) 75 75, Patrik Sjoland (Swe) 71 73
151 Edward Rush 74 77.
152 Jean-Francois Remesy (Fra) 75 77.
155 Andrew Butterfield 77 78.
Retired: John Bickerton, James Hepworth.
Withdrew: Lee James.

ALL THE FIRST ROUND SCORES IN "HELEN HOLM"


HELEN HOLM SCOTTISH WOMEN’S OPEN AMATEUR STROKE-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
Troon Portland (Par 75, CSS 74).

FIRST ROUND
65 R Bell (Ganton).
69 A Vilatte(Fra), C Lennarth (Swe).
70 D Montgomery (The Lambourne), M Reid (Chevin), J Wilson (Strathaven), H MacRae (Dunblane New), L Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor).
71 L Herman (Bel), A Decharne (Fra), H Barwood (Knowle)..
72 S Evans (Vale of Llangollen), C Lee (West Lancs), R W Thomas (Vale of Glamorgan), E Alonso (Fra), B Loucks (Wrexham), D Smith (Co Louth), K Smith (Waterlooville), R Connor (Manchester).
73 J Carthew (Ladybank), B Genuini (Fra), L Hendry (Routenburn), C Alonso (Fra), L Hall (Royal Porthcawl), L-A Stemple (Ger)..
74 F Hernandez (Fra), M Bernard (Fra), K MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar), E Tipping (Sandiway), N Craven (Brough), T Davies (Holyhead), P Pretswell (Bothwell Castle), R Livingstone (Musselburgh Old), R Svahn (Fin), C Booth (Comrie), M Thomson (McDonald Ellon), B Mullins-Lane (Finchley).
75 A Riguelle (Fra), S Gendroneau (Fra), L Gustafsson (Swe), E Moffat (St Regulus), E Duggleby (Malton & Norton), S Atwood (Gog Magog).
76 C Hargan (Mortonhall), C Gruber (Royal Dornoch), S Stubbs (Shifnal), N Muehl (Aut), S Faller (Galway), K Caithness (St Regulus), M Ricordeau (Fra), N Edwards (Ganton), J Hedwall (Swe)
77 L Ball (Matfen Hall), L Collin (John O’Gaunt), M Briggs (Kilmacolm), T Boyes (Meon Valley), C Hedwall (Swe), E Westrup (Swe), S Mantyniemi (Fin).
78 K Walker (Buchanan Castle), T McDonnell (Ennis), L Robertson (Ranfurly Castle), B Harries (Haverfordwest), C Fallay (Fra), A Korkeila (Fin), S Harju (Fin).
79 R Crepiat (Fra), A Laing (Vale of Leven), J Hodge (Knowle), A F Ramsay (Kirriemuir), C-M Carlton (Fereneze), S Garbutt (Ganton), F Lockhart (St Regulus).
80 H Schilling (Ger), C MacDonald (Gullane Ladies), C Douglass (Brocket Hall), H Aitchison (Bedfordshire), M Pow (Selkirk), L Murray (Alford), J Turner (Mortonhall).
82 D Dewar (Monifieth), L J Roberts (Holyhead).
83 M Bazin de Jessey (Fra).
84 E Lowrey-Gold (Eaton).

THAI TWOSOME TIE FOR LEAD
AT HALFWAY STAGE
OF BEIJING OPEN

The Thai duo of Panuwat Muenlek and Chapchai Nirat edged ahead of the chasing pack in the second round at the Pine Valley Beijing Open as they grabbed a one-stroke lead at the halfway stage.
With birdies in the last two holes, rookie Panuwat leaped to the top of the leaderboard with a two-under-par 70 while compatriot Chapchai battled through a stomach flu as he carded a bogey free 67 for a two-day total of eight-under-par 136.
John Daly remained in contention when he shot a 71 in tied fifth place two strokes off the pace.
Overnight leader from India Gaurav Ghei was even-par for the day and slipped to tied third position together with Australia’s Scott Strange who fired a 68 at the Pine Valley Golf Resort and Country Club.
Daly, with two Major titles under his belt, was disappointed with his performance in the second round as he shot six birdies against five bogeys.
“I am disappointed as I shot too many bogeys but I hope for a better round tomorrow,” said Daly.
“The course was alright but the wind picked up slightly today, but overall it just wasn’t what I expected,” he added.

LEADING QUALIFIERS
Par 144 (2 x 72)
136 Chapchai Nirat (Tha) 69-67, Panuwat Muenlek (Tha) 66-70.
137 Scott Strange (Aus) 69-68, Gaurav Ghei (Ind) 65-72
138 Gerald Rosales (Phi) 71-67, John Daly (US) 67-71, Adam Blyth (Aus) 70-68, Brad Iles (NZ) 69-69
139 Liang Wen-chong (Chi) 70-69, Hendrik Buhrmann (SAf) 68-71, Mardan Mamat (Sin) 69-70, Taichiro Kiyota (Jap) 70-69
140 Brad Kennedy (Aus) 69-71, Han Lee (US) 75-65, Jerome Delariarte (Phi) 71-69, Thaworn Wiratchant (Tha) 72-68, Kane Webber (Aus) 71-69
141 Prom Meesawat (Tha) 71-70, Anthony Kang (US) 69-72, Unho Park (Aus) 70-71; Craig Smith (Wal) 69-72, Marcus Both (Aus) 71-70, Stephen Scahill (NZ) 70-71, Mark Bro (NZ) 71-70, Roy Moon (US) 73-68, Adam Le Vesconte (Aus) 68-73, Rick Gibson (Can) 71-70, David Gleeson (Aus) 71-70, Neven Basic (Aus) 69-72.
Other qualifiers included:
143 Ross Bain (Sco) 74 68.
Non-qualifiers included:
150 Simon Dunn (Sco) 74 76.

GOLF DE FONTCAUDE:

A FRENCH TREASURE

BURIED IN HEART
OF MONTPELLIER

By FRASER THOMSON

The French, for all their apparent reluctance to embrace golf, have been keeping a closely-guarded secret. It is not why, when he had one hand on the coveted Claret Jug, did Jean Van de Velde infamously fail to win the 1999 Open at Carnoustie.
No, that conundrum – to the Frenchman’s continuing chagrin – remains unanswered. This secret is less of a mystery but as equally beguiling nevertheless.
It is Golf de Fontcaude. Until now, a relatively little-known golf course buried in the heart of Montpellier in, what the locals call, the “real” south of France. And, by air, it is less than three hours away from Scotland.
In the coming months, Golf de Fontcaude - or The Montpellier Golf Resort as it is likely to be rebranded – will become synonymous with the very best of French sport, particularly rugby and golf.
Great sporting names have passed through the foyer of Golf de Fontcaude including Lance Armstrong (an adopted son of France thanks to his seven Tour de France victories), Yannick Noah, the French Open tennis champion, England cricketer Graham Gooch and the England football team during the World Cup in 1998.
Lying in gently rolling hills barely a shanked drive away from La Mosson Stadium, which is one of the host venues for this year’s Rugby World Cup, this gem of a golf course looks certain to become one of the golfing finds on the Continent.
Golf de Fontcaude, in fact, has two golf courses. It is difficult to say which is the more challenging. The 18-hole championship course has been a venue for past French Open qualifiers and provides a stern test of any golfer’s ability while the nine-hole short course is described with some understatement as a bit of fun for beginners.
UNDULATING GREENS
Not so. It is, indeed, fun but only because it will offer stern resistance to even low handicappers who are prepared to take on its undulating greens with treacherous run-offs. The danger, forgive the pun, is never far away.
What the 18-hole championship course measuring 6,292 metres (6,881 yards) lacks in length – by modern championship standards – it more than makes up for in degree of difficulty.
English golf course designer Chris Pittman, now based in New Zealand, sympathetically utilised the natural terrain of the Montpellier region when constructing this track which wraps around the impressive hotel and clubhouse, both of which are undergoing a 6 million euro refurbishment in time for the Rugby World Cup in September.
Wending its way through ravines and gullies the fairways are tight enough to force the thinking golfer to ponder carefully every shot and those who prefer to “grip it and rip it” face severe punishment for those errant drives. Accomplished players may not pull the driver out of their bags too often but great care is needed even with long irons.
With the local fauna offering further hazards – during the summer months the pretty La Garrigue shrubs give off a heavenly scent which may or may not be a welcome distraction from your game – there is little in the way of bail out areas for those brave enough to attack the course.
That said, high handicappers can play with the assurance that they are unlikely to lose many balls unless their game goes completely awry.
Many golfers say the game does not start until you reach the green and, at Fontcaude, this is certainly true. The greens, praised as among the finest in France, were lightning quick even when cut for winter making holding approach shots arduous and the infinite dips, slopes and furrows make for interesting reading when eventually choosing your line.
SCARY MOMENTS
Few players will escape without at least a few scary moments and a clean card at the end of a round will be something to cherish.
Being a short hop from many English airports, Golf de Fontcaude is sure to become a popular destination for those wanting a long weekend of golf or perhaps a full week, with the assurance of a daily round and perhaps a visit to other course in the area.
Ryanair flies from Nottingham East Midlands to Nimes (about an hour from Montpellier) for as little as £13.69 including taxes, although I think that cut-price rate – a penny each way! – was a lucky strike by yours truly.
In the middle of the 175 acre estate rests the hotel which will soon boast 80 luxury rooms and suites, many of which have splendid views over the golf course and on to the rugby stadium.
The destination restaurant La Garrigue will, by day, have a bistro atmosphere, slipping seemlessly into something a little more special after sundown but always specialising in the finest regional cuisine.
Downstairs the clubhouse, with one of the largest terraces, I have ever seen will be a welcome 19th hole for those wearily coming of the course and the luckier ones watching them.
Montpellier itself offers a welcome alternative to those non-golfers who might prefer the shops, restaurants and other delights expected of France’s eighth city.
Steeped in tradition and rich in religion, Montpellier is a bustling modern city that has not allowed the trappings of the 21st century to overshadow its historic past both as a significant medieval town and as the centre of medicine in France and even Europe.
CAMARGUE COUNTRY
Less than half an hour’s drive will pitch you deep into Camargue country where you will discover wild white horses, black bulls – those of the famed bull runs – flamingos and some of the best coastline and beaches in the region.
Medieval towns abound in the Languedoc-Rousillon region such as Carcassonne, Aigues-Mortes and Saint Guilheim le Desert while Nimes and Narbonne remind visitors of the Roman influence on the region… always with a French flair.
FACTBOX
Accommodation: During his visit, Fraser Thomson stayed at Golf de Fontcaude, Route de Lodeve, 34990, Juvignac, Montpellier. Tel: +33 (0) 4 67 45 90 00; Fax: +33 (0) 4 67 45 90 20. Website: http://www.golfhotelmontpellier.com/
All bookings can be made through http://www.golfinfrance.com/
Standard rates: €750pp per week b&b, including seven rounds of golf (two of which can be taken at other golf courses in the area excluding transfers). Week can be taken starting on any day, i.e. Tuesday to Tuesday.
OR
€120pp per day b&b plus one round of golf per day, i.e. Thursday, Friday & Saturday = €360. Children under 16, €20pp supplement. Price also includes extra rounds on nine hole academy course subject to availability.

Golf Hotel de Fontcaude can also offer teaching breaks with 2 hours of morning tuition by resident professionals for €50 pp per day, minimum of eight people.
Where required, Golf Hotel de Fontcaude can also organise tournaments for parties staying for one week, comprising two practice days, thre competition days of team, individual stableford and individual medal formats.

Transfers to and from airports, i.e. Nimes, Montpellier, Perpignan and Carcassone, or car hire can be arranged through Golf in France.

Flights: The author flew Ryanair from Nottingham East Midlands to Nimes for £13.69 including taxes but prices usually start at approx. £50-60 return. Contact: http://www.ryanair.com/ for further details.

FIFE STUDENT PETER IS OLD

DOMINION CONFERENCE

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

Peter Latimer from Markinch, Fife, a freshman student at Guilford College, Greensboro in North Carolina, has been named Rookie of the Year in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference.
Latimer, pictured right, a winner on his first season on the American college golf circuit, was also named to the All-Old Dominion Athletic conference team, selected by the head golf coaches in the conference.


RHYS DAVIES RANKED NO 1 ON US COLLEGE CIRCUIT

Edinburgh-born Welshman Rhys Davies, in his final year at East Tennessee State University, tops GolfWeek’s US college golf rankings this week for the second time in two months.
Walker Cup player Davies, brought up at Bridgend, South Wales, has won 10 times in his four years on the American college circuit.
The next best placed British & Irish players in the latest rankings are Niall Turner (Minnesota University) from Cork in 24th place; Seamus Power (East Tennessee State) from Waterford in 45th place and Gareth Shaw (East Tennessee State) from Lisburn, Northern Ireland in 46th spot.


GLASGOW STUDENT JOINT FIFTH IN LOUISIANA

Stephen Clark from Glasgow, a junior student at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, finished joint fifth in the Mid-Continent Championship college golf tournament at Golf Club at Stonebridge, Shreveport in Louisiana.
The high finish earned Clark a place in the All-Mid-Continent “team” of six, a team that never plays any matches but is chosen by the golf coaches in the conference and reflects a player’s high standing.
Clark had rounds of 74, 73 and 69 for a level par total of 216 over the par-72, 6,954yd course.
Team-mate Alex Hogben, a 6ft 3in freshman student from Manchester, finished joint 17th in a field of 35 players with scores of 76, 71 and 76 for 223.
Tim Streng (Western Illinois) won the individual honours by three strokes with rounds of 71, 69 and 68 for eight-undere-par 208.
Western Illinois (863) won the team event by one shot from Oral Roberts with Southern Utah (871) third and UMKC (875) fourth of seven contesting colleges

MICHAEL SIM JOINT NINTH AT END OF
FIRST DAY IN BYRON NELSON CLASSIC

Aberdeen-born Michael Sim was lying joint ninth at the end of the first round of the Byron Nelson Classic, this week's US PGA Tour event at TPC Four Seasons Resort in Irving, Texas.
Michael, who secured a top-20 finish in his debut on the American circuit last week after months of rehab from a stress fracture in his lower back, bogeyed the first hole but moved into the red numbers with birdies at the first, fifth, seventh and 14th.
Luke Donald is the leading British player in joint fourth place on 67.
American Sean O'Hair is setting the pace with a 65.
LEADING FIRST-ROUND SCORES
65 Sean O'Hair.
66 Brett Wetterich, Anders Hansen (Den).
Other scores:
67 Luke Donald (Eng) (jt 4th).
68 Michael Sim (Sco) (jt 9th).
70 Ian Poulter (Eng) (jt 38th).
73 Brian Davis (Eng), G OwEn (Eng) (jt 102nd).

US UNIVERSITY COACHES BANNED FROM
USING TEXT MESSAGE TO RECRUIT

Recruitment of new players for their college programmes plays a major part of a golf coach's life in the United States. Their hands are tied in more ways than you might think. There is a strict list of what they can do and what they cannot do to get the best players to sign Letters of Intent to join this or that university.
The NCAA board of directors have added one more restriction, which reflects the way communication between individuals has changed in recent times.
The ruling body of American college sport has imposed a ban this week on ALL text messages from coaches to potential recruits. It will come into effect in August.
E-mails and faxes and letters - remember them? - would still be permissible and subject to current NCAA guidelines, which include some time periods that prohibit coaches from contacting recruits in any form.
"The board was swayed very much by what the student-athletes themselves had to say,'' said an NCAA official. "We heard anecdotal stories of someone waking up and having 52 text messages.''
It is recognised that enforcing the new measure could prove difficult.
"You're not allowed to buy a kid a hamburger when he goes on the road, but that's tough to enforce, too. There are many rules that, on the face of them, are unenforceable,'' said the official.

Rain hits Spanish Open at new Madrid course

PAUL LAWRIE LETS IT SLIP WITH THREE
BOGEYS ON HIS SECOND NINE

A suspension of play from late morning until half-past four because of torrential rain played havoc with the first round of the Spanish Open at the brand new Centro Nacional de Golf course - the headquarters of the Royal Spanish Golf Federation - in Madrid today.
A lot of players still have to complete their rounds.
The leader in the clubhouse is American Notah Begay III with a four-under-par 68 but France's Gregory Bourdy will resume at the 14th on Friday, standing at four under par, as will Sweden's Steven Jeppesen.
Bathgate's Stephen Gallacher is three under par after 16 holes. On the same mark after 15 holes is Austria's Terry Pilkadaris.
Aberdeen's Paul Lawrie, starting at the 10th, birdied the long 10th and 16th but dropped a shot at the short 14th to be one-under par 35 for his first nine holes. It all went pear-shaped after that for the 1999 Open champion. Paul bogeyed the fourth, eighth and ninth for 39 and a disappointing round of two-over-par 74.
CLUBHOUSE LEADERS
Par 72
68 N Begay III (US).
70 M A Jimenez (Spa), C Rodiles (Spa), P McGinley (Ire).
71 D Higgins (Ire), J Edfors (Swe), H Nystrom (Swe), T Whitehouse (Eng).
72 T Teshima (Jap), S Lyle (Sco), E Canonica (Ita), D Lynn (Eng), D McGrane (Ifre), S Webster (Eng), J M Carriles (Spa).
Other scores:
74 P Lawrie (Sco).
76 W Bennett (Eng).

GREAT SCOTT! JAMIESON JAMS IN
SEVEN BIRDIES FOR A 67 IN
HOOTERS' TOUR EVENT

Rookie tour pro Scott Jamieson from Glasgow was in joint second place at the end of the opening round of the NGA Hooters' Tour event, the Savannah Lakes Resort Classic at Monticello Golf Club, South Carolina tonight.
Jamieson, well used to American golf courses and playing conditions are four years at Augusta State University, was one off the pace with a five-under-par 67, set by Craig Hicks from Florida, in the early completed rounds. Four players in all were on 67.
Scott, last year's Scottish Golf Union Order of Merit winner and a +4 handicap player when he turned pro in November, had birdies at the first, third, fifth, minth, 13th, 14th and 17th with bogeys at only the seventh and 10th in halves of 33 and 34.
David Kirkpatrick, who played for Scotland in the early 1990s but a resident of Lakeland, Florida for a number of years, was lying joint 19th with a two-under-par 70.
Gareth Maybin from Ballyclare, Northern Ireland matched the par of 72 to be sharing 40th place in a field of 168.
Colin Spiers from Dunkeld had a 77 to be well down the field. He needs something special second time round to make the top 60 players and ties who will progress to the final two rounds at the weekend.

IN-FORM MELISSA FAVOURITE
TO REPEAT HELEN HOLM WIN
OVER THREE DAYS AT TROON

Only two Scots – Lesley Nicholson (1999) and Heather Stirling (2002) – have won the Helen Holm Scottish women’s open amateur stroke-play championship in the last 14 years and it’s long odds against that record being improved at Troon this weekend.
For the first time since Belle Robertson won the inaugural 54-hole tournament in 1973, the “Helen Holm” is being played over three days instead of two at Troon Portland and Royal Troon.
The field of 90 consists some of the best female amateurs in Great Britain & Ireland plus France, Sweden, Germany, Finlay and Austria. For some reason, the Spanish Federation continues to ignore the event even though it is now one of the tournaments that counts towards the European amateur rankings.
There are 45 players with handicaps of scratch or better, including the 19-year-old England international and Curtis Cup player Melissa Reid from Derby. Melissa won the title with a 13 under par total last year and a recent victory in the Whittington Heath Ladies’ Trophy 36-hole open event, in which she lowered the course record, indicates that she will be very hard to beat even though this is the best field ever assembled at Troon.
Scotland’s hopes of a home win may rest on the shoulders of Jenna Wilson (Strathaven), Heather MacRae (Dunblane New), Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle), Martine Pow (Selkirk), Krystle Caithness (St Regulus) or Carly Booth (Comrie).
There will be much interest in the performance of 14-year-old Carly, a Junior Ryder Cup player, who has flown back from the David Leadbetter Golf Academy at Bradenton, Florida where she has been a student since last autumn.
Has she become an even better player by becoming immersed in golf morning, noon and night over the past nine months? This weekend should provide a pointer
After the first and second rounds on Friday and Saturday over Troon Portland – whose par-5 holes are two-shotters for this class of player – the leading 66 and ties will qualify for Sunday’s final 18 holes over Royal Troon which is more of a test, particularly if the wind blows.

RAIN IN SPAIN HALTS PLAY FOR MORE
THAN FIVE HOURS: PAUL LAWRIE
TWO UNDER PAR AFTER EIGHT HOLES

Heavy rain cause a lengthy suspension of play on the opening day of the Spanish Open in Madrid today.
Play was halted at 11.35am and did not restart until 4.40pm.
There were no completed scores to hand at 5.30pm.
LEADERS ON THE COURSE
-3 after 8 Ignacio Garrico.
-3 after 6 Mikko Ilonen.
-2 after 11 Henrik Nystrom.
-2 after 9 Tom Whitehouse.
-2 after 8 Paul Lawrie.
-2 after 8 Paul McGinley.
-2 after 7 Stephen Gallacher.
-2 after 5 Gareth Davies.
-2 after 5 Terry Pilkadaris.

MEGAN BEATS DONNA AND
CLARE-MARIE TO RETAIN
RENFREWSHIRE TITLE

Megan Briggs has retained the Renfrewshire women’s golf championship she won for the first time at the age of 16 last year.
At Erskine Golf Club, the Kilmacolm teenager, who qualified in fourth position, beat 10 times record county champion Donna Jackson (Cochrane Castle), the leading qualifier, for the second year in a row, this time by 4 and 3 in the morning semi-final instead of in the final.
In the final Megan beat 20-year-old Stirling University student Clare-Marie Carlton (Fereneze), who won the title in 2003, by one hole in a very tight match. They were all square after 16 holes. Then Megan won the 17th and halved the last to be champion again. Megan, with the trophy, and Clare-Marie are pictured above (image by Carol Fell of Renfrewshire CLGA).
Clare-Marie, the No2 qualifier, had beaten the No 3 seed, Gillian Kyle (East Renfrewshire) by 3 and 1 in her semi-final.

Results:
Semi-finals – M Briggs (Kilmacolm) bt D Jackson (Cochrane Castle) 4 and 3, C-M Carlton (Fereneze) bt G Kyle (East Renfrewshire) 3 and 1.
Final – Briggs bt Carlton 1 hole.

IRELAND'S ECONOMY RECEIVED
143 MILLION EURO BOOST FROM
2006 RYDER CUP HOSTING

The amount of money injected into the Irish economy by the 2006 Ryder Cup in Ireland reached a record €143 million, according to a new report by Deloitte & Touche, jointly commissioned by Ryder Cup Europe and Fáilte Ireland (The Irish Tourism Development Authority).
The Total Direct Economic Impact figure of €143 million exceeded pre-event predictions of €130 million and represented a significant 32% increase on the impact of the 2002 Ryder Cup in England and an 80% increase on that of the 1997 Ryder Cup in Spain.
The bulk of the impact came from event organisers and from spectators who each spent an average of €350 per day while at the 2006 Ryder Cup overseas spectators spent the most, at €526 per day.
In the corporate sector the average guest spent €500 each day, while those from the United States spent an average of €600 per day.
Deloittes point out in the report that total spectator spending was up 60% compared to The Belfry in 2002, mostly due to the increased week-long attendance of 260,000 in 2006 compared to 147,000 in 2002.
Ireland also benefited from a more than 50% increase in spending by spectators outside the event compared to 2002, with overseas spectators staying longer and spending more than ever before on extended holidays around The Ryder Cup.

MEGAN BEATS DONNA AGAIN TO REACH
FINAL OF RENFREWSHIRE CHAMPIONSHIP

Renfrewshire women's county title-holder Megan Briggs, 17, from Kilmacolm beat 10 times champion Donna Jackson (Cochrane Castle) for the second year in a row.
Last year, it was in the final. Today, at Erskine Golf Club, it was in the first semi-finao with Megan winning by 4 and 3.
Winner of the other semi-final was another former champion, Clare-Marie Carlton (Fereneze). She beat Gillian Kyle (East Renfrewshire) by 3 and 1.
So the final will be between the No 3 qualifier (Gillian) and the No 4 qualifier, Megan.

NOW BIRMINGHAM NEC TO STAGE
GOLF SHOW IN NOVEMBER

The Golf Show Co Ltd, owner of the London Golf Show, will launch The Golf Show, NEC Birmingham, from November 16 to 18.
The announcement was made today to the assembled golfing media at the opening day of the company’s successful flagship event, the London Golf Show, at ExCeL.
Colin Brunton, chairman of The Golf Show Co Ltd, explained: “We had been in discussion with officials at The NEC for some time now and they are really keen for the show to be held at the venue to enable the thousands of golfers based in the centre of the country to enjoy what Londoners have benefited from in the last three years.
“The Golf Show Co has been able to establish a successful template for golf shows, and we decided to establish The Golf Show, NEC Birmingham 2007, using our experience to expand our regional business. We believe there may be other opportunities both internationally and in other regions of the UK.
“While golf is an open-air sport, exhibitions such as this are hostage to Mother Nature so as much as possible needs to be held under cover. And the technological advances in golf coaching – with the advent of computer analysis and ball-flight monitors – necessitate a consistent power supply and an environment which can be provided only by a modern, state-of-the-art exhibition venue such as the NEC.”
The majority of features which have enabled the London Golf Show to cement its place as Europe’s largest consumer golf show will be included in the new event – and The Golf Show Co has promised a new iconic feature to rival that of London’s floating green.
■ For more information on the The Golf Show, NEC Birmingham, or to book space contact The Golf Show Co Ltd on (0044) 1732 836100.

DEATH OF KATHLEEN COPLEY, FORMER SLGA
CHAIRMAN AND CHAMPIONSHIP FINALIST

Mrs Kathleen Copley, one of the leading players and administrators in Scottish women’s amateur golf from the 1960s to the early 1990s, died earlier this week at Borders General Hospital. She was 63.
As Kathleen Lackie, playing out of Montrose Royal Albert Golf Club, she was a gifted young player who soon made her mark in the Montrose and Angus area and became a county team player.
In 1974, Kathleen reached the final of the Scottish women’s amateur championship at Nairn and had an epic duel with Dr Aileen Wilson (Haggs Castle) before losing at the 22nd hole.
She was capped for Scotland in 1974 and 1975 before marrying Malcolm Copley.
Kathleen served on the Scottish Ladies Golfing Association executive in the late 1980s and became chairman in 1990.
She was a member of Gullane Ladies and Broomieknowe Golf Clubs.
Golf was not her only forte. She was an extremely good Bridge player, so good in fact that she was a Grand Master.
Mr and Mrs Copley latterly bought a house with a big garden in the Kelso area. They both loved gardening.
The funeral service will be held at Warriston Crematorium Lorimer Chapel, Edinburgh at 11am on Monday, April 30. All friends are invited.
A private interment will be held at Sleepyhillock Cemetery, Montrose.

JOHN DALY TWO SHOTS OFF THE
PACE IN PINE VALLEY
BEIJING OPEN

Indian stalwart Gaurav Ghei grabbed the opening round lead after a solid seven-under-par 65 with American talent John Daly lurking two strokes back at the Pine Valley Beijing Open on Thursday.
Ghei, a two-time winner in Asia, took advantage of the calm conditions in the early morning and enjoyed a steady round that included an eagle at the Pine Valley Golf Resort and Country Club.
A stroke adrift in second place was Thai rookie Panuwat Muenlek who was equally impressive while Daly was in lone third place after a 67 in the US$500,000 event. Australia’s Adam Le Vesconte was back in the swing of things firing a 68 in tied fourth spot alongside South African Hendrik Buhrmann and England’s Ben St. John.
Wu Kang-chun was the highest ranked local player in joint seventh position when he carded a 69 together with Singapore’s Mardan Mamat, who celebrated his 200th appearance on the Asian Tour this week. Also in tied seventh place was Thailand’s Chapchai Nirat, currently ranked 10th on the Asian Tour’s UBS Order of Merit, Chinese Taipei’s Lin Wen-tang, Americans Edward Michaels and Anthony Kang, Australian trio of Brad Kennedy, Scott Strange and Neven Basic, Brad Iles of New Zealand and Welshman Craig Smith.
Ghei, who had ended an 11-year wait with a triumph at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters last year, was on the go at the Jack Nicklaus-designed course when he fired an eagle at the par five second hole and coupled with seven birdies against two bogeys, the Indian talent continues to enjoy the ride this season.
FIVE BIRDIES AFTER TURN
“It is good to always think back on your win and if I can keep this up, it would be nice to be among the leaders in the final round. But this is still the early stages and anything can happen,” said Ghei, who blazed past the back nine with five birdies.
The 38-year-old Indian continued his momentum with an eagle on the second hole and a birdie on the fourth before two dropped shots on the fifth and seventh holes. He rolled into the lead with a final birdie on the eighth hole.
“I’ve been playing consistently the last few tournaments. The course is in great shape and it just depends. If the wind blows, anything is possible. I’m playing well and hope to be in contention this week.
“It definitely is a course which suits the long hitters because the fairways are generous and we have guys like John Daly who is a Major winner in the field, is it going to be a tough week to beat these guys. I’m playing well and hopefully I can continue this momentum over the next three days,” admitted Ghei.
Panuwat enjoyed a dream start with two eagles, a birdie and a bogey in the first four holes. With four more birdies against two bogeys to close his round, the Thai youngster hopes to maintain his steady performance this week.
“I was surprised with the way I started with the two eagles. I will try to deliver a similar result and make the cut first, that’s my priority of course. Although I am currently in a good position, I won’t have any expectations and put pressure on myself unnecessarily,” said Panuwat, who turned pro in 2005.
DALY'S SIX BIRDIES
Panuwat picked up the game at the age of eight and has won 10 amateur titles on the domestic circuit. The 21-year-old finished in the top-10 at the Motorola International Bintan last month and is playing in his third event this year.
Daly, who was well rested ahead of the challenges this week, delivered a determined run with six birdies against a lone dropped shot.
“I came here Saturday and have been working hard on my game. You have to be well rested to play golf these days,” said Daly, a five-time winner on the US PGA Tour.
“I got lucky. The wind wasn’t blowing this morning so anytime you can get out there without the wind blowing, it favours you. I hope to take this round and use the confidence heading into tomorrow.
“I hit the ball solid and it’s nice to do that and get confidence in your game. The only mess up was at hole number five. I just came out of a drive and had a tough second shot and three putted that par four fifth hole. But it’s nice to know I’m hitting the ball good and playing well overall,” added the Californian-born talent.
The only Scots in the field, Asia-based Simon Dunn and Ross Bain, both finished on two-over 74.

LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 72
65 Gaurav Ghei (Ind).
66 Panuwat Muenlek (Tha).
67 John Daly (US)
68 Hendrik Buhrmann (SAf), Adam Le Vesconte (Aus), Ben St John (Eng).
69 Edward Michaels (US), Lin Wen-Tang (Tpe), Chapchai Nirat (Tha), Mardan Mamat (Sin), Scott Strange (Aus), Wu Kang-chun (Chi), Brad Iles (NZ), Neven Basic (Aus), Anthony Kang (US), Brad Kennedy (Aus), Craig Smith (Wal).
70 - Ashley Hall (Aus), Liu Anda (Chi), Rowan Beste (Aus), Liang Wen-chong (Chi), Lu Wei-lan (Tpe), Tony Carolan (Aus), Adam Blyth (Aus), Vivek Bhandari (Ind), Taichiro Kiyota (Jap), Wang Lei (Chi), Angelo Que (Phi), Unho Park (Aus), Young Nam (Kor), Stephen Scahill (NZ), Ben Leong (Mas), Somkiat Srisanga (Tha).
Other scores:
74 Ross Bain (Sco), Simon Dunn (Sco).

ROSEANNE PRAISED BY

CALIFORNIA COACH

AFTER GRITTY FINISH

It can’t be easy going from Scotland in mid-winter to play on the American college circuit when you join it halfway through their season, so words of praise from the University of California Berkeley head golf coach Nancy McDaniel must have been music to the ears of Scottish Under-18 girls champion Roseanne Niven from Crieff.
Roseanne, pictured right, had rounds of 86, 81 and 76 for a total of 243 and a share of 36th position in a field of 50 players for the Women’s Pac-10 Championship at Broadmoor Golf Club in Seattle.
Miss Niven, only 18, had two triple bogeys and two double bogeys in her first round and on double bogey in her second.
That would be enough to put anyone down in the dumps but Roseanne kept her chin up and was able to birdie the short seventh and long 11th in a morale-boosting final round which included bogeys at the second, third, ninth, 11th, 16th and 18th.
Miss Niven’s last-round effort counted for the California team and enabled them to finish fifth among 10 top-notch teams from the conference.
"Roseanne played better for us today," said coach Nancy McDaniel. "We really needed a solid effort from her today, and she came through."
Now Roseanne and the California Bears are looking forward to the regional championships in mid-May.
The individual Pac-10 title went to Tiffany Joh (UCLA) who birdied the second hole of a sudden-death play-off to beat Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist (Arizona State), the 2005 British girls’ open champion.
Belen Mozo, the Spanish girl who won both the British women’s and British girls’ titles in Northern Ireland last summer, is taking time to settle in her first year with Southern California University. She finished joint 30th on 241 – only two shots ahead of Roseanne.
Compatriot Azahara Munoz (Arizona State), winner of the British girls title at Lanark in 2004, finished joint 15th.

LEADING INDIVIDUAL TOTALS
218 Tiffany Joh (UCLA) 74 70 74, Anna Nordqvist (Arizona State) 68 72 78 (Joh bt Nordqvist at second hole of sudden-death play-off).
219 Mari Chun (Stanford) 71 73 75.
Other totals:
231 Azahara Munoz (Arizona State) 76 77 78 (jt15th).
241 Belen Mozo (Southern California) 78 84 79 (jt 30th).
243 Roseanne Niven (California) 86 81 76 (jt 36th).

LEADING TEAM FINAL TOTALS
897 Arizona State. 915 UCLA. 921 Southern California. 923 Arizona. 926 California. 10 Teams took part

NIGHTMARE OUTWARD HALF FOR FIONA
IN ENGLISH SENIORS CHAMPIONSHIP

Blairgowrie-born Fiona Anderson had a nightmare outward half of 48 on her way to finishing joint 22nd in the qualifying rounds of the English senior women’s closed amateur golf championship over 36 holes at Delamere Forest Golf Club today.
Fiona, who has lived in North-west England for a number of years and is a member of Formby Ladies, had rounds of 80 and 85 for 165.
Miss Anderson, who played in five Scottish women’s finals between 1980 and 1991 and won her native title in 1987, finished 19 shots behind the No 1 seed by eight strokes, Susan Dye, who scored 72 and 73 for a one-over-par total of 145 over her home course.
In the second round,Fiona had five double bogeys before the turn but then reeled off eight pars and one bogey to come home in 37.
Only the top 16 go on to the match-play stages.

LEADING QUALIFIERS FOR MATCH-PLAY
Par 144 (2 x 72)
145 S Dye (Delamere Forest) 72 73.
153 G Bray (Littlestone) 81 72.
155 C Caldwell (Sunningdale) 77 78.
156 C Watson (Beaconsfield) 75 81, J Rumsey (Rochford Hundred) 75 81, H Smyth (Pannal) 78 78.
157 R Lindley (Hartlepool) 82 75.
158 P Wrightson (Huddersfield) 84 75.
159 E Elliott (Whitley Bay) 78 80, S Ellis (Ferndown) 78 81.
160 S Stradling (Worplesdon) 78 82.
161 J Tootell (Lancaster) 77 84, R Adams (Addington Court) 80 81.
162 I Brien (Wentworth) 80 82, P Parker (Abbotsley) 85 77, A Vine (Stockport) 82 80, F Coulter (Banstead Downs) 81 81.
Other score among non-qualifiers:
165 F Anderson (Formby Ladies) 80 85.

MEGAN v DONNA IN SEMI-FINALS

OF RENFREWSHIRE

CHAMPIONSHIP

Defending champion Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) will meet record-setting 10 times champion Donna Jackson (Cochrane Castle), the No 1 qualifier, in the first of this morning's (Thu) semi-finals of the Renfrewshire women's county golf championship at Erskine Golf Club.
It will be a repeat of last year's final in which the 17-year-old Megan (pictured right) beat Donna by 6 and 5 with five birdies in 13 holes.
In the other semi-final, Gillian Kyle (East Renfrewshire) will play Clare-Marie Carlton (Fereneze), the 2003 county champion and No 2 qualifier this week.
The semi-finals will tee off at 9.30 and 9.45 with the final at 2pm.
Results:

First round - D Jackson (Cochrane Castle) bt B Biggart (Kilmacom) 5 and 4, J McCartney (Erskine) bt A Judge (Ranfurly Castle) 1 hole, L Robertson (Ranfurly Castle) bt Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) 5 and 4, M Briggs (Kilmacolm) bt L Morrow (Erskine) 4 and 3, G Kyle (East Renfrewshire) bt F Campbell (Erskine) 7 and 6, S Smyth (Ranfurly Castle) bt C Fell (Ranfurly Castle) at 19th ,G McGinlay (Cochrane Castle) bt Denise Cowan (Cochrane Castle) 8 and 7, C-M Carlton (Fereneze) bt L McDougall (Greenock)1 hole.
Quarter-finals - Jackson bt McCartney 5 and 4, M Briggs bt Robertson 3 and 1, Kyle bt Smyth 4 and 3, Carlton bt McGinlay 4 and 3.

TEENAGER PAMELA BEATS

FAVOURITE JENNA IN

LANARKSHIRE FINAL

Bothwell Castle teenager Pamela Pretswell achieved her best golf performance todate at Cathkin Braes Golf Club today (Wed) when she beat Scotland international Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) by one hole in the final.
It was 17-year-old Pamela’s first county title success and she prevented her more experienced opponent completing a hat-trick of title wins.
Miss Pretswell, the No 2 qualifier, won the second hole to square the match and went one up for the first time with an eagle at the fourth. The sixth was halved in birdies before Pamela went two up at the 10th.
Jenna Wilson, the top seed, then squared the game with a birdie at the 13th and a par at the 15th, but Pamela’s confidence was still high and she took what proved to be a winning lead by winning the 16th. The last two holes were halved. Pamela is pictured above with the championship trophy (picture by Lanarkshire secretary Jean Macintyre).
In the morning semi-finals on a quite windy day, Jenna had beaten Elaine Cuthill (Lanark) by 6 and 5 while Pamela beat Susan Wood (Drumpellier), the No 3 qualifier, by 5 and 4.
Details:
Semi-finals – J Wilson (Strathaven) bt E Cuthill (Lanark) 6 and 5, P Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) bt S Wood (Drumpellier) 5 and 4.
Final – Pretswell bt Wilson 1 hole.

NICOLL’S FOUR-BIRDIE BURST ON WAY
TO HEADING TORRANCE QUALIFIERS

Prestwick’s Callum Nicoll strung four birdies together from the fifth to the eighth on the Torrance Course today (Wed) on his way to winning the qualifying round for the Scottish Wateraid 54-hole Order of Merit pro-am at Fairmont St Andrews from May 8 to 10.
Nicoll, who picked up a £100 prize, returned a three-under-par 69 which was good scoring on a dry but quite blustery day. Apart from his birdie burst in reaching the turn in four-under-par 32, Callum deviated from par only once in the remaining 14 holes. That was a bogey at the 15th in an inward 37.
A total of 28 players in a field of 95 with scores of 76 qualified for next month’s tournament. There were nine players on 76 and only three got through on a card play-off. Lee Vannet (Carnoustie Links) was one of them.
LEADING QUALIFIERS
Par 72
69 C Nicoll (Prestwick).
71 R Gray (Torrance House).
72 K Monaghan (Bothwell Castle), K Hutton (Downfield), I Pender (Cawder).
73 G Harvey (Bearsden), J Erskine (Portpatrick Dunskey), C Russell (Dunbar), D Patrick (Mortonhall), G Rankin (Drumpellier), G McInnes (Murcar Links).

JAMIESON CLEARS HIS

MEMBERSHIP FEE ON

US HOOTERS TOUR

Scott Jamieson, the Cathkin Braes player who topped the Scottish Golf Union Order of Merit before turning professional last year, is competing on the Hooters Tour in the United States and is in the field for this week’s event, the Savannah Lakes Resort Classic at Monticello Golf Club, McCormick in South Carolina.
Jamieson, 23, pictured right, has played in two events so far. He won $2,758 for a share of 22nd place in the Auburn-Opelika Classic with rounds of 70, 69, 69 and 73 for seven-under-par 281 but missed the cut in his second appearance in the Capitol Chevrolet Classic with scores of 70 and 75.
Also playing on the Hooters Tour is Colin Speirs from Dunkeld. He has missed the cut in all four of his events this year.
It is not cheap to play on the Hooters Tour. The annual membership fee is $2,000 and there is a hefty entry fee for every tournament. But the prize money is relatively good. Last week’s winner collected $33,000.
Both Jamieson and Speirs played the American college circuit for a number of years.

ABERDEEN ASSET MANAGEMENT'S
FIVE-FIGURE BOOST FOR S G U

Aberdeen Asset Management has added the Scotland men's amateur international golf team to their growing sponsorship portfolio in a significant five- figure sum boost to the Scottish Golf Union’s talent development programme.
One of the world’s leading investment managers, Aberdeen Asset Management will become the official sponsors of the Scotland men’s amateur golf team as well as a partner of the SGU’s Academy, in a new deal which will see the Aberdeen logo appearing on the clothing and bags of Scotland’s leading amateur golfers while representing their country.
Earlier this year, Aberdeen Asset Management announced a sponsorship agreement with Colin Montgomerie, while also extending their eight-year association with 1999 Open champion Paul Lawrie. The company is in its third year of partnership with the British Seniors Open, while also sponsoring golfers Simon Yates and Mark McNulty.
Commenting on the announcement, Chief Executive of Aberdeen Asset Management Martin Gilbert said:
“We are extremely delighted to be supporting the Scottish Golf Union, the national team and the Academy programme. With the emergence of young players such as Richie Ramsay and Lloyd Saltman, it’s been a very exciting period for Scottish amateur golf and hopefully our investment will help that success continue.”
“As a company we are very proud of our Scottish heritage and it is important that we invest in the grass roots end of the game as well as supporting our top professionals like Colin and Paul.” he added.
Speaking at the launch, SGU Chief Executive Hamish Grey, said:
“The performances of our leading young players over the past few years have created an unprecedented interest in Scottish amateur golf and the capture of Aberdeen Asset Management as sponsor of the Scotland team reflects that.”
“Golf plays an important role in the business community and it’s great that a company with the scale and profile of Aberdeen are putting so much back into the game. We are committed to growing the game and developing talent and this sponsorship will allow us to expand the work we are doing in these areas.”
The Scotland team will be hoping that the sponsorship will boost their chances of a home victory when Western Gailes hosts this summer’s European Amateur Team Championships (3 – 7 July) and a third consecutive Home Internationals title at County Louth in Ireland if successful in September.
Aberdeen Asset Management is an international investment management group managing assets totalling £78.4 billion (as at 28 February 2007) for clients around the world. The company joins leading golf brands adidas and TaylorMade – official apparel and equipment suppliers to the Scottish Golf Union – as partners of the Scotland golf team.

CRISIS HITS AMERICAN MINI-TOURS:
PARENT COMPANY "INSOLVENT"

The US Pro Golf Tour, Tight Lies Series and California Series "are insolvent" and will not resume play until financing is secured, according to Bill Conwell, CEO and president of Greens Worldwide Inc., the parent company that owns the three mini-tours.
"We do not have the necessary cash resources to operate tournaments, honor our player refund obligations, or pay our other outstanding payables," said Conwell.
Conwell also said Greens Worldwide's proposed merger with Beat The Bogeyman LLC and HyPerformance, Inc., has been terminated. The completion of that deal was contingent on USPGT receiving additional funding.
In another setback for the unraveling tour, its president Gary DeSerrano resigned on April 10, according to Conwell. Two days later Conwell sent an e-mail to its 353 members updating them on the state of the tour.
"We are insolvent and have no cash," he wrote. "Please allow us to work on securing the funding and getting a schedule in place."
In addition to seven tournaments that already had been postponed, the USPGT reported it has cancelled the NTG Classic, slated for April 26-29 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It will not be rescheduled even if the tour resumes operations.
Tour members are scrambling to find a place to play, a task that is difficult because fields for several alternative mini-tours already are full.
"A lot of people are in limbo," said USPGT member Alex Rodger.
Added Steve White, vice president of operations of the Hooters Tour: "We'll do our best to accommodate players if we have openings and with sponsors exemptions, but we are busting at the seam."
Other options include the Tarheel Tour, the Cleveland Golf Golden State Tour, the Gateway Tour and the North American Golf Tour. DeSerrano, who founded the Tight Lies Tour before selling it to Greens Worldwide, said he planned to form a new tour with support of Adams Golf.
But that may be too late for players on the verge of giving up their dream – one that likely resonates even more, considering Zach Johnson's rise from obscurity on the Hooters Tour to victory at the Masters. Several players have lost their savings, their sponsors and now can't afford to travel.
"It's a wicked deal," Rodger said. "A lot of lives are going to change because of this."

HAIG WINS EURO TOUR SHOT OF MONTH

Anton Haig's stunning approach to the 72nd hole at Blue Canyon Country Club in Phuket, Thailand, which helped him claim his maiden title in the Johnnie Walker Classic, has been recognised as the European Tour Shot of the Month for March.
Needing a birdie on the last to force his way into a play-off, the South African pulled his tee shot way left. Faced with a shot out of thick rough, over the palm trees to a pin tucked behind the bunker, Haig hit an incredible recovery with his lob wedge to three feet and holed the putt to tie fellow South African Richard Sterne and Oliver Wilson.
He then birdied the same hole again in the sudden-death play-off to win his first European Tour title.

DUNCAN STEWART HOME IN MAY

TO CHASE SCOTLAND CAP – AND

THEN A PRO TOUR CAREER

When he comes home from four years at Jacksonville University, Florida next month,
Grantown-on-Spey’s Duncan Stewart will probably not have enough time to win a place in the Scotland team for the European amateur team championships at Western Gailes in early July.
But Duncan, winner of the Chiberta Grand Prix in France during last year’s summer holidays from the States, must surely have a chance of making the Scotland line-up for the men’s home internationals at County Louth Golf Club, Ireland from September 19 to 21.
“When I come home in May depends if I make it to the college regional championships as an individual or not (Jacksonville University have been eliminated). I am going to play as many tournaments as I can when I get back to Scotland, starting with the Scottish stroke-play at Royal Dornoch,” said Duncan in an E-mail.
“I am thinking about returning to America in August to play in the Scratch Players’ Championship (at Del Rio Country Club, California from August 13-16) and also to try to qualify for the US amateur championship.
“A lot will depend if I think I have a chance of being selected to play for Scotland in the home internationals. But I am going to give the Qualifying School a go over here in the States. I am trying to find someone or some people to sponsor me. That’s as much as I have planned.”
Although the R&A are doing their best to promote the message among talented teenage golfers that British universities have as much to offer, sometimes more than their United States counterparts, Duncan Stewart and his Jacksonville University team-mate, Russell Knox from Inverness, are proof that the American college system does work wonders for some Scots.
Mike Flemming, who was at that time Jacksonville Univ ersity’s head golf coach, took a big gamble four years ago when he signed up Stewart and Knox. They were little known outwith their own immediate area, although Duncan had played for Scotland at boys’ level.
That gamble has paid off big-time for Jacksonville and the two Scots who have matured into star performers for the university on the American circuit. Over the four years, they have helped to win umpteen tournaments and titles and both have figured prominently in the college rankings, no mean feat considering the quality of player at the top end of the list.
“I have had a great time at Jacksonville University and I think my game has made huge progress since I went there,” says Duncan.” I have to give my swing coach Martin Piggott a lot of credit. He has helped me for past eight or nine years and I always go to see him when I am back in Scotland.
“Grantown on Spey Golf Club and its members have been an incredible supporters. They have always kept track of me over here and always welcomed me back when I return home.
“How did we come to go to the States in the first place? It was Mike Flemming who spoke to Russell Knox when Russell was on a fact-finding visit to Jacksonville University. I was talking at the time to the coach at Southeastern Louisiana University but he didn’t have any scholarship money left to for me.
“Mike Flemming heard about the situation and, mainly on Russell’s recommendation, I signed that summer for Jacksonville University along with Russell and it was the best move both of us could have made at the time.
“I can’t thank Mike Flemming enough because I had almost given up on the idea of going to the States and was probably only a week away from booking a flight to New Zealand. One of my friends and I were going to go there and travel for a year, so I am very glad that Mike called me. “I have actually been working with Mike on the mental aspect of my game and he has been helping me a great deal. He has so much experience and just listening to his stories helps.
“Mike, alongwith my parents, my fiancé and her mother are going to be at my Jacksonville graduation on May 5.”

FIONA EIGHT SHOTS BEHIND

IN ENGLISH CLOSED SENIORS' CHAMPIONSHIP

Former Scottish champion Fiona Anderson from Blairgowrie, pictured right, now a member of Formby Ladies Golf Club, was lying in joint 14th with an eight-over-80 at the end of the first round of the English senior women's (closed) amateur championship at Delamere Forest.
Susan Dye opened up a two-stroke lead by matching the par of 72.

FIRST ROUND SCORES
72 Susan Dye.
74 Barbara Laird.
75 Christine Watson, Jo Rumsey.
77 Carole Caldwell, Jenny Tootell.
78 Susan Ellis, Laraine Hague, Sue Stradling, Hilary Smith.
79 Susan Pickles, Elaine Elliott, Ann Booth.
80 Patricia West, Irene Brien, Fiona Anderson, Rozalyn Adams, Denise Parker.
81 Vivien Saunders, Kate Charles, Julia Smith, Luci Foster, Felicity Coulter, Geraldine Bray, Jeannie Okeeffe, Jennifer Fallows.
82 Sue Westall, Ruth Lindley, Carolyn Kirk, Alanna Vine, Rosemary Farrow.
84 Bev Belcher, Pat Wrightson, Elspeth Cooper, Marianne Copp, Carole Weir.
85 Val McFarlane, Paula Parker, Elisabeth Wilson, Cathy Armstrong, Jayne Long, Karen Lobb, Anne MacGregor.
86 Barbara Woodham, Jane Rogers, Gillian Curley, Anne Briggs.
88 Lorraine Richardson, Marion Howells, Jane Jones, Gill Snelson.
89 Julie Ballard.
91 Rosemary Watters.
93 Mary Weaver.
94 Pauline Daymont.

CELTIC PRO TOUR ANNOUNCES
MEMBERSHIP OFFERS FOR 2007

The Celtic Pro Tour, the new development golf tour which has grown from last year’s inaugural Dragon Tour, has announced new membership offers for its 2007 season.
Professionals who join the Tour before May 9 will have their details published in the official handbook, which will be sent to clubs and sponsors of the Tour, as well as the media. An entry on the official Tour website, www.celticpro.com will also be available to all members.
“We are well aware that golfers on the Tour need to find their own sponsors. In offering this new handbook entry and web presence, we are providing them with further opportunities to provide coverage for the people who financially support them, by listing their sponsors names and details,” said Rhydian Thomas, Celtic Pro Tour’s chief executive officer and tournament director.
£175 ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP
Annual membership to the Tour costs £175, and each professional entering will pay separate individual event entry which is priced at £99 for each of the 15 events. Amateur golfers with a scratch handicap or better can also enter events at a cost of £55.
“The website presence given to the golfers could be very useful to their sponsors, as the site peaked at 70,000 hits for the last month of last season and is starting to reach similar levels as the new season approaches,” said Thomas
Another opportunity is on offer within this new membership period, as the Celtic Pro Tour has joined with SkyCaddie, as the Official Range Finder of the Tour. Anyone joining before the May 9 date, can purchase one of the SkyCaddie range of products at a specially reduced rate, exclusive only to Celtic Pro Tour members.
Jackie Hitchcock, Managing Director of Skyhawke Technologies UK, confirmed, “We are delighted to be supporting this rapidly developing Tour, and SkyCaddie can play a big part in its success. Golf is more than a game of skill. It is also a game of strategy and course management. SkyCaddie combines state-of-the-art GPS technology with a network of precision-mapped golf courses to provide golfers with the information they need to play every hole.”
REGISTER ONLINE
Golfers wishing to take up this offer are asked to contact Rhydian Thomas on 07861 686568 or register online at the website at www.celticpro.com by May 9th. Alternatively, cheques can be sent to the Celtic Pro Tour office at 15, Druids Close, Treorchy, RCT, South Wales, CF42 6LJ. Please make cheques payable to Celtic Golf Tours Ltd.
The Celtic Pro Tour comprises three satellite tours – the expanded Dragon Tour which involves 11 tournaments in Wales, and the new Thistle Tour and Shamrock Tour in Scotland and Ireland respectively, each with two events.

KIRTON, LARKIN FAIL TO GET

ONE BIRDIE BETWEEN THEM

IN CONFERENCE SHOWDOWNS

North-east exiles Lewis Kirton (Louisville University) from Oldmeldrum and Scott Larkin (College of Charleston), pictured right, from Banchory both had a day to forget in the final round of their conference championships today.
Lewis dropped from joint 17th overnight to a final placing of joint 29th in a field of 60 for the Big East Conference championship at Cardinal Club, Simpsonsville in Kentucky.
Kirton, after rounds of 76 and 72 over the par-72, 7,036yd course, had an uninspired five-over-par 77 for a nine-over-par total of 225. Lewis did not have a single birdie on the last day – only five bogeys between the eighth and the 16th.
He finished 16 shots behind the winner, team-mate Daryl Fathauer who had scores of 71, 68 and 70 for seven-under 209 to win by two shots from Mike Van Sickle (Marquette).
Big consolation for Lewis was that Louisville, who had three players in the first four, won the title by 12 shots from Notre Dame and they progress to the regional finals, the last hurdle before the NCAA national finals.

Final totals: Louisville 844, Notre Dame 856, St John's 871. Twelve teams took part.
Playing in the Southern Conference championship at Country Club of South Carolina in Florence, Scott Larkin ran up a quadruple bogey 7 at the short 12th and also dropped shots at five other holes in returning a birdie-less 81 (38-43) after earlier rounds of 75 and 73 over the par-72, 7,062yd course.

The Banchory player's 13-over-par total of 229 gave him a final placing of joint 33rd in a field of 50 players. He finished 16 shots behind winner J D Bass (North Carolina-Greensboro) (72-73-68 for three-under 213)
College of Charleston (896) finished seventh of 10 behind Tennessee-Chattanooga (864) in the team event which means Larkin’s college golf season is over.

DONNA TOP SEED AS SHE CHASES TITLE
NO 11 IN RENFREWSHIRE CHAMPIONSHIP

Donna Jackson, 10 times winner – and that’s a record – of the Renfrewshire women’s county golf championship, headed the 16 qualifiers at Erskine Golf Club today (Tuesday) for the match-play stages.
In wet conditions, the CSS went up to 76, three over par, and so Miss Jackson’s score of 74 was quite a good one in these circumstances.
She claimed the top seeding ahead of the 2003 title-winner, Clare-Marie Carlton) who shaded Gillian Kyle (East Renfrewshire) on a card countback. They both had 77s.
The fourth best qualifier was the 17-year-old defending champion Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) with a 79.

Details:

QUALIFIERS
Par 73. CSS 76.
74 D Jackson (Cochrane Castle).
77 C-M Carlton (Fereneze) better inward half, G Kyle (East Renfrewshire).
79 M Briggs (Kilmacolm).
82 L Robertson (Ranfurly Castle).
85 C Fell (Ranfurly Castle), bih, Gillian McGinlay (Cochrane Castle).
86 J McCartney (Erskine).
87 A Judge (Ranfurly Castle) bih, D Cowan (Cochrane Castle).
88 S Smyth (Ranfurly Castle) bih, E Briggs (Kilmacolm) better last hole, L Morrow (Erskine) (bih), F Campbell (Erskine).
89 L McDougal (Greenock).
90 B Biggart (Ranfurly Castle).
AUTOMATIC DRAW
First round: 9.15 Jackson v Biggart, Judge v McCartney. 9.30 Robertson v E Briggs, Morrow v M Briggs, Kyle v Campbell, Smith v Fell. 10.0 McGinlay v Cowan, McDougal v Carlton.
Quarter-finals: 1.15 to 2pm.

JENNA WILSON GETS A GIMME EAGLE
IN LANARKSHIRE CHAMPIONSHIP

So bad was the weather at Cathkin Braes Golf Club today that at one stage the organisers of the Lanarkshire women’s county championship feared they would have to abandon the second day’s play.
But the competitors struggled on in awful conditions to produce a semi-final line-up on Wedneday morning of Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) v Elaine Cuthill (Lanark) and Susan Wood (Drumpellier) v Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle).
For the second day in a row, Jenna had a eagle. This one came in her 10 and 8 first-round win over clubmate Marion Brodie. In fact, Jenna almost holed her second shot for an albatross 2. The ball came to rest so close to the flagstick, it was a “gimme.”
Jenna, bidding to complete a hat-trick of Lanarkshire title wins, went on to beat Pat Milligan (Hamilton) by 4 and 3 in the afternoon quarter-finals.
Young Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle), the No 2 qualifier, beat clubmate Fiona Scott, an experienced campaigner and the No 7 seed, by 6 and 5 to reach the last four.

Details:

First round – J Wilson (Strathaven) bt M Brodie (Strathaven) 10 and 8, P Milligan (Hamilton) bt J Scott (Cathkin Braes) 2 holes, E Cuthill (Lanark) bt I Robertson (East Kilbride) 6 and 5, M Hughes (Lanark) bt J McMillan (Hayston) 2 holes, S Wood (Drumpellier) bt L Lees (Hamilton) 2 and 1, A Devine (Hamilton) bt J Wiles (Drumpellier) 2 and 1, F Scott (Bothwell Castle) bt G Scanlan (Hamilton) 1 hole, P Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) bt D McTaggart (Cambuslang) 2 and 1.
Quarter-finals – Wilson bt Milligan 2 holes, Cuthill b Hughes 2 holes, Wood bt Devine 6 and 4, Pretswell bt F Scott 6 and 5.

