Jacques Leglise Trophy boys' international

FOTHERINGHAM AND STEWART WINNERS AS GB&I
LEAD BY FIVE POINTS AT HALFWAY STAGE

FROM THE R&A WEBSITE

Great Britain & Ireland boys team built on their three-point lead from the morning foursomes to take a commanding five-point advantage into the second day of the Jacques Leglise Trophy against the Continent of Europe as they strive to reverse defeats over the past three years.
Floris de Vries of the Netherlands was Europe's first winner of the day at the Notts Golf Club, beating James Byrne by 4 and 2 in the opening match of the afternoon singles.
Then came three GB&I successes - Andrew Johnston holding out for a one hole victory over Edouard Dubois after winning four of the six opening holes, Jack Hiluta beating Pedro Figueiredo by 4 and 3 and Michael Stewart from Troon winning by 3 and 2 over Daniel Lokke, neither GB&I player losing a hole.
Tommy Fleetwood, a winner with Matt Haines in the morning foursomes, found Sean Einhaus of Germany in commanding form in the singles and was beaten by 4 and 3. His foursomes partner was more successful - Haines was never behind in winning by 3 and 1 against Christiano Terragni of Italy who had achieved Europe's only result in the foursomes, gaining a half point with compatriot Matteo Manassero.
In the anchor position, Fraser Fotheringham, the young man from Nairn who won his place in the team by reaching the final of the Boys' Championship two weeks ago, was brought back from two up to all square with one to play, but won the final hole to give the home side a handsome lead to take into the final day.

GLENEAGLES' CENTENARY COURSE WILL BE A
FANTASTIC RYDER CUP VENUE, SAYS MONTY

Colin Montgomerie has hit back at Darren Clarke's criticisms of the Centenary Course at Gleneagles, the venue for the 2014 Ryder Cup.
Speaking after the first round of the Johnnie Walker Championship, Clarke had said: "There's only been one Ryder Cup in Scotland (in 1973 at Muirfield) and then they choose a course like this one. There are even two better ones here at Gleneagles (Kings Course and the adjoining Queens Course) - it's beyond my comprehension."
But Montgomerie, who may well be the European captain in six years' time, said: "People are entitled to their opinion and that's his. But my opinion is different."
He added: "It will be a fantastic venue. We have another seven years here and the course is getting better every year. As a venue and a resort there are very few better - the location and the hotel are world-class."
+Editor's note: The Irish venue (the K Club) chosen for the last Ryder Cup was hardly a links course and I don't remember Darren Clarke chirping about that at the time. If we are good enough to beat the Americans, then we will beat them wherever the Ryder Cup match is played.

EUROPEAN CHALLENGE TOUR
ECCO TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Odense Golf Club, Denmark
Par 140 (2 x 70)

++Play was halted for the day because of darkness. Several players will finish their second rounds on Saturday morning. The projected cut figure is that those with 139 and better will qualify.

SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
130 F Delamontagne (Fra) 65, 65;
131 I Pyman (Eng) 64, 67;
134 J Kamte (RSA) 69, 65, J Donaldson (Wal) 71, 63, I Van Weerelt (Ned) 65, 69, P Worthington (Eng)71, 63;
135 P Kyllainen (Fin) 67, 68, P Larrazabal (Esp) 70, 65, T Edlund (Swe) 68, 67, K Eriksson (Swe) 66, 69, K Nielsen (Am) (Den) 68, 67, J Davies (Eng) 67, 68, M A Carlsson (Swe) 65, 70, R Karlberg (Swe) 66,69;
136 C Del Moral (Esp) 69, 67, M Bliss (Can) 66, 70, Y Tuovinen (Fin) 67, 69, T Norret (Den) 67, 69, A Hogberg (Swe) 69, 67, P Ankersoe (Den) 66, 70, J Wahlqvist (Swe) 63, 73, B Mason (Eng) 68, 68,
137 T Nielsen (Den) 70, 67, B Willman (Eng) 70, 67, S Juul (Den) 66, 71, A Schmidt Hansen (Den) 69, 68, P Bach Jensen (Den) 71, 66, G Clark (Eng) 67, 70, J Mellor (Eng) 69, 68, A Butterfield (Eng) 69, 68, C Gane (Eng) 69, 68, J-A Larsen (Nor) 67, 70, P Kaensche (Nor) 68, 69.

Other scores:
139 M Urquhart (Sco) 73 66.
147 E Thomson (Sco) 76 71.

Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles

WARREN AND FORSYTH STILL IN THE HUNT BUT
LAWRIE MAKES CUT WITH NOTHING TO SPARE

FROM THE A O L GOLF WEBSITE
As far as Simon Wakefield is concerned two things usually happen on Saturdays - Port Vale lose and he struggles. But he hopes this weekend can be different on both counts after a four-under-par 69 at Gleneagles gave him another chance to win his first European Tour title.
The 34-year-old from Staffordshire goes into the third round of the Johnnie Walker Championship on nine under par 137 and joint leader with France's Thomas Levet. They are one ahead of first-round leader Marc Warren.
A second Scot, Alistair Forsyth, is joint fifth on 140 after a two-under-par 71 today.
But Paul Lawrie, a winner over the course, went backwards with a second-round 77 and just made the cut with nothing to spare on level par 146.
"I feel more comfortable on Thursday and Friday," said joint leader Wakefield after his six-birdie display in the windy conditions.
"For some reason Saturday is always the day that I don't enjoy. It's moving day, but I tend to move the other way. It's not that I dislike them - I think it's the hardest day. You've made the cut and you suddenly relax and don't try too hard."
Defending champion Paul Casey is the highest-placed of the quartet on four under and did well to get to that mark.
Down on level par after eight holes Casey, twice a winner on the course, was in danger of missing the cut. But he eagled the 564-yard ninth and birdied two more of the par-5s coming home.
Playing partners Colin Montgomerie and Lee Westwood both finished three under, but had starkly different rounds. Westwood got himself back into the hunt with a 69, but Montgomerie could do no better than 74.
There were three birdie 2s on the Scot's card, but also three 6s - two of them bogeys and the other a double bogey on the 461yd fifth. Colin was lucky to avoid an even higher score on the ninth after a wild drive, but after a long search the ball was found and he escaped with a par.
Darren Clarke was one further back following a 71, having criticised the lay-out on which the 2014 Ryder Cup will be played.
The non-qualifiers included last year's European Tour winner, Ross Fisher. Sic transit gloria.

JOHNNIE WALKER CHAMPIONSHIP
Gleneagles Hotel Centenary Course
QUALIFIERS
SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 146 (2 x 73)
137 Thomas Levet (Fra) 69 68, Simon Wakefield 68 69
138 Marc Warren 65 73
139 Phillip Archer 68 71
140 Alastair Forsyth 69 71, Wade Ormsby (Aus) 71 69, David Lynn 72 68, Graeme Storm 70 70
141 Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) 67 74, Zane Scotland (Gb) 68 73, Soren Hansen (Den) 69 72, Nicolas Colsaerts (Bel) 66 75, Ricardo Gonzalez (Arg) 70 71, Miles Tunnicliff 67 74, Barry Lane 70 71
142 Paul Casey 71 71, Shiv Kapur (Ind) 68 74, Santiago Luna (Spa) 73 69
143 James Kingston (Rsa) 70 73, Martin Erlandsson (Swe) 71 72, Robert Dinwiddie 72 71, Joost Luiten (Ned) 68 75, Luis Claverie (Spa) 70 73, Alan McLean 72 71, Soren Kjeldsen (Den) 71 72, Colin Montgomerie 69 74, Sion Bebb 71 72, Marcus Higley 69 74, Stephen Gallacher 71 72, Richard Finch 71 72, James Hepworth 68 75, Lee Westwood 74 69
144 David Griffiths 71 73, Steven O'Hara 71 73, Anthony Wall 73 71, Fredrik Andersson Hed (Swe) 73 71, Dean Robertson 69 75, Matthew Millar (Aus) 77 67, Ian Garbutt 70 74, Richard Bland 69 75, Mark Loftus 70 74, Greig Hutcheon 69 75, Phillip Price 68 76, Darren Fichardt (Rsa) 73 71, Carlos Rodiles (Spa) 73 71, Darren Clarke 73 71, Mark Pilkington 68 76, Jose Manuel Carriles (Spa) 74 70, Gregory Bourdy (Fra) 69 75, Peter O'Malley (Aus) 73 71
145 Garry Houston 73 72, Mads Vibe-Hastrup (Den) 71 74, Terry Pilkadaris (Aus) 69 76, Oliver Fisher 73 72, Brett Rumford (Aus) 72 73, Ariel Canete (Arg) 73 72, Ignacio Garrido (Spa) 71 74, Emanuele Canonica (Ita) 69 76
146 Francesco Molinari (Ita) 76 70, Jesus Maria Arruti (Spa) 74 72, Patrik Sjoland (Swe) 75 71, Peter Lawrie 72 74, Alexandre Rocha (Bra) 71 75, Stephen Dodd 72 74, Paul Lawrie 69 77, Jean-Francois Remesy (Fra) 72 74, Terry Price (Aus) 71 75, Chinarat Phadungsil (Tha) 73 73, Mark Foster 74 72
MISSED THE CUT
147 David Carter 75 72, Damien McGrane 73 74, Kevin McAlpine (am) 71 76, Ross Fisher 76 71, Birgir Hafthorsson (Ice) 73 74, Steven Jeppesen (Swe) 72 75, Rafael Echenique (Arg) 73 74, Kenneth Ferrie 76 71, Alexander Noren (Swe) 72 75, Richie Ramsay 77 70, Scott Strange (Aus) 71 76, Gary Lockerbie 72 75, Sam Walker 70 77, Tom Whitehouse 69 78, Jean-Francois Lucquin (Fra) 74 73, Jonathan Lomas 77 70
148 Andrew Tampion (Aus) 72 76, Oliver Wilson 70 78, Jean Hugo (Rsa) 74 74, Richard McEvoy 73 75, Andrew Coltart 74 74, Pelle Edberg (Swe) 71 77, Robert Rock 70 78, Jamie Spence 72 76, Chris Kelly 77 71, Andrew Marshall 72 76, Taichi Teshima (Jpn) 73 75, Rafael Cabrera Bello (Spa) 70 78, Edward Rush 74 74, Martin Maritz (Rsa) 73 75, Gregory Havret (Fra) 74 74
149 Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (Fra) 73 76, Christian Cevaer (Fra) 74 75, Steve Alker (Nzl) 71 78, Mattias Eliasson (Swe) 73 76, Scott Henderson 75 74, Joakim Haeggman (Swe) 71 78, Martin Kaymer (Ger) 74 75, Louis Oosthuizen (Rsa) 74 75, Johan Axgren (Swe) 77 72, David Frost (Rsa) 73 76, Simon Khan 76 73, Jose-Filipe Lima (Por) 72 77, Stuart Little 72 77
150 Gary Murphy 73 77, Christian Nilsson (Swe) 77 73, Benn Barham 75 75, David Bransdon (Aus) 72 78, Andrew Raitt 75 75, Julien Guerrier (Fra) 75 75
151 Peter Gustafsson (Swe) 75 76, Maarten Lafeber (Ned) 79 72, John Gallacher (am) 78 73, Lee Slattery 72 79, Yong-eun Yang (Kor) 78 73, David Higgins 74 77, Sam Little 75 76, Chris Doak 73 78
152 Graeme McDowell 77 75, Lee S James 77 75, Scott Drummond 75 77, Manuel Quiros (Spa) 72 80, Cesar Monasterio (Arg) 79 73, Bradley Dredge 75 77
153 Gareth Davies 77 76, Kyron Sullivan 76 77
154 Daniel Vancsik (Arg) 77 77, Joakim Backstrom (Swe) 76 78, James Heath 70 84, David Park 74 80, Sandy Lyle 78 76
155 Craig Lee 79 76, Henrik Nystrom (Swe) 78 77, Sven Struver (Ger) 77 78, Christopher Hanell (Swe) 72 83, Jason McCreadie 79 76, Marcus Fraser (Aus) 76 79
156 Carl Suneson (Spa) 74 82, Adrien Mork (Fra) 77 79, Robert Arnott 79 77
157 Eirik Tage Johansen (Nor) 76 81
158 Shaun P Webster 76 82, Mardan Mamat (Sin) 79 79
160 Gary Emerson 76 84
162 Juan Parron (Spa) 79 83

Belhaven Best Scottish Club Handicap Championship

BUCKPOOL BOYS THE BEST AT MURCAR LINKS
AS THEY HEAD QUALIFIERS FOR CARDRONA

Dylan Lawson and Edward Campbell (pictured left) from Buckpool GC were more than a match for the testing conditions at Murcar Links as they cruised to victory in the north final of the Belhaven Best Scottish Club Handicap Championship.

Lawson – a very capable 15 handicapper – and Campbell, playing off 5, paired up to perfection with an excellent better ball score of 63, eight under the card. Three consecutive birdies from the second set the ball rolling and two more birdies at holes 7 and 8 put the duo out in five under.

Two more birdies came on the 10th and the 13th, and Lawson’s two at the tricky 16th sealed a memorable round and top spot in the North regional final.
Elgin’s David Hector and Kevin Prosser (pictured above right) clinched the runners-up spot and their place in the final with a fine six under par 65. Prosser got the duo of to a dream start with an opening birdie three, which was followed up with his partner’s two at the 5th. Highlight of the round was two handicapper Hector’s superb eagle three at the 14th and they parred in from there to complete a great round of golf.
Host club Murcar Links kept up their fine record in Belhaven qualifying events ending the day in third place on 66, having set the early pace in the first group out. The partnership of David Leighton and Charles McKen had a fairly ordinary front nine of level par, before setting the inward half alight with five birdies to come home in 30.
Fifers Drumoig also fired an excellent 66, with Sean Anderson and Fraser Mackay teaming up well to finish in fourth spot, edging out near neighbours St Michaels in after their four under tally of 67. Alisdair McGowan and John McKenzie, representing Durness in the final game of the day, also shot a 66 to take fifth spot and book a place in the final.
Early morning sunshine was replaced by strengthening winds and rain making scoring difficult for the late afternoon groups. The tricky conditions were reflected in the top fifteen cut mark, which eventually fell at level par 71. Iverallochy and St Fillans clinched the final two spots on that mark, edging out 5 other clubs on the better inward half countback.
The final takes place in two weeks time at Macdonald Cardrona near Peebles on Friday 14th September with TV coverage on Setanta Sports.
Listed below are the Top 15 qualifiers from the Belhaven Best Scottish Club Handicap Championship (North Final) at Murcar Links.
1 Buckpool 63
2 Elgin 65
3 Murcar Links 66
4 Drumoig 66
5 Durness 66
6 St Michaels 67
7 Brora 68
8 Ballater 68
9 Edzell 69
10 Tarbat 69
11 Burntisland 69
12 Deeside 70
13 Nairn Dunbar 70
14 Inverallochy 71
15 St Fillans 71

THE BELFRY SIGNS UP TO GOLF SHOW

The Belfry’s Gary Alliss is one of Golf Monthly’s top 25 golf coaches in the country – and visitors to The Golf Show, NEC Birmingham, will be able to see for themselves just why he’s received that accolade.
Alliss, who also captains Great Britain’s PGA team’s defence of the Llandudno Trophy in the United States next month (September), will lead a team of Belfry professionals in providing free coaching at the show’s first outing in November.
The four-time Ryder Cup venue has signed up as an official partner to the inaugural show and will have a large presence at the NEC with a specialist coaching area.
The Golf Show, NEC Birmingham, is a new event for the National Exhibition Centre, but its sister show, the London Golf Show, is now in its fourth successful year at ExCeL in the city’s Docklands area – and the Birmingham show is set to copy that successful template.
Gary Silcock, The Belfry’s Scots-born director of golf, said: “Becoming a partner to The Golf Show, NEC Birmingham, was an easy decision for us. The success of the London Golf Show is well documented and there seems no reason why, at last, we should not have a well-attended show in the region.
“As the area’s premier golfing destination and venue – and with our superb academy facilities – we were delighted to be able to become involved with the show on so many levels. It gives our teaching professionals the opportunity to work with people who might not otherwise have considered The Belfry for their golf tuition.
“Gary Alliss will head up our team at the show offering free coaching to all the show’s visitors, plus there will be prizes to be won and many more interactive opportunities.”
Andy Barwell, managing director of the Golf Show Co Ltd – owner of The Golf Show, NEC Birmingham – explained: “The Belfry has really entered into the spirit of things by not only taking partnership status and a large stand, but by also offering some great prizes before and at the event, and lending their own marketing support to the show by way of hosting several of our events.”
Visitors to the show will enjoy a giant retail store; a specially-constructed indoor driving range; the chance to go head-to-head with celebrities; the opportunity to sink a 100ft putt; the best in golf fashion; numerous interactive attractions, many with amazing prizes; and an area dedicated to junior golf with free coaching, fun and games and prizes.
And new for The Golf Show, NEC Birmingham, is the Innovations area, where the designers and retailers of the myriad latest golf gadgets will be demonstrating dozens of game-improvement ideas.
■ The Golf Show, NEC Birmingham, takes place at the National Exhibition Centre from November 16-18. For more information or tickets visit www.golfshownec.com

BARNES WINS PLAY-OFF FOR £10,000 PRIZE
ON PGA EUROPRO TOUR IN SUFFOLK

Dean Barnes has won his first PGA EuroPro Tour event in dramatic fashion.
After three rounds of the 2007 Motocaddy Championship, Barnes from Ferndown Golf Club, Dorset and Eddie Vernon (Burton-on-Trent) were tied on nine-under at Ufford Park, Suffolk.
That meant a play-off with a replay of the 18th hole. Barnes held his nerve by sinking a 12ft birdie putt to claim the £10,000 top prize, a result that catapults him up from 69th to eighth in the 2007 Order of Merit to eighth in the ranking
Doncaster-based Graeme Clark, who had already won three events this season, was aiming to become the first player in the PGA EuroPro Tour’s six-year history to win four tour competitions in one year.
Rounds of 64 and 67 had left him on nine-under at the start of Friday’s play with a two-shot advantage over Russell Claydon (Gog Magog, Cambridgeshire), Daniel Brooks (Mill Hill, Middlesex) and Eddie Vernon.
However, Clark’s hopes of another victory ended when he had a double bogey on the ninth and then dropped further shots on the last two holes as he ended tied fifth.
Lee Gauthier (Bearwood Lakes) and Russell Claydon finished equal third, while Welshman Rhys Davies, who represents Britain and Ireland in the Walker Cup next month, was the leading amateur in level 18th.
South Wales-based Paul Doherty, the only Scot to survive the 36-hole cut, finished with a 71 for joint 11th place on four-under-par 206. That earned him £675.
Six of the top ten in the Order of Merit list qualified for the final day and each pound earned could prove crucial as the top five players will qualify for 2008 Challenge Tour cards.
There was also a further incentive for the other competitors as the leading 50 players after two more events will qualify for the end of season Tour Championships.
The 13th out of the 14 regular 2007 events is the Ethos Recycling Classic, which takes place at the Stonebridge Golf Club, Meriden, Warwickshire, from September 5 to 7.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 210 (3 x 70)
201 Dean Barnes (Ferndown) 68 66 67 (£10,000), Eddie Vernon (Burton on Trent) 65 68 68 (£5,000), Barnes won sudden-death play-off at first extra hole.
203 Lee Gauthier (Bearwood Lakes) 69 66 68, Russell Claydon (Gog Magog) 65 68 70 (£2,100 each).
204 Matt Morris (Eng) 69 69 66, James Ruebotham (Welwyn Garden City) 64 73 67, Mark Laskey (Brocket Hall) 67 67 70, Graeme Clark (Eng) 64 67 73 (£1,125 each).
205 Martin Le Mesurier (Eng) 69 72 64, Ian Keenan (Royal Liverpool) 67 67 71 (£825 each).
206 Mark Smith (Erewash Valley) 73 68 65, Paul Ring (The Warren) 69 69 68, Andy Smith (Chart Hills) 71 67 68, Paul Doherty (Sco) 65 70 71 (£675 each).
207 Paul Hendriksen (Fingle Glen) 68 70 69, Paul Maddy (Gog Magog) 67 71 69, Michael McDermott (Stackstown) 63 72 72 (£500 each).

JOHN CHILLAS (70) ONE BEHIND LEADER ROCCA
IN EUROPEAN SENIOR MASTERS AT WOBURN

By GRAEME HAMLETT
Press Officer, European Seniors Tour
Having used the recent break in the European Seniors Tour schedule to fine tune his golf swing, John Chillas is one shot off the European Senior Masters lead held by Italy’s Costantino Rocca, after carding an opening two under par round of 70 over the Duke’s Course at Woburn Golf Club today.
The 56-year-old Aberdonian fired two birdies on the first two holes and then recorded 15 consecutive pars before dropping a shot at the 17th, only to rally with a closing 10 feet birdie on the 18th hole.
Chillas said: “I worked on my game during the time off between The Midas English Seniors Open at St Mellion and coming here, and I’m pleased with the way I played. Woburn’s playing a little softer and longer than it has in the past, so you know the ball is not going to shoot off the fairways.
“I drove the ball nicely and just played very steady golf; I found the fairways and greens. It’s not a day to hit the ball close to the flags, as the wind is making it a bit fiddly, but my long-putting was good. I’m pleased I’m in with a chance and we’ll see what happens over the weekend.”
Fellow Scot Bill Longmuir, seeking a second consecutive Seniors Tour win after his Midas English Seniors Open triumph a fortnight ago in Cornwall, opened with a two over par 74. “It was a bit of a struggle today,” he said.
Sam Torrance meanwhile shot a three over par 75, as did Steve Martin and Mike Miller, while defending champion, England’s Carl Mason, shot a one under par 71, to be two off the pace. He said: “I’m pleased with that, because I couldn’t get my head on the job today. I had a strange feeling all the way around.”
Completing the Scottish challenge, Martin Gray and Ross Drummond and Martin Gray shot 78 and 79 respectively.
FIRST-ROUND SCORES
Par 72
69 C Rocca (Ita)
70 J Chillas (Sco), M Pinero (Spa), D Good (Aus) 70, A Sowa (Arg)
71 C Mason (Eng), M Foster (Eng), P Dugeny (Fra), E Rodriguez (Spa), J Quiros (Spa), G Cali (Ita)
72 P Oakley (USA), A Murray (Eng), E Darcy (Irl), S Owen (Nzl), G Encina (Chl), M Poxon (Eng)
73 I Mosey (Eng), B Cameron (Eng), GJ Brand (Eng), A Fernandez (Chl), D Cambridge (Jam), G Watine (Fra)
74 J Bland (RSA), B Longmuir (Sco), B Malley (USA), J Rivero (Spa), D O’Sullivan (Irl), T Gale (Aus), J Lapsley (Nzl)
75 P Teravainen (USA), D Merriman (Aus), T Johnstone (Zim), B Larratt (Eng), T Rastall (Eng), S Torrance (Sco), S Ginn (Aus), S Martin (Sco), B Lendzion (USA), D Johnson (USA), M Miller (Sco), H Carbonetti (Arg), B Lincoln (RSA), B Heuchan (Can)
76 N Ratcliffe (Aus), N Job (Eng), T Allen (Eng), M James (Eng), J Mashego (RSA), M Bembridge (Eng), J Rhodes (Eng), T Horton (Eng), L Carbonetti (Arg)
77 J Heggarty (Nir), D J Russell (Eng), A Garrido (Spa), J Bruner (USA), K Spurgeon (Eng)
78 G Ralph (Eng), M Gray (Sco)
79 I Palmer (RSA), P Leonard (Nir), D Durnian (Eng), R Drummond (Sco)
80 V Garcia (Spa)
81 N Coles (Eng), D Creamer (Eng), M Ferguson (Aus)
82 T Charnley (Eng), JM Canizares (Spa)
83 J Benda (USA), L Higgins (Ire)
84 B Smit (RSA)

Press Release

Click on the image (copyright Ross Kinnaird, Getty Images) for an enlargement.

R&A INTRODUCES THE MARK H McCORMACK MEDAL

The R&A is pleased to announce that the Mark H McCormack Medal will be presented annually to the leading player in the World Amateur Golf Ranking. The ranking is a weekly performance table of the world’s top 1200 players in men’s amateur golf, and reflects player performance over the previous 52 weeks.
The inaugural medal winner will be the player who leads the World Amateur Golf Ranking on Sunday, September 23, 2007, at the end of week 38. This timing allows ranking points in the US Amateur Championship and the European Individual Amateur Championship to be taken into account with the medal presentation then forming a new closing highlight to the world amateur golf season.
The medal commemorates the contribution to golf of Mark H McCormack, the late founder of IMG, who was elected a member of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews in 1981.
The R&A Chief Executive Peter Dawson commented,
“This is a fitting way to pay tribute to the legacy of a man who contributed so much to the game of golf around the world.
“Having been an able and enthusiastic player of the game at amateur level, and actively involved in the establishment of the Official World Golf Ranking for professionals, Mark would, I am sure, have shared our golf development aim in establishing The R&A World Amateur Golf Ranking.
“We are delighted that the leading amateur player over the season will win the award that bears his name.”
Mark McCormack was instrumental in the growth of world golf. It was whilst playing college golf for The College of William and Mary in Virginia that he came up against a young Wake Forest golfer named Arnold Palmer. This meeting led to the celebrated handshake agreement between McCormack and Palmer that provided the foundation for IMG’s birth.
Within 18 months, IMG had also added Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus to the IMG client list. Between them, the ‘big three’ won eight Open Championships. McCormack also devised and created The Official World Golf Ranking, which The R&A sanctioned in 1986.
Todd McCormack, Mark’s son, said,
“Given IMG’s prevalence in the world of professional golf, people know little about my father’s devotion to the amateur game. His early trips to Britain to play in the Amateur Championship began so many treasured life long friendships.
“Knowing The R&A developed a ranking for the amateur game and an award that honours his life in this fashion would have meant so much to him.”
***The medal measures 1.5 inches in diameter and is made from sterling silver.

RUSSELL KNOX TURNS PRO IN

AMERICA, WILL BID FOR US

PGA TOUR CARD

Inverness-born Russell Knox has turned professional in the United States. Knox stayed on in America after playing the US college circuit successfully for four years as a student at Jacksonville University, Florida.
Last year Knox, pictured right, was capped for Scotland in the European youth team championships in Spain. He achieved 18 top-20 finishes in his last 19 American university tournaments.
More recently, earlier this summer, he finished section in the prestigious Jacksonville City Amateur and missed out on qualifying for the 2007 US Open by a single stroke.
His first target as a pro golfer is to survive the upcoming US PGA Tour Qualifying School process.
Russell has signed an exclusive representation agreement with Axcess Sports and Entertainment, based in Jacksonville.

Scottish senior amateur champion and now first winner of the Scottish Senior Golfing Society Order of Merit. That's Ian Hucheon receiving the merit trophy from SGU vice-president John Sommerville at Blairgowrie yesterday. You can enlarge the Cal Carson Golf Agency image (c) by clicking on it.

SCOTTISH SENIORS'
GOLF SOCIETY

Order of Merit Final Placings
(after Blairgowrie, August 30)
*compiled by secretary Keith Howie (right)


1 Ian Hutcheon (Monifieth) 589.
2 Gordon Brown (Vale of Leven) 320.
3 John Fraser (Royal Burgess) 292.5.
4 George Paterson (Northern) 260.
5 Jim Watt (Letham Grange) 245.
6 Patrick Tomisson (Nairn) 235.
7 Colin Christy (Kilmacolm) 231.25.
8 Robert Humble (Kilspindie) 211.5.
9 David Miller (Kilmarnock Barassie) 202.5.
10 William Erskine (Kilsyth Lennox) 187.5.
11 Donald McCart (Castlerock) 186.5.
12 George Rodaks (Moffat) 175.
12 Tony Stafford (Troon St Meddans) 175.
14 Ronald McLellan (Turnberry) 170.5.
15 John Johnston (Royal Aberdeen) 166.
16 Robert Stewart (Tulliallan) 165.
17 Ian Taylor (Royal Burgess) 157.5.
18 Iain Stewart (Curragh) 135.5.
19 Gordon Thomson (Bearsden) 130.5.
20 Alexander Pirie (Hazlehead) 129.
21 James Kinloch (Cardross) 124.
22 Ronald MacLean (Hamilton) 110.
23 Charles Green (Cardross) 92.5.
24 Donald Longmuir (Verulam) 77.5.
25 Stephen Ellis (Cowal) 75.5.
26 Peter Lamb (Biggar) 75.
27 Gordon MacDonald (Callander) 69.75.
28 James Paton (Kirkintilloch) 66.25.
29 Brian Smith (Hamilton) 60.
30 William Brown (Strathaven) 55.
30 Henry Anderson (Callander) 55.
32 Robin Paton (Nairn) 52.5.
33 William Wallace (Strathaven) 50.5.
34 Alistair Fiddes (Murcar Links) 42.5.
35 Jock Brown (Hamilton) 40.
36 Brian Grieve (King James VI) 38.5.
37 Scott MacDonald (Dunfermline) 32.5.
37 Colin Cairnie (Monifieth) 32.5.
39 Harry Milligan (Hamilton) 30.
40 David Bunker (Nairn Dunbar) 17.5.
40 Derek Murphy (Kinross) 17.5.
42 Jabil Aman (Grangemouth) 15.5.
43 Robert Edgar (Blackpool) 6.25.
44 James Roy (Grange) 3.5.
45 David Smith (Stirling) 1.5.
45 George Jenkins (Cathkin Braes) 1.5.

**SCROLL DOWN FOR ANOTHER PICTURE AND A REPORT + ALL THE SCORES AT THURSDAY'S ORDER OF MERIT SHOOT-OUT COMPETITION AT BLAIRGOWRIE.

DARREN CLARKE ATTACKS DECISION TO PLAY 2014
RYDER CUP ONGLENEAGLES' CENTENARY COURSE

FROM THE BBC SPORT WEBSITE

Darren Clarke has condemned the decision to stage the 2014 Ryder Cup on Gleneagles Hotel's Centenary Course, venue for this week's European Tour's Johnnie Walker Championship. Clarke feels the match should not be played on "an American-style" course.
"It is unbelievable they (the Ryder Cup committee) have chosen this course to stage the 2014 match," he said.
"Scotland is the home of golf. There are two better ones here at Gleneagles. We shouldn't play on an American style course. It's beyond my comprehension."
The Centenary course was originally designed by golf legend Jack Nicklaus, but the 39-year-old Clarke favours the adjacent King's course, that has staged European Tour events, or the Queen's layout.
"Gleneagles is a wonderful venue but this is the wrong course," Clarke said.
"There's only been one Ryder Cup in Scotland, in 1973 (Muirfield), and then they go and choose a course like this one. The Ryder Cup is steeped in history and I just can't see it here."
Clarke carded a level-par 73 in the first round of the Johnnie Walker Championship today.

PAUL DOHERTY ONLY SCOT TO BEAT THE CUT IN
PGA EUROPRO TOUR'S UFFORD PARK CLASSIC

Paul Doherty was the only Scot to survive the 36-hole cut in this week's PGA EuroPro Tour event, the Ufford Park Classic.
The former Scottish boys' match-play title-winner at Dunbar had rounds of 65 and 70 to be joint eighth on 135 (five under par0 among the qualifiers.
Englishman Graeme Clark leads the field at nine-under-par 131.
SCOREBOARD
Par 140 (2 x 70)
131 G Clark (Eng) 64 67.
133 R Claydon (Eng) 65 68, E Vernon (Eng) 65 68, D Brooks (Eng) 66 67.
Scots qualifier:
135 P Doherty 65 70 (jt 8th).
Scots non-qualifiers:
142 C Campbell 72 70.
143 J Doherty 71 73.
144 Paul Cormack 70 74.
145 N Mitchell 72 73.
146 B Grown 72 74.
148 E Saltman 72 76.

English Golf Union Press Release

ENGLAND NAME TRIO FOR PORTUGAL NATIONS CUP

England is sending three of the team selected for next month’s Home Internationals to contest the Portugal Nations Cup at Vale do Lobo from September 1 to 3.
Ben Evans and Chris Wood were named as new England caps for the Home Internationals in Ireland and they will be joined on the Algarve by Ben Parker, all three having just returned from the European Amateur Championship in Germany.
A total of 14 European nations will compete over 54 holes of stroke play on the Ocean Course at Vale do Lobo, the best two scores from three each day to count. There will also be an individual prize.

PADRAIG WINS EUROPEAN TOUR SHOT OF THE
MONTH FOR JULY -- THAT CARNOUSTIE PITCH

A sublime pitch shot on the final hole at Carnoustie by Padraig Harrington, which kept alive his hopes of winning the Open Championship, has been recognised as the European Tour Shot of the Month for July.
The Irishman had been in the Barry Burn twice on the 72nd hole of the Championship Course and knew he had to pitch and putt for a double bogey 6 to have any chance of featuring in any subsequent play-off.
Under immense pressure and with the eyes of the golfing world upon him, Harrington played the shot to perfection, clipping the ball cleanly off the turf and stopping it four feet from the pin, from where he successfully holed out.
Sergio Garcia, whom Harrington went on to beat in the four-hole play-off, took second place in the eyes of the judging panel for a superb pitch shot to begin his second round in The Open.
After an excellent first round 65, Garcia’s second round looked set to get off to the worst possible start when he pushed his approach to the first hole way right of the putting surface into knee high rough. But with little green to work with, the Spaniard produced an exquisite escape to three feet to save par.
Third place also went to a shot from The Open and another from Harrington. After having secured his place in the play-off, the Irishman was keen to get off to a good start and did just that with a wonderful approach shot to six feet at the first hole for a birdie 3 which immediately gave him a two shot lead as Garcia bogeyed.

CONFIDENT LONGMUIR SAYS HE CAN WIN AGAIN
IN EUROPEAN SENIOR MASTERS AT WENTWORTH

By GRAEME HAMLETT
Press Officer, European Seniors Tour

Bill Longmuir says he has arrived at Woburn Golf Club for the European Senior Masters full of confidence after his recent triumph at the Midas English Seniors Open – and hopes lightning can strike twice by securing back to back victories in as many weeks.
A fortnight ago, the 54 year old Anglo-Scot broke his two year winless streak when he won at the St Mellion International Hotel, Golf and Country Club, in Cornwall, to take the Midas English Seniors Open from England’s Carl Mason in their final round tussle by two shots.
“I’ve been enjoying it – it still feels great,” he said with a smile. “I thought I had forgotten how to win, because it had been so long since it happened. To hold off a great player like Carl as I did, was very, very pleasing. I wobbled a little bit on the back nine and was feeling nervous, but to play and putt as well as I did felt great. It really has given me a huge lift for the rest of the season. Hopefully, it won't be long before I win again, and it’d be great to do it at Woburn.”
Having taken one title from the Englishman, Longmuir, who since his victory has spent a nice 10 days relaxing at his home in Essex with his family, could do the same at Woburn Golf Club, for Mason is the defending European Senior Masters champion.
There is added spice too, as the duo are once again paired in the same match, teeing off at 10.10am on Friday in the opening round, in the company of Italy’s Costantino Rocca, who is also in form, having won Wednesday’s pro-am over the Duke’s Course.
“It’s a great three-ball to start the tournament with,” said Mason who, a year ago, made a tearful return to the winner’s enclosure when he birdied two of the last three holes of the Duke’s Course to pip Argentina’s Horacio Carbonetti by two strokes and claim his first win of 2006.
Since then, Mason has won a further four times to take his tally of European Seniors Tour victories to 16. He tops the 2007 Order of Merit, with earnings of €241,539 (£163,495), helped by his two wins so far this season – the Ryder Cup Wales Seniors Open at Conwy and Bad Ragaz PGA Seniors Open in Switzerland.
“My goal for the rest of the season, now it’s nearly finished, is to win the Order of Merit for a third time,” said the 2003 and 2004 John Jacobs Trophy winner, who, should he retain the European Senior Masters at Woburn, would overtake England’s Tommy Horton at the top of the European Seniors Tour Career Money List.
Horton, the most successful player in Seniors Tour history with five Order of Merit victories, has amassed €1,509,454 since the beginning of his Seniors Tour career in 1992.
Mason, winner of €1,472,123 in a five year period that has seen him win two Order of Merit titles, is only €37, 331 behind. He can pass Horton’s total by taking home the European Senior Masters’ first prize of €49,713 – providing Horton finishes outside of the top six come Sunday afternoon after the 54 hole event have been completed.
As well as that feat, Mason is also seeking to emulate fellow countryman Mark James as a double winner at Woburn.
James won the British Masters in 1990 at Woburn, and 15 years later claimed the European Senior Masters when he beat his great friend and rival, Scotland’s Sam Torrance, with a birdie on the 18th hole – the first of their sudden-death play-off after the pair had tied on a nine under par 207 total.
James tees off on Friday at 10.20am in the company of England’s Gordon J Brand and Australia’s Stewart Ginn, who is currently third in the Order of Merit and eager to secure his first win on the Seniors Tour after four runners-up finishes in the past 12 months.
It was another Australian, Graham Marsh, who won the first professional event staged at Woburn Golf Club – the 1979 Dunlop British Masters. His winning five under par 283 72 hole total saw him edge out England’s Neil Coles and Japan’s Isao Oaki by a stroke.
The 63 year old was due to compete in 2007 to try and emulate James as a double champion at Woburn Golf Club by adding the European Senior Masters title to his British Masters victory, but business commitments in America forced a disappointed Marsh to withdraw.
However, his fellow countryman, David Merriman, is instead looking to lead the Antipodean charge and maintain his form from St Mellion, where a closing one under par round of 71, that included four birdies, helped secure a third place finish and purse of €15,512 (£10,500).
That was the 2006 European Seniors Tour Qualifying School winner’s best result of 2007, and lifted him to 25th in the Order of Merit with earnings of €54,687 (£37,017).
Merriman said: “I played pretty solid, as I have been for most of the year, and it sets me up for a good finish to the season. I am happy with the way I’ve been playing this year.
“I’ve struggled with my putting a little bit, but I got a new putter from Ping about two months ago, and it’s slowly getting better and better. I feel more comfortable and I’m putting well, so it takes the pressure off your shots in, and your driver, so it helps your game.
“I’m looking forward to Woburn. I hit the ball straight or with a slight fade off the tee, and you need to keep it on the short grass around there with all the trees.”
Another Australian, Terry Gale, could pass the rare feat of having earned €1m Euros on the European Seniors Tour, should he have a successful week and finish inside the top three. The 61 year old has so far amassed €987,403 in just over a decade competing on the circuit.
Gale, who was fourth in Wednesday’s pro-am, said of his million Euros chase: “I don’t know if I’m going to beat it, or if it’s going to beat me, but I’m looking forward to this week and playing again after a nice week off in northern Italy. The course is in great condition.”
If they also finish inside the top three, England’s Nick Job, with €984,075 from seven years’ competing on the Tour, and Ireland’s Denis O’Sullivan, who has €985,410 from his nine years on the Tour, could also pass that million Euros milestone.
There is also a £10,000 bonus, donated by the current Duke of Bedford, owner of the Bedford Estate where Woburn Golf Club is situated, available to the winning golfer, in addition to the top prize of £33,750 from the total purse of £225,000.
A strong field is competing at Woburn Golf Club, including Torrance, who is off at 10am alongside England’s David J Russell and Spain’s José Maria Cañizares, while three other former European Senior Masters champions – Jamaica’s Delroy Cambridge, Argentina’s Luis Carbonetti and Northern Ireland’s Peter Leonard – are all seeking a second title.

Low scoring in Johnnie Walker Championship

WARREN AND BOB TORRANCE
BACK IN TUNE FOR A 65 IN
GLENEAGLES FIRST ROUND

FROM THE A O L GOLF NEWS WEBSITE

Marc Warren, pictured right, was back singing the praises of coach Bob Torrance after teeing off the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles today with a superb eight under par 65.
After more than three months without a top 20 finish, last season's Rookie of the Year allowed his feelings to boil over earlier this week - with Bob Torrance, the man who steered Padraig Harrington to Open glory last month, in the firing line.
"I think it's sometimes easy to forget that Bob is in your corner," said Warren. "A lot of times players want to take it out on him purely because he is there. The caddie gets it on the course and he gets it on the range."
He added: "On Tuesday we were working away and it wasn't really the way I wanted it to be. I spoke to Bob later that night and we both agreed I was just frustrated the way I had been playing and it came to a head.
"Everything is fine now. He has a terrific talent for watching the golf swing. But he is human and everybody misses things."
A change to his set-up brought instant rewards, with Warren grabbing eight birdies on the par- 73 Centenary Course and missing his lowest-ever round on the circuit by only one shot.
Now the Scot is hoping he can still improve on his 42nd place on the Order of Merit last year - he is currently 69th - and, of course, win again.
Backin up Warren in the top 20 were fellow Scots Greig Hutcheon, Colin Montgomerie, Paul Lawrie, Dean Robertson and Alastair Forsyth, all on the four-under-par 69 mark.

ALL THE FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 73
65 Marc Warren
66 Nicolas Colsaerts (Bel)
67 Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind), Miles Tunnicliff
68 Mark Pilkington, Zane Scotland (Gbr), Shiv Kapur (Ind), Joost Luiten (Ned), Phillip Archer, Phillip Price, James Hepworth, Simon Wakefield
69 Richard Bland, Greig Hutcheon, Soren Hansen (Den), Colin Montgomerie, Terry Pilkadaris (Aus), Marcus Higley, Paul Lawrie, Dean Robertson, Tom Whitehouse, Alastair Forsyth, Gregory Bourdy (Fra), Emanuele Canonica (Ita), Thomas Levet (Fra)
70 Mark Loftus, James Kingston (Rsa), Oliver Wilson, Luis Claverie (Spa), Ricardo Gonzalez (Arg), Graeme Storm, Sam Walker, David Drysdale, Robert Rock, James Heath, Rafael Cabrera Bello (Spa), Barry Lane, Ian Garbutt
71 Martin Erlandsson (Swe), David Griffiths, Kevin Mcalpine, Sion Bebb, Soren Kjeldsen (Den), Pelle Edberg (Swe), Steven O'Hara, Mads Vibe-Hastrup (Den), Wade Ormsby (Aus), Terry Price (Aus), Steve Alker (Nzl), Scott Strange (Aus), Joakim Haeggman (Swe), Paul Casey, Alexandre Rocha (Bra), Stephen Gallacher, Richard Finch, Ignacio Garrido (Spa)
72 Andrew Tampion (Aus), Christopher Hanell (Swe), Robert Dinwiddie, Steven Jeppesen (Swe), Peter Lawrie, Jose-Filipe Lima (Por), Lee Slattery, Stephen Dodd, Jamie Spence, Alexander Noren (Swe), Jean-Francois Remesy (Fra), Manuel Quiros (Spa), Alan McLean, David Lynn, Gary Lockerbie, Brett Rumford (Aus), Andrew Marshall, David Bransdon (Aus), Stuart Little
73 Damien McGrane, Birgir Hafthorsson (Ice), Rafael Echenique (Arg), David Frost (Rsa), Oliver Fisher, Fredrik Andersson Hed (Swe), Anthony Wall, Santiago Luna (Spa), Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (Fra), Mattias Eliasson (Swe), Garry Houston, Richard McEvoy, Darren Clarke, Carlos Rodiles (Spa), Darren Fichardt (Rsa), Gary Murphy, Taichi Teshima (Jpn), Chinarat Phadungsil (Tha), Ariel Canete (Arg), Martin Maritz (Rsa), Peter O'Malley (Aus), Chris Doak.
74 Christian Cevaer (Fra), Jesus Maria Arruti (Spa), Jean Hugo (Rsa), Andrew Coltart, Louis Oosthuizen (Rsa), Martin Kaymer (Ger), David Park, Carl Suneson (Spa), Jose Manuel Carriles (Spa), Jean-Francois Lucquin (Fra), David Higgins, Mark Foster, Lee Westwood, Edward Rush, Gregory Havret (Fra)
75 David Carter, Patrik Sjoland (Swe), Scott Henderson, Benn Barham, Peter Gustafsson (Swe), Julien Guerrier (Fra), Scott Drummond, Andrew Raitt, Sam Little, Bradley Dredge
76 Joakim Backstrom (Swe), Francesco Molinari (Ita), Shaun P Webster, Ross Fisher, Marcel Siem (Ger), Kyron Sullivan, Kenneth Ferrie, Gary Emerson, Simon Khan, Eirik Tage Johansen (Nor), Marcus Fraser (Aus)
77 Christian Nilsson (Swe), Richie Ramsay, Gareth Davies, Graeme McDowell, Johan Axgren (Swe), Daniel Vancsik (Arg), Lee S James, Sven Struver (Ger), Matthew Millar (Aus), Adrien Mork (Fra), Chris Kelly, Jonathan Lomas
78 John Gallacher (am), Henrik Nystrom (Swe), Yong-eun Yang (Kor), Sandy Lyle
79 Juan Parron (Spa), Craig Lee, Jason McCreadie, Maarten Lafeber (Ned), Robert Arnott, Cesar Monasterio (Arg), Mardan Mamat (Sin)

MORGAN ON THE COMEBACK TRAIL WITH A 64
IN CHALLENGE TOUR EVENT IN DENMARK

By STEVEN FRANKLIN
Press Officer, Challenge Tour

Englishman John E Morgan, who took the US PGA Tour by storm in 2003 before a violent epileptic seizure derailed his promising career, rediscovered some hot form with a six under par 64 during the first round of the ECCO Tour Championship on the Challenge Tour.
The 29 year old from Bristol, who is having to rely on invitations for tournament starts this year, found Odense Golf Club in Denmark very much to his liking this morning with four birdies and an eagle in a bogey-free 64, one behind early pace-setter Johan Wahlqvist of Sweden.
Morgan, of course, has been here before having graduated through the Challenge Tour in 2002 prior to heading to the United States, where he won a card at that year’s US PGA Tour Qualifying School.
Not one to be backwards about coming forwards, the confident young Englishman soon befriended Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh and Jim Furyk to name but a few, and captivated the American golfing public with some mesmerising performances and his bright blue hairstyle.
Just as he looked to have found his feet Stateside with three top 10 finishes, including a rousing second place finish behind Mark Hensby at the 2004 John Deere Classic, Morgan was sidelined when a violent epileptic seizure left him with a ruptured sternum.
To make matters worse, the fit was the beginning of a series of injuries and misfortunes that have plagued some of his prime golfing years. Now, though, Morgan has returned to the golf course and is looking to fight his way back into the big time.
The 29 year old has missed half of the cuts on his six Challenge Tour starts in 2007, but a share of sixth place in Italy in April showed that, when fit and healthy, he remains a very talented performer.
Wahlqvist, the 26 year old Swede, is another fighting his way up the professional system and having won his place in the field courtesy of some fine results on the ECCO Tour in Denmark, he benefited from some good luck when he chipped in at the first hole and later holed a six iron for an eagle two at the 16th.
Those two shots helped Wahlqvist to a 63 on a perfectly calm morning and into the clubhouse lead by a stroke from Morgan, with Welshman Stuart Manley well placed after a 65.

LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 70

63 Johan Wahlqvist (Swe).
64 John E Morgan (Eng), Iain Pyman (Eng)
65 Stuart Manley (Wal), Francois Delamontagne (Fra), Magnus A Carlsson (Swe), Inder Van Weerelt (Ned)
66 Matthew Bliss (Can), Peter Bocian (Swe), Rikard Karlberg (Swe), Soren Juul (Den), Peter Ankersoe (Den), Klaus Eriksson (Swe)
67 Jan-Are Larsen (Nor), Ake Nilsson (Swe), Jamie Little (Eng), John Davies (Den), Colm Moriarty (Ire), Panu Kyllianen (Fin), Marcus Palm (Swe), Paul Dwyer (Eng), Edoardo Molinari (Ita), Antti Ahokas (Fin), Thomas Norret (Den), Gary Clark (Eng), Tuomas Tuovinen (Fin)
68 Kasper Linnet Jorgensen (Den), Ben Mason (Eng), Adam Gee (Eng), Brian Akstrup (Den), Knud Storgaard (Den), Mark Murphy (Ire), Benjamin Alvarado (Chi), Christian Aronsen (Nor), Van Phillips (Eng), Peter Kaensche (Nor), Christian Reimbold (Ger), Tony Edlund (Swe), Kalle Edberg (Swe), Kristian Nielsen (am) (Den)
Scots' scores:
73 M Urquhart.
74 A Hay.
76 E Thomson.

MASON WINS FIRST MIDLAND ALLIANCE OF SEASON
AT BALLUMBIE CASTLE WITH ONE-OVER-PAR 70

Drumoig Driving Range professional Brian Mason was the scratch winner of the first competition of the new Midland Golfers' Alliance season at sunny but blustery Ballumbie Castle course, Dundee today (Thursday).
Brian shot a one-over-par 70, good scoring in the windy condtions. He had a shot to spare from Steven Rettie, the Royal Troon assistant professional.
Best net score of the day was a 68 off a handicap of six by Fraser McKay (Drumoig).
Winneers of the Andrew Herd Team Competition were T Cooper (Dalmilling) (6), G Wilkie (Tulliallan) (10) and H Grant (Muckhart) (6) with a net score of 61.

Scoreboard:

LEADING SCRATCH
Par 69
70 B Mason (Drumoig) p, 72 S Rettie (Royal Troon) ap. 73 G McLeod (Monifieth) p. 74 L Mann (Carnoustie Links) p, F McKay (Drumoig). 75 H Wong (Burntisland) ap, G Finlay (Ballumbie Castle).
76 D Wilson (Monifieth), S Harrod (Ballumbie Castle).
LEADING HANDICAP
F McKay (Drumoig) (6) 68; D Sievwright (Drumoig) (12) 70; T Cooper (Dalmilling) (6), J Laing (Caird Park) (12), A Lawrence (Caird Park) (14), N McLeod (Monifieth) (5) 72; D Wilson (Monifieth) (3), S Harrod (Ballumbie Castle) (3) 73; N Henderson (Scotscraig) (11), G Wilkie (Tulliallan) (10), J Barnet (Dunfermline) (7), J Barnet (Dunfermline) (7) 74.
Andrew Herd Team Competition - T Cooper (Dalmilling) (6), G Wilkie (Tulliallan) (10), H Grant (Muckhart) (6) 61; F Thomson (Crieff) (14), R Lauchlan (Crieff) (12), A MacDairmid (Crieff) (14) 62;
C Wallace (Caird Park) (11), J Laing (Caird Park) (12), A Lawrence (Caird Park) (14) 62.
Qualifiers for championship at Crailg in April: B Mason (Drumoig) p, S Rettie (Royal Troon) ap, G McLeod (Monifieth) (p).
Next week's meeting is on Monday (September 3) at Thornton where the tee has been reserved from 9am to 12.30.

Scottish Golf Union vice-president John Sommerville, Scottish Seniors Order of Merit winner Ian Hutcheon (Monifieth) and Gordon MacDonald (Callander), captain of the Scottish Seniors Golf Society outside the Blairgowrie clubhouse. Click on the Cal Carson Golf Agency image (c) to enlarge it.

HUTCHEON FOURTH BUT CLINCHES SENIORS'
ORDER OF MERIT TITLE AT BLAIRGOWRIE

Monifieth maestro Ian Hutcheon duly won the inaugural Scottish Seniors Order of Merit at Blairgowrie Golf Club today, even though the 65-year-old former Walker Cup player finished only fourth in the end-of-the-season event restricted to the leading 30 players in the points table.
Hutcheon, the Scottish seniors amateur champion, had built up such a big lead in earlier events on the Scottish over-55s circuit, that he could not be caught even if he had finished last.
Ian totalled 589pt to win the Order of Merit title and trophy by more than 250pt from runner-up Gordon Brown (Vale of Leven), 320, with John Fraser (Royal Burgess) third with 292, George Paterson (Northern) fourth with 260 and Jim Watt (Letham Grange) fifth with 245.
“I don’t feel I need to practise as much as I once did,” said Ian after returning a two-over-par 74 (37-37) at the Lansdowne course, “especially if I am playing two or three times a week as I usually do.”

Ian had "only" one birdie in his round, at the 13th and three bogeys, at the seventh, 11th and 18th.
Winner of first prize for the Order of Merit Shoot-out meeting was Alloa man Tony Stafford who plays off scratch at Troon St Meddans Golf Club.
Stafford, 55, had a very good round of two-under-par 70 off the back tees on the Lansdowne course (6,952yd) despite finishing with four 5s in a row, which includes bogeys at the 15th, 16th and 18th.
Driving very well, mostly with a three-wood, he birdied the first, fifth, seventh, 10th and 12th and, without a blemish on his card, was five under par with four holes to play. He bogeyed the 15th even though he was playing a pitching wedge approach; he three-putted the 16th and had his one bad drive, into the trees, at the 18th in halves of 33 (three under par) and 37 (one over).
Stafford played for a spell as a professional on the Hooters and Golden Gate Tours in America in the 1990s.

He had played in only one of the Scottish seniors' circuit events, at Stirling Golf Club but plans to play the full tour next season.

Tony recalls he did play for a Midlands representative boys' team of yesteryear but was never capped for Scotland at Under-18 level and that he gave up golf completely for three years after getting married at the age of 18.

His Blairgowrie Lansdowne figures were:

OUT: 4-4-4-4-2-4-3-5-3-33.

IN: 3-4-3-4-3-5-5-5-5-37.
Robert Humble (Kilspindie) was runner-up with a 71 (36-35). Robert birdied the first, fourth, eighth, 12th, 13th and 17th but had bogeys at the second, third, sixth, 14th and 16th.

Gordon Brown (Vale of Leven), who did well in the recent British seniors' open amateur championship at Nairn and Nairn Dunbar, finished third on the day with a 73 (37-36).

Gordon birdied the first, seventh, 11th and 13th, bogeyed the fourth, ninth, 12th and 15th.

Collated scoreboard

SCOTTISH SENIORS ORDER OF MERIT SHOOT-OUT
Blairgowrie Golf Club, Lansdowne Course.
6,932yd. Par 72
SCRATCH
70 T Stafford (Troon St Meddans).
71 R Humble (Kilspindie).
73 G Brown (Vale of Leven).
74 I C Hutcheon (Monifieth).
75 D McCart (Castlerock).
77 A K Pirie (Hazlehead), R Stewart (Tulliallan), W Erskine (Kilsyth Lennox), D Miller (Kilmarnock Barassie), P Tomisson (Nairn), J Fraser (Royal Burgess).
78 G Thomson (Bearsden), R MacLellan (Turnberry), G Paterson (Northern).
79 W Wallace (Strathaven), H Anderson (Callander), S Ellis (Cowal), I Taylor (Royal Burgess).
80 J Paton (Kirkintilloch), R MacLean (Hamilton).
81 W Brown (Strathaven), J W Johnston (Royal Aberdeen), G Rodaks (Moffat).
82 B Grieve (King James VI).
83 J Roy (Grange), B Smith (Hamilton), C Christy (Kilmacolm).
86 I Dickson (Lundin).
NR J Watt (Letham Grange).
HANDICAP – D McCart (Castlerock) (1) 74; G Thomson (Bearsden) (3), R Stewart (Tulliallan) (2), W Wallace (Strathaven) (4) 75.

SCOTTISH SENIORS ORDER OF MERIT
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
1 I C Hutcheon (Monifieth) 589, 2 G Brown (Vale of Leven) 320, 3 J Fraser (Royal Burgess) 292, 4 G Paterson (Northern) 260, 5 J Watt (Letham Grange) 245.

PRESS RELEASE

"CANADA CUP" COMES OUT OF RETIREMENT FOR WORLD
CUP STAGING AT MISSION HILLS IN CHINA

A Total of 28 Nations to Play for the Original Trophy at the Omega Mission Hills World Cup
One of the most distinctive trophies in professional golf will be raised aloft for the first time in eight years in November when 28 nations contest the Omega Mission Hills World Cup in China.
Weighing a formidable 82 kilos and standing 56cms tall and 61cms wide, the trophy which began life in 1953 as the Canada Cup, will be presented to the 2007 champions at Mission Hills Golf Club on November 25 after four days of world class team competition.
The return of the World Cup trophy to active service was endorsed by the International Federation of PGA Tours at Carnoustie in Scotland during The 136th Open Championship. Since 2000, the trophy has been housed at the World Golf Hall of Fame in Florida. It will be on display during the OMEGA European Masters in Switzerland in September before taking up residence at its new, permanent home, Mission Hills Golf Club, in time for the Omega Mission Hills World Cup.
Pictured with the impressive trophy are (left to right): Johan Immelman, Commissioner, Sunshine Tour; Tim Finchem, Commissioner, US PGA Tour; George O’Grady, Chief Executive, The European Tour; Ben Sellenger, CEO, PGA Tour of Australasia; Kosaku Shimada, Chairman, Japan Golf Tour and Kyi Hla Han, Executive Chairman, Asian Tour.
The original World Cup of Golf was the brainchild of the late Canadian industrialist and founder of the International Golf Association (IGA), John Jay Hopkins, who donated the Canada Cup for competition among two-man teams representing their countries.
Argentina, represented by Antonio Cerda and 1967 Open Champion, Roberto de Vicenzo, defeated six other countries to capture the inaugural World Cup at Beaconsfield Golf Club in Montreal in 1953.
Since then, it has grown into one of the most prestigious world team events in golf, played on some of the finest courses and has fostered strong bonds between the different nationalities over the past 54 years.
Many great partnerships from the past and present have had their names inscribed on the famous trophy – Peter Thomson and Kel Nagle; Ben Hogan and Sam Snead; Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer; Fred Couples and Davis Love III in four consecutive years and the popular Irish pairing of Padraig Harrington, The 2007 Open Champion, and Paul McGinley. Other great champions such as Seve Ballesteros, Ernie Els, Bernhard Langer and Tiger Woods have won the event twice with different partners.
Since the year 2000, when the event became part of the World Golf Championships series, World Number One, Tiger Woods, has been successful twice, with David Duval and Mark O’Meara while Els and Retief Goosen were also victorious.
Woods and his close friend O’Meara were, in fact, the last partnership to accept the original trophy on behalf of the United States at the Mines Resort & Golf Club in Malaysia in 1999.
For the 2007 Omega Mission Hills World Cup the leading 18 available players, each native-born citizens of different countries, from the Official World Golf Ranking on Monday September 3 will qualify. These 18 players will select a player of their choosing from the same country provided each player is ranked in the top 100 of the Official World Golf Ranking on September 3. Ten countries from the World Qualifying Competitions to be held from September 27-30 will complete the field of 28 nations competing for the first prize of US$1,650,000 from a total prize fund of US$5,000,000.
The 2007 Omega Mission Hills World Cup will launch a new and exciting era in the history of the event first played in 1953 as the Canada Cup. The event is set to continue through 2018, and most probably beyond, at Mission Hills following the signing of an agreement, which brought the prestige watch manufacturer Omega together with the Club, which introduced international golf to China by hosting the World Cup in 1995.
The International Federation of PGA Tours will, as custodians, oversee the 53rd edition of the event as it unfolds less than one year before the staging in Beijing of the Olympic Games at which Omega has a unique role as Official Timekeeper.

COLIN SAVES SCOTLAND'S WORLD CUP STATUS

Colin Montgomerie said at Gleneagles yesterday on the eve of the European Tour's Johnnie Walker Championship that he does intend representing Scotland in the World Cup in China in November.
Monty and Marc Warren lost a play-off to Germany in the Barbados last year.
Apart from Colin, Scotland's professional golfers are so far down the individual world rankings that Scotland might not have been eligible to field a team of two had he not made himself available.

ASIAN TOUR Q SCHOOL MOVES TO MALAYSIA

The 2008 Asian Tour Qualifying School will break new ground later this year when it is played for the first time in Sabah, Malaysia.
The Asian Tour announced today that the Qualifying School has also received the full support from Tourism Malaysia and Sabah Tourism.
Approximately 500 players from all around the world are expected to head to the East Malaysian state in November and December in their attempts to earn playing rights on the Asian Tour for the 2008 season.
The Asian Tour is widely regarded as the fastest growing tour in the world, with a record US$27 million in total prize money on offer this year through the staging of 27 tournaments across the region.
The Qualifying School will feature two stages of stroke-play competition, with the First Stage being held over two separate weeks (November 7-10 and December 5-8) in Kota Kinabalu, the capital city of Sabah. The courses which will be used are Sutera Harbour Golf and Country Club and Borneo Golf and Country Club.
The all-important Final Stage will be held at Sutera Harbour and Sabah Golf Club from December 12-15 where the top-40 finishers and ties will earn playing rights for the 2008 season.
The Entry Form for the Qualifying School is available on www.asiantour.com.
Sabah, located in the northern part of Borneo, is the second largest state in Malaysia. The famous Sabah landscape, with lush green forests and mountainous terrain, has been a tourist attraction with its breathtaking views of tropical rainforest.

Editor's note: In common with Tour Qualifying Schools the world over, the cost of entry to the Asian Tour Qualifying School is high - $US 1,500, which is roughly £750. That is a one-off fee which covers all the stages. October 27 is the deadline for entries.

LET'S HOPE VIKKI'S EXAMPLE CAN

SPUR DAVID INGLIS TO RISE

OUT OF PRO TOUR DOLDRUMS

Scottishgolfview.com's David Inglis Watch continues on the Gateway Tour in Florida.
The young man from Glencorse, for whom a great future was predicted in golf not all that long ago when he was British boys champion, a successful player on the US college circuit while a student at Tulsa University, then a Walker Cup player, has had a professional career that just does not match up to the talent that is lying dormant for the moment.
David has played in 25 tournaments since January 5.
He has missed the 36-hole cut or withdrawn after one round in 20 events.
He is currently on a five missed-cuts sequence. His record is 10 in a row.
He won money from his first three events of the year when he was joint 11th, joint 30th and joint 19th. Since then he has had a payday only twice - in March when he was joint 24th and mid-July when he was 50th.
His Hooter Tour earnings this year add up to $7,833.
Let's hope that the Boy David hangs on in there as Vikki Laing, another very talented Scot as an amateur, did and was rewarded with her first pro win on the US Futures Tour at Gettysburg on Sunday.

Starting times for shotgun start on Monday

PAUL LAWRIE SCHOOLS TEAM CHALLENGE
(SCRATCH) TROPHY & A.T. PERSONNEL
SCHOOLS TEAM CHALLENGE
(HANDICAP) TROPHY

Peterculter Golf Club, nr Aberdeen: Monday, September 3

Players should register in the clubhouse before going to stated tee at 11.30 am for shotgun start.

GIRLS - RED TEES BOYS - WHITE TEES

HOLE ONE
Calum Geddes, Kincorth Academy
Zac Wood, Torry Academy
Ashley Alston, Montrose Academy

HOLE TWO
Ashley Smith, Grove Academy
Mhairi Johnstone, Aberdeen Grammar School
Fiona Fullerton, The Gordon Schools

HOLE THREE
Rebecca Wilson, Monifeith High School
Lauren Duncan, Aboyne Academy
Rachael Polson, Cults Academy

HOLE FOUR
Douglas Elrick. Hazlehead Academy
Ross Gordon, Peterhead Academy
John Elrick, Meldrum Academy

HOLE FIVE
Sean Lawrie, Kincorth Academy
Scott Keith, Dyce Academy
Ryan Gordon, Alford Academy

HOLE FIVE: MIDDLE OF THE FAIRWAY
Mark Thomson, Grove Academy
Nick Macandrew, Aberdeen Grammar School
Jack Scott, Robert Gordon’s College

HOLE SIX
Mark Stainton, Peterhead Academy
Sam MacNeil, Aboyne Academy
Euan McIntosh, Ellon Academy

HOLE SEVEN
Scott Barron, Kemnay Academy
Gordon McKechnie, Meldrum Academy
Andy Todd ,Grove Academy

HOLE SEVEN: MIDDLE OF THE FAIRWAY
Scott Bruce, Oldmachar Academy
Murray Adam, Cults Academy
Luke Sanderson, Bridge of Don Academy

HOLE EIGHT
Michael McNally, Monifeith High School
Ritchie Manson, Alford Academy
Ross Pert, Montrose Academy

HOLE NINE
Fraser Clarke, Westhill Academy
Ryan Dick, Hazlehead Academy
Nick Shewan, Mintlaw Academy

HOLE TEN
Michael Clark, The Gordon Schools
Sean Carrol, Torry Academy
Murray Kinnard, Bridge of Don Academy

HOLE ELEVEN
Ali Macdonald, Robert Gordon’s College
Ben Gourlay, Meldrum Academy
Andrew Cowieson, Monifeith High School

HOLE TWELVE
Andrew Simpson, Montrose Academy
Matthew Smith, Westhill Academy
Aaron Crouch, Mintlaw Academy

HOLE THIRTEEN
Cameron Murray, Dyce Academy
Kyle Gray, Torry Academy
Craig Barron, Kemnay Academy

HOLE 13 - MIDDLE OF THE FAIRWAY
Adam Dunton, Ellon Academy
Chris Robb, Banchory Academy
Scott Brown, Oldmachar Academy

HOLE FOURTEEN
Kamran Zeynalov, Kincorth Academy
Aaron Ingram, Mintlaw Academy
Lewis Morgan, Kemnay Academy

HOLE FIFTEEN
Matthew Mitchell, Bridge of Don Academy
Cameron Smith, Dyce Academy
Nicol Dow, Alford Academy

HOLE SIXTEEN
Matthew Wiseman, Peterhead Academy
Fraser O’Connor, Banchory Academy
Murray Paterson, Ellon Academy

HOLE SEVENTEEN
David Beaumont, Oldmachar Academy
Graham Guild, The Gordon Schools
Steven Smith, Westhill Academy

HOLE 17 - MIDDLE OF THE FAIRWAY
Donald Macandrew, Aberdeen Grammar School
Steven Smith, Robert Gordon’s College
Stewart McIntosh, Aboyne Academy

HOLE EIGHTEEN
Sean Mechie, Banchory Academy
Scott Patterson, Cults Academy
Michael Angus, Hazlehead Academy

***Middle of Fairway: Tee off before hooter at noon.

PAUL DOHERTY BACK IN CONTENTION
WITH AN OPENING ROUND OF 65

Former Scottish boys' match-play champion Paul Doherty bounced back from the disappointment of missing the cut last week to be lying joint fifth with a five-under-par 65 in the first round of the PGA EuroPro Tour's Ufford Park Classic today.
SCOREBOARD
Par 70
63 M McDermott (Ire).
64 G Clark (Eng), J Ruebotham (Eng), S Cartwright (Eng).
65 P Doherty (Sco) 35-30, R Harris (Eng), R Claydon (Eng), E Vernon (Eng).
Other Scots scores:
70 P Cormack 36-34.
71 J Doherty 38-33.
72 G Brown 39-33, N Mitchell 37-35, C Campbell 37-35.

NORTH-EAST ALLIANCE SEASON STARTS AT
BRAEMAR ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12

The North-east of Scotland Golfers' Alliance annual meeting will be held at the Atholl Hotel, King's Gate in Aberdeen on Monday, September 10 at 7.30pm.
Entry forms for the Scottish Alliance championship at Monifieth and Arbroath from October 9 to 11 will be available at the meeting and also at the first competition of the new season, at Braemar on Wednesday, September 12.
Trouble is that the deadline for entries is Saturday, September 15 and there is a penalty clause for late entries to the Scottish Alliance championship this year. If you want to enter it and it is after Saturday, September 15, then there will be an additional fee of £20 on top of the "normal" entry free of £40.
If you want to get your hands on a Scottish Alliance championship entry form in good time, you can phone secretary Ron Menzies at 01224 780033.