SHARP PERFORMANCE BY JONNY
IN NORTHERN OPEN QUALIFIER

Jonny Sharp (Pro Golf Experience) finished three strokes ahead of a field of 101 in the qualifying round for next month’s Northern Open at Skibo Castle. Sharp returned a six-under-par 66 at Fairmont St Andrews today.
The only others to break 70 were Paul Malone (Braid Hills Golf Centre) and Scott Catlin (Greenburn).
The 85 qualifiers with scores of 82 or better included seven amateurs – Malcolm Isaacs (Nairn Dunbar), Toby Garrett (Meltham), Chris Munro (Westhill), Scott Walker (Ratho Park), Don Garrett (Huntly), Scott Green (Westhill) and Lee McDonald (Nairn Dunbar).

LEADING QUALIFIERS
Par 72
66 J Sharp (Pro Golf Experience).
69 P Malone (Braid Hills), S Catlin (Greenburn).
70 F McLaughaln (Bothwell Castle), G Harvey (Bearsden), J Cliff (Murrayfield), G Paxton (Ralston).
71 G Dingwall (Royal Dornoch), M Isaacs (Nairn Dunbar) (am), A Forrow (Whitecraigs), S Taylor (Bothwell Castle).
Other amateurs who qualified:
74 T Garrett (Meltham).
77 C Munro (Westhill), S Walker (Ratho Park).
79 D Garrett (Huntly).
82 S Green (Westhill), L McDonald (Nairn Dunbar).
+85 players with scores of 82 or better qualified

LOCH LOMOND CLIMBS COURSE

RATINGS TO NO 11 OUTSIDE US

In a recent Golf Digest poll of the Top 100 courses outside the United States, Loch Lomond Golf Club was voted the 11th best golf course, up ten places from 21st in the previous year’s rankings. Loch Lomond was the top inland parkland golf course to feature on the list, with renowned links courses, including Turnberry, Royal County Down, Muirfield and St Andrews, holding the coveted top ten spots.
With its stunning setting alongside the banks of Loch Lomond and views of the Scottish Highlands, this world-class course was designed by renowned architects, Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish back in 1994. The course itself is home to The Barclays Scottish Open, hosting the event for the past 10 years. Traditionally held the week preceding the Open Championship, Loch Lomond is a firm favourite among European Tour players.
"To feature so highly in such a well respected poll, clearly demonstrates the standing of Loch Lomond in the world of golf," commented Niall Flanagan, General Manager of Loch Lomond Golf Club. "To be voted eleventh in the poll is an achievement in itself, but to be the first inland parkland golf course in the rankings is a clear testament to all the hard work that has been done in recent years."
Loch Lomond is owned by the Arizona-based Lyle Anderson Company Inc. Chairman and Founder, Lyle Anderson, has created a number of luxury golf course communities, including Desert Mountain and Superstition Mountain in Arizona and Hokuli`a in Hawaii.

In 2003 Anderson opened his first links course. Designed by Kyle Phillips, Dundonald Links is fast gaining a reputation as a must-play course. Situated on the stunning Ayrshire coastline, minutes from the legendary town of Troon, Dundonald Links is considered a match for its Open championship venue neighbours, Turnberry, Royal Troon and Prestwick, and in future years will hopefully feature alongside its sister course, Loch Lomond on Golf Digest’s list of Top 100 courses outside the United States.

R&A PRESS RELEASE

DISCOUNTED SEASON TICKETS DEADLINE FOR SAVING £105
IS END OF THIS MONTH

Time is running out for spectators to take advantage of discounted season tickets for The Open Championship to be played at Carnoustie from Sunday 15 to Sunday 22 July.

Until the end of April, £170 buys a season ticket which gives entry for the eight days of practice and Championship play, a saving of £105 on the full price daily tickets.

“We are continuing our policy of making The Open affordable to all spectators,” said David Hill, The R&A’s Director of Championships.

“While it will still be possible to pay at the gate, a season ticket represents particularly good value and spectators should take advantage of the discounted rate before this ceases at the end of the month.”

During the four days of the Championship, a daily ticket will cost £50, with concession tickets available. Juveniles, under the age of 16, will again be admitted free of charge by applying to The R&A in advance or if accompanied by a responsible adult on the day.

Ticket applications should be directed in writing to: Ticket Office, The R&A, St Andrews, Fife, Scotland, KY16 9JD; by telephone on: ++44 1334 460010 or through on-line purchasing at http://www.opengolf.com/.

FIFE STUDENT SLIDES TO SEVENTH WITH
DISASTROUS LAST ROUND IN VIRGINIA

It all went pear-shaped for Peter Latimer from Markinch, Fife, a freshman student at Guilford College, Greensboro in North Carolina, in the final round of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference college golf championship at Poplar Grove Golf Club, Amherst in Virginia.
Peter, a tournament winner just a week or two ago, was in contention again at level par with one round to go but a disastrous closing round of 80 relegated him to a final placing of joint seventh in a field of 45 players.
Latimer’s three rounds were 68, 76 and 80 over the par-72, 7,059yd course for a total of eight-over-par 224.
He finished 13 shots behind Guilford College team-mate Colin Clark who birdied the last six holes for a 66 and a total of five-under 211 after earlier scoring 72 and 73.
Consolation for Peter was that his effort helped Guilford College win the title by the runaway margin of 17 strokes from Washington & Lee University.

LARKIN IN TOP 20 IN SOUTH CAROLINA

Scott Larkin (College of Charleston) from Banchory is in joint 19th position in a field of 50 players for the Southern Conference men's college championship at the Country Club of South Carolina, Florence in South Carolina.
Scott has had rounds of 75 and 73 for a 36-hole tally of four-over-par 148 with one round to go.
He trails the joint leaders, Alex Knoll (Davidson College) and Jonathon Hodge (Tennessee-Chattanooga) by six shots. Knoll's rounds have been 72 and 70, Hodge 73 and 69.
Tennessee-Chattanooga (573) lead the team event from Georgia Southern (580) with Elon University and Wofford College sharing third place on 588. College of Charleston are joint fifth on 595 in a field of 10 teams.

KIRTON MOVES INTO TOP 20 IN KENTUCKY

Oldmeldrum's Lewis Kirton, a first-year student at Louisville University, Kentucky is lying joint 17th after two rounds of the Big East Conference college golf championship at the Cardinal Club, Simpsonville in Kentucky today (Monday).
After an opening round of 76, Lewis improved 11 places in the individual standings by matching the par of 72 in atrocious conditions of wind and rain for a 36-hole tally of 148 - nine shots behind team-mate Daryl Father who leads the field with 71 and 68 for 139.
Louisville (562) lead the team event by 16 shots from Notre Dame.

JAY HAAS BEATS TOM KITE IN US
SENIORS' TOUR PLAY-OFF

England's Mark James, the first-round leader, tied for third position behind the play-off participants, defending champion Jay Haas and Tom Kite, in the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf tournament at Savannah, Georgia.
Haas finished like a proverbial train, making up four shots of a leeway over the last eight holes and then beating Kite at the first hole of a play-off for his second Champions' Tour win of the season and his eighth in all on the over-50s circuit, one fewer than his total on the US PGA Tour.
Haas had a two-under-par 70 in the third round for a 54-hole aggregate of 207.
Mark James, who three-putted the last two holes in closing with a 70, Wayne Levi, Brad Bryant and Gil Morgan all shared third place on 208.
So what's the secret of Jay Haas' Indian Summer to his career? In one word, he says: "Putting."
"I'm a whole lot better a putter than I used to be. If only I'd changed my putting style to this when I was younger I could have won a lot more times," he said.

PGA GIVES GREEN LIGHT TO USE OF
SKYCADDIE IN TOURNAMENT

The PGA has sanctioned the use of electronic range-finders at one of its tournaments for the first timein its history.
The decision comes after the PGA agreed a three-yeardeal with SkyCaddie, the market leader in hand-held, GPS course-mapping technology, to co-sponsor the Glenbrae PGA Four-ball Championship, which is being held at Fulford Golf Club in October.
As part of the deal, the state-of-the-art SkyCaddie equipment has been given the green light for use by players in the competition, which could open the doors to a golfing revolution.
PGA sponsorship manager Jim Croxton believes that the SkyCaddie is poised to become an essential piece of kit for all golfers.
“This is the future and I think in two years from now a lot of golfers will have one of these,” he said.
The SkyCaddie has already been a success on the PGA Europro Tour and it is hoped this new deal will see its popularity grow, given that the measurements of more than 14,000 golf courses worldwide are available to be downloaded.
Course details are stored on a light-weight hand-held unit, all of which come with ‘intelligreen’ as standard, which allows players to view all aspects of the green from any position.

JENNA TOP SEED AS SHE CHASES
LANARK COUNTY TITLE TREBLE

Strathaven’s Jenna Wilson made a good start to her bid to win the Lanarkshire women’s county golf championship three years in a row at Cathkin Braes Golf Club today.
The 22-year-old Scotland international, pictured right, headed the 16 qualifiers for the match-play stages on a very wet and sometimes windy day with a par-matching round of 72 which was one under the CSS.
Jenna highlighted her card with an eagle and two birdies.
Teenager Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle) did well to claim the No2 seed berth, only one shot behind Jenna.
Then there was a three-shot gap to the No 3 qualifier Susan Wood (Drumpellier).
The fourth seed, after an 81, is May Hughes (Lanark), Lanarkshire champion three times between 1993 and 2004 and also beaten finalist on three occasions.
QUALIFIERS
Par 72. CSS 73
72 Jenna Wilson (Strathaven).
73 Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle).
76 Susan Wood (Drumpellier).
81 May Hughes (Lanark).
82 Elaine Cuthill (Lanark).
83 Angela Devine (Hamilton).
85 Fiona Scott (Bothwell Cstle).
89 Joanna Scott (Cathkin Braes).
90 Pat Milligan (Hamilton), Gillian Scanlan (Hamilton).
91 Jennifer Wiles (Drumpellier), Isa Robertson (East Kilbride).
92 Jan mcMillan (Hayston).
98 Liz Lees (Hamilton).
99 Dorothy McTaggart (Cambuslang).
100 Marion Brodie (Strathaven).
AUTOMATIC DRAW
Wilson v Brodie, Milligan v J Scott, Cuthill v Robertson, McMillan v Hughes, Wood v Lees, Wiles v Devine, F Scott v Scanlan, McTaggart v Pretswell.

SGU TEAM BEAT WESTERN GAILES IN
WARM-UP FOR EURO CHAMPIONSHIP

A Scottish Golf Union team of men’s, youths and boy international players beat a Western Gailes Golf Club select 5 1/2-1/2 on Sunday at the Ayrshire links where the European men’s amateur team championship will be held from July 3 to 7.
Details (SGU players first):
Shaun McAllister (Craigielaw) & Kevin McAlpine (Alyth) bt Alan Thomson & Harry Milligan 5 and 4.
Lloyd Saltman (Craigielaw) & Scott Henry (Cardross) bt Paul McKellar & John Danskin 4 and 3.
Bryan Fotheringham (Forres) & Philip McLean (Peterhead) bt Paul Moultrie & Peter Jamieson 3 and 2.
Glenn Campbell (Blairgowrie) & Paul O’Hara (Colville Park) halved with Ronald McLean & Douglas Harvey.
Ross Kellett (Colville Park) & Craig Watson (East Renfrewshire) bt Gary Murphy & Brian Ker 2 and 1.
Jonathan King (Glasgow) & Keir McNicoll (Carnoustie) bt Graham Cox & Andrew Farmer 2 and 1.

LIANG, NIRAN AND YANG ADD SPICE TO
BMW PGA CHAMPIONSHIP IN MAY

Liang Wen-chong, Chapchai Nirat and YE Yang will add considerably to the international flavour of the 2007 BMW PGA Championship when the three first-time European Tour winners line-up at Wentworth Club from May 24-27 on their first visit to Britain.
India’s Jeev Milkha Singh, who captured four titles worldwide last year and recently became the first player from his country to compete in the Masters tournament, has also confirmed his participation in the world-class field chasing the €725,000 winner’s cheque from a record prize fund of €4,350,000.
The Asian challenge is particularly strong for the 2007 BMW PGA Championship with two more Thai champions on The European Tour in Thongchai Jaidee and Thaworn Wiratchant, Singapore’s first Tour winner, Mardan Mamat, and India’s Shiv Kapur adding more spice to a mouthwatering field.
All four days will be broadcast live on BBC Television.
Advance ticket savings on the 2007 BMW PGA Championship can be made by booking online at www.europeantourtickets.com or by telephoning +44 (0) 800 023 2557 by May 1, 2007.
For hospitality packages, call The European Tour Hospitality Department on +44 (0) 1344 840483.

SEPTEMBER DATE FOR BRITISH MASTERS

The Quinn Direct British Masters is set to take place in September for the first time since 1999.The prestigious tournament will be played from September 20 to 23 and will return for the second consecutive year to The Belfry on the world famousBrabazon Course, host to four past Ryder Cup events.
Johan Edfors, the defending champion, has confirmed that he will bid to regain his title.
Other past and present Quinn Direct British Masters’ stars are set to join him to compete for the £1.8 million prize fund.

TARA THIRD, GEMMA

JT 18TH IN FINAL

LADY BUCKEYE

INVITATIONAL

Ireland international Tara Delaney (Kent State University) and Scottish cap Gemma Webster (Ohio State University) finished third and joint 18th respectively in the Lady Buckeye Spring Invitational women’s college tournament over the Ohio State University’s Scarlet course at Dublin, Ohio.
Tara had scores of 76, 73 and 74 for a total of 224 eight over par for the 6,228yd, par-72 course.
She had birdies at the fifth, 11th, 14th and 15th but also ran up a double boghey at the ninth and dropped single shots at the seventh, 12th, 13th, 17th and 18th. In her first round, Tara had a double-bogey 5 at the short eighth.
Gemma Webster, pictured, scored 80, 78 and 79 for 237. She had no birdies in her final round which included a triple bogey 8 at the lont 14th and a double bobey 6 at the 11th. Over the 54 holes, the Scot had two triple bogeys and three double bogeys.
Tara’s older sister Karen Delaney, also a student at Kent State, scored 83, 85 and 83 for 251 and a share of 60th place in a field of 87. She had six consecutive bogeys from the 11th to the 16th in her final round.

Spaniard Maria Hernandez (Purdue University) scored her second win within a few weeks, scoring 72, 70 and 73 for one-under-par 215. Team-mate Christel Boeljon was runner-up on 218 with 71, 71 and 76.
Purdue won the team title by 20 shots with a total of 891. Michigan State (911) were runners-up with Kent State (933) third and Ohio State (935) fourth of the 14 competing teams.

SALLY RUNNER-UP TO JUNIOR RYDER CUP
PLAYER IN FLORIDA GIRLS’ EVENT

Sally Watson from South Queensferry finished runner-up to European Junior Ryder Cup team player Giula Molinaro from Turin, Italy in the IMGA/DLGA Junior Girls championship at IMG Academies Golf & Country Club, Bradenton, Florida at the weekend.
Sally, a student at the IMG David Leadbetter Academy, at Bradenton had rounds of 76 and 69 for an aggregate of one-over-par 145.
Molinaro scored 72 and 69 for three-under-par 141.
Jessica Korda from Florida finished third on 146 with scores of 75 and 71.
Laetitia Beck (Israel) came fourth with 74 and 73 for 147.

CALLUM HAS FIVE DOUBLE BOGEYS
BUT STILL MAKES TOP TEN AT
SEA ISLAND, GEORGIA

Callum Macaulay, in his final month or two of a four-year course at Mississippi University, finished joint ninth in the Southeast Conference men’s college championship at Sea Island Golf Club, Georgia.
The Tulliallan Golf Club member must have been pressing too hard to produce results for he had an uncharacteristic five double bogeys over the 54 holes. Three of them came in his final round of three-over-par 73.
He had 6s at the par-4 eighth, 14th and 18th which wiped out the birdies he achieved at the sixth, seventh, 15th and 17th.
The Scot’s earlier rounds were 75 and 71, giving him a total of nine-over-par 219 over a tough par-70 course (6,991yd) where even the winner, Patton Kizzire (Auburn) was over par, returning 72, 69 and70 for 211 and a four-stroke advantage over a field of 60.
It may have been some consolation for Callum that he had three of the recently announced United States college team for the Palmer Cup match against Europe – Billy Horschel, Chris Kirk and Luke List – behind him in the final standings.
Chris Paisley (Tennessee) from Newcastle and team-mate Tino Weirr finished joint runners-up on 215. Paisley shot 76, 70 and 69.
Not surprisingly, Tennessee (869) won the team title from Alabama (871) with Auburn (874) third and Mississippi fourth (876) in a field of 12 college squads.

TOP 20 FINISH ON US PGA TOUR BY

ABERDONIAN MICHAEL SIM

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Months of waiting and worrying about whether he would ever be able to play golf again at the highest level ended with big smiles and a cheque for $76,860 on Sunday for Aberdeen-born Australian Michael Sim.
He finished a highly creditable joint 18th on his debut on the US PGA Tour in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
Sim, 22, who has lived in Australia since his parents emigrated from Aberdeen to Perth, Western Australia in April 1991 when he was seven, had scores of 71, 69, 70 and 72 for six-under-par 282.
Underlining the standard of play on the tour, Michael was joint 11th at the start of the last round ... matched the par of 72 in that last round ... and dropped down to joint 18th!
He had birdies at the long seventh and long 11th but bogeys at the 10th and 15th. Michael parred the last four holes which would seem to indicate that he did not tire all that much, considering how long he has been away from tournament golf.
The tournament provided a first success for American Nick Watney with 69, 67, 68 and 69 for 15-under-par 273.
Michael had only one bogey through his first 36 holes and then two in round three and two in round 4. He had 11 birdies in all
It was only Sim's second competitive game for several months during which he has been resting his back since a stress fracture was diagnosed. At the same time, he has been following a programme of exercises to change his posture, one of the reasons for his problem.
Michael travelled to the States a fortnight ago and played in a Nationwide Tour event just to get back into the way of things again, missing the cut but finishing in good shape physically, which was the object of the exercise.
Now Michael's career is off and running on the world's No 1 pro golf tour. His first pay cheque of $76,860 was almost as much as another Scot, Martin Laird, received for winning on the Nationwide Tour, also on Sunday, which shows the financial gulf between the No 1 and No 2 pro tours in America.
Sim qualified to play on the US PGA Tour by finishing 19th on the Nationwide Tour Order of Merit last year. He won the Palmetto Pride Classic after a play-off and finished up with $220,432 in earnings.
Prior to turning professional, Sim was a ranked the world’s No 1 amateur.
He has dual nationality - British/Scottish and Australian.
His mother Sue said: “It took Michael a long time to get back his fitness and he was getting rather frustrated towards the end. I’m sure he will be very happy to be back with the big boys.”
Sue and Michael’s father George are travelling to America this week to watch Michael play in the Byron Nelson Classic before going on to visit New York and then cross the Atlantic to spend a short holiday "at home" in Aberdeen.
They will be in the city around May 7 if any friends and acquaintances from the “good old days” want to meet them.
“I hope Aberdeen is not too cold next month,” said Sue.

ANY COMMENTS? E-mail them to colin@scottishgolfview.com

MARTIN LAIRD BIRDIES

LAST TO WIN $90,000

FIRST PRIZE IN USA

Martin Laird bravely holed a birdie putt at the last hole to win the Athens Regional Foundation Classic and the $90,000 first prize by a single shot in Georgia today.
The 24-year-old Glaswegian, a winner on the Gateway Tour in the States last year, was winning on the Nationwide Tour – America’s No 2 pro circuit – for the first time.
It was an impressive front-running display by the 6ft 2in Scot (pictured right) who turned pro in 2004 after four good years on the American college circuit as a student at Colorado State University.
He led the Athens Regional Foundation Classic stats in driving distance (averaging a phenomenal 327 yards off the tee), hitting fairways and greens in regulation (80.6%).
Although Martin averaged 1.759 putts per hole, he was only 34th in the stats, which shows how good the standard of putting is over there.
Laird had rounds of 66, 67, 70 and 69 for a 16-under-par total of 272. He led by four shots at the halfway stage but his lead had been cut to one with 18 holes to play.
In the end the Scot won by one shot from two charging Americans, Justin Bolli (74-68-65-66) and Jeremy Anderson (68-73-66-66).
Bolli had an eagle at the second and birdies at the first, 10th, 13th, 14th and 16th in his final round. Bolli’s. only bogey came at the fourth.
Anderson bogeyed the third and then birdied the seventh, 11th, 12th, 14th, 15th, 17th and 18th, covering the last nine hole sin only 30 strokes.
The pair really put the pressure on Laird who bogeyed the third but steadied up with birdies at the fourth and sixth in an outward one-under-par 35. Then Martin birdied the 10th, 13th and 14th before wobbling with bogeys at the 15th and 16th. That allowed Bolli and Anderson to catch him so that Laird had to birdie the long 18th to avoid a play-off.
That he did secure a 4 for victory speaks volumes for the Scot’s ability to respond to intense pressure.
Laird had 24 birdies over the 72 holes. He had only one bogey in the first round and none at all in the second. But seven bogeys over the final 36 holes allowed the field to close up on him.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
272 M Laird Sco) 66 67 70 69.
273 J Bolli (US) 74 68 65 66, J Anderson (US) 68 73 66.
Other totals:
284 R Johnson (Wal) 67 72 69 75 (jt 39th).
285 G Christian (Eng) 71 72 72 70 (jt 46th).

SAM PLAYS IT AGAIN – WINNER OF

SGU JUNIOR TOUR EVENT AT GLEN
WITH LEVEL PAR 140

Perth’s Sam McLaren (King James VI), winner of the Scottish Under-16 boys’ title at Deeside last year, won today’s (Sunday) Scottish Golf Junior Tour 36-hole event at Glen Golf Club, North Berwick by two strokes.
McLaren, pictured right, put together two par-matching rounds of 70 for a total of 140. Joint second to first-round pacemakers Mark Bookless (Sandyhills) and Royal Aberdeen’s Scott Fraser on 69, Sam started the afternoon badly with a couple of bogeys but a birdie at the third stopped the rot and another birdie at the seventh got him back to level par.
On the way home, McLaren dropped a shot at the 11th but birdied the 15th.
Joint runners-up on 142 were Scotland boys team-mates Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) and James Byrne (Banchory). Stewart had rounds of 73 and 69, birdieing the sixth and 15th in his afternoon round. Byrne had two steady rounds of 71.
New Scottish boys’ match-play champion Paul Ferrier (Baberton) finished in joint 13th place with 74 and 72 for 146.

FINAL TOTALS
Par 70. SSS 70
140 Sam McLaren (King James VI) 70 70.
142 Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) 73 69, James Byrne (Banchory) 71 71.
143 Cameron Gray (West Kilbride) 71 72, Paul Shields (Kirkhill) 70 73.
144 Neil Henderson (Glen) 71 73, Mark Bookless (Sandyhills) 69 74, Scott Fraser (Royal Aberdeen) 69 75.
145 David Parlane (Helensburgh) 76 69, Fraser Fotheringham (Nairn) 76 69, William Bremner (Edzell) 72 73, Andrew Campbell (Dumbarton) 70 75.
145 Michael Main (Thornton) 76 70, Tom Blennerhassett (Dalmahoy) 76 70, Andrew Wallace (Glenbervie) 74 72, Euan Brown (Barassie) 74 72, Jack Thow (Crieff 74 72, Paul Ferrier (Baberton) 74 72, Christopher Gaittens (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) 73 73.
147 Jack Bradley (Paisley) 73 74.
148 Kyle Smith (Barassie) 77 71, Craig Wyper (Hayston) 76 72, Sam Binning (Ranfurly Castle) 74 74.
149 Michael Daily (Erskine) 74 75.
150 Tom Spencer (Inchmarlo) 72 78.
152 Alan Murdoch (Stranraer) 76 76, Colin Thomson (East Renfrewshire) 75 77, David Law (Hazlehead) 75 77.
153 Simon Barras (Helensburgh) 77 76, Sean Thompson (St Andrews) 75 78.
159 Sean McGarvey (Glencorse) 82 77.
165 Alistair Lauder (Paisley) 81 84.
Withdrew: Fraser McKenna (Balmore).

FIONA LOCKHART REGAINS

FIFE TITLE BY BEATING

LORNA BENNETT IN FINAL

Leuchars-based Fiona Lockhart (St Regulus) found her best form at just the right time to regain the Fife women's county championship at Dunfermline Golf Club this weekend.

The last time – two years ago – Fiona won her county title she went on to complete a notable double by winning the Scottish women’s title at Cruden Bay a few weeks later.

But Fiona is unable to play in the "Scottish" at Barassie next month.
In today's semi-finals, Fiona, the No 6 seed, was taken to the 18th green before beating Lesley Rolland (Dunfermline) by two holes, but in the final, against Scottish senior international Lorna Bennett (Ladybank), the No 8 qualifier, Fiona stepped up a gear to win by 6 and 4.
Miss Lockhart, pictured with the trophy, was one under par in the final with two birdies and one bogey. Lorna struggled a bit on the greens.
Defending champion Elaine Moffat (St Regulus) and top seed Louise Kenney (Pitreavie) failed to make it through to the last four.
Elaiine pitched in for an eagle 2 to win at the 19th over Susan Jackson (Ladybank) in the first round then lost by 2 and 1 to Lesley Rolland (Dunfermline).
Louise Kenney won her opening tie by 4 and 3 over Ann Moffat (St Regulus) before losing by 3 and 2 to Lorna Bennett.

Miss Bennett won the Fife title in 1985, 1986, 1987, 1994 and 2003. She has been beaten finalist in 1997, 1998, 2000 and now for a fourth time - but what a great long-playing record at county level!

Weekend results:
First round – L Kenney (Pitreavie) bt A Moffat (St Regulus) 4 and 3, L Bennett (Ldybank) bt B Copland (Scotscraig) 5 and 4, L Fury (Thornton) bt E Hodgetts (Balbirnie Park) at 20th, K Sharp (Kirkcaldy) bt D Ford (Scotscraig) 4 and 3, J Carthew (Ladybank) bt H Harvey (St Rule) 3 and 1, F Lockhart (St Regulus) bt J Blyth (Lundin Ladies) 5 and 4, L Rolland (Dunfermline) bt E Wilson (Elie & Earlsferry) 7 and 5, E Moffat bt S Jackson (Ladybank) at 19th.
Quarter-finals – Bennett bt Kenney 3 and 2, Sharp bt Fury 5 and 4, Lockhart bt Carthew 3 and 2, Rolland bt E Moffat 3 and 1.
Semi-finals – Bennett bt Sharp 3 and 1, Lockhart bt Rolland 2 holes.
Final – Lockhart bt Bennett 6 and 4.

HOEY WINS CHALLENGE TOUR
PLAY-OFF AS HENDERSON
RUES BAG OF BOGEYS

By MICHAEL GIBBONS, European Challenge Tour Press Officer

Aberdonian Scott Henderson rounded off a disappointing weekend for the European Challenge Tour’s tartan contingent by finishing in a tie for 45th place at the Tessali-Metaponto Open di Puglia e Basilicata in south-east Italy today.
The former European Tour Rookie of the Year had battled his way into the top 20 at the halfway stage and was just six shots off the pace with 36 holes to play, but weekend scores of 74-72 saw his challenge fade and resulted in a one-under par 274 finish.
That was a full 12 strokes behind winner Michael Hoey of Northern Ireland, who defeated Welshman Liam Bond in a sudden-death play-off to take the title and the €20,800 first prize.
Henderson shot 15 birdies over the four rounds but too many bogeys dragged him down. He earned 624 Euros.
Henderson had rounds of 73, 65, 74 and 72 at the south-east Italy venue. A triple bogey 7 at the 11th on Saturday torpedoed his hopes of making a run at the leaders. In his final round, Scott birdied the 12th and 14th, but bogeyed the sixth, 11th and 18th - the story of the tournament for him.
The only other Scot to make the halfway cut, rookie George Murray, finished joint 59th in a field of 64 players with scores of 69, 72 74 and 75 for five-over 290. His cash prize was 410 Euros.
George had a double bogey 6 at the ninth to nullify his birdies at the 11th and 18th in his final round.
The leading Scottish-based player was Welshman Gareth Wright, son of the West Linton Golf Club professional. Gareth scored 70, 66, 75 and 70 for a share of 26th place on 281. Wright earned 1,066 Euros.
The 20,800 Euros first prize went to Ulsterman Michael Hoey, winner of the 2001 British open amateur championship at Prestwick, after a play-off with Welshman Liam Bond. They tied on 13-under-par 272. Bond birdied four of the inward holes in a closing 68, leaving overnight leader Hoey to birdie the last for a 71 to force a play-off, which he did.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 285 (3 x 71, 1 x 72)
272 Liam Bond (Wal) 70 66 68 68, Michael Hoey (NIr) 66 67 68 71 (Hoey won play-off).
273 Joost Luiten (Net) 65 70 68 70.
274 Marco Crespi (Ita) 67 71 67 69, Ben Mason (Eng) 70 67 69 68.
275 Edoardo Molinari (Ita) 71 68 67 69, Michael Jonzon (Swe) 71 69 70 65, John E Morgan (Eng) 66 67 74 68.
Scots-based scores:
281 Gareth Wright (Wal) 70 66 75 70 (jt 26th).
284 Scott Henderson (Sco) 73 65 74 72 (jt 45th).
290 George Murray (Sco) 69 72 74 75.

BOOKLESS, FRASER SHARE

LEAD ON 69 IN SGU

JUNIOR TOUR EVENT

Mark Bookless (Sandyhills) and Scott Fraser (Royal Aberdeen), pictured right, shared the lead on one-under-par 69 at the end of the first round of the Scottish Golf Union Junior Tour Event 2 at The Glen, North Berwick today.

New Scottish boys' match-play champion Paul Ferrier (Baberton) had a 74 to be joint 14th at the halfway stage.

SCOREBOARD
69 Mark Bookless (Sandyhills), Scott Fraser (Royal Aberdeen).

70 Sam McLaren (King James VI), Andrew Campbell (Dumbarton), Paul Shields (Kirkhill).

71 Cameron Gray (West Kilbride), James Byrne (Banchory), Neil Henderson (Glen).
72 Tom Spencer (Inchmarlo), William Bremner (Edzell).
73 Christopher Gaittens (Fortrose & Rosemarkie), Jack Bradley (Paisley), Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck).

74 Andrew Wallace (Glenbervie), Euan Brown (Barassie), Jack Thow (Crieff), Michael Daily (Erskine), Paul Ferrier (Baberton), Sam Binning (Ranfurly Castle).

75 Colin Thomson (East Renfrewshire), David Law (Hazlehead), Sean Thompson (St Andrews).

76 Alan Murdoch (Stranraer), Craig Wyper (Hayston), David Parlane (Helensburgh), Frasr Fotheringham (Nairn), Michael Main (Thornton), Tom Blennerhassett (Dalmahoy).

77 Kyle Smith (Barassie), Sinmon Barras (Helensburgh).

81 Alistair Lauder (Paisley).

82 Sean McGarvey (Glencorse).

Withdrew: Fraser McKenna (Balmore).

PLUM POST AT DUNDONALD LINKS
GOES TO PAUL LAWRIE’S MANAGER

JOHN CAVEN, STARTING MAY 1

Paul Lawrie’s business development manager, PGA professional John Caven, has landed a plum job in Scottish golf.
He has been appointed Director of Operations at Dundonald Links, the Ayrshire course owned by the exclusive Loch Lomond Club Club. John (pictured right) will take up his new duties on May 1.
“I am really looking forward to this new challenge and it’s a great organisation I am joining,” said John who comes originally from the south side of Glasgow but has been 14 years in the North-east.
“I joined Charles Dernie as an assistant when he was professional at Banchory 14 years ago last month. After three years I got my first club post at Oldmeldrum Golf Club. Three years later I moved just a short distance to become general manager at the new Meldrum House Golf Club.”
Caven spent the best part of five years there before becoming Paul Lawrie’s business development manager, a wide-ranging role that included PR, sales and marketing, arranging dates, organising Paul’s Junior Golf programme and update Paul’s own website.
“This really is a fantastic opportunity for me. Dundonald Links is a new and exceptional links course. It’s going to be an exciting challenging putting it firmly on the golfing map.
“I am going to have the post of director of operations which essentially means that I have responsibility for everything. I will be in charge of the director of golf and all the other staff that make Dundonald Links tick over. I will also be on the Loch Lomond management committee."
Niall Flanagan, general manager of Loch Lomond Golf Club and Dundonald Links, said: “ We are delighted that John Caven has joined what is an already a strong team. John has a wealth of experience working in the golf industry and the knowledge he has accrued will be hugely beneficial as we continue to develop Dundonald Links.”
Designed by Kyle Phillips, one the game’s top golf course architects. Dundonald Links is a true test of links golf that has been quietly maturing since its opening in 2003. The club announced last week that the course was now ready to be opened for pay by the public.
Situated only 10min from Prestwick Airport and 30min from Glasgow Airport, Dundonald Links is perfectly placed to be marketed as an easy-to-reach Scottish Links venue for overseas golfers, whether Continental, North American or Japanese.
Developing that lucrative market will be one of John Caven’s tasks.

The Duke of York Young Champions' Trophy tournament was played at Dundonald Links last September. It was regarded as such a good venue for a number of reasons by the organisers - and presumably Prince Andrew - that the prestigious event is going back to the Ayrshire venue this September.

TARA JOINT FOURTH BUT GEMMA OUTSIDE
TOP 20 IN LADY BUCKEYE INVITATIONAL

Irish cap Tara Delaney (Kent State University) and Scotland international Gemma Webster (Ohio State University) from Glasgow were lying joint fourth and joint 23rd respectively in a field of 87 players for the Lady Buckeye Spring Invitational women's college golf tournament over the Ohio State University's course at Dublin, Ohio.
Tara has scored 76 and 73 for 149, bogeyed two of the last three holes in her second round after birdieing the third, 14th and 15th.
Gemma is on 158 for the par-72, 6,288yd Scarlet course after rounds of 80 and 78.
Gemma had a triple bogey 7 at the first and a double bogey 5 at the short fifth in her first round. Then she birdied the eighth and 10th in her second round before running up a double bogey 6 at the 15th.
Tara Delaney's older sister Karen, also a student at Kent State, continues to score in the 80s. She had rounds of 83 and 85 for a 24-over-par tally of 168 and a share of 60th place. Karen has not had a birdie in the 36 holes.
Purdue (593) lead the team event from Michigan State (604) with Kent State (616) third and Ohio State and Iowa sharing fourth place on 626 in a field of 14.
Two Purdue University players, Christel Boeljon and Spain's Maria Hernandez share the lead on 141, Christel with a pair of 71s, Maria with 72 and 70.

DOUBLE BOGEY FINISH BLUNTS CALLUM'S
CHALLENGE AT SEA ISLAND, GEORGIA

Callum Macaulay (Mississippi University) from Tulliallan was lying in joint ninth position in a field of 60 players with one round to go in the Southeast Conference men's college golf championship at Sea Island Golf Club, St Simon's Island, Georgia.
Callum had rounds of 75 and 71 for a six-over-par tally of 146 for the par-70, 6,991yd course.
Callum ruined a very good card with a double-bogey 6 at the 18th in his second round in which he had earlier birdied the first, fifth and 15th, dropping shots only at the second and 14th.
The Scot was five shots behind leader Patton Kizzire (Auburn) who shot 72 and 69 to lead by three from four players in joint second place on 144.
Charles Ford (Tennessee) from Leicester was on the same 146 mark as Macaulay with rounds of 75 and 71. A second Tennessee University player, Chris Paisley from Newcastle, was also on 146 with scores of 76 and 70.
Tennessee (584) led the team event from Alabama (586) with Florida and Mississippi joint third on 588 in a field of 12 college squads.

MONTY FINISHES WITH A 77
AS FRENCHMAN MAKES
ALL THE RUNNING TO WIN
BMW ASIAN OPEN

Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin completed a dominant start-to-finish victory at the star-studded BMW Asian Open 2007 on Sunday, lifting the title by two strokes after a wet and wild final round.
Colin Montgomerie, who still had an outside chance of victory starting the final day, slumped to a sad 77 to finish no better than joint 15th.
Thailand-based Scot Simon Yates finished joint third after a 74 for 281
Stephen Gallacher had a 75 for a disappointing six-over-par total of 294.
Jacquelin, who held the lead from the first day, fired a one-over-par 73 to complete the US$2.3 million tournament on 10-under-par 278 with Dane Soren Kjeldsen settling for runner-up place at Tomson Shanghai Pudong Golf Club after also a 73.
Scott Hend of Australia and Scotsman Simon Yates, both regulars on the Asian Tour, finished equal third while Korea's Lee Sung was tied fifth alongside world number five Ernie Els and Richard Sterne, both from South Africa, and last week's winner Markus Brier of Austria on 282.
"It is a fantastic moment. It is difficult to take the lead in the first round and keep it to the last. It was more difficult the last four or five holes. When you are in a position to win it is always difficult to finish but to be a winner you have to finish. I am really happy. It is my second win so it is not a surprise any more," said a beaming Jacquelin, who pocketed US$383,330.
Taking a one-shot lead into the last day, where tee times were brought forward due to the inclement weather forecast, Jacquelin seized full advantage of the calmer conditions earlier on by streaking into a four-shot lead with an outward 33.
The weather turned in the morning, with gusting winds and a heavy downpour greeting the players and sending scores spiralling but Jacquelin was able to comfortably protect his lead despite coming home with four bogeys.
The BMW Asian Open was Jacquelin's second career wire-to-wire victory following his 2005 Open de Madrid victory.
As if the heavy rain had not soaked him enough, a group of French players helped with his celebrations, popping champagne bottles and pouring it over Jacquelin on the 18th green.
"I had the chance to start pretty well. This morning was calm and we had a lot of chances on the front nine and that is what I did. Three under after nine and I was pretty confident for the last nine. Then the wind picked up and the rain and it was tough from the 12th to the 18th. My shots were not so good so I played for the good side of the green and try and save par," he said.
Hend, who enjoyed his second straight top-three to signal his full recovery from a serious hand injury, lamented a double bogey at the treacherous par three 14th. "When I had a chance to put some pressure on him, I hit a shot on the par three and it got caught in a wind gust and the ball floated up and dropped into the water. I actually hit a good shot there," said Hend, a former US PGA Tour regular.
"I hit some good shots and didn't make birdies and when I made mistakes, I was penalised for it and made bogey. It was unfortunate."
Yates battled gallantly all day until a costly double bogey at the last hole saw him slip from second place to a share of third, costing him nearly US$130,000 in prize money. "It was difficult out there with the wind and everything. It wasn't easy," said Yates.
"I was playing nicely, just hitting greens and that's what you have to do in that weather. Suddenly I just had a bad last hole. The rain got to me. On the first putt, that's the fastest putt I had all week. It kept rolling, rolling and rolling. I left myself four feet coming back and missed it."
Els, the highest-ranked player in the BMW Asian Open this week, was never a factor and a three-putt bogey on the second hole en route to a 72 dampened his hopes. "I hit the ball from tee to green pretty well but my putter let me down most of the week.
"I had a good first nine holes of the tournament with good putting and yesterday evening as well but the rest of it, the putting hasn't been good. I needed to get off to a good start but unfortunately I three putted the second hole," said the Big Easy, winner of the 2005 BMW Asian Open.
As the champion of the BMW Asian Open 2007, Jacquelin will receive more Official World Golf Ranking points than this week's winner on the US PGA Tour, thanks to the strength of field in Shanghai. The Frenchman also qualified for the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.
The BMW Asian Open attracted a record attendance of 15,000 spectators this year and will be held once again in Tomson Shanghai Pudong Golf Club in 2008.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4 x 72)
Players from GB&I unless stated.
278 Raphael Jacquelin (Fra) 66 69 70 73.
280 Soren Kjeldsen (Den) 67 72 68 73.
281 Simon Yates 74 69 64 74, Scott Hend (Aus) 69 70 67 75
282 Richard Sterne (SAf) 70 74 69 69, Ernie Els (SAf) 71 71 68 72, Sung-man Lee (Kor) 68 70 71 73, Markus Brier (Aut) 71 69 68 74
283 Graeme McDowell 73 70 69 71
284 Kane Webber (Aus) 71 73 69 71, Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) 70 69 72 73, Andrew McLardy (SAf) 72 70 67 75, Simon Dyson 70 70 70 74, Joakim Backstrom (Swe) 70 69 68 77
285 Retief Goosen (SAf) 71 74 69 71, Scott Barr (Aus) 71 70 72 72, Peter O'Malley (Aus) 73 72 68 72, Colin Montgomerie 69 70 69 77
286 Jason Knutzon (US) 75 70 70 71, James Kingston (Rsa) 74 71 71 70, Tony Carolan (Aus) 69 74 69 74, David Bransdon (Aus) 76 68 68 74, Prayad Marksaeng (Tha) 72 69 70 75, Adam Blyth (Aus) 71 73 67 75, Soren Hansen (Den) 71 70 67 78
287 Robert-Jan Derksen (Net) 74 72 69 72, David Griffiths 73 69 73 72, Garry Houston 71 72 72 72, Peter Hanson (Swe) 69 71 74 73, Matthew Millar (Aus) 73 70 71 73, Damien McGrane 70 73 69 75, Christian Cevaer (Fra) 71 70 69 77
288 Gregory Havret (Fra) 68 75 72 73, Christian Nilsson (Swe) 71 73 73 71, Andres Romero (Arg) 75 70 66 77, Shaun P Webster 72 74 70 72
289 Wen-chong Liang (Chn) 72 74 69 74, Mark Pilkington 71 72 70 76, Keith Horne (SAf) 73 69 70 77, Frankie Minoza (Phi) 75 71 70 73, Jarmo Sandelin (Swe) 73 70 75 71, Brett Rumford (Aus) 75 69 75 70
290 Simon Wakefield 72 70 72 76, Kyron Sullivan 75 66 72 77
291 Adam Le Vesconte (Aus) 72 71 72 76, Jean-Francois Luquin (Fra) 71 74 71 75, Ricardo Gonzalez (Arg) 72 73 72 74, Maradan Mamat (Sin) 72 73 73 73
292 Marcel Siem (Ger) 72 69 75 76, Juvic Pagunsan (Phi) 73 71 75 73
293 Keng-chi Lin (Tpe) 73 71 72 77, Gary Murphy 74 72 66 81, Yasin Ali 74 72 71 76, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (Spa) 73 72 77 71
294 Edward Michaels (US) 74 72 71 77, Stephen Gallacher 72 73 74 75, Edward Loar (US) 70 75 74 75
295 Ghaurev Ghei (Ind) 75 70 73 77, Peter Lawrie 75 71 72 77, Marcus Both (Aus) 71 74 74 76
296 Chris Rodgers 73 71 75 77, Thaworn Wiratchant (Tha) 72 73 74 77, Wen-tang Lin (Chn) 73 73 73 77
297 Gavin Flint (Aus) 68 73 76 80
298 Jun-won Park (Kor) 69 77 72 80, Sven Struver (Ger) 72 72 75 79, Simon Hurd 74 73 74 78
300 Wen-hong Lin (Tpe) 69 76 72 83
301 Lian-wei Zhiang (Chn) 73 73 78 77
(x) denotes amateurs


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ABERDONIAN SIM LYING JT

ELEVENTH IN US PGA TOUR

EVENT IN NEW ORLEANS

Aberdonian Michael Sim was lying joint 11th going into the final round of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans – his first US PGA Tour outing of the year following a lay-off since last year with a stress fracture in his lower back.
Sim, pictured right, who emigrated with his parents to Australia when he was seven, has had rounds of 71, 69 and 70 for a six-under-par tally of 210 over the TPC Louisiana course at Avondale.
Michael has had nine birdies and three bogeys so far. He birdied the second, seventh, 11th and 12th and dropped shots at the first and sixth in his third round.
Leader at 12-under-par 204 is American Nick Watney with rounds of 69, 67 and 68 for 204. He has a two-shot advantage over Ken Duke. Halfway leader and former Open champion Mark Calcavecchia dropped back to a share of third place on 207 after a par round of 72.
Sim holds dual nationality – British and Australian. His parents are making a holiday trip home to Aberdeen in May.

LEADERBOARD

204 Nick Watney 69 67 68.
206 Ken Duke 69 71 66.
207 Scott Gutschewski 70 70 67, Mark Calcavecchi 66 69 72.
Other score:
210 Michael Sim (Sco) 71 69 70.

MARTIN LAIRD LEADS BY ONE

ON US NATIONWIDE TOUR

AFTER BIRDIE-BIRDIE FINISH

Big-hitting former Scottish youths champion Martin Laird from Glasgow birdied the final two holes to maintain his lead in the $500,000 Athens Regional Foundation Classic, the seventh of 32 events on Amercan’s No 2 pro golf circuit, the Nationwide Tour.
Laird, 24, pictured right, who has scored 66, 67 and 70 for a 13-under-par tally of 203,leads by one shot from American Nicholas Thompson at Jennings Mill Country Club, Athens in Georgia.
The secret of the 6f 2in Scot’s success so far has been his driving. He leads the tournament statistics in length off the tee (average 324yd) and fairways hit (39 out of 42 overall and every one in Saturday’s t
Laird turned pro in 2004 after spending four years playing the American college circuit as a student at Colorado State University. He was a team-mate of the current Scottish amateur champion Kevin McAlpine from Alyth).
Playing his second full season on the Nationwide Tour, Martin started the third round with a four-stroke lead and birdied the second, third and fourth holes, but saw his advantage dwindle with bogeys on holes 5, 8, 13 and 16, although he did get a birdie at the 14th.
Trailing Thompson by one stroke after 16 holes, Laird finished with birdies on the final two holes to regain his momentum heading into the final round.
"It was huge to finish with birdies," said Laird. "It makes the round taste a lot better to finish with the lead."
"You can shoot 64 on this golf course, so there are a lot of guys that could still win," Laird, who has had 18 birdies so far in 54 holes, said. "Everyday I've gone to bed at night with the lead and I've gone to bed the next night still in the lead. There's no reason I can't do that again tomorrow."
Welshman Richard Johnson is in joint fifth place on 208 with scores of 67, 72 and 69.

LEADERBOARD
Par 216 (3 x 72)
203 Martin Laird (Sco) 66 67 70.
204 Nicholas Thompson (US) 71 66 67.
207 Justin Bolli (US) 74 68 65, Jeremy Anderson (US) 68 73 66.
Other scores:
208 Richard Johnson (Wal) 67 72 69 (jt 5th).
213 Keith Nolan (Ire) 71 72 70 (jt 376th).
215 Gary Christian (Eng) 71 72 71 (jt 47th).

VIKKI LAING MISSES CUT IN LOUISIANA
PELICAN CLASSIC

The fortunes of Musselburgh exile Vikki Laing on the US Futures Tour show no signs of an upturn this season.
The multiple former Scottish girls champion and past Curtis Cup player missed the 36-hole cut on Saturday in the Louisiana Pelican Classic women's at The Wetlands golf course, Lafayette. Vikki had rounds of 78 and 72 over the 6,437yd, par-72 course for a total of 150, which was three strokes too many to qualify her for the final round.
Brenda McLarnon from Belfast, another former US women's college circuit player, missed out with an aggregate of 147, made up of rounds of 74 and 75.
The lead was shared on seven-under 137 by Jenny Gleason from Florida (68-69) and Janell Howland (Idaho) with 65 and 72.
They are one shot ahead of Mo Martin from California (70-68) and Allison Fouch (Michigan) 68-70.

TITLE-HOLDER ELAINE, TOP SEED
LOUISE FAIL TO REACH FIFE
COUNTY SEMI-FINALS

Defending champion Elaine Moffat and top seed Louise Kenney failed to make it through to Sunday morning's semi-finals of the Fife women's county championship at Dunfermline Golf Club.
Elaiine pitched in for an eagle 2 to win at the 19th over Susan Jackson (Ladybank) but then lost by 2 and 1 to the seventh qualifier Lesley Rolland (Dunfermline) in the quarter-finals.
Louise Kenney won her opening tie by 4 and 3 over Ann Moffat (St Regulus) before losing by 3 and 2 to Scottish senior cap Lorna Bennett (pictured right) by 3 and 2.
The semi-finals line-up is:
9.30am - Lorna Bennett (Ladybank) v Karin Sharp (Kirkcaldy).
9.37am - Fiona Lockhart (St Regulus) v Lesley Rolland (Dunfermline).

Results:
FIRST ROUND
L Kenney (Pitreavie) bt A Moffat (St Regulus) 4 and 3.
L Bennett (Ladybank) bt B Copland (Scotscraig) 5 and 4.
L Fury (Thornton) bt E Hodgetts (Balbirnie Park) at 20th.
K Sharp (Kirkcaldy) bt D Ford Scotscraig) 4 and 3.
J Carthew (Ladybank) bt H Harvey (St Rule) 3 and 1.
F Lockhart (St Regulus) bt J Blyth (Lundin Ladies) 5 and 4.
L Rolland (Dunfermline) bt E Wilson (Elie & Earlsferry) 7 and 5.
E Moffat bt S Jackson (Ladybank at 19th.
QUARTER-FINALS
Bennett bt Kenney 3 and 2.
Sharp bt Fury 5 and 4.
Lockhart bt Carthew 3 and 2.
Rolland bt E Moffat 3 and 1.

MARK JAMES DROPS BACK INTO TIE
FOR SECOND PLACE IN GEORGIA

England's Mark James lost his first-day lead with a second-riund 71 for six-under-par 138 in the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf tournament over the par-72, 7,087yd Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa, Georgia today.
Jay Haas took up the running with a 69 for seven-under 137 but James is only one shot back in a triple tie for second place.
SECOND-ROUND SCOREBOARD
1. Jay Haas 68-69--137 -7
2. Wayne Levi 70-68--138 -6
2. Brad Bryant 69-69--138 -6
2. Mark James 67-71--138 -6
5. Loren Roberts 71-68--139 -5
5. Tom Kite 68-71--139 -5
7. Hale Irwin 70-70--140 -4
7. Tom Purtzer 68-72--140 -4
9. Craig Stadler 72-69--141 -3
9. Dana Quigley 71-70--141 -3
9. Gil Morgan 70-71--141 -3
9. Scott Simpson 70-71--141 -3
13. Keith Fergus 74-68--142 -2
13. Mark O'Meara 73-69--142 -2
13. Scott Hoch 72-70--142 -2
16. John Jacobs 72-71--143 -1
16. Des Smyth 71-72--143 -1
16. Morris Hatalsky 71-72--143 -1
19. Nick Price 76-68--144 E
19. Raymond Floyd 74-70--144 E
19. Bobby Wadkins 74-70--144 E
19. Bruce Fleisher 73-71--144 E
19. Curtis Strange 71-73--144 E
24. Graham Marsh 74-71--145 +1
24. Allen Doyle 74-71--145 +1
24. Fuzzy Zoeller 73-72--145 +1
24. Bob Eastwood 73-72--145 +1
24. Tom Jenkins 73-72--145 +1
24. Andy Bean 72-73--145 +1
24. Eduardo Romero 72-73--145 +1
24. David Edwards 72-73--145 +1
24. Hubert Green 71-74--145 +1
33. Jim Thorpe 77-69--146 +2
33. Don Pooley 75-71--146 +2
33. Mark McCumber 74-72--146 +2
36. Jerry Pate 77-70--147 +3
36. Bob Murphy 76-71--147 +3
36. D.A. Weibring 75-72--147 +3
36. Jim Albus 74-73--147 +3
40. Jay Sigel 78-70--148 +4
40. Mark McNulty 77-71--148 +4
40. Leonard Thompson 76-72--148 +4
40. John Harris 75-73--148 +4
40. Jim Dent 72-76--148 +4
45. Larry Nelson 75-74--149 +5
45. Bob Gilder 74-75--149 +5
45. Dave Eichelberger 74-75--149 +5
48. Jim Colbert 77-73--150 +6
49. J.C. Snead 77-77--154 +10
50. Charles Coody 82-74--156 +12

TRIPLE BOGEY 7 TORPEDOES
HENDERSON HOPES IN EURO
CHALLENGE TOUR EVENT

IN ITALY
A triple bogey 7 at the 11th torpedoed Scott Henderson's hopes of taking up a challenging position going into Sunday's final round of the Tessali-Metaponto Open - the latest European Challenge Tour fixture - at Riva dei Tessali and Metaponto golf clubs in south-east Italy.
Scott had jumped into the top 20 at halfway with a second-round 65 (six under par) for a halfway tally of 138 but he let the opportunity slip through his fingers with a third-round 74 for a two-undere-par tally of 212.
That puts the Aberdonian in joint 45th place - 11 shots behind the leader, Ulsterman Michael Hoey (pictured right) who has put together three tasty rounds of 66, 67 and 68 for 13-under-par 201 to lead by two shots from Joost Luiten (Netherlands).
Henderson was out in level par 35 with birdies at the second and ninth cancelling out bogeys at the first and eight. Then came that triple bogey 7 at the 11th. Scott did birdie the 12th and 17th after that but he also bogeyed the 14th and 18th in an erratic inward half of 39.
Rookie pro George Murray, the former Scottish amateur champion from Earlsferry, has scored 69, 72 and 74 for 215. He had birdies at the 12gth and 14th but five bogeys in hlaves of 38 and 36.
MICHAEL HOEY IN THE LEAD
Michael Hoey continued his return to top form by moving into a one shot lead after a third round of three under par 68 took him to 13 under 201.
Hoey has rediscovered the swing, touch and confidence that helped him finish eighth on the 2005 Challenge Tour Rankings.
The Belfast man is the first to admit that his rookie season on the European Tour last year was one drenched in confusion and over-technicality, and resulted in him losing his place at European golf’s top table.
Unbowed, Hoey has retuned to the Challenge Tour, refocused and burning with determination to climb his way back to one of golf’s highest plateaus on The European Tour.
“I have been doing a lot of good work with my coach, Andrew Nicholson, and I have been improving all aspects of my game over the winter.
“I am feeling the benefit of it, without a doubt, and I am certainly a better player than when I won the Austrian Open on the Challenge Tour in 2005, but I have to prove that with results.”
Hoey’s victory at the 2005 BA CA Golf Open, presented by Telekom Austria was a significant landmark in the 28 year old’s career.
TOP AMATEUR CAREER
It gave him the belief that he could win in the professional arena after a glittering amateur career that saw him win the 2001 British amateur championship as well as helping Great Britain and Ireland win the Walker Cup that same season.
Hoey will have to draw on every bit of that experience as he goes into Sunday’s final round at Riva dei Tessali, with a quality field looking to overcome him.
Frenchman Raphael Eyraud, Dutchman Joost Luiten and Sweden’s Fredrik Widmark trail the leader by just a single stroke, while Welshman Liam Bond is just two off the pace on ten under.
Among the four players on eight under, five behind Hoey, is Challenge Tour No 1, Italy's Edoardo Molinari, who, having already won twice on the 2007 schedule, can win atoumatic promotion to the European Tour if he can win one more event this season.
will be on Hoey, who is fully aware of the pressure of leading going onto the final round.
“I know all about it,” said Hoey. “I led three times going into the last round on the Challenge Tour in 2005. The first two times I didn’t do to well and kind of got caught out thinking about results, but the third time I won in Austria.
“There is pressure there, but you have to try and go back to one shot at a time, but enjoy it as well. It’s why we are all out here. If someone had said to me at the start of the week that I would be leading by one going into the final round I would have thought that’s amazing, so you try and realise that as well.”
THIRD ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 214 (2 x 71 + 1 x 72)
201 Michael Hoey (NIr) 66 67 68.
202 Joost Luiten (Net) 65 70 67.
203 Fredrik Widmark (Swe) 69 63 71, Raphael Eyraud (Fra) 67 66 70.
204 Liam Bond (Wal) 70 66 68.
205 Giorgio Grillo (Ita) 71 66 68, Marco Crespi (Ita) 67 71 67.
206 James Morrison (Eng) 67 71 68, Edoardo Molinari (Ita) 76 68 67, Ben Mason (Eng) 70 67 69, Nicolas Colsaerts (Bel) 67 70 69.
Other scores:
212 Scott Henderson (Sco) 73 65 74 (jt 45th).
215 George Murray (Sco) 69 72 74 (jt 56th).

SCOT LAIRD LEADS BY FOUR

IN NATIONWIDE TOUR

EVENT IN GEORGIA

FORMER Scottish youths champion Martin Laird from Glasgow holds a four-stroke lead at the halfway stage of the $500,000 Athens Regional Foundation Classic, the seventh of 32 events on the United States' No 2 pro circuit, the Nationwide Tour, at Jennings Mills Country Club, Bogart in Georgia.
The 6ft 2in Laird, pictured right, followed up an opening round of 66 with a five-under-par 67 to maintain his overnight lead and move clear of the field at 11-under-par 133.
Laird, playing his second full season on the Nationwide Tour, fired the only bogey-free round in the second round. He made eight cuts in 19 events on the Nationwide Tour in 2005. He played on the Gateway Tour last year, winning the 2006 San Juan Open in earning $18,488 from 20 events. This year already on the Nationwide Tour he has made $19,691 from six outings.
Before turning pro in 2004, Laird, 24, spent four years on the American college circuit as a student at Colorado State University.
"The first two days, I've driven it really well," Laird said who tops the tournament driving statistics for length and fairways hit. "There are some long holes out here and if you don't hit good drives, some of the par 4s are trouble. It's definitely a lot easier game if you are hitting it long and down the middle."
Laird's four-stroke lead is the largest 36-hole lead on the Nationwide Tour in 2007. The only green Laird missed during his second round was his first hole. With 13 fairways hit and 17 of 18 greens in regulation, Laird's bogey-free round was relatively stress-free. "I hit a lot of good putts today that didn't go in," said Laird, who holds a second-round lead for the first time in his Nationwide Tour career.
"I said to my caddie walking in that I could have shot 9 under today without doing too much extra."
A total of 60 players with 36-hole totals of one-under-par 143 or better made the cut.