The 2007-2008 NE Alliance season starts on Wednesday, September 12 at Braemar.
The fixtures are:
September 12 Braemar. 19 Kemnay. 26 McDonald Ellon.
October 3 Huntly. 9-11 Scottish Alliance championship (Monifieth & Arbroath). 17 Insch. 24 Ballater. 31 Edzell.
November 7 Peterculter. 14 Newmacahr. 21 Turriff. 28 Portlethen.
December 5 Cruden Bay .
January 9 Craibstone. 16 Peterhead. 23 Buckpool. 30 Inverallochy.
February 6 Montrose. 13 Deeside. 20 Murcar. 27 Newburgh.
March 5 Fraserburgh. 12 Cruden Bay (championship first round). 19 Duff House Royal (championship second round). 27-28 Murcar (foursomes).


ends

KEMNAY POST FOR GLENEAGLES STAFF
MAN DAVID BROWN

Kemnay Golf Club near Aberdeen has appointed David Brown, a member of the Gleneagles Hotel golf staff, to succeed Ronnie McDonald as club professional.
Elgin-born Brown will take up his duties from Saturday, September 1.
McDonald has resigned from the Kemnay post because wants to make a serious attempt at getting on to the European Seniors Tour. He has failed narrowly to gain a player's card for the over-50s circuit at the past two Qualifying Schools on the Algarve.
Brown, 28, was PGA Scottish trainee of the year in 2004.

TOP NORWICH GOLF POST FOR BLAIRGOWRIE MAN

Blairgowrie-born golf professional Keith Grant, a former winner of the Grampian TV boys' championship before he competed on the Tartan Tour for a spell, has been appointed director of golf at the Marriott Sprowston Manor Hotel & Country Club on the outskirts of Norwich.
The facilities include a 6,547yd 18-hole course and a 27-bay floodlit driving range.
Keith was previously on the pro staff at Hanbury Manor Hotel & Country Club and also Fairmont St Andrews Resort.

Press Release

R&A ANNOUNCES NEW RULES ON
CLUB ADJUSTABILITY

The R&A has announced a change to the Rules of Golf regarding additional forms of club adjustability, effective from 1 January, 2008. All new forms of adjustability must be approved in advance by The R&A and adjustments during a round will continue to be disallowed as at present.
The Rules of Golf currently state that woods and irons must not be designed to be adjustable, except for weight. In March 2005, The R&A first indicated an interest in allowing more types of adjustable features on woods and irons and in February 2007, a proposed Rule change was published for review and comment.
The R&A has decided to adopt the proposal after careful consideration of comments from manufacturers and other interested parties.
“We believe that the Rule change regarding club adjustability will create opportunities for both manufacturers and golfers alike, without diminishing the challenge of the game,” said David Rickman, R&A Director of Rules and Equipment Standards.
“Top professional golfers have long had the opportunity to have their clubs adjusted or modified quickly and often. This has allowed them to ‘fit’ their clubs to their swings as they wished. By changing the Rules to permit greater club adjustability, all golfers will have the opportunity to enjoy similar fitting benefits” added Rickman.

1. The new Rule will state the following:

“All clubs may incorporate mechanisms for weight adjustment. Other forms of adjustability may also be permitted upon evaluation by The R&A.

The following requirements apply to all permissible methods of adjustment:

(i) the adjustment cannot be readily made;

(ii) all adjustable parts are firmly fixed and there is no reasonable likelihood of them working loose during a round; and

(iii) all configurations of adjustment conform with the Rules.

During a stipulated round, the playing characteristics of a club must not be purposely changed by adjustment or by any other means (see Rule 4-2a)”

2. There is no change to the Rules for putters, which are already permitted to incorporate other forms of adjustability as well as for weight.

3. An announcement on the 2008 Rules of Golf, including the principal changes to the “playing Rules”, will be made at the end of October / early November.

Aberdeen exile Paul Patterson pictured in his new golfing abode at Perth, Western Australia. Life can be tough sometimes!

Colin Farquharson writes:

Paul Patterson was a well-known local amateur golfer in the North-east area for several years. A member of Murcar (Links) Golf Club, Aberdeen, Paul was a good enough player to be selected for the North-east District many times.

Recently, I received an E-mail from Paul, telling me he was now living and working in Australia - and was delighted to discover that he could now keep up todate with the golf scene in Scotland and the North-east, having just discovered www.scottishgolfview.com

I invited Paul to could tell us about life in Australia as he knows it. Here is his reply:

PAUL PATTERSON'S LETTER FROM AUSTRALIA

I have been in Perth , Australia for nearly four years now. I moved here with my wife and two young sons as Yvonne was offered a position in Perth as H R manager with an Italian oil company. I work as a part-time share trader and "full time" as a father.
I still miss my golfing mates from Aberdeen (Alan Reith, Bryan Innes, Graeme McInnes, Andy Campbell, Ronnie Brechin etc) but the golf here is really enjoyable.

The weather is just perfect for about 10 months per year.
I play my golf at Joondalup Country Club which is a 27-hole compex which has been voted No.1 resort in Australia for the past three years. It is a Robert Trent Jones junior-designed course with huge sloping greens which are real fast at certain times of the year.

I got to know Michael Sim (US Tour) who was born in Aberdeen and played all his amateur golf at Joondalup. He is a really down to earth guy and has a short game to die for !!!
I play just as much golf here as I did back in Scotland. There are plenty of good quality tournaments to play in such as The Vines and Lake Karenup.

I play pennant golf for Joondalup which is played as seven singles matches. It's very competitive and after the food and speeches , each team gets up and sings the club song !!!!
We're really settled here now and it is a real outdoor lifestyle and climate we love but watching sporting events from UK can be a bit tiresome at 3 o'clock in the morning !!!
I'm glad I found your website as I still like to see how the boys are doing back in the North East.
Regards,
Paul Patterson

English Golf Union Press Release

ENGLAND NAME SIX FOR DUTCH JUNIOR MASTERS

Adam Best, a member of England’s triumphant Boys Home Internationals team, and under 16 Champion Adam Carson have been named in a six-man squad to compete in the International Dutch Junior Masters at Westfriese in Holland on September 1 and 2.
The full squad is
Jonathan Bell (Royal Blackheath), Tom Berry (Wentworth), Adam Best (Cleveland), Adam Carson (Long Ashton), Richard Prophet (Shifnal) and Max Smith (Newbury Racecourse).

AMATEUR PETE JAMES WINS CELTIC PRO
TOUR'S SWANSEA BAY OPEN

English amateur Pete James led from start to finish to win the Swansea Bay Open, the sixth event of the Dragon Tour, and the eighth event on the Celtic Pro Tour.
Overnight leader James, of Belmont Lodge, held on to his lead to win his first event on the Celtic Pro Tour by one shot from professional Lewis James (ISM/Southerndown).
Pete James becomes the eighth different winner on the Celtic Pro Tour this season. Three players were tied for third place - home professional Jonathan Clewett, Andy Lambert (Belmont Lodge) and Leon Clark (Greenmeadow)
Pete James' first round one under par round of 69 on the west Wales course would have been much better as he stood at four under par after 15 holes and triple-bogeyed the 16th hole to bring the chasing golfers back into contention.
The amateur was in a similar position at the Wicklow Open in Tulfarris last month when he triple bogeyed the 17th on the Irish course.
The Celtic Pro Tour, while designed mainly for young professional golfers to hone their skills, is also open to quality amateur golfers looking to develop their game.
Clinching the title with a closing round 72, Pete James joins Neath's Richard Hooper as the second amateur to win on the tour and received the voucher for the leading amateur, a Sunderland of Scotland waterproof suit, a Powerbug electric trolley and the Swansea Bay Open title and trophy.
Lewis James walked away with the professionals’ prize money of £500 and also claimed the bonus money for the best round over the two days with 71 on both occasions. Lambert, Clark and Clewett split the 2nd and 3rd place money, each taking home £100.
The next Celtic Pro Tour event, the Carnoustie Country Open takes place at Montrose (Medal Course), on Tuesday 11th and Wednesday 12th September,
A special package price is available for Welsh-based golfers wishing to compete in this famous golfing heartland.
“We are putting together a very attractive package for golfers from Wales wishing to travel to Montrose, a venue that staged final qualifying for this year’s Open Championship and golfers must remember that in order to qualify for the final Order of Merit placings, they must compete in at least one non-Welsh based event,” said Tour director Rhydian Thomas.
“This is an excellent opportunity to meet that condition, as we have already played two events in Ireland and there is only one more Scottish event after Montrose, which will be at Murcar in the first week of October. Indeed, as we get closer to the end of the season, golfers who have yet to play an event on the Celtic Pro Tour are reminded that they will need to play in at least one standard event in order to be able to enter the Tour Championship at St Pierre on 17th, 18th and 19th of October when we will be playing for our biggest prize fund.”
For more information on the Scottish event or the Tour Championship, visit the website at www.celticpro.com, or contact Tour Director, Rhydian Thomas on 07861 686568

CELTIC PRO TOUR EVENT AT MONTROSE
DELAYED A DAY TO SEPTEMBER 11-12

The Celtic Pro Tour 36-hole golf tournament at Montrose Links has been put back a day to September 11 and 12. It was originally due to be played on the Monday and Tuesday. Now it will start on the Tuesday and finished on the Wednesday.
The only other Celtic Pro Tour event in Scotland, the Grampian Open, will be held over Murcar Links on October 1 and 2.
Both events are open to low-handicap amateurs as well as professionals.
Details are available from Celtic Pro Tour Director Rhydian Thomas on 07861 686568.

BELL WINS ANGUS MATCH-PLAY TITLE

Graham Bell (Downfield) is the new Angus District match-play champion.
He beat Ian Reid (Letham Grange) over the Letham Grange course at the 20th hole in an epic final.

ELS PULLS OUT OF US TOUR EVENT AT BOSTON

World ranked No 4 Ernie Els has pulled out of this week's US PGA Tour event, the Deutsche Bank Championship in Boston.
Els is spending the week at his Wentworth, Surrey home, supervising family matters and he will miss this week's round of the US PGA Tour play-offs for the FedExCup.
Tiger Woods missed last week's tournament.
"I have been on the road now for almost eight weeks and it is important that I return home where my children will be preparing for their return to school," said Els after finishing fourth in the weekend's Barclays Classic at Westchester Country Club.
"I regret having to miss such a prestigious and important tournament and I wish everybody there an enjoyable and successful week," Els said.
Els will return for the third round of the FedEx Cup at the BMW Championship next week.

LAMB CHOPS BUCHANAN’S LONG RUN IN
PAUL LAWRIE YOUNG PROS’ CHAMPIONSHIPS

Broomieknowe’s Stephen Lamb won the Paul Lawrie Young Professionals’ match-play title and a £900 cheque at Newburgh on Ythan Golf Club, Aberdeenshire today.
Stephen beat the defending champion, Tom Buchanan (Duddingston) by 3 and 2 in the final. Buchanan’s runner-up prize was £650.
It was certainly never going to be a case of leading Lamb to the slaughter .. Stephen has playing experience on the European Challenge Tour and the PGA EuroPro Tour.
Buchanan won the first hole in the final but Lamb squared with a birdie at the second and was never in arrears after that. Three up at the turn, the Broomieknowe man defied his opponent’s attempts to reduce the lead significantly.
In the morning semi-finals, Buchanan beat David Orr (East Renfrewshire) by two holes. Including last year’s championship and this one, it was the first time Buchanan had had to play the 18th hole.
Lamb beat James McGhee (Turnhouse) by 3 and 2 in the other semi-final.
The beaten semi-finalists each received £440.
Today's results:

Semi-finals – T Buchanan (Duddingston) bt D Orr (East Renfrewshire) 2 holes, S Lamb (Broomieknowe) bt J McGhee (Turnhouse) 3 and 2.
Final – Lamb bt Buchanan 3 and 2.

LOCKHART WINS AT ARCHERFIELD FROM ACE CRERAR

Ladybank's Alan Lockhart won the £831 top prize in today's Scottish Licensed Trade Benevolent Society pro-am at Archerfield Links Golf Club, East Lothian.
Lockhart finished with a four-under-par 68 which was a good round in its own right but he could have had an exceptional score over a tough course but for a double-bogey at the very last hole.
Prior to that Alan had birdied the third, fifth, sixth, 10th,14th and 15th and was six under par standing on the 18th tee.
Runner-up Andrew Crerar (King James VI) had a hole in one at the third (181yd) with a seven iron. It was is third ace. His score of 69 earned him £664.
Lee Vannet (Carnoustie Golf Links) led the Saltire Taverns' amateur trio of Billy Lowe (13), Ian Lynn (18) and Steve Paterson (18) to victory with a net better ball score of 12-under-par 60 - but only on a better inward half of 29.
Campbell Elliott (Haggs Castle) and the Best Cellars' team also had a net score of 60.
LEADING PROFESSIONALS
Par 72
68 A Lockhart (Ladybank).
69 A Crerar (King James VI).
71 S Cairns (Westerwood), S Bayne(Archerfield Links).
72 C Ronald (Carluke), J McKenna (Irvine), G McFarlane (Clober), G Harvey (Kinross), G Hutcheon (Peterculter).
73 G Law (Uphall), C Elliott (Haggs Castle), J Porteous (Craigielaw).
74 L Vannet (Carnoustie GL), D Robertson (Mearns Castle).

SCOTLAND SCHOOLS TEAMS ANNOUNCED

The Scotland teams for the schoolboys and schoolgirls' international matches against their England counterparts at Westerwood Hotel Golf & Country Club, Cumbernauld on Monday, September 10 have been announced.
Switch over to our sister website, www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk, to see who's in and who's not.

BUCHANAN v LAMB FOR PAUL LAWRIE YP TITLE

Title-holder Tom Buchanan (Duddingston) is through to the final of the Paul Lawrie Young Professionals' match-play championship for the second year in a row.
In this morning's semi-finals at Newburgh-on-Ythan Golf Club, Buchanan beat David Orr (East Renfrewshire) by two holes while Stephen Lamb (Balbirnie Park) beat James McGhee (Turnhouse) 3 and 2.
Final tees off at 12.30 today.

English Golf Union Press Release

COLIN EDWARDS ROLLS YEARS BACK TO WIN
ENGLISH MID-AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

Colin Edwards proved he is still a force in the game by winning the English men's mid-amateur stroke-play championship for the Logan Trophy in style at Minchinhampton recently - 12 years after his last national triumph.
The 44-year-old from Bath, whose appearances in national events have been restricted by business commitments and a car accident 18 months ago, rolled back the years to lead from start to finish.
Edwards carded a closing 70 for 206, seven under par, and a six-shot winning margin from Cheshire’s Gareth Bradley, 44, who took the runner-up spot on countback, also with a last-round 70, and defending champion Martin Young, 37, with 73.
Edwards’ last national title was a share of the Brabazon Trophy in 1995 but he proved he has lost none of the skills that brought him 86 England appearances between 1991 and 2003.
“This is unbelievable,” he said after starting the day three strokes clear of Young. “It is fantastic to win and means the world to me because it proves I can still win at national level. At the start of the week I probably felt I couldn’t win.
"I was hitting the ball poorly but the opening 68 was a big boost. I wanted to win more than anything and in some ways I probably tried too hard.
“Although I had a comfortable lead I could never relax until the end because I knew how good a player Martin is," added the man with 12 Somerset titles to his credit.
From Young’s point of view, Edwards’ three-stroke lead going into the final day was a gap too far and he never managed to claw it back. closing 70 for second spot.
John Kemp, another ex-England cap, also finished with 70 including a back nine of 32, for 218 and joint seventh spot but the week belonged to Edwards, who is hoping to add another national crown in the County Champions event at Woodhall Spa next month.
Full results and news items can be found at the EGU website, www.englishgolfunion.org

MAJOR HANDICAP CHANGE IN C O N G U PIPELINE

Switch over to our sister website, www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk, to read a Lewine Mair story from the Daily Telegraph website (www.telegraph.co.uk) about a major change in the handicapping system is in the pipeline from CONGU.

COLT KNOST SUCCEEDS RICHIE

RAMSAY AS UNITED STATES

AMATEUR CHAMPION

FROM THE USGA WEBSITE

Colt Knost of Dallas earned a 2-and-1 victory over Michael Thompson of Tucson, Arizona to win the 2007 U.S. Amateur Championship at The Olympic Club’s par-70, 6,948-yard Lake Course near San Francisco.

And so Knost succeeded Richie Ramsay (Royal Aberdeen) - now a tour professional - as the title-holder. Picture of Knost with the championship trophy is from the USGA website.
It was the second USGA title of 2007 for the 22-year-old Knost, who won the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship last month. With the victory, Knost became the sixth golfer in history to win two USGA championships in the same season, and the second to win the US Amateur and the Amateur Public Links in the same year. Ryan Moore was the first to do so, in 2004.
Knost held a one-hole lead after the first round of the scheduled 36-hole final thanks to a conceded birdie on the 18th hole. In the second round, Thompson squared the match with a brilliant par on the 247-yard third hole, the 21st of the match, when he got up and down from the left rough above the green.
Thompson, 22, took the lead two holes later when he made a 45-footer for par and Knost couldn’t match from 35 feet. But that would prove to be Thompson’s last lead of the day.
Knost squared the match one hole later when Thompson hit his tee shot in the left rough and had to pitch out to the fairway.

He missed his par putt from 10 feet and Knost safely two-putted from 6 feet to again square the match. Knost again took a 1-up lead with a 10-footer for birdie on the eighth hole but gave it back when he missed an 8-footer for par on No. 11, the 29th of the match.
"I kept telling myself, ‘It's 36 holes, just stay patient,’ " said Knost. "I felt like this match, after that morning 18, I felt I could take control of the match coming out, and I didn’t. And I knew I was going to be in for a long haul."
But Knost would finally take the lead for good on No. 13, the 31st of the match, with a 20-foot birdie putt. One hole later, he chipped in from the rough just left of the green and Thompson was unable to match, giving Knost a two-up advantage.
"At that point I'm thinking that I've got to give myself birdie opportunities," said Thompson. "I've got to give myself a chance to win a couple holes."
It looked like Thompson might get one back at No. 15 when Knost hit his tee shot to the rough in front of the green. But he chipped to 10 feet and made his par, allowing him to maintain a 2-up lead.
"I think that was probably more important than the other two, because it kept the momentum in my favour," said Knost. "If I miss that, then he wins the hole and he's obviously got control even though I'm one up with three holes to play."
Thompson did cut into the lead at No. 16 when he hit his approach shot from 118 yards to 3 feet, which he made to cut the deficit to 1 down. But on the next hole, the 35th of the match, he hit his approach shot into the rough well right of the green. He was unable to get his third shot onto the green, and eventually conceded Knost’s par putt, giving Knost his second USGA title in 2007.
For Thompson, there was a silver lining in the loss. He and Knost are assured of a spot in the 2008 U.S. Open field, and will receive invitations to play in the 2008 Masters Tournament as well.
"That's my dream come true," said Thompson of playing in the Masters. "I don't want to get ahead of myself or get too excited, but come that time, I'm going to practice real hard and try to do as best as I can and really enjoy it."
Story written by Beth Murrison of USGA Media Relations. Contact her at bmurrison@usga.org with questions or comments.

ORR READY TO KNOCK-OUT HEAVYWEIGHT

CHAMPION IN PAUL

LAWRIE MATCH-PLAY

Stranraer-born Tom Buchanan (Duddingston), defending champion in the Paul Lawrie young professionals’ match-play tournament, is through to tomorrow morning's semi-finals.
He will play the in-form David Orr (East Renfrewshire) at 8am. In the other tie, tee-ing off at 8.10, it will be James McGhee (Turnhouse) against Stephen Lamb (Broomieknowe).
Buchanan won the title last year without having to play the last two holes in any of his four ties.
Yesterday, he had to play the 17th for the first time. After beating Ian Graham (Crow Wood) 3 and 2 in the first round, Tom beat Bert Mackay (Loch Lomond) in the quarter-final by 2 and 1.
Buchanan, pictured above, is a 6ft 3in 27-year-old who tips the scales at 18stone. He was a senior football prospect in his youth, playing a trial for Rangers and training with Kilmarnock.
He is a past East of Scotland Alliance title-winner.
Orr will be in the mood to knock-out the heavyweight champion after producing a record-equalling round of 61 in coming from several shots behind to pip Greig Hutcheon for the Williamwood 36-hole pro-am top prize.
Stephen Lamb won a marathon first-round tie at the 22nd against Graham Lornie.
Monday results:
First round – T Buchanan (Duddingston) bt I Graham (Crow Wood) 3 and 2, B Mackay (Loch Lomond) bt A MacKenzie (Liberton) at 19th, J Wales (Kings Acre) bt G Fox (West Kilbride) at 20th, D Orr (East Renfrewshire0 bt C McCalman (unatt) 1 hole, J McGhee (Turnhouse0 w.o. A Carlton (Cawder) scr, P Mitchell (Aberdour) bt J Cliff (Murrayfield) 1 hole, S Lamb (Broomieknowe) bt G Lornie (Aspire) at 22nd, S Duncan (Balbirnie Park) bt R Scott (Musselburgh) 6 and 5.
Quarter-finals – Buchanan bt Mackay 2 and 1, Orr bt Wales 3 and 2, McGhee bt Mitchell 3 and 2, Lamb bt Duncan 3 and 2.

ends

FOWLER AND STANLEY COMPLETE USA TEAM
FOR WALKER CUP MATCH AT ROYAL Co DOWN

Rickie Fowler, 18, of Murrieta, Calif., and Kyle Stanley, 19, of Gig Harbor, Wash., have been selected to complete the 10-man squad that will represent the United States against Great Britain & Ireland at Royal Couonty Down Golf Club, Newcastle in Northern Ireland on September 8 and 9.
The USGA had earlier announced eight members of the team:
Billy Horschel, 20, of Grant, Fla.
Dustin Johnson, 23, of Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Chris Kirk, 22, of Woodstock, Ga.
Colt Knost, 22 of Dallas, Texas.
Trip Kuehne, 35, of Irving, Texas.
Jamie Lovemark, 19, of Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.
Jonathan Moore, 22, of Vancouver, Wash.
Webb Simpson, 21, of Raleigh, N.C.
All but Kuehne are collegians or recent graduates, who are playing on their first Walker Cup team.
The alternates to the team, in rank order, are
Michael Thompson, 22, of Tucson, Ariz.
Drew Weaver, 20, of High Point, N.C.
Alex Prugh, 22, of Spokane, Wash.
The Walker Cup Match consists of 16 singles and eight foursomes matches.
The USA reclaimed the Cup with a one-point victory at Chicago Golf Club in 2005.
Great Britain and Ireland’s team had won the three previous Matches, in 1999, 2001 and 2003, twice by scores of 15-9 and by 12½ -11½ in 2003. The USA leads the series overall, 32-7-1.

Fowler won the 2007 Sunnehanna Amateur in Johnstown, Pa., by one stroke, finishing at 8-under-par 272 for his four rounds. He followed with a win at the 2007 Players Amateur in Bluffton, S.C., where he was 24 under par for 72 holes. He also was a quarterfinalist at the 2006 U.S. Amateur.

At the Sunnehanna, he was in the 60s for three of the four rounds. At the Players, his four rounds in the 60s included a 63 and 64.

He won the individual title at the 2007 Southern California High School Championship and the 2006 California State High School Championship. He is currently in his first year at Oklahoma State University.

Stanley won the 2006 Southern Amateur in Birmingham, Ala., as part of a resume that includes five top-10 finishes in highly regarded amateur events over the past two summers. In winning the Southern Amateur, he posted a 9-under-par total of 275 for 72 holes to win by a single stroke. He reached the second round of match play at the 2007 U.S. Amateur.

He was individual runner-up at the 2007 NCAA Championship, where he had a 65 in the third round. He was invited to play in the PGA Tour’s 2007 Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando, Fla.

Stanley, a sophomore year at Clemson University, will be playing in his first Walker Cup Match.
George “Buddy” Marucci, 55, of Villanova, Pa., who played on the USA Walker Cup teams of 1995 and 1997 and was runner-up to Tiger Woods at the 1995 U.S. Amateur, will serve as team captain.

“I couldn’t be more pleased to lead this Walker Cup squad to Ireland,” said Marucci. “It is an honor to be involved with this competition and these fine young men who will represent the USA. I appreciate the commitment on the part of our players who were chosen and those who were considered.”


MEET THE 2007 USA TEAM –
Player Age Hometown
Billy Horschel 20 (12/7/86) Grant, Fla.
Rickie Fowler 18 (12/13/88) Murrieta, Calif.
Dustin Johnson 23 (6/22/84) Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Chris Kirk 22 (5/8/85) Woodstock, Ga.
Colt Knost 22 (6/26/85) Dallas, Texas
Trip Kuehne 35 (6/20/72) Irving, Texas
Jamie Lovemark 19 (1/23/88) Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.
Jonathan Moore 22 (4/17/85) Vancouver, Wash.
Webb Simpson 21 (8/8/85) Raleigh, N.C.
Kyle Stanley 19 (11/19/87) Gig Harbor, Wash.

Captain
George “Buddy” Marucci 55 (3/6/52) Villanova, Pa.

The USGA is the national governing body of golf in this country and Mexico, a combined territory that includes more than half the game’s golfers and golf courses.

The Association conducts 13 national championships, including the U.S. Open, U.S. Women's Open and U.S. Senior Open. Ten additional USGA national championships are exclusively for amateurs, and include the U.S. Amateur and the U.S. Women's Amateur.

The USGA also writes the Rules of Golf, conducts equipment testing, maintains an official Handicap System and administers an ongoing "For the Good of the Game" grants program, which has allocated more than $56 million over 10 years to programs that seek to grow the game. For more information about the USGA, visit www.usga.org.

NO QUALIFICATIONS - BUT BELGIAN GOLF GURU
IS LAUGHING ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK!

Brought to you by Golfhub Ireland
and JO MAES

Who is Josh ?It has gone a bit quiet around Josh Vonstiephoet, the Belgian self-professed golf 'guru'.
Jos Vanstiphout, his real name, has assisted numerous tour pros to win golf tournaments and it has made him a rich man in the process. His qualifications have always been doubted by the other educated psychologists on tour and rightfully so because he has none.
Jos was one of 10 kids and left school at 13. He floated through a variety of jobs from cleaning toilets to advertising sales. He also joined a pop/rock group called Jerimia in the 70's and represented Belgium at the World Song Festival in Tokyo competing against the likes of Demis Roussos and Vicky Leandros.
'If you don't believe in the product, don't sell it. Dream, believe, work your ass off and success will come' was his philosophy during his time as advertising sales. He was going to use a similar philosophy on the Golf Tour but before he could go there, there was one thing left to do, he had to play the game.
So he started playing golf at age 41 and got down to a 10-handicap within the year. He read 500+ philosophy books and the one book that struck him was 'The inner game of Golf' by Timothy Gallwey. He withdrew close to 30,000 Euros and went to the States to look the guy up. He ended up spending a month together with Gallwey and decided he was ready for the tour.
Unfortunately, the tour wasn't ready for him. He invested a fortune turning up on tournaments every week with people thinking of him as a 'big bloody joke'.
No one believed in what he was saying. Luckily for Jos, one man did. Ross Drummond asked his caddy, journalist Lawrence Donegan, if he should work with 'that funny little Belgian guy'. He thought it was good for his book and said 'yes.'
Ross Drummond hired Jos for £250 per week and, funnily enough, after 19 winless seasons on tour, Drummond finished second behind a then little known South African golfer called Goosen. Drummond decided that £250 was too much and Jos went on to bigger things.
At the 2002 Open in Muirfield, Jos had two players in the play-off. Ernie Els had not won a major in five years and a tournament in a year before he hired Jos. In the eight months after signing him, Ernie won eight tournaments plus the Open.
Levet, in the same play-off, won the British Masters 10 days after signing Jos. Vanstiphout also had Goosen and Hansen in the top 10 that year, providing him with a handy bonus at the end of the weekend.
In the meantime, Jos has moved residence to Monaco and has no shortage of golfers who want to work with him. He's a bundle of energy, often on the putting green at dawn, chain-smoking, leaving the range at dusk heading to the hotel for some night time pep talk sessions.
Does he care about his lack of qualifications?
"Do you think the boys on tour care about qualifications, a diploma, a piece of paper?" Jos spits. "Goosen has made more money in six months than in the previous five years. Do you think he cares? And Ernie, do you think he wants to see my CV?
"No Sir, at the end of the month they say, thanks very much , Jos - and here's your cheque!"
+++By the way, the reason it’s gone a bit quiet around ‘Josh’ is because he took some time off to stand by his ex-wife who was terminally ill. (She died). He’s back now with Ernie and also took on Marcel Siem.
Reactions to jo@irishgolfcommunity.ie

HUGH HUNTER'S CLACKMANNANSHIRE NEWS

2007 COUNTY GOLF LEAGUES ----- DOUBLE FOR ALVA

A great year for the Alva golf teams - it's now official with their teams topping the boys' and senior leagues in the County inter-club matches. With a combined total of twelve matches in both leagues, Alva teams won ten and halved two, making 2007 a year to remember, and leaving the other County Clubs struggling in their wake.
The Boys were first up, undefeated in their eight home and away matches, with two halves in the difficult away matches. As if inspired by this, the Alva Senior team went one better- played 4, won 4. Seniors representing Alva were Steve McIvor, Kevin McFarlane, Michael Robertson, Alan Aitken, Michael Graham, Eric Richardson, Lawrence Allan and Alan Flanangan. Much credit for the wins must go to Steve McIvor the Alva Captain and Davie Allan who have shown great enthusiasm and leadership in their respective roles with the Seniors and Boys teams.
The Alva Boys team will now go forward to a Scottish final to be played over the highly acclaimed new course – the Carrick on Loch Lomond on Saturday 6th October.

BOYS' LEAGUE - FINAL POSITIONS

1, ALVA 14 points; 2. DOLLAR 11 points 3. TILLICOULTRY 8 points 4 BRAEHEAD 4 points 5 ALLOA 3 points.

SENIOR LEAGUE - FINAL POSITIONS

1. ALVA 8 points (beat Braehead 4-2, Dollar 4-2; Tillicoultry 6-0; Alloa 3-2 with one half) 2 ALLOA 5 points 3. BRAEHEAD 4 points 4 DOLLAR 3 points 5. TILLICOULTRY 0 points.

Hopefully next year Tulliallan will be able to compete to provide some more competitive opportunities.

EUROPEAN INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Playing for Scotland in the squad of six, Tulliallan’s Callum Macaulay produced a sound performance over the Berlin course last week. He finished in the top twenty, third Scot behind Wallace Booth and Scott Henry, with a one over par score for the seventy two holes. Callum actually led the other five Scots after his first one under par round, but the shine wore off a bit in the second and third rounds, but nevertheless a good performance in the 100 strong field of top European golfers. His final total of 289 (71, 74, 73, 71) was one over par and left him in 18th equal place, 12 shots behind the winner.

SENIORS ORDER OF MERIT FINAL
Also from Tulliallan, Bob Stewart will have a chance to top the Scottish Seniors scene at Blairgowrie this week when he takes his place in the Scottish Final with 30 other competitors.

BELHAVEN CAPTAINS' AND SECRETARIES' CHAMPIONSHIP
Unfortunately, Wee County Golf Administrators were unable to match the achievements of some of their golfing members recently. At a qualifying event held at Duddingston, and from a field of 40 couples, Dollar Golf Club came closest to qualifying for the Scottish final with a score of 70, just missing out by one shot and leaving them in 13th equal position. Further down the field were Alloa (71; 15th equal) and Tulliallan (83 39th equal). Haddington won with as score of 65 and will go forward to the Scottish final next month, with Clubs from the other 4 qualifying venues.

LEADING SCORES AT EASTER MOFFAT PRO-AM

Leading scores in today's Tartan Tour Easter Moffat Golf Club pro-am were:

Par 72
67
Steven Duncan (Balbirnie Park), Graham Rankin (Drumpellier) £1,108 each.
68
Andrew Marshall (Houston Golf Range) £738.
69
Steven Thompson (Castle Golf DR), Adam Hunter (Mearns Castle) £498 each.
70
Iain Pender (Aberfoyle), Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs Golf Range), Alan Lockhart (Ladybank), Brian Mason (Drumoig Driving Range) £298 each.
71
Samuel Cairns (Westerwood), Craig Ronald (Carluke), James McKinnon (Irvine), Euan Cameron (Hamilton), Lee Vannet (Carnoustie Golf Links) £174 each.
72
Mark King (Kingsfield Golf Range), Gordon Law (Uphall), Garry Harvey (Kinross), James McGhee (Turnhouse), Jason McCreadie (Buchanan Castle), Fraser McLaughlan (Bothwell Castle), Vincent Brown (Westerwood), Steven Rettie (Royal Troon), Neil Colquhoun (Merchants of Edinburgh) £85.89 each.

MANDATORY USE OF BUGGIES ON PUBLIC GOLF
COURSES IS SPREADING IN UNITED STATES

FROM CBSSports.com WIRE REPORTS

A Long Island, New York woman is boycotting her favourite course. A man in Florida has published a book and filed lawsuits to defend his rights. A former golf executive thinks the game, under these circumstances, shouldn't even be called golf.
"It ought to be called 'cart ball.' It isn't golf," said Sandy Tatum, a bona fide golf purist who once served as president of the U.S. Golf Association and won an NCAA golf championship at Stanford.
A growing number of course-owning American cities and counties are mandating the use of electric or gas-powered carts, believing they are needed to speed play and therefore allow more golfers on the courses.
Officials in Nassau County, on Long Island, came under fire last month when they announced that carts would be required for anyone wishing to play its premier municipal 18-hole course -- Eisenhower Red, a Robert Trent Jones-designed loop that annually hosts a PGA Champions Tour event for golf professionals older than 50.
It is not known how many other courses around America have similar policies. Anecdotal evidence suggests it has become more of an issue in densely populated areas where large numbers of people are competing for a relatively small number of tee times.
Nassau County officials argued that Eisenhower Red is so popular that carts are necessary to keep up the pace of play. They contend that anyone who wants to walk can still use the county's two adjacent 18-hole courses at the park named in honour of one of the country's best-known presidential duffers.
Of course, the added income from golfers paying up to $29 each to rent a cart won't hurt the bottom line in a county that only several years ago teetered on the brink of bankruptcy.
"We're not doing it for the money," Deputy County Executive Peter Gerbasi said after the policy went into effect. "We're trying to make the course more available to more people."
Adrienne Danzig of Westbury isn't buying it. She is among the golfers who contend that carts are anathema to the sport.
"I love to walk," she said on a recent summer morning as she prepared to grab her pull cart from the boot of her car. "I think golf is made for walking unless you're at a resort where you have to walk a mile to the next hole. I've played here for many years, love to walk, love the Red Course, and they have completely destroyed this option."
Rich Martorana of Massapequa said it was wrong to insist on carts, especially on a public course. He also questions whether carts have actually made for quicker rounds.
"I use carts with my friend all the time," he said. "However, you shouldn't force people on a public golf course to now take up a cart. And it doesn't speed up play. It hasn't improved anything. ... I think the county is simply making money on the deal."
Editor's comment: Don't snigger at the back. What happens in the States today, usually happens over here tomorrow. And if our powers-that-be cotton on to the idea that here's another great money-making idea, just like car-parking tickets and speed cameras, it will happen. Remember where you heard it first.

STRICKER ENDS SIX-YEAR NO WIN SPELL
BY LIFTING "THE BARCLAYS"
American PGA Tour player Steve Stricker ended a no-win spell of six years, covering 146 tournaments in all, when he won "The Barclays" tournament today at Harrison, New York State.
Stricker had let four winning opportunities pass him by earlier this season. But this one was not going to slip through his fingers. In fact, he grabbed it by birdieing four of his last five holes for a two-under-par 69 and two-stroke victory K J Choi.
"It was hard, but it was fun," Stricker said as tears streamed down his face. "I never knew if I was going to win again."
When his final birdie putt dropped from eight feet, Stricker raised his arms and gave a hug to his caddie Tom Matthews, who first caddied for him when he won the 2001 World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship in Australia.
Stricker has climbed to fifth in the world after his thrilling victory at "The Barclays."
Stricker jumps nine places in the latest world rankings, while runner-up Choi is into the top 10 for the first time as well, improving from 11th to eighth.
Tiger Woods, who returns to action this week, has now held the No 1 position for a total of 458 weeks.
HOW THEY FINISHED AT "THE BARCLAYS"
Par 284 (4 x 71)
268 Steve Stricker 67 67 65 69
270 KJ Choi (Kor) 64 66 70 70
271 Rory Sabbatini (Rsa) 63 71 69 68
272 Mark Calcavecchia 67 75 65 65, Ernie Els (Rsa) 65 71 68 68, Geoff Ogilvy (Aus) 68 66 69 69
273 Phil Mickelson 67 70 69 67, Rich Beem 64 68 69 72
274 Jerry Kelly 67 70 69 68, Robert Garrigus 70 70 68 66, Ian Poulter (Eng) 70 67 70 67
275 Steve Flesch 65 72 67 71, Woody Austin 69 68 66 72
276 Adam Scott (Aus) 67 69 72 68, Justin Rose (Eng) 70 68 70 68, Heath Slocum 66 73 67 70
277 Hunter Mahan 70 69 62 76, Anthony Kim 68 68 71 70, Bob Heintz 69 73 70 65, Tim Clark (Rsa) 69 68 72 68
278 Arron Oberholser 67 70 68 73, Tim Petrovic 69 69 68 72, Ryan Armour 72 67 70 69, Camilo Villegas (Col) 68 70 73 67
279 Nick Watney 70 72 68 69, Jason Dufner 73 69 68 69, Zach Johnson 68 71 70 70, Stewart Cink 72 67 73 67, Kenny Perry 69 67 68 75, Aaron Baddeley (Aus) 71 67 70 71, Brett Quigley 67 73 72 67, Sergio Garcia (Spa) 69 67 70 73, Jim Furyk 70 69 71 69, Sean O'Hair 73 69 69 68
280 Rodney Pampling (Aus) 69 72 69 70, Boo Weekley 71 67 72 70, Matt Kuchar 69 68 69 74, Scott Verplank 68 71 69 72, Nick O'Hern (Aus) 71 66 70 73, Padraig Harrington (Irl) 71 68 70 71
281 J.B. Holmes 76 66 65 74, Mike Weir (Can) 69 73 72 67, Davis Love III 69 69 72 71, Brian Gay 65 73 72 71, Douglas Labelle 69 73 71 68, Briny Baird 66 75 71 69, Frank Lickliter II 71 69 70 71
282 Charley Hoffman 69 72 70 71, Tim Herron 71 70 71 70, Bill Haas 68 68 72 74, Paul Goydos 71 69 66 76, Fred Funk 71 69 73 69, Troy Matteson 70 71 70 71
283 Brian Davis (Eng) 68 71 70 74, John Rollins 71 71 70 71, Fredrik Jacobson (Swe) 70 67 77 69, Corey Pavin 68 73 72 70, J.P. Hayes 75 67 71 70, Cliff Kresge 69 70 72 72
284 Dean Wilson 74 68 68 74, Joe Durant 71 69 72 72, Vaughn Taylor 71 71 77 65, Retief Goosen (Rsa) 68 68 74 74, D.J. Trahan 73 68 70 73
285 Bob Estes 70 72 71 72, Bart Bryant 72 70 70 73, Andrew Buckle (Aus) 71 69 71 74, Johnson Wagner 73 69 76 67
286 Nathan Green (Aus) 72 70 74 70, Steve Marino 72 69 74 71
287 Jason Gore 72 67 75 73
288 Jeff Maggert 66 73 73 76, John Mallinger 68 72 74 74, Carl Pettersson (Swe) 65 72 74 77
290 Rocco Mediate 69 73 74 74

DEESIDE'S CAMPBELL WINS STONEHAVEN OPEN

Deeside's Andrew Campbell pipped playing partner Bryan Innes (Murcar Links), played over his one-time home course, to win the £500 voucher in the Stonehaven 36-hole men's open, played today for the first time in 10 years.
Campbell shot rounds of 67 and 64 against a CSS of 68 and 67 for a total of 131 and a three-shot victory from Innes who scored 66 and 68.
Gary Esson (Portlethen) and Keith Douglas (Stonehaven) had the next best aggregates of 135, Esson with 68 and 67, Douglas with 67 and 68.
The field was a disappointingly low one of only 44 competitors, despite the big prize fund.
Campbell's one-under-par total of 131 represented solid golf in tricky conditions, with the 44-player field having to contend with a difficult wind and fast greens.
Innes was one shot ahead of Campbell after the first round but the players were level overall with three holes to play in the second round.
Then Campbell struck the decisive blow. At the 482yd 16th hole, his five-iron second shot just clung on to the fringe of the green, only inches above a steep bank. From there, he holed a 20ft putt for an eagle, whereas Innes, just short in two, chipped poorly and could only make a par.
Innes then bogeyed the next, while Campbell parred his way home to win by three shots.
Gary Essen, playing in the last group, almost snatched second place but three-putted the last. However, he did take third place on countback from leading local Keith Douglas.
Many of the competitors praised the condition of the Stonehaven course but the organisers were a bit disappointed that the £1,500 prize pot could only attract 44 competitors.


LEADING SCRATCH SCORES
131 A Campbell (Deeside) 67 64.
134 B Innes (Murcar Links) 66 68.
135 G Esson (Portlethen) 68 67, K Douglas (Stonehaven) 67 68.
136 A Reith (Royal Aberdeen) 67 69.
137 G Taylor (Meldrum House) 69 68.
138 A Cruickshank (Caledonian) 69 69, E Kennedy (Stonehaven) 69 69, N Irvine (Stonehaven) 68 70.
140 G Adamson (Stonehaven) 70 70.
142 S Burt (Murcar Links) 74 68.
143 F McCarron (Stonehaven) 73 70.
145 B Paterson (Stonehaven) 76 69, I Taylor (Stonehaven) 73 72, G Sharp (Murcar Links) 68 77.
146 W Main (Murcar Links) 76 70.
148 C Brown (Stonehaven) 76 72, C Brechin (Portlethen) 70 78, R Borland (Haggs Castle) 77 71.
150 C Irvine (Stonehaven) 76 74, K Gardiner (Glenisla) 76 74, B Mitchell (Murcar Links) 75 75.

FISHER HAS TO ENDURE LENGTHY RULES
INVESTIGATION BEFORE HE IS
CONFIRMED AS KLM OPEN WINNER

FROM THE A O L SPORTS NEWS SERVICE

England's Ross Fisher survived a nerve-wracking finish and a lengthy rules investigation before claiming his first European Tour title in extraordinary fashion in the KLM Open in Zandvoort.
Fisher saw a four-shot lead disappear over the closing stretch before regaining his composure to birdie the last from 10 feet and seemingly secure a one-shot victory over local favourite Joost Luiten.
However, before Fisher could sign his card he was informed of a potential rules violation on the 12th hole and driven off in a buggy to investigate. The debate centred on whether Fisher had moved a bramble from near his ball before playing his second shot to the par-5 hole.
The 26-year-old initially thought it was a loose impediment which he could move, but discovered it was still attached to the ground.
Tour officials Miguel Vidaor and Jose Maria Zamora accompanied Fisher as they tried to recreate the incident and study television footage to see whether he had improved his lie.
Eventually Fisher was cleared of any wrongdoing and could celebrate lifting the trophy and £180,000 first prize.
Alastair Forsyth, Germany's Bernhard Langer, Swede Alexander Noren, France's Thomas Levet and New Zealand's Steve Alker shared third place on eight under.
Overnight joint leader David Carter slumped to a closing 75 for a share of 23rd place.

EUROPEAN TOUR FINAL TOTALS
KLM OPEN
Kennemer Golf & Country Club, Netherlands
(Players from GB&I unless stated otherwise)
Par 280 (4 x 70)
268 Ross Fisher 66 67 68 67 (266,660 Euros).
269 Joost Luiten (Ned) 68 64 71 66
272 Bernhard Langer (Ger) 67 71 67 67, Steve Alker (Nzl) 66 66 69 71, Alexander Noren (Swe) 65 67 72 68, Alastair Forsyth 66 71 69 66 (70,400 Euros), Thomas Levet (Fra) 65 70 68 69
273 Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (Fra) 64 71 70 68, Stephen Gallacher 70 68 66 69 (34,320 Euros), Markus Brier (Aut) 67 68 70 68, Tom Whitehouse 68 67 71 67
274 Michael Campbell (Nzl) 65 71 69 69, Richard Finch 68 67 72 67, John Bickerton 68 67 69 70, David Lynn 65 70 70 69, Simon Khan 67 69 69 69
275 Brett Rumford (Aus) 69 70 69 67, Chris Riley (USA) 66 69 71 69, Garry Houston 68 68 72 67, Martin Erlandsson (Swe) 69 71 71 64, Phillip Price 68 68 67 72, David Higgins 68 67 68 72
276 David Carter 65 65 71 75, Henrik Nystrom (Swe) 66 67 72 71, Alejandro Canizares (Spa) 69 67 69 71, Peter Gustafsson (Swe) 70 70 69 67
277 Simon Dyson 67 73 66 71, Andrew McLardy (Rsa) 70 70 69 68, Simon Wakefield 68 68 73 68, Lee Slattery 66 73 70 68, Sam Walker 69 64 75 69, Gary Murphy 67 71 70 69, Mark Pilkington 71 68 68 70, Paul Lawrie 66 69 69 73 (13,568 Euros) David Bransdon (Aus) 68 69 70 70, James Hepworth 70 69 66 72
278 Steve Webster 65 71 72 70, Shiv Kapur (Ind) 68 71 68 71, Nick Dougherty 69 67 69 73, Andrew Coltart 65 73 71 69 (10,080 Euros), Maarten Lafeber (Ned) 67 69 71 71, Johan Axgren (Swe) 67 71 69 71, Marc Cayeux (Zim) 69 70 69 70, Marcus Higley 72 67 72 67, Taichi Teshima (Jpn) 64 72 71 71
279 Kenneth Ferrie 66 74 68 71
280 Sven Struver (Ger) 66 72 68 74, Luis Claverie (Spa) 67 70 73 70, Nicolas Colsaerts (Bel) 67 73 68 72, Emanuele Canonica (Ita) 67 70 71 72, Mads Vibe-Hastrup (Den) 69 70 70 71
281 Joakim Backstrom (Swe) 69 68 73 71, Christian Cevaer (Fra) 71 66 75 69, James Kingston (Rsa) 70 67 71 73, James Heath 70 69 71 71, Steven O'Hara 68 69 69 75, Fredrik Andersson Hed (Swe) 69 68 76 68
282 Robert Rock 69 69 72 72, David Griffiths 71 64 72 75, Rafael Echenique (Arg) 69 68 71 74, Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) 71 68 70 73, Martin Maritz (Rsa) 70 70 71 71
283 Andrew Marshall 66 73 71 73, Marcel Siem (Ger) 68 72 73 70
285 Anton Haig (Rsa) 70 69 73 73, David Drysdale 70 68 75 72, Matthew Millar (Aus) 68 71 72 74, Ian Garbutt 73 67 70 75
287 Shaun P Webster 71 66 74 76
289 Anthony Wall 69 69 71 80, Wade Ormsby (Aus) 69 70 75 75, David Park 70 69 77 73

McARTHUR LOSES PLAY-OFF - JUST MISSES
FIRST CHALLENGE TOUR VICTORY

From Michael Gibbons
Press Officer, Challenge Tour Press Officer

Andrew McArthur cruelly missed out on a maiden Challenge Tour victory by missing a two foot par putt at the second extra hole of a sudden-death play-off at the POSTBANK Challenge presented by Marcel Siem in Germany today.
The 28 year old from Glasgow had surged into an early three-stroke lead during the final round at the Golfclub Mülheim an der Ruhr on the outskirts of Düsseldorf but was powerless to prevent eventual winner Felipe Aguilar of Chile and England’s Paul Waring mounting a comeback to tie the Scot on 18 under par 266 after 72 holes.
McArthur played beautifully during the final round, carding a bogey-free five under par 66, but it was not to be his day as Aguilar compiled a stunning back nine of 30 and overnight leader Waring staged an improbable comeback from an early treble bogey to force the tournament to extra holes.
The three men went back to the 18th to for the sudden-death shoot-out, with Waring falling out of the play-off after making bogey at the first extra hole.
McArthur and Aguilar halved in par and made their way back to the 18th to try and find a winner. Both players hit fine drives, with Aguilar then smashing a fine approach to 15 feet.
McArthur’s second flew the green before rebounding off an advertising board to leave the former Scottish Amateur champion a chance to chip and putt for par. He played a fine pitch to two feet, and when Aguilar’s birdie attempt lipped out, the play-off seemed destined for a third hole.
It was not to be, though, as McArthur pulled his short par putt to hand Aguilar the title.
“I don’t know what to say,” said McArthur. “I was three ahead at one point and then the boys just started holing everything and making birdies everywhere. There is nothing that you can do about that but that last putt of mine was disastrous.”
McArthur can take some consolation in the fact that his prize money of €12,600 moved him to 13th place on the Challenge Tour Rankings and inside the all important top 20 for the first time this season.
FINAL TOTALS LATER

BUCHAN MAKES ALL THE RUNNING TO WIN THE
NORTH OF SCOTLAND OPEN

AT WINDY DORNOCH

By ROBIN WILSON

FORMER professional Michael Buchan (Cruden Bay) made all the running to win the North of Scotland Open amateur stroke-play 72-hole championship for the David Blair Trophy over the windswept Royal Dornoch links today.
Buchan, pictured right with trophy, by courtesy of Robin Wilson, stole a march on the field with an opening round of five-under-par 65, which was only one stroke outside the amateur course record for the world-ranked links. He increased his advantage to five shots at the Saturday night halfway stage with a 69 for six-under-par 134.
On Sunday, when the wind was at its strongest, Buchan adopted a what-I-have-I-hold policy and rounds of 71 and 70 give him a five-under-par total of 270 and a two-stroke win from Robert Carson from Dalmahoy.
Carson, with closing rounds of 69 and 68, had the best Sunday 36-hole total of three-under-par 137 - compared with the winner's 141 - but he had left himself with too much ground to make up.
Buchan, one of the leading amateurs in the North-east over the past decade, did turn professional for a short spell but found he could not make enough money to make ends meet and was soon reinstated as an amateur.
Duncan Stewart (Grantown on Spey), winner of two Scottish Golf Union Order of Merit events this summer, the East of Scotland Open at Lundin Links and then the North-east of District Open at Newmachar last weekend, finished third on three-over-par 283 after closing rounds of 70 and 72.
FINAL TOTALS
Par 280 (4 x 70)
275 M Buchan (Cruden Bay) 65 69 71 70.
277 R Carson (Dalmahoy) 67 73 69 68.
283 D Stewart (Grantown on Spey) 69 72 70 72.
288 Z Saltman (Craigielaw) 71 70 74 73.
289 G Campbell (Blairgowrie) 71 70 74 74, M Hillson (Craigielaw) 66 73 73 77.
292 S McEwan (Caprington) 72 77 73 70, J Gunn (Royal Dornoch) 69 76 74 73.
293 S Robertson (Sandyhills) 76 76 70 71, A Dick (Shotts) 70 71 74 70.
294 B Fotheringham (Forres) 73 78 73 70, P McLean (Peterhead) 69 75 75 75, J White (Lundin) 70 73 73 78.
295 D Gould (Ladybank) 74 76 72 73.
296 S Hume (Murrayshall) 70 73 75 78.
297 G Dear (Murrayshall) 74 74 80 69, P Betty (Hayston) 71 77 72 77.
298 G Yeats (Hilton Park) 73 77 75 73.
300 K Nicholson (Haddington) 74 74 80 72.
301 B McDermott (Leven GS) 73 81 71 76, C Mailley (Royal Dornoch) 76 77 70 78.
302 M Ferries (Tain) 69 81 78 74, A Main (Thornton) 74 77 73 78, P O’Hara (Colville Park) 70 77 76 79.
303 M Isaacs (Nairn Dunbar) 72 80 78 73, I Rennie (Royal Dornoch) 74 76 79 74, K Nicol (Fraserburgh) 75 74 77 77.
304 J Duff (Newmachar) 73 80 73 78, D Murray (Blairgowrie) 74 74 77 79.
305 D McIntosh (Nairn) 75 79 78 73. G Murray (Cullen) 74 75 78 78.
307 G Thomson (Moray) 78 75 76 78.
309 A Howard (Murrayshall) 70 81 80 78.
310 A Everett (Tain) 75 77 75 83.
313 A Gilmour (Invergordon) 71 82 79 81, J Brownlee (Craigielaw) 77 77 73 86.
314 M MacDonald (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) 74 79 81 80, E Polson(Inverness) 76 77 78 83.
315 J Forbes (Inverness) 75 79 82 79.
316 B Ferries (Taain) 76 76 83 79.
319 N Howitt (Nairn Dunbaqr) 72 79 88 80
No return – S Dingwall (Muir of Ord) 69 82 NR 79
MISSED HALFWAY CUT
155 S Borrowman (Dollar) 76 79, C Harkins (Ayr Belleisle) 78 77, G Stewart (Murcar Links) 76 79.
157 G Robertson (Silverknowes) 73 84, N Sadler (Murcar Links) 78 79, D Thorburn (Thurso) 77 80.
158 S Mann (Garmouth & Kingston) 73 83, G Paterson (Northern) 77 81.
159 G Brass (Blairgowrie) 76 83, G Mitchell (Braemar) 82 77, G Angus (Duff House Royal) 75 84, M Murray (Brora) 74 85, R Elder (Nairn Dunbar) 77 82, J Broadley (Deeside) 74 85.
160 J S Knowles (Kingsknowe) 82 78, R MacLeod (Tain) 81 79.
161 R Hyland (Hazlehead) 77 84, M Robson (Kngsknowe) 78 83.
162 D Chalmers (Royal Dornoch) 80 82, G Blair (Haddington) 77 85, R Cameron (Inverness) 80 82.
168 B Spoor (Westhill) 78 90.
174 K Gaittens (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) 87 87.
Retired – F Henderson (Craigielaw), J Lockie (Tantallon) 83 -.
No Returns – S Michie (Thornton) NR, L Miller (Cawder) 75 NR, S McAllister (Craigielaw) 77 NR, Jonathan Findlay (Fraserburgh) 80 NR, I MacMillan (Glenearn) 76 NR.

North of Scotland open amateur stroke-play championship

MICHAEL BUCHAN LEADS BY FOUR FROM ROBERT
CARSON WITH ONE ROUND IN THE WIND TO GO

BY ROBIN WILSON
Halfway leader Michael Buchan (Cruden Bay) had his lead trimmed from five shots to four over the third round of the North of Scotland open amateur stroke-play championship at a windy Royal Dornoch today.
Buchan shot a one-over-par 71 - bogeys at the third, fourth, ninth and 11th and three birdies at the fifth, sixth and 15th - for a 54-hole tally of 205, four ahead of Robert Carson (Dalmahoy) who moved into second place with a 69 for 209. That one-under-par 69 was the best by anyone in the third round.
Duncan Stewart (Grantown on Spey), winner of two SGU Order of Merit events this summer, edged into third place on 211 with a 70.
Mark Hillson (Craigielaw), Buchan's nearest challenger overnight, slipped down to fourth place on 212 with a 73.
The championship for the David Blair Trophy is sponsored by Allied Surveyors and A J G Parcels.

LEADING THIRD ROUND TOTALS
Par 210 (3 x 70)
205 M Buchan (Cruden Bay) 65 69 71.
209 R Carson (Dalmahoy) 67 73 69.
211 D Stewart (Grantown on Spey) 69 72 70.
212 M Hillson (Craigielaw) 66 73 73.
215 A Dick (Shotts) 70 71 74, G Campbell (Blairgowrie) 71 70 74, Z Saltman (Craigielaw) 71 70 74.
216 J White (Lundin Links) 70 73 73.
218 S Hume (Murrayshall) 70 73 75.
219 J Gunn (Royal Dornoch) 69 76 74, P McLean (Peterhead) 69 75 75.
220 P Betty (Hayston) 71 77 72.
222 S McEwan (Caprington) 72 77 73, D Gould (Ladybank) 74 76 72, S Robertson (Sandyhills) 76 76 70.
223 P O'Hara (Colville Park) 70 77 76, C Mailley (Rooyal Dornoch) 76 77 70.
224 B Fotheringham (Forres) 73 78 73, A Main (Thornton) 74 77 73
225 D Murray (Blairgowrie) 74 74 77, G Yates (Hilton Park) 73 77 75, B McDermott (Levfen GS) 73 81 71.
226 K Nicol (Fraserburgh) 75 74 77, J Duff (Newmachar) 73 80 73.
227 G Murray (Cullen) 74 75 78, A Everett (Tain) 75 77 75.
228 G Dear (Murrayshall) 74 74 80, K Nicholson (Haddington) 74 74 80, M Ferries (Tain) 69 81 78.
229 I Rennie (Royal Dornoch) 74 76 79.

Tournament of Nations

Kelsey Macdonald (Nairn) , Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm), Andrew McLachlan (Bonnyton) and David Law (Hazlehead) show off the Girls and Boys International team trophies which they won at the Royal Golf Club of Belgium in Brussels on Friday. Kelsey was also runner-up in the Girls Championship.

UNITED STATES AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL:
IT'S NOT THE SAME WITHOUT RICHIE RAMSAY

BY COLIN FARQUHARSON
Twelve months ago this weekend, not only Aberdonians but most Scottish golfers were jumping up and down with excitement because Richie Ramsay (Royal Aberdeen) had reached the final of the United States men's amateur championship at Hazeltine, Missouri.
That he went on to win the 36-hole final was arguably one of best performances by any Scottish/British sportsman in 2007 - although BBC TV viewers who vote for these things didn't seem to think so.
Anyway, the US championship is reaching a climax again. Pity that Richie couldn't defend it for a number of reasons, the main one being he is now a professional - and doing very nicely on the European Challenge Tour.
(If anyone can tell me how a rookie pro who has not yet been to the European Tour Qualifying School can step straight on to the Challenge Tour, while Graham Gordon, the Docherty brothers and Elliot Saltman, to name but four other Scots, are toiling away in the "Third Division" PGA EuroPro Tour, I will publish the answer).
Never mind, that's just an aside. I couldn't help contrasting the difference this year with the Scottish golfing perception of the US amateur championship. Nobody is caring the slightest who is through to the final at the Olympic Club a mile or two south of San Francisco.
Well, I'm going to tell you anyway.
It will be United States v United States in the final with Colt Knost, winner of the US Public Links title in June, facing Michael Thompson from the University of Alabama.
In the semi-finals, Thompson beat another guy you've never heard of, Casey Clendenon, 3 and 2.
Have you noticed how in America they never list an amateur player's home club in brackets after his name, as we do on this side of the Atlantic? In the States, they tend to list their home town or university.
Knost, a 22-year-old Southern Methodist University graduate, beat Jonathan Vegas (Venezuela) 4 and 3.
Thompson hopes his strong play in the US amateur championship will gain him one of the still-t0-be decided spots in the United States Walker Cup team alongside Knost, who's already in after winning the Publinx.
"There's no doubt in my mind that I should play in the Walker Cup," Thompson said. "Colt came up to me this morning and told me, 'Go get 'em, you deserve to be on that team with us.' That was real nice to hear before the round that all those guys were convinced I could play with them."
Nothing like a bit of confidence.
We'll give you the result of the final of Monday morning. Unlike last year, no-one over here is holding their breath waiting for the news.

MARTIN LAIRD MISSES FOURTH CUT BUT HE'S
ON COURSE TO WIN PROMOTION TO US TOUR

Former Scottish youths champion Martin Laird has missed only his fourth cut in 19 starts on the Nationwide Tour, the No 2 men's professional circuit in the United States, with scores of 69 and 75 for level par 144 in the quaintly-named National Mining Association Pete Dye Classic at Bridgeport, West Virginia.
Martin, one of the longest drivers on circuit with an average tee shot in excess of 300yd, has not been guilty of wasting a lot of shots this season during which he has won $192,496 and chalked up a victory.
But he had a double bogey at the fifth and four bogeys, the costly last one at the 18th, to miss the cut by a single stroke.
The top 25 when the Nationwide Tour ends in early November will automatically gain the right to step up to the US PGA Tour in 2008 - as Aberdeen-born, Australian-raised Michael Sim did last year by finishing 19th on the Nationwide money list.
It is reckoned that the cut-off point to be absolutely certain of making the top 25 will be $200,000 so Martin Laird is almost there. Going into the current Nationwide tournament, the Scot was 11th on the money table.

EUROPEAN TOUR SCOREBOARD
KLM OPEN
Kennemer G & CC, Netherlands
(Players from GB&I unless stated).
Par 210 (3 x 70)
201 David Carter 65 65 71, Steve Alker (Nzl) 66 66 69, Ross Fisher 66 67 68
203 Joost Luiten (Ned) 68 64 71, Phillip Price 68 68 67, David Higgins 68 67 68, Thomas Levet (Fra) 65 70 68
204 Alexander Noren (Swe) 65 67 72, Stephen Gallacher 70 68 66, Paul Lawrie 66 69 69, John Bickerton 68 67 69
205 Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (Fra) 64 71 70, Bernhard Langer (Ger) 67 71 67, Henrik Nystrom (Swe) 66 67 72, Michael Campbell (Nzl) 65 71 69, Nick Dougherty 69 67 69, David Lynn 65 70 70, Simon Khan 67 69 69, Alejandro Canizares (Spa) 69 67 69, Markus Brier (Aut) 67 68 70, James Hepworth 70 69 66
206 Chris Riley (USA) 66 69 71, Sven Struver (Ger) 66 72 68, Tom Whitehouse 68 67 71, Alastair Forsyth 66 71 69, Steven O'Hara 68 69 69, Simon Dyson 67 73 66
207 David Griffiths 71 64 72, Shiv Kapur (Ind) 68 71 68, Maarten Lafeber (Ned) 67 69 71, Johan Axgren (Swe) 67 71 69, Mark Pilkington 71 68 68, Richard Finch 68 67 72, Taichi Teshima (Jpn) 64 72 71, David Bransdon (Aus) 68 69 70
208 Garry Houston 68 68 72, Steve Webster 65 71 72, James Kingston (Rsa) 70 67 71, Nicolas Colsaerts (Bel) 67 73 68, Rafael Echenique (Arg) 69 68 71, Kenneth Ferrie 66 74 68, Marc Cayeux (Zim) 69 70 69, Brett Rumford (Aus) 69 70 69, Sam Walker 69 64 75, Gary Murphy 67 71 70, Emanuele Canonica (Ita) 67 70 71
209 Andrew Coltart 65 73 71, Peter Gustafsson (Swe) 70 70 69, Mads Vibe-Hastrup (Den) 69 70 70, Simon Wakefield 68 68 73, Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) 71 68 70, Andrew McLardy (Rsa) 70 70 69, Anthony Wall 69 69 71, Lee Slattery 66 73 70
210 Joakim Backstrom (Swe) 69 68 73, Robert Rock 69 69 72, James Heath 70 69 71, Luis Claverie (Spa) 67 70 73, Andrew Marshall 66 73 71, Ian Garbutt 73 67 70
211 Shaun P Webster 71 66 74, Marcus Higley 72 67 72, Martin Erlandsson (Swe) 69 71 71, Matthew Millar (Aus) 68 71 72, Martin Maritz (Rsa) 70 70 71
212 Christian Cevaer (Fra) 71 66 75, Anton Haig (Rsa) 70 69 73
213 David Drysdale 70 68 75, Marcel Siem (Ger) 68 72 73, Fredrik Andersson Hed (Swe) 69 68 76
214 Wade Ormsby (Aus) 69 70 75
216 David Park 70 69 77

ORR EQUALS WILLIAMWOOD COURSE
RECORD OF 61 AND PIPS HUTCHEON

FOR TOP PRIZE OF £2,700

David Orr (East Renfrewshire) equalled Stephen Gallacher's Williamwood Golf Club course record of seven-under-par 61 in the second and final round of the Williamwood 36-hole pro-am today. And part-time Glasgow taxi driver finished up pipping overnight leader Greig Hutcheon (Peterculter) for the first prize of £2,700.

It was a first two-round victory of the season for Orr who threatened to win the Gleneagles PGA Scottish championship at one stage of that 72-hole tournament at the start of the month.

He had one 18-hole pro-am success to his credit in June at East Renfrewshire.

Orr, pictured right, had birdies at the fourth, sixth, eighth, 10th, 12th, 13th and 18th in bogey-free halves of 30 (three under par) and 31 (four under par).
Added to his first-day score of 66, that put Orr in the clubhouse lead at nine-under-par 127.

Hutcheon, clear overnight leader with a 62, which gave him a four-shot advantage over Orr at the start of the second day, had seen his lead cut to two by halfway.

Greig reached the turn in one-under-par 32 with birdies at the third and seventh and his first bogey of the tournament at the sixth.

Orr was playing several holes ahead of Hutcheon but a hole-by-hole comparison of their scorecards shows that they were level for the tournament after the 10th at which there was a two-shot swing in Orr's favour. He birdied it, Hutcheon bogeyed.

They both birdied the 12th and Orr's 13th hole birdie matched by Hutcheon's 14th hole birdie left the two players level through the 15th and 16th.

So it all boiled down to the last two holes.

Hutcheon slipped one behind with a bogey at the 17th. Orr had birdied the 18th when he played it which meant that Hutcheon needed an eagle for a tie. He had to settle for a par, which meant that Orr had won by two strokes.

Hutcheon finished with a 67 for seven-under-par 129 and collected a £2,150 prize to add to the money he has won with a superlative run of form since the last round of the Gleneagles PGA Scottish championship in which he finished sixth.

Winner of the Tartan Tour Order of Merit last year, the North-east man is leading the way again.

Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs Golf Range) finished third at Williamwood with 66 and 65 for 131 and a £1,700 prize.

Hayston tour pro Steven Gray came joint sixth on 135 with 70 and 65 and led "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly" trio of amateurs - Alastair Crabb (handicap 15), Brian Connelly (6) and John McLachlan (12) - to victory in the team event with a net 36-hole two-ball score of 33-under-par 239.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS

Par 136 (2 x 68)

127 D Orr (East Renfrewshire) 66 61 (£2,700).

129 G Hutcheon (Peterculter) 62 67 (£2,150).

131 R Arnott (Bishopbriggs Golf Range) 66 65 (£1,700).

134 D Robertson (Mearns Castle) 69 65, M King (Kingsfield Golf Range) 67 67 (£1,150 each).

135 S Gray (Hayston) 70 65, J McKinnon (Irvine) 68 67, S Catlin (Greenburn) 68 67, S Taylor (Bothwell Castle) 68 67 (£637 each)

136 G Law (Uphall) 69 67, G Lornie (Aspire) 69 67 (£408 each).

137 C Lee (All Golf Swing Centre) 68 69, C Nicoll (Prestwick) 67 70 (£345 each).

138 M Urquhart (Inverness) 70 68, S Cairns (Westerwood) 70 68, G Fox (West Kilbride) 69 69, C Kelly (Cawder) 69 69, R Cameron (McDonald Ellon) 68 70 (£253 each).

139 C Ronald (Carluke) 72 67 (£190).

140 G McInnes (Murcar Links) 72 68, P Wardell (Whitekirk) 71 69, C Elliott (Haggs Castle) 69 71 (£153 each).

141 J McCrfeadie (Buchanan Castel) 74 67, C Gillies (Kingsfield Golf Range) 68 73 (£127 each).

142 D Patrick Mortonhall) 75 67, J McGhee (Turnhouse) 74 68, G McFarlane (Clober) 74 68, D McKay (Wellsgreen) 72 70, E Cameron (Hamilton) 71 71, C Matheson (Falkirk Tryst) 68 74 (£109 each).