LEADING HALFWAY TOTALS
Par 144 (2 x 72). Players from US unless stated.
133 M Laird (Sco) 66 67.
137 M Carballo (Arg) 71 66, N Thompson 71 66.
138 D McKenzie (Wal) 70 68, H Haas 69 69, B Quackenbush 760 68, S Kendall 70 68, T Scherrer 69 69, S Jones 67 71.
Other totals:
139 R Johnson (Wal) 67 72.
143 K Nolan (Ire) 71 72, G Christian (Eng) 71 72.

SCOT SIMON EQUALS
COURSE RECORD TO
JOINT THIRD IN
BMW ASIAN OPEN


Thailand-based Scot Simon Yates equalled the course record of 64 to be in joint third place on nine-under-par 206 going into Sunday's final round in the BMW Asian Open.
Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin stayed firmly in the pole position. Bidding for a second career title, he battled to a two-under-par 70 at the Tomson Shanghai Pudong Golf Club today for a three-day total of 11-under-par 205. He held off a spirited Scott Hend of Australia, who stayed in the title hunt with a fine 67 for 206.
Yates, pictured right, is tied for third place with Sweden's Joakim Backstrom and Soren Kjeldsen of Denmark. Fellow Scot Colin Montgomerie is in joint sixth place on 208 after a 69 and is perfectly placed for a last-round charge at the leader.
The only other Scot to survive the halfway cut, Stephen Gallacher, had a 74 for 219.
South African star Ernie Els fired his week's best of 68 to give himself a shot at winning a second BMW Asian Open title and is five behind Jacquelin on 210.
"I am feeling pretty good. It was a bit more difficult today as I didn’t putt very well," said Jacquelin, who has led the tournament since the opening round. "I try every week and will do my best. We never know. The game is very difficult and I will try my best on every shot. If win I will be very happy, if not I will try again next week."
With forecast of severe weather conditions for Sunday, organisers announced the final round will begin at 6.40am, with the leaders teeing off at 8.30am. Jacquelin is well prepared for a wet and wild last day romp, especially when he failed to cross the finish line first at Shanghai Silport last week after seizing the halfway lead.
"I am excited every time I am on the leaderboard and especially in the last group. I am pretty calm usually and that is the way I play. And I'll try and have a bit of fun, even if it is raining."
Big-hitting Hend, currently fourth on the Asian Tour's UBS Order of Merit after two runner-up finishes this season, continues his rehabilitation from a serious hand injury by staying within sight of Jacquelin's rear mirror.
Hend fired seven birdies against two dropped shots and made a huge par save from 15 feet at the last hole to keep the lead down to one. "It felt like 100 feet!," said Scott of the last putt. "It was probably 15 feet or something like that. It felt a long way."
After spending two years on the US PGA Tour from 2004 to 2005, Hend lost his card in America and then tore muscles on his left hand last year which set his career back. But after earning his card on the Asian Tour through Qualifying School, Hend has grown in strength and feels a win is just around the corner.
Yates, who has finished third on the Order of Merit on two occasions in Asia, charged into contention with a fast start of three opening birdies before hitting another purple patch with birdies on the seventh, eighth and ninth to turn in 30. With three more birdies on the back nine, the Scot was poised for a new course record but dropped a shot on the 18th hole after finding the fairway trap.
The Thai-based Scot was delighted to be in the hunt in the BMW Asian Open, especially after opening with a 74 on Thursday , but he wasn't sure if winning on Sunday would give him the same thrill as winning a car race, which he is passionate about these days.
"Three under after three holes, you feel pretty good. I played nicely, hit a lot of greens and didn't make any mistakes and putted really well. It was a shame at the last. Otherwise, it was a nice round of golf," said Yates, who matched Thailand's Somkiat Srisanga's course mark.
Winning a BMW-sponsored event would certainly match Yates' recent passion for car racing where he has won once in Thailand. "It's quite weird because the first win I had racing in a car was the best feeling I've ever had from winning anything. Golf has never given me that feeling," said Yates, a two-time Asian Tour winner.
Ryder Cup player Paul Casey withdrew after returning a third-round 77 for four-over-par 220.

THIRD-ROUND TOTALS
Par 216 (3 x 72)


205 Raphael Jacquelin (Fra) 66-69-70.
206 Scott Hend (Aus) 69-70-67.
207 Simon Yates (Sco) 74-69-64, Joakim Backstrom (Swe) 70-69-68, Soren Kjeldsen (Den) 67-72-68
208 Soren Hansen (Den) 71-70-67, Markus Brier (Aut) 71-69-68, Colin Montgomerie (Sco) 69-70-69
209 Andrew McLardy (SAf) 72-70-67, Lee Sung (Kor) 68-70-71
210 Ernie Els (SAf) 71-71-68, Christian Cevaer (Fra) 71-70-69, Simon Dyson (Eng) 70-70-70
211 Andres Romero (Arg) 75-70-66, Adam Blyth (Aus) 71-73-67, Prayad Marksaeng (Tha) 72-69-70, Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) 70-69-72
212 Gary Murphy (Ire) 74-72-66, David Bransdon (Aus) 76-68-68, Graeme Mcdowell (NIr) 73-70-69, Damien McGrane (Ire) 70-73-69, Tony Carolan (Aus) 69-74-69, Keith Horne (SAf) 73-69-70
213 Peter O'Malley (Aus) 73-72-68, Kane Webber (Aus) 71-73-69, Richard Sterne (SAf) 70-74-69, Mark Pilkington (Wal) 71-72-70, Kyron Sullivan (Wal) 75-66-72, Scott Barr (Aus) 71-70-72

In remaining scores, players are from GB&I unless stated:

214 Retief Goosen (SAf) 71 74 69, Matthew Millar (Aus) 73 70 71, Simon Wakefield 72 70 72, Peter Hanson (Swe) 69 71.
215 Wen-chong Liang (Chn) 72 74 69, Robert-Jan Derksen (Net) 74 72 69, Jason Knutzon (USA) 75 70 70, Adam Le Vesconte 72 71 72, Garry Houston 71 72 72, Gregory Havret (Fra) 68 75 72, David Griffiths 73 69 73.
216 Frankie Minoza (Phi) 75 71 70, Shaun P Webster 72 74 70, James Kingston (SAf) 74 71 71, Jean-Francois Lucquin (Fra) 71 74 71, Keng-chi Lin (Tpe) 73 71 72, Marcel Siem (Ger) 72 69 75
217 Edward Michaels (US) 74 72 71, Yasin Ali 74 72 71, Ricardo Gonzalez (Arg) 72 73 72, Wen-hong Lin (Chn) 69 76 72, Christian Nilsson (Swe) 71 73 73, Gavin Flint (Aus) 68 73 76
218 Jun-won Park (Kor) 69 77 72, Peter Lawrie 75 71 72, Gaurev Ghei (Ind) 75 70 73, Mardan Mamat (Sin) 72 73 73, Jarmo Sandelin (Swe) 73 70 75
219 Wen-tang Lin (Tpe) 73 73 73, Edward Loar (US) 70 75 74, Marcus Both (Aus) 71 74 74, Stephen Gallacher 72 73 74, Thaworn Wiratchant (Tha) 72 73 74, Chris Rodgers 73 71 75, Juvic Pagunsan (Phi) 73 71 75, Sven Struver (Ger) 72 72 75, Brett Rumford (Aus) 75 69 75
220 Simon Hurd 74 72 74
222 Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (Spa) 73 72 77
224 Lian-wei Zhang (Chn) 73 73 78.
Withdrawn: Paul Casey 72 71 77.

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ANY COMMENTS? E-mail them to colin@scottishgolfview.com

MONTY RETURNS TO CELTIC MANOR
WALES OPEN NEXT MONTH

COLIN Montgomerie has announced he will be returning to South Wales to tee up in The Celtic Manor Wales Open next month.
Montgomerie figured prominently on the leaderboard throughout last year’s event before finishing fourth and makes the journey back with the aim of landing his first title in Wales, one of the few tour stops in Europe where he has yet to win a tournament.
Swedish Ryder Cup star Robert Karlsson fended off Montgomerie, Paul Broadhurst and Jose-Filipe Lima to bank the £250,000 winner’s cheque after four days of fantastic golf in 2006.
This year’s field has already been boosted by the announcement that two-time US Open champion Retief Goosen will be making his debut in The Celtic Manor Wales Open from May 31 to June 3.
Now in its eighth year at the host venue for the 2010 Ryder Cup, and carrying a prize fund of £1.5m, The Celtic Manor Wales Open is one of the top ten events on the European Tour and continues to enjoy a prime early summer date the week after the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.
Montgomerie said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed playing in The Celtic Manor Wales Open since making my debut in the event in 2003 and I have watched the tournament grow dramatically in the last four years.
“Every year the playing field seems to get stronger but I’m hoping I’ll be able to mount another strong challenge for the trophy again this year. I always get a fantastic reception from the Welsh golf fans and hopefully I can give them even more to cheer by getting myself into contention on the Sunday of the event.”
Montgomerie has always been a popular competitor with the tournament galleries and has also captained an All-Star Cup team, featuring celebrities like Catherine Zeta Jones, Ronan Keating and Chris Evans, at The Celtic Manor Resort in 2005 and 2006.
The Ryder Cup hero has further strengthened his close association with the Resort in the last 12 months by designing a new course which will bear his name. "The Montgomerie" is scheduled to open in July and the burgeoning course architect will be keen to oversee the final preparations after he steps off the neighbouring Roman Road course during The Celtic Manor Wales Open.
“It was a great honour to be asked to design a new course at The Celtic Manor Resort,” said the Scot. “It is on a spectacular piece of land and I have been keeping a close eye on developments during the course build.
“The course is shaping up nicely as a testing challenge that is different to the other courses at the Resort. This will be a great opportunity for me to take another look at some of the finishing touches during The Celtic Manor Wales Open.”
Tournament Director Jon Phelps is understandably delighted by the return to the event of such a prolific winner and a player with such strong ties to Celtic Manor.
“Colin Montgomerie has been a brilliant ambassador for this tournament,” he said.
“I’m sure he will once again be one of the golfers most closely watched by the galleries and we look forward to many more of the European Tour’s brightest stars following the lead of Colin and Retief by choosing to play in The Celtic Manor Wales Open.”
The Celtic Manor Wales Open always aims to provide an experience that is much more than just a golf tournament. Ladies Day, complete with champagne hospitality, on the Saturday of the event has become one of the hottest dates on the sporting social calendar, relaxed master-classes on the range give spectators a unique insight into some of their favourite players, and a family tented village complete with Kidz Zone provides additional entertainment for all.
For ticket, hospitality and sponsorship information, call the Celtic Manor events team on 01633 410318 or visit www.walesopen.com

MARK JAMES SETS PACE IN US SENIORS
TOURNAMENT AT WESTIN SAVANNAH

England's Mark James is the first-round leader with a five-under-par 65 in the US Champions' Tour event, the Liberty Mutal Legends of Golf tournament, at Westin Savannah Harbour Golf Resort & Spa.
With the locals complaining about the cold - temperatures in the low 60s! - and a wind of around 20mph - Mark revelled in the conditions to set the pace.
He leads by one shot from Tom Purtzer, Jay Haas and Tom Kite.
LEADERBOARD
67 Mark James (Eng).
68 Tom Purtzer, Jay Haas, Tom Kite.
Other scores:
70 Hale Irwin.
71 Des Smyth (Ire), Curtis Strange.
76 Nick Price.
77 Mark McNulty.

MARK CALCAVECCHIA LEADS

Meanwhile, former Open champion Mark Calcavecchia, already a winner on the US PGA Tour this season, is the halfway leader on nine-under-par 135 in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
LEADERBOARD
135 Mark Calcavecchia 66 69.
136 Lucas Glover 67 69, Nick Watney 69 67.
137 Charley Hoffman 68 69, Kyle Reifers 64 73.
MISSED CUT
145 Brian Davis (Eng) 73 72.
147 Oliver Thomson (Eng) 72 75.

VIKKI STRUGGLING IN LOUISIANA

PELICAN CLASSIC

Former Scottish girls champion and past Curtis Cup player Vikki Laing from Musselburgh has a first-round score of six-over-par 78 to be lying joint 123rd in a field of 144 for the Louisiana Pelican Classic women's professional golf tournament at The Wetlands golf course, Lafayette.
Vikki, pictured right, had halves of 39 (three over par both ways) to be 13 shots behind the leader, Janell Howland, from Boise, Idaho, who said that a new set of Ping Rapture irons had made all the difference to her game.

The fact that Janell's father was caddieing and her mother walking the side of the fairways helped to give Janelle a feel-good factor which was reflected in her halves of 35 and 32 for the 6,437yd, par-72 (36-36) course.

Joint second on 67 were former US Curtis Cup player and rookie professional Jane Park from California, and Canadian Kim Brozer from Alberta. Both covered the front nine in four-under-par 32.

Brenda McLarnon from Belfast, like Vikki a former US college circuit player, had a 74 (36-38) to be in joint 79th position.

HENDERSON CLICKS WITH A 65

TO MOVE INTO TOP 20 OF
CHALLENGE TOUR EVENT

By MICHAEL GIBBONS, Challenge Tour Press Officer

Aberdeen’s Scott Henderson, pictured right, produced a sparkling second round of seven-under-par 65 to move into contention at the European Challenge Tour’s Tessali-Metaponto Open di Puglia e Basilicata on Italy’s south-east coast today.
Henderson, who opened his week with a two-over-73 at Riva dei Tessali, made his comeback with seven birdies and 11 pars at the Metaponto Golf Club to move to five under for the tournament, joint 18th on 138 and just six shots behind leader Fredrik Widmark of Sweden with 36 holes to play.
Henderson will return to Riva dei Tessali for the weekend action, where he will be joined by fellow Scot George Murray, who just made the two under par cut mark of 141 with nothing to spare with rounds of 69 and 72.
There was disappointment for the six other Scots in the field, as Jack Doherty (one under 142 ), Peter Whiteford (one under 142 ), Jamie McLeary (two over 145), Eric Ramsay (two over 145), Andrew McArthur (three over 146) and Graham Gordon (six over 149) were all forced to catch early flights home.

The best-placed Scottish-based player at halfway is Gareth Wright, the Welsh son of the West Linton club professional. Gareth had 70 and 66 for 136.

SCOREBOARD

SECOND-ROUND TOTALS:
Par 143 (71 72 or 72 71).
132 Fredrik Widmark (Swe) 69 63.
133 Michael Hoey (NIr) 66 67; Raphaël Eyraud (Fra) 67 66; John E Morgan (Eng) 66 67.
135 Andrea Maestroni (Ita) 68 67; Stuart Cage (Eng) 67 68; Joost Luiten (Ned) 65 70.
136 Liam Bond (Wal) 70 66; Thomas Feyrsinger (Aut) 72 64; Gareth Wright (Wal) 70 66; Nicolas Vanhootegem (Bel) 66 70; Chris Gane (Eng) 68 68.
137 Anthony Snobeck (Fra) 68 69; Stuart Manley (Wal) 69 68; Giorgio Grillo (Ita) 71 66; Nicolas Colsaerts (Bel) 67 70; Ben Mason (Eng) 70 67.
138 Magnus A Carlsson (Swe) 70 68; Marco Crespi (Ita) 67 71; Mikko Korhonen (Fin) 72 66; Cédric Menut (Fra) 68 70; Scott Henderson (Sco) 73 65; James Morrison (Eng) 67 71; Tobias Dier (Ger) 71 67; Robin Swane (Ned) 67 71.
139 Raphaël De Sousa (Sui) 67 72; Edoardo Molinari (Ita) 71 68; Matteo Del Podio (Ita) 73 66; Lars Brovold (Nor) 71 68; Van Phillips (Eng) 65 74; Paul Nilbrink (Nor) 69 70; Anthony Grenier (Fra) 72 67; Francis Valera (Esp) 71 68; Andrea Zanini (Ita) 70 69; Carlos Del Moral (Spa) 71 68; Ricardo Santos (Por) 70 69; Brett Taylor (Eng) 74 65; Felipe Aguilar (Chi) 72 67; Andrea Zani (Ita) 71 68.
140 Marco Cidonio (Ita) 73 67; Michael Jonzon (Swe) 71 69; David Dixon (Eng) 68 72; Toni Karjalainen (Fin) 73 67; Nicola Maestroni (Ita) 71 69; Alessandro Napoleoni (Ita) 69 71; Niki Zitny (Aut) 68 72; Miguel Rodriguez (Arg) 69 71; Peter Baker (Eng) 70 70; Alfredo Garcia-Heredia (Esp) 71 69; Michael Lorenzo-Vera (Fra) 70 70; Simon Lilly (Eng) 71 69; Matteo Peroni (Ita) 70 70; Martin Wiegele (Aut) 69 71; André Bossert (Sui) 68 72; Jamie Donaldson (Wal) 71 69.
141 Tim Milford (Eng) 75 66; Jeppe Huldahl (Den) 68 73; Morten Hedegaard (Den) 68 73; Peter Kaensche (Nor) 70 71; Per Barth (Swe) 72 69; Ben Willman (Eng) 72 69; Christophe Brazillier (Fra) 70 71; Wilhelm Schauman (Swe) 70 71; Kariem Baraka (Ger) 68 73; George Murray (Sco) 69 72.
MISSED CUT
142 Mikael Lundberg (Swe) 67 75; Roope Kakko (Fin) 68 74; Gary Clark (Eng) 70 72; Tiago Cruz (Por) 70 72; Inder Van Weerelt (Ned) 71 71; Peter Whiteford (Sco) 72 70; Anders Schmidt Hansen (Den) 72 70; Jamie Little (Eng) 71 71; Jack Doherty (Sco) 72 70; Tuomas Tuovinen (Fin) 74 68; Jose Luis Adarraga Gomez (Spa) 75 67; Francisco Cea (Esp) 72 70.
143 Jean-Nicolas Billot (Fra) 71 72; Ari Savolainen (Fin) 73 70; Lorenzo Gagli (Ita) 72 71; Simon Robinson (Eng) 75 68; Fredrik Ohlsson (Swe) 75 68; Bernd Wiesberger (Aut) 73 70; Julien Grillon (Fra) 72 71; Ross McGowan (Eng) 73 70; Nicolas Sulzer (Sui) 73 70; Kevin Harper (Eng) 72 71; Kieran Staunton (Eng) 74 69; Pablo Larrazabal (Esp) 73 70; Stephen Browne (Ire) 68 75; Jan-Are Larsen (Nor) 72 71.
144 Julien Van Hauwe (Fra) 71 73; Jerome Theunis (Bel) 70 74; Stefano Reale (Ita) 72 72. Renato De Rosa (Ita) 74 70; Philip Rowe (Eng) 74 70; Emmanuele Lattanzi (Ita) 71 73; Jacob Okello (Ken) 72 72; Paul Dwyer (Eng) 72 72; Manuel Kempe (Ger) 71 73; Matthew King (Eng) 77 67; Kasper Linnet Jorgensen (Den) 72 72; Damian Mooney (Nir) 73 71; Klas Eriksson (Swe) 77 67; Julien Guerrier (Fra) 72 72; 145 Benoit Teilleria (Fra) 74 71; Christian Reimbold (Ger) 74 71; Bertrand Coathalem (Fra) 69 76; Alessio Bruschi (Ita) 73 72.
145 Leif Westerberg (Swe) 72 73; Wil Besseling (Ned) 75 70; Jamie McLeary (Sco) 70 75; Pedro Linhart (Spa) 73 72; Eric Ramsay (Sco) 71 74; Benjamin Miarka (Ger) 70 75; Ally Mellor (Eng) 72 73.
146 Andrew McArthur (Sco) 78 68, Olivier David (Fra) 75 71, Gianluca Pietrobono (Ita) 69 77, Alvaro Velasco (Spa) 71 75; Paolo Terreni (Ita) 73 73; Daniel Denison (Eng) 72 74; Pontus Ericsson (Swe) 72 74; Christoffer Lange (Den) 72 74; Michele Zanini (Ita) 73 73; Michael McGeady (Ire) 74 72; Andrea Rota (Ita) 75 71; Stuart Davis (Eng) 71 75; Michele Reale (Ita) 76 70; Robert Coles (Eng) 72 74.
147 Fernando Pasqualucci (Ita) 73 74; Ivan Campi (Ita) 73 74; Robert Wiederkehr (Sui) 72 75; John Mellor (Eng) 71 76; Magnus Persson (Swe) 74 73; Julien Xanthopoulos (Fra) 74 73; Zane Scotland (Eng) 69 78; Alfredo Da Corte (Ita) 74 73; Diego Borrego (Spa) 73 74; Marc Perez Gelma (Spa) 73 74.
148 Antti Ahokas (Fin) 73 75; Marco Bernardini (Ita) 71 77.
149 Graham Gordon (Sco) 78 71; Jonathan Baglioni (Ita) 75 74.
150 Thomas Nielsen (Den) 74 76; Joachim Hassan (Ita) 71 79; Alvaro Salto (Spa) 79 71; Panu Kylliäinen (Fin) 79 71; Alessio Mastriforti (Ita) 79 71.
151 Antonio Iurilli (Ita) 73 78; Carlos De Corral (Esp) 78 73; Andrea Cerri (Ita) 76 75; Gabriel Canizares (Esp) 76 75.
152 Quentin De Valensart (Bel) 79 73; Richard Treis (Ger) 78 74; Gregory Molteni (Ita) 76 76;
153 Lasse Jensen (Den) 74 79; Soren Juul (Den) 73 80; Phil Worthington (Eng) 78 75; Giulio Grippa (Ita) 79 74.
154 Sean Whiffin (Eng) 78 76; Simone Brizzolari (Ita) 79 75; Daniele Bellacci (Ita) 80 74; Angelo Regno (Ita) 77 77.
155 Alex McGuinness (Ken) 74 81.
156 Manuel Merizalde (Col) 76 80.
157 Andrea Ranza (Ita) 76 81; Alberto Campanile (Ita) (am) 75 82.

GORDON YATES BUT NO RICHIE

RAMSAY IN EUROPEAN TEAM

FOR PALMER CUP

FROM COLIN FARQUHARSON

Stirling University student Gordon Yates (pictured right) is the only Scot named in the European team to defend the Palmer Cup in the transatlantic students’ amateur international golf match against the United States at Caves Valley Golf Club, Maryland on June 7 and 8.
United States amateur champion Richie Ramsay (Royal Aberdeen & Stirling University) informed the Golf Coaches Association of America – who choose both teams – that he would not be available for selection.
The St Andrews Trophy 72-hole tournament starts on Friday, June 8. In the absence of confirmation from Ramsay, it is likely that he is opting to play at St Andrews rather than in America where he has recently spent several weeks around his participation in the Masters.
A spokeswoman for the St Andrews Links Trust said that no entry had been received from Richie Ramsay but the deadline was not until May 4.
Ramsay played in last year’s Palmer Cup match at Prestwick where the European students won 19 ½-4 1/2, the biggest winning margin by either side in the history of the series in which United States lead 5-4 with one drawn.
Dustin Roberts, director of communications for the Golf Coaches Association of America said today:
“Richie did inform us that he would be unable to participate in this year’s Palmer Cup. We contact potential players for the Palmer Cup well in advance of team selection, so it wasn’t an issue of an invitation being declined. We were aware of his unavailabity very early in the selection process and were able to adjust any plans accordingly.”
Apart from Gordon Yates, the only other British players in the European team of eight for the match are two East Tennessee State University students, Gareth Shaw from Lisburn, Northern Ireland and Edinburgh-born Walker Cup player Rhys Davies who was brought up in South Wales and is coming up to the end of his four-year scholarship in the States.
Davies, who will equal the Palmer Cup individual record of four appearances in June, has won 10 tournaments on the American college circuit and is No 4 in the R&A World Amateur Rankings..
Rhys played in the Palmer Cup match at Prestwick last year and so did Oscar Floren (Texas Tech & Sweden), Jorge Campillo (Indiana & Spain) and Mark Haastrup (Georgia State & Denmark) who retain their places in the 2007 line-up..
The European squad will be coached by Chris Van der Velde from the Netherlands.
The Americans will start favourites to regain the Palmer Cup this year. They have announced a team which contains five players from the top 17 of the R&A World Amateur Rankings.
The teams are:
EUROPE – Jonas Blixt (Florida State & Sweden), Jorge Campillo (Indiana & Spain), Rhys Davies (East Tennessee State & Wales), Oscar Floren (Texas Tech & Sweden), Mark Haastrup (Georgia State & Denmark), Pedrio Oriol (Arizona & Spain),Gareth Shaw (East Tennessee State & Northern Ireland), Gordon Yates (Stirling & Scotland).
UNITED STATES – Billy Horschel (Florida), Chris Kirk (Georgia), Jamie Lovemark (USC), Webb Simpson (Wake Forest), Jonathan Moore (Oklahoma State), Dustin Johnson (Coastal Carolina), Brian Harman (Georgia), Luke List (Vanderbilt).

ROOKIE REIFERS LEADS WITH
64 IN ZURICH CLASSIC
OF NEW ORLEANS

American rookie Kyle Reifers led the field by two strokes at the end of the first round of the US PGA Tour's Zurich Classic of New Orelans at the TPC of Louisiana.
LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 72 (players from US unless stated)
64 Kyle Reifers
66 Mark Calcavecchia
67 Tom Johnson, Lucas Glover, Tim Petrovic, Jason Schultz
68 Chris Stroud, Charley Hoffman, Duffy Waldorf, Joey Sindelar
Darron Stiles, Carlos Franco (Par), Kevin Sutherland, Steve Wheatcroft
69 Nick Watney, Paul Stankowski, David Toms, John Mallinger, Bob Estes, Ken Duke, Douglas Labelle, John Merrick, Joe Ogilvie, Lee Janzen, Ted Purdy, George McNeill, Richard S Johnson (Swe), Michael Allen, Fredrik Jacobson (Swe), Wes Short jun, Danny Ellis
70 Jeff Overton, Woody Austin, Stephen Leaney (Aus), Jim Rutledge (Can), Tommy Armour III, Jerry Smith, Daniel Chopra (Swe), Ryan Palmer, Bo Van Pelt, Bryce Molder, Jesper Parnevik (Swe), Kent Jones, Steve Elkington (Aus), Brian Bateman, Alex Cejka (Ger), Kenny Perry, Mathew Goggin (Aus), Scott Gutschewski, John Huston, Ryan Moore
71 Tom Byrum, Anders Hansen (Den), Daisuke Maruyama (Jpn), Steven Bowditch (Aus), Harrison Frazar, Nathan Green (Aus), Sean O'Hair, Shaun Micheel, Craig Bowden, Dicky Pride, Ryuji Imada (Jap), Craig Kanada, Briny Baird, Bob Heintz, Steve Stricker, Michael Sim (Aus), Vance Veazey, Chris DiMarco, Peter Lonard (Aus), Charlie Wi (Kor), Kevin Stadler, Anthony Kim, Jarrod Lyle (Aus), Dan Forsman, Rocco Mediate
72 Kirk Triplett, Tag Ridings, Clark Dennis, Kris Cox, Chris Smith, Mark Hensby (Aus), Chris Couch, Mathias Gronberg (Swe), Heath Slocum, Will MacKenzie, Bill Haas, Jose Coceres (Arg), Frank Lickliter II, Oliver Thomson, Eric Axley, Bubba Watson, Jeff Brehaut, Matt Kuchar, Steve Allan (Aus), Bob Tway, Jeff Maggert, Arjun Atwal (Ind), Ryan Armour, Shigeki Maruyama (Jpn), Rich Barcelo
73 Brian Davis (Eng), Dudley Hart, Charles Warren, Chris Riley, Marco Dawson, Brian Gay, Michael Putnam, Scott Piercy, Fred Funk, Martin Rominger (Swi), Kevin Na (Kor), Jay Delsing, DJ Brigman, Glen Day, Johnson Wagner, Troy Matteson, Mark Brooks
74 Brad Adamonis, Robert Gamez, Jason Dufner, Jeff Quinney, Steve Flesch, Brent Geiberger, Blaine McCallister, Cliff Kresge, Stephen Marino, Jake Narro, John Cook, Len Mattiace, Brandt Jobe, Thomas Levet (Fra)
75 Paul Gow (Aus), David Branshaw, Garrett Willis, Gavin Coles (Aus), Jaco Van Zyl (SAf), Parker McLachlin, Derek Abel, Michael Boyd, Joe Durant, Bubba Dickerson
76 Brendon De Jonge, Grant Waite (NZ), Paul Azinger, Craig Perks (NZ), Kelly Gibson, Scott Gump, Brandt Snedeker
77 Chris Tidland, Matt Hendrix, Craig Lile (SAf), Boo Weekley
79 Cameron Beckman
81 B.J Staten
85 Reed Hughes

PRESS RELEASE FROM SPANISH SUCCESS STORY

HACIENDA DEL ALAMO BREAKS

SALES RECORDS WITH SELL-OUT

OF LUXURY APARTMENTS

Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort in Murcia, Spain has smashed sales records with a sell-out of its latest release of properties.
The upmarket resort sold 100 luxury apartments in just 10 days as buyers went on an £18 million spending spree. The purchasers, from all over Europe, snapped up the first batch of “The Oasis,” (pictured above) a much-praised, exclusive, gated community of apartments within the resort with prices starting at just £123,000. These first 100 properties were launched with a 90-day-only price but sold out after just 10 days.
“It’s a sensational success story” commented a delighted Rafael Ruiz the resort’s commercial director. “We believe this is the fastest sell-out in the history of resort golf property in this area. It was down to customers recognising that this is a fantastic investment at a price that offers true value-for-money on a resort that is on target to be the very best in Spain.

"There may be predictions of a slow down in the property market nationally in Spain but we have bucked the trend and shown that quality, exclusivity and price are the most important factors for purchasers.”
Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort’s sales team are now putting the next batch of 172 apartments in “The Oasis” on the market with a new price tag, again for a limited period. The final group of properties in the 352 apartment complex will then go on sale with a price raised by a further 10%.

“We believe our strategy has shown buyers great opportunities to invest at a competitive price and see the valuation of their properties rise before the ink is even dry on their contracts” says Hacienda del Alamo’s investment manager Aisling Brew.

“We can offer purchasers unbeatable payment terms so their exposure for at least a couple of years is relatively low whilst they watch their money grow as the building is completed.”
A deposit of approximately £2,000 is required to reserve a property in most sections on the top class resort, which has been dubbed “the new No. 1 in Spain”. But, even better, a deposit of just 15% (less the €3,000 initial deposit) is needed on the signing of the contract and the Caixa Catalunya, which backs the resort, is offering mortgages of up to 85% on a 30-year payback period, subject to conditions.
Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort occupies a stunning 550-hectare site near Fuente Alamo in Murcia and it is flanked by the impressive mountains of the Sierra Espuña Regional Park. It boasts a Dave Thomas-designed 18-hole championship golf course, including eight lakes and 84 bunkers.
Under construction are the clubhouse, a five-star hotel and spa plus all the bars, restaurants, shops and other facilities you need for a safe and pleasurable lifestyle. Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort is just 20 minutes from fabulous beaches as well as close to airports served by low-cost airlines.

The Hacienda del Alamo Resort sales team are available on 0034 902 654 000.

Or have at look at its website: www. hdagolf.com
+North-east man Billy Sim is Director of Golf at Hacienda del Alamo and another Scot, Chris Mann from Glasgow, is Director of Communications.

DUNDONALD LINKS NOW OPEN

FOR PUBLIC PLAY

Dundonald Links, the new Ayrshire links course owned by the world-renowned Loch Lomond Golf Club, is opening its doors to visitor play with a new green fee structure.
Designed by Kyle Phillips, one of the game's top architects, Dundonald Links is a true test of links golf that has been quietly maturing with member rounds, since its opening in 2003 and has matured to the point that it is now ready for an increased level of play.
“Dundonald is a fantastic links course that has already hosted final qualifying for the Senior British Open championship and was recognised as one of the best new courses in the 2004 Robb Report. We now feel the time is right to increase the number of rounds played, with access for visitors both during the week and at weekends,” said Niall Flanagan, general manager of Loch Lomond Golf Club and Dundonald Links.
“We believe we can offer visitors a combination of a great golf course and exceptional levels of customer service.” added Flanagan.

“From the valet parking on arrival, to great food and beverage and a unique locker room service, visitors will enjoy a first class day’s golf.”
Situated on the Ayrshire coast, near Troon, Dundonald Links is a mere 10 minutes from Prestwick Airport and half an hour from Glasgow Airport.
With a host of other championship golf courses on its doorstep, Dundonald Links is a great addition to any Ayrshire golfing itinerary. It can certainly lay claim to being a golf course for real golfers. Master-craftsman Kyle Phillips has created a classic links course that blends in seamlessly with the natural surroundings, in a similar vein to his highly-acclaimed Kingsbarns Golf Links.
"My desire was to create a championship Ayrshire-style links course that felt and played as though it was an old rediscovered course, by integrating newly constructed features with existing site features." said Phillips.
Green-fees will be available at the following prices:

Monday to Wednesday £95.

Thursday & Friday £110.

Saturday & Sunday £125

To book a tee-time at Dundonald Links, call 01294 314000 or E-mail dundonaldgolf@lochlomond.com

Montgomerie four behind in joint third place in Shanghai

VIVE LA FRANCE! JACQUELIN IS

THREE STROKES AHEAD AT

HALFWAY IN BMW ASIAN OPEN

Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin surged into a comfortable three-shot lead at the halfway stage of the BMW Asian Open today with Korea's Lee Sung leading the chasing pack.
The overnight leader added a three-under-par 69 to his opening round's 66 for a two-day total of nine-under-par 135 at Tomson Shanghai Pudong Golf Club while Lee, who was born deaf, continued to impress with a 70 for lone second place.
Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez, the winner in 2004, renewed his love-affair with the BMW Asian Open when he charged into contention with a bogey-free 69 to lie five off the lead alongside Colin Montgomerie, Australian Scott Hend, Sweden's Joakim Backstrom and Soren Kjeldsen of Denmark.

Stephen Gallacher (72-73 for 145) was the only other Scot to survive the halfway cut which ruled out those with 36-hole totals of 147 or higher from the weekend action.

Steven O'Hara missed out by one shot with 75 and 72 for 147. Scott Drummond exited on 148 (76-72), three shots better than Marc Warren (73-78) and Barry Hume continued his slump with 79 and 77 for 156.
World No. 5 Ernie Els, the tournament's drawcard, carded a second straight 71 for a two-day score of 142. The South African knows he has plenty of catching up to do in his attempt to regain the BMW Asian Open title which he won by a record 13 strokes two years ago.
The story so far is Jacquelin and the Frenchman hopes Lady Luck will remain by his side as he searches for a second career title. He has enjoyed a good break with his tee times by having the better half of the weather in Shanghai.

"We were lucky this afternoon and the wind died on the back nine. You need some luck sometimes and we were lucky with this side of the draw," said Jacquelin.
He took full advantage of calmer conditions, shooting five birdies against two bogeys, and hopes to keep his foot firmly on the pedal after slipping up last weekend at Shanghai Silport when he also led into the weekend by two before finishing tied sixth.
"I am going to play exactly the same. I think the course is a little more fair this week and if you miss the fairway you still have a shot to the green and that will make a big difference for the weekend.

PUTTING IMPROVEMENT
"I am really confident with how I'm hitting the ball. I have improved my putting over the last few weeks and I am just trying to make the strokes and the swing as I do during the practice round. And the birdies are coming. If the weather is good we will have to be low to win this tournament and the putter will have to be hot," said Jacquelin.
Lee, who quit playing baseball during his teens as he couldn't communicate with team-mates because of his profound deafness, has emerged as the darkhorse in the BMW Asian Open. He brilliantly saved pars at three of his opening four holes before moving close to the lead with three birdies against a lone dropped shot.
"I got up and down four few times which kept me going," said Lee, who communicates by lip-reading with his father, Kang-kun. "I putted well, had 10 one-putts and 26 in total. I'm swinging it good but I felt average today because of the weather change. Yesterday was cold, today was hot.
"I will take it one shot at a time. There won't be any targets. I want to go out and enjoy it. I'm not thinking about the players in the field, just concentrate on my own game," said Lee, who has five top-10s in his four year career on the Asian Tour.
Jimenez, a 13-time winner in Europe, is feeling right at home at the par-72, 7,326 yard Tomson course, with fond memories of his win in 2004 driving him on. He has also hooked up with the lady club caddie who was on his bag three years ago. The man, nicknamed "The Mechanic" because of his penchant for fast cars, roared into contention with birdies on the 13th, 14th and ninth holes after starting his day from the back nine.

SOLID TEE TO GREEN
"I feel very comfortable in this position. Five under par after two rounds when it's quite breezy on this golf course is very good. I played very well today, very solid from tee to green and that's the base of my game these last two days," said Jimenez.
His regular bagman did not make the trip to the US$2.3 million event, co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour, European Tour and China Golf Association, due to a visa snag but the 43-year-old Spaniard was pleased to have Tomson caddie Yong Li-hong by his side again (pictured above).

"She's my lucky charm. She's a nice lady, she's very kind and it's good to have her on the golf course. She doesn't read the lines because I like to do that myself but it's nice to have her around. Every time I look back, she's always there," he said.
Els was poised for a weekend charge despite another frustrating day on the greens. "Just not making any putts out there," lamented the three-time Major champion. "Anyway I am playing okay, just not scoring. A little frustrating."
After catching the worse of the afternoon weather on Thursday, Els was hoping to find calmer conditions this morning but he was caught surprised by the stiff breeze that greeted him when he teed off.

"It was exactly the same. I thought we might have caught a bit of a break this morning but it was exactly the same wind as yesterday afternoon."
American John Daly, one of the marquee names this week, crashed out of the tournament after adding a 76 to his opening 79 for 155 - well over the cut mark of 146.
The winner of the BMW Asian Open will walk away with the top cheque US$383,330 on Sunday while the first player to shoot a hole-in-one at the par-3 14th hole will win a BMX X5 vehicle.

LEADING SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 144 (2 x 72)
135 Raphael Jacquelin (Fra) 66-69.
138 Lee Sung (Kor) 68-70.
139 Soren Kjeldsen (Den) 67-72, Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) 70-69, Joakim Backstrom (Swe) 70-69, Scott Hend (Aus) 69-70, Colin Montgomerie (Sco) 69-70
140 Simon Dyson (Eng) 70-70, Peter Hanson (Swe) 69-71, Markus Brier (Aut) 71-69
141 Soren Hansen (Den) 71-70, Scott Barr (Aus) 71-70, Kyron Sullivan (Wal) 75-66, Gavin Flint (Aus) 68-73, Prayad Marksaeng (Tha) 72-69, Marcel Siem (Ger) 72-69, Christian Cevaer (Fra) 71-70
142 Keith Horne (SAf) 73-69, Ernie Els (SAf) 71-71, David Griffiths (Eng) 73-69, Simon Wakefield (Eng) 72-70, Andrew Mclardy (SAf) 72-70.
143 Tony Carolan (Aus) 69-74, Matthew Millar (Aus) 73-70, Paul Casey (Eng) 72-71, Damien McGrane (Ire) 70-73, Jarmo Sandelin (Swe) 73-70, Mark Pilkington (Wal) 71-72, Graeme McDowell (NIr) 73-70, Simon Yates (Sco) 74-69, Gregory Havret (Fra) 68-75, Garry Houston (Wal) 71-72, Adam Le Vesconte (Aus) 72-71.

In following scores, players are from GB&I unless stated, (x) denotes amateur:

144 Richard Sterne (SAf) 70 74, Adam Blyth (Aus) 71 73, Brett Rumford (Aus) 75 69, Christian Nilsson (Swe) 71 73, Sven Struver (Ger) 72 72, Juvic Pagunsan (Phi) 73 71, Kane Webber (Aus) 71 73, Keng-chi Lin (Tpe) 73 71, Chris Rodgers 73 71, David Bransdon (Aus) 76 68
145 Thaworn Wiratchant (Tha) 72 73, Jason Knutzon (US) 75 70, Wen-hong Lin (Chn) 69 76, Mardan Mamat (Sin) 72 73, Stephen Gallacher 72 73, Gaurav Ghei (Ind) 75 70, Marcus Both (Aus) 71 74, Edward Loar (USA) 70 75, Peter O'Malley (Aus) 73 72, Ricardo Gonzalez (Arg) 72 73, Andres Romero (Arg) 75 70, Jean-Francois Luquin (Fra) 71 74, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (Spa) 73 72, Reftief Goosen (SAf) 71 74, James Kingston (SAf) 74 71
146 Robert-Jan Derksen (Ned) 74 72, Wen-tang Lin (Chn) 73 73, Lian-wei Zhang (Chn) 73 73, Peter Lawrie 75 71, Simon Hurd 74 72, Shaun P Webster 72 74, Yasin Ali 74 72, Frankie Minoza (Phi) 75 71, Wen-chong Liang (Chn) 72 74, Jun-won Park (Kor) 69 77, Edward Michaels (US) 74 72, Gary Murphy 74 72
MISSED CUT
147 Steven O'Hara 75 72, Marcus Higley 72 75, Benn Barham 74 73, Chinarat Phadungsil (Tha) 74 73, Oliver Fisher 75 72, Brad Kennedy (Aus) 74 73, Mahal Pearce (NZ) 74 73, Unho Park (Aus) 74 73, Terry Pilkardis (Aus) 75 72, Mikko Ilonen (Fin) 74 73, (x) Mu Hu (Chn) 73 74, Jong-yul Suk (Kor) 71 76, Gary Rusnak (US) 72 75, Rahil Gangjee (Ind) 73 74, Marcus Fraser (Aus) 74 73
148 Scott Drummond 76 72, Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) 76 72, Craig Kamps (Rsa) 76 72, Andrew Marshall 75 73, Peter Fowler (Aus) 73 75, Ter-chang Wang (Tpe) 76 72, Miles Tunnicliff 76 72, Gareth Davies 73 75, Stephen Dodd 73 75, Prom Meesawat (Tha) 76 72, Anthony Kang (US) 71 77
149 Airil Rizman (Mas) 77 72, Bryan Saltus (US) 73 76, Angelo Que (Phi) 74 75, Thammanoon Srirot (Tha) 79 70, Graeme Storm 79 70, Thomas Bjorn (Den) 77 72, Shiv Kapur (Ind) 77 72, Weng-teh Lu (Tpe) 76 73, Steven Jeppesen (Swe) 78 71
150 Rafael Cabrera Bello (Spa) 74 76, Adam Groom (Aus) 77 73, Richard Lee (NZ) 75 75, Christopher Hanell (Swe) 76 74, S.S.P Chowrasia (Ind) 75 75, Shu-tao Gu (Chn) 77 73, Jose-Filipe Lima (Por) 72 78, Rick Gibson (Can) 77 73, Ted Oh (Kor) 76 74, Gary Simpson (Aus) 78 72, Marrten Lafeber (Ned) 75 75, Gary Emerson 75 75, Mimg-jie Huan (Chn) 73 77
151 Marc Warren 73 78, Amandeep Johl (Ind) 75 76, Zhi-jin Xiao (Chn) 76 75, Carlos Rodiles (Spa) 75 76
152 Wook-soon Kang (Kor) 77 75, Yong-huan Huang (Chn) 78 74, Anton Haig (Rsa) 77 75, Johan Axgren (Swe) 78 74, Chawalit Plaphol (Tha) 75 77, Li Chao (Chn) 72 80, Wei-huang Wu (Chn) 74 78
153 Chapchai Nirat (Tha) 78 75, Joakim Haeggman (Swe) 80 73, Scott Strange (Aus) 76 77, (x) Jian-feng Ye (Chn) 74 79, Ross Fisher 77 76, Weng-gen Deng (Chn) 76 77
154 Richard Finch 77 77, Barry Lane 77 77, Lei Shang (Chn) 79 75, Henry Liaw (Chn) 80 74, Wei-chih Lu (Tpe) 80 74, Clay Devers (USA) 74 80
155 John Daly (US) 79 76, Iain Steel (Mas) 76 79, James Heath 73 82
156 Mike Cunning (US) 75 81, Danny Chia (Mas) 77 79, Barry Hume 79 77
157 Tze-chung Chen (Chn) 77 80, Hendrik Buhrmann (SAf) 80 77
159 Zhi-feng Qiu (Chn) 81 78
160 Gui-ming Liao (Chn) 79 81
161 Shao-guang Zheng (Chn) 82 79
163 Yong-zong Tan (Chn) 83 80, Lei Gao (Chn) 77 86
164 Zeng-fa Qi (Chn) 80 84
Withdrew: Peter Gustafsson (Swe) 79

DAVID HOWELL TO PLAY IN MACAU
OPEN NEXT MONTH

Ryder Cup hero David Howell of England will star in next month's Macau Open which celebrates a milestone with its 10th anniversary celebration this year.
Howell, ranked 24th in the world, will add to an already long list of illustrious names who have previously headlined the Macau Open. The 31-year-old will be joined by two-time winner Zhang Lian-wei of China and title-holder Kane Webber of Australia.
Major champions Nick Faldo, Vijay Singh, Mark O'Meara and Nick Price are amongst the big-name players who have competed in the popular US$300,000 Asian Tour event previously, which takes place at the spectacular Macau Golf and Country Club from May 17-20.
Howell, winner of two titles in the 2006 European season and third on the Order of Merit, is looking forward to his maiden trip to Macau. He has tasted success previously in Asia, beating world number one Tiger Woods to triumph in the 2005 HSBC Champions in Shanghai.
“I am looking forward to playing in the Macau Open. It should be an interesting week. I’ve heard a lot of good things about the golf course and its unique practice range (where golfers hit golf balls into the sea) and I’m sure it will be a great tournament,” said Howell.
“When the opportunity to play in Macau came my way, I decided to take it up and experience the tournament for myself. My preparation is going to be a bit unique but I’m looking forward to the challenge. I’m going there to not only enjoy the golf but also to enjoy the place as well,” he added.
Before flying out to Macau, Howell will tap on the knowledge of compatriot Lee Westwood, who triumphed in Macau in 1999. “Lee has mentioned that it is an interesting golf course and that it is hilly. I don’t know what to expect but it sounded like one of those places on the planet that was worth visiting," he said.
The Macau Golf and Country Club offers breathtaking views of the Hac Sa Beach and South China Sea. The Macau Open will be the 14th leg of this season's Asian Tour Schedule.

GREAT SCOTS BOW OUT FROM JACKSONVILLE
UNIVERSITY GOLFING HISTORY
The final round of the Atlantic Sun Conference Championship marked the end of a great chapter in the history of the Jacksonville University, Florida men's golf team as the trio of Scots, Russell Knox, Duncan Stewart and Jamie Kennedy, played their final round together as team-mates.
"The golf course played tough all week, but I am very proud of how the guys played," said Jacksonville University head coach Jim Taketa.
"I know that the seniors are disappointed, but Russell, Duncan and Jamie have accomplished a lot in their careers at JU. It's going to be very hard to replace those three guys next year."
The Jacksonville University Dolphins finished their 2006-2007 campaign with four tournament titles, the most by any golf team from the college in the past 15 years.
The Dolphins finish their 2006-07 campaign with four tournament titles, the most by a JU in the past 15 years.
For that the credit must go to the tremendously consistent Knox and Stewart – and the man who recruited them as “unknowns” from Scotland four years ago. To be fair, Jacksonville has been good to the Scots as well. They leave for home better, more-accomplished all-round golfers than they were as freshmen recruits.

CHRISTOPHER CAMPBELL
FINISHES NINTH IN PGA
EUROPRO TOUR
QUALIFYING SCHOOL
Christopher Campbell from Grantown-on-Spey and a staff professional at the Carnegie Club, Skibo Castle finished ninth of the huge field that started out in the PGA EuroPro Tour Final Qualifying School at Frilford Heath Golf Club, Oxfordshire.
Christopher, pictured right, had rounds of 69, 70 and 75 for a three-under-par total of 214 over the Red and Blue Course.
He finished five shots behind the winner, New Zealander Todd Nicholson who shot 70, 67 and 72 for 209 and a three-stroke victory from Cennydd Mills (Vale of Glamorgan) and Mark Staunton (Black Bush GC, Ireland).
After Campbell, the next Scots in the rankings were young Paul Cormack from the Inchmarlo Golf Centre, Banchory and Ricky Gray (Torrance House) who finished joint 30th on two-over 219 with 72, 76 and 71. Cormack scored 77, 68 and 74 for the same total.
Graeme Brown (Montrose), Alan Lockhart (Ladybank) and Anglo-Scot Christopher Farr (Bransford Golf Club) finished on four-over 221 in joint 52nd place.
Chris Kelly (Cawder) made it into a share of 61st place on 222 with 80, 69 and 73.
After making the 36-hole cut of the Final Q School, it was all about finishing as high as possible in the final standings, because they will decide the "pecking order" for getting into tournaments on the 2007 PGA EuroPro Tour which starts shortly at Wensum Valley.
Players who finished quite high up in last year's Order of Merit were exempt fro this week's Qualifying School process.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
209 Todd Nicholson (NZ) 70 67 72.
212 Cennydd Mills (Vale of Glamorgan) 74 68 70, Mark Staunton (Ire) 73 66 73.
213 Paul Reed (Bristol &Clifton) 73 69 71, Neil Vowles (Burton on Trent) 70 71 72, Sam Osborne (Wentworth) 71 69 73, Brendan McCaroll (Ire) 72 68 73, Colin Roope (Eng) 67 72 74.
214 Christopher Campbell (Carnegie Club, Skibo Castle) 69 70 75.
215 Alex Smith (Pyle & Kenfig) 70 73 72, Mark Prue (Hillside) 71 71 73.
216 Colm Moriarty (Ire) 72 75 69, Adam Constable (Cardiff) 73 72 71, David James (Bridgnorth) 71 70 75, Mark O'Sullivan (Ire) 71 68 77.
217 Pablo Ramirez (Spa) 76 71 70, Jason Dransfield (Royal Liverpool) 73 73 71, Richard Sadler (Killiow) 71 74 72, Michael Lowe (Leatherhead) 73 71 73, James Busby (The Shropshire) 69 75 73, John Paul (Moor Hall) (am) 70 73 74,
Richard Beadles (Brampton Park) 69 72 76.
Other Scottish scores:
219 Ricky Gray (Torrance House) 72 76 71 (jt 30th), Paul Cormack (Inchmarlo) 77 69 74 (jt 30th).
221 Graeme Brown (Montrose) 74 73 74, Alan Lockhart (Ladybank) 74 73 74, Christopher Farr (Bransford) 75 71 75. (jt 52nd).
222 Chris Kelly (Cawder) 80 69 73 (jt 61st).
223 Alasdair Hay (Royal Winchester) 75 73 75 (jt 71st).
224 Lee Harper (Archerfield Links) 72 78 74 (jt 82nd).
224 Callum Nicoll (Prestwick) 75 73 77 (jt 87th).
226 Neil Mitchell (Murcar Links) 71 79 76 (jt 99th).
229 Freddy Valenti (Pryors Haynes) 73 74 82 (jt 119th.

ANY COMMENTS? E-mail them to colin@scottishgolfview.com

SCOTS’ CHALLENGE
FADES ON FINAL DAY
OF McEVOY TROPHY

Perth’s Sam McLaren and Banchory’s James Byrne dropped out of their overnight top eight placing over the final two rounds of the Peter McEvoy Trophy boys’ tournament at Copt Heath Golf Club, Solihull today.

The trophy was won by four shots by Matt Haines (Rochester & Cobham Park) with the highly respectable total of seven-under-par 277, made up of consistently good rounds of 70, 66, 71 and 70.
The third Scot to survive the halfway cut, Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck), pictured right, climbed up past McLaren and Byrne with rounds of 73 and 71 to add to his first-day 73 and 71. Michael totalled 288 and finished joint ninth.

McLaren, Scottish Under-16 boys’ champion last year, could not maintain the form that put him in third place at the start of the day with ronds of 69 and 71. Sam finished with 77 and 75 for 292 and a share of 21st place.

Byrne, joint eighth after 36 holes with scores of 74 and 69, signed off with 74 and 77 for 294 and a share if 27th place.

"Daily Telegraph" report:
Kent teenager Matt Haines proved himself to be an excellent front-runner to claim the biggest prize of his fledgling career. Haines, who led by three strokes overnight, had his advantage trimmed to a single shot by his county foursomes partner Billy Britton's tremendous four-under-par third round of 67 and then, midway through the final round, his playing partner Andrew Johnston. The Rochester and Cobham Park junior held off both challenges, however, to win by a margin of four.
Unaware of how Britton's challenge was fading two holes ahead, Haines could only concentrate on holding North Middlesex rival Johnston at bay. The key moment was at the 14th when Haines responded to two dropped shots by making a solid birdie as Johnston lipped out to make bogey.
Another birdie at the next, the 540-yard 15th, which many of the 72 players who contested this annual junior major can get up in two, took the leader back to seven under par and all threats to his taking the tournament then disintegrated.
"I couldn't make those putts when it mattered," lamented Johnston, who tied with Britton for second place on three under par. Britton put his frustration down to "thinking about the title too much" after his morning heroics.
Haines was elated afterwards and admitted to returning to the course nervously after taking control on the opening day. "It was a question of keeping it all together, especially after starting the final round with two bogeys," he said after emulating the triumphs here of Lee Westwood and Justin Rose.
Clubhouse leader for much of the afternoon was Billy Fowles, of Wentworth. He was disconsolate after a shaky finish emphasised by a double-bogey at the 17th. Fowles was five under after 11 and that message had filtered through to those behind him. He eventually posted the level-par target of 284, which proved good enough to earn joint-fourth with Eddie Pepperell, of Drayton Park.
Tipped as a future winner here is Minchinhampton's Oscar Sharpe, who at age of 14 already has a glittering array of junior honours and shared the lead after Wednesday's opening round. He could not match that sparkling 68 in three subsequent rounds but held his game together impressively to finish eighth on three over par.

ALL THE FINAL TOTALS

Par 284 (4 x 71). CSS 71 71 72 72

277 M Haines (Rochester & Cobham Park) 70 66 71 70.

281 Andrew Johnston (North Middlesex) 70 69 72 70, Billy Britton (Pedham Place) 70 71 67 73.

284 B Fowles (Wentworth) 72 73 70 69, E Pepperell (Drayton Park) 70 72 70 72.

286 S Hodgson (Sunningdale) 75 69 72 70, D Renwick (Worthing) 71 73 71 71.

287 O Sharpe (Minchinhampton) 68 75 71 73.

288 M Stewart (Troon Welbeck) 73 71 73 71, J Clarke (Chelmsford) 74 72 69 73.

289 G King (Tyrrells Wood) 74 72 75 68, A Mayers (Northampton Co) 71 72 77 69, D Thomas (Braintree) 69 77 70 73, T Robson Rowlands Castle) 71 72 72 74, R Prophet (Shifnal) 72 69 73 75.

290 J Hiluta (Chelmsford) 77 71 71 71, G Porteous (Bamburgh Castle) 73 70 74 73.

291 J Galbraith (Rochford Hundred) 74 69 76 72, T Fleetwood (Formby Hall) 71 73 74 73, H Smart (Walton Heath) 72 75 70 74.

292 S Dodds (Coventry) 70 73 76 73, D Rowland (Boston West) 74 73 71 74, S McLaren (King James VI) 69 71 77 75, J Bartlett (Worthing) 71 75 70 76.

293 M Swan (Stoke by Nayland) 72 76 75 70, A Wills (Sandiway) 75 71 73 74.

294 J Wilson (Formby) 75 70 73 76, J Byrne (Banchory) 74 69 74 77.

295 J Vickery (Newport) 71 76 74 74, D Shevill (Prudhoe) 74 72 75 74, S Ballingall (Dunston Hall) 71 74 76 74, R Fitzgerald (Bromborough) 75 71 72 77, A Best (Cleveland) 71 73 73 78.