143 J Sharp (The Carrick at Cameron House) 71 71, P McKechnie (Braid Hills) 69 74.

144 J Stevenson (Braehead) 71 73.

145 A Lockhart (Ladybank) 74 71, A Fullen (Irvine) 73 72, A Mackrell (Gary Mitchell Golf) 72 73, M Loftus (Cowglen) 71 74, J Clive (Buchanan Castle) 71 74.

146 S Lamb (Broomieknowe) 74 72, A Crerar (King James VI) 73 73.

147 S Garrett (East Renfrewshire) 76 71, N Huguet (Musselburgh) 72 76.

149 A Fleming (North Highland College) 76 73, S Wilson (Gleneagles Hotel) 75 74.

150 B Dunbar (Esporta Dougalston) 76 74, A Hutton (World of Golf) 70 80.

151 K Monaghan (Bothwell Castle) 73 78.

152 S Marshall (Williamwood) 78 74.

154 C McCalman (unatt) 78 76.

Retired: C Doak (unatt) 75 -.

ends

WALLACE BOOTH (10th) IS TOP SCOT IN FINAL
EUROPEAN AMATEUR INDIVIDUAL TOTALS

France's Benjamin Hebert is the new European individual amateur champion. He beat Sweden's Joel Sjoholm in a play-off after they had tied at 11-under-par 277 after 72 holes at Sporting Berlin Golf Club.
England provided four of the first seven finishers.
Wallace Booth was the leading Scot in 10th place on five-under-par 283.
Scott Henry (Cardross), turning in his best sustained performance of the season, was the next Scot on 284.
COMPLETE SCOREBOARD
1 Hebert, Benjamin FRA 68 69 70 70 277 –11
2 Sjoholm, Joel SWE 69 69 70 69 277 –11
3 Willett, Daniel ENG 73 71 70 66 280 –8
4 de Vries, Floris NED 75 68 68 69 280 –8
5 Boyd, Gary ENG 72 71 67 70 280 –8
6 Evans, Ben ENG 69 68 68 75 280 –8
7 Wood, Chris ENG 70 68 72 71 281 –7
8 Campillo, Jorge ESP 72 68 69 73 282 –6
9 Blixt, Jonas SWE 69 71 70 72 282 –6
10 Booth, Wallace SCO 74 63 72 74 283 –5
11 Moul, Jamie ENG 72 69 70 73 284 –4
12 Henry, Scott SCO 75 68 67 74 284 –4
13 Gill, James NZ 73 68 70 74 285 –3
14 Etchart, Borja ESP 72 69 70 75 286 –2
15 Davies, Rhys WAL 71 74 75 68 288 0
16 Einhaus, Sean GER 72 74 73 69 288 0
17 Granberg, Joonas FIN 74 74 68 72 288 0
18 Maurits, Sven NED 71 75 72 71 289 +1
19 Thomas, Ryan WAL 71 74 73 71 289 +1
20 Relecom, Pierre BEL 73 72 72 72 289 +1
21 Glans, Nicklas SWE 74 72 73 70 289 +1
22 Cryer, Matthew ENG 73 73 69 74 289 +1
23 Macaulay, Callum SCO 71 74 73 71 289 +1
24 Horsey, David ENG 75 71 72 71 289 +1
25 Parker, Ben ENG 73 75 68 73 289 +1
26 Kristiansen, Anders NOR 72 71 73 73 289 +1
27 Parry, John ENG 75 74 71 70 290 +2
28 Nemecz, Lukas AUT 73 72 72 73 290 +2
29 Mivis, Christopher BEL 76 69 66 79 290 +2
30 Enander–Hedin, Jonas GER 75 74 73 69 291 +3
31 Poncelet, Xavier FRA 74 73 71 73 291 +3
32 Almstrom, Victor SWE 71 74 76 70 291 +3
33 Stanislav, Matus CZE 71 77 70 73 291 +3
34 Cambis, Guillaume FRA 76 69 71 75 291 +3
35 Bey, Matthieu FRA 78 76 68 70 292 +4
36 John, Allen GER 76 73 72 71 292 +4
37 Urquizu, Inigo ESP 71 78 73 70 292 +4
38 Gersztein, David GER 73 70 77 72 292 +4
39 Perrier, Damien FRA 77 72 71 72 292 +4
40 Elvira, Ignacio ESP 71 77 70 74 292 +4
41 Nielsen, Rasmus DEN 69 80 69 74 292 +4
42 Pavan, Andrea ITA 76 69 74 73 292 +4
43 Ward, Simon IRE 75 70 72 75 292 +4
44 Salminen, Mikael FIN 74 74 75 70 293 +5
45 Dubois, Edouard FRA 73 74 73 73 293 +5
46 Manassero, Matteo ITA 77 73 73 71 294 +6
47 Akesson, Bjorn SWE 80 73 69 72 294 +6
48 Weiss, Tino SUI 74 73 74 73 294 +6
49 Benson, Seve ENG 71 77 75 71 294 +6
50 Kollevold, Frederik NOR 80 70 71 73 294 +6
51 Kind, Richard NED 71 72 76 75 294 +6
52 Baldwin, Matthew ENG 72 73 76 74 295 +7
53 Mayrhauser, Moritz AUT 74 77 72 72 295 +7
54 Benz, Ken SWI 72 72 76 75 295 +7
55 Kilpatrick, Richard IRE +3,0 +1 74 72 74 75 295 +7
56 Fritsch, Florian GER 67 75 79 74 295 +7
57 Goddard, Luke ENG 77 70 74 74 295 +7
58 Whitnell, Dale ENG 74 69 76 76 295 +7
59 Schneider, Romain FRA 74 76 73 72 295 +7
60 Matthews, Llewellyn WAL 71 73 75 76 295 +7
61 Kieffer, Maximilian GER 72 75 71 77 295 +7
62 Guerisoli, Marco ITA 72 73 74 77 296 +8
63 Lowry, Shane IRE 74 77 72 73 296 +8
64 Christiansen, Lerchedahl DEN 77 72 72 75 296 +8
65 Vigano, Claudio ITA 79 70 74 74 297 +9
66 Dobias, Marc SWI 79 70 74 75 298 +10
67 Cutler, Paul IRE 76 74 71 77 298 +10
68 Nicklaez, Rasmussen DEN 72 76 74 76 298 +10
69 Hanauer, Patrick BEL 71 77 74 77 299 +11
70 Grud, Kristian DEN 71 79 69 80 299 +11
71 McNicoll, Keir SCO 73 73 75 79 300 +12
72 van Driel, Darius NED 72 72 77 81 302 +14
73 Slabe, Gregor SLO 73 74 74 81 302 +14

THE FOLLOWING MISSED THE THIRD-ROUND CUT

74 Westermann, Philipp GER 75 79 70 NC NC NC
75 Figueiredo, Pedro POR 79 74 71 NC NC NC
76 Moral, Lluis ESP 78 71 75 NC NC NC
77 Pollari, Tuomas FIN 74 76 74 NC NC NC
78 Samooja, Kalle FIN 72 74 78 NC NC NC
79 Schulte, Frederik GER 70 73 81 NC NC NC
80 Barberan, Carlos ESP 75 78 72 NC NC NC
81 Widegren, Pontus SWE 80 71 74 NC NC NC
82 Schunck, Christian GER 75 74 76 NC NC NC
83 Le Sager, Kenny FRA 78 73 74 NC NC NC
84 Dittmer, Jonny NZ 71 75 79 NC NC NC
85 Madsen, Morten DEN 75 75 76 NC NC NC
86 O'Keeffe, Peter IRE 73 79 74 NC NC NC
87 Henriques, Nuno POR 79 75 72 NC NC NC
88 Grant, Stephen IRE 75 75 76 NC NC NC
89 Rodrigues, Tiago POR 73 78 75 NC NC NC
90 Roos, Patrik FIN 72 81 73 NC NC NC
91 Kellett, Ross SCO 76 74 76 NC NC NC
92 Legarrea, Jesus 127 ESP +2,0 1 76 75 76 NC NC NC
93 Green, Andrew 101 NZL +3,0 +1 79 73 75 NC NC NC
94 Feyaerts, Xavier 152 BEL +2,6 0 74 78 75 NC NC NC
95 Friestad, Are 102 NOR +2,5 0 73 76 78 NC NC NC
96 Knappe, Alexander GER 78 69 80 NC NC NC
97 Sigl, Benjamin GER 75 71 81 NC NC NC
98 Másson, Sigmundur GER 2 75 82 71 NC NC NC
99 Kearney, Niall IRE 74 80 74 NC NC NC
100 Edwards, Nigel WAL 80 74 74 NC NC NC
101 Satama, Henri FIN 79 77 72 NC NC NC
102 Oriol, Pedro ESP 76 76 76 NC NC NC
103 Guillet, Jacques FRA +4,0 +2 75 78 75 NC NC NC
104 Pohl, Paul EST 0,8 4 81 71 76 NC NC NC
105 Wattel, Romain FRA +3,5 +1 75 76 77 NC NC NC
106 Dogil, Tomek GER 78 73 78 NC NC NC
107 Runcie, Adam WAL 78 76 75 NC NC NC
108 Novy, Marek CZE 79 74 76 NC NC NC
109 Kromer, Kajetan AUT 78 76 75 NC NC NC
110 Antonelli, David 46 FRA +2,9 +1 73 76 80 NC NC NC
111 Korvenmaa, Immu 38 FIN +1,8 1 76 78 76 NC NC NC
112 Veijalainen, Miro 45 FIN +2,3 0 78 76 76 NC NC NC
113 van den Dungen, David N9E7D +2,9 +1 73 84 73 NC NC NC
114 Svajlen, Peter 120 SK +1,2 2 79 73 78 NC NC NC
115 Drost, Philip 13 DEN +2,4 0 77 74 79 NC NC NC
116 Kölbing, Jonas 70 Feldafing, GC +2,5 0 75 77 78 NC NC NC
117 Chapellan, Baptiste FRA 75 76 79 NC NC NC
118 Bühring, Nils GER 76 73 81 NC NC NC
119 Jordan, Maurice GER 80 77 74 NC NC NC
120 Baunsoe, Peter Jesper DEN 78 77 76 NC NC NC
121 Gross jr., Stephan GER 74 78 79 NC NC NC
122 Watremez, Guillaume BEL 74 75 82 NC NC NC
123 Mejow, Philipp GER 78 78 76 NC NC NC
124 Terragni, Cristiano ITA 79 79 74 NC NC NC
125 Boshart, Dylan NED 79 80 73 NC NC NC
126 McAlpine, Kevin SCO 76 79 77 NC NC NC
127 Altonen, Joachim FIN 76 77 79 NC NC NC
128 Collins, Luke ENG 76 75 81 NC NC NC
129 Krämer, Max GER 76 77 80 NC NC NC
130 Vinogradov, Dmitry RUS +0,7 2 78 76 79 NC NC NC
131 Scotto, Cédric FRA +3,5 +1 76 82 76 NC NC NC
132 Sarasti, Francisco ESP +2,0 1 82 78 75 NC NC NC
133 Ojala, Matti FIN +1,5 1 78 80 77 NC NC NC
134 Chiapuzzo, Andrea ITA +1,4 1 81 75 80 NC NC NC
135 Junker, Marius GER 80 79 79 NC NC NC
136 Carlota, Joao POR 78 83 80 NC NC NC
137 Dupuis, Rémi 53 FRA +3,2 +1 82 78 81 NC NC NC
138 Hansen, Stian 103 NOR 0,2 3 82 81 78 NC NC NC
139 Fürnweger, Eugen 1 AUT +1,4 1 85 81 77 NC NC NC
140 Arnaudet, Allan 47 FRA +3,1 +1 80 86 81 NC NC NC
141 Gould, Zac 147 Wal +2,0 1 78 89 80 NC NC NC
142 Furrer, Roger 142 SUI +0,7 2 81 81 85 NC NC NC
143 Suursalu, Mark 35 EST 0,1 3 97 74 79 NC NC NC
144 Benatzky, Thilo 156 Berlin–Wannsee, G&LC +0,3 3 85 87 83 NC NC NC
145 Saluda, Maksymilian 10 7P L 0,0 3 88 89 87 NC NC NC
146 Pavlov, Andrey 112 RUS +0,6 2 78 81 NC NC NC NC

SCOTLAND'S YOUNGSTERS' DOUBLE TRIUMPH IN BELGIUM

Scotland's youngsters - David Law (Hazlehead), Andrew McLachlan (Bonnyton), Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) and Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) - scored a magnificent double victory for Scotland on the last day of the Belgian Junior International championship.
Switch over to www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk to read about how Scotland won BOTH the boys' and girls' team trophies.

ANDREW McARTHUR TWO BEHIND

LEADER WARING WITH ONE ROUND

TO GO IN CHALLENGE TOUR EVENT

From Michael Gibbons
Press Officer, Challenge Tour

Andrew McArthur (pictured right) remains in striking distance of his first Challenge Tour victory at the Postbank Challenge in Germany.
The 28 year old from Glasgow carded a third round of two under par 69 at the Golfclub Mülheim an der Ruhr on the outskirts of Düsseldorf to trail leader Paul Waring of England by just two strokes with 18 holes to play.
McArthur’s third round was a hypocritical mix of disappointment and delight that included a four-putt and two three-putts but also five birdies.
“If that is the bad round of the week out of the way then I have to be optimistic,” said the former Scottish amateur champion from the Windyhill club.
“I played great apart from those stupid putts that I gave away and I am only two behind because Paul three-putted the last.
“I was playing the 18th thinking that I was going to be three behind starting the final round, and that seemed a lot but when he bogeyed the last I started to think that two shots is nothing.”

Paul Waring, for his part, kept an old head on his young shoulders to extend his overnight lead.
TWO WEEKS A PRO

He may have only been a professional for two weeks, but the 22 year old Waring has played like a veteran for the first three rounds, producing a composed and clinical performance to record scores of 68-62-68 for a 15-under-par 198 total and a two-shot lead over McArthur.

Chile’s Felipe Aguilar – one of the 2007 Challenge Tour’s most consistent performers – moving into third place on 12 under after his own 69.
Waring was well aware that it would be tough to follow his low scoring second round of 62 on Saturday afternoon, but five birdies, 11 pars and two bogeys ensured he would stretch his lead going into the final round.
“I three putted the last which is always disappointing but I have extended my lead by a shot and if I could have had that situation going onto the last round then I would have certainly taken it,” said Waring, the 2005 English Amateur champion.
“I am feeling comfortable on the course and generally in this environment because I know a lot of the guys out here from amateur golf – guys like Andrew McArthur who I played with today.
“I will approach tomorrow the same as I do every other day and try to look after myself. That’s all you can do in golf. If someone makes a charge at me I can’t do anything about that. I just have to keep going and give myself opportunities.
“If it turns out that I have to grind it out then I will just have to chip and putt well to stay in it, but if I am playing well then I will try and low as low as I can.
“It has been a great start to my pro career, but I am trying not to think too far ahead at the moment because that’s when things can come back at you in this game.”

LOT OF PUTTS
McArthur’s third round was a hypocritical mix of disappointment and delight that included a four putt and two three putts but also five birdies.
“If that is the bad round of the week out of the way then I have to be optimistic,” said the former Scottish Amateur champion.
“I played great apart from those stupid putts that I gave away and I am only two behind because Paul three-putted the last.
“I was playing the 18th thinking that I was going to be three behind starting the final round, and that seemed a lot but when he bogeyed the last I started to think that two shots is nothing.”
Aberdeen’s Richie Ramsay is the next best Scot in the field in 15th position on seven-under 206 after a third round 68, while George Murray and Scott Henderson are respectively 36th and 50th on 210 and 212 against the 54-hole par of 213.

SCOREBOARD

Par 213 (3 x 71)

198 P Waring (Eng) 68 62 68.

200 A McArthur (Sco) 64 67 69.

201 F Aguilar (Chi) 66 66 69.

202 J Kamte (SAf) 69 65 68.

203 M Cort (Eng) 69 65 69, S Delagrange (Fra) 66 66 71, C Gane (Eng) 67 66 70, Z Scotland (Eng) 71 66 66.

Other scores:

206 R Ramsay (Sco) 68 69 69 (jt 15th).

210 G Murray (Sco) 71 68 71 (jt 36th).

212 S Henderson (Sco) 70 71 71 (jt 50th).

North of Open stroke-play for David Blair Trophy

MICHAEL BUCHAN (134) LEADS

BY FIVE AT HALFWAY STAGE

AT ROYAL DORNOCH

By ROBIN WILSON

Cruden Bay’s Michael Buchan, pictured right, kept up the momentum of his first-round 65 – only one stroke outside the Royal Dornoch course record – with a 69 for a six-under-par tally of 134 to lead to lead by five shots at the halfway stage of the North of Scotland open amateur stroke-play championship for the David Blair Trophy today.
Buchan coped a lot better than most of his rivals with a rising wind which saw him carry over a five-stroke lead from Mark Hillson (Craigielaw) into Sunday's final two rounds.
Buchan dropped just one shot to par, at the 17th, in his second circuit, which was no mean over a world-rated links that many feel is good enough to host the Open but is just that bit too far north.
Brought up in golfing terms on another classic links at Cruden Bay, Buchan got his birdies in an outward half of two-under-par 33, at the third and the ninth.
Graeme Mitchell (Braemar) had a hole in one at the sixth in his first-round 82. He didn’t get an ace in his second round but he was still able to improve by five shots for a 77 and 159, which was five too many to beat the halfway cut.

A total of 44 players with totals of 154 and better qualified for the final day.

One surprise No Return in the rising wind was former Scottish boys’ open stroke-play champion Shaun McAllister (Craigielaw) who had a great run in the recent Scottish match-play championship at Prestwick. He had a first-round 77 which was by no means a bad score.

(SCROLL DOWN PAST THE SCORES FOR THE FIRST-ROUND STORY)

SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 140 (2 x 70)
134 M Buchan (Cruden Bay) 65 69.
139 M Hillson (Craigielaw) 66 73.
140 R Carson (Dalmahoy) 67 73.
141 Z Saltman (Craigielaw) 71 70, G Campbell (Blairgowrie) 71 70, D Stewart (Grantown on Spey) 69 72, A Dick (Shotts) 70 71.
143 J White (Lundin) 70 73, S Hume (Murrayshall) 70 73.

144 P McLean (Peterhead) 69 75.

145 J Gunn (Royal Dornoch) 69 76.
147 P O’Hara (Colville Park) 70 77, A Main (Thornton) 74 73.
148 D Murray (Blairgowrie) 74 74, P Betty (Hayston) 71 77, K Nicholson (Haddington) 74 74, G Dear (Murrayshall) 74 74.
149 S McEwan (Caprington) 72 77, G Murray (Cullen) 74 75, K Nicol (Fraserburgh) 75 74.
150 M Ferries (Tain) 69 81, I Rennie (Royal Dornoch) 74 76, G Yates (Hilton Park) 73 77, D Gould (Ladybank) 74 76.
151 S Dingwall (Muir of Ord) 69 82, B Fotheringham (Forres) 73 78, A Howard (Murrayshall) 70 81, N Howitt (Nairn)72 79..
152 A Everett (Tain) 75 77, S Robertson (Sandyhills) 76 76, M Isaacs (Nairn Dunbar) 72 80.
153 A Gilmour (Invergordon) 71 82, C Gaittens (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) 77 76, M MacDonald (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) 74 79, C Mailley (Royal Dornoch) 76 77, E Polson (Inverness) 76 77, G Thomson (Moray) 78 75, J Duff (Newmachar) 73 80, S Fraser (Royal Aberdeen) 79 74.
154 J Brownlee (Craigielaw) 77 77, J Forbes (Inverness) 75 79, B Ferries (Tain) 78 76, D McIntosh (Nairn) 75 79, B McDermott (Leven GS) 73 81.

MISSED THE CUT
155 S Borrowman (Dollar) 76 79, C Harkins (Ayr Belleisle) 78 77, B McDermott (Leven GS) 73 81, G Stewart (Murcar Links) 76 79.

157 G Robertson (Silverknowes) 73 84, N Sadler (Murcar Links) 78 79, D Thorburn (Thurso) 77 80.
158 S Mann (Garmouth & Kingston) 73 83, G Paterson (Northern) 77 81.
159 G Brass (Blairgowrie) 76 83, G Mitchell (Braemar) 82 77, G Angus (Duff House Royal) 75 84, M Murray (Brora) 74 85, R Elder (Nairn Dunbar) 77 82, J Broadley (Deeside) 74 85.
160 J S Knowles (Kingsknowe) 82 78, R MacLeod (Tain) 81 79.
161 R Hyland (Hazlehead) 77 84, M Robson (Kngsknowe) 78 83.
162 D Chalmers (Royal Dornoch) 80 82, G Blair (Haddington) 77 85, R Cameron (Inverness) 80 82.
168 B Spoor (Westhill) 78 90.

174 K Gaittens (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) 87 87.
Retired – F Henderson (Craigielaw), J Lockie (Tantallon) 83 -.
No Returns – S Michie (Thornton) NR, L Miller (Cawder) 75 NR, S McAllister (Craigielaw) 77 NR, Jonathan Findlay (Fraserburgh) 80 NR, I MacMillan (Glenearn) 76 NR.

NEWS OF THE FIRST ROUND SCORES

Michael Buchan recovered from a bogey 4 at the short second hole to birdie the third, sixth and ninth in an outward half of three-under-par 33. The North-east District team player maintained his momentum to get further birdies at the 10th, 12th and 15th in a bogey-free inward half of 32.
But that very good round did not put him clear of the field.
Mark Hillson from Craigielaw was snapping at his heels with halves of 33 for a 66 and another Lothians player, Robert Carson, posted a 65 after going to the turn in 32 with birdies at the third, sixth and ninth.
Duncan Stewart (Grantown on Spey), who followed up his East of Scotland Open at Lundin Links by winning last week’s rain-shortened North-east District Open at Newmachar, gave himself a platform for another good weekend by returning a 69.
Stewart, recently returned from four successful years on the American college circuit as a Jacksonville University, Florida student, was out in one-over 36, having double-bogeyed the short second and dropped another shot at the eighth with birdies at the seventh and ninth recouping only two of these strokes.
But he reeled off seven pars and birides at the 10th and 12th for 33 home to signal his intent to be a contender yet again for another Scottish Golf Union Order of Merit tournament success.

Graeme Mitchell (Braemar) had a hole in one at the short sixth on his way to an 82.

FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 70. CSS 74
65 M Buchan (Cruden Bay).

66 M Hillson (Craigielaw).
67 R Carson (Dalmahoy).
69 J Gunn (Royal Dornoch), M Ferries (Tain), S Dingwall (Muir of Ord), D Stewart (Grantown on Spey), P McLean (Peterhead).

70 P O’Hara (Colville Park), J White (Lundin), A Howard (Murrayshall), S Hume (Murrayshall), A Dick (Shotts).
71 A Gilmour (Invergordon), G Campbell (Blairgowrie), Z Saltman (Craigielaw), P Betty (Hayston).
72 S McEwan (Caprington), N Howitt (Nairn), M Isaacs (Nairn Dunbar)..
73 B Fotheringham (Forres), G Yates (Hilton Park), B McDermott (Leven GS), J Duff (Newmachar). G Robertson (Silverknowes).

74 D Murray (Blairgowrie), G Murray (Cullen), I Rennie (Royal Dornoch), M MacDonald (Fortrose & Rosemarkie), K Nicholson (Haddington), M Murray (Brora), D Gould (Ladybank), G Dear (Murrayshall), J Broadley (Deeside), A Main (Thornton).
75 A Everett (Tain), L Miller (Cawder), I Angus (Duff House Royal), K Nicol (Fraserburgh), S Mann (Garmouth & Kingston), J Forbes (Inverness), D McIntosh (Nairn).
76 S Borrowman (Dollar), I MacMillan (Glenearn), C Mailley (Royal Dornoch), E Polson(Inverness), G Stewart (Murcar Links), S Robertson (Sandyhills).
77 S McAllister (Craigielaw), C Gaittens (Fortrose & Rosemarkie), J Brownlee (Craigielaw), G Blair (Haddington), R Hyland (Hazlehead), G Paterson (Northern), R Elder (Nairn Dunbar), D Thorburn (Thurso).
78 G Brass (Blairgowrie), B Spoor (Westhill), C Harkins (Ayr Belleisle), G Thomson (Moray), M Robson (Kingsknowe), B Ferries (Tain), N Sadler (Murcar Links).
79 S Fraser (Royal Aberdeen).
80 D Chalmers (Royal Dornoch), Jonathan Findlay (Fraserburgh), R Cameron (Inverness).
81 R MacLeod (Tain).
82 G Mitchell (Braemar), S Knowles (Kingsknowe).
83 J Lockie (Tantallon).
87 K Gaittens (Fortrose & Rosemarkie).
Retired – F Henderson (Craigielaw).
No Return – S Michie (Thornton).

SCOTTISH SENIORS' ORDER OF MERIT
SHOOT-TOUR AT BLAIRGOWRIE

The inaugural Scottish Senior Men's Order of Merit climaxes at Blairgowrie Golf Club - over the Rosemount course - on Thursday (August 30).
The leading 31 players from the Order of Merit standings will be play 18 holes.
Scottish senior champion Ian Hutcheon from Monifieth has an unassailable lead but there are other leading placings to be decided.

Draw:
11.25 Ian Dickson (Lundin), James Roy (Grange).
11.33 William Wallace (Strathaven), Tony Stafford (Alloa).
11.40 Henry Anderson (Callander), William Brown (Strathaven), Brian Smith (Hamilton).
11.48 James Paton (Kirkintilloch), Stephen Ellis (Cowal), Peter Lamb (Biggar).
11.55 Sandy Pirie (Hazlehead), Ronald MacLean (Hamilton), Gordon Thomson (Bearsden).
12.03 Robert Humble (Kilspindie), Robert Stewart (Tulliallan), James Kinloch (Cardross).
12.10 Donald McCart (Castlerock), Iain Stewart (Curragh), William Erskine (Kilsyth Lennox).
12.18 Ronald MacLellan (Turnberry) Ian Taylor (Royal Burgess), David Miller (Kilmarnock Barassie).
12.25 John Johnston (Royal Aberdeen), George Rodaks (Moffat), Patrick Tomisson (Nairn).
12.33 Colin Christy (Kilmacolm), George Paterson (Northern), Gordon Brown (Vale of Leven).
12.40 James Watt (Letham Grange), John Fraser (Nairn Dunbar), Ian Hutcheon (Monifieth).

++We'll have a full report and pictures on Scottishgolfview.com next Thursday evening.

US PGA TOUR SCOREBOARD
THE BARCLAYS CHAMPIONSHIP
Westchester CC, New York State.
Par 142 (2 x 71)
Players from US unless stated

130 KJ Choi (Kor) 64 66.
132 Rich Beem 64 68.
134 Steve Stricker 67 67, Rory Sabbatini (Rsa) 63 71, Geoff Ogilvy (Aus) 68 66
136 Kenny Perry 69 67, Anthony Kim 68 68, Bill Haas 68 68, Adam Scott (Aus) 67 69, Sergio Garcia (Spa) 69 67, Ernie Els (Rsa) 65 71, Retief Goosen (Rsa) 68 68
137 Jerry Kelly 67 70, Arron Oberholser 67 70, Steve Flesch 65 72, Woody Austin 69 68, Matt Kuchar 69 68, Nick O'Hern (Aus) 71 66, Phil Mickelson 67 70, Fredrik Jacobson (Swe) 70 67, Ian Poulter (Eng) 70 67, Tim Clark (Rsa) 69 68, Carl Pettersson (Swe) 65 72
138 Aaron Baddeley (Aus) 71 67, Justin Rose (Eng) 70 68, Brian Gay 65 73, Davis Love III 69 69, Tim Petrovic 69 69, Boo Weekley 71 67, Camilo Villegas (Col) 68 70
139 Brian Davis (Eng) 68 71, Zach Johnson 68 71, Stewart Cink 72 67, Heath Slocum 66 73, Cliff Kresge 69 70, Hunter Mahan 70 69, Jeff Maggert 66 73, Jim Furyk 70 69, Ryan Armour 72 67, Scott Verplank 68 71, Jason Gore 72 67, Padraig Harrington (Irl) 71 68
140 Joe Durant 71 69, Paul Goydos 71 69, Andrew Buckle (Aus) 71 69, Brett Quigley 67 73, Robert Garrigus 70 70, Fred Funk 71 69, John Mallinger 68 72, Frank Lickliter II 71 69
141 Steve Marino 72 69, Rodney Pampling (Aus) 69 72, Charley Hoffman 69 72, Tim Herron 71 70, Corey Pavin 68 73, Briny Baird 66 75, Troy Matteson 70 71, D.J. Trahan 73 68
142 Nick Watney 70 72, Vaughn Taylor 71 71, Bart Bryant 72 70, J.P. Hayes 75 67, Dean Wilson 74 68, Bob Estes 70 72, Nathan Green (Aus) 72 70, Sean O'Hair 73 69, Mike Weir (Can) 69 73, Bob Heintz 69 73, Douglas Labelle 69 73, Jason Dufner 73 69, John Rollins 71 71, J.B. Holmes 76 66, Mark Calcavecchia 67 75, Johnson Wagner 73 69, Rocco Mediate 69 73
MISSED THE CUT
143 Charles Warren 73 70, Anders Hansen (Den) 71 72, Lucas Glover 72 71, Angel Cabrera (Arg) 74 69, Bubba Watson 72 71, Alex Cejka (Ger) 73 70, Steve Elkington (Aus) 70 73, Luke Donald (Eng) 68 75, Ryan Moore 73 70
144 John Merrick 74 70, Jeff Overton 74 70, David Toms 73 71, Steve Allan (Aus) 69 75, Mark Wilson 70 74, Brian Bateman 72 72, Kevin Na (Kor) 73 71, Charlie Wi (Kor) 75 69, Mathew Goggin (Aus) 70 74, Bo Van Pelt 72 72, Jesper Parnevik (Swe) 71 73
145 Billy Mayfair 70 75, Tom Lehman 71 74, Tom Pernice Jnr. 70 75, Billy Andrade 68 77, Chad Campbell 70 75, Shaun Micheel 71 74, Brandt Snedeker 72 73, Shigeki Maruyama (Jpn) 72 73
146 John Senden (Aus) 75 71, Chris DiMarco 69 77, Bob Tway 76 70, Will MacKenzie 73 73, Vijay Singh (Fij) 75 71, Justin Leonard 73 73, Craig Kanada 70 76, Brett Wetterich 74 72, Jonathan Byrd 74 72
147 George McNeill 75 72, J J Henry 72 75, Pat Perez 72 75, Jeff Gove 75 72, Ted Purdy 69 78, Ryuji Imada (Jpn) 72 75
148 Trevor Immelman (Rsa) 70 78, Robert Allenby (Aus) 77 71, Ken Duke 74 74, Kevin Sutherland 73 75, Henrik Stenson (Swe) 77 71
149 Michael Putnam 75 74, Ben Curtis 75 74, Stuart Appleby (Aus) 74 75
150 Jose Coceres (Arg) 75 75, Joe Ogilvie 71 79, Jeff Quinney 75 75, Harrison Frazar 75 75, Tommy Armour III 76 74, Charles Howell III 75 75
151 Peter Lonard (Aus) 75 76
153 Kevin Stadler 78 75
159 Daniel Chopra (Swe) 77 82

HUTCHEON GOES FOUR CLEAR
WITH A 62 AT WILLIAMWOOD

Peterculter's Greig Hutcheon continued his excellent run of form by forging four strokes clear of the field at the end of the first round of the Williamwood Golf Club 36-hole pro-am today
Hutcheon, pictured right, shot a six-under-par, blemish-free round of 62 with birdies at the first, fourth and sixth in an outward 30 and at the 10th, 12th and 13th in 32 for the back nine.
Next best in the field of 50 professionals are Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs) and David Orr (East Renfrewshire) on 66. Arnott had halves of 33. Orr was out in 34 and home in 32.

LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 68
62 G Hutcheon (Peterculter).
66 R Arnott (Bishopbriggs), D Orr (East Renfrewshire).
67 M King (Kingsfield), C Nicoll (Prestwick).
68 C Gillies (Kingsfield),C Matheson (Falkirk Tryst), R Cameron (McDonald Ellon), S Taylor (BothwellCastle), S Catlin (Greenburn), C Lee (All Golf Swing Centre), J McKinnon (Irvine).
69 C Elliott (Haggs Castle), C Kelly (Cawder), G Lornie (Aspire), G Fox (West Kilbride), G Law (Uphall), D Robertson (Mearns Castle).
70 S Gray (Hayston), S Cairns (Westerwood), A Hutton (World of Golf), M Urquhart (Inverness).