296 T King (Cleveland) 77 71 76 72, O Glaze (The Kendleshire) 75 72 75 74.

297 D Ginn (Sudbury) 68 76 77 76.

298 B Downing (Truro) 73 75 76 74, D Lloyd (Spalding) 73 71 80 74.

299 G Kensell (Knole Park) 75 73 78 73, O Pearl (Stoke by Nayland) 78 70 76 75, J Weight (Woburn) 68 74 81 76.

301 L Brace (Stoke by Nayland) 78 70 78 75.

302 D Baskott (Coventry) 73 74 77 78.

304 N Davis (Bush Hill Park) 74 74 80 76.

305 A Chesters (Hawkstone Park) 71 76 82 76.

YOUR CHANCE TO BE AMONG THE FIRST TO PLAY THE 2010 RYDER CUP COURSE AT CELTIC MANOR RESORT

Six years in the making, at a total cost of £16 million and with more than a million tons of earth shifted in its creation, the new Ryder Cup course (pictured above) at The Celtic Manor Resort is on the brink of opening to its first golfers.
And YOU can be one of the first to hit the daunting opening tee shot that will confront Tiger Woods & Co when Celtic Manor stages the Ryder Cup in 2010. The spectacular new 7,493-yard, par-71 course will open for strictly limited play from July 4 this year, in advance of its official launch which will be held back until the new clubhouse is completed in the autumn.
A special preview package – The Ryder Cup Experience – will offer golfers a fantastic opportunity, for a limited period only, to play the dramatic holes of the new Ryder Cup course.
Tee times will be restricted to just 12 four-balls a day from July 4 to September 30 at a cost of £600 per four-ball.
For more information or to book, please call Reservations on 01633 410262 or visit celtic-manor.com

The Ryder Cup Experience package, priced £600 per four-ball, includes:

♦ Allocated parking on arrival (two spaces per four-ball)
♦ Breakfast in The Lodge Brasserie
♦ Personal locker in luxurious changing rooms
♦ Complimentary range balls at the Golf Academy
♦ Transfers to and from the course and Golf Academy
♦ 18 holes of golf on the Ryder Cup Course
♦ Shoe cleaning
♦ Two-course lunch in The Lodge Brasserie
♦ Ryder Cup gift pack including limited edition polo shirt and bag tag

EDINBURGH & EAST OF SCOTLAND GOLFERS' ALLIANCE
SECRETARY-TREASURER'S NOTES ON YEAR ENDING
MARCH 31, 2007 ACCOUNTS

By DUNCAN IRELAND
Overall, yet another good year for the Alliance. We were very fortunate in not having to postpone/cancel any of our events this year and were favoured with some pretty good weather into the bargain.
The membership for 2006-7 was 202, nine members down on the previous year, although perhaps still a little too many. Now that the accounts are in such a healthy position, it would be a good time to attempt to reduce the membership numbers even further, to perhaps as low as 175, in an attempt to reduce the waiting times that some members experienced at a few of this year’s outings.
The cost to the Edinburgh and East of Scotland GA of reducing the membership numbers to 175, would be 27 x £75 = £2,025. If this reduction in membership reduced the numbers attending our events by 10 players then this would further reduce income by 10 x £10 x 13 outings = £1,300.
The total deficit would be £3,325 against a surplus last year of £4,045, still leaving a surplus for the year.
The membership waiting list is still quite healthy at 35. This means that even if reducing the membership numbers didn’t work out, then in a year or two, EESGA could accept more members from the waiting list to create additional income.
I remain unconvinced about the way any pre-booking system will work and I think that the reduction in membership may result in a few fewer players attending each event, which should prevent the long waits to tee-off that occasionally happened.
Of course, the events still need to be fairly well attended, if they are to pay their way and not help create an unmanageable deficit for the year.
The host clubs we used this year all seemed to be quite happy with the outing fee of £600 and I am, therefore, fairly sure that this will not need to increase until season 2008-9.
There are a couple of worrying points though. Firstly, although total membership numbers are fine, there are very few professional and trainee professional members – 30 & 12 respectively. This continuing trend is disappointing. Do we need to address it? What can we do to encourage more professionals to join?
Secondly, there appear to be more and more of our members playing their golf and rushing straight away without using our host club’s bar/catering facilities. If this continues and host clubs start to notice that the income generated from our events is reducing they may either hike up the course hire fee or even go as far as to say that we are no longer welcome.
That would be a pity. Surely, if you can manage to play golf for four hours, you’ve got the time to enjoy a drink and something to eat with your playing partners?
Some points to note on the accounts for 2006/7.
Surplus for the year of £4,045.
Although technically part of this season, the cost of the team match v the West Alliance will show in the accounts for season 2007-8 as the match was played after the accounts were submitted for auditing. The cost was approximately £1,350.
Green fees paid out were slightly higher than the previous year as we increased the outing fee to £600. This figure still represents excellent value, although it we will have to increase it every second year to ensure host clubs do not start to turn us away.
Prize money-vouchers were slightly up on last year as we had one more event this year than last year.
Trophies-engraving costs were up on last year as we had to repair to damaged trophies at a cost of £130.
Printing/Postage/Stationery – down on last year but will be greater next year as we do not have much stationery left.
EESGA Jumpers – we have many new members who have not had the chance to buy jumpers. I think we should place an order this year but only for jumpers that have been specifically ordered and paid for in advance. I propose to send out an order form with the subscription notices this summer.
***It is with regret that I must inform you that EESGA member David Smith passed away on the 17th. David had been an EESGA member for nearly 40 years but hadn't been keeping too well latterly, which prevented him from attending many of the outings. He will be sadly missed.
The funeral will be held on Friday 20th at noon and will be at St Margaret's Parish Church, Able Place, Dunfermline. The president, J T Anderson, has sent a card to the family on the EESGA's behalf.

GEORGE MURRAY LEADS SCOTS ON
CHALLENGE TOUR IN ITALY

By MICHAEL GIBBONS, Challenge Tour Press Officer

John E Morgan, the epileptic golfer who befriended Tiger Woods and caught the imagination of the American golfing public, continued his rehabilitation by moving into contention at the European Challenge Tour’s Tessali-Metaponto Open di Puglia e Basilicata today.
The 29 year old from Bristol is just three strokes off the lead, held by England’s Van Phillips, on Italy’s south east coast, while George Murray leads the Scottish charge on three under par.
It was in 2003 that Morgan held full playing rights for The European Tour (which he won through the 2002 Challenge Tour) and the US PGA Tour.
Morgan (pictured above) headed for America to fulfil his golfing ambitions, and came tantalisingly close to completing the dream only to be derailed by the most violent of epileptic seizures that resulted in a ruptured sternum and four smashed ribs.
That fit happened days after Morgan had lost a play-off for the John Deere Classic, but instead of building on that fantastic result, he saw his career crumble and came home to be closer to family and friends.
Morgan made a comeback last year, but he was once more struck down by a series of horrendous seizures this past winter, which have forced him to start over again.
While Morgan was crafting his 67 at Riva dei Tessali, Murray led the Challenge Tour Scots at the par 72 Metaponto Golf Club. Each player in the field will play a round on each course before playing the final two rounds at Tessali.
It was a mixed day for the other Scots in the field. Jamie McLeary joined Murray at Metaponto and moved to two under, while Eric Ramsay was the best of the Scots on show at Tessali after a level par 71.
Scott Henderson carded a two over 73 at the same venue, while Andrew McArthur and Graham Gordon had a day to forget with a pair of 78s.

SCOREBOARD
65 Van Phillips (Eng), Joost Luiten (Net).
66 Nicolas Vanhootegem (Bel), John E Morgan (Eng), Michael Hoey (NIr).
Scottish scores:
69 George Murray.
70 Jamie McLeary.
71 Eric Ramsay.
72 Jack Doherty.
73 Scott Henderson.
78 Andrew McArthur, Graham Gordon.

ANY COMMENTS? E-mail them to colin@scottishgolfview.com

LLOYD SALTMAN’S DOUBLE

WIN BOOSTS HIM TO NO 15

IN R&A WORLD RANKINGS

Lloyd Saltman’s victory in both the Scottish champion of champions and Craigmillar Park Open has seen him rise to No 15 in the R&A World Amateur Golf Rankings.
Craigielaw GC member Lloyd and US amateur champion Richie Ramsay (Royal Aberdeen), ranked No 3 behind Jamie Moul (England) and Rory McIlroy (Ireland), are the only Scots in the top 50.
The current top 50 are:

1 Jamie Moul (Eng).
2 Rory McIlroy (Ire).
3 Richie Ramsay (Sco).
4 Rhys Davies (Wal).
5 Billy Horschel (US).
6 Pablo Martin (Spa).
7 Gary Wolstenholme (Eng).
8 Chris Kirk (US).
9 Jamie Lovemark (US).
10 Webb Simpson (US).

11 Bronson LaCassie (Aus).
12 Jonathan Moore (US).
13 Kyle Stanley (US).
14 Niklas Lemke (Swe).
15 Lloyd Saltman (Sco).
16 John Parry (Eng).
17 Dustin Johnson (US).
18 Alan Wagner (Arg).
19 Gary Boyd (Eng).
20 Julien Guerrier (Fra).

21 Rohan Blizard (Aus).
22 Seve Benson (Eng).
23 Stephen Lewton (Eng).
24 Louis de Jager (SAf).
25 Kevin Chappell (US).
26 David Horsey (Eng).
27 Charlie Beljan (US).
28 Marius Thorp ()Nor).
29 Rob Grube (US).
30 Cameron Tringale (US).

31 Johan Carlsson Swe).
32 Nigel Edwards (Wal).
33 Ruan Botha (SAf).
34 Dawie van der Walt (SAf).
35 Gary Woodland (US).
36 Rick Kulacz (Aus).
37 Colt Knost (US).
38 Hudson Swafford (US).
39 Brian Harman (US).
40 Alex Prugh (US).

41 Branden Grace (SAf).
42 Luke List (US).
43 Daniel Summerhays (US).
44 Trip Kuehne (US).
45 Andrew Dodt (Aus).
46 Lucas Lee (US).
47 Cennydd Mills (Wal).
48 Seung Su Han (Kor).
49 Roberto Castro (US).
50 Benhamin Alvarado (Chi).

AMERICANS FAVOURITES TO GAIN
PALMER CUP REVENGE

The United States look like starting hot favourites to avenge last year’s Palmer Cup thrashing by the Europeans when the next transatlantic students’ international match is played at Caves Valley Golf Club, Maryland on June 7 and 8.
The American team has just been selected and it includes four of the R&A World Rankings top 10 – Billy Horschel (Florida) (5), Chris Kirk (Georgia) (8), Jamie Lovemark (USC) (9), Webb Simpson (Wake Forest) (10).
The rest of the eight-man team, with their world rankings, are:
Jonathan Moore (Oklahoma State) (12), Dustin Johnson (Coastal Carolina) (17), Brian Harman (Georgia) (39) and Luke List Vanderbilt) (42).
The European team for the Palmer Cup contest has yet to be named but it will certainly include Richie Ramsay and Rhys Davies (East Tennessee State), the Edinburgh-born Welsh Walker Cup player who has won 10 tournaments in four years on the US college circuit.

LESLEY COMPLETES AYRSHIRE COUNTY
TITLE HAT-TRICK AT TROON PORTLAND

Lesley Hendry (Largs Routenburn) has become Ayrshire women's county champion for the third year in a row. In today's semi-finals over the Troon Portland links, Lesley first beat the top seed, Audrey Thompson (Loudoun) by two holes. Then Lesley, the No 4 qualifier, beat the No 10 qualifier, Morag McPherson (Troon Ladies) by 6 and 5 in the final.
Miss Hendry gave a quality display of golf in the final, highlighting her performance with an eagle and a birdie.
To get to the final, Morag beat the No 14 qualifier, Jennifer Linklater (Largs) by 3 and 2.

MONTY (69) JOINT SIXTH AT END OF
OPENING DAY IN BMW ASIA OPEN
IN SHANGHAI

Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin blazed into the first round lead in the BMW Asian Open today with a six-under-par 66 as tournament drawcard Ernie Els battled to a 71.
Jacquelin extended his rich vein of form at Tomson Shanghai Pudong Golf Club and leads by one stroke from Soren Kjeldsen of Denmark.
Korea's Lee Sung, who was born deaf, produced a fine 68 to share third place with Asian Tour regular Gavin Flint of Australia and Gregory Havret of France.
Chinese Taipei's Lin Wen-hong, playing on an invitation from the club, sparkled with a 69 to tie Colin Montgomerie and Australia's Scott Hend.
Els, winner of the BMW Asian Open in 2005 by a record 13 strokes, struggled on the greens with a couple of three-putt bogeys after the turn but was "delighted" with his opening day's effort, just over 24 hours after arriving in Shanghai.
"I played good enough," said Els, who finished second in the weather-delayed Verizon Heritage on the US Tour which concluded on Monday. "I three putted the 10th and 11th but really played quite nicely. Misread a few putts," added the South African.
With winds swirling around the challenging Tomson course, the three-time Major champion began his day well aware that Jacquelin had posted an impressive number in the morning. "I saw the boards but it is the first round. I just didn't want to shoot myself out of it. I had some chances, I could have been three under easily," said Els, who is chasing his first win of the year.
Jacquelin, second in Portugal three weeks ago, led last week at nearby Shanghai Silport Golf Club at the halfway stage before falling away at the weekend but was back to his best on a breezy opening day. Seven birdies with just the one dropped shot put him in position for a second career title at the BMW Asian Open, co-sanctioned by the European Tour, Asian Tour and China Golf Association.
"I'm doing pretty well at the moment," said Jacquelin, whose sole victory to date came at the 2005 Open de Madrid. "I played well in Portugal and finished second and last week I did well the first two rounds but it was a bit more difficult over the weekend. But the way I hit the ball and the way I made a few putts were pretty good. The winds were getting stronger later in the day and I'm happy to shoot six under.
"It's always good to shoot low in the first round and relax a bit and take the pressure off me. I'm going to play exactly the same tomorrow and take the same feelings that I've had over the last month and we'll see."
Flint, playing in his second season on the Asian Tour, got off to a spectacular start, holing a sand-wedge from 110 yards on the par five second hole for an improbable eagle. But it was his putting which was the key as he negotiated the 7,326-yard course in a mere 20 putts. "It's definitely exciting to get out there and having a good round straight away. Getting out early I got the best of the conditions," said Flint, who birdied the other three par fives on the course.
It was a welcome change in fortunes as Flint missed his last five cuts on the Asian Tour after two top-20s early in the season. A great admirer of Fijian Vijay Singh for his work etiquettes, Flint is also a hard worker but he does not believe in pounding balls at the range.
"I think the harder you work, the better your results are going to be. I try to work pretty hard on my game. The standard is so high now on the Asian Tour that you have to practice really hard. I pretty much try to play as much golf as I can. However, I prefer to do my practice on the golf course," said Flint, who is 57th on the UBS Order of Merit.
Lee, who was born deaf and communicates through lip-reading with his father Kang-kun, played some stunning approach shots, with four of his five birdies coming from within 10 feet and the other a chip-in on the par three eighth hole.
"I hit my driver and approach shots good," said Lee. "My putting was pretty average. I only missed one fairway which helps in the round. It was windy but I am comfortable playing in the wind. I've practiced a lot in the Philippines and America in windy conditions so it's okay. I'm very happy with my start. I try to hit the best shot every time and when you're finished in the round, you normally get a good score."
Montgomerie was one of the few players not to drop a shot on a morning of swirling winds and the big Scot, an eight-time European No. 1, was quite content with his steady start. "Not much to talk about with no bogeys," said Montgomerie.
NO-BOGEY MONTGOMERIE
"That's great. That's what I have always prided myself on over the years, no bogeys. Three birdies isn't that many but it is very difficult out there. Very windy and the greens are firm and the pins are in difficult positions."
Stephen Gallacher was the next best Scot on the first-round scoreboard with a par-matching 72.
Marc Warren had a 73, Simon Yates a 74, Scott Drummond a 76 and Barry Hume, enduring a run of very high scores, a 79.
Retief Goosen made a solid start, reaching the turn in two under par, but struggled with to find his range on the greens coming home to lie at 71. England's Paul Casey, whose luggage has yet to arrive in Shanghai from America, carded a 72 with one bogey against a birdie.
FIRST-ROUND LEADERS
Par 72
66 Raphael Jacquelin (Fra).
67 Soren Kjeldsen (Den) .
68 Gavin Flint (AUS), Gregory Havret (Fra), Lee Sung (Kor)
69 Scott Hend (AUS), Colin Montgomerie (Sco), Park Jun-won (KOR), Tony Carolan (AUS), Peter Hanson (SWE), Lin Wen-hong (TPE)
70 - Edward Loar (USA), Miguel Angel Jimenez (ESP), Simon Dyson (ENG), Damien McGrane (IRL), Richard Sterne (SAf), Joakim Backstrom (SWE)
71 - Mark Pilkington (Wal), Jean-Francois Lucquin (FRA), Retief Goosen (RSA), Markus Brier (AUT), Kane Webber (AUS), Christian Cevaer (FRA), Suk Jong-yul (KOR), Anthony Kang (USA), Garry Houston (WAL), Soren Hansen (DEN), Ernie Els (RSA), Adam Blyth (AUS), Marcus Both (Aus), Christian Nilsson (Swe), Scott Barr (AUS)
72 Li Chao (Chi), Prayad Marksaeng (Tha), Ricardo Gonzalez (Arg), Jose-Filipe Lima (Por), Simon Wakefield (Eng), Marcel Siem (Ger), Liang Wen-chong (Chi), Andrew McLardy (SAf), Adam Le Vesconte (Aus), Gary Rusnak (US), Marcus Higley (Eng), Paul Casey (Eng), Thaworn Wiratchant (Tha), Mardan Mamat (Sin), Stephen Gallacher (Sco), Sven Struver (Ger), Shaun Webster (Eng).
Players from GB&I unless stated in following scores, (x) denotes amateur.

73 Gareth Davies, Peter O'Malley (Aus), David Griffiths, Bryan Saltus (US), Graeme McDowell, Juvic Pagunsan (Phi), Stephen Dodd, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (Spa), Keng-chi Len (Tpe), Chris Rodgers, Ming-jie Huang (Chn), (x) Mu Hu (Chn), James Heath, Rahil Gangjee (Ind), Wen-tang Lin (Tpe), Lian-wei Zhang (Chn), Matthew Millar (Aus), Keith Horne (Rsa), Marc Warren, Peter Fowler (Aus), Jarmo Sandelin (Swe)
74 Unho Park (Aus), Yasin Ali, Angelo Que (Phi), Marko Ilonen (Fin), Simon Yates, Gary Murphy, James Kingston (Rsa), Marcus Fraser (Aus), Wei-huang Wu (Chn), Clay Devers (US), Edward Michaels (US), Rafael Cabrera Bello (Spa), Robert-Jan Derksen (Ned), Benn Barham, Chinarat Phadungsil (Tha), Brad Kennedy (Aus), Simon Hurd, Mahal Pearce (Nzl), (x) Jian-feng Ye (Chn)
75 Andres Romero (Arg), Frankie Minoza (Phi), Terry Pilkardis (Aus), Maarten Lafeber (Ned), Gary Emerson, Carlos Rodiles (Spa), Steven O'Hara, Mike Cunning (US), Andrew Marshall, Peter Lawrie, Jason Knutzon (US), Oliver Fisher, Amandeep Johl (Ind), Richard Lee (Nzl), Brett Rumford (Aus), Chawalit Plaphol (Tha), Gaurev Ghei (Ind), S.S.P Chowrasia (Ind), Kyron Sullivan
76 Prom Meesawat (Tha), Iain Steel (Mas), Ted Oh (Kor), Wen-teh Lu (Tpe), David Bransdon (Aus), Wen-gen Deng (Chn), Craig Kamps (SAf), Scott Drummond, Thongchai Jaidee (Tha), Ter-chang Wang (Tpe), Miles Tunnicliff, Scott Strange (Aus), Christopher Hanell (Swe), Zhi-jin Xiao (Chn)
77 Danny Chia (Mas), Thomas Bjorn (Den), Shiv Kapur (Ind), Rick Gibson (Can), Ross Fisher, Lei Gao (Chn), Wook-soon Kang (Kor), Richard Finch, Tze-chung Chen (Tpe), Anton Haig (SAf), Airil Rizman (Mas), Barry Lane, Adam Groom (Aus), Shu-tao Gu (Chi).
78 Gary Simpson (Aus), Steven Jeppesen (Swe), Yong-huan Huang (Chn), Chapchai Nirat (Tha), Johan Axgren (Swe).
79 Barry Hume, Thammanoon Srirot (Tha), Graeme Storm, Giu-ming Liao (Chn), Peter Gustafsson (Swe), John Daly (USA), Lei Shang (Chn)
80 Wei-chih Lu (Tpe), Zeng-fa Qi (Chi), Hendrik Buhrmann (SAf), Joakim Haeggman (Swe), Henry Liaw (Chi).
81 Zhi-feng Qiu (Chi).
82 Shao-guang Zheng (Chi).
83 Yong-zong Tan (Chi).

JACK NICKLAUS, JOHN DALY TO GRACE
INAUGURAL PINE VALLEY BEIJING OPEN

Jack Nicklaus and two-time Major winner John Daly will grace the inaugural Pine Valley Beijing Open alongside the Asian Tour's best players next week.
Nicklaus, an 18-time Major champion, will make a guest appearance at the Pine Valley Resort and Golf Club where he will attend the club's phase II course opening ceremony and conduct a junior clinic, held in conjunction with the US$500,000 event.
Big-hitting Daly, a five-time winner on the US PGA Tour, will tee up from April 26-29 in his bid to win a second title in Asia following his triumph in the Korean Open in 2003.
Local heroes Zhang Lian-wei and Liang Wen-chong will carry the Chinese challenge while current Asian Tour's UBS Order of Merit leader Anton Haig of South Africa and Thailand's Chapchai Nirat, third on the ranking, are amongst the leading players who will tee up in the full field Asian Tour tournament.
While his last triumph came nearly three years ago, Daly, who is currently playing in the on-going BMW Asian Open in Shanghai this week, is confident he can return to winning ways when he turns 41 during the Pine Valley Beijing Open.
"I look at Vijay Singh and he has won 28 times in four or five years since he turned 40. I wouldn’t be playing if I didn’t think I could still do it and hopefully the best years are ahead of me," said Daly.
The "Grip it and Rip it" star will certainly be a crowd puller next week and hopes to reward his fans with a win. At the start of the year, Daly hooked with swing coach Michael Owen in a bid to gain an extra edge in the game.
"When you turn 40 it seems like the eyes don’t see as well. I am a feel player around the greens and we are trying to work on consistency, mainly with the putter. He is mainly a short game coach for me.
"The swing when I play practice rounds is great and then completely different when the tournament starts. He is mainly acting as another pair of eyes. I have such a long putting stroke we have tried to add some weight to the putter to shorten it so hopefully that will help me in the future," said Daly.
The Californian-born talent, who turned pro in 1987, joined the US PGA Tour in 1991 and has since been making headlines across the globe. He won the 1991 PGA Championship for his maiden Major triumph and then sealed a famous victory at the 1995 British Open. His most recent win on US PGA Tour was at the Buick Invitational in 2004.

ANY COMMENTS? E-mail them to colin@scottishgolfview.com

Broch boy's college win Atlantic Sun Conference title

JORDAN FINDLAY HAS LAST

LAUGH OVER RUSSELL KNOX

AND DUNCAN STEWART

Highlanders Russell Knox from Inverness and Duncan Stewart from Grantown on Spey finished ahead of Fraserburgh’s Jordan Findlay in the Atlantic Sun Conference men’s college championship at The Golf Club at Sanctuary Cove, Waverly in Georgia.
But it was Findlay, pictured right, who was all smiles at the finish of the 54-hole tournament because his college, East Tennessee State, won the title for the first time by the resounding margin of 14 strokes.
Knox and Stewart had helped Jacksonville University, Florida to be Atlantic Sun Conference champions last year but they could finish only fourth behind East Tennessee State this time.
On the American college circuit, team performances are all-important because they can determine how much of a college’s budget goes to the golf programme.
Knox had rounds of 75, 80 and 67 for a total of 222 over the par-71, 7,003yd course. The 67 was the best by anyone in the third round. He birdied the third, seventh, ninth, 11th and 12th and had only one birdie, at the 13th.
Knox improved from joint 19th overnight to finish a creditable seventh in a field of 50.
Duncan Stewart finished 11th on 225 with scores of 77, 73 and 75. Double bogeys at the ninth and 17th took the shine off his birdies at the second, 11th and 18th and cost him a top-10 place.
Jordan Findlay finally strung two decent rounds together. He scored 82, 71 and 74 for a share of 15th place on 227. Findlay had only one birdie, at the 12th, in his final round but he is starting to keep the double bogeys – and worse- off his scorecards.
Jamie Kennedy (Jacksonville) from Edinburgh score 79, 81 and 74 for 234 and joint 28th place. He had a double bogey at the 10th but birdies at the fourth, seventh, 16th and 18th.
Irish freshman Seamus Power (East Tennessee State) from Waterford scored his first win on the American college circuit. He had an impressive tally of three-under-par 210 with rounds of 73, 67 and 70 to win by two shots from Michael O’Neal (North Florida).
Edinburgh-born Walker Cup player Rhys Davies (East Tennessee State), coming up to the end his four-year golf scholarship – during which he has won 10 tournaments – finished third on 215 with scores of 79, 68 and 68.
Ulsterman Gareth Shaw, another of the East Tennessee State squad from this side of the Atlantic, finished joint fifth on 218 with 73, 72 and 73.

LEADING FINAL INDIVIDUAL TOTALS
Par 213 (3 x 71).
210 Seamus Power (East Tennessee State) 73 67 70.
212 Michael O’Neal (North Florida) 74 69 69.
215 Rhys Davies (East Tennessee State) 79 68 68.
Other GB&I scores:
218 Gareth Shaw (East Tennessee State) 73 72 73 (jt 5th).
222 Russell Knox (Jacksonville) 75 80 67 (7th).
225 Duncan Stewart (Jacksonville) 77 73 75 (11th).
227 Jordan Findlay (East Tennessee State) 82 71 74 (jt 15th).
230 Cian McNamara (East Tennessee State) 82 76 72 (jt 22nd).
234 Jamie Kennedy (Jacksonville) 79 81 74 (jt 28th).
TEAM TOTALS
868 East Tennessee State. 882 North Florida. 897 Campbell. 902 Jacksonville (10 teams took part).

ELLIOT SALTMAN'S PRO GAMBLE

FAILS TO PAY OFF AS HE MISSES

EUROPRO TOUR Q SCHOOL CUT

Elliot Saltman’s decision to turn professional on the eve of the PGA EuroPro Tour Final Qualifying School was, with hindsight, a big gamble. Unfortunately for the 25-year-old from Dalkeith, the gamble has come unstuck.
Elliot, pictured right, shot 77 and 74 at Frilford Heath over the past two days and an aggregate of 151 missed the cut which means he can’t play or will have very little opportunity to play on the 2007 PGA EuroPro circuit.

To continue playing golf competitively, he will have to turn to the Tamsel or Celtic Tours.
Saltman could have played in the Qualifying School as an amateur, as did Eyemouth’s Thomas Higson who failed to beat the 36-hole cut but is still free to play in amateur events.
As a professional Elliot has nowhere to go and he has cut himself off from the amateur ranks where his form this season, and his +3 handicap, might have led to a long overdue first cap for Scotland this year.
Christopher Campbell from Grantown on Spey, a staff professional at the Carnegie Club, Skibo Castle, has done best of the Scots at Frilford Heath so far. Christopher has has scores of 69 and 70 for 139. That puts him in joint second place, two shots off the pace being set by New Zealander Todd Nicholson.
Campbell had an eagle at the second and birdies at the sixth, ninth, 10th and 17th.
Banchory’s Paul Cormack (Inchmarlo) had a 68, one of the best scores of the day, with birdies at the foufrth, fifth and 13th, to be in joint 30th place on145.
Murcar Links’ Neil Mitchell plummeted down the leaderboard after an 8 at the par-5 fourth on his way to a 79 for 150.
SCOREBOARD
137 Todd Nicholson (NZ) 70 67.
139 Christopher Campbell (Carnegie Club) 69 70, Mark Staunton (Black Bush)73 66, Mark O’Sullivan (Galway) 71 68, Colin Roope (Eng) 67 72.
Other Scottish scores:
145 Paul Cormack (Inchmarlo) 77 68 (jt 30th).
146 Chris Farr (Bransford) 75 71 (jt 38th).
147 Alan Lockhart (Ladybank) 74 73, Freddy Valenti (Pryors Haynes) 73 74, Graeme Brown (Montrose) 74 73 (jt 49th).
148 Ricky Gray (Torrance House) 72 76, Alasdair Hay (Royal Winchester) 75 73, Callum Nicoll (Prestwick) 75 73 (jt 65th).
149 Chris Kelly (Cawder) 80 69.
150 Lee Harper (Archerfield Links) 72 78, Neil Mitchell (Murcar Links) 71 79 (jt 110th).
MISSED CUT
151 Elliot Saltman (Craigielaw) 77 74, Jay Taylor 76 75.
152 Stephen Lamb (Broomieknowe) 79 73.
154 Ian Simpson (Fulford) 81 73.
155 Craig Matheson (Falkirk Tryst) 79 76.
156 Thomas Higson (Eyemouth) (am) 75 81.

Sam McLaren, James Byrne in leading eight at halfway

SCOTS BOYS TO FORE IN

PETER McEVOY TROPHY

AT COPT HEATH

Scottish Under-16 boys’ champion Sam McLaren, pictured right, from Perth and James Byrne from Banchory are in the top eight at the halfway stage of the 72-hole Peter McEvoy Trophy, one of the most prestigious early-season boys’ golf tournaments, at Copt Heath Golf Club, Solihull in the West Midlands.
Byrne’s international team-mate Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) also made the cut – top 40 and ties - with ease in joint 15th place but the fourth Scottish entry, Cameron Gray (West Kilbride) was three shots over the limit on the 148 mark.
Third-placed McLaren from the King James VI club had rounds of 69 and 71 over the 6,520yd par-71 parkland lay-out for a 376-hole tally of 140 – four shots behind the leader, Matt Haines (Rochester & Cobham Park).
Haines had scores of 70 and 66 – against a CSS of 71 for both rounds – for 136 and starts the second day with a three-shot lead from another English boy, Andrew Johnston (North Middlesex) (70-69).
Byrne broke 70 in his second round, scoring 74 and 69 for 143 and joint eighth place.
Michael Stewart shot 73 and 71 for 144.

BRITISH BOYS CHAMPION FAILS
A total of 46 players with scores of 148 and better qualified to play Thursday’s final two rounds.
Cameron Gray had 79 and 72 for 151 and a share of 55th place in the field of 70.

A surprise non-qualifier was Matthew Nixon (Ashton under Lyne), winner of the British boys' open championship at Royal Aberdeen GC last summer. Matthew had rounds of 75 and 78 for 153.
SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 142 (2 x 71). CSS 145 (2 x 71)
136 M Haines (Rochester & Cobham Park) 70 66.
139 A Johnston (North Middlesex) 70 69.
140 S McLaren (King James VI) 69 71.
141 Richard Prophet (Shifnal) 72 69, B Britton (Pedham Place) 70 71.
142 E Pepperell (Drayton Park) 70 72, J Weight (Woburn) 68 74.
143 J Byrne (Banchory) 74 69, J Galbraith (Rochford Hundred) 74 69, G Porteous (Bamburgh Castle) 73 70, T Robson (Rowlands Castle) 71 72, A Mayers (Northampton Co) 71 72, S Dodds (Coventry) 70 73, O Sharpe (Minchinhampton) 68 75.
144 S Hodgson (Sunningdale) 75 69, M Stewart (Troon Welbeck) 73 71, D Lloyd (Spalding) 73 71, T Fleetwood (Formby Hall) 71 73, D Renwick (Worthing) 71 73, A Best (Cleveland) 71 73, D Ginn (Sudbury) 68 76.
145 J Wilson (Formby) 75 70, B Fowles (Wentworth) 73 73, S Ballingall (Dunston Hall) 71 74.
146 R Fitzgerald (Bromborough) 75 71, A Wills (Sandiway) 75 71, D Shevill (Prudhoe) 74 72, G King (Tyrrells Wood) 74 72, J Clarke (Chelmsford) 74 72, J Bartlett (Worthing) 71 75, D Thomas (Braintree) 69 77.
147 O Glaze (The Kendleshire) 75 72, D Rowland (Boston West) 74 73, D Baskott (Coventry) 73 74, H Smart (Walton Heath) 72 75, J Vickery (Newport) 71 76, A Chesters (Hawkstone Park) 71 76.
148 L Brace (Stoke by Nayland) 68 70, O Pwearl (Stoke by Nayland) 78 70, T King (Sudbury) 77 71, J Hiluta (Chelmsford) 77 71, G Kensell (Knole Park) 57 73, N Davis (Bush Hill Park) 74 74, J Shepherd (The Wisley) 73 75, B Downing (Truro) 73 75, M Swan (Stoke by Nyland) 72 76.
Non-qualifiers included:
149 M Kippen (Enmore Park) 76 73, T Chatfield (Clandon Regis) 76 73, T Berry (Wentworth) 76 73, J Sims (Caldy) 76 73, S Buckie (Mapperley) 74 75.
150 G Boyd (Donaghadee) 78 72, R Gowers (Brockenhurst Manor) 75 75, P Cutler (Port Stewart) 75 75.
151 C Gray (West Kilbride) 79 72, M Johnson (Chipping Norton) 77 74, A Rees (East Brighton) 75 76, J Howie (Royal St David's) 73 78.

152 C Tarren (Dinsdale) 80 72, N Lofthouse (North Wales) 79 73, B Enoch (Truro) 78 74, L Lennox (Moyola Park) 78 74, J Smith (Warwickshire) 76 76, A Mayers (Northampton Co) 76 76, S Lee (North Hants) 74 78.

153 M Nixon (Ashton Under Lyne) 75 78.

157 J Hiscock (Marlborough) 76 81.

159 D Bishop (Walton Heath) 76 83.

160 B Cooper (Bishops Stortford) 78 82.

166 M Helyard (Beverley & East Riding) 84 82.

STIRLING STUDENT GORDON FINISHES

JOINT 22nd in PERU TOURNAMENT

Stirling University student Gordon Yates finished joint 22nd in an field of 64 in the the Martin Prado Cup international men's amateur tournament at Lima, Peru.
Gordon (pictured right) had rounds of 75, 76, 73 and 78 for a total of 14-over-par 302 - 18 shots behind the winner, Luciano Dodda from Argentina (74-69-71-70).
Yates earned the trip by winning the recent R&A Bursars' tournament over the Eden and Old Courses, St Andrews.
Another R&A Bursar, Edward Parker (Birmingham University), finished a creditable seventh in Peru with scores of 70, 71, 76 and 77 for 294.

Scottish Golf Union Press Release re Bay Hill Tournament "affair"

RICHIE RAMSAY: SGU STATEMENT

The Scottish Golf Union this afternoon issued the following official statement on Richie Ramsay's exclusion from the Bay Hill Tournament:

The SGU has investigated Richie Ramsay’s entry into the Bay Hill Tournament. All paperwork submitted by Richie Ramsay to the organisers, was done in accordance with the tournament guidelines and deadlines supplied.
On the Saturday before the tournament, the SGU and Richie were informed that competitors were also required to register with the US Tour, but that the deadline for registration had passed. Consequently Richie was not allowed to compete.
We very much regret that Richie was unable to participate in the Bay Hill event, but we hope that Richie and other Scottish golfers may have the opportunity to compete in the tournament in the future.
We now consider the matter closed.

Kate Weldon
Communications Manager
Scottish Golf Union

DUDDINGSTON WIN INTER-CITY CUP

Duddingston have become the first East club to win the Inter-City Cup, the brainchild of former SGU president Graham Ewart, which sees the best in the West play the Pride of Edinburgh annually.
Cowglen beat Kingsknowe over two legs in the inaugural contest last year.
This year it was Duddingston v Whitecraigs.
First-leg honours at Duddingston went to the home club by 6 1/2-2 1/2
Whitecraigs almost made up the leeway when it was their turn to have home advantage but their winning margin was "only" 5 1/2-3 1/2, which meant that Duddingston scored a 10-8 overall victory.

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BIDWELLS ARE NEW SPONSORS

OF SCOTTISH MEN'S OPEN

AMATEUR STROKE-PLAY

The Scottish Golf Union have announced that leading property consultants Bidwells are to be the new sponsors of the Scottish men's open amateur stroke-play championship, which takes place over 72 holes at Royal Dornoch this summer.
The championship – one of the SGU’s ‘Majors’ – celebrates its fortieth staging at the Dornoch course from June 1 to 3. A strong field is expected to line up as the game’s leading amateurs battle for vital world amateur golf ranking points. The event is also part of the Highland 2007 programme, celebrating Scotland’s year of Highland culture.
Past winners of the event include Colin Montgomerie (1985), Stephen Gallacher (1995), Alastair Forsyth (1996) and reigning US Amateur champion Richie Ramsay, who took the title in 2004.
Equity Partner of Bidwells (Scotland), Michael Norval, is delighted at the prospect of partnering one of the jewels in the Scottish amateur golf crown:
“As a company steeped in history and tradition yet with a modern and progressive outlook, we have a lot in common with the Scottish Golf Union and their Championships. Looking back at the list of former winners, you realise that this event is a great platform for nurturing the very best in Scottish talent. Also with 2007 being Scotland’s year of Highland Culture, it is a wonderful opportunity for Bidwells to be associated with the initiative.”
“As one of the UK’s largest property consultants, it is very apt that Bidwells are coming to one of the finest stretches of links golf land anywhere in the world with the staging of the Championship at Royal Dornoch.”

HOUSEHOLD NAME
Bidwells has been a household name in the south of England for more than 200 years but it is only in the past two decades that the company has grown throughout Scotland. With offices in Perth, Inverness and Fort William, Bidwells is now well established in the Scottish property market, with work in rural, planning, development and commercial services remaining a key part of its business.
Ross Duncan, the SGU’s Marketing & Sponsorship Manager, added:
“The Scottish Stroke Play Championship is arguably our best event in terms of its field, having had some of the leading amateur golfers across Europe taking part in the last few years. The investment from Bidwells into the event will further enhance the Championship and help support one of our key goals – developing talent.”
“We would encourage golf fans from the Highlands to turn up in good numbers to watch the exceptional players on show in what promises to be a fantastic golf event for the area.”
Alison Magee, chair of Highland 2007 said: “We are delighted to bring a major golf event to the Highlands during this special year. One of the biggest golfing events to take place in the Highlands, it has already begun to attract attention to the area from throughout the UK and the rest of Europe. ”

DEFENDING CHAMPION
The winner of last year’s Championship at Craigielaw, Scott Henry (Cardross), pictured above, has just returned from an excellent fourth place finish in the Australian equivalent while the man he beat into second place 12 months ago, England’s Ross McGowan, led the Portuguese Open after two rounds recently on only his second professional event.
The sponsorship is a further boost to the SGU’s commercial revenue, having added Dunfermline Building Society and an extended deal with Belhaven Breweries earlier this year. Bidwells have committed to a one-year deal with a two-year extension option for the Championship which is scheduled to take place at the Duke’s in St Andrews in 2008 and Murcar Links in 2009.

MICHAEL CAMPBELL WILL

PLAY IN IRISH OPEN

AT ADARE MANOR

Michael Campbell, the 2005 US Open Champion, has confirmed his participation in the Irish Open at Adare Manor Hotel and Golf Resort from May 17-20 as he looks to repeat his success in Ireland’s national Open of four years ago.
Campbell, pictured right, joined the pantheon of golfing greats when he held off the challenge of World Number One, Tiger Woods, at Pinehurst No. 2, to become the first New Zealander to win a Major Championship since Bob Charles in 1963. His US Open victory sparked wonderful celebrations in his home country and even Parliament was suspended as the New Zealand Government watched the drama unfold.
New Zealand-born Campbell, whose forefathers emigrated from the Edinburgh area, has also enjoyed considerable success in Ireland, winning the 2003 Irish Open at Portmarnock a year after capturing the Smurfit European Open at The K Club. Campbell’s 2003 Irish Open victory was particularly significant in that it heralded his return to form after struggling for much of the early part of the year in the United States, and by winning for a fourth successive season he became the most prolific winner from New Zealand on the European Tour after edging ahead of Frank Nobilo’s tally of five titles.
A truly international golfer, Campbell has claimed eight European Tour victories in total, along with a further seven around the world.
Now he is relishing the opportunity of reacquainting himself with Adare Manor Hotel and Golf Resort where he finished sixth in the 2005 JP McManus Invitational Pro-Am, hoping that Irish eyes will again be smiling on him.
"I always enjoy playing in that part of the world and I’ve had a lot of success in Ireland,” he said. “The crowds and people are very hospitable and it’s always very well organised. I played at Adare in JP’s Pro-Am and it’s a good, fun golf course.
“The win in 2003 was huge for me. I had tried to play over in America but came back that year with the mindset of just playing The European Tour. That’s when I started playing great and won at Portmarnock.”
With the support of Adare Manor, the Proud Partners, Official Sponsors and Official Suppliers, the Irish Open has announced a record prize fund of €2.5 million, an increase of €300,000 from 2006. There is also a unique incentive in place this year whereby the winner of the Irish Open will scoop a €1 million bonus if they go on to win the following week’s BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Club in Surrey, England.
Tickets are now available with an Adult One Day ticket costing €25, while a Four Day season pass, valid for all four days of the tournament, costs €75. Tickets for Disabled Citizens cost €15, while OAPs over the age of 65 and juniors under the age of 16 are entitled to free entry, although the juniors must be accompanied by an adult. The Pro-Am is free for all spectators.
For tickets and hospitality for the Irish Open, contact the Adare Manor on +353 (0) 61 605250 or Ticketmaster on + 353 (0) 818 719300. Alternatively, visit http://www.irishopen.ie/ or http://www.ticketmaster.ie/.

SCOTS PAIR NEIL AND DANIEL

DOWN THE FIELD IN GEORGIA

Neil McBride from Glasgow and Daniel Sommerville from St Andrews, both students at Clayton State University, Atlanta finished 32nd and 36th respectively in a field of 40 for the Peach Belt Conference college golf championship at Harbor Golf Club, Georgia.
Neil scored 82, 85 and 76 for a total of 243 over a tough par-72 course in excess of 7,000yd. Daniel, pictured right, scored 85, 81 and 80 for 246.
Baxter Culler (USC Upstate) won the individual honours with 69, 76 and 74 for 219.
Clayton State (943) finished seventh of eight in the team championship won by Columbus State University by 10 strokes with a total of 897.

THREE SCOTS IN TOP 20 OF

ATLANTIC SUN COLLEGE

CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP

Scots Duncan Stewart from Grantown on Spey, Russell Knox from Inverness and Fraserburgh’s Jordan Findlay were all in the top 20 as the Atlantic Sun Conference Championship went into Wednesday’s third and final round at The Golf Club at Sanctuary Cove, Waverly Golf Club in Georgia.
Stewart, pictured right, and Russell helped their college, Jacksonville University, Florida, to win this title last year and go on to the NCAA championships.
This is their final year at college in America and Russell’s parents and Duncan’s father have made the trip to watch their sons in action.
Stewart is in joint eighth position after scoring 77 and 73 for 150. Duncan had birdies at the sixth, seventh, 12th and 14th but a double-bogey 6 at the ninth was a costly mistake in halves of 38 and 35 over the par-71, 7,003yd course.
Duncan also bogeyed the third, fifth, 11th and 18th.
Jordan Findlay, in his second year at East Tennessee State, found his form at last with a par-match 71 – an improvement of 11 shots over his first round – and he is joint 12th position on 153.
Jordan, like Duncan Stewart, had a double-bogey 6 at the ninth in halves of 37 and 34. The Buchan teenager birdied the third, 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th but had bogeys at the 10th, 11th and 17th.

PAIR OF DOUBLE BOGEYS
Russell Knox dropped back to a share of 19th place on 155, made up on rounds of 75 and 80. Russell had a pair of double bogey 6s, at the 11th and 17th in a birdie-less halves of 37 and 43.
East Tennessee State surged into a 10-shot lead in the team championship with four players in the top 12 after 36 holes.
Seamus Power from Waterford has had rounds of 73 and 67 to lead by three strokes on two-under-par 140.
He had a roller-coaster ride in the second round, which include a hole in one with a seven-iron at the 195yd short 13th hole. He also had birdies at the second, 11th, 12th, 15th and 18th for halves of 38 and 29.
Amazingly, Seamus’s outward half included two double bogeys – at the short fourth and ninth – and a single bogey at the eighth.
Team-mate Gareth Shaw from Lisburn, Northern Ireland is in fourth place with 73 and 72 for 145 and a third East Tennessee State team member, Walker Cup man Rhys Davies from South Wales (he was born in Edinburgh) climbing to a share of fifth place with 79 and 68 (35-33) for 147. Rhys birdied the sixth, 13th, 14th and 17th.
Another East Tennessee State player, Cian McNamara from Limerick is in joint 27th position in the field of 50 after rounds of 82 and 76 for 158.
Edinburgh’s Jamie Kennedy (Jacksonville) had a triple bogey 7 at the 11th in a second-round 81 for 160 and a share of 35th place.
LEADING INDIVIDUAL SCORES
Par 142 (2 x 71)
140 Seamus Power (East Tennessee State) 73 67.
143 Michael O’Neal (North Florida) 74 69.
Other GB&I players’ scores:
147 Rhys Davies (East Tennessee State) 79 68 (jt 5th).
150 Duncan Stewart (Jacksonville) 77 73 (jt 8th).
153 Jordan Findlay (Fraserburgh) 82 71 (jt 12th).
155 Russell Knox (Jacksonville) 75 80 (jt 19th).
158 Cian McNamara (East Tennessee State) 82 76 (jt 27th).
160 Jamie Kennedy (Jacksonville) 79 81 (jt 35th).
LEADING TEAM SCORES
585 East Tennessee State. 595 North Florida. 608 Gardner-Webb. 609 Campbell. 615 Jacksonville.

NORTH DISTRICT THINK THIS
COULD BE THEIR YEAR TO
WIN SCOTTISH AREA TITLE
By ROBIN WILSON
Since winning the Scottish area team championship at East Kilbride in 2000, the North District golf team have not figured in the last four of the SGU’s national competition but with two home ties to play this season there is an air of optimism that it is the turn of the eight other areas to sit up and take notice of the Highlanders.
If the North is to make a serious bid for the title this year they will have to take something from what will most likely be their toughest tie, a first-round game against the Lothians at Mortonhall on May 20.
In early preparation, the North executive gathered their select squad of players at Forres last Sunday for a run-out against the Under-18 squad, several of them still fresh from good performances at Dunbar in the Scottish boys’ championship and eager to let the adult squad know they are waiting in the wings.
Only John Campbell (Grantown on Spey), Neil Hampton (The Nairn) and Bryan Fotheringham (Forres) remain in contention from the 2000 triumph at East Kilbride. Fotheringham had to miss the Forres day because he qualified for Sunday's final two rounds of the Craigmillar Park Open.
Past internationalist Fotheringham will remain a vital figure in the North team and students like Russell Knox and Duncan Stewart (both in their final year at Jacksonville University, Florida), will be called upon as and when available.
One new face that should add strength to the line up is ex-Nairn assistant professional Alex Scott, pictured above, who has now made himself available for selection after reinstatement and an eye-catching return to amateur scene last year in the Scottish amateur championship at Nairn.
In his younger days Scott (39) originally from the Edinburgh area, played team golf for the Lothians. After gaining an engineering degree, he changed direction and took up a professional position at Nairn. He continues to reside in Nairn and has reverted to engineering, working in Inverness with the Halcrow Group.
The Forres outing resulted in a win for the adult squad although they got a bit of a an early fright when past champions John Campbell (Granton on Spey) and Michael Macdonald (Fortrose & Rosemarkie ) lost the top game to reigning North boys' champion Fraser Fotheringham (Nairn) and Scott Stables (Elgin).
In game 2 the Inverness pairing of John Forbes and Bruce Thomson managed only a half with Ryan Elder (Nairn Dunbar) and John Fair (Fortrose & Rosemarkie).
The men's squad took the next three games to register a 3 1/2 to 1 1/2 win.

Details (men's squad names first):

J S D Campbell (Grantown on Spey) & M MacDonald (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) lost to F. Fotheringham (Nairn) & S Stables (Elgin) 2&1.
J Forbes & B Thomson (Inverness) halved with R Elder (Nairn Dunbar) & J Fair (Fortrose & Rosemarkie).
J Gunn (Royal Dornoch) & M Ferries (Tain) beat S Connell (Inverness) & J Foley (Forres) 4&3. N D Hampton (Nairn) & N McWilliam (Garmouth & Kingston) beat I Allan & K Godsman (Hopeman) 3&2.
R McKerron (Forres) & A Scott (Nairn) beat C Stewart (Brora) & C Gaittens (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) 1 hole.

CAMPBELL, MITCHELL LEADING

SCOTS ON FIRST DAY OF PGA

EUROPRO TOUR FINAL Q SCHOOL

Grantown-on-Spey's Christopher Campbell (Carnegie Club, Skibo) and Aberdonian Neil Mitchell, playing out of Murcar Links, were the leading Scots in the huge field for the start of the PGA EuroPro Tour Final Qualifying School at Frilford Heath Golf Club, Oxfordshire.

Campbell, pictured right, playing over the Blue Course, shared the lead with Spaniard Ismael Castillo on two-under-par 69 which had birdies at the first, eighth, ninth, 10th and 11th in halves of 35 and 34. Christopher bogeyed the second, third and 18th.

Also over the Blue Course, former Scottish boys' champion Lee Harper (Archerfield Links) from Musselburgh, had a 72.
Neil Mitchell shot a two-under-par 71 over the Red Course to be lying ninth equal behind English leader Colin Roope who had a six-under-par 67 to lead by two shots.
Next Scot in the hit parade is Ricky Gray (Torrance House) with a 72 to be sharing 14th place.
Graeme Brown from Montrose in is joint 32nd place with a one-over-par 74.
On 75 - and sharing 48th place - are Calum Nicoll from Prestwick, Alasdair Hay (Royal Winchester) and the Eyemouth amateur who did so well in the Stage 1 qualifying, Thomson Higson. He is still playing as an amateur by the way.
Scot Jay Taylor - home golf club not listed - had a 76 for be joint 63rd.
Elliot Saltman (Craigielaw), who squeezed through last week's Fulford qualifier in a six-man play-off and turned pro on Monday, had a disappointing four-over 77 to be sharing 74th place.
Stephen Lamb (Broomieknowe) and Craig Matheson (Falkirk Tryst) had 79 apiece.
Tartan Tour player and former Scottish assistants champion Chris Kelly, eighth in last season's PGA Scottish Region Order of Merit, played well below form to return an 80 and have 106 players ahead of him going into Round Two.

LEADERBOARD

RED COURSE

Par 71
67 Colin Roope (Eng).
69 Richard Beadles (Brampton Park), James Busby (The Shropshire), Jeremy Martin (Richings Park), Tim Rice (Limerick).
70 Alex Smith (Pyle & Kenfig), Neil Vowles (Burton on Trent), Francis McGuirk (Princes).
71 Neil Mitchell (Murcar Links), Matthew Dearden (Wal), Tom Haylock (The Hertfordshire), Sam Osborne (Wentworth), Russell Smith (Sutton Coldfield).
72 Andrew Jones (Ladbrook Park (am), Matthew McGuire (Stoneleigh Deel Park), Paul Lowey (Castletown) (am), Steve Samsome (Kilworth Springs) (am), Ricky Gray (Torrance House), Clive Bowler (Southfield), Robert Bury (East Sussex National).
73 Stephen Dixon (Maltacourt), Daniel Brooks (Mill Hill), Padraig Dooley (Cork), Richard Wheatley (Bingley St Ives), Adam Constable (Cardiff), Craig Humphrey (Basingstoke) (am), Tim Butler (Donnington), Paul Reed (Bristol & Clifton), Mark Staunton (Black Bush), Chris Gray (La Manga), Benjamin Millar (North Oxford) (am).
74 Robert Perrett (Clevedon), Roy Holland (Long Ashton), David Hutton (High Post), Chris Crowder (Eccleston Park), Graeme Brown (Montrose), Terry Brushwood (Hollins Hall), Daniel Perrett (Clevedon), Andy Smith (Chart Hills), Chris Sands (Surrenda Link).
Darren Henley (Stoneham), Cennydd Mills (Vale of Glamorgan), David Porter (Wellow), Justin Kehoe (Ire), Stuart Fee (Eng), Gary Cullen (Ire), Liam Clarke (West Middlesex).
Other Scots scores:
75 Callum Nicoll (Prestwick), Alasdair Hay (Royal Winchester), Thomas Higson (Eyemouth) (am).
76 Jay Taylor (Sco).
77 Elliot Saltman (Craigielaw).
79 Stephen Lamb (Broomieknowe), Craig Matheson (Falkirk Tryst0.
80 Chris Kelly (Cawder).

BLUE COURSE

Par 71

69 Christopher Campbell (Carnegie Club, Skibo), Ismael Castillo (Spa).

70 Neil Rowlands (Chipping Norton), John Paul (Moor Hall) (am), Todd Nicholson (NZ), John Spagnuloo (The Hertfordshire), Tommy Hunter (Crowlands Heath).

Other Scots scores:

72 Lee Harper (Archerfield Links) (jt 14th).

73 Freddy Valenti (Pryors Haynes) (jt 24th).

74 Alan Lockhart (Ladybank) (jt 33rd).

75 Chris Farr (Bransford), Chris Russell (Dunbar) (jt 48th).

81 Ian Simpson (Fulford) (jt 113th).

AUDREY THOMPSON IS TOP SEED

IN AYRSHIRE CHAMPIONSHIP

Routenburn’s Lesley Hendry, bidding to win the title for a third year in a row, qualified as the fourth seed when the Ayrshire women’s county golf championship, with a starting field of 101 players from 17 clubs, began over Troon Portland today.

Lesley, pictured right, had birdies at the third and 18th in compiling an 83 in bright and very breezy conditions which produced a CSS of 76.
Audrey Thmpson (Loudoun) led the 16 qualifiers for the match-play stages with a five-over-par 80, despite a triple bogey at the seventh. She birdied the first and 11th holes.
Jane Finnie (Troon Ladies) is the No 2 seeded after an 81.
Alex Glennie (Barassie) had the same score as Lesley Hendry, an 83, but the card comparison put her in third place.
Rachael McQueen (Troon Bentinck), only 17 years old, also had an 83 with birdies at the first, second and ninth. She was placed fifth in the draw on a card countback.

QUALIFIERS
80 Audrey Thompson (Loudoun).
81 Jane Finnie (Troon Ladies.
83 Alex Glennie (Barassie), Lesley Hendry (Routenburn), Rachael McQueen.
84 Debbie Watt (Belleisle), Greta Smith (Ardeer).
86 Rosemary Donaldson (Troon Ladies), Catherine Malcolm (Prestwick St Nicholas).
87 Morag McPherson (Troon Ladies).
88 Liz Keohone (Loudoun), Lynda Laing (Troon Ladies).
89 Linda Parry (Irvine).
90 Jennifer Linklater (Largs).
94 Catriona Williamson (Prestwick St Nicholas).
97 M MacGregor (Barassie).

AUTOMATIC DRAW

Thompson v MacGregor.

Malcolm v Donaldson.

McQueen v Laing.

Parry v Hendry.

Glennie v Linklater.

Keohone v Watt.

Smith v McPherson.

Williamson v Finnie.

GRANGEMOUTH PLAYER WINS PHOTO
FINISH AT BALBIRNIE PARK

It was the tightest of finishes in the Silver Division of the Ladies Golf Union Medal East area final at Balbirnie Park Golf Club today (Tuesday).
Three players tied with net scores of 69 and victory went to Fiona Lawless (Grangemouth), playing off 13,who had the best last six holes.
Jenni Thomas (Gullane Ladies), playing off 11, was placed second with a better inward half than Fiona Corps (Anstruther), handicap 15.
In the Bronze Division Elaine Scott (Canmore) had a net 64 off 22 to win by two shots from Patricia Capaldi (Broomieknowe), handicap 21.
Fiona Lawless is unavailable to play in the LGU Medal Final at Crieff on June 3, so three qualifiers from the Silver Division are Jenni Thomas, Fiona Corps and fourth-placed Claire McGonagle (Whitekirk).
The three qualifiers for Crieff from the Bronze Division are Elaine Scott, Patricia Capaldi and Tracey-Anne Whitelaw (Alloa).
The SSS and CSS were both 70.
Prizewinners:
Silver Division – Fiona Lawless (Grangemouth) (13) better last 6 holes, Jenni Thomas (Gullane Ladies) (11) better inward half, Fiona Corps (Anstruther) (15) 69; Claire McGonagle (Whitekirk) (8) 70 better inward half.
Bronze Division – Elaine Scott (Canmore) (22) 64; Patricia Capaldi (Broomieknowe) (21) 66; Tracey-Anne Whitelaw (Alloa) (29) better inward half, Lesley Campbell (Kinghorn) (22) 71.

Qualifiers for Crieff: Jenni Thomas, Fiona Corps, Claire McGonagle, Elaine Scott, Patricia Capaldi, Tracey-Anne Whitelaw.

WOLSTENHOLME MAKES 200th
APPEARANCE FOR ENGLAND IN
NEXT MONTH'S MATCH v SPAIN

Gary Wolstenholme will make a record 200th appearance for his country when he lines up for England against Spain at Royal Ashdown Forest on May 12 and 13. It is a remarkable record for the Leicestershire-based 46-year-old, who was awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours List, which marks him as the most successful England amateur of all time.
“It will make me extremely proud to make my 200th appearance for England,” he says. “When I made my debut back in 1988 who’d have thought I’d still be playing international golf and passing 200 appearances.”
Even after two decades and so many contests, Wolstenholme, pictured right, can clearly recall his first match in England colours.
“It was against France at The Berkshire and it was a foursomes with Peter McEvoy and we lost 2 and 1,” he reflects. “But I won my singles 3 and 2.Partnering Peter again on the second day we won before I halved my other singles with Francois Illouz.
“I owe so much to my team-mates over the years as well as my employers,” he adds. “I would never have achieved what I have without them and I’m never going to get around to thank them all.”
Overall, England have named a powerful squad that includes just one new cap in Benson, the 20 year old from Surrey, winner of the Qatar amateur championship earlier this year. This earned him a place in the Commercialbank Qatar Masters on the PGA European Tour in which he played all four rounds.
Boyd, 20, Parker, 19, and Lewton, 23, gained their first full caps in last September’s Home Internationals in Wales, while Horsey, 22, and Parry, 20, earn recalls after being capped for the first time against France a year ago.
Several of the team have enjoyed overseas success over the winter. Boyd won the inaugural Asia-Pacific Open amateur championship in China and reached the quarter finals of the Spanish open amateur. Lewton won both the Avondale Medal and the New South Wales Medal in Australia, while Horsey was runner-up in the Tasmanian Open championship.
Parry won the Spanish open amateur at Desert Springs a few weeks ago when Waring was a quarter finalist, while Wolstenholme won the New South Wales amateur championship.
Full England team is:
Seve Benson (Wentworth), Gary Boyd (Cherwell Edge), David Horsey (Styal), Stephen Lewton (Woburn), Jamie Moul (Stoke-by-Nayland), Ben Parker (Royal Birkdale), John Parry (Harrogate), Paul Waring (Bromborough), Gary Wolstenholme (Kilworth Springs).
Reserve: Matthew Cryer (Coventry).