EUROPEAN TOUR SCOREBOARD
KLM OPEN
Par 140 (2 x 70)
130 David Carter 65 65
132 Steve Alker (Nzl) 66 66, Alexander Noren (Swe) 65 67, Joost Luiten (Ned) 68 64
133 Sam Walker 69 64, Henrik Nystrom (Swe) 66 67, Ross Fisher 66 67
135 Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (Fra) 64 71, Chris Riley (USA) 66 69, David Griffiths 71 64, David Lynn 65 70, John Bickerton 68 67, Richard Finch 68 67, Paul Lawrie 66 69, Tom Whitehouse 68 67, Markus Brier (Aut) 67 68, David Higgins 68 67, Thomas Levet (Fra) 65 70
136 Garry Houston 68 68, Steve Webster 65 71, Michael Campbell (Nzl) 65 71, Nick Dougherty 69 67, Phillip Price 68 68, Maarten Lafeber (Ned) 67 69, Simon Khan 67 69, Simon Wakefield 68 68, Alejandro Canizares (Spa) 69 67, Taichi Teshima (Jpn) 64 72
137 Christian Cevaer (Fra) 71 66, Joakim Backstrom (Swe) 69 68, Shaun P Webster 71 66, James Kingston (Rsa) 70 67, Luis Claverie (Spa) 67 70, Rafael Echenique (Arg) 69 68, Steven O'Hara 68 69, Alastair Forsyth 66 71, David Bransdon (Aus) 68 69, Emanuele Canonica (Ita) 67 70, Fredrik Andersson Hed (Swe) 69 68
138 Bernhard Langer (Ger) 67 71, Andrew Coltart 65 73, Johan Axgren (Swe) 67 71, Anthony Wall 69 69, David Drysdale 70 68, Gary Murphy 67 71, Robert Rock 69 69, Stephen Gallacher 70 68, Sven Struver (Ger) 66 72
139 Anton Haig (Rsa) 70 69, Shiv Kapur (Ind) 68 71, David Park 70 69, Mads Vibe-Hastrup (Den) 69 70, Marc Cayeux (Zim) 69 70, Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) 71 68, Brett Rumford (Aus) 69 70, Mark Pilkington 71 68, Lee Slattery 66 73, Marcus Higley 72 67, James Heath 70 69, Matthew Millar (Aus) 68 71, Andrew Marshall 66 73, Wade Ormsby (Aus) 69 70, James Hepworth 70 69
140 Martin Erlandsson (Swe) 69 71, Marcel Siem (Ger) 68 72, Nicolas Colsaerts (Bel) 67 73, Peter Gustafsson (Swe) 70 70, Kenneth Ferrie 66 74, Simon Dyson 67 73, Andrew McLardy (Rsa) 70 70, Ian Garbutt 73 67, Martin Maritz (Rsa) 70 70
MISSED THE CUT
141 Rahil Gangjee (Ind) 73 68, Robert Jan Derksen (Ned) 72 69, Juan Parron (Spa) 73 68, Gareth Davies 71 70, Benn Barham 70 71, Carlos Rodiles (Spa) 68 73, David Frost (Rsa) 71 70, Oliver Fisher 76 65, Mardan Mamat (Sin) 70 71, Michael Kraaij (Ned) 71 70, Lee S James 74 67, Jose Manuel Carriles (Spa) 70 71, Phillip Archer 71 70, Sam Little 68 73
142 Jesus Maria Arruti (Spa) 69 73, Mattias Eliasson (Swe) 70 72, Christopher Hanell (Swe) 70 72, Scott Strange (Aus) 72 70, Joakim Haeggman (Swe) 70 72, Andrew Raitt 73 69, Louis Oosthuizen (Rsa) 71 71, Terry Pilkadaris (Aus) 67 75, Lloyd Saltman (am) 74 68, Gary Lockerbie 70 72, Rolf Muntz (Ned) 75 67, Stephen Dodd 70 72, Marc Warren 68 74, Julien Guerrier (Fra) 75 67, Jean-Francois Remesy (Fra) 71 71, Cesar Monasterio (Arg) 70 72
143 Andrew Tampion (Aus) 67 76, Damien McGrane 71 72, Matthew Zions (Aus) 71 72, Kyron Sullivan 74 69, Richard McEvoy 70 73, Darren Fichardt (Rsa) 71 72, Ronald Stokman (Ned) 71 72, Alexandre Rocha (Bra) 71 72, Hiddo Uhlenbeck (Ned) 72 71, Barry Lane 70 73
144 Patrik Sjoland (Swe) 69 75, Antonio Maldonado (Mex) 72 72, Jean Hugo (Rsa) 70 74, Peter Hedblom (Swe) 70 74, Jurien Van der vaart (Ned) 71 73, Adrien Mork (Fra) 72 72, Pablo Martin (Spa) 72 72, Miles Tunnicliff 71 73, Mark Foster 71 73, Rafael Cabrera Bello (Spa) 70 74
145 Tony Finau (USA) 68 77, Johan Skold (Swe) 74 71, Steven Jeppesen (Swe) 68 77, Birgir Hafthorsson (Ice) 72 73, Scott Drummond 71 74, Ariel Canete (Arg) 70 75, Dawie Van der Walt (Rsa) 73 72, Stuart Little 73 72
146 Richard Bland 74 72, Jarmo Sandelin (Swe) 71 75, Robin Swane (Ned) 70 76, Wil Besseling (Ned) 76 70, Max Kramer (Aut) 75 71, Alessandro Tadini (Ita) 72 74, Terry Price (Aus) 70 76, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (Spa) 72 74
147 Daniel Vancsik (Arg) 76 71, Jamie Spence 68 79, Sion Bebb 73 74, Santiago Luna (Spa) 72 75, Ricardo Gonzalez (Arg) 72 75, Ruben Wechgelaer (Ned) 70 77, Edward Rush 71 76
149 Tim Sluiter (Ned) 79 70
150 Jean-Francois Lucquin (Fra) 73 77
151 Jose-Filipe Lima (Por) 74 77, Reinier Saxton (Ned) 76 75
152 Eirik Tage Johansen (Nor) 78 74
154 Jonathan Lomas 75 79
157 Eric Kruyning (Ned) 78 79
161 Andrew Hastie (Ned) 79 82
189 Stefan Langer (Ger) 98 91

BOOTH AND HENRY IN TOP 10 WITH ONE ROUND
TO GO IN EUROPEAN AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

Comrie's Wallace Booth dropped out of a share of the lead with a 72, which included a double bogey 5 at the short 13th, but he is still in joint fourth place, four shots behind Englishman Ben Evans who leads at 11 under par 216 with one round to go in the European men's individual amateur championship at Sporting Berlin Golf Club.
Scott Henry had one of the best rounds of the day - a five-under-par, bogey-free 67 - to improve to a share of sixth place on six-under-par 210. Scott, back at his best after a disappointing season todate, had birdies at the fifth, sixth, 12th, 14th and 17th.
SCOREBOARD
Par 216 (3 x 72)
Today's third round score listed.
205 B Evans (Eng) 68.
207 B Hebert (Fra) 70.
208 J Sjoholm (Swe) 70.
209 J Campillo (Spa) 69, W Booth (Sco) 72.
210 G Boyd (Eng) 67, S Henry (Sco) 67, J Blixt (Swe) 70, C Woods (Eng) 72.
211 J Gill (Aus) 70, J Moul (Eng), B Etchart (Spa) 70, F De Vries (Net) 68, C Mivis (Ger) 66.
Other scores:
214 D Willett (Eng) 70.
215 M Cryer (Eng) 69.
216 B Parker (Eng) 68.
217 S Ward (Ire) 72.
218 D Horsey (Eng) 72, C Macaulay (Sco) 73 (jt 24th).
219 D Whitnell (Eng) 76, L Matthews (Wal) 75.
220 R Davies (Wal) 75, J Parry (Eng) 71, R Kilpatrick (Ire) 74.
221 L Goddard (Eng) 74, M Baldwin (Eng) 76, K McNicoll (Sco) 75, P Cutler (Ire) 71 (jt 48th).
223 S Benson (Eng) 75.
226 R Kellett (Sco) 76.
228 N Edwards (Wal) 74.
232 K McAlpine (Sco) 77

CONSERVATIVE McARTHUR LEFT ONE BEHIND
AFTER PAUL WARING'S 62 PUTS HIM IN LEAD

From Michael Gibbons
Press Officer, Challenge Tour

Paul Waring continued the dream start to his professional career by surging into the lead at the European Challenge Tour’s POSTBANK Challenge presented by Marcel Siem after a brilliant second round of nine under par 62 left him one shot ahead in Germany.
The 22 year old from the Wirral, who played at this year’s Open Championship, turned professional just a fortnight ago, making his pro debut on the Challenge Tour at last week’s Lexus Open, where he finished in 24th place.
Having found his feet in the company of some of Europe’s brightest young professionals, Waring travelled to Germany as an invitee, carding a first round 68 at the Golfclub Mülheim an der Ruhr on the outskirts of Düsseldorf before storming into the lead with his second round 62 to move to 12 under 130.
Waring is one ahead of Scotland’s Andrew McArthur, with Felipe Aguilar of Chile and Frenchman Sebastian Delagrange a further stroke back.
“I have been playing well for a while and it just all clicked together today,” said Waring who posted nine birdies and nine pars on a blemish-free scorecard.
“I actually had a few more proper chances – I missed a five footer for birdie on 17 – but I’m pretty pleased with that.
“Norway was a good event for me last week because I ticked off a lot of things that are good to get out of the way when you turn pro. I made the cut, shot under par and managed to finish in a pretty decent position for my first event so it was a nice start.
“My plan was always to turn pro this year and when I got the invite to Norway I just went for it because I wanted to get used to everything looking ahead to The Tour School. That’s my main aim, so I am looking at whatever happens out here as a bonus.”
Waring, who represented England at all levels as an amateur and narrowly missed out on a place on the Great Britain and Ireland team for the forthcoming Walker Cup, has enjoyed a fairytale summer, playing in The Open alongside former Champion Ben Curtis of the USA and Australian Aaron Baddeley – a two time winner on the US PGA Tour.
He also managed to squeeze in practice rounds with European Tour champions Niclas Fasth of Sweden and the South African Trevor Immelman at Carnoustie.
“I spoke to so many people at The Open – everyone I could – and learned so much, mostly about myself and that I could cope under that sort of pressure,” said Waring.
Waring will find a new type of pressure this weekend, as he looks to complete that dream start to his professional career by securing a maiden victory in Germany.
While Waring was on the attack during his excellent 62, second placed McArthur McArthur continued his “conservative approach” to plotting a maiden professional win.
The Scot, who has not dropped a stroke in the first 36 holes, carded a second round 67 for his 11 under 131 halfway total.
The 28 year old Glaswegian is seeking the victory that would take him to the brink of winning a place on The European Tour via the top 20 on the Challenge Tour Rankings.
“I’m just plodding along nicely,” said McArthur, currently 21st on the Rankings. “I’m going for the conservative approach this week and it seems to be working for me.
“I’m pretty much playing target golf, trying to focus on picking my spot and I have managed to do it for most of the first two rounds.”

Rookie Richie Ramsay is the next best Scot in the field on five under par 135 after opening scores of 67-68, with George Murray on 139 (71-68) and Scott Henderson on 141 after scores of 70-71.
Scottish non-qualifiers included Robert Russell and Eric Ramsay (both 143), Graeme Brown (146), Peter Whiteford (147) and Jamie McLeary (150).

SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 142 (2 x 71)
130 P Waring (Eng) 68 62.
131 A McArthur (Sco) 64 67.
132 S Delagrange (Fra) 66 66, F Aguilar (Chi) 66 66.
133 C Gane (Eng) 67 66.
Others Scots scores:
137 R Ramsay 68 69.
139 G Murray 71 68.
141 S Henderson 70 71.

SCOTTISH NON-QUALIFIERS
143 R Russell 71 72, E Ramsay 71 72.
146 G Brown 75 71.
147 P Whiteford 71 76.
149 E Thomson 74 75.
150 J McLeary 78 72.

Elliot Saltman slumps in final round, finishes jt 16th

GREWAL SETS NEW PGA EUROPRO TOUR RECORD
WITH A ROUND OF 60 AT WHITTLEBURY

Sandeep Grewal has re-written the PGA EuroPro Tour record books by shooting the best round in its history.
Grewal, 25, fired a score of 60, including an albatross 2 at the par-5 ninth, during the final day of the PartyPoker.net English Masters at the Whittlebury Park Golf and Country Club in Northamptonshire.
However, his day could have been even better as he narrowly missed with a putt on the last that would have gave him the magical score of 59, a total achieved by only a handful of players in world golf.
"This is the best round of my career by far," said a delighted Grewal, a member of the Heswall Golf Club in Merseyside.
"I was one-under after eight and I had just played steadily with nothing special. But I holed my second shot at the ninth and that got me going.
"I just played solidly, kept hitting it to ten-feet from the pin and I didn't miss a putt. There was not much wind, the conditions were perfect and I birdied the last six holes."
Grewal, a former England amateur international, turned professional in 2000 and has been a regular on the PGA EuroPro Tour, the leading developmental golf tour in Europe, since it began in 2002.
Grewal started the final day in level 39th after scores of three-over and one-over at the par-71 course before his record-breaking 11-under 60 saw him become the clubhouse leader.
However, he could not clinch the first prize as Doncaster-based Graeme Clark won his third tournament of the PGA EuroPro Tour season.
Clark will be playing on the Challenge Tour in 2008 after winning his third tournament of the PGA EuroPro Tour season.
Doncaster-based Clark, who also won at Faithlegg, Waterford and The Players Club, Bristol, ended on 10-under-par for the 54 holes to secure another £10,000 first prize.
This takes his 2007 winnings to more than £35,000 and guarantees him a place inside the top five on the end of season Order of Merit.
As a result he will secure automatic qualification for the Challenge Tour.
Clark did not make the best of starts as a level-par 71 on Wednesday left him in equal 21st and four shots behind the lead.
WINNER BY ONE STROKE
But a four-under 67 on Thursday brought him back in contention before he ended his week in style with a six-under 65 to win by one shot.
Grewal tied for second on nine-under alongside Ian Keenan (Royal Liverpool) and Martin Le Mesurier (Vear Group).
Elliot Saltman from Dalkeith was joint leader at the start of the final day but such is the high standard of play on this satellite circuit that a two-over-par 73 dropped him down to a share of 16th place on three-under--par 210. Elliot earned only £415. He bogeyed the second, fourth, fifth and sixth which just about killled his chances even though he did birdie the ninth to be out in three-over-par 38.
Coming home Elliot, bogeyed the 13th, birdied the 16th, bogeyed the 17th and then finished in the grand manner with an eagle 3 at the 18th .
Saltman could have done with Lee Harper's final round of 66. The Archerfield Links player came storming home in 31 with an eagle at the 11th, birdies at the 12th, 16th, 17th and 18th - and one bogey, at the 13th.
He also had three birdies on the way out, at the second, third and ninth. Lee's payday was £340.
Neil Mitchell from Murcar Links also broke par at the last time of asking with a 69 for one-under-par 212 for a £299 pay-out. Neil birdied the first, third and sixth and then covered the last 12 holes with 11 pars and a bogey at the 17th in halves of 32 and 37.
FINAL TOTALS
Par 213 (3 x 71)
203 G Clark (Eng) 71 67 65 (£10,000.
204 S Grewal (Eng) 74 70 60, I Keenan (Eng0 71 69 65, M Le Mesurier (Eng) 69 69 66 (£3,066 each).
Scottish scores:
210 E Saltman 72 65 73 (jt 16th) (£415).
211 L Harper 76 69 66 (jt 24th) (£340).
212 N Mitchell 70 73 69 (jt 29th) (£299).

FINAL TOTALS TO COME LATER

US PGA TOUR SCOREBOARD

THE BARCLAYS CHAMPIONSHIP
Westchester Country Club, Rye, New York State).
Par 71
63 Rory Sabbatini (RSA)
64 KJ Choi (Kor), Rich Beem
65 Ernie Els (RSA) Steve Flesch, Brian Gay, Carl Pettersson (Swe)
66 Jeff Maggert, Briny Baird, Heath Slocum
67 Jerry Kelly, Steve Stricker, Phil Mickelson, Arron Oberholser, Brett Quigley, Mark Calcavecchia, Adam Scott (Aus)
68 Brian Davis (Eng), Zach Johnson, Geoff Ogilvy (Aus), John Mallinger, Billy Andrade, Anthony Kim, Bill Haas, Retief Goosen (Rsa), Corey Pavin, Luke Donald (Eng), Camilo Villegas (Col), Scott Verplank
69 Charley Hoffman, Woody Austin, Sergio Garcia (Spa), Tim Petrovic, Mike Weir (Can), Bob Heintz, Douglas Labelle, Rodney Pampling (Aus), Davis Love III, Chris DiMarco, Ted Purdy, Matt Kuchar, Cliff Kresge, Steve Allan (Aus), Kenny Perry, Rocco Mediate, Tim Clark (Rsa)
70 Nick Watney, Robert Garrigus, Billy Mayfair, Bob Estes, Chad Campbell, Justin Rose (Eng), Craig Kanada, Tom Pernice Jnr., Steve Elkington (Aus), Mark Wilson, Hunter Mahan, Trevor Immelman (Rsa), Jim Furyk, Fredrik Jacobson (Swe), Mathew Goggin (Aus), Ian Poulter (Eng), Troy Matteson
71 Anders Hansen (Den), Vaughn Taylor, Nick O'Hern (Aus), Joe Durant, Shaun Micheel, Boo Weekley, Frank Lickliter II, Jesper Parnevik (Swe), Andrew Buckle (Aus), Tim Herron, Joe Ogilvie, Tom Lehman, Fred Funk, Aaron Baddeley (Aus), John Rollins, Paul Goydos, Padraig Harrington (Irl)
72 Pat Perez, Bart Bryant, Lucas Glover, Stewart Cink, Bubba Watson, Brian Bateman, Steve Marino, J J Henry, Nathan Green (Aus), Bo Van Pelt, Ryan Armour, Ryuji Imada (Jpn), Shigeki Maruyama (Jpn), Brandt Snedeker, Jason Gore
73 Charles Warren, Jason Dufner, David Toms, Kevin Sutherland, Alex Cejka (Ger), Kevin Na (Kor), Will MacKenzie, Justin Leonard, Sean O'Hair, Johnson Wagner, D.J. Trahan, Ryan Moore
74 Dean Wilson, Jeff Overton, John Merrick, Ken Duke, Angel Cabrera (Arg), Brett Wetterich, Jonathan Byrd, Stuart Appleby (Aus)
75 Jeff Gove, Jeff Quinney, John Senden (Aus), J.P. Hayes, Michael Putnam, Harrison Frazar, Ben Curtis, Charles Howell III, Peter Lonard (Aus), Charlie Wi (Kor), George McNeill, Vijay Singh (Fij), Jose Coceres (Arg)
76 J.B. Holmes, Tripp Isenhour, Stephen Leaney (Aus), Bob Tway, Tommy Armour III
77 Daniel Chopra (Swe), Robert Allenby (Aus), Henrik Stenson (Swe)
78 Kevin Stadler

ANDREW COLTART EQUALS EUROPEAN

TOUR RECORD LOW (27) FOR NINE

HOLES IN KLM OPEN

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE

Frenchman Jean-Baptiste Gonnet and Japan's Taichi Teshima equalled the Kennemer course record of six under par 64 to take the first round lead in The KLM Open on Thursday.
The leading duo lead a seven-strong chasing pack that includes 2005 US Open Champion Michael Campbell of New Zealand and Scot Andrew Coltart, pictured right, whose back nine of 27 equalled the European Tour record low score for nine holes.
In becoming only the fifth player to shoot a 27, the Dumfries man's bid to equal the record of eight successive birdies came up one short when, having birdied seven in a row from the tenth, his 18 foot birdie putt on the 17th narrowly missed.
Teshima took full advantage of the benign conditions at Kennemer as he battles to keep his playing privileges for next season. It is the second time he has opened with a 64, the first being in the Italian Open, but on that occasion he missed the cut.
"I shot 64 in Italy (Italian Open), eight-under, but then followed up with a 77 and missed the cut by one," Teshima, who has won five times on the Japanese tour, said.
"Hopefully I can put that right now. I've had several good starts but not been able to follow them up."
Fickle weather in Europe has hindered Teshima's progress in his first year, but he is determined to stick it out and win a card for another year.
"I thought I could do better but I've missed too many cuts, which is something I didn't do in Japan," he said.
"We don't get a lot of wind in Japan and the rough is very different over here. I am determined to make my card, but I know I have to play well in every tournament I have left, to do that."
Gonnet has no such worries about his card anymore after his second place finish in last week’s Scandinavian Masters lifted him to 86th on The European Tour Order of Merit. Starting at the tenth he reached the turn in 29 with five birdies and then added another two before dropping his only shot at the seventh to match Teshima's score.
“Last week was unbelievable and I have now got my card in my pocket and it is great,” beamed the Frenchman. “I was very relaxed today and it is great for the rest of the season. I am just enjoying my game. That is why I play golf. Last week was very good and to follow that with a low round is very positive. But my goal is to get a victory and there is a long way to go.”
Campbell was another to enjoy a burst of low scoring with six birdies in eight holes lifting him into a share of third place in his bid to get back into the winners’ enclosure.

With caddie Pete Coleman on his bag, Campbell drew on his wealth of experience to post a five under par 65.
“I got off to a pretty average start and then got some momentum with six birdies in eight holes,” said Campbell.

“I have Pete Coleman on the bag for the first time. He has been caddieing for over 30 years and has 57 wins, two Majors and he knows what he is talking about. I asked several times the lines of the putts and he was right every time. He is earning his money this week.”
Campbell is targeting a return to winning ways having seen his close friends Angel Cabrera and Padraig Harrington win the US Open and Open respectively in recent weeks.
“I have been doing a lot of thinking the last three days and it is not much fun being down in 40th place in the Order of Merit and it is time to do something about it. I have had my holidays and it is time to get back over the next couple of months. Get back in that winning arena. It is something I have missed.”
David Lynn, the winner in 2004, was another player on five under par along with fellow Englishmen David Carter and Steve Webster and French Ryder Cup player Thomas Levet, who has finally recovered from vertigo which blighted his last year. Alexander Noren of Sweden, who boosted his season with a tied fifth in last month's Players Championship, completed the group on five under par.
There were mixed fortunes for the Langer family as father Bernhard, a three time winner of the event who turns 50 on Monday, carded a three under par 67 but his 17 year old son, Stefan, making his European Tour debut, struggled all day on his way to an opening 98.
A raking 40 footer for par on the last gave the youngster some encouragement but he still finished 31 strokes behind his father who explain that young Stefan is in the middle of a period when he is making major changes in his swing.

FIRST ROUND SCORES

Par 70

64 Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (Fra), Taichi Teshima (Jpn)
65 David Carter, Steve Webster, Michael Campbell (Nzl), Alexander Noren (Swe), Andrew Coltart, David Lynn, Thomas Levet (Fra)
66 Henrik Nystrom (Swe), Steve Alker (Nzl), Chris Riley (USA), Ross Fisher, Kenneth Ferrie, Lee Slattery, Sven Struver (Ger), Andrew Marshall, Paul Lawrie, Alastair Forsyth
67 Bernhard Langer (Ger), Andrew Tampion (Aus), Luis Claverie (Spa), Nicolas Colsaerts (Bel), Maarten Lafeber (Ned), Johan Axgren (Swe), Simon Dyson, Terry Pilkadaris (Aus), Simon Khan, Gary Murphy, Markus Brier (Aut), Emanuele Canonica (Ita)
68 Joost Luiten (Ned), Steven Jeppesen (Swe), John Bickerton, Steven O'Hara, Simon Wakefield, Tony Finau (USA), Marc Warren, Jamie Spence, Matthew Millar (Aus), David Higgins, Sam Little, Garry Houston, Shiv Kapur (Ind), Marcel Siem (Ger), Phillip Price, Carlos Rodiles (Spa), Richard Finch, Tom Whitehouse, David Bransdon (Aus)
69 Joakim Backstrom (Swe), Patrik Sjoland (Swe), Jesus Maria Arruti (Spa), Martin Erlandsson (Swe), Nick Dougherty, Rafael Echenique (Arg), Mads Vibe-Hastrup (Den), Marc Cayeux (Zim), Brett Rumford (Aus), Anthony Wall, Sam Walker, Robert Rock, Alejandro Canizares (Spa), Wade Ormsby (Aus), Fredrik Andersson Hed (Swe)
70 James Kingston (Rsa), Benn Barham, Christopher Hanell (Swe), David Park, Peter Hedblom (Swe), Robin Swane (Ned), James Heath, Stephen Dodd, Terry Price (Aus), Rafael Cabrera Bello (Spa), Mattias Eliasson (Swe), Anton Haig (Rsa), Jean Hugo (Rsa), Richard McEvoy, Peter Gustafsson (Swe), Joakim Haeggman (Swe), Mardan Mamat (Sin), Andrew McLardy (Rsa), Ruben Wechgelaer (Ned), Gary Lockerbie, David Drysdale, Stephen Gallacher, Jose Manuel Carriles (Spa), Ariel Canete (Arg), James Hepworth, Barry Lane, Martin Maritz (Rsa), Cesar Monasterio (Arg)
71 Damien McGrane, David Griffiths, Gareth Davies, David Frost (Rsa), Thongchai Jaidee (Tha), Jurien Van der vaart (Ned), Jean-Francois Remesy (Fra), Miles Tunnicliff, Edward Rush, Christian Cevaer (Fra), Shaun P Webster, Jarmo Sandelin (Swe), Matthew Zions (Aus), Scott Drummond, Louis Oosthuizen (Rsa), Darren Fichardt (Rsa), Ronald Stokman (Ned), Alexandre Rocha (Bra), Michael Kraaij (Ned), Mark Pilkington, Phillip Archer, Mark Foster
72 Robert Jan Derksen (Ned), Antonio Maldonado (Mex), Birgir Hafthorsson (Ice), Scott Strange (Aus), Ricardo Gonzalez (Arg), Marcus Higley, Adrien Mork (Fra), Alessandro Tadini (Ita), Hiddo Uhlenbeck (Ned), Santiago Luna (Spa), Gonzalo Fdez-Castano (Spa), Pablo Martin (Spa)
73 Juan Parron (Spa), Rahil Gangjee (Ind), Sion Bebb, Andrew Raitt, Dawie Van der Walt (Rsa), Jean-Francois Lucquin (Fra), Manuel Quiros (Spa), Stuart Little, Ian Garbutt
74 Jose-Filipe Lima (Por), Richard Bland, Lee S James, Johan Skold (Swe), Kyron Sullivan, Lloyd Saltman (am), Gary Emerson
75 Rolf Muntz (Ned), Max Kramer (Aut), Julien Guerrier (Fra), Jonathan Lomas
76 Wil Besseling (Ned), Daniel Vancsik (Arg), Reinier Saxton (Ned), Oliver Fisher
78 Eirik Tage Johansen (Nor), Eric Kruyning (Ned)
79 Tim Sluiter (Ned), Andrew Hastie (Ned)
98 Stefan Langer (Ger) (am).

QUALIFIERS FOR NICK FALDO GRAND FINAL

For the names of the six Scottish teenagers who qualified for the Nick Faldo Junior Series Grand Final at Celtic Manor in October, please switch over to our sister website, www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk

ELLIOT SALTMAN SHARES LEAD IN EUROPRO
TOUR EVENT AT WHITTLEBURY PARK


Rookie pro Elliot Saltman from Dalkeith is sharing the lead after 36 holes of the latest PGA EuroPro Tour event at Whittlebury Park Golf & Country Club in Northamptonshire.
Saltman had a superb second-round 65 for five-under-par 137 to join Welshman David Price in the lead.
Adam Lee (St Mellons, Cardiff) crashed out of the tournament despite hitting a hole-in-one on the 163-yard par-three 14th. A poor score of a six-over 77 on Wednesday left him with too much to do on the second day as he finished well down the field.
Apart from Saltman, the only other Scots to make it through to the final day were Neil Mitchell (Murcar Liks) on 143 and Lee Harper (Archerfield Links) on 145, the limit mark.
Jack and Paul Doherty, Graham Gordon, Thomas Higson and Christopher Campbell all missed the cut.

SECOND-ROUND LEADERS
Par 142 (2 x 71)
137 D Price (Wal) 70 67, E Saltman (Sco) 72 65.
138 G Clark (Eng) 71 67, S Doherty (Eng) 71 67, D Callaway (Eng) 70 68, Russell Claydon (Eng) 67 71, R Harris (Eng) 71 67, M McDermott (Ire) 70 68, M Le Mesurier (Eng) 69 69.
Other scores:
143 N Mitchell (Murcar Links) 70 73.
145 L Harper (Archerfield Links) 76 69.
SCOTS WHO MISSED CUT
146 J Doherty 75 71.
147 G Gordon 74 73.
152 T Higson 74 78.
153 C Campbell 77 76, P Doherty 71 82.

ROCKET MAN WALLACE BOOTH (course record
63) SHARES HALFWAY EUROPEAN LEAD

Wallace Booth rocketed into a share of the halfway lead in the European men's amateur individual championship with a brilliant course-record round of nine-under-par 63 on the second day at Sporting Berlin Golf Club.
Wallace had a 74 in the first round but he improved by 11 strokes with an eagle 3 at the 11th and birdies a tthe first, second, third, sixth, seventh, 12th and 14th in a bogey-free round.
That put the Comrie 22-year-old, who has spent the last four years playing the American circuit as a golf scholarship student at Augusta State University, into a triple tie for the lead with England's Ben Evans (69-68) and Benjamin Hebert (France) (68-69) on seven-under-par 137.
For the 24 holes since the 13th in the first round, Booth is a remarkable 11 under par.
Next best Scot is Scott Henry (Cardross) who came back to the tip-top form that has, in the main, eluded him this season. Henry improved from 75 on Wednesday to 68 today for one-under 143 and a share of 12th place.
Callum Macaulay (Tulliallan) slipped back to joint 24th position on 145 with a 74.
Keir McNicoll (Carnoustie) has had a pair of 73s for 146 and a share of 365th position.
Ross Kellett (Colville Park) is sharing 76th place after a second-round 74 for 150.
And spare a thought for Scottish stroke play champion Kevin McAlpine Alyth who was doing not too badly with two holes to play ... and then ran up two triple bogeys - a 6 at the short 17th and a 7 at the par-4 18th. That gave him a 79 for 155 and puts him way back in the field in joint 122nd place.
One side issue worthy of comment has been the lacklustre display of the Irish team who won the European team championship at Western Gailes just a few weeks ago. They don't have last year's title-winner, Walker Cup man Rory McIlroy, in their ranks but one would have expected them to have at least one player in the top 20 after 36 holes.
Not so. Simon Ward is the best placed Irishman in joint 24th place on 145 with a 75 and a 70.
SCOREBOARD
Par 144 (2 x 72)
137 W Booth (Sco) 74 63, B Evans (Eng) 69 68, B Hebert (Fra) 68 69.
138 C Woods (Eng) 70 68, J Sjoholm (Swe) 69 69.
140 J Campillo (Spa) 72 68, J Blixt (Swe) 69 71.
141 J Gill (NZ) 73 68, J Moul (Eng) 721 69, B Etchart (Spa) 72 69.
142 F Fritsch (Ger) 67 75.
Other scores:
143 S Henry (Sco) 75 68, G Boyd (Eng) 72 71, D Whitnell (Eng) 74 69 (jt 12th).
144 D Willett (Eng) 73 71, L Matthews (Wal) 73 73 (jt 20th).
145 C Macaulay (Sco) 71 74, R Davies (Wal) 71 74, M Baldwin (Eng) 72 73, S Ward (Ire) 75 70 (jt 24th).
146 K McNicoll (Sco) 73 73, M Cryer (Eng) 73 73, R Kilpatrick (Ire) 74 72 (jt 36th).
148 S Benson (Eng) 71 77 (jt 53rd).
149 J Parry (Eng) 75 74 (jt 64th).
150 R Kellett (Sco) 76 74, S Grant (Ire) 75 75 (jt 76th).
155 K McAlpine (Sco) 76 79 (jt 122nd)

ROBERTSON AND DOAK TIE ON 66 AT TURRIFF

Dean Robertson (Mearns Castle) and Chris Doak (unattached) tied for victory on four-under-par 64 in today's Turriff Golf Club pro-am.
Both received £947 for scores of four-under-par 66.
Robertson had a bag of eight birdies (the first, third, fifth, sixth, ninth, 10th, 12th and 17th) and four bogeys (seventh, 14th, 15th and 16th) in going out in 34 and back in 32.
Doak had six birdies (second, third, sixth, ninith, 14th and 16th) with just two bogeys, at the fourth and 15th in halves of 33.
They finished a shot ahead of Northern Open winner Murray Urquhart (Inverness).
Ian Bratton (Newburgh on Ythan) steered the J G P Builders Ltd trio of John Paterson (handicap 18), Wayne Stuart (12) and Neil Smith (9) to victory in the team event with a 16-under-par net total of 124.
David McCormack (East Aberdeenshire) finished joint eighth on 70 in one of his last outings as a golf professional. He joins the Police Force next week.

LEADING PROFESSIONALS
Par 70
66 D Robertson (Mearns Castle), C Doak (unatt).
67 M Urquhart (Inverness).
68 G McInnes (Murcar Links), L Mann (Kings Links), C Kelly (Cawder).
69 S Gray (Hayston).
70 D McCormack (East Aberdeenshire), C Gillies (Kings Links), I Bratton (Newburgh on Ythan), S Rettie (Royal Troon).

European Challenge Tour

Eagle lands for McArthur in Germany
to give him first-round lead on 64

From Michael Gibbons
Press Officer, Challenge Tour

A sensational 50 foot eagle putt landed Scotland’s Andrew McArthur the early lead at the POSTBANK Challenge presented by Marcel Siem. And he held on to it all day in Germany.
The 28 year old’s brilliant eagle effort ensured an opening score of seven under par 64 at the Golfclub Mülheim an der Ruhr and a one stroke lead over Frenchman Jean-Nicolas Billot and Argentina’s Rafael Gomez after both men posted opening scores of 65.
McArthur, currently 21st on the Challenge Tour Rankings after three top ten finishes in his last seven events, is hoping to secure the maiden Challenge Tour victory that would take him to the cusp of a place on The 2008 European Tour as one of the top 20 players on the end of season Rankings.
“It’s always a good day when you hole a 50 foot putt on the last for eagle,” smiled the Scotsman after signing for a 64.
“I thought that the ball was going to finish just short of the hole and was shaking my head in disbelief when it dropped in at the last moment.
“I am feeling confident just now and that I am ready to win. I have been close but I seem to throw in an inopportune 72 or 73 in the weeks that I am playing well and that has been holding me back. I just have to eliminate that and I will be very close to getting my first win.”
Recently turned professional Richie Ramsay is the next best Scot in the field after a three under 68. George Murray, who lost out in a sudden-death play-off at the Challenge Tour’s Lexus Open last week, posted a level par 71 first round score, the same mark as Peter Whiteford.