NORTH YOUNGSTER MAKES TOP

TEN IN TENNESSEE

Fort-William youngster Ashton Ingram, a student at Belmont Abbey College, North Carolina, has achieved her best golfing result since she went to America last autumn.
Ashton, pictured right, finished joint 10th in a big field of 99 players with scores of 80 and 77 for 157 in the Agnes McAmis Memorial Invitational women's college tournament at Link Hills Country Club, Greeneville, Tennessee.
Miss Ingram finished 12 shots behind the winner, Lorie Warren (Belmont University) with 74 and 71 for 145.
Charlene Reid, a freshman student at Pfeiffer University, from Antrim finished joint fifth with rounds of 75 and 79 for 154.
Belmont University (619) won the team title from Newberry College (629) with Tusculum College (634) third and Belmont Abbey College (644) fourth of 18 college squads.

SURREY YOUNGSTER TRAVELS UP
TO WIN NICK FALDO QUALIFER
AT BLAIRGOWRIE

Surrey youngster Tom Hayes made the long trip from West Byfleet to Blairgowrie to take part in the First Scottish qualifying round of the Nick Faldo Junior Series today – and it was a journey that paid off.
Tom won the boys’ Under-21 years section with a round of 71, one shot ahead of Lothians champion Zander Culverwell (Dunbar), pictured right, who will start a golf scholarship at Minnesota University in the autumn.
Michael Daily (Erskine) had two shots to spare in the Under-18s with a 72.
Adam Dunton (McDonald Ellon) and Fraser McKenna (Balmore) tied for victory in the Under-17s with 76 apiece.
Aberdeen youngster David Law, who plays at the municipal Hazlehead course), won the Under-16s section with a 73.
Perth boy Ian Redford (King James VI) claimed victory in the Under-15s with a 76.
And in the all-age girls’ category, Cara Easton (Dalmahoy), Scottish Under-14 girls’ champion in 2005, pipped Jill Meldrum (Dullatur), last year’s Scottish Under-14 title-winner, with an 84 to oan 85.
The 2nd Scottish qualifying round will be played at The Carrick on Loch Lomond on May 28. The Scottish final of the Nick Faldo Series will be held at The Roxburghe on August 23.
SCOREBOARD
BOYS
Under-21 years
71 Tom Hayes (West Byfleet).
72 Alexander Culverwell (Dunbar).
73 Jamie Mackay (Barassie).
74 James Housby (Penrith), Jamie Neilson (Dunbar).
77 Robert Carson (Marriott Dalmahoy).
78 Jamie Gardiner (Montrose Mercantile), Euan Malcolm (Dunfermline).
79 Joshua Clarke (Montrose Mercantile), Steven Maxwell (Windyhill).
81 Karl Shepherd (Renishaw Park).
82 Scott Bordon (Carnwath).
Under-18 years
72 Michael Daily (Erskine).
74 Euan Brown (Barassie), Angus Cappi (Loretto School), Andrew Wallace (Glenbervie).
77 Fraser Fotheringham (Nairn).
78 Neil Henderson (The Glen).
80 Myles Cunningham (Longniddry).
81 Malcolm Pennycott (Whiting Bay).
82 Shaun Gordon (The Glen).
87 Simon Barras (Helensburgh).
Under-17 years
76 Adam Dunton (McDonald Ellon), Fraser McKenna (Balmore).
78 Scott Fraser (Royal Aberdeen).
79 Alistair Lauder (Paisley), Peter Scanlan (Hamilton).
80 James Hendrick (Pollok), Kyle McClung (Wigtownshire Co).
81 Mark Dickson (Gullane).
85 Alasdair Forsythe (Caldwell), Jack Thow (Crieff).
88 Ryan Penny (Portlethen).
90 Daniel Fitzpatrick (Greenock).
Under-16 years
73 David Law (Hazlehead).
74 Chris Robb (Inchmarlo).
77 James White (St Andrews New).
78 Jamie Binning (Ranfurly Castle), James Hendry (Douglas Park).
79 Kyle Godsman (Hopeman), Paul Shields (Kirkhill).
81 Nick MacAndrew (Cullen), Rudi McKenna (Cathkin Braes).
84 Matthew Reid (Downfield).
86 Peter Ramsay (Elgin).
87 Fraser Clarke (Westhill).
92 Lloyd Smith (Barassie).
95 Gordon Nelson (Thornhill).
Under-15 years
Ian Redford (King James VI).
77 Andrew McLachlan (Eastwood).
78 Paul McPhee (King James VI).
80 John Henry (Clydebank & Dist), Jack Scott (Deeside), Calum Stewart (Brora).
82 Neil Beattie (St Andrews).
88 Jack Thorburn (Forrester Park).
91 Conor O’Neil (Pollok).
94 Patrick O’Neil (Pollok.
GIRLS
84 Cara Easton (Dalmahoy).
85 Jill Meldrum (Dullatur).
87 Jacqueline Sneddon (Alyth).
88 Gillian Scanlan (Hamilton).
90 Jordana Graham (Southerness),
91 Gillian Simpson (Baberton).

GOOSEN CONFIRMED FOR

BMW PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

at WENTWORTH IN MAY

Retief Goosen, who came close to securing his third major championship when he tied for second place at the recent Masters tournament, has confirmed his participation in the BMW PGA Championship over the West Course at Wentworth Club from May 24-27.

The South Africa world No 8 will join a world-class field chasing the €725,000 winner’s cheque from a record prize fund of €4,350,000.

Goosen has played in the BMW PGA championship – widely recognised as one of golf’s most prestigious titles – on 14 previous occasions and has yet to miss the event since becoming a full member of the European Tour in 1993. His best result came in 1999 when he finished tied fourth.

The 2007 BMW PGA championship will boast one of the strongest fields on the European Tour international schedule, with many of the world’s best players in action. All four days will be broadcast live on BBC Television.

Advance ticket savings on the 2007 BMW PGA Championship can be made by booking online at www.europeantourtickets.com or by telephoning +44 (0) 800 023 2557 by May 1, 2007.

For Hospitality packages, please call The European Tour Hospitality Department on +44 (0) 1344 840483.

VIRGIN ATLANTIC HAS IT DOWN TO A TEE

Virgin Atlantic Airways announces that between the 28 May and the 15 July this year it will be running a special offer for all its keen golfers.
Passengers will be able to take another piece of luggage for free in addition to taking their golf clubs along with their normal luggageallowance.
The offer is for flights departing from London Gatwick andManchester airport only for destinations to the Caribbean and Florida.
Paul Dickinson, Director of Sales & Marketing, said:
“We are thrilled that we are able to help our passengers’ holidays go with a swing whether they choose the luscious golf courses in the Caribbean or the stunning courses in Florida.
“Thousands of budding Tiger Woods’ travel on Virgin Atlantic each
year to improve their handicap and enjoy the 19th hole at some of theworld-class golf courses that the Caribbean and Florida have to offer.”
The offer allows for two pieces of luggage per passenger each weighing up to 23kgs and one set of golf clubs which includes a maximum of 14 clubs, a dozen golf balls and a pair of shoes. Passengers can log onto www.virginatlantic.com/golf for further information.

NEW GOLF MANAGER AT ST
ANDREWS LINKS TRUST

John Grant, a top PGA European Tour administrator who has played a key role in organising and running professional tournaments, joined St Andrews Links Trust this week as golf manager.
Mr Grant, who is 40 years-old, has 17 years of experience in the golf industry and brings an exceptional knowledge of the game to the Home of Golf.
“I am delighted to welcome John to the Links,” said Alan McGregor general manager of St Andrews Links Trust, which administers and maintains the courses and facilities at St Andrews, including the Old Course.
“His track record at all levels of the game is very impressive and I am confident he will make a major contribution to the continuing success and appeal of St Andrews.”
John Grant takes up his post ahead of several major events at St Andrews, including the Women’s British Open which will grace the Old Course this August, next year’s Curtis Cup and The Open in 2010.
More than 200,000 rounds are played on the Links each year and among John’s responsibilities will be overseeing on-course staff at the six courses.
John will also have a major role to play in the opening of The Castle Course, the seventh Links Trust course, next year.
Educated at Dunbar Grammar School and the University of Stirling, John Grant was a member of the Scottish schools’ team, captain of the Scottish universities’ team and Scottish Universities’ champion while playing to a handicap of +1.
After joining the Professional Golfers’ Association in 1989, Mr Grant went on to become the youngest ever PGA regional secretary when he took over administration duties in the Midlands Region of England in 1993.
In 1995 he took up the position of club administrator at the prestigious Wentworth Club in Surrey, taking responsibility for all golf services at the 2000 member facility which is also home to the BMW PGA Championship and the World Matchplay.
For the last nine years he has been involved in the day to day administration of European Tour championships, overseeing the preparation of tournament venues and ensuring the smooth running of events.
“St Andrews is the greatest place in the world to play golf,” said Mr Grant. “With The Castle Course due to open next spring, this really is an exciting time to be involved at the Links.”

AIB IRISH SENIORS OPEN AT GREAT
NEW VENUE - PALMERSTOWN HOUSE

A record prize fund and a visit to one of Ireland’s newest golfing gems await a five-star field for the AIB Irish Seniors Open, in association with Greenstar and Fáilte Ireland, which will be played over the Bank Holiday weekend from June 1-3.
The €450,000 tournament, which will carry a first prize of €67,500, will be staged for the first time on the PGA National Ireland course at Palmerstown House, Johnstown, Co. Kildare with former Ryder Cup captain Sam Torrance as the defending champion.
Among his leading challengers in a truly international field will be European Seniors Tour Order of Merit leader Gordon J Brand of England, who has won three of the last four events, Eamonn Darcy of Ireland, Ross Drummond of Scotland, Stewart Ginn of Australia, Carl Mason of England, two-time AIB Irish Seniors Open winner Noel Ratcliffe of Australia, the Spanish duo of Juan Quiros and José Rivero and Italy’s most decorated golfer, Costantino Rocca.
Located in mature countryside formerly home to a world famous stud farm in Johnstown, Co. Kildare, the Palmerstown House estate has been the subject of a multi-million euro redevelopment by Citywest Group owner Jim Mansfield.
The lion’s share of the investment went on creating the PGA National Ireland golf course designed by Irish Ryder Cup legend Christy O’Connor junior - €3 million alone was spent on mature trees to line the fairways while further evidence of the impressive attention to detail is shown in the choice of an antique bridge to link the putting green.
Billy Andrews, General Manager of AIB Bank, which has sponsored the event since it was inaugurated in 1997, said: “We pride ourselves in hosting the Seniors Open at prestigious venues around the country and the PGA National maintains that tradition. We look forward to meeting up with our golfing friends on the Seniors Tour again and also to working with our co-sponsors and Jim Mansfield’s team.”
Jim Mansfield, pictured above, owner of Citywest Group, stated: “We are delighted to welcome the AIB Irish Seniors Open to Co Kildare and proud to host the first, of which we hope to be many major golf events at the PGA National Ireland. I’m confident the players, sponsors and spectators alike will enjoy a weekend of great atmosphere and a warm welcome to our unique facility, along with the chance to see the golfing greats do battle on a course which has already been classed as one of Europe’s finest.”

Mansfield, a self-made millionaire who left school at 13, made his fortune on the back of the Falklands War, buying all the scrap metal left on the islands and selling it on.

JACKSONVILLE JOCKS TO FORE IN

ATLANTIC SUN CHAMPIONSHIP
Jacksonville University, Florida’s Scottish golf students Russell Knox from Inverness and Duncan Stewart from Grantown on Spey were lying sixth and joint ninth respectively at the end of the first round of the Atlantic Sun Conference’s men’s college golf championship at The Golf Club at Sanctuary Cove, Waverly in Georgia.
On a day when the weather was against low scoring – three players shared the low on two-over-par 73 – Russell, pictured right, was not all that happy with a 75 over the 7,003yd, par-72 course.
That’s because he finished with a double bogey 6 at the 18th . He had two birdies, at the long seventh and 10th but dropped other shots at the first, fourth, sixth and 10th in halves of 38 and 37.
Duncan also marred his scorecard with a double bogey 5 at the short 16th. He had birdies at the 11th, 12th and 17th but bogeys at the fourth, seventh, eighth, 13th, 14th, 15th and 18th in halves of 39 and 38.
If Knox and Stewart were rueing missed chances, compatriot Jordan Findlay (East Tennessee State) from Fraserburgh must have been wondering where his golf game has gone wrong this year.
He had another nightmare day in scoring an 11-over-par 82 for joint 32nd place. Jordan had triple bogey 7s at both the 17th and 18th, having run up double bogey 6s at the sixth and 14th in halves of 38 and 44.
Underlining the degree of difficulty of the course and the conditions, Rhys Davies from South Wales, winner of 10 tournaments in his four years at East Tennessee State University, could do no better than a 79 which put him in joint 16th place alongside Jamie Kennedy (Jacksonville) from Edinburgh.
Irishmen Seamus Power and Gareth Shaw (both East Tennessee State) shared the lead on 73 with Jeff Dennis (North Florida).
LEADING SCORES
Par 71
73 J Dennis (North Florida), S Power (East Tennessee State), G Shaw (East Tennessee State).
74 D McAndrew (Stetson), M O’Neal (North Florida).
75 R Knox (Jacksonville).
Other GB scores:
77 D Stewart (Jacksonville) (jt 9th).
79 R Davies (East Tennessee State), J Kennedy (Jacksonville) (jt 16th).
82 J Findlay (East Tennessee State) (jt 32nd).
LEADING TEAMS
302 North Florida.
307 East Tennessee State.
310 Jacksonville.

... BUT NEIL AND DANIEL STRUGGLE IN PEACH

BELT CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP

Daniel Sommerville from St Andrews and Glasgow's Neil McBride , both students at Clayton State University, Atlantic were lying in joint 33rd and joint 37th positions in a field of 40 players at the end of the first day in the Peach Belt Conference college championship at Harbor Club, Georgia.

Over a 7,022yd, par-72 course, which might have been on the long side for both players, Daniel scored 85 and 81 for 166 while Neil shot 82 and 85 for 167.

One of their Clayton State team-mates, Will Wilcox, led on level par 144 with scores of 73 and 71.

BOO WEEKLEY PIPS ERNIE ELS
FOR US PGA TOUR VICTORY

The quaintly-named American Boo Weekley held off the weather-prolonged US PGA Tour event, the Verizon Heritage, at Harbour Town's Hilton Head Golf Links in South Carolina.
Weekley had a final round of 68 for 14-under-par 270 - one shot ahead of South African Ernie Els.
Ernie finished with a 70, allowly Boo Weekly to turn over two shots on him.
FINAL TOTALS
Par 284 (4 x 71). Players from US unless stated.
270 Boo Weekley 67 69 66 68
271 Ernie Els (SAf) 65 65 71 70
272 Stephen Leaney (Aus) 66 68 70 68
274 Kevin Na (Kor) 67 68 66 73, Vaughn Taylor 71 66 67 70
275 Zach Johnson 70 68 66 71
276 Sean O'Hair 69 66 69 72
277 Jerry Kelly 63 70 67 77, Carl Pettersson (Swe) 71 68 67 71
278 Dean Wilson 69 68 68 73, Aaron Baddeley (Aus) 70 66 70 72, Ken Duke 71 67 67 73, Bo Van Pelt 71 67 70 70, Tom Pernice jun. 74 67 65 72
279 Jesper Parnevik (Swe) 71 67 69 72
280 Justin Leonard 69 72 70 69, Rodney Pampling (Aus) 69 67 69 75, Brian Gay 70 70 67 73, Brandt Snedeker 71 67 69 73, Jason Bohn 70 68 68 74
281 Fred Funk 67 67 72 75, Stephen Ames (Can) 72 68 64 77
282 Ben Crane 71 67 68 76, Joe Durant 72 69 66 75, Mark Calcavecchia 69 71 70 72, Nick O'Hern (Aus) 69 71 66 76
283 Robert Garrigus 74 69 68 72, Jonathan Byrd 76 67 68 72
284 Mathew Goggin (Aus) 76 67 68 73, Jose Coceres (Arg) 66 72 72 74, Mark Hensby (Aus) 71 70 70 73, J.P. Hayes 67 72 66 79, Glen Day 71 72 69 72, Camilo Villegas (Col) 74 67 67 76, Briny Baird 72 69 69 74
285 Davis Love III 74 69 73 69, Steve Elkington (Aus) 71 71 69 74, Mark Wilson 72 70 69 74, Peter Lonard (Aus) 70 70 70 75, John Daly 73 70 70 72, J.B. Holmes 70 73 68 74, Anthony Kim 69 72 70 74, Ryan Palmer 73 67 71 74
286 Charles Warren 70 72 73 71, Hunter Mahan 72 70 69 75, Kent Jones 73 65 72 76, Nathan Green (Aus) 71 66 71 78, Jeff Gove 71 71 70 74, Kelly Mitchum 72 70 68 76
287 Will MacKenzie 72 70 71 74, Jeff Maggert 72 70 71 74, Tim Herron 69 73 72 73, Stewart Cink 67 75 71 74, Geoff Ogilvy (Aus) 70 73 70 74, Jason Gore 70 72 72 73
288 Ryan Moore 69 73 73 73, D.J. Trahan 70 70 71 77
289 Douglas Labelle 70 70 74 75
290 Scott Verplank 71 72 73 74, Greg Owen (Eng) 70 71 74 75
291 Matt Kuchar 74 69 74 74, Ben Curtis 72 70 74 75, Heath Slocum 74 68 74 75
292 Kirk Triplett 72 70 79 71, Eric Axley 71 69 78 74
293 Ryan Armour 69 71 72 81
294 David Branshaw 70 72 75 77
295 Brandt Jobe 70 72 74 79
297 Brian Bateman 72 70 73 82
298 Tim Petrovic 72 71 76 79
Withdrawn: Kenny Perry

SCOTS WIN MARY McKENNA TROPHY
FOR FOURTH YEAR IN A ROW

Scotland’s veteran women golfers won the Mary McKenna Trophy for the fourth year in a row with a 9 ½-4 ½ win over their Irish counterparts, playing under the banner of “Mary McKenna Select” at Southerness Golf Club on the shores of the Solway Firth today.
The Scots carried over a 4-1 lead from the first day and took the second-day singles 5 ½-3 ½.
Who played whom in the singles ties was decided by ballot rather than by the traditional manner of the respective captains choosing the order.
Fittingly, Mary McKenna won her tie, beating Helen Faulds (Douglas Park) by 4 and 3. But, as far as the Irish were concerned, it was too little too late as by that time Scotland had won the first five singles through Margaret Tough (Falkirk Carmuirs), Fiona DeVries (St Rule), Moira Thomson (North Berwick), Kathleen Sutherland (Royal Montrose) and Pamela Williamson (Baberton).
Ireland’s tail wagged to win 3 1/2pt from the last four ties.

SCOTTISH VETERANS 9 ½, MARY McKENNA SELECT 4 ½
Southerness Golf Club.
First-day score: Scottish Veterans 4, Mary Mckenna Select 1.
Second-day details (Scots first):
M Tough bt E McMullen 3 and 1, F DeVries bt V Hassett 2 and 1, M Thomson bt M Madden 4 and 2; K Sutherland bt A Molony 5 and 3, P Williamson bt M Henderson 3 and 2, H Faulds lost to M McKenna 4 and 3, L Bennett lost to R Fanagan 3 and 2, N Fenton halved with S O’Brien-Kenney; L Campbell lost to R English 1 hole (5 ½-3 1/2).

SALLY 17th BUT CARLY ONLY
501st IN AMERICAN
GIRL RANKINGS

South Queensferry girl Sally Watson, 15, has entered the top 20 US junior golf rankings for the first time following a second-place finish in the recent Mizuno Junior Open in Florida.
A student at the David Leadbetter Golf Academy in Florida, Sally, pictured right, is ranked No 17 on the Golfweek/Titleist list with a rating of 72.72 from the eight junior events she has played.
Astonishingly, 14-year-old Carly Booth from Comrie, who is also a live-in student at the David Leadbetter Academy, is ranked 501st!
Carly finished 10th in her most recent outing on the Florida junior circuit and she has played in only four in all. He rating is 77.96.
Sally has a handicap of +3, Carly +2.
Irish girls champion Stephanie Meadow, who is a student at the International Golf Academy, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, is ranked No 99 with a rating of 76.52 from six events.
The top-ranked girl in American junior golf is Esther Choe. Isabelle Lendl, one of the former tennis ace’s daughters, is ranked No 4.

ELLIOT SALTMAN MAKES PRO

DEBUT IN EUROPRO Q SCHOOL

Elliot Saltman, the oldest of the three talented golfing brothers at Craigielaw Golf Club, has taken the plunge.
Just turned 25, Elliot will make his debut as a professional in the PGA EuroPro Tour Final Qualifying School at Frilford Heath Golf Club, Oxfordshire, which tees off tomorrow.

Saltman qualified for the final by the skin of his teeth, coming through a six-man play-off for the last spot in last week’s Stage 1 event at Fulford Golf Club, York.
He could have continued to play as an amateur in the Final Q School but he has obviously decided that he has reached the now-or-never stage in his golfing career.
Earlier this year, Elliot outperformed all the official Scottish Golf Union entries for the Spanish men’s open amateur championship at Desert Springs. He reached the semi-finals before losing to the eventual title-winner, Englishman John Parry.
In 2005, Elliot won the North of Scotland open amateur stroke-play title for the David Blair Trophy at Elgin. Last year he had top 10 finishes in the North of Scotland Open, the North-east District Open, the Sutherland Chalice, the South-east District Open, the Tennant Cup and the Newlands Trophy – all 72-hole SGU Order of Merit events.
But, for some reason, the SGU international selectors continued to ignore his claims for a first Scotland cap.
On Saturday, he caddied for his youngest brother Zack in the first two rounds of the Craigmillar Park Open in Edinburgh where the title was won on Sunday by the middle and best know of the brothers, Walker Cup man Lloyd.

McKINNON HEADS QUALIFIERS
AND RUSSELL WEIR IS GOING
BACK TO GLENMUIR EVENT

Jim McKinnon used his local knowledge of the Irvine Golf Club course to show a clean pair of heels to the rest of the field of 43 in today’s (Monday) Scottish qualifying round for the £78,000 Glenmuir club professionals’ championship at Royal Porthcawl Golf Club, South Wales from June 12 to 15.
McKinnon, pictured right, playing over his home course, was always favourite to head the 13 qualfiers and he did it in style with a three-under-par round of 68 which also earned him a nice piece of crystal and a cheque for £250.
Jim, a member of the Scotland team of three who won the PGAs of Europe international team championship at the Roda Resort in Murcia, Spain last November, had birdies at the third, fourth, 14th and 15th and only one bogey, at the sixth, in halves of 33 and 35.
Joint runners-up on 70 were Paul Malone (Braid Hills Golf Centre) and Craig Ronald (Carluke).
On the 71 was a “blast from the past” – Russell Weir from Cowal, winner of the Glenmuir club pros’ title in 1987 and 1988, and making his first competitive appearance for some time.
There was a four-way play-off on 73 for the last two places, featuring Nigel Scott-Smith (Palacerigg), Sandy Aird junior (Forres), Gavin Cook (Prestonfield) and Sandy Smith (Ladybank).
Cook and Smith were eliminated over the first two sudden-death holes.

QUALIFIERS
Par 71
68 James McKinnon (Irvine).
70 Paul Malone (Braid Hills Golf Centre), Craig Ronald (Carluke).
71 Chris Brown (Westin Turnberry), James Smallwood (Fereneze), Alastair Webster (Edzell), Craig Donnelly (Balbirnie Park), Russell Weir (Cowal).
72 Kenny Monaghan (Bothwell Castle), Alastair Forrow (Whitecraigs), Kenny Hutton (Downfield).
73 (after play-off) Nigel Scott-Smith (Palacerigg), Sandy Aird junior (Forres).
+Beaten in play-off: Gavin Cook (Prestonfield), Sandy Smith (Ladybank).

NIGEL EDWARDS WINS DUNCAN PUTTER
FOR THIRD TIME AT SOUTHERNDOWN


Welsh Walker Cup player Nigel Edwards (Whitchurch Golf Club, Cardiff) won the Duncan Putter - one of the leading 72-hole open tournaments on the golfing calendar - for a third time at Southerndown Golf Club, Bridgend, Wales on Sunday.
Nigel had rounds of 69, 68, 72 and 73 for 279 to win the tile by a single shot from Welsh international team-mate Craig Evans (West Monmouthshire).
LEADING TOTALS
CSS 73 72 72 73
279 Nigel Edwards (Whitchurch) 69 78 72 70.
280 Craig Evans (West Monmouthwhite) 72 69 64 75.
281 Adam Norman (Moseley) 68 70 72 71, Dale Marmion (Delamere Forest) 71 67 71 72.
283 Greg Williams (Pontypridd) 72 73 67 71, Llew Matthews (Southerndown) 66 71 73 73, Sam Stuart (St Anne's Old Links) 70 70 69 74, Ryan Thomas (Aberdare) 69 70 70 74, Daniel Coughlan (Wyke Green) 69 70 70 74.
284 Ian Winstanley (Formby) 75 72 67 70, Edward Richardson (Southern Valley) 73 70 71 70.
285 Rhys Enoch (Truro) 72 72 73 68.
286 Neil Chaudhuri (The Leicestershire) 75 69 67 76.
287 Ben Westgate (Perranporth) 71 69 73 75, Carwyn Hammond (Pontardawe) 72 74 69 72, Felix Fihn (Chalmers) 72 73 71 71, Henry Smart (Walton Heath) 72 70 68 77.
288 Guillaume Watremez (Royal Waterloo) 75 71 69 73.
290 Ben Jones (Cuddington) 70 74 73 73, Christoper Evans (The Kendleshire) 73 71 71 75, Ricki Neil-Jones (Rochester & Cobham) 72 69 73 76, Kevin Kean (Ashton on Mersey) 72 70 71 77.
291 Nils Floren (Oijared) 74 71 67 79, Gael Seegmuller (Royal Waterloo) 75 72 72 72, Brent O'Neill (Radyr) 68 74 69 80.

WALLACE BOOTH JOINT 26TH IN

SOUTH CAROLINA

Former Scottish youths champion Wallace Booth from Comrie, coming up to the end of his fourth and final year as a golf scholarship student at Augusta State University, finished joint 26th in a field of 81 players for the Courtyard by Marriott Inter-Collegiate tournament at Devil's Ridge Golf Club, Hollysprings in South Carolina at the weekend.

Wallace had rounds of 71, 75 and 73 for a three-over-par total of 219 over the par-72, 6,854yd course.The winner was Mitch Cohlmia (Tulsa) with 72, 64 and 72 for seven-under-par 209.Augusta State (873) finished seventh in the team event behind Charlotte (852).

LEWIS KIRTON JOINT FOURTH AS

LOUISVILLE WIN TEAM TITLE
Scotland boy interntional Lewis Kirton from Oldmeldrum, Aberdeenshire achieved one of his best finishes in his freshman year at the University of Louisville, Kentucky in the weather-hit Robert Kepler Intercollegiate golf tournament over the Ohio State University's Scarlet course at Columbus, Ohio on Sunday.
Kirton finished joint fourth in a field of 90 with rounds of 71 and 77 for a total of 148 over a long course, 7,455yd, with a testing par of 71.
Michigan State's Matt Harmon was the two-stroke individual winner with two rounds of 71 for 142.
One of Kirton's team-mates, Derek Fathauer finished runner-up on 144 (72-72).
Lewis's effort helped Louisville (591) to win the team title by nine shots from Michigan State with Penn State third on 606.
One of the many weekend sporting events hit by bad weather across the United States, the Robert Kepler Intercollegiate tournament organisers cancelled the third and last round.

LAIRD BLOWS IT IN FINAL ROUND

Former Scottish youths champion Martin Laird from Glasgow blew a chance of a fair-sized cheque with a final round of seven-over-par 79 to finish joint 62nd in the Nationwide Tour's South Georgia Classic at Kinderlou Forest Golf Club, Valdosta, Georgia.
Laird was incontention for a top 30 finish after starting with 70, 74 and 74 but he "lost" it in the closing circuit and earned only $1,725.
Winner John Kimbell finished 19 shots ahead of Laird and won the top prize of $108,000 with scores of 68,70, 71 and 69 for 1o-under-par 278.
They were playing over a long, long course - some 7,781yd with a testing par of 72.

LINCICOME CATCHES OCHOA AND LAURA
OVER FINAL ROUND OF GINN OPEN

American Brittany Lincicome's par-match final round of 72 in adverse conditions enabled her to catch the long-time leaders Lorena Ochoa and Laura Davies in the Ginn Open at Reunion Resort & Club.
Brittany shot 67, 72, 67 and 72 for six-under-par 278 over the 6,505, par-72 course. She won the top prize of $390,00.
Lorena sagged to a closing 77 but that gave her second place on 2790 with 66, 66, 70 and 77, earning her $233,732.
Laura Davies slumped to a final-day 79 for 281 after earlir rounds of 66, 66,70 and 79. That gave the English player third place and earned her $169,557.
Catriona Matthew from North Berwick finished joint 40th on 292 with scores of 74, 72, 71 and 75.
Mhairi McKay from Glasgow had scores of 75, 71, 75 and 78 for a share of 75th place on 299.

US TOUR EVENT SUSPENDED UNTIL MONDAY

The final round of the Verizon Heritage has been suspended until Monday due to high winds at Harbour Town Links, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.
Play will resume at 7:45 a.m. East Standard time.
Jerry Kelly leads by one stroke.

VIKKI MISSES FUTURES CUT BY ONE SHOT

Vikki Laing missed the second-round cut by one stroke in the Duramed Future's Tour $80,000 The Power of a Dream Classic at the 6,226yd, par-71 The Trails of Frisco Golf Club event on Sunday.
Allison Fouch from Grand Rapids, Michigan maintained her overnight lead to win the $11,200 first prize with rounds of 68, 72 and 72 for one-under-par 212.
She won by one shot from Mexico's Violeta Retamaza who scored 73, 73 and 67 to win $8,000.
Lisa Hall from Stoke on Trent finished on 221 (74-75-72) to win $880.
Another English-born player, Samantha Head from Bedford earned $550 for scores of 73, 79 and 75 for 227.

SUPERSONIC SCOTT'S 395yd DRIVE!

By HUGH HUNTER
Clackmannanshire might be small in some parts of the golfing scene, but in the field of long driving it is out on its own thanks to the efforts of Scott Moffat (Braehead).
In the first Scottish Golf Show of 2006, Scott took the long driving prize, and to prove it was no fluke, he repeated his success recently at Ingliston in the 2007 show.
Scott, who works in the professional's shop at Braehead Golf Club, revealed with considerable modesty that on a golf simulator, the computer registered a massive hit of 395 yards from his drive.
This was enough to win by some 50 yards over the next placed golfer. The mammoth hit drew gasps of admiration from the large audience and no doubt a loud “ouch” from the golf ball. For local golfers, this would be the equivalent of standing on the first tee at Schawpark and driving past the first green, over the track and on to the fifth green. WOW!!

CLACKMANNAN CRASH 8-4 ON HOME
TURF TO STIRLINGSHIRE

By HUGH HUNTER
One week after recording a fine win at Tulliallan, Clackmannangolf team were brought down to earth with an 8 – 4 defeat in the annual match against Stirlingshire at Schawpark, Alloa.
Against a strong Stirlingshire team, the foursomes were shared at two matches each, with the top Alloa pairing of Ian Ross and Alan Hyem leading off with a solid 3 and 2 win over Chris Lawton and Steven Aitken.
Early indifferent play by the Stirlingshire couple gave the two Clackmannanshire players a four- hole lead by the 12th. A fine eagle 2 at the 13th reduced the lead, but two halves were enough for a Wee County win.
The only other win came from Jamie Aitken and Scott Moffat. In their closely-contested match, they managed to hold on to a one-hole lead on the 17th, thanks to a deadly chip by Aitken, and retain it on the last green to give them a narrow victory.
In the final match, John Maxwell and Graham Miller were entitled to feel a bit unlucky. A one- hole lead with two to play became a loss when the two Stirlingshire players each holed for birdies on the 17th and 18th.
The singles were always going to be tough, and Ian Ross (Alloa) was first to find out. Ian’s five-under-par score for the outward nine failed to shake off his opponent, and he lost narrowly on the last.
In a pile of sub-par scores, only Jamie Aitken managed to win through. Jamie fought back from a one-hole deficit at the turn, and just retained the slender one-hole lead to win at the last, making him the only undefeated Clackmannan player of the day.
John Maxwell, with some stylish golf, was the only other Wee County winner. In his match his two-hole lead was never really threatened after the 12th and he ran out a winner on the 17th green.
Details:
CLACKMANNAN 4, STIRLING 8
Foursomes (2-2)
Alan Hyem & Ian Ross (Alloa) bt Chris Lawton (Stirling) & Steven Aitken (Falkirk Tryst) 3 and 2.
Steve McIvor (Alva) & Craig O'Connor (Alloa) lost to Blair Paterson (Stirling) & James Donaldson (Falkirk Tryst) 3 and 2.
Scott Moffat (Braehead) & Jamie Aitken (Alloa) bt Mark Hislop & Tommy Wilson Glenbervie) 1 hole.
Graham Miller & John Maxwell (Tulliallan) lost to Colin Mundie & Neil Cunningham (Falkirk) 1 hole.
Singles (2-6):
Ross lost to Aitken 1 hole.
Hulston lost to Lawton 3 and 2.
Hyem lost to Paterson 4 and 3.
O’Connor lost to Donaldson 2 holes.
Aitken bt Cunningham 1 hole.
Moffat lost to Mundie 2 and 1.
Maxwell bt Hislop 2 and 1.
Miller lost to Wilson 2 holes.

Some of the Aberdeenshire girls who took part in the Strabathie nine-hole competition at Murcar Links today.

Left to right: Rachel Polson (Peterculter), Sophie Alexander (Deeside), Laura Murray (Alford), Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon), Lauren MacCallum (McDonald Ellon).

LAURA MURRAY PIPS MICHELE

THOMSON IN ABERDEENSHIRE

GIRLS OPENER

Robert Gordon University student Laura Murray (Alford) scored a confidence-boosting victory from Scotland girls international Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon) in the opening event of the Aberdeenshire girls’season at Murcar Links today.
Laura, a former Scottish schoolgirls champion, had a gross round of 75 – three over the par – to total 34 Stableford points off her handicap of one.
North of Scotland women’s champion Michele, who also plays off one, had a 76 for 33pt.
In the Bronze Division, 13-year-old Deeside junior member Sophie Alexander, playing off 19, was the winner with 41pt.
SILVER DIVISION – Stableford – L Murray (Alford) (1) 34pt; M Thomson (McDonald Ellon) (1) 33; L MacCallum (McDonald Ellon) (8) 30; S Leslie (Westhill) (8) 28; M Johnstone (Northern) (5), C Prouse (Hazlehead) (14) 27; L Duncan (Aboyne) (14), N Lamond (McDonald Ellon) (14) 24.
BRONZE DIVISION – S Alexander (Deeside) (19) 41pt; R Poulson (Peterculter) (18) 35; E Franks (Ballater) (21), M Clyne (Deeside) (20) 33; K Seam (Torphins) (22) 27; C Geddes (Northern) (23) 23.

STRABATHIE NINE-HOLE SCRATCH COMPETITION
K MacCallum (McDonald Ellon) 55; E Riddell (Alford) 64; K Robb (Alford) 68; H Bycroft (Alford) 71; C Harper (Alford), J Booth (Kemnay) 72.

SCOTTISH VETERANS HAVE ONE HAND
ON MARY McKENNA CUP

Scotland’s veteran women golfers took a commanding 4-1 lead over their Irish counterparts, playing under the banner of “Mary McKenna Select,” at the halfway stage of the annual match for the Mary McKenna Perpetual Trophy at Southerness Golf Club on the Solway Firth today.
Pamela Williamson (Baberton) set the ball rolling for the rampant Scots by beating Roma English 5 and 4 in the only singles tie of the day.
The rest of the matches were better-ball four-balls and Scotland’s winners were Kathleen Sutherland (Royal Montrose) & Fiona DeVries (St Rule), Moira Thomson (North Bewick) & Liz Campbell (Torwoodlee) and Noreen Fenton (Merchants of Edinburgh) & Lorna Bennett (Ladybank).
Ireland’s only winners were Helen McMullen and Rhona Fanagan who beat Margaret Tough (Falkirk Tryst) and Helen Faulds (Douglas Park) by 4 and 2.
Details:
SCOTTISH VETERANS 4, MARY McKENNA SELECT 1
Southerness Golf Club.
First-day results (Scottish names first):
Single – P Williamson bt R English 5 and 4.
Four-balls – K Sutherland & F DeVries bt V Hassett & M Madden 2 holes; M Thomson & L Campbell bt M Henderson & S O’Brien-Kenney 2 holes; M Tough & H Faulds lost to H McMullen & R Fanagan 4 and 2; N Fenton & L Bennett bt M McKenna & A Mooney 5 and 4.

LLOYD SALTMAN WINS CRAIGMILLAR
PARK OPEN TO COMPLETE BIG
EARLY-SEASON SCOTTISH DOUBLE

Lloyd Saltman, the 21-year-old Craigielaw player, showed his Walker Cup class in winning the Craigmillar Park Open with 16-under-par total of 233 at the Edinburgh parkland course today (
The second round on Saturday was reduced to 10 holes because fog delayed the start of play by 2 ½ hr and there was not enough daylight left for all the field to get round twice.
Saltman became only the third player to complete the double in the big early-season events on the Scottish amateur circuit – the Scottish champion of champions’ tournament at Leven the previous weekend, followed by the Craigmillar Park Open, the first counting event for Scottish Golf Union Order of Merit points.
Saltman failed to beat the halfway cut in the Craigmillar Park Open last year and he admits that normally he takes a month or so to get into his stride on the home circuit.
“The big difference this year is that I played in the Australian stroke-play and match-play championships in March and that definitely put an edge on my game which is not usually there at the time of the Craigmillar Park Open,” said Lloyd who also paid tribute to his coach Colin Brooks, twice winner of the Northern Open, for tightening up his game.
Saltman had rounds of 66 36 (for 10 holes) 64 and 67 for 233 and he won by only one shot in the end from 20-year-old Scott Henry, last year’s Scottish open amateur stroke-play champion fro Cardross.
Without any disrespect to Henry who is obviously set for another great season, he was slightly flattered by his proximity to Saltman in the final totals.
Lloyd, having reached the turn in 30 in his final round with an eagle at the second and birdies at the first, third and six, was well clear of the field after birdies at the 12th and 14th. But Saltman cooled off down the home stretch and dropped four strokes to par over the last four holes – a double bogey at the 15th and bogeys at the 17th and 18th for 37 home.
Henry, in contrast, birdied the 16th and 17th but bogeyed the 18th when a par would have earned him a play-off. Scott’s rounds were 66, 38-, 63 and 67.
Former American college circuit player Gavin Dear (Murrayshall) produced his best SGU Order of Merit performance by tying with Perthshire team-mate and former Scottish match-play champion Glenn Campbell (Blairgowrie) for third place on 236.
Dear scored 67 and 39 on Saturday and then peaked with a pair of five-under-par 65s on Sunday. He reached the turn in 31 in the fourth round.
Campbell shot 70, 37, 63 and 66 for 236. He had seven birdies in flawless halves of 32 and 31 for his third-round 63.

FINAL TOTALS
Par 249 (70-39-70-70).
*Second round reduced to 10 holes because of fog delay.
233 L Saltman (Craigielaw) 66 36 64 67.
234 S Henry (Cardross) 66 38 63 67.
236 G Dear (Murrayshall) 67 69 65 65, G Campbell (Blairgowrie) 70 37 673 66.
239 M Kerr (Craigielaw) 69 37 66 67.
240 R Kellett (Colville Park) 66 38 65 71.
241 S McEwan (Caprington) 65 38 66 72, J King (Glasgow) 71 38 66 66.
242 A Lynch (Glenbervie) 67 40 68 67.
244 K McAlpine (Alyth) 63 42 75 64, C Wilkinson (Blyth) 65 40 70 69, S Armstrong (Turnhouse3) 71 35 71 67.
245 K McNicol (Carnoustie) 70 36 68 71, M Clarke (Kilmacolm) 75 32 70 68.
246 C Heslip (Monifieth) 71 35 71 69, P O’Hara (Colville Park) 65 43 69 69.
247 C Watson (East Renfrewshire) 66 39 70 72, S Hume (Murrayshall) 71 39 66 71.
248 B Edmond (Bon Accord) 67 38 70 73, G Paterson (St Andrews New) 73 36 71 68.
249 K Nicol (Fraserburgh) 69 38 72 70.
250 D Miller (Kilmacolm) 65 40 72 73, S Neilson (Craigmillar Park) 69 38 66 77, P McLean (Peterhead) 68 41 67 74.
251 R Bell (Downfield) 70 39, 72 70, B Soutar (Leven GS) 71 39 72 69.
252 D Miller (Duddingston) 66 39 72 75, P Betty (Hayston) 70 38 72 72, G Mitchell (Northern) 70 38 75 69, B Fotheringham (Forres) 73 37 77 65.

AUSSIE BRIER WINS VOLVO CHINA
OPEN BY FIVE STROKES

Austrian Markus Brier enjoyed a five stroke victory after firing a final round of four-under-par 67 at the Volvo China Open on Sunday.
Brier blasted a winning total of 10-under-274 total and emerged as the first Austrian to triumph at a co-sanctioned Asian Tour and European Tour event.
Brier enjoyed a comfortable five stroke win over Australia’s Scott Hend who was even-par on the final day together with Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland who shot a 69 and South African Andrew McLardy who scored a 70 in joint second place at the Shanghai Silport Golf Club.
“I dreamt about winning yesterday and thought it would be good. Volvo China Open is a great tournament to win. I have been to China quite a few times and I have always played well,” said Brier, who won the BA-CA Golf Open, presented by Telekom Austria on the European Tour last year. He previously won the event in 2002 and 2004 when it was staged on the Challenge Tour. All three tournaments were held at Fontana Golf Club which was his home course in Vienna.
The win at the Volvo China Open was Brier’s maiden triumph outside of Austria as he walked away with the top prize of US$333,330.
Hend, who is playing in his first ever season on the Asian Tour, earned US$149,140 for his efforts this week and leaped to fourth spot on the Asian Tour’s UBS Order of Merit with total earnings of US$189,420.
With softer greens due to overnight showers, the 38-year-old champion was quick of the start striking two birdies on the second and third holes before a dropped shot on the fourth. Brier, who turned pro in 1995, then pulled away from Hend with two more birdies on the eighth and ninth holes. The Austrian ended his round in style with a five foot birdie putt on the 18th hole for the win.
NOT TOO NERVOUS
“I tried not to think too much about winning today and I was fortunate not to be too nervous on the last three of four holes. I holed some long putts and my putting was very good because the greens were in good shape. That was the key as I didn't hit it really close but holed a lot of five, six and seven yard putts,” admitted the champion.
“It makes me feel like a better player now as at home I always had the home advantage. It is a very good win here and it was the next step to win abroad,” added Brier.
Hend, who was two under after nine holes, was disappointed with his run on the back nine when he suffered two straight bogeys on the 10th and 11th holes. He slipped down the leaderboard with a third bogey on the 17th but pulled one back with a birdie on the last hole.
“I am pretty disappointed. I hope to digest it. But I’m sure I’ll put this behind me by tomorrow,” said Hend, who delivered a similar result at the Pakistan Open in January.
“It was a good final hole though. I struck it well and had a six inch tap in. The sad part was I three putted the 17th hole for bogey so it wasn’t too pleasing but it was nice to finish with a birdie.
“All credit to Markus. He played great. But I am disappointed I played the back nine on two over par. If I had finished one shot behind him I would be satisfied with where I was but I was fortunate to play well enough to come in second,” added Hend.
South African Richard Sterne ended his Shanghai campaign with an eagle at the par five 18th hole for a 280 total in lone fifth spot.
Thailand’s Prayad Marksaeng, who claimed third place at the TCL Classic last month, conquered the greens on the final day with a bogey free 65 that included six birdies as he claimed joint eighth place alongside France’s Jean-francois Lucquin.
“I was putting really well today and the conditions were more forgiving as the first two rounds. I always enjoy coming here and I’m happy with my position this week,” said Prayad.
Sweden’s Steven Jeppesen established a new course record of 63 today to finish in tied 14th place. He bettered the previous record of 64 set by James Kingston in 2002.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 284 (4 x 71)
GB&I players unless otherwise stated; (x) denotes amateurs
274 Markus Brier (Aut) 72 68 67 67
279 Graeme McDowell 70 70 70 69, Andrew McLardy (Rsa) 72 70 67 70, Scott Hend (Aus) 71 67 70 71
280 Richard Sterne (Rsa) 70 71 69 70
281 Peter O'Malley (Aus) 74 71 67 69, Raphael Jacquelin
(Fra) 68 67 75 71
282 Prayad Marksaeng (Tha) 71 74 72 65, Jean-Francois Lucquin (Fra) 73 68 71 70
283 David Griffiths 72 71 69 71
284 Miles Tunnicliff 73 74 71 66, Brett Rumford (Aus) 72 72 70 70, James Kingston (Rsa) 71 72 70 71
285 Steven Jeppesen (Swe) 72 74 76 63, Unho Park (Aus) 70 74 72 69, Peter Hanson (Swe) 72 72 70 71, Garry Houston 71 73 70 71, Robert-Jan Derksen (Ned) 70 72 71 72
286 Simon Wakefield 75 69 77 65, Simon Yates 73 66 77 70, Scott Strange (Aus) 74 68 73 71
287 Gregory Havret (Fra) 73 71 74 69
288 Marko Ilonen (Fin) 73 73 74 68, Jarmo Sandelin (Swe) 75 71 73 69, Graeme Storm 73 74 70 71, Terry Pilkadaris (Aus) 74 70 72 72, Tony Carolan (Aus) 75 72 69 72, Gonzalez Fernandez-Castano (Spa) 71 72 71 74, Prom Meesawat (Tha) 72 74 68 74, Andres Romero (Arg) 71 67 73 77
289 Benn Barham 74 71 75 69, Wen-chong Liang (Chn) 76 71 73 69, Yasin Ali 70 75 74 70, Ter-chang Wang (Tpe) 73 73 71 72, Christopher Hanell (Swe) 70 70 76 73, Stephen Gallacher 73 72 70 74, Lian-wei Zhiang (Chn) 76 69 70 74, Michael Jonzon (Swe) 70 72 71 76
290 Thammanoon Srirot (Tha) 73 72 76 69, Damien McGrane 71 69 76 74, Gary Murphy 74 69 73 74, Adam Blyth (Aus) 70 67 76 77, Peter Lawrie 72 71 70 77
291 Marcus Fraser (Aus) 75 72 77 67, Soren Hansen (Den) 74 72 76 69, Gary Emerson 72 70 79 70, Bryan Saltus (USA) 74 71 72 74, Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) 71 74 71 75, Stephen Dodd (Wal) 74 67 74 76, Thomas Bjorn (Den) 70 72 73 76
292 Soren Kjeldsen (Den) 72 73 76 71 Chapchai Nirat (Tha) 76 70 74 72, Marcus Both (Aus) 74 73 73 72, Adam Groom (Aus) 73 72 74 73
293 Gaurav Ghei (Ind) 73 73 76 71
294 Andrew Butterfield 77 70 75 72, Richard Lee (Nzl) 70 71 81 72, Edward Loar (USA) 71 74 77 72, Maarten Lafeber (Ned) 71 75 76 72, Joakim Backstrom (Swe) 74 70 74 76, Mahal Pearce (Nzl) 73 72 71 78
295 Zhi-feng Qiu (Chn) 70 75 80 70, Kang-chun Wu (Chn) 75 71 79 70, Gui-ming Liao (Chn) 74 71 77 73, Wen-tang Lin (Tpe) 73 74 75 73, Gary Rusnak (USA) 69 76 76 74, Ming-jie Huang (Chn) 68 76 72 79
296 Gareth Davies 74 73 76 73, Kane Webber (Aus) 72 73 74 77
297 Mark Pilkington 72 75 74 76
298 Chris Rodgers 75 71 77 75, Tom Whitehouse 73 72 75 78
299 (x) Ren Han (Chn) 74 72 80 73, Jose-Filipe Lima (Por) 77 69 71 82

CALLUM IS NAMED SEC
GOLFER OF THE WEEK
Mississippi University senior-year student golfer Callum Macaulay from has been named the South-East Conference Golfer of the Week for his outstanding performance at the Palisades Collegiate Golf Classic. This is the first such honor for Macaulay.
The Scot from Kincardine, a member at Tulliallan Golf Club, recorded his best 54-hole tournament finish with the Rebels, finishing joint second, just two strokes behind winner Brad Benjamin of Memphis. He carded a 71-68-70—209 to tie with Dawie VanDerWalt of Lamar, who is ranked No. 9 in the US college circuit.
Macaulay’s second place showing marks his sixth top-five finish of the year.

TURKEY'S GOLF POTENTIAL IS

INCREDIBLE, SAYS EX-PAT TONY
The Gloria Classic, an official PGA European Seniors Tour event will attract the best of the seniors to Belek, Antalya in Turkey next month.
The Gloria Golf Resort will welcome one of the most important rounds of the PGA European Seniors Tour in Belek, after a long six-year break, with the Gloria Classic on May 11-13.
The 2007 Gloria Classic will be played over three rounds (54 holes) on the spectacular New Course at Gloria Golf Resort and is one of the most popular legs of the 2007 European Seniors Tour Schedule, with a total prize of 325,000 euro with 48,750 euro for the winner.
It will be a tough challenge for the win as there are 72 players from 22 countries. Potential contenders for the Gloria Classic are Ryder Cup players Sam Torrance, Eamonn Darcy and Jose Rivero, plus Carl Mason, winner of 14 titles on the European Seniors Tour, and Tony Johnstone, who most memorably won the 1992 PGA Championship on the European Tour.
Tommy Horton, a winner in Turkey on two previous occasions, is the expected favorite as he is still the all-time leading money winner on the European Seniors Tour with approximately 1.5 million euro in winnings. Australian Noel Ratcliff, the winner at Gloria in 2001, will also try hard to keep a hold on his title.
Constantino Rocca, who had his 50th birthday on the Dec. 4, 2006, which qualifies him to compete on the European Seniors Tour, will make his debut on the Seniors Tour in the Gloria Classic. He is one of a very small group of people who can claim to have beaten the great Tiger Woods. He beat when they met in the Ryder cup at Valderama in 1997; he beat him soundly by 4&2 to help Europe defeat the USA.

TOP-CLASS FIELD
"These are the best possible players coming to the tournament," Tony Martin, the English-born consultant professional to the Gloria Golf Resort, told the Turkish Daily News on Saturday, adding that playing and winning at the Gloria Classic is prestigious and desirable as well.
"This is a big representation for them; top European players will compete for one of the biggest prizes in the European Seniors Tour."
As resident of Turkey for more than 20 years now, Tony Martin is probably the first person to bear witness the changes in golfing in the country.
"I would not use the word 'change' as there was almost nothing about golfing here 20 years ago," says Martin. "Golf courses opened and it can be said that golfing in Turkey was virtually born during that period."

TURKEY POTENTIAL INCREDIBLE
However, Tony Martin believes that the progress has been more than satisfactory and is even more optimistic about the future, saying "The potential is incredible in Turkey. There are five golf courses under construction in the same area [which is Belek, Antalya]. That will make a total of 13. There are not that many golf courses in Europe in such a small area.
Last played in 2001, the Gloria Classic got a great reaction, unfortunately not in Turkey, but worldwide. The event was televised all over the Europe and reached millions of spectators. With the new Gloria golf course (6,823yd, par-72), designed by Frenchman Michel Gayon and shaped by four large lakes, the Gloria Classic is back and is bigger than ever. Also, to be preceded by two professional-amateur tournaments on May 9-10, the Gloria Classic will present almost a full week of action for the golf fans.

KELLY LEADS US TOUR EVENT BY ONE

Jerry Kelly has regained the lead in the USPGA Tour's Verizon Heritage tournament at Harbour Town Golf Links, Hilton Head Island in South Carolina.
Kelly had a third-round 67 compared with leader Ernie Els' 71.
THIRD-ROUND TOTALS
Par 213 (3 x 71)
200 Jerry Kelly 63 70 67
201 Kevin Na (Kor) 67 68 66, Ernie Els (SAf) 65 65 71
202 Boo Weekley 67 69 66
204 Sean O'Hair 69 66 69, Vaughn Taylor 71 66 67, Zach Johnson 70 68 66, Stephen Leaney (Aus) 66 68 70, Stephen Ames (Can) 72 68 64
205 Dean Wilson 69 68 68, Rodney Pampling (Aus) 69 67 69, Ken Duke 71 67 67, J.P. Hayes 67 72 66
206 Aaron Baddeley (Aus) 70 66 70, Ben Crane 71 67 68, Fred Funk 67 67 72, Carl Pettersson (Swe) 71 68 67, Nick O'Hern (Aus) 69 71 66, Tom Pernice Jnr. 74 67 65, Jason Bohn 70 68 68
207 Joe Durant 72 69 66, Brian Gay 70 70 67, Brandt Snedeker 71 67 69, Jesper Parnevik (Swe) 71 67 69
208 Nathan Green (Aus) 71 66 71, Bo Van Pelt 71 67 70, Camilo Villegas (Col) 74 67 67
210 Kent Jones 73 65 72, Mark Calcavecchia 69 71 70, Jose Coceres (Arg) 66 72 72, Kelly Mitchum 72 70 68, Briny Baird 72 69 69, Peter Lonard (Aus) 70 70 70
211 Robert Garrigus 74 69 68, Mark Hensby (Aus) 71 70 70, Steve Elkington (Aus) 71 71 69, Mark Wilson 72 70 69, Hunter Mahan 72 70 69, Anthony Kim 69 72 70, J.B. Holmes 70 73 68, Justin Leonard 69 72 70, Mathew Goggin (Aus) 76 67 68, Ryan Palmer 73 67 71, Jonathan Byrd 76 67 68, D.J. Trahan 70 70 71
212 Jeff Gove 71 71 70, Ryan Armour 69 71 72, Glen Day 71 72 69
213 Will MacKenzie 72 70 71, John Daly 73 70 70, Jeff Maggert 72 70 71, Stewart Cink 67 75 71, Geoff Ogilvy (Aus) 70 73 70
214 Tim Herron 69 73 72, Douglas Labelle 70 70 74, Jason Gore 70 72 72
215 Charles Warren 70 72 73, Greg Owen (Eng) 70 71 74, Brian Bateman 72 70 73, Ryan Moore 69 73 73
216 Kenny Perry 72 71 73, Davis Love III 74 69 73, Brandt Jobe 70 72 74, Ben Curtis 72 70 74, Heath Slocum 74 68 74, Scott Verplank 71 72 73
217 David Branshaw 70 72 75, Matt Kuchar 74 69 74
218 Eric Axley 71 69 78
219 Tim Petrovic 72 71 76
221 Kirk Triplett 72 70 79

LAURA AND LORENA STILL TIED FOR LEAD
Laura Davies and Mexico's Lorena Ochoa were still locked together after 54 holes of the Ginn Open, this weekend's LPGA Tour event at Reunion Resort & Club, Florida.
They have shot identical rounds of 66, 66 and 70 for 14-under-par 202 to lead by four shots from Brittany Lincicome and Natalie Gubbs.
Catriona Matthew from North Berwick is in joint 50th place on 217 with scores of 74, 72 and 71.
Mhairi McKay from Glasgow is sharing 76th place on 221 with 75, 71 and 75.
Janice Moodie from Glasgow failed to survive the 36-hole cut with 73 and 74 for 147.

VIKKI MAY MISS CUT AFTER SECOND-ROUND
84 IN FUTURES TOUR EVENT AT FRISCO

Vikki Laing was in danger of not qualifying for the third and final round after a second round of 84 - 11 shots worse than her first round - for an aggregate of 13-over-par 157 in The Power of a Dream Classic - this weekend's Duramed Futures Tour event at The Trails of Frisco Golf Club, Frisco in Texas.
Thirty players were not able to complete their second rounds because of darkness on another cold, cold day in Texas - temperatures in the 40s with a wind blowing over 20mph.
Among those who were going to have to return early on Sunday morning to finish off their rounds are Samantha Head from Bedford and Lisa Hall from Stoke on Trent. Samantha had a first-round 73 and Lisa a 74 over the 6,226yd, par-72 course.
Allison Fouch from Grand Rapids, Michigan is the leader in the clubhouse with 68 and 72 for 140.
CLUBHOUSE SCORES
+30 players to finish second rounds before 36-hole cut is made.
140 Allison Fouch (US) 68 72.
142 Ji Min Jeong (South Korea) 70 72.
Other scores:
157 Vikki Laing (Musselburgh) 73 84.
160 Polly Willett (London) 80 80.
To finish:
73 Samantha Head (Bedford).
74 Lisa Hall (Stoke on Trent).

Fog reduces Craigmillar Park Open to 64 holes

TITLE-DOUBLE CHASER SALTMAN

IS ONE SHOT AHEAD WITH TWO

ROUNDS TO PLAY ON SUNDAY

Walker Cup man Lloyd Saltman , pictured right, is on course to become only the third player to achieve victories in both the big early-season tournaments on the Scottish amateur golf circuit.

Last weekend the Craigielaw 21-year-old won the Scottish champion of champions' title at Leven and tomorrow he starts the final two rounds of the Craigmillar Park Open with three bright young prospects, Steven McEwan (Caprington), Ross Kellett (Colville Park) and Scott Henry (Cardross) snapping at his heels.

Fog delayed the start of play by 2 ½ hr at the Edinburgh venue and meant there was not enough time left for all 78 players to complete two 18-hole circuits even though it was a gloriously warm and sunny day after the fog eventually disappeared in mid-morning.