FIRST ROUND SCOREBOARD
Par 71
64 A McArthur (Sco).
65 J-N Billot (Fra), R Gomez (Arg).
Other scores:
68 R Ramsay (Sco) (jt 16th).
70 S Henderson (Sco) (jt 44th).
71 G Murray (Sco), E Ramsay (Sco), R Russell (Sco), P Whiteford (Sco) (jt 56th).
74 G Wright (Wal) (jt 108th).
75 G Brown (Sco) (jt 124th).
78 J McLeary (Sco) (jt 140th of 154).

DEESIDE GOLF CLUB JUNIOR
OPEN LEADING SCORES

Deeside Golf Club Junior Open leading scores this week:

BOYS
(Deeside members where first names are given)
Haughton Course, Yellow Tees.
Class 1
Scratch
71 Jack Scott.
73 D Macandrew, Fraser Clarke.
75 C Innes.
Handicap
68 C Innes (6).
69 Jack Scott (2), D Macandrew (4).
70 Fraser Clarke (3), S Goodbrand (7).
71 Michael Kelly (6).
72 R Dick (7).
74 Thomas D Rennie (2), Steven Smith (6).
Class 2
Scratch
72 J Presly.
80 Stephen Dunn.
81 Sean Hassard, F Grant.
82 A Taylor.
83 Jamie Pryde, Grant Joss.
Handicap
62 J Presley (10).
65 Stephen Dunn (15).
67 A Taylor (15), Jamie Pryde (16), Sean Hassard (14).
69 F Grant (12), C Sutherland (18), Grant Joss (14).
71 D Irvin(13), Matthew Trail (14).
72 Niall White (16)
73 Ashley Anderson (18), G Ritchie (14).
Class 3
Scratch
89 David Young.
91 C Newbury.
93 Benhamin Henderson.
94 Lewys Anderson.
Handicap
70 David Young (19).
72 Craig Lawrie (25), C Newbury (19).
74 Lewis Clark (21), Benjhamin Henderson (19).
75 Lewys Anderson (19) 75.
76 Ross Powell (24), Michael Lawrie (38).

Switch over to http://www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk/ to see the Girls' scores from the Deeside Junior Open.

NEIL MITCHELL THREE OFF THE PACE IN PGA
EUROPRO TOUR EVENT AT WHITTLEBURY PARK

Neil Mitchell from Murcar Links was the leading Scot at the end of the first round in this week's PGA EuroPro Tour event at Whittlebury Park Golf Club.
Neil had a one-under-par 70 to be three shots behind pacemaker Russell Claydon (Gog Magog).
SCOREBOARD
Par 71
67 R Claydon (Gog Magog).
68 J Spagnuolo (The Hertfordshire), M Woods (Donnington Castle), H Proos (Dunscar).
Scots' scores:
70 N Mitchell (jt 11th).
71 P Doherty (jt 21st).
72 E Saltman (jt 43rd).
74 G Gordon, T Higson (jt 67th).
75 J Doherty (jt 82nd).
76 L Archer (jt 96th).
77 C Campbell (jt 113th).

European men's amateur individual championship

MACAULAY LEADS SCOTTISH CHALLENGE IN BERLIN

Callum Macaulay (Tulliallan) was the best placed of the six Scots in the field at the end of the first round of the European men's amateur championship at Sporting Berlin Golf Club today.
Callum had a one-under-par round of 71 to be in joint ninth position behind the leader, Germany's Florian Fritsch with a 67.
SCOREBOARD
Par 72
67 F Fritsch (Ger).
68 B Hebert (Fra).
69 B Evans (Eng), J Blixt (Swe), J Sjoholm Swe), R Nielsen(Den).
Scots scores:
71 C Macaulay (jt 9th).
73 K McNicoll (jt 37th).
74 W Booth (jt 55th).
75 S Henry (jt 75th).
76 R Kellett, K McAlpine (jt 91st).

++You can get all the scores and look at all the scorecards by logging on to the European championship website at: http://www.golf.de/amateur/

URQUHART AND NICOLL TIE ON 66

AT FRASERBURGH PRO-AM

Northern Open champion Murray Urquhart from Inverness and Prestwick's Callum Nicoll earned £915 apiece in a tie for victory in the Fraserburgh Golf Club pro-am today (Wed).
Both shot four-under-par 66 with Urquhart, pictured right, having the bigger bag of birdies - at the sixth, seventh, eighth, 10th, 12th and 13th. He bogeyed the fourth and 11th.
Nicoll had a bogey-free round with birdies at the first, fourth, 10th and 13th.
They finished two strokes clear of third-placed Alan Lockhart (Ladybank).
Urquhart also led the Belmar Engineering team of James Cardno (7), Ross Buchan (6) and Sam Strachan (2) to victory with a net score of 24-under-par 116.
LEADING PROFESSIONALS
Par 70
66 M Urquhart (Inverness), C Nicoll (Prestwick).
68 A Lockhart (Ladybank).
69 M King (Kingsfield), C Gillies (Kingsfield), L Mann (Kings Links).
70 G McFarlane (Clober), G Forbes (Murcar Links), C Kelly (Cawder), C Doak (unatt), G Harvey (Kinross), G McInnes (Murcar Links), R Cameron (McDonald Ellon).

MURCAR LINKS BOYS WIN OFF THE TEE TROPHY AT ELLON

Murcar Links beat Deeside by eight holes in the final of the Off the Tee Trophy boys' inter-club team match-play tournaments.

Semi-finals
Murcar beat Inverurie by four holes.
Deeside wo Peterculter scr.

Final
Murcar beat Deeside by 8 holes (Deeside first string finished two holes up; Murcar Links second string finished 10 holes up after one of the Deeside boys injured a wrist during the round).

GRAY IS LEADING SCOTS PRO IN
PGA SUPER-60s

Gordon Gray was the leading Scottish professional in the first round of the PGA Super-60s tournament at Forest Pines Golf & Country Club, Scunthorpe in North Lincolnshire.
He had a four-under-par 69, one off the lead shared by Englishmen Roger Fidler and Graham Burroughs.
SCOREBOARD
Par 73
68 R Fidler (Eng), G Burroughs (Eng).
69 B Longworth (Eng), G Gray (Sco).
70 J Hume (Sco), J Hudson (Eng), T Squires (Eng).
Other scores:
71 J Steven (Sco), I D Smith (Sco), I Clark (Sco) (jt 8th).
72 F Hadden (Sco) (jt 14th).
73 D Craik (Sco) (jt 17th).
80 M Burgess (Sco) (30th).

Editor's Note: From memory, I recall that the professionals in this event played with a partner from their home. For instance, Ian Smith (Retired Hazlehead professional) played with former Walker Cup player Sandy Pirie, also of Hazlehead, last year. But, unfortunately, the PGA website lists only the professionals' names.

CLARKE JOINS RYDER CUP TEAM MATES FOR
GLENEAGLES' JOHNNIE WALKER CHAMPIONSHIP

Ryder Cup hero Darren Clarke has announced that he will join other confirmed team mates in competing in this year’s Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles. Darren will now be one of four winning European Ryder Cup team players, who will tee off on August 30. These include defending champion Paul Casey, Championship chairman Colin Montgomerie and Lee Westwood.

Darren is looking for a strong finish to the season and hopes to build on the momentum of his performance in the US PGA Championship.

A popular member of the European Tour, Darren became the hero of the 2006 Ryder Cup by winning all three of his matches in what was an extremely emotionally charged week.

Darren said: “The PGA Centenary Course at Gleneagles is a great course and hopefully I will be able to shoot some good scores over the duration of the Johnnie Walker Championship and improve on my standing. I am also looking forward to my return to Scotland after the USA PGA Championship - hopefully I can bring some of the American weather back with me!”

Tournament Director, Graeme Marchbank added: “I am delighted that so many of last year’s winning Ryder Cup team have chosen to play at the 2007 Johnnie Walker Championship. It is a great endorsement of the tournament and shows that it has become an important event on the Tour calendar.”

Since its inaugural tournament in 1999, the Johnnie Walker Championship has continued to grow and is now one of the most popular events on the Tour. Previous winners include Adam Scott and Pierre Fulke. Championship Chairman, Colin Montgomerie and defending Champion Paul Casey have also confirmed.

Tickets are priced at £18 for a daily adult ticket (£15 concession) and £35 for an adult season ticket (£25 concession). These are available in advance at The Golf Shop at Gleneagles or by calling 01764 694361. Alternatively tickets will be available at the gate during the tournament

STONEHAVEN MEN'S OPEN PLACES
AVAILABLE FOR SUNDAY

SOME places are still available in the draw for the 36-hole Open tournament at Stonehaven Golf Club on Sunday (August 26), an event sponsored jointly by Aberdeen Industrial Finance and Accenture, the management consultants.
Late entries will be accepted on 01569 762124.
Prize vouchers on offer are the largest allowed in amateur golf in Scotland and range fom a £500 voucher for the winner of the scratch-only event to a £50 voucher for eighth place.
Among a number of leading amateurs from the North-east who have entered is Bryan Innes of Murcar Links, a former Scotland international team player and still a +3 handicapper, who knows his way round the tricky Stonehaven course better than most.
Bryan, pictured right, grew up in Stonehaven and was club champion six times between 1992 and 1998 before moving to Murcar.
But he will face strong local opposition led by 49-year-old Neil Irvine, a one-handicapper who equalled the course record of 60 (six-under-par) in a club medal last Saturday.
Stonehaven's captain, David Callaghan, said: "If the weather is kind and the wind doesn't blow, that record could be under threat on Sunday as our greens are beautiful this year and putts are being holed. Whatever, we are looking forward to welcoming some of the best players in the area to Stonehaven and we anticipate a superb day's golf."
============================================================
Note from Colin Farquharson: Editor of Scottishgolfview.com

The first golf tournament I reported on as a very raw cub reporter with Aberdeen Journals was the Stonehaven 36-hole men's open in 1955. I remember catching the bus out to Stonehaven from Aberdeen.
Aged 17, I was nervous and, dare I say it, "shy" .... so I declined the invitation of the Stonehaven club officials to "come in and have something to eat."
I spent the whole day outside the clubhouse, jotting down scores from a scoreboard and not speaking to anyone, not even the players, before catching the bus back into the city in the evening.
I do remember the name of the winner of the tournament - Wallace Anderson who played football for Falkirk, if I remember correctly.
Golden days.

ROY CASE TO BECOME PRESIDENT-ELECT
OF ENGLISH GOLF UNION

Roy Case, a champion of junior golf for the past three decades, has accepted the nomination to become president elect of the English Golf Union for the year 2008 with a view to becoming its president in 2009.
During his time in junior golf, Roy helped develop the careers of many current professional including Nick Dougherty, Justin Rose, Luke Donald, Graeme Storm, Lee Westwood, Mark Foster, and Oliver Wilson as well as current leading amateurs such as Paul Waring, John Parry, Matthew Baldwin, Ben Parker and new English champion Daniel Willett.
“This has come as a complete shock,” he says. “I had no idea. It is not something I’d even thought would ever come to me, but I’m delighted.”
Roy, currently the secretary of the Nottinghamshire Golf Union, has served the R&A and the EGU in various guises since the early 1990s but his involvement with junior golf dates back to 1980 when he took over as junior organiser at his home club of Radcliffe on Trent.
He held that position for five years after which he was captain at Radcliffe in 1984 and ‘85 and club president in 2000/1. He has been chairman of junior golf in Nottinghamshire since 1984 and was instrumental in launching the McGregor Trophy, now the English Boys Under 16 Championship, in 1982.
Roy served on the R&A’s GB&I boys selection committee from 1994 until this year, while his involvement with the EGU also began in 1994 when he joined the Venues Sub Committee, of which he is still a member.

SCOTLAND WOMEN'S TEAM NAMED FOR DUNBAR

The Scotland team for the women's home internationals at Dunbar Golf Club from September 12 to 14 has been named today.
Log on to our sister website, www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk, to see who has capped.

NORTH-EAST DISTRICT

OF SCOTTISH GOLF

UNION IN A "FINANCIAL
PREDICAMENT"

Dr Douglas G Fowlie, pictured right, president of the North-east District Association of the Scottish Golf Union, has sent the following letter to all the district's affiliated clubs:

(In the interests of brevity, the letter has been edited down to its salient points: Editor, Scottishgolfview).

Special General Meeting - Wednesday, September 12, 2007.

Dear Secretary,
Your club is invited to attend a special genereal meeting of North-east District club representatives (one or two per club as described in Para 4 of the constitution) to be held on Wednesday, September 12, 2007 at 7.30-m at the Aberdeen Medico-Chirurgical Society rooms, Foresterhill Hospital, Aberdeen.
The District finds itself in a financial predicament which is currently the subject of police investigation. As a result, it has no access to funds to cover predicted expenses. This meeting has been called to give you the backround to this situation and to consider the implications for future funding and governance.
Immediately after the annual meeting (on March 11, 2007), the newly-elected office-bearers discussed concerns with the (then) secretary/treasurer. Lax administration and communication had been noticed in the preceding months.
An arrangement was agreed to provide assistance in managing the district commitments. The plan proved unworkable and on May 24, immediately following another failed meeting, arrangements were put in place to close bank accounts, change signatories and request all available financial information.
Championships and matches are proceeding but all associated arrangements have had to be checked and re-established.
The immediate consequences of this financial, administrative and constitutional breakdown has resulted in a curtailed programme.
The secretary/treasurer responsibilities are being shouldered by Mr George Young and his commitment has allowed events to take place. He has been aided by the committee.
The Scottish Golf Union has been briefed and remains a source of guidance and may provide temporary finaancial aid.

Dr DOUGLAS G FOWLIE
President

McNULTY WINS HIS FIRST MAJOR ON THE
US SENIORS TOUR JUST WHEN HE NEEDED

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE

Mark McNulty claimed his first Major title on the US Champions (Seniors) Tour by capturing the JELD-WEN Tradition at Crosswater Golf Club, Oregon, finishing five shots ahead of American David Edwards.
The Zimbabwean-born Irishman, who led after the first and third rounds, closed with a final round of 68 for a 16 under par total of 272. The six time Champions Tour winner led Edwards by three shots at the turn and birdied the 11th and 15th.
By the last, he was seven ahead of the field but a double bogey took some of the gloss off his victory as a potential seven-stroke victory became five.
McNulty said: "My putting all week was fantastic except for the last hole, but my concentration had gone out the window by then."
McNulty, renown for his brilliance on the greens, added: "Guys who putt well through the ages are born with it. And whether it's [Ben] Crenshaw, whether it's Tiger [Woods], you are born with it and you putt well," he explained.
"You have times when you go through poor putting rounds, tournaments, times, but it always comes back because you have it, because it's inbred, it's inside."
"I can attest, he is a very good putter," said Edwards, who finished runner-up to McNulty. "I played with him the last three days and he played very solid. He didn't miss very many shots.”
As well as picking the right time on Sunday to charge ahead, he also picked the right time in his career to notch a win. McNulty needed a top 30 finish on the 2007 Champions Tour Money List to be fully exempt for 2008.
Upon first joining the Over-50s Tour, he earned three wins and Rookie of the Year honours in 2004 before following that up with two wins in 2005, but a lack of wins since put him in a precarious position on the exemption list.

FOX BEATS ORR IN PLAY-OFF TO WIN AT SHOTTS
... after leader Glen drops FIVE shots over
the last three holes

Musselburgh's Kenneth Glen blew his victory chance in the North Lanarkshire Council/Pro Guide Young Professional's 36-hole tournament with a disastrous slump over the last three holes at Shotts Golf Club.
Glen had shared the first-round lead with David Orr (East Renfrewshire) on four-under-par 66 and after birdies at thesecond, fifth, 10th and 12th (bogeys at the eighth and ninth), he was six under par for the tournament coming into the last three holes in the second round.
He needed only to par them for a 68 and a clear-cut winning total of 134. Even a single bogey and two pars would have been good enough for him to win by one shot.
Sadly, Kenneth bogeyed the 16th, double-bogeyed the 17th and double-bogeyed the 18th - five shots shed in three holes - for a 73 and a total of 139 which gave him a share of sixth place and a cheque for £110.
Graham Fox (West Kilbride) holed a putt for a birdie 3 to beat David Orr at the first hole of a sudden-death play-off.
Fox and Orr had tied on four-under-par 136, Graham with rounds of 69 and 67, David with 66 and 70.,
Fox earned £400 and Orr £297.
Joint third on 137 were Lee Harper (Archerfield Links) (69-68) and Steven Taylor (Bothwell Castle) (70-67).

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 140 (2 x 70)
136 G Fox (West Kilbride) 69 67, D Orr (East Renfrewshire) 66 70 (Fox bt Orr at first hole of sudden death play-off).
137 L Harper (Archerfield Links) 69 68, S Taylor (Bothwell Castle) 70 67.
138 I Pender (Aberfoyle) 67 71.
139 K Glen (Musselburgh) 66 73, G Hardy (unatt) 72 67.
141 R Scott (Musselburgh) 71 70, G Rankin (Stirling) 70 71.
142 J McGhee (Turnhouse) 67 75.
143 C Matheson (Falkirk Tryst) 72 71.
145 G Lornie (Aspire) 73 72, J Anton (Noah's Ark) 70 75, C McCalman (unatt) 72 73.
146 F McLaughlan (Bothwell Castle) 75 71, M Sweenie (Westin Turnberry) 69 77, S Lamb (Broomieknowe) 73 73, T Buchanan (Duddingston) 74 72, J Cliff (Murrayfield) 75 71.

The pro-am part of the original programme was rained off on Sunday and has been rescheduled for Sunday, September 2.

R&A PRESS RELEASE

GB&I TEAM FOR JACQUES LEGLISE TROPHY

Fraser Fotheringham, a Scottish boy international, has been rewarded for reaching the final of the Boys Amateur Championship by being selected for the GB&I team to play the Continent of Europe in the Jacques Leglise Trophy at Notts Golf Club on 31 August and 1 September.
Fotheringham, 18, from Nairn who had reached the final contrary to his own expectations came up against an in-form 16-year-old Emilio Cuartero of Spain and was unlucky to lose by 1 hole.
Other Scots in the nine-man line-up are Banchory’s James Byrne, the runner-up in the Scottish Stroke Play at Dornoch and who made his full international debut in the European Team Championships, and Michael Stewart of Troon Welbeck.
England are represented by five of their six-man team that finished runner-up to Denmark in the European Boys Team Championship.
Carris Trophy winner Matthew Haines scored 4½ points out of a possible six in the Boys Home Internationals while 16-year-old Tommy Fleetwood, in his international debut won all six of his matches. The other three English players are Jack Hiluta, the captain, Andrew Johnston and Eddie Pepperell.
IRISH REPRESENTATIVE
Paul Cutler who has recently been selected for the Irish men’s team, is rewarded with a place in the side after a strong performance in the Boys Internationals in which he won 5 points from a possible six. Earlier in the year he had lost in the final of the West of Ireland after defeating Rory McIlroy in the last eight.
Jeff Toye, Chairman of The R&A Boys Selection Committee said: “We are still smarting from last year’s defeat but believe that we have selected a team that is particularly strong in match play and is more than capable of regaining the Trophy.”
“The players have performed well throughout the season, not only in junior events, but more importantly in many cases on the highly competitive mens’ amateur circuit.”
“This is not only a team that will try hard, but, I believe, a team of winners.”
Until recently, GB&I had assumed almost automatic possession of the trophy but last year’s 19½ - 4½ win for the Continental boys at Marianske Lazne confirmed that their success 12 months earlier at Royal Porthcawl was anything but a fluke.
RAILWAY CONNECTION
Notts Golf Club, like many clubs formed in the early part of the last century, owes much to the expansion of the railways. Shortly after the present course opened in 1901, the Great Central Railway built a station at Hollinwell and, for the next 40 years, the railway provided a convenient mode of transport for both members and visitors.
Since then, Notts has hosted countless championships and major tournaments and has the reputation of being one of the most testing, yet fair, inland courses in the British Isles.

TEAM
James Byrne, Banchory
Paul Cutler, Portstewart
Tommy Fleetwood, Formby Hall
Fraser Fotheringham, Nairn
Matthew Haines, Rochester & Cobham
Jack Hiluta (Captain), Chelmsford
Andrew Johnston, North Middlesex
Eddie Pepperell, Drayton Park
Michael Stewart, Troon Welbeck

US TOUR FINAL TOTALS
WYNDHAM CHAMPIONSHIP
Par 288 (4 x 72)
266 Brandt Snedeker 70 67 66 63
268 Jeff Overton 65 67 66 70, Billy Mayfair 69 68 64 67, Tim Petrovic 68 65 68 67
269 Carl Pettersson (Swe) 66 67 68 68
270 Greg Kraft 66 67 71 66
271 Will MacKenzie 64 71 68 68, Kevin Stadler 68 67 70 66, Shigeki Maruyama (Jpn) 66 69 67 69, Jason Gore 67 68 69 67
272 Jeff Maggert 67 70 69 66, Anders Hansen (Den) 69 64 68 71
273 Dean Wilson 70 68 70 65, Charles Warren 68 67 70 68, Nathan Green (Aus) 68 66 70 69, Joey Sindelar 69 67 68 69, Brian Gay 69 67 69 68, Jonathan Byrd 69 66 73 65
Frank Lickliter II 68 70 68 67
274 John Merrick 66 69 69 70, Andy Bare 70 66 68 70, Lucas Glover 65 71 66 72, John Huston 66 66 72 70, Tripp Isenhour 69 70 65 70, Johnson Wagner 68 68 69 69, Peter Lonard (Aus) 70 69 67 68
275 Kent Jones 67 70 69 69, Bob Estes 69 69 68 69, J J Henry 70 69 67 69, Vaughn Taylor 67 70 69 69, Eric Axley 68 70 69 68, Brent Geiberger 68 68 70 69
276 Ryan Palmer 68 70 70 68, Craig Bowden 70 69 68 69, Jaco Van Zyl (Rsa) 70 69 69 68, Craig Kanada 68 65 70 73
277 Brian Davis (Eng) 65 73 68 71, Mark Hensby (Aus) 67 70 72 68, Jeff Brehaut 71 66 67 73, Bob Tway 67 69 73 68, Alex Cejka (Ger) 68 67 72 70, Kevin Na (Kor) 69 70 70 68, Chris Tidland 68 71 71 67, Steve Marino 65 67 71 74, Cameron Beckman 68 68 69 72, Rich Beem 69 69 69 70, Jay Williamson 70 68 70 69, Jason Schultz 69 67 70 71
278 Steve Wheatcroft 68 66 71 73, Tommy Armour III 72 64 69 73, Charlie Wi (Kor) 68 67 70 73, Jarrod Lyle (Aus) 69 69 70 70, Fredrik Jacobson (Swe) 70 66 70 72, Mathew Goggin (Aus) 69 70 70 69, Scott Gutschewski 68 70 70 70, D.J. Trahan 68 70 71 69
279 Billy Andrade 68 71 70 70, Michael Bradley 69 70 68 72, Craig Barlow 68 71 72 68, Tag Ridings 70 66 72 71, John Senden (Aus) 67 70 70 72, Todd Fischer 66 72 71 70
Michael Putnam 67 68 73 71
280 Daniel Chopra (Swe) 68 71 70 71, George McNeill 70 68 68 74, Mathias Gronberg (Swe) 72 67 71 70
281 Chad Campbell 69 68 72 72, Kirk Triplett 67 69 72 73, Joe Durant 67 69 72 73, Jay Delsing 68 69 68 76, Robert Garrigus 69 69 73 70, Cliff Kresge 67 69 69 76, Spike McRoy 71 66 73 71
283 Paul Gow (Aus) 68 70 73 72, Todd Hamilton 66 69 77 71, Stephen Leaney (Aus) 69 70 70 74
284 Tom Johnson 70 69 73 72, Chris Riley 70 68 74 72, Craig Lile (Rsa) 70 69 70 75, Olin Browne 70 68 75 71, Briny Baird 70 69 73 72
285 Ryan Blaum 71 68 72 74
286 Willie Wood 71 68 71 76
288 Neal Lancaster 69 69 77 73
291 Jim Gallagher jr 69 70 71 81
292 Steve Allan (Aus) 67 72 74 79

BILL LONGMUIR SCORES FIRST SENIORS
TOUR WIN FOR TWO YEARS

By Graeme Hamlett
Press Officer, European Seniors Tour

Anglo-Scot Bill Longmuir ended Carl Mason’s dominance of the tournament by claiming The Midas English Open by two strokes from his rival at St Mellion – and spoke of how great it felt to be a winner once more after his final round of 69 secured his first victory in two years.
Longmuir, who hails from Thundersleigh, slew his own putting demons and the English dragon Mason, who was chasing a record-setting fourth consecutive English Open win over the course where he holds the record, a 63 shot in 1995.
Trailing Mason by one stroke – he was on five under par to Mason’s six under par after 36 holes – at the start of the final round, Longmuir went out in three under par 33 and back in level par 36.
Holding a three-shot lead down coming down the 18th hole, Longmuir could afford the three-putt on the last green he took as he claimed his first victory since the Scandinavian Seniors Open in 2005. His winning 54 hole total of eight under par, 208, also saw him pick up the first prize of £22,500.
Longmuir said: “It’s a good feeling – it’s a long time since it happened. I thought I’d forgotten how to win. What made it harder was that I was up against Carl. He won last week in Switzerland and has had four great years in this event, so I’m really proud that I held him off.
“I could never relax because I knew he’d put the pressure on. I was fortunate he had a bad day with the putter, but I’m very pleased with the way I putted. I had five birdies. My putting has been my major problem for a long time now, but I’m giving myself more chances and feel like I’m getting nearer to making them.”
With his 16 year old son Callum acting as caddie in Cornwall, father and son Longmuir repeated the partnership that secured the 2004 Charles Church Scottish Seniors Open.
Longmuir said: “It feels even better to win with Callum on the bag. He’s done really well for me this week and a big bonus is coming his way!”
Mason was quick to praise his conqueror and said: “Bill played superb golf and putted great – the best I’ve seen him for ages. He deserves it. He played wonderfully well.
“It was a tough day and I think we both did great. We had 27 holes to play, and as you know, the conditions have been horrible. I thought level par would win this week, with the bad weather we’ve had.”
Two other Scottish players fared well. Martin Gray tied for 14th place after rounds of 73-75-72, while John Chillas was tied 22nd after rounds of 72-75-75.
Henry Arnott was 65th after rounds of 79-87-83, while Steve Martin and Mike Miller both withdrew from the final 18 holes after matching each other’s scores on the first two days, shooting 76-81 respectively.
FINAL TOTALS
208 B Longmuir (Sco) 70 69 69
210 C Mason (Eng) 69 69 72
216 D Merriman (Aus) 71 74 71
217 K Tomori (Jpn) 74 71 72, S Ginn (Aus) 70 75 72
218 D O’Sullivan (Irl) 72 73 73, M Foster (Eng) 74 72 72, D Johnson (USA) 73 72 73, P Dugeny (Fra) 72 72 74, I Mosey (Eng) 72 78 68, J Heggarty (Nir) 70 71 77
219 J Bland (RSA) 70 73 76, S Owen (Nzl) 71 72 76
220 M Gray (Sco) 73 75 72, T Dill (USA) 72 72 76
221 B Cameron (Eng) 74 73 74, G Townhill (Eng) 72 73 76, B Heuchan (Can) 74 75 72, DJ Russell (Eng) 70 72 79, A Fernandez (Chi) 73 74 74, J Mashego (RSA) 74 72 75
222 B Larratt (Eng) 71 77 74, N Job (Eng) 70 80 72, J Chillas (Sco) 72 75 75
223 B Malley (USA) 72 77 74, J Rhodes (Eng) 71 76 76, T Johnstone (Zim) 73 74 76
224 G Ralph (Eng) 71 77 76
225 G Encina (Chi) 73 78 74, J Bruner (USA) 73 78 74, G Levenson (RSA) 74 72 79
226 E Rodriguez (Esp) 73 78 75, B Smit (RSA) 72 77 77, GJ Brand (Eng) 72 80 74, T Rastall (Eng) 73 78 75, D Cambridge (Jam) 72 78 76
227 J Benda (USA) 75 74 78
228 M Bembridge (Eng) 75 74 79, R Stelten (USA) 72 75 81
229 K Spurgeon (Eng) 77 76 76, JP Sallat (Fra) 80 76 73, A Mew (Tri) 70 77 82, M Poxon (Eng) 70 81 78
230 I Palmer (RSA) 73 80 77, T Gale (Aus) 74 80 76, P Teravainen (USA) 73 80 77
231 D Creamer (Eng) 74 78 79, G Cali (Ita) 82 73 76
232 B Lendzion (USA) 74 76 82, R Carrasco (USA) 80 79 73, J Lapsley (Nzl) 75 81 76
233 B Hardwick (Can) 72 80 81, T Horton (Eng) 80 81 72, R Mann (Eng) 78 80 75
234 D Good (Aus) 78 76 80, N Clarke (RSA) 77 78 79
235 G Watine (Fra) 79 76 80
236 T Gideon (Ger) 74 81 81, B Lincoln (RSA) 79 79 78
237 M Ferguson (Aus) 80 75 82
238 P Barber (Eng) 79 83 76
239 J Hall (Eng) 81 80 78, V Garcia (Esp) 78 82 79
244 T Allen (Eng) 88 79 77
249 H Arnott (Sco) 79 87 83, T Charnley (Eng) 89 77 83
254 I Richardson (Eng) 84 89 81
Withdrew: P Dawson (Eng) 79 90, S Martin (Sco) 76 81, M Miller (Sco) 76 81, E Darcy (Irl) 75, G Wintz (USA) 82

A GRAND ROUND OF GOLF BY JASON
AT SANDYHILLS PRO-AM

Buchanan Castle tour pro Jason McCreadie earned himself £1,149 for a Sunday round of golf - winning the Sandyhills Golf Club pro-am with a very good score of six-under-par 64.
Jason had birdies at the first, fourth, eighth, 10th, 11th, 13th and 16 with only one bogey - at the seventh - in halves of 34 and 30. Preferred lies were in operation following the heavy rain in the Glasgow area on Saturday.
He won by one shot from Calum Nicoll (Prestwick) and Peterculter's Greig Hutcheon, each of whom earned £804.
Craig Gordon (Edinburgh Golf Centre) led the winning J Colhoun I team with a net score of 17-under-par 53 - Jim Boyle (handicap 8), Johnnie Dixon (14) and Alistair Waugh (12).
LEADING PROFESSIONALS
Par 70
64 J McCreadie (Buchanan Castle).
65 C Nicoll (Prestwick), G Hutcheon (Peterculter).
66 A Hunter (Mearns Castle).
67 S Cairns (Westerwood), M King (Kingsfield), P McKechnie (Braid Hills), C Kelly (Cawder), G McFarlane (Clober).

GEORGE MURRAY BEATEN IN PLAY-OFF ON
CHALLENGE TOUR IN NORWAY

From Michael Gibbons
Press Officer, European Challenge Tour

George Murray’s bid for his maiden professional victory fell at the final hurdle today after he lost a play-off for the European Challenge Tour’s Lexus Open in Norway.
The Anstruther 24 year old could not match Austrian Martin Wiegele’s par 4 at the first extra hole and had to settle for second place and a cheque for €14,300.
Murray, who was leading by one at the start of the final round at Miklagard Golf Club, dropped two shots in his opening three holes but mounted a fine comeback with five birdies to tie Wiegele at the top of the 72-hole scoreboard on 10-under-par 278.
But the Austrian, who had surged through the field with an excellent six under 66, proved irresistible in the sudden-death shoot-out, nailing a drive down the centre of the fairway before Murray blocked his tee shot into 12 inch rough.
The Scot could not reach the par-4 green with his second shot and hacked his ball across the fairway into more rough. Wiegele found the green with his second shot, leaving himself a 25ft birdie putt. Murray made the green with his third but then missed his 12ft par putt, leaving Wiegele to knock in a three-footer for the title.
Murray can take some consolation in the fact that he climbed 27 places on the Challenge Tour Rankings, from 61st to 34th – taking a great step towards the Challenge Tour’s all important top 20.
Murray’s second place was also the best finish of his professional career, and given that the former Scottish amateur champion has been improving steadily throughout his first season as a professional, it should not be long before he makes a winning breakthrough.
Aberdeen’s Scott Henderson was the next best Scot in the Lexus Open field, finishing in a tie for 10th place on three-under-par 285 which was a very creditable finish, given the trauma of having his personal cheque book stolen from his hotel room at the Scottish Challenge at Cardrona.

LEXUS OPEN LEADING FINAL TOTALS

278 M Wiegele (Aut) 68 71 73 66, G Murray (Sco) 68 71 70 69. Wiegele (20,800 Euros) bt Murray (14,300 Euros) at first hole of play-off.
281 M Bothma (SAf) 70 73 73 65 (9,100 Euros).
283 G Maybin (NIr) 72 70 68 73, F Delamontagne (Fra) 72 70 71 70 (7,150 Euros each).
Other Scots scores:
285 S Henderson 73 69 70 72 (jt 10th) (2,643 Euros).
287 M Urquhart 73 73 70 71 (jt 18th) (1,427 Euros).
288 R Ramsay 74 71 70 73, P Whiteford 77 70 72 69 (jt 24th) (1,105 Euros each).
297 E Ramsay 73 73 75 76 (61st) (403 Euros).

DOUBLE WHAMMY FOR NEIL

BEATTIE AT LADYBANK

Madras College pupil, Neil Beattie, 13-year-old junior member of St Andrews Golf Club, won the Cartmore Cup given to the overall winner of the Fife Golfing Association boys' stroke-play championship at Ladybank Golf Club at the weekend with a gross 72.
Neil, pictured right, also won the Graham Trophy as FGA Under-16 stroke-play champion for the second consecutive year.
Neil, who plays off three, is currently the Fife Schools Golf Association junior boys' scratch champion and the juvenile club champion at St Andrews Golf Club AND the New Club , St Andrews.