The organisers decided to cut the second round to the first 10 holes on the course.

Saltman's first-round, four-under-par 66 left him three shots behind leader Kevin McAlpine (Alyth), last year's Scottish amateur match-play champion, but the truncated second round was still long enough for Lloyd to turn the tables on Kevin.

AHEAD OF SCHEDULE

Saltman, who credits playing in the Australian stroke-play and match-play championships in March with putting an edge on his game a month or two ahead of his usual schedule, got an eagle 2 at the 295yd eighth, and birdies at the first and third with only one bogey, at the fifth.

He returned a score of three-under-par 36 for the 10 holes. That hoisted him to the top of the leaderboard on seven-under-par 102.

In contract, McAlpine could add only one birdie, at the second, to the nine he achieved in his opening 63, and he bogeyed the first, fourth, fifth and ninth on his way to three-over 42.

Kevin thus sagged into a share of third place on 105 with former British amateur champion Craig Watson (East Renfrewshire), Aberdonian Barrie Edmond (Bon Accord), David Miller (Kilmacolm) and North-east of England challenger Craig Wilkinson (Blyth).

Ross Kellett (Colville Park), who finished joint third in the Scottish men's open amateur stroke-play championship behind Scott Henry last year, slipped past that bunch by following up a 66 with 38 for the 10 holes, giving him a six-under-par tally of 103.

McEWAN NARROWS LEAD

Then, in the last three to finish after 8pm, Steven McEwan, the 2005 Scottish boys' stroke-play champion, narrowed the lead to one shot with 65 and 38 for 103 and Scott Henry (Cardross), last year's Scottish men's open amateur stroke-play title-winner, joined Kellett in joint third place with 66 and 38 for 104.

A total of 31 players with 28-hole tallies of 110 or better qualified for Sunday's final two rounds.

Barring a return of the fog, the first players tee off at 8am and 12.30.

The leading groups tee off as follows:

9.23 & 1.53: C Wilkinson & K McAl;ine.

9.30 & 2.0: B Edmond & C Watson.

9.38 & 2.08: D Miller & D Miller.

9.45 & 2.15: S Henry & R Kellett.

9.52 & 2.22: S McEwan & L Saltman.

SECOND-ROUND AGGREGATES

Second round reduced to 10 holes because fog delayed play at start of day.

Par 109 (70+39). CSS 70

102 L Saltman (Craigielaw) 66 36.

103 S McEwan (Caprington) 65 38.

104 R Kellett (Colville Park) 66 38, S Henry (Cardross) 66 38.

105 D Miller (Kilmacolm) 65 40, C Watson (East Renfrewshire) 66 39, B Edmond (Bon Accord) 67 38, K McAlpine (Alyth) 63 42, C Wilkinson (Blyth) 65 40, D Miller (Duddingston) 66 39.

106 C Heslip (Monifieth) 71 35, S Armstrong (Turnhouse) 71 35, G Dear (Murrayshall) 67 39, M Kerr (Craigielaw) 69 37.

107 M Clarke (Kilmacolm) 75 32, G Campbell (Blairgowrie) 70 37, A Lynch (Glenbervie) 67 40, S Neilsen (Craigmillar Park) 69 38, K Nicol (Fraserburgh) 69 38.

108 P O'Hara (Colville Park) 65 43, P Betty (Hayston) 70 38, G Mitchell (Northern) 70 38.

109 P McLean (Peterhead) 68 41, G Paterson (St Andrews New) 73 36, J King (Glasgow) 71 38, R Bell (Downfield) 70 39.

110 C Swanston (Uphall) 72 38, S Hume (Murrayshall) 71 39, B Fotheringham (Forres) 73 37, B Soutar (Leven GS) 71 39.

MISSED CUT

111 R Noon (Longniddry) 71 40, K Reilly (Silverknowes) 74 37, D Yeats (Newmachar) 71 40.

112 S Wilson (Forfar) 73 39, Z Saltman (Craigielaw) 73 39, J Neilson (Craigmillar Park) 73 39, A Main (Thornton) 73 39, M Cameron (Alyth) 71 41, I Munro (Stirling) 72 40, G Robertson (Silverknowes) 71 41..

113 K Smyth (Windyhill) 74 39, S Graham (Blairgowrie) 74 39, K Mail (Craigmillar Park) 71 42, S McAllister (Craigielaw) 74 39, R Anderson (Duddingston) 73 40, A Culverwell (Dunbar) 70 43, S Borrowman (Dollar) 71 42.

114 I Colquhoun (Ranfurly Castle) 74 40, K Young (Glencorse) 73 41, T Mathieson (Murcar Links) 71 43, M Greig (Bon Accord) 73 41, S Knowles (Kingsknowe) 71 43.

115 A Anderson (Bruntsfield Links) 72 43, K Hamilton (Whitecraigs) 74 41, A Aitlafkih (Ivory Coast) 76 39, R McKnight (Barassie) 73 42.

116 D Henderson (Hamilton) 72 44, B Moore (Largs) 75 41.

117 J White jun (Lundin) 77 40, D Martin (Alyth) 71 46, M Main (Thornton) 74 43.

118 S Mann (Carnoustie) 75 43, D Gillespie (Craigmillar Park) 80 38, C Harper (Lenzie) 74 44.

119 C Colraine (Windyhill) 73 46, D Elder (Carnoustie) 83 38.

120 G Finlay (Ballumbie Castle) 75 45.

122 G Thomson (Moray) 80 42.

124 S McGarvey (Glencorse) 81 43.

Retired during first round: J Gallagher (Swanston), M Buchan (Cruden Bay), G Stevenson (Whitecraigs).Withdrew after first round: B Scott (Dumfries & Galloway) 77 -, G Robertson (Ravenspark) 79 -.

No Returns: B Young (Harrison) 74 NR, D Hultson (Dollar) 76 NR, P Logan (Craigmillar Park) 76 NR.

Scottish Boys Champion - Paul Ferrier (Baberton)

Paul Ferrier from Baberton beat Willian Bremner (Edzell) by one hole in an exciting 36 hole final at Dunbar this afternoon.

The morning round was delayed by one hour because of fog, and when they did start Bremner, pictured left, quickly took the upper hand and was 3 up after 4. Ferrier holed a 12 foot putt to avoid going 4 down at the 7th, and then won 8 and 9 to be 1 down at the turn. In fact he won four holes in a row, and by the 11th he was one up. Holes changed hands on the inward half and Ferrier went in for lunch 1 up.

Bremner squared the match with a 4 at the 20th, but Ferrier, pictured right, quickly regained a 1 hole advantage at the short 21st. Bremner won the short 23rd to square again, and then won the 25th after the Baberton boy found a bunker with his second shot. They halved the next three holes, and Ferrier squared the match again with a downhill birdie putt at the 29th.

The next two holes were halved in regulation, before Ferrier took three from the edge at the 32nd to be 1 down with 4 to play. However he did not stay down for long and birdied the 33rd to square the match, and then they both three putted the 16th, to reach the 35th tee all square.

With Ferrier safely on the green in two, Bremner came out to four feet from the bunker in front of the green, but missed the putt and so was 1 down playing the last. He was first to play his second shot to the 36th green, and left it short. His pitch finished four feet from the hole, but Ferrier, safely on in two, lagged his putt to a foot to win the Championship.

NB. The last Baberton player to win the Scottish Boys was Ewan Murray in 1971, over North Berwick.

SECOND ROUND REDUCED TO ONLY 10 HOLES

McALPINE LEADS BY TWO WITH

A FIRST-ROUND 63 AT

CRAIGMILLAR PARK OPEN

Scottish amateur match-play golf champion Kevin McAlpine from Alyth surged two shots clear of the field after 18 holes of the fog-shortened Craigmillar Park Open at the Edinburgh venue today (Saturday).

Fog delayed the start for 2 1/2hr until 9.30am which meant there was not enough time for all of the field to complete two rounds in good light.

The organisers decided to shorten the second round to `10 holes and to make the cut to the leading 30 players and ties on 28-hole scores.

\McAlpine, who played four years on the American college circuit as a student at Colorado State University, has +4 of a handicap and proved in winning the North of District Open last year that he is just as skilled at the card-and-pencil discipline as he is at the match-play.

The 23-year-old son of former Dundee United goalkeeper Hamish McAlp;ine, Kevin packed nine birdies into a seven-under-par 63 over the fast-running parkland course. He birdied the second, third, eighth, ninth, 10^th, 13^th, 14^th, 17^th and 18^th in halves of 32 (three under par) and 31 (four under par).

"I played well but, like every good round, it could have been even better," said Kevin. " I made a couple of silly mistakes. I drove out of bounds at the sixth but escaped with a bogey 5 and missed the green from only about 120yd at the 12^th for my second bogey of the round."

John Gallagher (Swanston), the cack-handed winner of the Craigmillar Park Open in 2005, had to retire during the round. He aggravated a nagging wrist injury in last weekend's Scottish champion of champions at Leven and it was touch and go whether he played or not this weekend. John started the round but it was soon evident that the pain was too great to continue.

Walker Cup player Lloyd Saltman from Craigielaw, winner of the Scottish champion of champions' title last weekend and bidding to become only the third player to pull off the big early season double on the Scottish amateur circuit, was three shots behind the pacemaking McAlpine with a four-under 66. Last year Lloyd missed the halfway cut.

Going into the 10-hole second round, McAlpine led by two strokes from David Miller (Kilmacolm), Craig Wilkinson (Blyth), Paul O'Hara (Colville Park) and Steven McEwan (Caprington).

Scores:

FIRST ROUND

Par 70

63 K McAlpine (Alyth).

65 D Miller (Kilmacolm), C Wilkinson (Blyth), P O'Hara (Colville Park), S McEwan (Caprington).

66 D Miller (Duddingston), C Watson (East Renfrewshire), R Kellett (Colville Park), L Saltman (Craigielaw), S Henry (Cardross).

67 B Edmond (Bon Accord), G Dear (Murrayshall), A Lynch (Glenbervie).

68 P McLean (Peterhead).

69 M Kerr (Craigielaw), K Nicol (Fraserburgh).

70 K McNicoll (Carnoustie), G Campbell (Blairgowrie), P Betty (Hayston), A Culverwell (Dunbar), R Bell (Downfield), G Mitchell (Northern).

71 C Heslip (Monifieth), S Armstrong (Turnhouse), R Noon (Longniddry), D Martin (Alyth), B Soutar (Leven GS), S Hume (Murrayshall), S Knowles (Kingsknowe), K Mail (Craigmillar Park), D Yeats (Newmachar), M Cameron (Alyth), T Mathieson (Murcar Links), J King (Glasgow), S Borrowman (Dollar), G Robertson (Silverknowes).

72 C Swanston (Uphall), A Anderson (Bruntsfield Links), I Munro (Stirling), D Henderson (Hamilton).

73 K Young (Glencorse), S Wilson (Forfar), C Colraine (Windyhill), M Greig (Bon Accord), Z Saltman (Craigielaw), A Main (Thornton), R Anderson (Duddingston), B Fotheringham (Forres), G Paterson (St Andrews New), J Neilson (Craigmillar Park), R McKnight (Barassie).

74 K Smyth (Windyhill), I Colquhoun (Ranfurly Castle), K Hamilton (Whitecraigs), S Graham (Blairgowrie), K Reilly (Silverknowes), S McAllister (Craigielaw), B Young (Harrison), M Main (Thornton, C Harper (Lenzie).

75 M Clarke (Kilmacolm), S Mann (Carnoustie), G Finlay (Ballumbie Castle), B Moore (Largs).

76 A Aitlafkih (Ivory Coast), D Hulston (Dollar)

77 J White jun (Lundin), B Scott (Dumfries & Galloway).

79 G Robertson (Ravenspark).

80 G Thomson (Moray), D Gillespie (Craigmillar Park).

81 S McGarvey (Glencorse), D Elder (Carnoustie).

+J Gallagher (Swanston), M Buchan (Cruden Bay), G Stevenson (Whitecraigs) retired during first round; B Scott withdrew after first round.

GALLACHER JOINT OUTSIDE TOP 20

IN VOLVO CHINA OPEN

Stephen Gallacher from Bathgate was lying in joint 21st position with one round to go in the Volvo China Open.

THIRD-ROUND TOTALS

Par 213 (3 x 71). Players from GB&I unless stated.

207 Markus Brier (Aut) 72 68 67
208 Scott Hend (Aus) 71 67 70
209 Andrew McLardy (Rsa) 72 70 67
210 Richard Sterne (Rsa) 70 71 69, Graeme McDowell 70 70 70, Raphael Jacquelin (Fra) 68 67 75
211 Andres Romero (Arg) 71 67 73
212 Peter O'Malley (Aus) 74 71 67, David Griffiths 72 71 69, Jean-Francios Lucquin (Fra) 73 68 71
213 Peter Lawrie 72 71 70, James Kingston (Rsa) 71 72 70 Robert-Jan Derksen (Ned) 70 72 71, Michael Jonzon (Swe) 70 72 71 Adam Blyth (Aus) 70 67 76
214 Prom Meesawat (Tha) 72 74 68, Garry Houston 71 73 70, Brett Rumford (Aus) 72 72 70, Peter Hanson (Swe) 72 72 70, Gonzalez Fernando Castano (Spa) 71 72 71,
215 Lian-wei Zhang (Chn) 76 69 70, Stephen Gallacher 73 72 70, Thomas Bjorn (Den) 70 72 73, Scott Strange (Aus) 74 68 73, Stephen Dodd 74 67 74
216 Tony Carolan (Aus) 75 72 69, Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) 71 74 71 Mahal Pearce (Nzl) 73 72 71, Unho Park (Aus) 70 74 72, Terry Pilkadaris (Aus) 74 70 72, Ming-jie Huang (Chn) 68 76 72, Gary Murpy 74 69 73, Christopher Hanell (Swe) 70 70 76, Damien McGrane 71 69 76, Simon Yates 73 66 77
217 Graeme Storm 73 74 70, Ter-chang Wang (Tpe) 73 73 71, Jose-Filipe Lima (Por) 77 69 71, Prayad Marksaeng (Tha) 71 74 72, Bryan Saltus (USA) 74 71 72
218 Miles Tunnicliff 73 74 71 Gregory Havret (Fra) 73 71 74, Joakim Backstrom (Swe) 74 70 74
219 Jarmo Sandelin (Swe) 75 71 73, Kane Webber (Aus) 72 73 74, Adam Groom (Aus) 73 72 74, Yasin Ali 70 75 74
220 Marcus Both (Aus) 74 73 73, Wen-chong Liang (Chn) 76 71 73, Mikko Ilonen (Fin) 73 73 74, Chapchai Nirat (Tha) 76 70 74, Benn Barham 74 71 75, Tom Whitehouse 73 72 75
221 Mark Pilkington 72 75 74, Thammanoon Srirot (Tha) 73 72 76, Soren Kjeldsen (Den) 72 73 76, Gary Rusnak (USA) 69 76 76, Simon Wakefield 75 69 77, Gary Emerson 72 70 79
222 Andrew Butterfield 77 70 75, Wen-tang Lin (Tpe) 73 74 75, Maarten Lafeber (Ned) 71 75 76, Soren Hansen (Den) 74 72 76, Steven Jeppesen (Swe) 72 74 76, Gaurav Ghei (Ind) 73 73 76, Gui-ming Liao (Chn) 74 71 77, Edward Loar (USA) 71 74 77, Richard Lee (Nzl) 70 71 81
223 Gareth Davies 74 73 76, Chris Rodgers 75 71 77
224 Marcus Fraser (Aus) 75 72 77
225 Kang-chun Wu (Chn) 75 71 79, Zhi-feng Qiu (Chn) 70 75 80
226 (x) Ren Han (Chn) 74 72 80
withdrawn Shiv Kapur (Ind)

FERRIER AHEAD IN SCOTTISH BOYS' FINAL

Paul Ferrier from Baberton was one up after 18 holes against William Bremner (Edzell) in the 36-hole final of the Scottish boys' championship at Dunbar today.

Ferrier was still one up after 22 holes.

The start was delayed half-an-hour because of fog.

Catriona and Mhairi still in the hunt

Catriona Matthew and Mhairi Mckay just scraped under the wire to stay for the weekend in the LPGA Tour $2,600,000 Ginn Open at the 6505 yard Reunion Golf and Club, Orlando, Florida yesterday. They are both on two over par 146, with Catriona returning 74 and 72, and Mhairi taking 75 and 71. Janice Moodie was not so lucky and her 73 and 74 just missed the cut.
The tournament leaders, Laura Davies and Lorena Ochoa, both returned back to back 66s and are three strokes ahead of the field on 12 under par 132.
Nancy Lopez returned to tournament golf after a break of five years, but her scores of 83 and 80 put her at the bottom of the leaderboard.

Vikki Laing beats the weather in Futures tour event

Former four times Scottish Girls Champion Vikki Laing from Musselburgh was lucky to be one of the early players and to have finished her first round before the weather closed the course in The Futurs Tour "The Power of a Dream Golf Classic" at The Trails of Frisco Golf Club, a suburb of Dallas Texas yesterday. Reports of fierce tornadic activity and hailstones the size of tennis balls to the north and west, had everyone looking nervously to the skies, and at 5:53pm play was suspended with 22 groups still playing.
Vikki returned a two over par 73 and is currently tied for 35th place . Mollie Fankhauser, Sarah Martin and Allison Fouch share the lead on 68.
The groups still to finish will resume play at 7:30 a.m. today and those who completed the first round will remain in the same pairings and will simultaneously start the second round at 9:30 a.m.
Real-time scoring

FOG DELAYS START OF CRAIGMILLAR PARK OPEN

Fog delayed the start of the Craigmillar Park Open golf tournament in Edinburgh until 9.30 this morning. The field of 78 for the scheduled two-day, 72-hole event should have teed off from 7am.

"At some of the short holes, it was impossible to see the greens from the tees and the danger of players being hit by golf balls from behind was the key factor in delaying the start so long," said one of the organising officials.

A decision on whether the tournament would be cut to three rounds was delayed until the afternoon.

BRAVE BID BY RICHIE RAMSAY IN US EVENT

Richie Ramsay, the US amateur champion from Aberdeen, made a brave bid to survive the halfway cut in the Verizon Heritage, this weekend's event on the US PGA Tour.

Richie finished with rounds of 75 and 70 for 145, four over par for the par-71 lay-out and only two strokes away from qualifying for the weekend play.

Richie birdied the second in his second rond but then ran up back-to-back double-bogeys at the third and short fourth. He birdied the ninth to reach the turn in two-over-par 38.

Then Ramsay showed the form that won him the US amateur title at Hazeltine last summer as he birdied the 12th, 14th, 15th and 17th for 32 home and a one-under-par 70.

South African Ernie Els is leading the field at 12-under-par 130 after a pair of 65s. Three shots behind is the first-round leader, Jerry Kelly, with 63 and 70 for 133.

On 134 come Fred Funk (67-67) and Stephen Leaney (66-68).

Jasper Parnevik and US Masters champion Zach Johnson are lying joint 13th on 138, the Swede with 71 and 67, the Amereican with 70 and 68.

MARTIN LAIRD MAKES NATIONWIDE TOUR CUT

Former Scottish youths champion Martin Laird from Glasgow survived the halfway cut in the Nationwide Tour's South Georgia Classic.

Martin has had rounds of 70 and 74 for level par 144 and is in joint 44th place behind the leader, American Steven Bowditch who has had 69 and 67 for eight-under-par 136.

Laird did well to stay cool after starting with a double-bogey 6. That was his only deviation from par in an outward 38. A birdie at 10th rewarded his patience and though he did drop a shot at the 13th, he was able to par his way in to ensure his continued participation in the tournament.

TOP 10 FINISH FOR CARLY IN FLORIDA

Carly Booth from Comrie finished joint 10th in the Mission Inn Junior Open tournament at Howey in the Hills, near Orlando, Florida earlier this week.
A student at the David Leadbetter Golf Academy, 14-year-old Carly (pictured right) struggled with opening rounds of 84 and 80 before finishing in style with a par-matching round of 71 for a total of 235.
So-Hyun Park, from Bradenton, Florida, won by five strokes with scores of 75, 68 and 67 for 210.
A international field of 38 under-18 girls took part.
Carly, who has a handicap of +2, is returning to Scotland to play in the Helen Holm Scottish women's open amateur stroke-play championship at Troon Portland & Royal Troon from April 27 to 29.

PAUL FERRIER v WILLIAM BREMNER
FOR SCOTTISH BOYS' TITLE
IN 36-hole DUNBAR FINALE

Paul Ferrier (Baberton) versus William Bremner (Edzell) - it's a 36-hole Saturday final of the Scottish boys' match-play championship at Dunbar that few would have predicted at the start of the week.
Both boys were unseeded. In fact, the only surviving seed, No 2 ranked Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) lost in the second semi-final to Bremner who won by one hole.
In the other semi-final Ferrier beat Jeff O'Malley (Newbattle) by 5 and 4.
Ferrier was roughly two over par for the holes played. He won the first, third, fourth and fifth to take a commanding four-hole lead. O'Malley did get him back to three holes of an advantage on two occasions but that was as far as he got in trying to turn the tide.
Bremner put himself in the mood to reach his first national final by birdieing the first two holes to go two holes up. He was never headed by Stewart who went three down to a birdie 4 by Bremner at the ninth.
Stewart won by the 14th with par but Bremner immediately retaliated with a birdie 3 at the 15th to restore his three-hole advantage.
Bremner bogeyed both the 16th and 17th to see his lead shrink to only one hole on the 18th tee but he was able to halve the last in pars for victory. The Edzell lad was roughly two over par at the finish.

SEMI-FINALS
Paul Ferrier (Baberton) bt Jeff O'Malley (Newbattle) 5 and 4.
William Bremner (Edzell) bt Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) 1 hole.

+Scroll down for the results and a report of the morning quarter-finals.

Wrist injury may rule out 2005 winner John Gallagher

ODDS STACKED AGAINST

LLOYD SALTMAN WINNING

CRAIGMILLAR PARK OPEN

The 45 winners of the Craigmillar Park Open golf tournament since the Edinburgh 72-hole event started in 1961 have included such famous names as Ronnie Shade (1961-64-66-67-68), Nick Faldo (1976), Charlie Green (1977), Ian Hutcheon (1979), Andy Oldcorn (1982) and George Macgregor (1983-84).
But only two players have ever pulled off the Scottish amateur circuit’s big early-season double by following up victory in the curtain-raising Scottish champion of champions’ tournament with a win in the Craigmillar Park Open.
They were Raymond Russell from Longniddry in 1993 and Graham Rankin, then playing out of Palacerigg, in 1998.
So the odds are stacked against Lloyd Saltman, the 21-year-old Walker Cup player from Craigielaw, completing the double this weekend, having holed a 93yd wedge shot for an eagle 2 to beat John Gallagher (Swanston) in a play-off for the Scottish Champion of Champions title at Leven last Sunday.
MISSED CUT LAST YEAR

In fact, Lloyd, pictured above, missed the cut in the Craigmillar Park Open last year when Scott Jamieson, now a professional, was the winner.
“The big difference I feel this year,” said Saltman, “is that playing top-quality tournaments in Australia last month has put an edge on my game at least a month or two ahead of my usual schedule.
“The Craigmillar Park Open usually comes too early for me – which is why I didn’t play well enough to survive the cut last year.”
The basic reason why only two players have pulled off the double is that the two venues - Leven links, a very dry, fast-running links, and Craigmillar Park, a quirky parkland course – are completely different tests of golf.
John Gallagher has risen to international status, despite his unorthodox cack-handed grip, since winning the Craigmillar Park Open in 2005.
He makes no secret of the fact that he does not enjoy playing the Leven links this early in the year when there has been no growth of grass on the fairways or greens. But he does have a soft spot for the Edinburgh venue.

GALLAGHER DOUBTFUL STARTER

Gallagher aggravated a nagging wrist injury at Leven and rates himself a doubtful starter at Craigmillar Park but he does want to play and will delay a decision until he "wakes up on Saturday morning."
Of course, Saltman and Gallagher are not the only quality players in the select field of 78 for what is the first counting event for the Scottish Golf Union Order of Merit.
Scottish open amateur stroke-play champion Scott Henry (Cardross), who finished second to Jamieson 12 months ago, Scottish amateur match-play champion Kevin McAlpine (Alyth), who led the field for a few holes down the home stretch at Leven last Sunday, and East of Scotland open champion Keir McNicoll (Carnoustie) also have the class to win at this level.
The leading 30 and ties at the end of Saturday’s two rounds will qualify for Sunday’s 36 holes.

+LOG ON ONLY TO THIS WEBSITE ON SATURDAY FOR FIRST AND SECOND-ROUND SCORES AND NEWS FROM THE FIRST DAY OF THE CRAIGMILLAR PARK OPEN.

GALLACHER MAKES CUT BUT

HUME, WARREN MISS OUT IN

VOLVO CHINA OPEN

Stephen Gallacher made the cut with a shot to spare but fellow Scots Scott Drummond, Barry Hume and Marc Warren missed out by wide margins at the halfway stage of the Volvo China Open at Shangai Silport Club.

France's Raphael Jacquelin leads by two strokes with a seven-under-par tally of 135.

Gallacher has shot 73-72 for 145. Scott Drummond had 76 and 77 for 153.

Hume, pictured right, scored 83 and 74 for 15-over-par 157 - 10 strokes too many to qualify for the final two rounds.

Warren had 77 and 83 for 160.

SECOND-ROUND SCOREBOARD

Par 142 (2 x 71). Players from GB&I unless stated.

135 Raphael Jacquelin (Fra) 68 67.
137 Adam Blyth (Aus) 70 67.
138 Scott Hend (Aus) 71 67, Andres Romero (Arg) 71 67
139 Simon Yates 73 66.
140 Damien McGrane 71 69, Graeme McDowell 70 70, Christopher Hanell (Swe) 70 70, Markus Brier (Aut) 72 68.
141 Richard Lee (NZ) 70 71, Stephen Dodd 74 67, Jean-Francois Lucquin (Fra) 73 68, Richard Sterne (Rsa) 70 71
142 Robert Jan Derksen (Ned) 70 72, Thomas Bjorn (Den) 70 72, Scott Strange (Aus) 74 68, Michael Jonzon (Swe) 70 72, Gary Emerson 72 70, Andrew McLardy (SAf) 72 70.
143 Gary Murphy 74 69, David Griffiths 72 71, James Kingston (SAf) 71 72, Peter Lawrie 72 71, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (Spa) 71 72.
144 Joakim Backstrom (Swe) 74 70, Garry Houston 71 73, Unho Park (Aus) 70 74, Terry Pilkadaris (Aus) 74 70, Simon Wakefield 75 69, Peter Hanson (Swe) 72 72, Brett Rumford (Aus) 72 72, Ming Jie Huang (Chn) 68 76, Gregory Havret (Fra) 73 71.
145 Bryan Saltus (US) 74 71, Yasin Ali 70 75, Gary Rusnak (US) 69 76, Mahal Pearce (NZ) 73 72, Benn Barham 74 71, Soren Kjeldsen (Den) 72 73, Zhi-Feng Qiu (Tpe) 70 75, Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) 71 74, Edward Loar (USA) 71 74, Prayad Marksaeng (Tha) 71 74, Shiv Kapur (Ind) 72 73, Lian-Wei Zhang (Chn) 76 69, Adam Groom (Aus) 73 72, Kane Webber (USA) 72 73, Stephen Gallacher 73 72, Thammanoon Srirot (Tha) 73 72, Gui Ming Liao (Chn) 74 71, Tom Whitehouse 73 72, Peter O'Malley (Aus) 74 71.
146 Ter-Chang Wang (Tpe) 73 73, Gaurav Ghei (Ind) 73 73, Mikko Ilonen (Fin) 73 73, Rem Han (Chn) 74 72, Soren Hansen (Den) 74 72, Jarmo Sandelin (Swe) 75 71, Steven Jeppesen (Swe) 72 74, Maarten Lafeber (Ned) 71 75, Chris Rodgers 75 71, Jose-Filipe Lima (Por) 77 69, Prom Meesawat (Tha) 72 74, Chapchai Nirat (Tha) 76 70, Kangchun Wu (Chn) 75 71.
MISSED CUT

147 Andrew Butterfield 77 70, Gareth Davies 74 73, Wen-Tang Lin (Tai) 73 74, Graeme Storm 73 74, Mark Pilkington 72 75, Tony Carolan (Aus) 75 72, Marcus Both (Aus) 74 73, Wen-chong Liang (Chn) 76 71, Miles Tunnicliff 73 74, Marcus Fraser (Aus) 75 72.
148 Rahil Gangjee (Ind) 76 72, Rick Gibson (Can) 76 72, Edward Michaels (US) 73 75, David Gleeson (Aus) 73 75, Kyron Sullivan 73 75, Mardan Mamat (Sin) 73 75, Jason Knutzon (US) 72 76, Wen Teh Lu (Tpe) 74 74, Andrew Marshall 74 74
149 Christian Cevaer (Fra) 75 74, Peter Gustafsson (Swe) 74 75, Thaworn Wiratchant (Tha) 74 75, Lee Sung (Kor) 73 76, Gary Simpson (Aus) 74 75, Hendrik Buhrmann (SAf) 75 74, Chinarat Phadungsil (Tha) 76 73, David Bransdon (Aus) 74 75, Brad Kennedy (Aus) 74 75, Gavin Flint (Aus) 74 75, Keng-chi Lin (Tai) 78 71.
150 Ross Fisher 77 73, Marcel Siem (Ger) 71 79, Carl Suneson (Spa) 73 77, Marcus Higley 73 77, Keith Horne (SAf) 71 79, Ted Oh (Kor) 79 71, Jong Yul Suk (Kor) 78 72, Rafael Cabrera Bello (Spa) 75 75, Simon Hurd 76 74.
151 Wen-gen Zheng (Hkg) 80 71, David Frost (Rsa) 75 76, Anthony Kang (USA) 78 73, Jun-Won Park (Kor) 78 73, Iain Steel (Mal) 78 73, Adam Le Vesconte (Aus) 76 75, Wook-Soon Kang (Kor) 80 71, Barry Lane 76 75.
152 Frankie Minoza (Phi) 77 75, Wei Chih Lu (Tha) 77 75, Johan Axgren (Swe) 79 73, Zhi-Jin Xiao (Tpe) 74 78, Wei-Huang Wu (Tpe) 78 74, Han Lee (USA) 78 74, Amandeep Johl (Ind) 76 76, Angelo Que (Phi) 76 76.
153 Christian Nilsson (Swe) 78 75, Cheng-tsung Pan (Chn) 77 76, Scott Drummond 76 77, Shiv Shankar Prasad Chowrasia (Ind) 73 80.
154 Juvic Pagunsan (Phi) 80 74, Scott Barr (Aus) 82 72, Lei Shang (Tpe) 76 78, Xiao-ma Chen (Chn) 81 73.
155 Shao Guang Zheng (Chn) 78 77, Sven Struver (Ger) 74 81, Richard Finch 77 78, Clay Devers (US) 78 77.
156 Airil Rizman (Mal) 79 77, Ricardo Gonzalez (Arg) 76 80, Anda Liu (Chn) 80 76, Chao Li (Chn) 76 80
157 Yong-Huan Huang (Tpe) 80 77, Matthew Millar (Aus) 79 78, Barry Hume 83 74, Chawalit Plaphol (Tha) 78 79
158 Shu Tao Gu (Chn) 83 75, Zeng Fa Qi (Chn) 77 81, Hao Yuan (Chn) 80 78, Fu-chiang Pan (Chn) 82 76, Danny Chia (Mal) 73 85, Steven O'Hara 80 78
160 Jiang-Feng Ye (Chn) 82 78, Shaun P Webster 83 77, Marc Warren 77 83
162 Lei Gao (Chn) 81 81.
164 Cheng-de Jin (Chn) 84 80, Anton Haig (Rsa) 78 86, Cheng-wei Zhang (Chn) 85 79
168 Yongzong Tan (Chn) 86 82, Jun Cheng (Chn) 82 86.

FERRIER v O'MALLEY AND STEWART
v BREMNER IN SEMI-FINALS
OF BOYS' CHAMPIONSHIP

This afternoon's semi-finals of the Scottish boys' match-play championship at Dunbar Golf Club will feature Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck), the No 2 seed and the only seed to get to the quarter-finals, against William Bremner (Edzell, and Paul Ferrier (Baberton) versus Jeff O'Malley (Newbattle).
Ferrier squeezed through at the 19th in the first quarter-final agaisnt Andrew Campbell (Dumbarton), conqueror of top seed James Byrne (Banchory) yesterday.
In a tight match in which there was never more than a hole in it, Ferrie led momentarily by winning the short third but Campbell square at the next and went one up with a birdie 4 at the ninth. Ferrier squared the contest with a par 4 at the 12th but Campbell regained the lead with a par 4 at the 14th.
The ding-dong battle continued with Ferrier squaring the match at the3 12th and moving one ahead with a birdie 3 at the 13th.
NAIL-BITING HALVES
Campbell was not done with yet. He birdied the 15th to get back on level terms. A series of nail-biting halves followed before Ferrier won with a birdie 4 at the 19th.
Ferrier was level par for the holes played.
O'Malley ended the great run of Germany-based Simon Taylor, the 16-year-old son of the club professional at Nuremberg Golf Club. O'Malley won by 6 and 4 at winning the second, third, foufrth, eighth, 11th and 14th. Sadly, Simon was not able to win a hole.
O'Malley was level par for the 14 holes.
Bremner advanced to the last four with a 2 and 1 win over Scott Clark (Ayr Belleisle). Bremner, who is bound for Illinois and a golf scholarship in the autumn, was never behind in a contest which perhaps swung on the ninth hole. Clark had cut a two-hole deficit to one hole but bogeyed the long ninth which Bremner birdied.
That put the Angus teenager two up and he never looked back after that, going three up at the 10th. Clark won back the 14th with a birdie 3 and the 15th was halved in birdie 3s as Bremner maintained his two-hole lead to the finish.
Bremner, who conceded the seventh, was approximately one over par for the 17 holes.
Stewart was a 5 and 4 winner against Fraser McKenna (Balmore) who birdied the first two holes to be one up on the third tee (Stewart matching his 4 at the second). Stewart squared the contest with a par 3 at the short third and was never behind after that.
The Troon lad went one up with a birdie 3 at the sixth and then won the seventh, eighth, 10th and 11th to take a stranglehold on the tie whcih finished on the 14th green.
Stewart was two under par for the holes played, which amounted to the best scoring of any the four quarter-final winners.

This morning's results

QUARTER-FINALS
Paul Ferrier (Baberton) bt Andrew Campbell (Dumbarton) at 19th.
Jeff O'Malley (Newbattle) bt Simon Taylor (Germany) 6 and 4.
William Bremner (Edzell) bt Scott Clark (Ayr Belleisle) 2 and 1.
Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) bt Fraser McKenna (Balmore) 5 and 4.

Overnight round-up from United States pro tournaments

RICHIE RAMSAY'S 75 IN US PGA

TOUR EVENT AT HILTON HEAD

ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA

United States amateur champion Richie Ramsay from Aberdeen moved on from missing the cut in the Masters last week to score a three-over-par 75 yesterday in the $5,400,000 Verizon Heritage tournament at Harbour Town Golf Links, Hilton Head Island in South Carolina.
The Aberdonian, pictured right, made an excellent start with a birdie at the first but he dropped shots a the third, fifth, sixth and seventh to turn in three-over-par 39.
A birdie at the 12th got him back to two over par but he bogeyed the 13th and 14th in an inward 36 to be lying joint 105th in a field of 130.
At the top of the leaderboard is American Jerry Kelly with a nine-under-par 63, two shots ahead of Ernie Els.
Usually the winner of the Masters misses the "Heritage" but not so with last week's hero, Zach Johnson. He shot a one-under-par 70 to be sharing 20th place.
Richie Ramsay, of course, won't be able to win any of that huge prize fund - he is still an amateur.

SOLID START BY MARTIN LAIRD IN NATIONWIDE
TOUR EVENT

Martin Laird from Glasgow was in joint 19th position at the end of the first round of the inaugural South Georgia Classic, prizemoney $600,000, this week's Nationwide Tour event at Kinderlou Forest Golf Club.
Martin birdied the first, ninth, 17th and 18th, with bogeys at the long fourth and short eighth in halves of 36 and 34 for a satisfactory 70. Former European Tour player Alex Cejka from Germany had a 69 to be sharing 11th place.

Ireland's Keith Nolan had a 76 to be joint 126th.
American Paul Dickinson is two shots clear of the field after a 64.

LAURA SHARING LEAD IN LPGA EVENT

Laura Davies is sharing the lead with Mexico's Lorena Ochoa on six-under-par 66 in the LPGA event at Reunion Resort Club, Orlango - the quaintly named Ginn Open.
Laure had an eagle at the third and birdies at the fifth, 11th, 12th, 13th and 17th in halves of 34 and 32. She dropped only one shot, at the ninth.
Further down the field, Catriona Matthew was lying joint 80th after a 74 which had a birdie at the long 10th but bogeys at the second, 12th and 13th.
Fellow Scot Mhairi McKay had an 75 to be in joint 102nd place. Mhairi birdied the first and 10th but bogeyed the second, 11th and 16th and had a double-bogey 6 at the 13th.

NARROW WIN FOR WEST KILLS
OFF EAST HOPES OF SEVEN
IN A ROW RECORD

By DUNCAN IRELAND
Secretary, Edinburgh & East of Scotland Alliance

Please see below for the results of today's match against the West Alliance at Bruntsfield Links.
We couldn't have a picked a better day but we might have picked a better result as the West's narrow victory (12 1/2-11 1/2) prevented us from winning our seventh match in a row, which would have been a record for the most number of consecutive wins .
Nevertheless, Bruntsfield, as always, did us proud and everyone enjoyed their day.
Can I ask any of you that have decided to resign from the Edinburgh & East Alliance to advise me as soon as possible and not wait for the subscription notices to be sent out.
Last year was a nightmare tryng to find out who was joining and who wasn't. It was a bit unfair on those on the waiting list as some of them didn't get invited until after quite a few events had already been played. Additionally, it will save me some time and more importantly, the Alliance some money.
I'll see you all in October if not before.

Results of today's match:

EDINBURGH ALLIANCE 11 1/2, WEST ALLIANCE 12 1/2
Foursomes (5-3)
Edinburgh names first
Andrew Dunsmore (Deer Park) & Alexander Culverwell (Dunbar) bt S Gray (Hastings) & N Brown (Vale of Leven) 2 and 1.
Scott Grieve (King's Acre) & Steven Doyle (Liberton) lost to W Lockie (North Gailes) & J McDonald (Cowglen) 3 and 2.
Stevie Lamb (unatt) & Andrew Wight (Glencorse) bt D Orr (East Renfrewshire) & C Wedgeworth (Cowglen) 4 and 3.
Neil Colquhoun (Merchants) & G Wither (Lothianburn) bt S Savage (Clydebank Municipal) & J Currie (East Kilbride) 1 hole.
Craig Imlah (Peebles) & Colin Fraser (Peebles) bt C Everett (Caldwell & J Kinloch (Cardross) 2 holes.
Andrew Marshall (Houston DR) & Andrew Rothney (Deer Park) bt B Campbell (Vale of Leven) & A Kent (Troon Welbeck) 2 and 1.
Tom Buchanan (Duddingston) & Scott Walker (Ratho Park) lost to I Robertson (Ayr Belleisle) & P Kinloch (Cardross) 2 and 1.
Craig Lee (All Golf Swing Centre) & John Kerr (Deer Park) lost to to F McLaughlan (Bothwell Castle) & D Houghton (Largs) 1 hole.

PROFESSIONAL SINGLES (3 1/2-4 1/2)
Dunsmore lost to Gray 2 and 1.
Grieve bt Lockie 3 and 1.
Lamb lost to Orr 2 holes.
Colquhoun lost to Savage 2 and 1.
Imlah halved with Everett.
Marshall bt Campbell 3 and 2.
Buchanan lost to Robertson 1 hole.
Lee bt McLaughlan 5 and 4

AMATEUR SINGLES (3-5)
Culverwell lost to Brown 1 hole.
Doyle lost to McDonald 2 and 1.
Wight lost to Wedgeworth 2 and 1.
Wither lost to Currie 4 and 3.
Fraser bt J Kinloch 4 and 2.
Rothney bt Kent 4 and 3.
Walker lost to P Kinloch 4 and 2.
Kerr bt Houghton 2 and 1.

ANNIKA HAS A DISK PROBLEM,

COULD BE OUT OF ACTION

FOR A MONTH

Annika Sorenstam pulled out of the LPGA Tour's Ginn Open today after being told she has a ruptured disk in her back. Sources close to the Swedish world No 1 female golfer say she will be out for at least a month.

It is the first major injury in Sorenstam's 13-year career. She will see a specialist in Miami to determine the next step in her treatment.
"I've been playing with quite a bit of pain for the past several weeks," Sorenstam. "I couldn't take it much more and decided it was time to see someone after the pro-am yesterday. I withdraw with deep regret as the Ginn Open is one of the finest tournaments we have, and it is in my adopted home town of Orlando."
Sorenstam saw a doctor after her pro-am round on Wednesday and was diagnosed with a badly herniated Nucleus Pulposus (ruptured disc) in the C 5-6 area and a Thoracic (bulging disc) in the T 6-7 area.

ELLIOT SURVIVES PLAY-OFF

AS NINE SCOTS ADVANCE TO

EUROPRO FINAL Q SCHOOL

Craigielaw’s Elliot Saltman, the oldest of the three talented Saltman brothers, came through a six-man play-off to be the ninth Scot among the 37 qualifiers at Fulford Golf Club, York today for next week’s PGA EuroPro Tour Final Qualifying School at Frilford Heath Golf Club, Oxfordshire.
Saltman (pictured right), still an amateur, and fellow Scots Craig Matheson, the Falkirk Tryst professional, and Garmouth amateur Steve Mann tied on 152 with three Englishmen after 36 holes.
Saltman scored 75 and 77, Mathieson 77 and 75 and Mann 75 and 77.
Three players had to be eliminated in the play-off. Saltman made it through but Mathieson and Mann did not.
Top Scot at this, one of four Stage 1 qualifying venues, was young Inchmarlo Golf Centre assistant professional Paul Cormack. He scored 68 and 72 for joint second place on four-under-par 140, despite starting his second round with three bogeys.
Cormack earned a cheque for £225 behind the venue winner, Irishman Brendan McCarroll who collected £300 for rounds of 66 and 72 for six-under-par 138.

EYEMOUTH AMATEUR MAKES IT
The other Scots to advance from Fulford were Eyemouth amateur Thomas Higson (68-77) and Ricky Gray (Torrance House) (72-73), both on 145, Alan Lockhart (Ladybank) (74-72) on 146, Alastair Mackenzie (Liberton) (75-74) and Lee Harper (Archerfield Links) (71-78), both on 149, Chris Campbell (Carnegie Club, Skibo Castle) (73-77) on 150, and Ian Simpson (Fulford) on 151 (78-73).
Scots who were eliminated alongwith Mathieson and Mann were Downfield amateur Robert Taylor on 153 (80-73), Carnoustie’s Lee Vannet (76-78) and David Roger (Windyhill) (77-77), both on 154, Balbirnie Park amateur Gary Page (79-76) on 155, amateur Greg Watson on 157 (83-74) and another amateur, Hamish McAndrew (Marriott Dalmahoy) on 163 with 78 and 85.

FULFORD
Leading qualifiers:
136 B McCarroll (Ireland) 66 72.
140 T Maddison (Castle Eden) 67 73, P Cormack (Inchmarlo) 68 72.
Other Scottish qualifiers:
145 T Higson (Eyemouth) (am) 68 77, R Gray (Torrance House) 72 73.
146 A Lockhart (Ladybank) 74 72.
149 A Mackenzie (Liberton) 75 74, L Harper (Archerfield Links) 71 78.
150 C Campbell (Carnegie Club, Skibo) 73 77.
151 I Simpson (Fulford) 78 73.
152 (after play-off) E Saltman (Craigielaw) (am) 75 77.
Scots who failed to qualify:
152 (after play-off) C Mathieson (Falkirk Tryst0 77 75, S Mann (Garmouth) 75 77.
153 R Taylor (Downfield) (am) 80 73./
154 L Vannet (Carnoustie) 76 78, D Roger (Windyhill) 77 77.
155 G Page (Balbirnie Park) (am) 79 76.
157 G Watson (Scotland) (am) 83 74.
163 H McAndrew (Marriott Dalmahoy) (am) 78 75.

Stewart only seed to reach quarter-finals at Dunbar

TITLE FAVOURITE BYRNE

TOPPLED BY DUMBARTON'S
CAMPBELL IN ROUND FIVE

No 1 seed and title favourite James Byrne from Banchory was unexpectedly toppled in this afternoon's fifth-round matches of the Scottish boys' match-play championship at Dunbar Golf Club.
Byrne, pictured right, lost by one hole to Andrew Campbell (Dumbarton) who jumped into a two-hole lead after seven holes and maintained a one-hole lead through the 11th and 14th until the tie was all square on the 18th tee.
Campbell won the last hole and the match and will now play Paul Ferrier (Baberton) in Friday morning's quarter-finals.
Ferrier had a good 6 and 5 win over Ryan Elder from Nairn Dunbar. Ferrie was two up after seven and four up after 11.
FATHER A PRO IN GERMANY
Simon Taylor, whose father Richard is the Nuremberg Golf Club pro, is looking more and more a title candidate with every round. Simon reached the last eight with a one-hole win over Thomas Sharkey (Helensburgh).
Taylor started well and was three up after seven and still three up after 11 holes. Sharkey came back at him to cut the lead to one with one to play. Taylor, 16, the junior champion of Bavaria, was able to halve the 18th for victory.
Jeff O'Malley (Newbattle) beat Paul Shields (Kirkhill) with surprising ease - 7 and 6. Shields had been putting together some good performances but met his match in this one.
Shields now plays Scott Clark (Ayr Belleisle) who was a 2 and 1 winner over Chris Cox (Falkirk). Clark led by two holes through the seventh, 11th and 18th.
Clark now plays William Bremner (Edzell), a 3 and 2 winner over David Currie (Sanquhar). Bremner led by two holes after seven and 11 holes and by four after 14.
Bremner is bound for Illinois in the autumn to take up a golf scholarship at John A Logan College.
No 2 seed Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) - the only seed left in the championship - won by 5 and 5 over Michael Campbell (Buckpool). Stewart took a four-hole stranglehold on the tie after only seven holes.

Stewart's quarter-final opponent will be Fraser McKenna (Balmore) who beat Chris Gaittens (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) by two holes Gaittens had the edge on the outward nine holes but McKenna had squared matters by the 11th and was one up after 14 and 17 holes.

Thursday afternoon results:

FIFTH ROUND
Andrew Campbell (Dumbarton) bt James Byrne (Banchory) 1 hole.
Paul Ferrier (Baberton) bt Ryan Elder (Nairn Dunbar) 6 and 5.

Simon Taylor (Gemany) bt Thomas Sharkey (Helensburgh) 1 hole.
Jeff O'Malley (Newbattle) bt Paul Shields (Kirkhill) 7 and 6.

Scott Clark (Ayr Belleisle) bt Chris Cox (Falkirk) 2 and 1.
William Bremner (Edzell) bt David Currie (Sanquhar) 3 and 2.

Fraser McKenna (Balmore) bt Chris Gaittens (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) 2 holes.
Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) bt Michael Campbell (Buckpool) 5 and 4.

++Scroll down for news of the results of the morning's fourth-round ties at Dunbar.

CELTIC PRO TOUR NAME
MARRIOTT ST PIERRE
FOR CHAMPIONSHIP

The Celtic Pro Tour, the new development golf tour which has grown from last year’s inaugural Dragon Tour, has announced the date and venue of its 2007 Tour Championship.
The 54-hole event will take place over three days on Wednesday 17th, Thursday 18th and Friday 19th of October at the Marriott St Pierre.
“It was imperative that the venue for our first ever tour championship reflected the quality of the tour itself,” said Rhydian Thomas, Celtic Pro Tour’s chief executive. “The Marriott St Pierre is a fantastic course, is well situated and fits in perfectly with our strategy.
“We’d like to thank Director of Golf Ben Laing for showing his faith in us and we look forward to working with him and his colleagues throughout the summer in the lead-up to the championship.”
A new event has been added to the Tour, with the Carmarthen Bay Open taking place at Machynys Peninsula Golf and Country Club on Tuesday 26th and Wednesday 27th June
Professionals who would like to join the Celtic Pro Tour, can still do so. Annual membership to the Tour costs £175, while entry to each of the 36-hole events is £99. Winning prize money at each 36-hole event is guaranteed to be at least £1,000.
Entry to the Tour Championship costs £149 for professionals, with the level of prizemoney increasing to at least £2,000 to the winner.
Contact Rhydian Thomas on 07861 686568 or register online at the website at www.celticpro.co.uk.
Alternatively, cheques can be sent to the Celtic Pro Tour office at 15, Druids Close, Treorchy, RCT, South Wales, CF42 6LJ. Please make cheques payable to Celtic Golf Tours Ltd.
The Celtic Pro Tour comprises three satellite tours – the expanded Dragon Tour which involves 11 tournaments in Wales, and the new Thistle Tour and Shamrock Tour in Scotland and Ireland respectively, each with two events.

GALLACHER (73) BEST OF SCOTS
ON FIRST DAY OF VOLVO
CHINA OPEN

Stephen Gallacher was the only Scot to get anywhere near the par of 72 in the first round of the Volvo China Open at Shanghai Silport Golf Club.
Gallacher, pictured right, had a 73 but Marc Warren had to settle for a 77 while Barry Hume, who plays regularly on the Asian Tour, had another day when he played like a double-figure handicap amateur. Barry marked up an 11-over-par 83.
Unheralded Huang Ming-jie from China provided the sparkle for the local charge when he grabbed the joint first round lead on three-under-par 68 with Raphael Jacquelin of France.
Huang, 26, fired a three-under-par 68 with seven birdies against four dropped shots.
Jacquelin fired five birdies against two bogeys.
Thanks to steady putting, American Gary Rusnak was in lone third position a stroke back while Australia’s Unho Park and Adam Blyth, New Zealander Richard Lee and England’s Yasin Ali were tied fourth, two strokes off the pace.
Also sharing fourth place were local talent Qiu Zhi-feng, Ireland’s Graeme McDowell, South African Richard Sterne, Dutchman Robert Jan-derksen, Chris Hanell and Michael Jonzon of Sweden and Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn.
“It is my first time leading a tournament. I shall keep my pace and hope to play it safe,” said Huang, who is making his third Volvo China Open appearance.
Huang did not have the best of starts with bogeys in the first three holes. He recovered with a birdie on the fifth before dropping another shot on the sixth hole. He bounced back with birdies on the eighth and ninth holes before firing four more birdies on the back nine.
UNSTEADY START
“I was not really steady in the first few holes. I saw the results from the morning session players and it was not good at all. I then targeted to finish one over, so I am very happy to finish at three under,” said Huang, who turned professional in 2003. The Sichuan-born talent was ranked fourth on the domestic circuit last season. He was also the 2001 China Amateur Open winner.
Jacquelin, a winner on the European Tour, adjusted well to the gusting winds at Shanghai Silport as he breezed through the front nine with three birdies. Two more birdies against an equal number of bogeys on his inward nine steered him to the top of the leaderboard alongside Huang.
“I am very pleased with my result. I worked on the putting green and it feels pretty good. I missed two short putts at the end, but on a day like this, it is hard to play without any mistakes,” said the 32-year-old Frenchman, who finished runner-up in Portugal two weeks ago.
“I am okay in the wind. I can manage the ball and hit it low so it is all right for me. The wind is not as strong today as it was in Portugal, The wind is a bit more across here. If the wind gets any stronger the greens will get very difficult. They are superb at the moment but will dry out. I hope it stays like this,” he added.
With five birdies against a bogey and a double bogey, American Rusnak believes that his performance in the opening round was a reflection of his hard work on the putting green the past two weeks.
“I’ve been working on my putting really hard and it paid off today. I putted poorly this year and it’s good to see one good putting round. I’ve been near the top after the first round many times, it’s just the start, nothing more,” said Rusnak.
“I had 23 putts today. I started on the back nine with six one-putt greens in a row. On the par-3 sixth hole, I almost made a hole in one. I hit the stick with me tee shot,” he added.
England’s Simon Dyson retired due to food poisoning on Tuesday.

FIRST-ROUND LEADERS
Par 72
68 Raphael Jacquelin (Fra), Huang Ming-jie (Chi).
69 Gary Rusnak (US).
70 Richard Lee (NZ), Qiu Zhi-feng (Chi), Unho Park (Aus), Robert-Jan Derksen (Net), Chris Hanell (Swe), Thomas Bjorn (Den), Richard Sterne (SAf), Graeme McDowell (NIr), Yasin Ali (Eng), Adam Blyth (Aus), Michael Jonzon (Swe).
71 Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (Spa), Keith Horne (SAf), Garry Houston (Wal), Maarten Lafeber (Net), Damien Mcgrane (Ire), Andres Romero (Arg), Thongchai Jaidee (Tha), Prayad Marksaeng (Tha), Marcel Siem (Ger), Scott Hend (Aus), James Kingston (SAf), Edward Loar (US).
72 Peter Hanson (Swe), Andrew Mclardy (SAf), Steven Jeppesen (Swe), Kane Webber (Aus), Brett Rumford (Aus), Peter Lawrie (Ire), Markus Brier (Aut), Prom Meesawat (Tha), Soren Kjeldsen (Den), Jason Knutzon (US), Gary Emerson (Eng), David Griffiths (Eng), Shiv Kapur (Ind), Mark Pilkington (Wal).
Scots' scores:
73 Stephen Gallacher.
77 Marc Warren.
83 Barry Hume.

Day 4 Scottish boys' match-play championship at Dunbar

HAZLEHEAD'S BOY DAVID

TAKES "GOLIATH"

MICHAEL STEWART

TO 20th HOLE

First and second seeds James Byrne from Banchory and Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck), the only survivors of the eight seeds in the first-round draw, claimed their places in the last 16 of the Scottish boys' match-play championship at Dunbar Golf Club today.

No tie at this level is "easy" as such but Byrne seemed to have few worries in chalking up a 5 and 4 fourth-round win over Jack Bradley from Paisley.
It was a different story for his Scotland international team-mate Michael Stewart (pictured right), who was taken to the 20th hole before winning against little-known David Law from the Hazlehead municipal course in Aberdeen.

Stewart was one up after seven and two up after both 11 and 14 holes. But the Boy David hung on in there to be only one down on the 18th tee. He won the last hole to take the tie into extra holes, of which two were necessary before Stewart prevailed. Michael now plays Highlander Michael Campbell from Buckpool for a place in the quarter-finals.
James Byrne - a semi-finalist 12 months ago in this championship - plays Andrew Campbell (Dumbarton) who also won by 5 and 4 against Gary Meechan (Dullatur).
North hope Ryan Elder (Nairn Dunbar) continued his run of good form with a two-hole win over Malcolm Pennycott (Whiting Bay) from south of the Border.
Simon Taylor, the 16-year-old junior champion of Bavaria and son of Dundee-born professional Richard Taylor at Nuremberg Golf Club, won his tie by 2 and 1 over Darryn Grant (Renfrew) after being pulled back to all square after 14 holes.
The good run by North Berwick professional David Huish's son Oliver is over. He went down by 3 and 2 to Paul Shields (Kirkhill), winner of the first SGU Junior Tour event a couple of weeks back.
Today's results:
FOURTH ROUND
First quarter
Andrew Campbell (Dumbarton) bt Gary Meechan (Dullatur) 5 and 4.
James Byrne (Banchory) bt Jack Bradley (Paisley) 5 and 4.
Ryan Elder (Nairn Dunbar) bt Malcolm Pennycott (Whiting Bay) 2 holes.
Paul Ferrier (Baberton) bt Darryn Grant (Renfrew) 3 and 2.
Second quarter
Simon Taylor (Germany) bt Josh Andereson (Glenrothes) 2 and 1.
Thomas Sharkey (Helensburgh) bt Mark Dixon (Gullane) 2 and 1.
Jeff O'Malley (Newbattle) bt Neil Henderson (The Glen) at 19th.
Paul Shields (Kirkhill) bt Oliver Huish (The Glen) 3 and 2.
Third quarter
Chris Cox (Falkirk) bt Neil Beattie (St Andrews) 3 and 2.
Scott Clark (Ayr Belleisle) bt Roddy Forgie (Muckhart) 4 and 3.
David Currie (Sanquhar) bt Finlay mcAndrew (Dalmahoy) at 19th.
William Bremner (Edzell) bt Kristopher Harper (Carnoustie) 2 and 1.
Fourth quarter
Chris Gaittens (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) bt Mark Kelly (Kirkhill) 3 and 2.
Fraser McKenna (Balmore) bt Daniel Young (Craigie Hill) 1 hole.
Michael Campbell (Buckpool) bt Mark Bonas (Pumpherston) 3 and 2.
Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) bt David Law (Hazlehead) at 20th.

BO'NESS STUDENT SIXTH IN NORTH CAROLINA

Brevard College, North Carolina team-mates Myles Johnston from Bo'ness and Craig Galloway from West Lothian finished joint sixth and 31st respectively in the Independent Collegiate Invitational golf tournament at Etowah Valley Country Club, North Carolina.
Johnston scored 74 and 78 for 152 - five shots behind the winner, Scott Woodard (Mount Olive College) (74-73).
Galloway shot 88 and 82 for 170.
A third Brevard College student, Grant Carnie from Ellon, Aberdeenshire, finished tied 14th on 159 with 79 and 80.
Brevard College (617) finished third in the team event behind Mount Olive College (606) and Carson-Newman College (607) in a field of seven.

Overnight United States college round-up

LAST-ROUND DOUBLE BOGEYS FOR JORDAN

Fraserburgh’s Jordan Findlay (East Tennessee State University) finished joint 62nd in a field of 76 after a disappointing final round of nine-over-par 81 for a total of 234 in the United States Collegiate championship at the Golf Club of Georgia, Alpharetta.
Findlay had birdies at the first, second and fourth but had double-bogey 5s at both the short third and sixth holes in halves of 40 and 41.
Walker Cup player Rhys Davies, a team-mate of Findlay’s finished joint eighth on 221 even though he including a double-bogey 6 at the fourth in compiling a six-birdie final round of 72.
Webb Simpson (Wake Forest) was the individual winner by three strokes with 72, 72 and 71 for one-under-par 215.
LEADING INDIVIDUAL TOTALS
215 Webb Simpson (Wake Forest) 72 72 71.
218 Hudson Swafford (Georgia) 74 72 72.
Other British & Irish student totals:
221 Rhys Davies (East Tennessee State) 76 73 72 (jt 8th).
224 Seamus Power (East Tennessee State) 75 78 71, Ben Taylor (Georgia State) 73 73 78 (jt 16th).
225 Tom Sherreard (Georgia State) 77 75 73.
227 Pablo Martin (Oklahoma State) 75 75 77 (jt 30th).
234 Jordan Findlay (East Tennessee State) 77 76 81 (jt 62nd).
235 Farren Keenan (Texas) 78 79 78 (jt 64th).
236 Cian McNamara (East Tennessee State) 81 78 77 (jt 68th).
LEADING TEAM TOTALS
884 Georgia. 892 UCLA. 894 Wake Forest. Other total: 899 East Tennessee State (7th of 15).

KATE 22nd IN BIG SOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP

Kate O’Sullivan (High Point University) from Paisley finished 22nd in a field of 40 for the Big South Women’s Championship college tournament at Coosaw Creek Golf Club, Charleston in South Carolina.
Kate had scores of 86, 81 and 76 for a total of 243.
Kate’s Irish team-mate AnnMarie Dalton tied for sixth place on 231 with scores of 81, 73 and 77.
Olivia Higgings (Charleston Southern) from the Channel Islands came ninth on 232 with 80, 75 and 77 for 232.
A third High Point student, Jenna Kinnear from Belfast, scored 85, 86 and 86 for 257.
Jill Stupianski (Birmingham Southern Universty) won by six strokes with scores of 76, 70 and 72 for 218.
LEADING INDIVIDUAL TOTALS
218 Jill Stupianski (Birmingham Southern) 76 70 72.
224 Araceli Felgueroso (Coastal Carolina) 76 77 71.
Other British & Irish student totals:
231 AnnMarie Dalton (High Point) 81 73 77 (jt 6th).
232 Olivia Higgins (Charleston Southern) 80 75 77 (9th).
243 Kate O’Sullivan (High Point) 86 81 76 (22nd).
257 Jenna Kinnear (High Point) 85 86 86 (29th).
LEADING TEAM TOTALS
897 Birmingham Southern. 911 Coastal Carolina. Other total: 968 High Point (5th of 8).

LUCY FINISHES SIXTH IN NORTH CAROLINA

Former Welsh girls champion Lucy Gould (East Tennessee State) finished sixth in the Atlantic Sun Women’s Conference Championship over the Keith Hills No 1 course at Buies Creek, North Carolina.
Lucy scored 77, 76 and 77 for a total of 230 over the par-72, 6,012yd course. Team-mate and Irish international Sinead O'Sullivan finished joint 23rd in the final of 40 with scores of 80, 82 and 78 for 240.
Alejandra Shaw (Campbell University) won by the staggering margin of 14 strokes with scores of 73, 69 and 70 for four-under-par 212.
LEADING INDIVIDUAL TOTALS
212 Alejandra Shaw (Campbell University) 73 69 70.
226 Laura Jansone (East Tennessee State) 77 75 74.
Othere British & Irish student totals:
230 Lucy Gould (East Tennessee State) 77 76 77 (6th).
240 Sinead O'Sullivan (East Tennessee State) 80 82 78 (jt 23rd).
LEADING TEAM TOTALS
879 Campbell. 928 East Tennessee State. 929 Mercer. 934 Stetson. 948 Jacksonville.

CRAIG RETURNS TO CONQUER IN
MIDLAND ALLIANCE

Professional Steve Craig returned from his new post in Germany to win the Midland Golfers' Alliance final meeting of the 2006-2007 season, The Rennies of Dunfermline championship, at Scotscraig Golf Club, Fife.
Steve won it in style with superb scores of 71 and 68 for three-under-par 139. Runner-up, two shots behind Craig, was Braehead professional Jamie Stevenson.
Winner of the handicap prize was Derek Adams (Carnoustie) with a net score of 138 off a handicap of five.

LEADING SCRATCH

139 S Craig (Paragon Frankfurt) p 71 68.
141 J Stevenson (Braehead) p.
143 K McGowan (Burntisland) ap.
144 S Rettie (Royal Troon) ap.
146 A Crerar (King James VI) p.
147 R. Walker (The Dukes) p.
148 D McKay (Wellsgreen) p, D Adams (Carnoustie).
149 E Walker (Burntisland) ap.
150 M Rae (Alyth) ap.
151 A Caira (Kirkcaldy) p.
152 B Mason (Drumoig) p.
153 S Smith (Ladybank) p, K Rattray (Ladybank).
154 R Stewart (Tulliallan).
157 K. Esson (Craigie Hill) p.
159, L. Cargill (Arbroath), J Irwin (Muckhart), L Sutherland (Ballumbie Castle) p.

LEADING HANDICAP

138 D Adams (Carnoustie) (5).
143 J Irwin (Muckhart) (8).
149 K Rattray (Ladybank) (2).
150, R. Stewart (Tulliallan) (2).
151 L Cargill (Arbroath) (4).
153 R Ford (Scotscraig) (4).
154 M Fraser (Leven Thistle) (4).

NO DOUBTING THOMAS – HE’S UP
WITH FULFORD LEADERS ON MERIT

“Unknown” Eyemouth amateur Thomas Higson jumped into the golfing spotlight with a stunning round of four-under-par 68 in the first round of the PGA EuroPro Tour Qualifying School Stage 1 event at Fulford Golf Club, York.
Higson had birdies at the second, sixth, seventh, 11th, 14th and 18 and could afford the luxury of a double-bogey 6 at the 13th in halves of 33 (three under par) and 35 (one under).
For much of the day, Higson was three shots clear of the field. Then Irish professional Brendan McCarroll from Ballyliffin came in with a 66 to take over the pole position and Tom Maddison (Castle Eden) squeezed into second spot with a 67.
Another Scot, Paul Cormack from Banchory, where he is an assistant professional at the Inchmarlo Golf Centre, later joined Higson in third place on 68.
Cormack shrugged off a bogey at the first hole with birdies at the third, sixth and 11th before he dropped his only other shot a the 13th. Paul staged a grandstand finish with a birdie at the 17th and an eagle 3 at the 480yd 18th for 33 home.
ELLIOT SALTMAN BAD RUN
A better known Scottish amateur than Higson, Elliot Saltman from the Craigielaw club might well have been up there among the leaders but for a run of three holes which saw him not so much drop as cascade seven shots to par.
Elliot bogeyed the 13th, ran up a quadruple-bogey 7 at the short 14th and then a double bogey 6 at the 15th.
Incredibly the oldest of the three talented Saltman brothers escaped with a three-over-par 75, thanks to birdies at the eighth, 10th, 11th, 16th, 17th and 18th in halves of 37 and 38.
There are four PGA EuroPro Tour Q School Stage 1 events over 36 holes, the others taking place at Stoke by Nayland (Colchester), Beau Desert (Cannock) and The Bedford.
Leading scores
(all at par-72 venues):
FULFORD
66 B McCarroll (Ballyliffin).
67 T Maddison (Castle Eden).
68 T Higson (Eyemouth) (am), P Cormack (Inchmarlo).
71 M Stubbings (Dinsdale Spa), B O’Dell (Henley) (am), L Harper (Archerfield).
Other scores
72 R Gray (Torrance House).
73 C Campbell (Carnegie Club).
74 A Lockhart (Ladybank).
75 S Mann (Garmouth) (am), E Saltman (Craigielaw) (am), A Mackenzie (Liberton).
76 L Vannet (Carnoustie).
77 C Matheson (Falkirk Tryst), D Roger (Windyhill).
78 H McAndrew (Marriott Dalmahoy) (am),I Simpson (Fulford).
79 G Page (Balbirnie Park) (am).
80 R Taylor (Downfield) (am).
83 G Watson (Scotland) (am).

THE BEDFORD
69 C Benians (England).
70 A Hay (Royal Winchester), S Cousins (England), P Coburn (Sandy Lodge), R Jones (Woodcote Park) (am), C Bowler (Southfield), J Corfield (Bearwood Lakes), P Ramirez (Spain), R Bury (East Sussex National), D Perez (Peterborough Milton).
Other score:
82 A Barton (Cowal) (am).

Scottish boys' match-play championship at Dunbar

TWO SEEDS, BYRNE AND

STEWART, MAKE IT

THROUGH TO LAST 32

Only two of the original eight seeded players, Banchory's James Byrne and Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck), made it through to the last 32 by the end of a long third day's play in the Scottish boys' match-play championship at a much calmer Dunbar.
Earlier, the number of surviving seeds was trimmed from three to two on the afternoon when Kyle Smith (Barassie) was beaten in the third round by Germany-based Simon Taylor who won by 5 and 4.

Top seed and title-favourite James Byrne cruised through to the fourth round with a 6 and 5 win over Jonathan Caldwell (Greenock).

Byrne, pictured right, reached the semi-finals last year.

Michael Stewart, the No 2 seed, had to play twice today to get into the last 32 but he did so without being really stretched.

Here's how they line up on Thursday:

First quarter

Gary Meechan v Andrew Campbell.

James Byrne v Jack Bradley.
Ryan Elder v Malcolm Pennycott.

Paul Ferrier v Darryn Grant.

Second quarter

Simon Taylor v Josh Anderson.

Thomas Sharkey v Mark Dickson

Jeff O'Malley v Neil Henderson.

Paul Shields v Oliver Huish.

Third quarter

Neil Beattie v Chris Cox.

Roddy Forgie v Scott Clark.

David Currie v Finlay McAndrew.

William Bremner v Kristopher Harper.

Fourth quarter

Mark Kelly v Chris Gaittens.

Fraser McKenna v Daniel Young.

Michael Campbell v Mark Bonas.

Michael Stewart v David Law.

Results:

THIRD ROUND

First quarter

G Meechan (Dullatur) bt P Neil (Craigielaw) 1 hole.

A Campbell (Dumbarton) bt G Richards (Kingsknowe) 3 and 2.

J Byrne (Banchory) bt J Caldwell (Greenock) 6 and 5.

J Bradley (Paisley) bt J Meechan (Dullatur) 2 and 1.

R Elder (Nairn Dunbar) bt D Ibbotson (Murcar Links) 5 and 4.
M Pennycott (Whiting Bay) bt B Munro (Thurso) 3 and 2.

P Ferrier (Baberton) bt A Potts (Berwick upon Tweed) 4 and 3.

D Grant (Renfrew) bt R Dziennik (Leven Thistle) 2 and 1.

Second quarter

S Taylor (Germany) bt K Smith (Barassie) 5 and 4.

J Anderson (Glenrothes) bt B Jamieson (St Andrews New) 1 hole.

T Sharkey (Helensburgh) bt J McColl (Arbroth Artisans) 5 and 3.

M Dickson (Gullane) bt A MacLennan (Dunfermline) 6 and 5.
J O'Malley (Newbattle) bt D Currie (Barassie) at 19th

N Henderson (The Glen) bt G Ronald (Pumpherston) 6 and 5.

P Shields (Kirkhill) bt M McGinley (Eastwood) 1 hole.
O Huish (The Glen) bt C Ruane (Cardross) 4 and 2.

Third quarter

N Beattie (St Andrews) bt T Blennerhassett (Dalmahoy) 4 and 3.

C Cox (Falkirk) bt S Thompson (St Andrews) 1 hole.

R Forgie (Muckhart) bt G Young (Baberton) 2 and 1.

S Clark (Ayr Belleisle) bt A Baillie (Elgin) 3 and 1.

D Currie (Sanquhar) bt A McLachlan (Eastwood) 3 and 1.
F McAndrew (Dalmahoy) bt D Mellon (Carnoustie) 3 and 1.

W Bremner (Edzell) bt M Bell (King James VI) 3 and 2.

K Harper (Carnoustie) bt S Barras (Helensburgh) 3 and 1.

Fourth quarter

M Kelly (Kirkhill) bt C Thompson (Peterhead) 1 hole.

C Gaittens (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) bt A Foley (Ayr Belleisle) 5 and 4.

F McKenna (Balmore) bt M Cunningham (Longniddry) 2 holes.

D Young (Craigie Hill) bt C Baird (Bothwell Castle) 1 hole.

M Campbell (Buckpool) bt G Caldwell (Greenock) 1 hole.

M Bonas (Pumpherston) bt D Fitzpatrick (Greenock) 1 hole.

M Stewart (Troon Welbeck) bt E Brown (Barassie) 4 and 3.

D Law (Hazlehead) bt C Corbett (Dumfries & Galloway) 1 hole.

++Scroll down for earlier news and second round results at Dunbar.

Huge Algarve investment by Oceanico Developments

ENGLISHMAN, IRISHMAN BUY
VILAMOURA'S FIVE COURSES
FOR 125million EUROS

Just three years after deciding to expand their flourishing beach resorts company into golf resorts, Simon Burgess and Gerry Fagan now own arguably Europe’s greatest and finest portfolio of golf courses.
The two men, who, in an equally short time, built Oceanico Developments into Portugal’s leading leisure real estate company, have acquired the Algarve’s golfing crown jewels from Andre Jordan and his Lusotor Golfes company – Vilamoura’s famed five golf courses:
1 Victoria, the newest of the five, designed by Arnold Palmer, which has already hosted the World Cup.
2 The Old Course.
3 Pinhal.
4 Laguna.
5 Millennium.
Cheshire-born Burgess and Irishman Fagan from Drogheda are also the driving force behind the new two-course Amendoeira Golf Resort taking shape at Silves to the west of Vilamoura.
One of the Amendoeira courses is being designed by Nick Faldo and the other by Christy O’Connor junior. Both courses are scheduled for completion by the summer of next year.
Oceanico also own a golf course at Obidos, 45 miles north of Lisbon and two more on the Azores in partnership with the Siram Group.
“Vilamoura is a flagship golf resort for Europe,” said Fagan at a Press Conference where he announced that the Oceanico Group had paid 125 million Euros to add the five Vilamoura courses to their portfolio.
Asked how the group intended to get a return on such a substantial investment, Mr Fagan said that the Vilamoura courses produced a combined profit of 6 million Euros from visitors’ green fees in 2006 when a total of 214,000 rounds were played on the five courses – a growth of 11.5% compared with 2005.
LANDSCAPED GARDENS
“That’s a good return and in the future we will be able to marry the synergy with the other golf courses we own at Silves, Obidos and the Azores,” he said.
Oceanico plans to build the Vilamoura Golf &^ Garden Resorrt, a real estate resort of 170 acres on beautifully landscaped gardens.
The project includes 702 units of low density and high quality, offering golf-playing rights to buyers. It is also possible that a luxury hotel or hotels will be included in the group’s plans.
“Clients buying property though Oceanico at Amendoeira and the Vilamoura Golf & Garden Resort will have a title for membership to all seven courses we own on the Algarve,” said Mr Fagan.

GORDON McKIE APPOINTED HEAD

GREENKEEPER OF OLD
COURSE AT ST ANDREWS

Gordon McKie, born in Glasgow but brought up in Tain, Ross-shire, has been appointed head greenkeeper of the Old Course at St Andrews.
Gordon, pictured right (image courtesy of St Andrews Links Trust), began his career with an apprenticeship at Tain Golf Club. He studied at Elmwood College, Cupar and became deputy head greenkeeper at Tain in 1989.
He joined the St Andrews Links Trust greenkeeping staff in December 1995 as deputy head greenkeeper of the Eden Course.
Five years later he became head man before moving to the St Andrews new Course as head greenkeeper in January 2005.
Gordon is married to Susan and they have one son, five-year-old Ross.
His immediate task at the Old Course is to continue preparations for the venerable links to be in tip-top condition for the Weetabix Women’s British Open in August and – further ahead – the Curtis Cup match in the summer of 2008, following by the Open championship in 2010.
Gordon takes over from Euan Grant who is moving to a similar role at the development of a new course at Machrihanish on the Mull of Kintyre.
Having worked for the St Andrews Links Trust for 12 years, Gordon said he was very proud to be taking over at the Old Course.

BENCHMARK FOR WORLD'S LINKS COURSES
“It is a privilege to work on the most famous golf course in the world,” he said. “The history and tradition surrounding the Old Course makes it unique and it is continually under the glare of the international media spotlight. I am very much looking forward to maintaining the exceptionally high standard of the course and ensuring it continues to set the benchmark for links courses around the world.
Alan McGregor, general manager of St Andrews Links Trust, said: “There is no doubt that this is one of the most challenging and demanding greenkeeping roles in golf and in Gordon I am confident that we have someone who is more than up to the task. With his skills and experience

EUROPRO TOUR EVENT SWITCH
FROM THE CARRICK TO
MACDONALD CARDRONA

The PGA EuroPro Tour event scheduled for The Carrick at Cameron House, the new course on the banks of Loch Lomond, has been switched to the MacDonald Cardrona course near Peebles.
The dates for the 54-hole event remain the same - May 23 to 25.
Work on the facililities at the new Carrick course will not be completed in time to host a tournament near the end of May.
Ian Gray, general manager at the Macdonald Golf Hotel Golf & Country Club, said: "We are delighted to be hosting the PGA EuroPro Tour at the Macdonald Cardrona. It is a highly prestigious event and we are sure the players will enjoy playing on our fantastic course, which is fast gaining a reputation as one of the leading resort courses in Scotland.
"This is one of a number of significant golfing events set to take place at Cardrona in 2007 - so it's shaping up to be an exciting year."
CLUBHOUSE AND SPA NOT READY IN TIME
PGA EuroPro Tour Operations Manager Danny Nickless said: "Whilst it was obviously very disappointing that the Carrick at Cameron House would not be ready, it is great that the Macdonald Cardrona will be able to stage this event.
"Scotland has a fantastic golfing heritage and it was our aim to maintain a presence in the country this year.
"The Macdonald Cardrona is in a superb setting and it should be an excellent test for players on the PGA EuroPro Tour."
Alan Tait, the Head Golf Professional at the Carrick at Cameron House, said: "We felt it was in the best interests of the PGA EuroPro Tour to postpone this event until 2008.
"Although the golf course is ready for play, the clubhouse and spa would not be ready in time to stage this event.
"I would not wish for my fellow Golf Professionals to come to this world class facility when there will be a limited service available.
"The Carrick is a stunning golf course with a resort to match, but personally feel we would be doing the PGA EuroPro Tour, and everyone involved with The Carrick, an injustice, for the tournament to go ahead with a limited facility.
"We are however looking forward to staging a PGA EuroPro Tour event in 2008 and look forward to welcoming the tour then."

EDZELL'S BREMNER BEATS GIANT-KILLER
TREASURER FROM INVERNESS

Jamie Treasurer from Inverness, conqueror of the seeded Scottish Under-16 champion Sam McLaren (King James VI) on Tuesday, was himself cut down to size in today's second-round matches of the Scottish boys' match-play championship at Dunbar Golf Club.
Treasurer was beaten 6 and 5 by William Bremner (Edzell).
Oliver Huish, son of the North Berwick professional David, chalked up his second win at the expense of Aberdeen-born William Russell, 16-year-old men's club champion at The Duke's GC, St Andrews.
Oliver, watched by his dad, won by two holes after jumping into three-hole lead after only four holes.
Biggest win of the morning ties was achieved by Chris Gaittens from the Fortrose & Rosemarkie club on the Black Isle, north of Inverness. Chris won by 7 and 6 over Stephen MacKinnon (Tantallon).
Today's results:

SECOND ROUND

J McColl (Arbroath Artisans) bt A Steven (Easter Moffat) 2 and 1.
T Sharkey (Helensburgh) bt C Wyper (Hayston) 2 holes.
A McLennan (Dunfermline) bt M Mackenzie (Forfar) at 19th.
M Dickson (Gullane) bt S Ballingall (Dunston Hall) 1 hole.
J O’Malley (Newbattle) bt L Muir (Longniddry) 5 and 4.
D Currie (Barassie) bt E McLaren (Dumfries & Galloway) 5 and 3.
G Ronald (Pumpherston) bt R Murray (Crieff) 2 and 1.
N Henderson (The Glen) bt R Docherty (Bearsden) 3 and 2.
P Shields (Kirkhill) bt R Corrigan (Airdrie) 5 and 4.
M McGinley (Eastwood) bt J Yule (Craigmillar Park) 7 and 5.
C Ruane (Cardross) bt M McNally (Monifieth) 1 hole.
O Huish (The Glen) bt W Russell (The Dukes) 2 holes.
N Beattie (St Andrews) bt J Thow (Crieff) 2 and 1.
T Blennerhassett (Dalmahoy) bt I Young (Vale of Leven) 2 and 1.
S Thompson (St Andrews) bt K McClung (Wigtownshire Co) 4 and 3.
C Cox (Falkirk) bt A Sweeney (Carnoustie) 2 holes.
J Coyne (Cowglen) bt G Young (Baberton) 1 hole.
R Forgie (Muckhart) bt D Leck (Ralston) at 20th.
A Baillie (Elgin) bt A Murray (Buchanan Castle) 4 and 3.
S Clark (Ayr Belleisle) bt S Roberts (Cathcart Castle) 1 hole.
D Currie (Sanquhar) bt F Monteith (Longniddry) 3 and 2.
A McLachlan (Eastwood) bt S Brown (Turnberry) 3 and 1.
F McAndrew (Dalmahoy) bt J Thorburn (Forrester Park) 4 and 3.
D Mellon (Carnoustie) bt S Gordon (The Glen) 2 and 1.
M Bell (King James VI) bt K Kilroy (Cawder) 2 and 1.
W Bremner (Edzell) bt J Treasurer (Loch Ness) 6 and 5.
K Harper (Carnoustie) bt C Bone (Cardross) 3 and 2.
S Barras (Helensburgh) bt C Thomson (Inchmarlo) 2 and 1.
C Thomson (Peterhead) bt A Munro (Baberton) 2 and 1.
M Kelly (Kirkhill) bt C Robb (Inchmarlo) 1 hole.
C Gaittens (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) bt M Scanlan (Greenock) 7 and 6.
A Foley (Ayr Belleisle) bt S MacKinnon (Tantallon) 1 hole.
M Cunningham (Longniddry) bt D Parlane (Helensburgh) 6 and 5.
F McKenna (Balmore) bt S Smith (Dalmahoy) 2 and 1.
C Baird (Bothwell Castle) bt P Mackay (Auchterarder) 2 holes.
D Young (Craigie Hill) bt R Herries (Wigtown & Bladnoch) 7 and 6.
G Caldwell (Greenock) bt D MacAndrew (Royal Aberdeen) 2 and 1.
M Campbell (Buckpool) bt J Scott (Deeside) 1 hole.
M Bonas (Pumpherston) bt J Henry (Clydebank & Dist) 4 and 3.
D Fitzpatrick (Greenock) bt T Martin (Haggs Castle) at 20th.
E Brown (Barassie) bt M Murphy (Cawder) 6 and 5.
M Stewart (Troon Welbeck) bt M Daily (Erskine) 4 and 3.
C Corbett (Dumfries & Galloway) bt S McLean (Duddingston) 1 hole.
D Law (Hazlehead) bt A Gardner (Radyr) 7 and 5.
END SECOND ROUND

FLORIDA-BASED JACKLIN
(62) COMING OVER FOR
LONDON SENIORS

The Bendinat Group, which recently agreed to extend its title sponsorship of the London Seniors Masters for a third year, has received an unexpected return on its investment with the announcement that former Open and US Open champion Tony Jacklin, Europe’s most successful Ryder Cup captain, will make his golfing comeback in the event at the London Golf Club, Kent from June 22-24.
The inclusion in the field of the two-time Major champion is guaranteed to generate considerable interest amongst spectators eager to see one of Britain’s greatest post-war golfers in competitive action for the first time since the Open Championship at St Andrews in 2005.
Jacklin’s last appearance on the European Seniors Tour was some three years earlier and the 62 year old is looking forward to making his comeback in this year’s Bendinat London Seniors Masters, where he is expected to line-up against another former Ryder Cup Captain in Sam Torrance.
Speaking from his home in Florida, Jacklin said: “I recall opening The London Golf Club with Jack Nicklaus and Seve Ballesteros so it will be lovely to go back there and play the course in a competitive format for the Bendinat London Seniors Masters.
“I always look forward to returning to England as it is my home and very dear to my heart. I plan to come over for three tournaments this year – the Open, the Senior Open and the London Seniors Masters.”
The Bendinat Group, which has a luxury property portfolio focusing on the magnificent Bendinat Estate in Majorca, is a keen supporter of golf both in Majorca at its own exclusive club, the Real Golf de Bendinat and in England through The London Golf Club, which the Group acquired in 2003.
RYDER CUP FLAVOUR
The Ryder Cup flavour to this year’s event at the London Golf Club will be further enhanced by the inclusion in the 72 man field of Costantino Rocca, Italy’s most decorated golfer.
Rocca, who joined the Seniors Tour on his 50th birthday last December following a hugely successful career on the European Tour during which he won five times, is the only Italian to have played in the Ryder Cup, having featured in 1993 plus the winning European teams of 1995 and 1997.
And like Jacklin, Rocca will be greeted by a number of familiar faces including compatriot and defending champion Giuseppe Cali.
Cali produced the best come-from-behind victory of the season to capture the 2006 Bendinat London Seniors Masters, making up a seven-stroke deficit in the final round before lifting the title after extra holes.
The 2007 tournament will once again carry a prize fund of £150,000 and be played over 54 holes on the immaculately conditioned Heritage Course, designed by Jack Nicklaus.

ZACH JOHNSON QUALIFIES FOR
A SHOT AT THE HSBC WORLD
MATCH-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP

Zach Johnson's win in the US Masters has secured his chance to play for £1 million - the richest first prize in golf - at the 2007 HSBC World Match-Play Championship.
Sunday's Augusta win takes him to the top of the 2007 HSBC Major Championships Ranking which guarantees his qualification along with defending champion Paul Casey and world No 1 Tiger Woods.
The HSBC World Match-Play Championship will take place at the Wentworth Club from October 11-14 October.
Johnson carded a final round 69 to finish two ahead of Retief Goosen, Rory Sabbatini and Tiger Woods, and three clear of England's Justin Rose.
Qualification for the HSBC World Match-Play Championship will be decided after the US PGA Championship in August.
The leading 10 players on the 2007 HSBC Major Championships Ranking automatically qualify for the 16-man field.
Total prize money will be £2,440,000 with all matches being decided over 36 holes.
For more information on the qualification criteria for the HSBC World Match-Play Championship, please visit www.hsbcgolf.com

European Tour Press Release

ONE MILLION EURO BONUS FOR
WINNER OF IRISH OPEN AND
BMW PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

Players competing in the Irish Open and the BMW PGA Championship in successive weeks next month have been handed a unique incentive to capture both those prestigious titles – a bonus of one million Euro.
That is the tempting prize on offer to anyone who achieves the feat of winning the Irish Open at Adare Manor Hotel & Golf Resort in Co. Limerick, Ireland, from May 17-20, then follows up by claiming the BMW PGA Championship crown at Wentworth Club, Surrey from May 24-27.
The initiative, conceived by Tom Kane, proprietor of Adare Manor Hotel & Golf Resort, and endorsed by BMW and the European Tour, means that the golfer who can complete this unique double will win a grand total of Euro 2,141,660.
A first prize of Euro 416,660 is on offer to the winner of the Irish Open while the winner’s cheque at the BMW PGA Championship amounts to Euro 725,000, with the Euro 1 million bonus awarded if the same player wins both titles.
No-one has previously won the two titles back to back – the tournaments have historically been played in different months – but three legends of the game, Seve Ballesteros (1983), Bernhard Langer (1987) and Ian Woosnam (1988) have all captured the titles in the same season while other luminaries such as Nick Faldo, Colin Montgomerie and José Maria Olazábal have won both events but in different years.
Tom Kane said: “The Irish Open at Adare Manor is delighted to be the driver behind this unique €1 million bonus prize on offer to a golfer who can win both these great events.
“I have no doubt that this bonus prize fund will help encourage even more of the world’s top players to participate at Adare Manor from May 17-20 and it would give me no greater pleasure than to see our Irish Open champion make the trip to Wentworth the following week and capture the €1million bonus prize.
“I am delighted that we now have in place a mutually beneficial association with an event as prestigious as the BMW PGA Championship and I firmly believe it reinforces our commitment to creating a new and improved brand for the Irish Open.”

St Andrews Links Press Release

TOP-CLASS FIELD ASSURED FOR

ST ANDREWS LINKS TROPHY

AHEAD OF MAY 4 DEADLINE

The St Andrews Links Trophy, sponsored by Burberry, is set to maintain its position as one of amateur golf’s most highly regarded tournaments.
Historically, it has been seen as the top stroke-play tournament in Europe with a truly international field from around the world and this year’s St Andrews Links Trophy is no exception.

It will be fiercely contested over the Old Course and the Jubilee Course from Friday to Sunday, June 8 to 10 and with teenager Oliver Fisher, the 2006 winner, now a professional, the way is open for a new name to be inscribed on one of golf’s most prestigious trophies.
Already in the field are 17 players better than +3 handicap. Ireland’s Rory McIlroy, currently playing off +5.1, is the backmarker in what promises to be an outstanding entry at the cut-off date of Friday, May 4.
McIlroy, 17, pictured above, has already shown huge promise with a string of impressive wins to his name including this year’s Sherry Cup and the 2006 European amateur championship, a title that guarantees him a place in the Open at Carnoustie in July.
“I can’t wait for it”, said McIlroy. “Carnoustie is going to be unbelievably tough. Still, you have got to believe that, if it is anywhere near as tough as the last time, it might level the playing field a bit.”
Before then, McIlroy, currently No. 2 in the R&A World Amateur Golf Rankings, has a full calendar of competitive challenges with the St Andrews Links Trophy a major target pencilled in for this, his last year in amateur golf.
The St Andrews Links Trophy has always attracted a strong overseas entry, although since Stuart Bouvier of South Africa won the Trophy in 1990, its second year, the winners have all come from Scotland and England.
That succession is bound to change soon and with several players already entered from South Africa and Australia, perhaps the time is right for a second overseas name on the silverware.
Louis De Jager of South Africa is currently in-form and already has won the Gauteng North Open, and more recently his own national amateur championship. He will be accompanied by countrymen Branden Grace, Charles Durnian and Prinavin Nelson, all top-class golfers with realistic expectations of good performances at St Andrews.
Entries have also been received from Australian amateurs Rick Kulacz, Aaron Pike and Blake McGrory, who recently won the highly-regarded Lake Macquarie tournament.
In September of this year GB&I take on the U.S. in the Walker Cup match at Royal County Down and with selection for that match a target for all of the Home Countries’ top amateurs, the Links Trophy is assured of an outstanding entry.
The field of 144 will play one round on the Jubilee Course on Friday 8 June, one on the Old Course on Saturday 9 June and the top 40 qualifiers and ties then play 36 holes over the Old Course on the Sunday.

MACAULAY JOINT RUNNER-UP

IN NORTH CAROLINA

Callum Macaulay from Kincardine, in his final year at Mississippi University, finished joint second with a seven-under-par total of 209 in the Palisades Collegiate Classic at Palisades Golf Club, Charlotte, North Carolina.
It was Callum's highest final placing in a 54-hole event and his sixth top-5 finish of the 2006-2007 US college season.
Tulliallan Golf Club member Macaulay had rounds of 71, 68 and 70 over the 6,797yd, par-72 course for a total of 209, two shots behind the winner, Brad Benjamin (Memphis) with 70, 69 and 68.
Macaulay tied for second with South African Dawie Van Der Walt (Lamar University), ranked No 9 on the American college circuit.
Lewis Kirton from Oldmeldrum, a freshman student at Louisville University, finished joint 25th in a low-scoring tournament with rounds of 71, 73 and 73 for one-over-par 217.
Macaulay's fine effort helped Mississippi to finish third behind Charlotte and Lamar in a field of 18 for the team evnt. Louisville came joint fifth.

LEADING INDIVIDUAL TOTALS
207 Brad Benjamin (Memphis) 70 69 68.
209 Callum Macaulay (Mississippi) 71 68 70, Dawie Van Der Walt (Lamar) 69 72 68.
Other total:
217 Lewis Kirton (Louisville) 71 73 73 (jt 25th).
LEADING TEAM TOTALS
849 Charlotte. 856 Lamar. 858 Mississippi. Other total: 862 Louisville (5th of 18).

BIRDIE-LESS DAY FOR FINDLAY IN
US COLLEGIATE CHAMPIONSHIP

Fraserburgh teenager Jordan Findlay is lying joint 37th in a field of 77 for the United States Collegiate Championship over the Golf Club of Georgia’s Lakeside course at Alpharetta.
Findlay has had rounds of 77 and 76 for a tally of 153 with one round to go.
Jordan, a second-year student at East Tennessee State University, had no birdies in his second round in which he bogeyed the first, third, seventh and 12th in halves of 39 and 37.
Team-mate Rhys Davies, pictured above, moved up to a share of 12th place with a second-round 73 for 149, birdieing the first, fourth, eighth and 18th in halves of 35 and 38.
Tanner Ervin (Clemson) and Webb Simpson (Wake Forest) lead on level par 144.
LEADING SCORES
144 Tanner Ervin (Clemson) 70 74, Webb Simpson (Wake Forest) 72 72.
Other scores:
149 Rhys Davies (East Tennessee State) 76 73 (jt 12th).
150 Pablo Martin (Oklahoma State) 75 75, Gareth Shaw (East Tennessee State) 72 78 (jt 22nd).
152 Tom Sherreard (Georgia State) 77 75 (jt 29th).
153 Jordan Findlay (East Tennesssee State) 77 76, Seamus Power (East Tennessee State) 75 78 (jt 37th).
157 Farren Keenan (Texas) 78 79 (jt 57th).
159 Cian McNamara (East Tennessee State) 81 78 (jt 66th).
LEADING TEAMS
591 Georgia. 593 Clemson. 598 Georgia Tech. 600 Oklahoma State, Georgia State. Other scores: 605 East Tennessee State (jt 9th). 617 Texas (last of 15).

DANIEL WILLETT FOURTH IN INDIAN CLASSIC

Daniel Willett (Jacksonville State University) from Sheffield finished fourth of 91 in the Arkansas State University Indian Classic over the Sage Meadows Golf Club course at Jonesboro, Arkansas.
Daniel had rounds of 69, 73 and 69 for a five-under-par total of 211. He birdied the first, third, fourth and 12th in his final round to finish five shots behind the winner, Erik Barnes (Austin Peay State).
Southern Florida (852) won the team event by two shots from New Orleans.
LEADING INDIVIDUAL TOTALS
206 Erik Barnes (Austin Peay State) 68 68 70.
210 Tyler Hitchcock (Southern Florida) 72 69 69, Jose Toledo (New Orleans) 68 67 75.
211 Daniel Willett (Jacksonville State) 69 73 69.
LEADING TEAM TOTALS
852 Southern Florida. 854 New Orleans. 857 Louisiana-LaFayette. Also: 866 Jacksonville State (7th of 16).

VICKI FINISHES FIFTH IN COWGIRL CLASSIC

Irish junior cap Vicki Power (Northern Arizona) finished fifth of 49 in the Wyoming Cowgirl Classic at Ocotillo Golf Resort, Chandler in Arizona.
Vicki scored 74, 77 and 80 for a total of 231. Her team-mates, Ali Carter (221) and Sophia Choi (226) finished first and second.
Northern Arizona (908) won the team title by 35 strokes from British Columbia University.
LEADING INDIVIDUAL TOTALS
221 Ali Carter (Northern Arizona) 72 75 74.
226 Sophia Choi (Northern Arizona) 77 73 76.
Other score:
231 Vicki Power (Northern Arizona) 74 77 80 (5th).
LEADING TEAM TOTALS
908 Northern Arizona. 943 British Columbia. 954 Northern Colorado.

LUCY GOULD JOINT SEVENTH IN NORTH CAROLINA

Former Welsh girls champion Lucy Gould is lying in joint seventh place with one round to go in the Atlantic Sun Women’s Conference championship over the Keith Hills No 1 course at Buies Creek, North Carolina.
Lucy, a student at East Tennessee State University, has scored 77 and 76 for 153. She had one birdie, at the 18th, in halves of 39 and 37.
Team-mate Sinead O’Sullivan, an Irish international, is back in joint 27th place with 80 and 82 for 163. She had a triple bogey 7 at the eighth and a double bogey 6 at the 10th in her second round halves of 42 and 40.
LEADING INDIVIDUAL TOTALS
142 Alejandra Shaw (Campbell University) 73 69.
149 Lauren Darnell (Stetson) 76 73.
Other scores:
153 Lucy Gould (East Tennessee State) 77 76 (jt 7th).
162 Sinead O’Sullivan (East Tennessee State) 80 82 (jt 27th).
LEADING TEAM TOTALS
597 Campbell. 616 Stetson. 620 Mercer. 621 East Tennessee State.

ROSEANNE DOWN THE FIELD
IN BYU DIXIE CLASSIC

Scottish Under-18 girls' match-play champion Roseanne Niven from Crieff, pictured right, who enrolled at the University of California Berkeley only at the start of the year, finished joint 58th with a total of 240 (80-78-82) in the Brigham Young University Dixie Classic at Entrada at Snow Canyon Golf Club.
Alison Walsh (Arizona) was the two-stroke winner with scores of 74, 73 and 67 for two-under-par 214.
Brigham Young (878) won the team event easily from Texas Christian (894) and Denver (897). California (934) finished 11th of 16 teams.

GEMMA JOINT 39th AT BRYAN

NATIONAL COLLEGIATE

Scotland international player Gemma Webster (Hilton Park), a student at Ohio State University, finished joint 39th in a field of 93 for the Bryan National Collegiate women's tournament at Brown Summit, North Carolina.

Gemma, pictured right, had rounds of 74, 75 and 82 for a total of 231 over the par-72, 6,386yd course at Bryan Park Champions Golf Club.

Spain's Maria Hernandez (Purdue University) won the title at the third hole of a sudden-death play-off against Germany's Sandra Gal (Florida University). They had tied at one-under-par 215, Maria with rounds of 71, 73 and 71, Sandra with 72, 74 and 69.

LARKIN JOINT SIXTH IN TENNESSEE

Banchory's Scott Larkin, a freshman student at the College of Charleston, finished joint sixth in the Middle Tennessee Intercollegiate golf tournament at Old Fort Golf Club, Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
Scott had rounds of 71, 70 and 75 for a level par aggregate of 216 over a testing 7,031yd course.
He finished only three strokes behind winner Michael Carnes (Texas State) with 70, 73 and 70 for 213.

FIFER LATIMER SCORES FIRST
WIN IN UNITED STATES

Peter Latimer from Markinch, Fife, a freshman (first-year) student at Guilford College, Greensboro, North Carolina, won his first golf tournament in the United States this week.
Peter prevailed in a three-way play-off with a par 4 at the third extra hole to win the Emory Spring Invitational college tournament at the Smoke Rise Golf & Country Club, Stone Mountain in Georgia.
He had rounds of 72 and 73 over the 6,722yd par-72 course for an aggregate of 145, which was matched by John Cummings (Greensboro) (69-76) and Jeremy Evans (Emory) (73-72).
Latimer’s college – the Quakers – finished second in the team event, four shots behind winners Methodist University.

Peter, who will be 20 in October, won the Freddie Tait Gold Medal last year, a match-play tournament over the St Andrews New Course.
He has also been boys' champion at three different golf clubs - St Andrews New, Lundin Links and Balbirnie Park. He played for the Fife boys and youths teams.

SECOND IRISH TOURNAMENT ON PGA
EUROPRO TOUR 2007 SCHEDULE
The PGA EuroPro Tour will stage a second tournament in Ireland in May when Roganstown Golf Club, situated in the Swords area close to Dublin Airport, hosts the inaugural Oceanico Group Irish Challenge from May 9 to 11.
Two pro-ams will be held on May 7 and 8 to allow the local members and businesses the chance to join the PGA EuroPro Tour players in action.
"We are delighted to announce a second tournament in Ireland," said PGA EuroPro Tour Operations Manager Dan Nickless.
"Ireland is renowned for the quality of its golf courses, and in Roganstown and Faithlegg our players will be competing at two of the very best.
Simon Burgess, Director of Oceanico Group, said:
"2007 is a landmark year for the Oceanico Group and our golf operations. Earlier in the year we purchased five of the golf courses in Vilamoura, making us Portugal's leading golf operator, and with our new sponsorship of PGA EuroPro tour events such as the Oceanico Group Irish Challenge we are committed to supporting and developing golf across Europe."
Each event on the PGA EuroPro Tour is played over 54 holes, with the top 50 plus ties going through to the third and final round.
Every tournament carries a minimum prize fund of £40,000, and the season will culminate in the Tour Championship with the top 50 players from the Order of Merit.
For further details, see www.europrotour.com.

Day 2 Scottish boys' match-play championship

STEWART, BYRNE AND

SMITH ONLY SEEDS

SURVING AT DUNBAR

Only three of the original eight seeds - James Byrne (Banchory), Kyle Smith (Barassie), both of whom have won twice, and Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) - are still standing after the first two days' action in the Scottish boys' match-play championship at windswept Dunbar Golf Club.

Stewart it was who halted the dismal run of results for the players who had been earmarked to reach the quarter-finals.
Prior to that, two more seeded players had joined first-day casualties Scott Fraser, Cameron Gray and Tom Spencer on the sidelines on a very windy morning.
Sam McLaren (King James VI), the Scottish Under-16 boys’ open stroke-play champion from Perth, lost by 3 and 2 to North challenger Jamie Treasurer from the Loch Ness Golf Club at Castle Heather.
Michael Main (Thornton), beaten in last year’s final by fellow-Fifer James White (Lundin), fell at the first hurdle this time round. His conqueror, by 2 and 1, was Mark Kelly from Kirkhill.
The last of the eight seeds to swing into action, Michael Stewart, pictured above, did not take long to get into his stride in beating Ross Muir (Swanston) by 8 and 7.
Later in the day, James Byrne from Banchory, proud possessor of the lowest handicap (+2.6) in the field, became the first seed to win twice. James beat Graeme Reid (Newbattle) by 3 and 2 to enter the third round.
Last year, 18-year-old Byrne lost in the semi-finals of this championship. He leaves for four years at Arizona State University in the autumn.
Then Kyle Smith (Barassie) also swept through to the third round with a 5 and 4 win over Matthew Smith (Royal Aberdeen).

TUESDAY RESULTS

FIRST ROUND (continued)
S Thompson (St Andrews) bt F Moore (Falkirk Tryst) at 21st.
J Coyne (Cowglen) bt R Penny (Portlethen) 1 hole.
D Leck (Ralston) bt R Storrier (Downfield) 1 hole.
R Forgie (Muckhart) bt J Millar (Newbattle) 8 and 6.
A Murray (Buchanan Castle) bt I McNab (Glencruitten) 3 and 1.
A Baillie (Elgin) bt M Scoular (Turnhouse) 3 and 2.
S Roberts (Cathcart Castle) bt D Berry (Inchmarlo) 2 holes.
S Clark (Ayr Belleisle) bt D Paterson (Ralston) 1 hole.
F Monteith (Longniddry) bt A Steele (Powfoot) at 19th.
D Currie (Sanquhar) bt G Torrie (Carnoustie) 1 hole.
A McLachlan (Eastwood) bt S McGarvey (Glencoruse) 2 holes.
S Brown (Turnberry) bt T Moffat (Crow Wood) 2 and 1.
F McAndrew (Dalmahoy) bt I Allan (Hopeman) 3 and 2.
J Thorburn (Forrester Park) bt C Barr (Eastwood) at 19th.
D Mellon (Carnoustie) bt B Sloan (Hamilton) 6 and 5.
S Gordon (The Glen) bt J Binning (Ranfurly Castle) 4 and 3.
M Bell (King James VI) bt C Borland (Hamilton) 4 and 3.
K Kilroy (Cawder) bt S Connell (Inverness) 3 and 1.
W Bremner (Edzell) bt C Crowe (Kilbirnie Place) 6 and 5.
J Treasurer (Loch Ness) bt S McLaren (King James VI) 3 and 2.
C Bone (Cardross) bt P Ramsay (Elgin) 3 and 2.
K Harper (Carnoustie) bt D Graham (Machrihanish) 4 and 3.
S Barras (Helensburgh) bt A Forsythe (Caldwell) 1 hole.
C Thomson (East Renfrewshire) bt K Barnes (Musselburgh) 3 and 2.
A Munro (Baberton) bt R McCaffrey (Fereneze) at 20th.
C Thomson (Peterhead) bt D McLagan (Blairgowrie) 2 and 1.
M Kelly (Kirkhill) bt M Main (Thornton) 2 and 1.
C Robb (Inchmarlo) bt L O’Kane (Pumpherston) 3 and 2.
M Scanlan (Greenock) bt G Wilson (Ladybank) at 19th.
C Gaittens (Fortrose & ~Rosemarkie) bt C Ross (Northern) 2 and 2.
S MacKinnon (Tantallon) bt O Lavelle (Elderslie) 8 and 6.
A Foley (Ayr Belleisle) bt S Gentle (Cowglen) 1 hole.
M Cunningham (Longniddry) bt C McManus (Douglas Park) 4 and 2.
D Parlane (Helensburgh) bt I Williamson (Bothwell Castle) at 22nd.
F McKenna (Balmore) bt M Lindsay (Pitreavie) 4 and 3.
S Smith (Dalmahoy) bt G Sorbie (Hamilton) 5 and 4.
P MacKay (Auchterarder) bt K McLean (Cowglen) 4 and 2.
C Baird (Bothwell Castle) bt A Wright (Barassie) 1 hole.
R Herries (Wigtown & Bladnoch) bt D Liddle (Liberton) 1 hole.
D Young (Craigie Hill) bt J Fair (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) 3 and 2.
G Caldwell (Greenock) bt G Camerson (Bishopbriggs) 3 and 1.
D MacAndrew (Royal Aberdeen) bt G Currie (Gullane) 3 and 1.
J Scott (Deeside) bt J Hendrick (Pollok) 8 and 7.
M Campbell (Buckpool) bt S Binning (Ranfurly Castle) 1 hole.
M Bonas (Pumpherston) bt I Finlay (St Andrews) 6 and 5.
J Henry (Clydebank & Dist) bt K Scott (Cawder) 5 and 3.
D Fitzpatrick (Greenock) bt S Jackson (Dumfries & Co) 5 and 3.
T Martin (Haggs Castle) bt D Christie (Portlethen) 3 and 2.
M Murphy (Cawder) bt S Young (Turnhouse) 3 and 2.
E Brown (Barassie) bt J Littler (Inchmarlo) 4 and 3.
M Daily (Erskine) bt A Graham (Crow Wood) 5 and 3.
M Stewart (Troon Welbeck) bt R Muir (Swanston New) 8 and 7.
S McLean (Duddingston) bt J Spriddle (Dunfermline) 8 and 7.
C Corbett (Dumfries & Galloway) bt P McPhee (King James VI) 5 and 3.
A Gardner (Radyr) bt L Smith (Barassie) 1 hole.
D Law (Hazlehead) bt S Marc (Broomieknowe) 2 and 1.

SECOND ROUND

P Neil (Craigielaw) bt S Brown (Murcar Links) 5 and 3.
G Meechan (Dullatur) bt R Acheson (Routenburn) 3 and 2.
G Richards (Kingsknowe) bt G Nelson (Thornhill) 2 holes.
A Campbell (Dumbarton) bt R Satterley (Loretto School) 4 and 3.
J Caldwell (Greenock) bt E Crawford (Burntisland) 5 and 4.
J Byrne (Banchory) bt G Reid (Newbattle) 3 and 2.
J Meechan (Dullatur) bt I Redford (King James VI) 2 and 1.
J Bradley (Paisley) bt K Godsman (Hopeman) 1 hole.
D Ibbotson (Murcar Links) bt D Beaumont (Cruden Bay) 4 and 3.
R Elder (Nairn Dunbar) bt R Crummey (Merchants of Edinburgh) 5 and 3.
B Munro (Thurso) bt M Monteith (Routenburn) at 20th.

M Pennycott (Whiting Bay) bt G Mitchell (Alyth) 3 and 1.

A Potts (Berwick upon Tweed) bty F Ogston (St Andrews) 3 and 2.

P Ferrier (Baberton) bt A Wallace (Glenbervie) 4 and 3.

R Dziennik (Leven Thistle) bt F Fotheringham (Nairn) 3 and 1.

D Grant (Renfrew) bt L Reid (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) 7 and 5.

K Smith (Barassie) bt M Smith (Royal Aberdeen) 5 and 4.

S Taylor (Germany) bt A Forsyth (Drumpellier) 4 and 3.

B Jamieson (St Andrews new) bt J Reiss (Alyth) 2 holes.

J Anderson (Glenrothes) bt J Reid (Royal Musselburgh) 3 and 2.

JORDAN FINDLAY’S MIXED

BAG IN US COLLEGIATE

CHAMPIONSHIP

Fraserburgh-born Jordan Findlay, a second-year golf scholarship student at East Tennessee State University, had a mixed bag of two birdies and seven bogeys in returning a first-round score of five-over-par 77 in the United States Collegiate Championship, being played over the Golf Club of Georgia’s Lakeside course at Alpharetta, Georgia.
Jordan, twice finalist in the British boys’ championship, was lying joint
45th in the field of 78 with two rounds to go.
He birdied the 14th and 18th but dropped shots at the fourth, seventh, 10th, 13th, 15th, 16th and 17th in halves of 38 and 39.
Joint leaders on two-under-par 70 for the 7,017yd course were Tanner Ervin (Clemson) and Chris Kirk (Georgia).
Another past British boys’ champion, Edinburgh-born Walker Cup player Rhys Davies, brought up in South Wales and a team-mate of Findlay, struggled to recapture the form that has won him 10 American college events in his four years at East Tennessee State.
Rhys returned a four-over 76 with birdies at the ninth, 11th and 16th but also seven bogeys in halves of 38.

LEADING FIRST-ROUND SCORES

Par 72

70 Tanner Ervin (Clemson), Chris Kirk (Georgia).

Other scores:

72 Gareth Shaw (East Tennessee State) 35-37 (jt 7th).

73 Ben Taylor (Georgia State) 37-36 (jt 13th).

75 Seamus Power (East Tennessee State) 40-35 (jt 28th).

76 Rhys Davies (East Tennessee State) 38-38 (jt 36th).

77 Jordan Findlay (East Tennessee State) 38-39, Tom Sherreard (Georgia State) 35-42 (jt 45th).

78 Farren Keenan (Texas) 37-41 (jt 53rd).

81 Cian McNamara (East Tennessee State) 38-43 (jt 67th).

LEADING TEAM SCORES

292 Georgia Tech, Clemson.

296 Georgia, Wake Forest.

298 Georgia State, Oklahoma State.

Other scores:

300 East Tennessee State (jt 9th).

305 Texas (jt 11th of 15).

WILLETT LYING JOINT 11th IN ASU INDIAN CLASSIC

Daniel Willett (Jacksonville State University) from Sheffield is lying in joint 11th place in a field of 91 players at the Arkansas State University Indian Classic over 54 holes at Sage Meadows Golf Club, Jonesboro in Arkansas.

Over a course of 6,903yd with a par of 72, Daniel has had rounds of 69 and 73 for a tally of two-under-par 142 - seven strokes behind leader Jose Toledo (New Orleans) (68-67).

Jacksonville State (572) are lying fourth of 16 in the team event behind leaders New Orleans (564).

SALLY WATSON SECOND IN BIG
UNITED STATES JUNIOR
TOURNAMENT

Florida-based Sally Watson, 15, from South Queensferry, has finished runner-up in the girls’ division of the Mizuno Junior Open, one of the most prestigious tournaments on the American Junior Golf Association circuit.
The scheduled 54-hole event at Chateau Elan Golf Club, Atlanta was reduced to 45 because frost delayed the start of the final round.
Sally’s father, Edinburgh businessman, Graham Watson commented: “The weather for the event was like a bad winter’s day in Scotland – temperatures did not get above 45 degrees and the winds were severe.”
Over a tough par-71 (36-35) course of 6,080yd (with a rating of 75.5: Slope 135), Sally had scores of 70, 76 and 37 for an aggregate of 183, two shots behind the winner, Courtney Ellenbogen from Blacksburn, Virginia (67-73-39).
Sally had birdies at the seventh, ninth, 11th and 15th but dropped shots at two short holes, the eighth, and 16th, in her very good first round of one-under-par 70 (35-35).
Her second-round 76 was a roller-coaster ride with an eagle 3 at the second and birdies at the seventh and ninth in halves of 38. On the debit side, Sally had a triple bogey 6 at the short sixth and a double-bogey 5 at the short eighth. She also dropped single shots at the second, 11th, 13th and 18th.
The organisers’ decision to cut the last round to only nine holes meant that Sally had very little chance of making up her four-stroke deficit on leader Courtney but she did get to with one shot of the pacemaker with three holes to play.
Miss Watson then bogeyed the seventh, her only shot dropped over the nine holes which she covered in one-over-par 37 to Miss Ellenbogen’s 39.
The third-place competititor, Evan Jensen from Belleair, Florida, finished four shots behind Sally on 187 with scores of 73, 79 and 35.
The field of 45 girls included competitors from all over the United States.
Sally, who will be 16 on July 10, is a student at the David Leadbetter Golf Academy at Bradenton, Florida.

NOTICE FOR ANNUAL MEETING
OF EDINBURGH & EAST OF
SCOTLAND ALLIANCE

By DUNCAN IRELAND
Secretary-treasurer, Edinburgh & East of Scotland Alliance

Please see below for notice of this year's AGM.
In an effort to cut costs, the Council decided to sent this notice electronically, rather than as normal, by post.
It has also been decided that a copy of the 2006-7 agenda and 2006-7 Financial statement will firstly be made available to those attending the meeting. For anyone who cannot attend the meeting but would still like a copy of the year's accounts then please e-mail me and I will ensure a copy is sent. Again this will, if possible, be in the form of an E-mail. I will also post copies of these items on the club's Google group site.
Outgoing President John T Anderson would greatly appreciate it if as many members as possible could attend this meeting as this is your chance to voice your opinion and help the Alliance move forward.
If I don't see you at the AGM then I hope you have a great summer and I will see you all in September.


Notice of Annual General Meeting

Monday 23rd April 2007 at 7.30pm prompt
To be held at The Merchants of Edinburgh Golf Club
A buffet will be served from 7pm

The Agenda for the Meeting, Minutes of 2006 AGM and the 2006-7 Financial Statement will be
available on the night to all Members attending.

If there are any questions/suggestions Members would like to ask/make (whether you are planning to attend the AGM or not) it would be appreciated if you could make them known to the Secretary well in advance of the Meeting, to allow time for the preparation of a suitable reply.

There will be a Presentation of Prizes to all 2006-7 winners after the AGM.

Duncan Ireland
Secretary/Treasurer

IAN BRATTON TOP MONEY-WINNER

ON NORTH-EAST ALLIANCE

CIRCUIT FOR 2006-2007

Newburgh Golf Club professional Ian Bratton was the leading money-winner over the 2006-2007 North-east Alliance season with prize money amounting to £791.
Bratton, pictured right, had three outright wins - at Ballater on October 18, Buckpool on November 22 and at Craibstone on January 10. He also shared first place at McDonald Ellon, Edzell and Buckpool (January 24)
Murcar Links amateur Terry Mathieson – who received his prizes in the form of vouchers – was the only other player to win more than £700 from the 22-event circuit. Terry’s haul of vouchers was worth £730.
Terry had the best scratch score at Deeside on February 14 and Cruden Bay on March 7.
The positions were reversed in the Scratch Order of Merit with Mathieson coming out on top with an average score of 1.6 under the CSS of the day.
Bratton was runner-up with an average of 1.2 under CSS.
Auchmill Golf Club members topped the Handicap Classes 1 and 2 Order of Merit. John Nicolson, who plays off four, headed Class 1 with an average score of 0.9 under CSS while Paul Cornfield was best in Class 2 with an average of 0.8 over CSS, playing off 11 of a handicap.

MONEY/VOUCHERS TABLE
1 I Bratton (Newburgh) £791.
2 T Mathieson (Murcar Links) £730.
3 A Campbell (Deeside) £401.
4 P Cornfield (Auchmill) £398.
5 G McInnes (Murcar Links) £375.
6 G Esson (Portlethen) £360.
7 S Davidson (Banchory) £353
8 R McDonald (Kemnay) £340.
9 C Nelson (MacKenzie Club) £336.
10 S Finnie (Caledonian) £320.
11 I Strachan (Royal Aberdeen) £282.
12 G Homer (Lumphanan) £275.
13 P Cormack (Inchmarlo) £265.
14 W Main (Murcar Links) £262.
15 J Nicholson (Auchmill) £261.
16 I Buchan (Craibstone) £253.
17 B Ritchie (Inverallochy) £227.
18 M Kidd (Newburgh) £205.
19 J Roberts (Cruden Bay) £192.
20 G Ingram (Inverurie) £189.
21 G Travis (Auchmill) £187.
22 D Wood (Newburgh) £183.
23 R Fitzpatrick (Inchmarlo) £175.
24 N Murray (Cruden Bay) £170.
25 F Bisset (Banchory) £166.
26 C Hood (Alford) (£165.
27 D Corkey (East Aberdeenshrie) £160.
28 A Grant (Portlethen) £153.
29 C Alexander (Murcar Links) , R Hyland (Hazlehead), C Stephen (Melbrum House) £150.

SCRATCH ORDER OF MERIT
T Mathieson (Murcar Links) -1.6. I Bratton (Newburgh) -1.2. S Finnie (Caledonian) 0.2. C Nelson (MacKenzie Club) 0.3. R McDonald (Kemnay) 0.5. A Campbell (Deeside) 0.6. S Davidson (Banchory) 0.8. R Hyland (Hazlehead) 1.0. G Esson (Portlethen) 1.1. W Main (Murcar Links) 1.4. N Murray (Cruden Bay) 1.9. N Reid (Deeside), C Stephen (Meldrum House), R Fitzpatrick (Inchmarlo) 2.2. E Kennedy (Stonehaven) 2.3. B Ritchie (Inverallochy) 2.4. I Buchan Craibstone) 2.7. J Nicolson 3.1. R Stewart (Cruden Bay) 3.2. S Fraser (Royal Aberdeen 3.3.

HANDICAP ORDER OF MERIT
Class 1 - J Nicolson (Auchmill) (4) -0.9. F Bisset (Banchory) (4) -0.6. C Cassie (Nigg Bay) (8) -0.3. J Roberts (Cruden Bay) (6) -0.1. S Finnie (Caledonian) (scr) 0.2. A Grant (Portlethen) (6) 0.3. T Mathieson (Murcar Links) (+2) , B Ritchie (Inverallochy) (2), G Ingram (Inverurie) (3) 0.4. R L Nicoll (Murcar Links) (5) 0.5.
Class 2 – P Cornfield (Auchmill) (11) 0.8. I Strachan (Royal Aberdeen) (11), G Homer (Lumphanan (12) 1.1. D Wood (Newburgh) (14), G Travis (Auchmill) (15) 2.0, R Addison (Newburgh) (18) 2.4. H McNaughton (Cruden Bay) (10), D Moir (Murcar Links) (12) 2.9. M F R Rogers (Kemnay) (14) 3.0. W Forbes (Murcar Links) (15) 3.1.

WIND-TAMER McKECHNIE RUNS
AWAY WITH £513 TOP PRIZE
AT KINGSBARNS LINKS

Paul McKechnie spreadeagled the field with a one-under-par round of 71 in testing windy conditions for the Kingsbarns Links Young Professionals’ Championship today.
McKechnie won the £513 top prize by four strokes despite a double bogey 6 at the 17th
The Braid Hills player, starting at the 10th, had birdies at the 10th, 11th, 16th, fourth and sixth. Apart from his 6 at the 17th, Paul dropped shorts at the third and eighth.
Kenny Monaghan (Bothwell Castle) was runner-up on 75, a stroke ahead of joint third placed James McGhee (Turnhouse) and David Orr (East Renfrewshire).
Henry Barton (Crieff) had a hole in one at the 190yd second hole.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 72
71 Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills).
75 Kenny Monaghan (Bothwell Castle).
76 James McGhee (Turnhouse), David Orr (East Renfrewshire).
77 Nick Holligan (Royal Burgress), Hugh MacDonald (Southmoor).
78 Lee Harper (Archerfield Links), Ewan Hogarth (Peebles), David McLure (Troon Welbeck), Mark Barnard (Inchmarlo), Gareth Hardy (Turnberry), Mark Finlayson (Edzell), Mark Loftus (Cowglen).
79 Ian Graham (Crow Wood), Steven Taylor (Bothwell Castle), Calum Smith (Royal Musselburgh), Michael Rae (Alyth).
80 Nathan Keast (Duff House Royal), Callum Nicoll (Prestwick), David Blackadder (Kingsbarns), Kenneth Glen (Royal Musselburgh), Craig Matheson (Falkirk Tryst), Graham Johnston (unatt).
81 Bert Mackay (Loch Lomond), Steven Clydesdale (Brucefields), Gerrard Duncan (Westin Turnberry), Jonas Hedberg (unatt), Iain Pender (Cawder).
82 Fraser McLaughlan (Bothwell Castle), Jamie Anton (Noah's Ark, Perth), Kris McGowan
(Burntisland), Eric Walker (Burntisland).
83 Greg Paxton (Ralston), Stuart Robin (Barassie), Peter Campbell (Inverness), Alistair Brown (Whitecraigs), Scott Robertson (Cathcart Castle), Ross Murdoch (Dumfries & Galloway).

RENTON LAIDLAW: EASTER MONDAY BULLETIN

From Mitchell Platts of the European Tour.

Great news. I just took a call from Renton, phoning from his hospital bed. As you can imagine, quite a moment. So good to hear Renton's voice and even better to report straight from him that the cancer operation was a total success.
It was three weeks ago that the cancer operation - the first of three operations in 12 days - took place and Renton confirmed that it actually lasted 11hr 30min. The surgeon removed a very aggressive cancer absolutely cleanly and Renton has been assured all is well.
Renton also says that his heart is in great order thanks to the pacemaker which is working really well. Renton confirmed what we all feared that he had been dangerously ill, and that he had a very close escape from the Grim Reaper.
You will also be pleased to hear that he really is going to take things slowly - he will not be going to the Volvo China Open this week! Seriously, he is going to take things very, very slowly and look after himself before considering his comeback.
Jennifer (Renton's sister), as you know, has been ill but she returned to visit Renton today and she is clearly delighted with his progress. Mark and Joan Wilson visited Renton on Sunday at Jennifer's request and they found Renton walking with his arm around a nurse so, as Mark says, nothing new there.
Renton also dined last night on tomato soup, apple pie and ice cream so you can see he is back in the old routine. Renton asked me to thank everyone for their very special messages etc.....I said that for everyone the best news will be to know that with this bulletin I will ask everyone around the world who knows and loves him to raise a glass to a true fighter and a great guy. Regarding visiting - let's give Renton a little space. We spent only five minutes on the phone and that was probably quite enough.
Regards
Mitchell Platts

Scottish boys' match-play championship starts at Dunbar

THREE SEEDS MAKE EARLY
EXIT, BUT BYRNE AND
SMITH WIN THEIR TIES

There are no official seeded players in the week-long Scottish boys' match-play championship with started in windy conditions at Dunbar today.
But you can take Scottishgolfview.com's word for it that three players who were earmarked as potential quarter-finalists made an early exit - Scott Fraser (Royal Aberdeen), Cameron Gray (West Kilbride) and Tom Spencer (Inchmarlo), pictured right.
Banchory's James Byrne, the unofficial top seed - he has the lowest handicap in the field, made a solid start with a 2 and 1 win over James Ross (Royal Burgess) who did well to take his international opponent to the 17th green.

Byrne will start a four-year golf scholarship at Arizona State University in August. Last year he became the youngest winner of an SGU Order of Merit 72-hole tournament, the Newlands Trophy at Lanark. He is almost certainly the only boy in the Dunbar field who has his own website.

Kyle Smith (Barassie) was the second seed to progress to the second round. He beat David Millar (Newmachar) by 4 and 3.

Scott Fraser was the first seeded player to be beaten. He lost by 6 and 4 to Paull Ferrier from the Baberton club, Edinburgh.

OLIVER A CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK

Later Cameron Gray met his match in Oliver Huish (The Glen), whose professional father David once led the Open championship field at the halfway stage (Carnoustie, 1975). Oliver won the tie against Cameron by 4 and 2.

Tom Spencer went out to Crieff's Jack Thow who edged a tight one by a single hole.

The three "seeds" who were not in action today - Sam McLaren (King James VI), Michael Main (Thornton) and Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) - will come into the thick of things on Tuesday.

Two unfinished Monday ties will resume very early on Tuesday morning. Sean Thompson (St Andrews) and Fraser Moore (Falkirk) Tryst were all square after 18 holes when bad light stopped play.

Ryan Penny (Portlethen) was one up on Justin Coyne (Cowglen) after 16 holes when they too were called in because it was too dark to continue.

Results:

FIRST ROUND
P Neil (Craigielaw) bt D Muir (Cochrane Castle) 3 and 2.
S Brown (Murcar Links) bt B Hamill (Eastwood) 4 and 3.
R Acheson (Routenburn) bt D Melville (Gullane) 1 hole.
G Meechan (Dullatur) bt J Lynch (Falkirk) 2 and 1.
G Nelson (Thornhill) bt E Barrack (Oldmeldrum) 4 and 3.
G Richards (Kingsknowe) bt E Grimes (Cardross) 3 and 2.
R Satterley (Loretto Scholl) bt M Barclay (Alyth) 3 and 2.
A Campbell (Dumbarton) bt A Murdoch (Stranraer) 3 and 1.
E Crawford (Burntisland) bt C Hogg (Bishopbriggs) 2 holes).
J Caldwell (Greenock) bt M Ross (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) 5 and 3.
J Byrne (Banchory) bt J Ross (Royal Burgess) 2 and 1.
G Reid (Newbattle) bt M Bookless (Sandyhills) 1 hole.
J Meechan (Dullatur) bt A Scotland (Alloa) 2 holes.
I Redford (King James VI) bt J Foley (Forres) at 19th.

K Godsman (Hopeman) bt J Irving (Strathaven) 2 and 1.

J Bradley (Paisley) bt T Matthews (West Lothian) 5 and 3.
D Ibbotson (Murcar Links) bt M Reid (Downfield) 2 and 1.
D Beaumont (Cruden Bay) bt A Bruce (Barassie) 1 hole.
R Crummey (Mercahnts of Edinburgh) bt M Roos (West Kilbride) 2 holes.
R Elder (Nairn Dunbar) bt G Ratcliffe (East Renfrewshire) 4 and 3.
M Monteith (Longniddry) bt J Acheson (Routenburn) 5 and 4.
B Munro (Thurso) bt P Scanlan (Hamilton) 6 and 5.
M Pennycott (Whiting Bay) bt J Macdonald (Cochrane Castle) 4 and 3.
G Mitchell (Alyth) bt S Boyle (Harburn) 1 hole.
A Potts (Berwick upon Tweed) bt S Deegan (Craigielaw) 4 and 2.
F Ogston (St Andrews) bt G Stirling (Caldwell) 1 hole.
A Wallace (Glenbervie) bt A Dunton (McDonald Ellon) 4 and 2.

P Ferrier (Baberton) bt S Fraser (Royal Aberdeen) 6 and 4.
F Fotheringham (Nairn) bt J Mooney (Burntisland) 4 and 3.
R Dziennik (Leven Thislte) bt R McKenna (Cathkin Braes) 3 and 2.

D Grant (Renfrew) bt C Duncan (Lothianburn) 5 and 4.

L Reid (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) bt R Higgins (East Renfrewshire) 1 hole.

K Smith (Barassie) bt D Millar (Newmachar) 4 and 3.

M Smith (Royal Aberdeen) bt E McLeod (Craigie Hill) 2 and 1.

S Taylor (Germany) bt R Asher (Nairn) 6 and 4.

A Forsyth (Drumplllier) bt F Lawrie (Largs) at 23rd.

J Reiss (Alyth) bt S Jackson (Craigmillar Park) at 20th.

B Jamieson (St Andrews New) bt D Ramsay (Elgin) at 19th.

J Anderson (Glenrothes) bt S Fulton (Cathcart Castle) at 19th.

J Reid (Royal Musselburgh) bt J Halliday (Kirkcudbright) at 20th.

A Steven (Easter Moffat) bt K Urquhart (Camperdown) 5 and 3.

J McColl (Arbroath Artisans) bt S Barbour (Milnathort) 3 and 1.

T Sharkey (Helensburgh) bt I Melville (Lothianburn) 4 and 2.

C Wyper (Hayston) bt M Thomson (Grange) 5 and 4.

A MacLennan (Dunmfermline) bt J Lambie (Sandyhills) 1 hole.

M Dickson (Gullane) bt A Lauder (Paisley) 5 and 4.

S Ballingall (Dunston Hall) bt N MacAndrew (Cullen) 4 and 3.

J O'Malley (Newbattle) bt M Fraser (Glencruitten) 7 and 5.

L Muir (Longniddry) bt S Stables (Elgin) 2 and 1.

E McLaren (Dumfries & Galloway) bt J Loughlin (Cowglen) 2 holes.

D Currie (Barassie) bt F Clarke (Westhill) 1 hole.

R Murray (Crieff) bt D Dolan (Shotts) 6 and 4.

G Ronald (Pumpherston) bt C Hill (The Pines) 4 and 2.

R Docherty (Bearsden) bt S King (Eastwood) 1 hole.

N Henderson (The Glen) bt A Abercrombie (Largs) 7 and 6.

R Corrigan (Airdrie) bt G Davidson (Winterfield) 3 and 2.

P Shields (Kirkhill) bt M Shaw (Haggs Castle) 2 and 1.

J Yule (Craigmillar Park) bt G Bissett (Craigie Hill) 1 hole.

M McGinley (Eastwood) bt D Stewart (Campsie) 2 and 1.

C Ruane (Cardross) bt C Doyle (Troon Welbeck) 2 and 1.

M McNally (Monifieth) bt D Arthur (Murrayfield) 5 and 3.

W Russell (The Dukes) bt C Trahan (Inchmarlo) 8 and 6.

O Huish (The Glen) beat Cameron Gray (West Kilbride) 4 and 2.

J Thow (Crieff) bt T Spencer (Inchmarlo) 1 hole.

N Beattie (St Andrews) bt J Salmond (Falkirk Tryst) 4 and 2.

I Young (Vale of Leven) bt R Jamieson (Loudoun Gowf) 2 and 1.
T Blennerhassett (Dalmahoy) bt G McDougall (Bishopbriggs) 1 hole.

K McClung (Wigtownshire) bt C Brown (Stonehaven) 2 and 1.

S Thompson (St Andrews) & F Moore (Falkirk Tryst) all square after 18 holes (bad light stopped play).

C Cox (Falkirk) bt M Dickie (Haddington) 8 and 7.

A Sweeney (Carnoustie) bt R McCreath (Kirkcudbright) 3 and 2.

R Penny (Portlethen) one up on J Coyne (Cowglen) after 16 holes (bad light stopped play).

G Young (Baberton) bt D Armstrong (Kirkcudbright).

ZACH JOHNSON WINS THE MASTERS

Who would have thought that one of Tiger Woods' team-mates from the beaten 2006 United States Ryder Cup team would hold the favourite at bay and win the Masters - Zach Johnson's first Major victory and only his second on the US PGA Tour - by two shots.
Johnson produced the birdies down the home straight that put daylight between him and the opposition, finishing with a 69 for 289 - one over par.
Woods and a pair of South Africans, Retief Goosen and Rory Sabbatini finished joint second on 291.
A gallant Justin Rose, there or thereabouts from Day 1, finished a creditable joint fifth with a 73 for 292.
Padraig Harrington was joint seventh with a 73 for 293 and Paul Casey and Luke Donald gave GB&I two more finishers in the top dozen.


FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4 x 72)
Players from US unless stated.
289 Zach Johnson 71 73 76 69.
291 Tiger Woods 73 74 72 72, Retief Goosen (SAf) 76 76 70 69, Rory Sabbatini (SAf) 73 76 73 69.
292 Justin Rose (Eng) 69 75 75 73, Jerry Kelly 75 69 78 70.
293 Stuart Appleby (Aus) 75 70 73 75, Padraig Harrington (Ire) 77 68 75 73.
294 David Toms 70 78 74 72
295 Paul Casey (Eng) 79 68 77 71, Luke Donald (Eng) 73 74 75 73, Vaughn Taylor 71 72 77 75.
296 Ian Poulter (Eng) 75 75 76 70, Vijay Singh (Fij) 73 71 79 73, Tim Clark (SAf) 71 71 80 74, Jim Furyk 75 71 76 74
297 Stewart Cink 77 75 75 70, Tom Pernice 75 72 79 71, Henrik Stenson (Swe) 72 76 77 72
298 Mike Weir (Can) 75 72 80 71, John Rollins 77 74 76 71, Mark Calcavecchia 76 71 78 73, Lucas Glover 74 71 79 74
299 Stephen Ames (Can) 76 74 77 72, Geoff Ogilvy (Aus) 75 70 81 73, Phil Mickelson 76 73 73 77
300 Adam Scott (Aus) 74 78 76 72, Davis Love 72 77 77 74, KJ Choi (Kor) 75 75 74 76
301 Robert Karlsson (Swe) 77 73 79 72, Fred Couples 76 76 78 71, Yang Yong-eun (Kor) 75 74 78 74, Charles Howell 75 77 75 74, Scott Verplank 73 77 76 75, Dean Wilson 75 72 76 68, Lee Westwood (Eng) 79 73 72 77
302 Angel Cabrera (Arg) 77 75 79 71, Tim Herron 72 75 83 72, JJ Henry 71 78 77 76, Brett Wetterich 69 73 83 77, Rod Pampling (Aus) 77 75 74 76, Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) 72 75 76 79
303 Sandy Lyle (Sco) 79 73 80 71
304 Shingo Katayama (Jpn) 79 72 80 73, Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) 79 73 76 76, David Howell (Eng) 70 75 82 77, Jose Maria Olazabal (Spa) 74 75 78 77
305 Jeff Sluman 76 75 79 75, Craig Stadler 74 73 79 79
306 Brett Quigley 76 76 79 75
307 Carl Pettersson (Swe) 76 76 79 76, Aaron Baddeley (Aus) 79 72 76 80
308 Rich Beem 71 81 75 81
309 Ben Crenshaw 76 74 84 75, Trevor Immelman (SAf) 74 77 81 77, Niclas Fasth (Swe) 77 75 77 80
310 Arron Oberholser 74 76 84 76
311 Billy Mayfair 76 75 83 77
313 Fuzzy Zoeller 74 78 79 82

Thrilling climax to Scottish champion of champions

EAGLE HAS LANDED - LLOYD
SALTMAN WINS PLAY-OFF
WITH 2 AT FIRST HOLE

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Walker Cup man Lloyd Saltman rang the curtain down on the Scottish champion of champions tournament – the first 72-hole event of the Scottish amateur golf season –in dramatic style at Leven Links this evening.
After three-putting the 18th hole in a final round 74 to fall back into a tie on one-over-par 285 with John Gallagher (Swanston), the 21-year-old Craigielaw player sensationally holed an approach shot of 93 yards with a 60 degree lob wedge for an eagle 2 to win the sudden-death play-off almost before it had begun.
“It usually takes me a few weeks to get into my stride in a new season but I played well in the Australian stroke-play and match-play championships and I came here in very good nick,” said Lloyd.
“I’ve been working hard through the winter with my coach, Colin Brooks, and this is an early pay-off for that.”
Saltman led by three strokes at halfway after a magnificent second-round of five-under-par 66 – easily the lowest of the tournament – but a 20 to 25mph wind for the final two rounds over very hard greens saw the conditions get very tough indeed, so much so that the CSS for the Sunday rounds rose to 75, compared with 73 for the first two rounds.
Lloyd dropped back to third place as Gallagher and Scottish match-play champion Kevin McAlpine (Alyth) came with strong runs over the final round.
Gallagher three-putted the last two greens a 72 and 285.
McAlpine saddled himself with a triple bogey 7 after losing a ball off the tee at the 10th and even a birdie-eagle burst at the next two holes could not give him a cushion for bogeys at the 14th, 15th and 17th and a 76 for 288, which gave him third place.
Lloyd Saltman’s older brother, Elliot, was well in contention with one round to go but went bogey-bogey-double bogey from the seventh to the ninth and finished fourth on 290 after a closing 78.
+Picture shows Lloyd Saltman receiving the trophy from Leven Golfing Society captain Alistair Rennie.

FINAL TOTALS
Par 284 (4 x 71). CSS 73-73-75-75
285 J Gallagher (Swanston) 70 71 72 72, L Saltman (Craigielaw) 72 66 73 74 (Saltman won sudden-death play-off at first hole).
288 K McAlpine (Alyth) 71 71 70 76.
290 E Saltman (Craigielaw) 71 72 69 78.
291 M Clark (Kilmacolm) 77 69 72 73.
293 S Elder (Kirkcaldy) 71 72 77 73, J White jun (Lundin) 73 69 75 76
294 I Colquhoun (Ranfurly Castle) 70 74 72 78.
295 G Campbell (Blairgowrie) 71 70 80 74.
296 A Lynch (Glenbervie) 75 72 76 73, P O’Hara (Colville Park) 71 70 77 78.
298 A Farmer (Kilmacolm) 74 73 72 79, M Kerr (Dalmahoy) 73 72 74 79, S Borrowman (Dollar) 73 71 74 80.
299 G Dear (Murrayshall) 70 73 81 75.
301 J King (Glasgow) 72 74 77 78, K Reilly (Silverknowes) 70 74 80 77.
303 A Dick (Shotts) 76 71 80 76.
304 C Watson (East Renfrewshire) 74 73 83 74, F Pintor (Spain) 75 71 79 79.
305 B Fotheringham (Forres) 78 70 79 78.
306 S Hume (Murrayshall) 80 75 76 75.
307 A Culverwell (Dunbar) 81 75 74 77, R Kellett (Colville Park) 74 79 75 79, P McLean (Peterhead) 75 77 78 77, R Coull (Edzell) 75 73 75 84.
308 S McAllister (Craigielaw) 72 76 79 81.
309 M Grunwell (Powfoot) 75 72 82 80, S Wilson (Forfar) 70 73 82 84..
310 C Checkley (Vale of Leven) 71 74 85 80.
311 S McEwan (Barassie) 74 78 80 79.
312 R McKnight (Barassie) 74 76 75 87.
315 E Moir (Hamilton) 78 76 79 82.
318 R McKenzie (Easter Moffat) 78 79 77 84.
319 D Gillie (Galashiels) 76 82 79 82.
320 N Hamilton (Dumfries & Co) 79 80 79 82.
323 M Buchan (Cruden Bay) 79 78 81 85.
324 C Timms (Rothesay) 79 81 81 83.
326 Z Saltman (Craigielaw) 76 80 84 86.
334 M Moir (Hamilton) 88 80 82 84.

No Returns: G Sharp (St Andrews) 77 78 84 - , B Rushford (Grangemouth) 75 77 82 - , K Young (Glencorse) 77 72 77 - , L Miller (Cawder) 75 70 76 - .
Retired: G MacDonald (Callander) 74 76 - , G Taylor (Meldrum House) 70 82 83 - .

CLACKMANNAN, P & K WIN PROVAN SALVER TIES

Defending champions Clackmannan beat Angus 5-3 today (Sunday) at Tulliallan Golf Club in the second series of ties in this year’s Provan Salver men’s inter-area golf competition which also involves Fife and Perth & Kinross.
Clackmannan were held to a 4-4 draw at Blairgowrie in their opening tie against Perth & Kinross.
In the other Provan Salver tie today, Perth & Kinross beat Fife 4 ½-3 ½ at Craigie Hill Golf Club.
Match details from Tulliallan GC:
CLACKMANNAN 5, ANGUS 3
Clackmannan names first
S Horne (Tulliallan) bt J Watt (Letham Grange) 8 and 7, D Hulston (Dollar) lost to S Smith (Arbroath) 2 and 1, R Benvie (Braehead bt R Bell (Downfield) 4 and 3, G Miller (Tulliallan) lost to S Mann (Carnoustie) 3 and 2, J Aitken (Alloa) bt G Clark (Montrose) 3 and 2, S Moffat (Braehead) bt J Gardiner (Montrose) 4 and 2, B Stewart (Tulliallan) bt F Gorbes (Panmure) 7 and 6, J Maxwell (Tulliallan) lost to C Heslip (Monifieth) 6 and 5.
Other result:
PERTH & KINROSS 4 ½, FIFE 3 ½ (at Craigie Hill GC).

APPLEBY LEADS MASTERS BY ONE SHOT
FROM WOODS AND JUSTIN ROSE

The stage is set for an exciting final round in the Masters with Australian leader Stuart Appleby only one shot ahead of Tiger Woods and Justin Rose.
Padraig Harrington and Bradley Dredge give Great Britain & Ireland another two players in the top seven with 18 holes to play at Augusta National.
THIRD-ROUND SCOREBOARD
Par 72.
218 Stuart Appleby (Aus) 75 70 73
219 Tiger Woods 73 74 72, Justin Rose (Gbr) 69 75 75
220 Padraig Harrington (Irl) 77 68 75, Zach Johnson 71 73 76, Vaughn Taylor 71 72 77
221 Bradley Dredge (Gbr) 75 70 76
222 Retief Goosen (Rsa) 76 76 70, Phil Mickelson 76 73 73, Rory Sabbatini (Rsa) 73 76 73, David Toms 70 78 74, Luke Donald (Gbr) 73 74 75, Jim Furyk 75 71 76, Jerry Kelly 75 69 78, Tim Clark (Rsa) 71 71 80
223 Dean Wilson 75 72 76, Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) 72 75 76, Vijay Singh (Fij) 73 71 79
224 Lee Westwood (Gbr) 79 73 72, KJ Choi (Kor) 75 75 74, Paul Casey (Gbr) 79 68 77, Lucas Glover 74 71 79
225 Henrik Stenson (Swe) 72 76 77, Mark Calcavecchia 76 71 78, Brett Wetterich 69 73 83
226 Rod Pampling (Aus) 77 75 74, Ian Poulter (Gbr) 75 75 76, Scott Verplank 73 77 76, Davis Love 72 77 77, JJ Henry 71 78 77, Tom Pernice 75 72 79, Craig Stadler 74 73 79, Geoff Ogilvy (Aus) 75 70 81
227 Charles Howell 75 77 75, Rich Beem 71 81 75, Stewart Cink 77 75 75, Aaron Baddeley (Aus) 79 72 76, John Rollins 77 74 76, Stephen Ames (Can) 76 74 77, Jose Maria Olazabal (Spa) 74 75 78, Yang Yong-eun (Kor) 75 74 78, Mike Weir (Can) 75 72 80, David Howell (Gbr) 70 75 82
228 Adam Scott (Aus) 74 78 76, Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) 79 73 76
229 Niclas Fasth (Swe) 77 75 77, Robert Karlsson (Swe) 77 73 79
230 Fred Couples 76 76 78, Jeff Sluman 76 75 79, Tim Herron 72 75 83
231 Angel Cabrera (Arg) 77 75 79, Brett Quigley 76 76 79, Fuzzy Zoeller 74 78 79, Carl Pettersson (Swe) 76 76 79, Shingo Katayama (Jpn) 79 72 80
232 Sandy Lyle (Gbr) 79 73 80, Trevor Immelman (Rsa) 74 77 81
234 Billy Mayfair 76 75 83, Ben Crenshaw 76 74 84, Arron Oberholser 74 76 84

LLOYD SALTMAN LEADS BY THREE SHOTS
AT CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS' HALFWAY

Walker Cup player Lloyd Saltman goes into today's final 36 holes of the Scottish champion of champions tournament with a three-stroke lead at the Leven Links.
The Craigielaw player shot 72 and 66 for a four-under-par halfway tally of 138 over the par-71 course on Saturday.
His nearest challengers are Paul O'Hara (Colville Park), former Scottish champion Glenn Campbell (Blairgowrie) and John Gallagher (Swanston).

HALFWAY LEADERS
138 L Saltman (Craigielaw) 72 66.
141 P O'Hara (Colville Park) 71 70, G Campbell (Blairgowrie) 71 70, J Gallagher (Swanston) 70 71.
142 J White (Lundin) 73 69.

SUNDAY REPORTS, SCORES FROM THE SCOTTISH
CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS' TOURNAMENT
Colin Farquharson returned from holiday on the Algarve this evening like a lion refreshed - and he will be reporting from the Scottish champion of champions' tournament's second and final day at Leven Links on Sunday.
Look out for his news and scores from the third round in mid-afternoon followed by his summing up and the full list of final totals on Sunday evening.
Many thanks to Gillian Kirkwood for doing a sterling job with words and images during the Editor's absence.

Gordon Yates and Rachel Cassidy win R&A Bursar's Tournament

Stirling has a clean sweep of the Men's prizes with the top three places all going to Stirling university students in the R&A Annual Bursars tournament played over the Eden and Old Course, St Andrews.
Gordon Yates, the mens winner has gained a place in the European side for the Palmer Cup to be played at Caves Valley, Maryland on June 7 and 8.
Rachel Cassidy who won the women's event has won a place in the LET Scottish Open to be played in September at the Carrick, Loch Lomond and also in the Women's Open Pro Am at St Andrews preceeding the Women's Open on the Old Course at the beginning of August.
The mens winner, Gordon Yates (Stirling) is also just off to Peru to represent the R&A bursars in the International Team Event taking place there next week. his team mate will be Edward Parker (Birmingham University)
The picture above is of Gordon Yates and Rachel Cassidy with Geoffrey Marks and Keith Hodgkinson of the R&A.

Women's Scores
Rachel Cassidy (Stirling) 75 + 79 = 154 BIH
Emma Fairnie (Edinburgh) 75 + 79 = 154 Better last round
Rebecca Wood (Sheffield Hallam) 74 + 78 = 154
Louise Kenney (Dundee) 77 + 79 = 156
Claire Marie Carlton (Stirling) 73 + 85 = 158
Samantha Round Gloucestershire) 78 + 85 = 163
Emma Tipping (Stirling) 78 + 88 = 166
Kerri Harper (Abertay) 83 + 87= 170
Emma Getty (Ulster) 87 + 86 = 173
Laura Walker (Dundee) 83 + 90 = 173
Rachel Hunt (Swansea Inst) 83 + 92= 175
Womens SS Day 1 Eden 72, Day 2 Old 77

Men's Scores
140 Gordon Yates (Stirling) 69 + 71
142 David Booth (Stirling) 72 + 70
144 Gavin Dear (Stirling) 73 + 71, Paul Betty (Stirling) 72 + 72, Philippo Okan (St Andrews) 71 + 73, David Corsby (Central Lancs) 67 + 77
145 Scott Borrowman (Stirling) 76 + 69, Colin Colraine (Strathclyde) 72 + 73, Sean Heads (Northumbria) 69 + 76, Grant Little (St Andrews) 66 + 79
146 Jonathon Watt (Stirling) 74 + 72, Kevin Garwood (Bournemouth) 72 + 74, David Corben (Exeter) 72 + 74
147 John Greene (University College, Dublin) 73 + 74
148 Alexander MacGregor (Exeter) 71 + 77, Chris Harkins (Glasgow) 71 + 77
149 Sam Foster (Exeter) 75 + 74, Roberto Laino (Durham) 74 + 75, J J McCarthy (Birmingham) 72 + 77, Jonathon Williams (Cardiff) 69 + 80
150 Charlie Swann (Bournemouth) 77 + 73, Bobby Rushford (Stirling) 76 + 74, Steven Hume (Abertay) 74 + 76, Paul Doherty (Ulster) 70 + 80
151 Jarred McKnight (Loughborough) 76 + 75
152 Craig Wilkinson (Northumbria) 78 + 74, Edward Parker (Birmingham) 76 + 76, David Morrison (North Highland College) 75 + 77, Mark Davies (Exeter) 74 + 78, John Duff Aberdeen) 73 + 79, Andrew Shakespear (Bath) 71 + 81
153 Cameron Gray (St Andrews) 79 + 74, Euan Polson (Stirling) 76 + 77
154 Gordon Stevenson (St Andrews) 78 + 76, Gareth Dillon (University College, Dublin) 77 + 77, Andrew Gordon (Strathclyde) 74 + 80
156 Myles Pearson (Loughborough) 77 + 79
157 Alex Morton (Birmingham) 72 + 85
158 Elliot Shaw (Cardiff) 80 + 78
159 Barry Crosswood (Exeter) 81 + 78
159 Brian Soutar (Herit-Watt) 74 + 85, Scott Herald (Strathclyde) 74 + 85
161 Robert Hutton (Glasgow) 81 + 80, Steven Gray (Northumbria) 75 + 86
163 Ian Purvis (Bournemouth) 79 + 84
NR Iwan Griffiths (Wales, Swansea) 72 + NR

12 year old Irish Girl wins Under 16 Strokeplay

SLGA Under 16 Open Strokeplay Championship
Craigielaw Golf Club

12 year old Leona Maguire, pictured right, from the Slieve Russell club in County Cavan, Ireland, won the SLGA Under 16 Strokeplay Championship today at Craigielaw.
Leona, whose twin sister Lisa was also competing, played some very tidy golf to record a second three over par 74 which was only beaten today by Helen Searle from West End who had a 72, and Jamie-Lee Voss (Kirby Muxloe) who had a 73.
Leona's 148 total was two shots ahead of a three-way tie for second place between Helen Searle, Jamie-Lee Voss and Kelly Tidy (Manchester)
Many of the competitors found it very difficult to play in the wind, and Craigielaw's crowned greens and deep bunkers caused scores to soar.
Jill Meldrum (Dullater) had the best Scottish score, 157 after an 80 today.
Stephanie Peareth (Oakleaf) added a net 61 to yesterdays net 64 for a total of 125 off 22, and won the Murray Donald and Caithness Cup for the best net aggregate from Mhairi Mckay (West Kilbride) who was 12 shots back on 137.
England (299) won the Team Championship by 28 shots. Kelly Tidy and Raffi Dyer both had 74s, to add 148 to the 151 total from yesterday.

Full Scoreboard (Par 71, SSS 72, CSS 73, 72)
148 Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell) 74 74
150 Helen Searle (pictured right) (West End) 78 72, Jamie-Leigh Voss (Kirby Muxloe) 77 73, Kelly Tidy (Manchester) 76 74
151 Sian Evans (Faversham) 77 74
153 Raffi Dyer (Hayling Island) 79 74
154 Hannah Turland (Tidworth) 77 77, Heidi Baek (Felixstowe Ferry) 75 79, Holly Clyburn (Woodhall Spa) 75 79
155 Georgie Kilby (The Warren) 81 74
156 Alexandra Peters (Notts Ladies) 79 77
157 Nikki Foster (Accrington & District) 82 75, Jenna Birch (Fleetwood) 78 79, Jill Meldrum (Dullatur) 77 80
159 Katie Burman (John O'Gaunt) 82 77, Steff Hall (Lindrick) 81 78
161 Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell) 83 78, Jessica Schiele (The Manor Laceby) 81 80, Carla Reynolds (Seapoint) 80 81, Natasha Gobey (Rhondda) 77 84
165 Samantha Colecliffe (Rhuddlan) 84 81, Sammy Vass (Tain) 82 83, Rebecca Gibbs (Burnham & Berrow) 82 83
166 Kelly Miller (Penrhos) 87 79
168 Meg Illingworth (Stoke Rochford) 88 80, Jessica Wilcox (Blankney) 85 83
169 Tara Gribben (Warrenpoint) 87 82, Charlotte Austwick (Pike Hills) 86 83, Stephanie Peareth (Oakleaf) 86 83, Lesley Atkins (Minto) 85 84, Rachael Watton (Mortonhall) 84 85, Hollie Weatherburn (Furness) 80 89
170 Lauren Taylor (Woburn) 84 86, Annabel Niven (Crieff) 82 88
171 Gemma Bradbury (Cottrell Park) 86 85
172 Samantha Leslie (Westhill) 86 86
173 Emma O'Driscoll (Ballybunion) 93 80
174 Camilla Tait (St Regulus) 89 85, Bronte Law (Bramhall) 88 86, Amy Boulden (Llandudno (Maesdu)) 86 88, Jordana Graham (Southerness) 84 90
175 Rebecca McIntyre (Eden) 92 83, Kirsty Condon (Blankney) 89 86, Daisy Dyer (Chigwell) 85 90
176 Nicola Rawlinson (Leyland) 93 83
177 Gillian Scanlan (Hamilton) 94 83, Lauren Meldrum (Dullatur) 91 86, Freya Barksby (Gainsborough) 89 88
178 Zoe Differ (Dullatur) 84 94
179 Zoe Fitz-Costa (Beaconsfield) 91 88
180 Emma Davies (Eaton) 97 83
181 Bethany Garton (Fleetwood) 95 86
182 Lianna Bailey (Rushcliffe) 94 88, Gillian Simpson (Murrayfield) 92 90
183 Linzi Allan (Kilbirnie Place) 93 90, Kirsty Moss (Monifieth) 90 93
184 Natasha Qayum (Ranfurly Castle) 92 92, Cara Easton (Dalmahoy) 86 98
185 Helen Goodwin (Glenbervie) 96 89
186 Jemma Lee Chalmers (Monifieth) 100 86
187 Kirstin Scott (Windyhill) 94 93, Hannah-Rachel Edmunds (Woodhall Spa) 89 98
188 Alyssa Balding (Parklands) 98 90, Gabrielle MacDonald (Prestonfield) 95 93, Rebecca Lynes (Canwick Park) 94 94
190 Gillian Arnott (Kilbirnie Place) 102 88, Donna Mackinnon (Durness) 95 95, Nicola Taylor (Thornton) 95 95, Alyson McKechin (Elderslie) 94 96
191 Heather Peebles (Monifieth) 102 89, Louise Smith (Monifieth) 98 93
193 Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) 96 97
194 Florence King (Kirby Muxloe) 97 97, Lauren Whyte (S.A.L.J.G.A.) 94 100
195 Mhairi McKay (West Kilbride) 103 92, Julie Vass (Tain) 93 102
205 Kate McIntosh (Broomieknowe) 108 97, Louise McGillivray (Oldmeldrum) 100 105
206 Fiona Fullerton (Huntly) 105 101
207 Caitlin Geddes (Northern) 104 103
208 Hollie Vizard (Lowes Park) 106 102, Catherine Conejo (Williamwood) 103 105
210 Grace Anderson (Arcot Hall) 99 111
211 Rebecca Horner (Woodham Country Club) 111 100
216 Alison Goodwin (Glenbervie) 104 112
219 Rachel Bruce (Ponteland) 112 107
222 Alexandra Tait (St Regulus) 113 109
223 Amanda Pattison (Parklands) 115 108
227 Connie Jaffrey (West Kilbride) 112 115
233 Kirsten MacCallum (McDonald) 119 114
237 Rachel Howie (West Kilbride) 138 99
N/R Alexandra Armstrong (Kilspindie) 108 N/R
W/D Gemma Dryburgh (Beaconsfield) 102, Rebecca Cunningham (Ranfurly Castle) 118, Annabel Bailey (Rushcliffe) N/R, Eun Hae Kim (Belton Woods) 93

Handicap and Age Group prizes
Total Nett Aggregate
125 Stephanie Peareth (pictured right) (Oakleaf, 22) 64, 61
137 Mhairi McKay (West Kilbride, 29) 74,63
140 Hollie Vizard (Lowes Park, 34) 72 68
141 Jill Meldrum (Dullater, 8) 69 72
Under 16
1st Round, 1st Scratch 75 Holly Clyburn (Woodhall Spa)
1st Round, 1st Nett 64 Stephanie Peareth (Oakleaf, 22)
2nd Round, 1st Scratch 72 Helen Searle (West End)
2nd Round, 1st Nett 61 Stephanie Peareth (Oakleaf, 22)
Under 14
1st Round, 1st Scratch 74 Leona Maguire (Sleive Russell)
1st Round, 1st Nett 71 bih Heidi Beck (Felixstowe Ferry, 4)
2nd Round, 1st Scratch 73 Jamie-Lee Voss (Kirby Muxloe)
2nd Round, 1st Nett 63 Mhairi McKay (West Kilbride, 29)
Under 12
1st Round, 1st Nett 67 Grace Anderson (Arcot Hall, 32)
2nd Round, 1st Nett 75 Liana Bailey (Rushcliffe, 13)
Team Championship (Best two out of three scores count)
299 England (Kelly Tidy 76 74, Holly Clyburn 75 79, Raphaela Dyer 79 74)
327 Scotland 2 (Cara Easton 86 98, Jill Meldrum 77 80, Annabel Niven 82 88)
327 Wales 1 (Kelly Miller 87 79, Natasha Gobey 77 84)
328 Ireland (Emma O'Driscoll 93 80, Carla Reynolds 80 81, Tara Gribben 87 82)
339 Scotland 1 (Eilidh Briggs 96 97, Jordana Graham 84 90, Sammy Vass 82 83)
345 Wales 2 (Amy Boulden 86 88, Gemma Bradbury 86 85)

BUMPER YEAR FOR SCOTTISH BOYS CHAMPS

SGU Press Release

The Scottish Boys Match Play Championship gets underway at Dunbar next week (9-14 April) boasting a bumper number of entrants, with the Boys crown looking set to be one of the most hotly contested national titles in the SGU’s opening major of the season.
With more than 350 entries, the Championship will harness one of the strongest fields of competitors reflected by the handicap ballot set at a record low of 5.3 and more than 90 reserves anxiously anticipating a late call up to angle for the prestigious title.
Hosted at Dunbar Golf Club for the 18th time, last year’s champion James White is now too old to contest his title, but Thornton’s Michael Main who was left in White’s wake will hope to go one better to improve on his 2006 runner- up finish.
Other hopeful contenders include Scottish Boys cap James Byrne, recently back from the Boys Quads in Rome and a member of last year’s victorious team at St Cyprien. The Banchory player has the lowest handicap in the event with +2.3.
Likely lads and fellow Quad team mates Kyle Smith (Kilmarnock Barassie), Cameron Gray (West Kilbride) and Inchmarlo’s Tom Spencer will also hope to withstand the eliminating rounds to reach a place in the quarter finals for a chance to contest the title.
Along with national squad member, Troon Wellbeck’s Michael Stewart whose handicap of +1.3 places him among the dozen players in the event with plus handicaps.
Boy wonder John Henry – brother of double champion Scott Henry who recently made it to the quarter finals of the Australian Amateur Stroke Play Championship will hope to replicate his brother’s prowess, and Old Ranfurly brothers Jamie and Sam Binning will add sibling rivalry into the mix.
Commenting on the event, SGU Performance Manager Stuart Turner said, “The Boys Championship is the first title to be contested in the SGU domestic season and this year the competition will be fierce.
Not only is it a record year in terms of the growing popularity of the event, we have a record number of Academy players among the competitive field, with nearly all of the year 2 academy players (bar 2) and 16 year 1 academy players adding to the fray, which will hopefully lead to a very exciting championship.”
Kirkhill’s Paul Shields fresh from his Junior Tour event win at Kingsbarns last weekend, will no doubt now be casting his eye over the silverware up for grabs and Perthshire’s jewel in the crown Sam McLaren, current U16 Stroke Play Champion from King James VI is also not to be discounted.
SGU National Junior Coach Spencer Henderson, coach to many of the players involved, said, “The Boys Championship this year really is wide open with a number of our national squad and academy players ready for action, hoping to capitalise on the long winter months of preparation and training camps.
Henderson added, ‘The weather will play a large part next week as windy conditions on the coastal course will test the shot making abilities of all the players.’
Spectators are welcome to come along and support Scotland’s rising stars, hoping to savour their first taste of national success at the scenic par 71 course nestling along the East Lothian Coast. Past champions at the event include European Tour players Andrew Coltart and Steven O’Hara.

SLGA Under 16 Open Strokeplay Championship Round1

Twelve year old Irish girl in the lead

One of the remarkable Irish twins, 12 year old Leona Maguire from Slieve Russell, leads the SLGA Under 16 Open Strokeplay Championship after the first round with an admirable scratch 74 over a fast running Craigielaw played in very sunny but blustery conditions. She is one shot ahead of two English girls, Heidi Baek (Felixstowe Ferry) and Holly Clyburn (Woodhall Spa).
Top Scot is Jill Meldrum from Dullater with a 77.
England are leading by 8 shots in the Team Championship with a total of 151 from Holly Clyburn and Kelly Tidy. Scotland's second team are in second place.
On a day when many of the low handicap players were struggling, special mention should be made of Stephanie Peareth (Oakleaf) who had a net 64 playing off a handicap of 22.
The two round tournament concludes tomorrow.

Full scoreboard (Par 71, SS 72, CSS 73)
74 Leona Maguire (Slieve Russell)
75 Heidi Baek (Felixstowe Ferry), Holly Clyburn (Woodhall Spa)
76 Kelly Tidy (Manchester)
77 Jamie-Leigh Voss (Kirby Muxloe), Sian Evans (Faversham), Hannah Turland (Tidworth), Natasha Gobey (Rhondda), Jill Meldrum (Dullatur)
78 Helen Searle (West End), Jenna Birch (Fleetwood)
79 Alexandra Peters (Notts Ladies), Raffi Dyer (Hayling Island)
80 Carla Reynolds (Seapoint), Hollie Weatherburn (Furness)
81 Georgie Kilby (The Warren), Jessica Schiele (The Manor Laceby), Steff Hall (Lindrick)
82 Nikki Foster (Accrington & District), Sammy Vass (Tain), Annabel Niven (Crieff), Rebecca Gibbs (Burnham & Berrow), Katie Burman (John O'Gaunt)
83 Lisa Maguire (Slieve Russell)
84 Samantha Colecliffe (Rhuddlan), Jordana Graham (Southerness), Lauren Taylor (Woburn), Rachael Watton (Mortonhall), Zoe Differ (Dullatur)
85 Daisy Dyer (Chigwell), Jessica Wilcox (Blankney), Lesley Atkins (Minto)
86 Gemma Bradbury (Cottrell Park), Cara Easton (Dalmahoy), Amy Boulden (Llandudno (Maesdu)), Charlotte Austwick (Pike Hills), Samantha Leslie (Westhill), Stephanie Peareth (Oakleaf)
87 Kelly Miller (Penrhos), Tara Gribben (Warrenpoint)
88 Bronte Law (Bramhall), Meg Illingworth (Stoke Rochford)
89 Freya Barksby (Gainsborough), Kirsty Condon (Blankney), Camilla Tait (St Regulus), Hannah-Rachel Edmunds (Woodhall Spa)
90 Kirsty Moss (Monifieth)
91 Zoe Fitz-Costa (Beaconsfield), Lauren Meldrum (Dullatur)
92 Gillian Simpson (Murrayfield), Rebecca McIntyre (Eden), Natasha Qayum (Ranfurly Castle)
93 Emma O'Driscoll (Ballybunion), Eun Hae Kim (Belton Woods), Nicola Rawlinson (Leyland), Linzi Allan (Kilbirnie Place), Julie Vass (Tain)
94 Gillian Scanlan (Hamilton), Lianna Bailey (Rushcliffe), Kirstin Scott (Windyhill), Rebecca Lynes (Canwick Park), Alyson McKechin (Elderslie), Lauren Whyte (S.A.L.J.G.A.)
95 Bethany Garton (Fleetwood), Donna Mackinnon (Durness), Nicola Taylor (Thornton), Gabrielle MacDonald (Prestonfield)
96 Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm), Helen Goodwin (Glenbervie), Emma Davies (Eaton)
97 Florence King (Kirby Muxloe)
98 Alyssa Balding (Parklands)
98 Louise Smith (Monifieth)
99 Grace Anderson (Arcot Hall)
100 Louise McGillivray (Oldmeldrum), Jemma Lee Chalmers (Monifieth)
102 Heather Peebles (Monifieth), Gillian Arnott (Kilbirnie Place), Gemma Dryburgh (Beaconsfield)
103 Catherine Conejo (Williamwood), Mhairi McKay (West Kilbride)
104 Alison Goodwin (Glenbervie), Caitlin Geddes (Northern)
105 Fiona Fullerton (Huntly)
106 Hollie Vizard (Lowes Park)
108 Kate McIntosh (Broomieknowe), Alexandra Armstrong (Kilspindie)
111 Rebecca Horner (Woodham Country Club)
112 Connie Jaffrey (West Kilbride), Rachel Bruce (Ponteland)
113 Alexandra Tait (St Regulus)
115 Amanda Pattison (Parklands)
118 Rebecca Cunningham (Ranfurly Castle)
119 Kirsten MacCallum (McDonald)
138 Rachel Howie (West Kilbride)
nr Annabel Bailey (Rushcliffe)

Team event (Best two out of three scores count)
151 England (Holly Clyburn 75, Kelly Tidy 76, Raffi Dyer 79)
159 Scotland 2 (Jill Meldrum 77, Annabel Niven 82, Cara Easton 86)
164 Wales 1 (Natasha Gobey 77, Kelly Miller 87)
166 Scotland 1 (Sammy Vass 82, Jordana Graham 84, Eilidh Briggs 96)
167 Ireland (Carla Reynolds 80, Tara Gribben 87, Emma O'Driscoll 93)
172 Wales 2 (Amy Boulden 86, Gemma Bradbury 86)

2007 SCOTTISH UNIVERSITIES GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS

SPONSORED BY VISION OUTSOURCING
MORAY GOLF CLUB, LOSSIEMOUTH
1ST – 6TH APRIL 2007
Individual Strokeplay Championships
Colin Colraine (Strathclyde University) led from start to finish in winning the Vision Outsourcing Scottish Universities Men’s Individual title. Played over 36 –holes on each of the new and old courses at Lossiemouth in near perfect conditions, Colraine fired rounds of 64, 75, 70 & 75 to finish on a +2 total of 284, 1 shot ahead of Dixon and 4 shots ahead of Steven Hume (Abertay). Colraine’s birdie on the second-last hole moved him out of reach from his last group playing partner Hume, and his controlled par on the last hole ensured his victory in a highly competitive event.
The women’s championship was also a closely fought event also. The tournament went to the last hole where all 3 players in the final group had a chance to win. Abertay’s Kerri Harper produced an excellent up & down on the 18th green of the Moray Old to finish one shot ahead of Rachael Cassidy (Stirling) with Robert Gordon’s Laura Murray 2 shots further back.
Leading final totals
Men
Colin Colraine (Strathclyde) 64, 75, 70, 75 = 284
Ross Dixon (St. Andrews) 72, 70, 74, 69 = 285
Steven Hume (Abertay) 69, 71, 76, 72 = 288
David Booth (Stirling) 70, 69, 76, 75 = 290
David Morrison (UHI) 72, 70, 74, 75 = 291
James White (Stirling) 70, 80, 70, 72 = 292
Karl Shepherd (Stirling) 71, 76, 73, 72 = 292
Gavin Dear (Stirling) 71, 72, 75, 74 = 292
Greg McBain (UHI) 71, 77, 72, 73 = 293
Gordon Yates (Stirling) 75, 71, 78, 71 = 295
Paul Betty (Stirling) 75, 71, 77, 73 = 296
Women
Kerri Harper (Abertay) 79, 74, 81, 75 = 309
Rachael Cassidy (Stirling) 81, 75, 75, 79 = 310
Laura Murray (RGU) 80, 73, 79, 80 = 312
Emma Fairnie (Edinburgh) 73, 85, 75, 84 = 317
Clare-Marie Carlton (Stir) 80, 76, 82, 82 = 320
Jennifer Linklater (St. And) 81, 85, 89, 81 = 336

Renton Laidlaw update

from Mitchell Platts

Renton has been sitting in a chair this morning and talking to the consultants around him. The doctors are happy with his progress and they are encouraging him to eat or drink but he is very nervous about doing so. Nevertheless this is good news this morning because it would appear that he is now on the road to recovery from those three operations.

Kind regards

Mitchell

Midlands Alliance

News from Grahan Suttie

The last meeting before the Midlands Alliance Championship was held at Monifieth Links in Angus yesterday.Summer like conditions lead to a big turn out and produced excellent scores. Tie for first scratch were Alan Lockhart( AP, Ladybank) and Steve Martin (P, Unatt) with superb scores of 4 under par, 67. Winner of the handicap prize was local golfer George Cant (Monifieth) with a net score of 69.

Leading Scratch Scores

67, A. Lockhart (AP, Ladybank), S. Martin (P, Unatt)
68, A. Crerar (P, King James)
69, L. Vannet (P, Carnoustie Links)
70, R. Bell (Downfield, +1)
73, K. Esson (P, Craigiehill)
74, G. McLeod (P, Monifieth), R. Stewart (Tulliallan,2), S. Mann (Carnoustie,+4), J. Stevenson (P, Braehead)
75, J. Roy (Panmure,4), K. Hutton (P, Downfield), K. Rattery (Ladybank,2), C. McGowan (AP, Burntisland)

Leading Handicap Scores

69, G. Cant (Monifieth, 9)
70, A. Douglas (Caird Park, 14)
71, J. Roy (Panmure,4), J. Irwin (Muckhart, 8), R. Bell (Downfield, +1),D. Anderson (Blairgowrie, 5)
72, R. Stewart (Tulliallan,2), M. Fraser (Leven Thistle,4), C. Wallace (Caird Park,9)
73, A. Saunders (Monifieth,7), M. Niven (Alloa, 3), K. Rattery (Ladybank,2), J. Leddy (Bathgate,10)

Next week, Rennies of Dunfermline, Midland Golfers' Alliance Championship at Scotscraig Golf Club Wednesday 11th April.

Provan Salver

from Graham Suttie

Angus v Fife, Provan Salver, at Arbroath, Sunday, April 1
Results, Angus names first:
R. Coull, Edzell, beat G. Sharp, St Andrews, 3 and 2; G. Bell, Downfield, lost to S. Meiklejohn, Aberdour, one hole; S. Mann, Carnoustie, halved with G. McNab, Leven Thistle; A. Grant, Downfield, lost to J. Farmer, St Andrews, 4 and 3; S. Smith, Arbroath, beat N. Steven, St Andrews, 3 and 2; R. Bell, Downfield, lost to D. Imrie, Thornton, 3 and 2; M. Lindsay, Broughty, lost to K. Weir, St Andrews, one hole; J. Watt, Letham Grange, lost to E. Malcolm, Dunfermline, 3 and 2.
Match Result, Angus 2.5, Fife 5.5.

PROVAN SALVER 2007

from Hugh Hunter

The first matches of the 2007 Provan Salver took place on Sunday. This is a quadrangular event played between the Areas in the former Midland District of Scotland. It composes three matches decided by eight singles.
The results are as follows ;-
At Blairgowrie, Clackmannan halved with Perth and Kinross at 4 matches apiece,
and at Arbroath, Fife beat Angus by 5.5 to 2.5

CLACKMANNAN v PERTH AND KINROSS (Clackmannan names first)

Ian Ross (Alloa) lost to George Stubbs (Blairgowrie) 1 hole
Darren Hulston (Dollar) lost to Mark Cameron (Alyth) 3 and 2
Ross Benvie (Braehead) beat Stephen Carruthers (Pitlochry) 1 hole
Craig O'Connor (Alloa) lost to Tom McLevy (Blairgowrie ) 2 and 1
Steven McIvor (Alva) halved with Philip Scott (Auchterarder)
Jamie Aitken (Alloa) beat Ross Leeds (Muckhart) 1 hole
Scott Moffat (Braehead halved with David Simpson (Crieff)
Mark Crichton (Tulliallan) beat Stuart McKendrick (Dunkeld and Birnam)

Match Result Clackmannan 4 Perth and Kinross 4

(No details on other match)

Renton Laidlaw Update

from Mitchell Platts

Renton underwent a third operation on Saturday – his third in twelve days – to repair a blockage in his bowel. This was successful but he did develop yet another infection so with his temperature high he is being pumped full of antibiotics. It would also appear that he has a drip in every vein (!) but hopefully he will be able to drink, and perhaps eat, something in the next 24 hours, without rejecting it. He is back in the Critical Care Unit but this was essential especially as he was running a temperature and he requires constant monitoring. The consultant, however, believes that there should be no other complications and that considering all that he has been through he is making marvellous progress. The third operation also tested the heart, and the new pacemaker, as it lasted three hours and all is well in that department. Even so Renton has now been in the hospital for two weeks today and naturally as Jennifer says he is in need of being cheered up. The “No Visitors” sign remains strictly in place but cards and messages can be sent to him via: Renton Laidlaw, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Room 10, Granard House 2, Fulham Road, London SW3 6JJ.

Many thanks
Mitchell

PS. Unfortunately Jennifer has flu and therefore she has returned to Sunningdale to rest. She is on antibiotics and at this time is obviously not allowed in the Critical Care Unit.

Keir finishes 10th

Keir McNicoll finished in a very creditable 10th place in the Azalea Amateur yesterday. His final round of 72 for a total of one under par 283 put him five shots behind the winner Webb Simpson.
Final scores with relation to par from the Azalea Amateur, played April 1 at the par-71, 6,809-yard Country Club of Charleston (S.C.):
1. Webb Simpson 70-69-71-68--278 -6
2. Billy Horschel 71-68-70-69--278 -6
3. Kyle Ellis 72-67-73-67--279 -5
3. Chris Kirk 73-67-70-69--279 -5
5. Arnond Vongvanij 70-67-72-71--280 -4
6. Luke List 72-66-67-76--281 -3
7. John Finster 70-69-76-67--282 -2
7. Trent Leon 75-71-69-67--282 -2
7. Jordan Byrd 75-70-67-70--282 -2
10. Keir McNicoll 73-70-68-72--283 -1
10. Brendon Todd 74-68-68-73--283 -1

Keir McNicoll jumps to joint seventh

Carnoustie's Keir McNicoll jumped ten places, from 17th to 7th, in the star-studded 59th Azalea Amateur Invitational at the Country Club of Charleston. His three under par 68 put him six shots off the lead, held by Luke List, who won the Jones Cup at Kiawah Island last month.
The tournament, which is full of past and potential US Walker Cup players, will conclude today.
Full story on Golfweek
Scores with relation to par after the third round of the Azalea Amateur, at the par-71, 6,809-yard Country Club of Charleston (S.C.):
1. Luke List 72-66-67--205 -8
2. Billy Horschel 71-68-70--209 -4
2. Arnond Vongvanij 70-67-72--209 -4
4. Brendon Todd 74-68-68--210 -3
4. Chris Kirk 73-67-70--210 -3
4. Webb Simpson 70-69-71--210 -3
7. Keir McNicoll 73-70-68--211 -2
7. Rickie Fowler 68-75-68--211 -2
7. Peter Uihlein 68-74-69--211 -2
7. Brent Wicher 68-73-70--211 -2
11. Jordan Byrd 75-70-67--212 -1
11. Tyler Leon 73-71-68--212 -1
11. Kyle Ellis 72-67-73--212 -1