Top 20 finish for Paul Lawrie in Sweden

EUROPEAN TOUR FINAL TOTALS
SCANDINAVIAN MASTERS
Par 280 (4x70)
274 Mikko Ilonen (Fin) 67 72 67 68
276 Christian Cevaer (Fra) 69 69 69 69, Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (Fra) 67 70 71 68, Nick Dougherty 68 69 69 70, Martin Kaymer (Ger) 67 68 68 73, Peter Hedblom (Swe) 68 71 68 69
277 James Kingston (Rsa) 68 68 67 74, Corey Pavin (USA) 70 70 70 67, Paul Broadhurst 69 73 64 71
278 Mattias Eliasson (Swe) 69 72 68 69, David Higgins 69 69 71 69
279 Steve Alker (Nzl) 74 69 68 68, Martin Erlandsson (Swe) 71 72 71 65, Scott Strange (Aus) 64 75 69 71, Peter Lawrie 71 70 69 69, Peter Hanson (Swe) 70 72 67 70, Sam Walker 65 70 72 72, Michael Jonzon (Swe) 71 67 74 67, Barry Lane 70 72 69 68
280 Garry Houston 70 73 68 69, Paul Lawrie 68 72 72 68, Edward Rush 69 68 74 69
281 Alan McLean 69 74 71 67, Santiago Luna (Spa) 72 70 69 70, Simon Dyson 69 71 72 69, Jose Manuel Lara (Spa) 70 70 73 68
282 Joakim Backstrom (Swe) 69 69 69 75, Henrik Nystrom (Swe) 67 68 73 74, Stephen Gallacher 68 72 71 71, Tom Whitehouse 72 69 70 71, Oskar Henningsson (Swe) 72 71 71 68
283 Andrew Tampion (Aus) 72 70 67 74, Luis Claverie (Spa) 69 73 72 69, Richard McEvoy 71 67 76 69, Fredrik Andersson Hed (Swe) 70 71 72 70
284 David Carter 73 68 71 72, Brett Rumford (Aus) 72 71 71 70, Damien McGrane 70 70 73 71, Phillip Archer 68 74 67 75, Per-Ulrik Johansson (Swe) 73 69 73 69, Miles Tunnicliff 72 70 72 70, Johan Axgren (Swe) 73 68 76 67
285 Richard Bland 70 72 72 71, Jeff Sluman (USA) 70 71 72 72, Dawie Van der Walt (Rsa) 67 73 72 73, Cesar Monasterio (Arg) 71 69 70 75, Ian Garbutt 67 75 70 73, Jesper Parnevik (Swe) 70 73 74 68
286 Gary Lockerbie 69 74 73 70, Gary Murphy 68 75 71 72, Lee Slattery 70 72 73 71, Alejandro Canizares (Spa) 76 66 70 74, Wade Ormsby (Aus) 69 73 75 69, Gary Emerson 73 70 75 68
287 Fredrik Qvicker (Swe) 65 75 73 74, Rafael Cabrera Bello (Spa) 67 72 72 76, Terry Pilkadaris (Aus) 74 69 73 71, Simon Khan 70 71 73 73
288 Joel Sjoholm (Swe) 69 71 72 76, Jarmo Sandelin (Swe) 72 71 71 74
289 Lee S James 67 73 74 75, Andrew Marshall 72 71 77 69, David Bransdon (Aus) 71 67 76 75
290 James Heath 71 71 71 77, Stephen Dodd 72 71 72 75, John Bickerton 72 70 74 74
291 Shaun P Webster 69 72 78 72, Alessandro Tadini (Ita) 67 74 78 72, Johan Edfors (Swe) 72 71 70 78
292 Simon Wakefield 69 72 77 74

MATTHEW CRYER BEATS PAUL SIMSON IN FINAL
OF BRITISH MID-AMATEUR AT ALWOODLEY

FROM THE R&A WEBSITE

Matthew Cryer produced the faultless golf he had played most of the week to beat American Paul Simson 5 and 4 in the final of the British men's mid-amateur chhampionship at Alwoodley, Leeds this afternon.
He was three under par when the match finished on the 14th green.The 32-year-old England international said: “I’m absolutely delighted to have won after the disappointment of two weeks ago when I lost in the final of the English amateur.
“My game’s just got better and better all week. I’ve driven it really nicely and putted really well.
“This my best win so far without a doubt,” said the Coventry and Warwickshire player, who is in the England team for the Home Internationals at Co Louth next month.
“The quality of some of the containing golf I’ve had to play against such good opposition this week has really stretched me, which is fantastic, great for my game. I just hope I can carry it through this next week,” said Cryer, who flies to Berlin on Monday morning to compete in the European men's individual amateur championship, in which he finished runner-up in Belgium two years ago.
BIRDIES AT SECOND AND THIRD
After they shared pars on the first hole Cryer went ahead on the second when he sank a six foot birdie putt and extended his lead on the long third with another birdie. Simson conceded the short seventh when he failed to get down in par with Cryer just eight feet away.
Cryer won the long eighth against the odds. He was in heather off the tee and could only hack out. Simson had hit a great drive, but then pushed his three-wood second into a bunker short and right of the green, while Cryer hit his third pin high right.
Simson splashed out just short of the green and pitched to five feet but missed. Cryer pitched stone dead to win the hole with a par and go four up.
Simson, last year's British seniors amateur champion and fifth in his defence at Nairn the week before last, hit back briefly at the short ninth when he holed a monster putt for a birdie 2 to cut the deficit to three, but after they halved the 10th he lost the short 11th to go back to four down when he took three from the front of the green.
Needing to win holes, the 56-year-old insurance executive from North Carolina was perhaps running out of steam after an arduous week and although he only had short irons into the greens of the 12th and 13th he couldn’t get them close enough for birdies.
When he took three from the front of the green on the 206-yard par-3 14th and Cryer got a regulation par, it was all over.
“He played very solidly and played some fantastic golf,” said Simson. “I just couldn’t do anything about it this afternoon. But I think I’ll be invited back next year,” said the American, who is due at Pinehurst about an hour from his home in North Carolina to defend the North-South Amateur Championship on Tuesday.

HOW THE SEMI-FINALS WENT

Scot Paul Moultrie must be wondering how he missed out on a place in the British mid-amateur final at Alwoodley. The Troon Portland player was four up at one stage and never behind in his match against 56-year-old North Carolina insurance executive Paul Simson but it was the American who clinched the match with a 15ft birdie putt at the second extra hole.
Simson was four down after six holes but made a ‘gagger’ from 45 feet on the seventh and turned only two down after winning the ninth.
Moultrie birdied the long 10th but the American replied with a critical 10ft winning putt at the next.
“We halved the next four holes," said Simson, "so I’m two down with three to play. Paul missed a two-footer on 16 that would have halved the hole and made me dormie two. On the next I chipped dead for my par and Paul made a good seven-footer for a half."
Simson had a solid par at the last where Moutrie had a chip out of the deep rough just off the green. “The ball was nestled pretty deep and I used the wrong club. It went 12 feet past and I missed it,” said Moultrie, a 42-year-old chartered surveyor.
“It was the wee putt on 16 which I missed that was the crucial point. That would have kept me two up with two to play. I thought I’d holed my chip on the 19th, then I thought I’d holed my putt on the 20th. But it was not to be. That’s the game. “It’s been a great week, great fun,” said Moultrie.
“To get through to the semi-final and lose on the 20th to a fantastic golfer like Paul, is a week I’ll never forget."
In the other semi-final Matthew Cryer continued the steady play he has displayed all week with a 4 and 3 victory over 36-year-old landscape gardener Lee Yearn from Ely City.“I was really pleased how I played,” he said.
“I dropped one shot and parred all the holes. Given the weather conditions that was pretty difficult to play against. I got the pressure on Lee early on and was three up after six and held on to that until the turn.
"Lee came back to win 10 and 11 with birdies, but then I won the next three holes with pars and halved the 15th to close out the match.
“I hit all the fairways and greens apart from the fourth where I got my only bogey and I putted really solidly. Very pleased with my morning’s work."
Yearn was disappointed but delighted to have played so well. "It's been a great week. I love this event and I'll be back at Royal St David's next year," he said.

Sunday's results:

SEMI-FINALS
Paul Simson (US) bt Paul Moultrie (Troon Portland) at 20th.
Matthew Cryer (Coventry) bt Lee Yearn (Ely City) 4 and 3.

FINAL
Cryer bt Simson 5 and 4.

Duncan Stewart with the North-east District Open championship trophy.
Image copyright retained by Cal Carson Golf Agency. Reproduction on other websites is against the law.

Grantown man refuses to criticise selectors for leaving him out

DUNCAN STEWART WINS NE DISTRICT OPEN
FOLLOWING SUCCESS IN EAST OF SCOTLAND

BY COLIN FARQUHARSON
Grantown on Spey’s Duncan Stewart chalked up his second SGU Order of Merit tournament win of the summer at Newmachar today when he won the rain-shortened North-east District Open by three strokes from Glen Taylor and Glenn Campbell.
Stewart, after four years playing on the American college circuit as a student at Jacksonville University, Florida, won the East of Scotland Open over 72 holes at Lundin Links a few weeks ago.
It is rare for the winner of two Order of Merit tournaments in the same season not to be included in the Scotland team for the forthcoming home internationals but Stewart said he did not blame the selectors for not choosing him in the squad announced last week.
“Winning the East of Scotland Open was not enough and the team was selected before I won here at Newmachar. The man I really for sorry for is Ross Kellett after his great run in the British amateur championship,” said 23-year-old Duncan who also won the Chiberta Grand Prix last year.
Now he sees his future in the professional ranks and will compete in the European Tour First Qualifying Stage at Chart Hills Golf Club, Kent next month.
Play was suspended for the best part of two hours from 11.30 after parts of the course began to flood following more than 24 hours’ continuous rain. During the enforced break, excess water was squeejeed off the worst affected greens.
It was decided to cancel the fourth round and the third round was resumed around 1.30pm after the rain had eased.
From an original entry of 79, only 29 players completed the three rounds.
As a trivia question, here's one for a pub quiz. Which player took more than two hours to birdie the first hole at Newmachar in a championship. Answer: Duncan Stewart.
"I played my approach shot to about 10ft from the flag at the first and had just marked my ball when play was suspended and we were all called back to the clubhouse," said Duncan later.
"When we went back out more than two hours later, I holed the putt for a birdie 3!"
Stewart, after further birdies at the eighth, 11th, 13th and 16th, had so much in hand over the closing holes at the Hawkshill course that he was able to afford the luxury of bogeying the last two holes for a one-over-par 73 and a final total of three under par 213.
He had a pair of 70s over the shorter Swailend course to share the Saturday 36-hole lead on four-under-par 140 with former Scottish champion Glenn Campbell from Blairgowrie.
Campbell faded to a closing 76 with a double bogey 5 at the short ninth and a double bogey 6 at the 18th.
Campbell finished on the same par 216 total as former Newmachar club professional Glen Taylor who joined the Meldrum House club after being reinstated as an amateur.
Taylor, now a very successful businessman in supplying and renting keep-fit equipment to health clubs, individuals and the oil rigs, had a superb round of seven-under-par 65 over the Swailend course on Saturday afternoon. It will need some checking to see if that is a course record for the No 2 Newmachar course.
Glen, 45 on August 1 when he set a Meldrum House course record of 63, was awarded second place over Campbell by virtue of a better third round, a 75 to a 76.
Taylor also won the prize for the best performance by a North-east District player.

(C)+This report is covered by copyright laws and may not be reproduced in whole or in part on any other website without the express permission of Colin Farquharson.

FINAL TOTALS
First two rounds over Newmachar Swailend. Third round over Newmachar Hawkshill. Fourth round cancelled due to rain
Par 216 (3 x 72). CSS 72 71 NC

213 D Stewart (Grantown on Spey) 70 70 73.
216 G Taylor (Meldrum House) 76 65 75, G Campbell (Blairgowrie) 70 70 76.
217 M Buchan (Cruden Bay) 70 74 73.
218 K Nicol (Fraserburgh) 71 71 76.
219 G Paterson (St Andrews New) 68 74 77, M Hillson (Craigielaw) 71 70 78.
220 M Lawrence (Newmachar) 70 75 75, G Esson (Portlethen) 77 69 74.
221 Justin Duff (Fraserburgh) 73 74 74, Jordan Findlay (Fraserburgh) 71 71 79.
223 A Dunton (McDonald Ellon) 76 70 77.
224 John Duff (Newmachar) 74 76 74.
225 P McLean (Peterhead) 75 71 79, Jonathan Findlay (Fraserburgh) 73 71 81.
226 D Gould (Ladybank) 75 71 80.
227 J Godward (McDonald Ellon) 75 71 81, K Shearer (Murcar Links) 69 75 83.
228 B Fotheringham (Forres) 71 76 81.
230 A Cameron (Inverness) 70 78 82, E Forbes (Inverness) 76 71 83.
231 F Milne (Fraserburgh) 75 74 82, C Shaw (Royal Aberdeen) 78 69 84.
232 J Scott (Deeside) 74 74 84.
234 B Spoor (Westhill) 76 74 84.
238 G Mitchell (Braemar) 75 80 83, R Barr (Newmachar) 74 74 90.
240 A Hepburn (Fraserburgh) 79 73 88.
245 R Hyland (Hazlehead) 77 78 90.

Sunday withdrawals: E McIntosh (Newmachar 72 72, G Stewart (Murcar Links) 71 76, J Williamson (Turriff) 72 75, T McInroy (North Berwick) 77 73, P Dempsey (Alloa) 74 77, F McCarron (Stonehaven) 79 73, R Carson (Dalmahoy) 76 77, O Morton (Glenearn) 78 77, D Miller (Oldmeldrum) 75 81.

North-east District Open winner Duncan Stewart (Grantown-on-Spey), NE District president Dr Douglas G Fowlie and Glen Taylor (Meldrum House), placed 2nd ahead of Glen Campbell (Blairgowrie) on the better last round and also winner of the shield for the best finish by a player from the North-East District (Image copyright of Cal Carson Golf Agency).

STONEHAVEN RECORD EQUALLED

Stonehaven Golf Club member Neil Irvine equalled his home-course record of six-under-par 60 in a club competition on Saturday. He was partnered by Harry Roulston.

The record was set by another club member, Ewan Kennedy, two years ago.OLF

 

+GOLF CLUB OFFICIALS ARE INVITED TO E-MAIL SCOTTISHGOLFVIEW WITH NEWS OF RECORD OR RECORD-EQUALLING ROUNDS AT THEIR COURSES. E-mail the details to colin@scottishgolfview.com

NE DISTRICT OPEN CUT TO THREE ROUNDS

The North-east District Open has been cut to three rounds after play had to be suspended for more than 1 1/2hr at lunchtime due to the accumulative effects of non-stop rain on Newmachar Golf Club's Hawkshill course since early Saturday morning.

Officials and greenkeeping staff squeejeed the worst affected greens during the enforced break.

Glen Campbell (Blairgowrie) and Duncan Stewart (Grantown on Spey) led after 36 holes on four-under-par 140 after both had rounds of  70-70 over the Swailend course.

Mark Hillson (Craigielaw) and Glen Taylor (Meldrum House) were next best on 141.

 

LLOYD SALTMAN IN KLM OPEN FIELD THIS WEEK

Walker Cup player Lloyd Saltman (Craigielaw), set to turn pro after the match against the United States at Royal County Down on September 8 and 9, is listed among the amateur invitations in the field for this week's European Tour event, the KLM Open at Kennermer Golf & Country Club in the Netherlands, starting on Thursday.

SIX SCOTS BID FOR EURO TITLE IN BERLIN

Six Scots will be trying to emulate Stephen Gallacher's winning achievement in Finland in 1994 when the European men's individual amateur championship is played over 72 holes at Sporting Club, Berlin from Wednesday to Friday this coming week.
They are: Wallace Booth (Comrie), Scott Henry (Cardross), Ross Kellett (Colville Park), Callum Macaulay (Tulliallan), Kevin McAlpine (Alyth) and Keir McNicoll (Carnoustie).
Ireland's Rory McIlroy, who missed a Walker Cup squad practice at Royal County Down last week because of a back injury, is not defending the European title he won by three shots in Italy last year.

NO SUNDAY PLAY AT SHOTTS, FINGERS
CROSSED FOR MONDAY

No play was possible today in the North Lanarkshire Council/Pro Guide Young Professionals 54-hole Order of Merit pro-am tournament at Shotts Golf Club because of flooding on parts of the course.
The pro-am section of the tournament will now be played on Sunday, September 2.
The 36-hole competition, with a prizefund of £5,5000, for the young professionals only will go ahead tomorrow if the Shotts course has dried out sufficiently.

Ireland win European senior men's amateur team final

Scotland's squad in the European senior men's amateur team championship in Slovenia.

SILVER LINING FOR SENIOR SCOTS
FA HAE WI' HUTCHEON BLED

Scotland failed by the narrowest of margins to win the European senior men's amateur team championship for the second year in a row.

In Saturday's final against Ireland at Bled Golf Club, Slovenia, Ireland won 3-2.Donald McCart (Castlerock) and Gordon MacDonald (Callander) beat Ireland's Nigel Duke and Val Smyth by one hole in the opening foursomes tie.

Skipper Ian Hutcheon (Monifieth) got Scotland's second point by beating Seamus McParland 2 and 1.

But Brian Grieve (King James VI) lost by 5 and 4 to Tony Goode and John Johnston (Royal Aberdeen) lost to Maurice Kelly by 3 and 2.

The Stephen Ellis (Cowal) v Hugh Smyth singles tie then became the decider. Smyth holed from 10ft on the 18th green to square the match - and it was then into sudden-death extra holes.

The 19th was halved in 4.

The 20th was halved after another great Smyth putt under pressure, this time from 20ft.

At the third extra hole, Ellis, after being in a lateral hazard, took two more to get on the green. Smyth played a perfect chip to within an inch of the cup to win the tie and the European senior gold medals for Ireland.
This adds another chapter in Ireland's great golfing success story over the past few weeks:

1 Padraig Harrington won the Open.
2 Rory McIlroy won the amateur silver medal at Carnoustie.

3 Ireland won the European men's amateur team championship at Western Gailes.

4 Arthur Pierse from Tipperary won a play-off to take the British senior men's amateur title at Nairn.

5 Danielle McVeigh from Kilkeel won the women's golf medal in the World Student Games in Thailand on Friday.

But all credit to the Scots. They struck gold last year and silver this year. And they may yet retain the senior men's home internationals title.

England beat France 4-1 in Slovenia to gain the third-placed bronze medals.

Saturday's results:

FINAL

SCOTLAND 2, IRELAND 3
Foursome: D McCart, G MacDonald bt N Duke, V Smyth 1 hole (1-0).
Singles: S Ellis lost to H Smyth at 21st, I C Hutcheon bt S McParland 2 and 1, B Grieve lost to T Goode 5 and 4, J W Johnson lost to M Kelly 3 and 2 (1-3).

THIRD-PLACE PLAY-OFF

ENGLAND 4, FRANCE 1

Foursome: R Smethurst, A Morrison lost to J P Chombart, G Roumeas 7 and 6 (0-1)
Singles: D Lane bt R Fontagneres 1 hole, C Reynolds bt A Riviere 3 and 2, D Arnold bt A Godillot 2 and 1, A Squires bt A Coune 3 and 2 (4-0)

Fifth place play-off: Germany 4, Italy 1.

Seventh place: Spain 4, Sweden 1.

Ninth place: Netherlands 3, Austria 2.

11th place: Finland 4, Belgium 1.

13th place: Netherlands 3, Austria 2.

15th place: Slovenia 5, Czech Republic 0.

NORTH-EAST DISTRICT OPEN CARRRIES ON

Despite even more rain overnight, the final day of the North-east District Open championship at Newmachar has begun on time at 8am.
The Hawkshill course, over which the third and fourth rounds are being played, is wet but playable.

GEORGE MURRAY ON VERGE OF BREAKTHROUGH
CHALLENGE TOUR WIN IN NORWAY

From Michael Gibbons
Press Officer, European Challenge Tour

Fifer George Murray stands on the verge of a maiden professional victory at the European Challenge Tour’s Lexus Open in Norway after a third round of two under par 70 left him one stroke clear of the field with 18 holes to play.
The former Scottish Amateur champion from Anstruther did not drop a single shot during his third round, and his two birdies helped him post an aggregate score of seven under 209 – one stroke clear of Northern Ireland’s Gareth Maybin, and three ahead of Aberdeen’s Scott Henderson, Julien Foret of France and the Austrian Martin Wiegele.
Victory at the Miklagard Golf Club, which is worth €18,400, would see Murray soar up the Challenge Tour Rankings, from his current position of 61st towards the all-important top 20. The top 20 players at the end of the season automatically win a place on the 2008 European Tour.
The 24 year old has been in contention to win twice this season – in France earlier in the season and then in Scotland last week – but has yet to close out his first win as a professional.
But his recent improvement in form has seen Murray playing some of his best golf since turning professional at the end of last year. If he can repeat his bogey-free third round, he will be a hard man to catch on Sunday afternoon.
Of the chasing pack trying to overhaul Murray’s advantage, Henderson is the most experienced player. The former European Tour Rookie of the Year, posted his own third round 70 that included a bogey 5 on the 18th.
LEADING SCORES
209 G Murray (Sco) 68 71 70.
210 G Maybin (NIr) 72 70 68.
212 S Henderson (Sco) 73 69 70, J Foret (Fra) 72 72 68, M Wiegele (Aut) 68 71 73.
Other Scots scores:
215 R Ramsay 74 71 70 (jt 14th).
216 M Urquhart 73 73 70 (jt 19th).
219 P Whiteford 77 70 72 (jt 40th).
220 G Wright (Wal) 70 77 73 (jt 46th).
221 E Ramsay 73 73 75 (jt 56th).

NEWS FROM ROLEX TROPHY

Meanwhile, Andrew McArthur and Jamie McLeary both missed the cut at The Challenge Tour’s second event of the week, the Rolex Trophy at Geneva Golf Club, Switzerland.
The Scots duo qualified for the elite 39-man event via their exalted position on the Rankings. Despite missing the 54-hole cut, the pair will pick up a cheque for €2,250 – potentially invaluable ranking points as the season enters its final stage.
LEADING SCORES
202 R McGowan (Eng0 69 66 67.
204 M Lorenzo-Vera (It) 71 65 68.
205 C Moriarty (Ire) 69 68 68.
SCOTS' SCORES:
214 A McArthur 72 75 67 (jt 26th).
219 J McLeary 75 72 72.

ROSS CURRIE BEATS MACHRIHANISH
WIND, RAIN TO WIN COUNTY TITLE

Ross Currie of Machrihanish Golf Club, pictured right, secured his second area title by winning a rain-reduced Argyll and Bute men's stroke-play title over his home course.
Torrential rain, accompanied by a brisk south-easterly breeze, made the exposed links an inhospitable place to be. Scoring was very difficult and Ross's 72 was fine effort.
This was good enough to secure a two-shot victory from Alan McKie of Glencruitten.
In joint third place were Bute's Graham Bolton and Dunaverty's Greg Watson.
CSS for the day was 74 (reduction only).
Glencruitten won the team title and will represent Argyll and Bute in the Scottish club championship at Glenbervie on Sunday, September 30.
Listed below are the top 16 finishers who qualify for the 2008 Argyll and Bute match-play championship to be held on April:
Ross Currie (Machrihanish) 72.
Allan McKie (Glencruitten) 74.
Graham Bolton (Bute) 75.
Greg Watson (Dunaverty) 75.
David Graham (Machrihanish) 76.
Stuart Campbell (Machrihanish) 77.
Stephen Kelly (Machrihanish) 78.
Gordon Tyre (Cowal) 79.
Donald Standaloft (Port Bannatyne) 79.
Chris Timms (Rothesay) 80.
George Reynolds (Rothesay) 80.
Ian McNab (Glencruitten) 80.
Les Pirie (Millport) 81.
Matthew McAulay (Machrihanish) 81.
Michael Fraser (Glencruitten) 81.
Rory McPherson (Machrihanish) 82.

+Scottishgolfview invites all county associations to E-mail their competition scores, other information and pictures to colin@scottishgolfview.com

BELL v REID FOR ANGUS MATCH-PLAY TITLE

Graham Bell from Downfield will play Iain Reid (Letham Grange) in the final of the Angus county match-play championship at Letham Grange this coming Wednesday (August 22) with a 5pm tee-off.
Results:
Semi-finals - Graham Bell (Downfield) bt Chris Heslip (Monifieth) 4 and 3, Iain Reid (Letham Grange) bt George Finlay (Ballumbie Castle) 4 and 3.

BROADHURST NEEDS THE MONEY - AND
HE COULD GET IT BY WINNING THE
SCANDINAVIAN MASTERS

FROM THE A O L GOLF NEWS SERVICE
Paul Broadhurst's season may be coming to a premature end but it could yet do so with victory in the Scandinavian Masters.
Broadhurst carded a superb 64 in the third round at Arlandastad on Saturday to lie just three shots off the lead shared by Germany's Martin Kaymer and South African James Kingston.
"My wife has to go into hospital for surgery next week so I'll be out of action for about 12 weeks with four kids and a sick wife to take care of," Broadhurst explained. "I might be able to play the British Masters at The Belfry because it's local but it's a good incentive to get some money in the bank before a long break."
It looked as though Broadhurst's season was over on Friday afternoon when he stood five over par with four holes to play, but the 42-year-old Midlander birdied three of those holes to make the cut with just a shot to spare.
Broadhurst, who won both his matches in the 1991 Ryder Cup and missed out on automatic qualification by just one place last year, then produced an even better finish to his third round to boost his chances of a seventh European Tour title.
Birdies on the third and fourth took him to the turn in 32 and he picked up another shot on the 11th. A bogey on the 12th halted his charge temporarily but he again tamed the tough closing stretch with birdies on the 14th, 15th, 17th and 18th - the latter from 30ft - to set a clubhouse target only bettered by Kaymer and Kingston in the last two groups.
"The scoring is so bunched that anyone who shot three or four under was going to go flying up the leaderboard, but I didn't dream of shooting six under par to be fair," he added.
"I thought anything par or better would be a really good score and to shoot 64 means a few things went my way."

EUROPEAN TOUR SCOREBOARD

SCANDINAVIAN MASTERS
Arlandastad GC, Sweden
Par 210 (3 x 70).
Players GB&I unless stated
203 James Kingston (Rsa) 68 68 67, Martin Kaymer (Ger) 67 68 68
206 Mikko Ilonen (Fin) 67 72 67, Nick Dougherty 68 69 69, Paul Broadhurst 69 73 64
207 Joakim Backstrom (Swe) 69 69 69, Christian Cevaer (Fra) 69 69 69, Sam Walker 65 70 72, Peter Hedblom (Swe) 68 71 68
208 Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (Fra) 67 70 71, Henrik Nystrom (Swe) 67 68 73, Scott Strange (Aus) 64 75 69
209 Peter Hanson (Swe) 70 72 67, Mattias Eliasson (Swe) 69 72 68, Andrew Tampion (Aus) 72 70 67, Phillip Archer 68 74 67, David Higgins 69 69 71
210 Corey Pavin (USA) 70 70 70, Peter Lawrie 71 70 69, Cesar Monasterio (Arg) 71 69 70
211 Garry Houston 70 73 68, Steve Alker (Nzl) 74 69 68, Stephen Gallacher 68 72 71, Tom Whitehouse 72 69 70, Santiago Luna (Spa) 72 70 69, Rafael Cabrera Bello (Spa) 67 72 72, Barry Lane 70 72 69, Edward Rush 69 68 74
212 David Carter 73 68 71, Simon Dyson 69 71 72, Dawie Van der Walt (Rsa) 67 73 72, Joel Sjoholm (Swe) 69 71 72, Paul Lawrie 68 72 72, Alejandro Canizares (Spa) 76 66 70, Michael Jonzon (Swe) 71 67 74, Ian Garbutt 67 75 70
213 Damien McGrane 70 70 73, James Heath 71 71 71, Fredrik Qvicker (Swe) 65 75 73, Jeff Sluman (USA) 70 71 72, Jose Manuel Lara (Spa) 70 70 73, Fredrik Andersson Hed (Swe) 70 71 72, Johan Edfors (Swe) 72 71 70
214 Richard Bland 70 72 72, Martin Erlandsson (Swe) 71 72 71, Luis Claverie (Spa) 69 73 72, Jarmo Sandelin (Swe) 72 71 71, Richard McEvoy 71 67 76, Simon Khan 70 71 73, Alan McLean 69 74 71, Brett Rumford (Aus) 72 71 71, Gary Murphy 68 75 71, Lee S James 67 73 74, David Bransdon (Aus) 71 67 76, Oskar Henningsson (Swe) 72 71 71, Miles Tunnicliff 72 70 72
215 Lee Slattery 70 72 73, Stephen Dodd 72 71 72, Per-Ulrik Johansson (Swe) 73 69 73
216 Gary Lockerbie 69 74 73, John Bickerton 72 70 74, Terry Pilkadaris (Aus) 74 69 73
217 Wade Ormsby (Aus) 69 73 75, Johan Axgren (Swe) 73 68 76, Jesper Parnevik (Swe) 70 73 74
218 Simon Wakefield 69 72 77, Gary Emerson 73 70 75
219 Shaun P Webster 69 72 78, Alessandro Tadini (Ita) 67 74 78
220 Andrew Marshall 72 71 77

British men's mid-amateur championship down to last 4

FROM THE R&A WEBSITE

TROON MAN PAUL MOULTRIE KEEPS SCOTS
FLAG FLYING IN ALWOODLEY SEMI-FINALS

The semi-finals of the British men's mid-amateur championship will be played over 18 holes on Sunday at Alwoodley, Leeds between England international Matthew Cryer and Lee Yearn from the Ely City club in Cambridgeshire on the one hand and, on the other, American Paul Simson who faces Scot Paul Moultrie.
The quarter-final between Cryer and former Scotland international Sandy Twynholm from Morpeth looked to be going all Cryer’s way when some scintillating golf saw him move to four up with five to play.
“I played some really good golf for thirteen and a half holes then on the 14th I hit it into a bunker, played a really nice shot out and missed from about three feet and Sandy won with a par. So instead of being dormie four I’m three up with four to play," said Cryer.
“We halved 15th. Then I hit a really bad tee shot at 16 and lost my ball, so I’m now only dormie two with two difficult finishing holes to come, where anything can happen. Fortunately for me, we halved the 17th to clinch it for me,” he added.
Simson, a 56-year-old insurance executive from North Carolina, beat Euan Moir from Hamilton 2 and 1 in his quarter-final while Moultrie, a 42-year-old chartered surveyor from Troon, won a keenly contested fourth round match against Durham City’s Graeme Marchbank with a par at the second extra hole.
Simson recovered from a disastrous start against Moir. “I played the first two holes like I’d never played golf before, so I was two down, but then promptly won the next three to get one up,” said Simson.
“After that we got back to all square a number of times. The key was 14 and 15. I got up and down out of a bunker, making about a seven-footer to stay all square at 14, then at 15 I had casual water in a bunker but elected to play it out of the water rather than drop it and watch it plug.
"I came out to about 15 feet and made it and Euan missed about a 10-footer, which got me one up. It was a good close game all the way round and I’m pleased to be through to the last four.”
Moultrie’match against Marchbank was another close game. “There was never more than one in it on the front nine," said the Ayrshire man. "Then I went two up at the 10th with a concession birdie when Graeme took a 6. He won the next when I missed my par putt from about six feet and the next with a birdie to take us back to all square."
The next four holes were exchanged before Moultrie won at the 20th as Marchbank chipped 15 feet past the flagstick and missed the putt back.
“I’m delighted to make it into the semi-finals. I’ve played in this before but this is the farthest I’ve got by a long way. It must be the caddie,” said Moultrie referring to his 12-year-old son Callum who has been pulling his trolley all week.
The fourth quarter-final between Yearn from Ely City and England international Ed Richardson from Rye also went to the 20th before Yearn, a 36-year-old landscape gardener, won with a birdie 3.
Richardson was never behind until the 20th hole! He was two up on the 17th tee before Yearn sank a 30-footer at that hole to take it down the last. Then Yearn parred the 18th to his opponent’s bogey to move into extra holes.
“I hit it into trouble on the first extra hole like I had done all day," admitted Yearn, "chopped it out into more trouble then chopped it out again to 30 feet and sank it for a half. On the 20th I was again in the long grass off the tee, got it to about five feet and sank it for a winning birdie.”

Results:
QUARTER-FINALS
Paul Moultrie, Troon Portland bt Graeme Marchbank, Durham City at 20th.
Paul Simson, USA bt Euan Moir, Hamilton 2 and 1.
Matthew Cryer, Coventry bt Sandy Twynholm, Morpeth 3 and 1.
Lee Yearn, Ely City bt Edward Richardson, Rye at the 20th.

SCROLL DOWN FOR EARLIER RESULTS

North-east District Open field decimated by withdrawals

CAMPBELL AND STEWART

SHARE LEAD AT A

VERY WET NEWMACHAR

Former Scottish match-play champion Glenn Campbell (Blairgowrie) and Duncan Stewart from Grantown on Spey lead at the halfway stage of the North-east District Open golf championship after a day of unrelenting rain over Newmachar Golf Club’s Swailend course near Aberdeen.
Both had two rounds of 70 for four-under-par 140. Campbell, named in the Scotland team earlier this week for the home internationals, has won the NE District Open title before, beating Laurie Phillips (Cruden Bay) in a play-off at Balgownie.

Stewart, winner of the East of Scotland Open at Lundin Links earlier this "summer," is a little bit unlucky not even to be named a reserve to the Scotland team.
They hold a one-stroke advantage over Mark Hillson (Craigielaw) and former Newmachar club pro Glen Taylor, who joined Meldrum House Golf Club after being reinstated as an amateur. Taylor, pictured on the left, had only 22 putts in a second-round, seven-under-par 65, which may or may not be a Swailend course record but was definitely an 11-shot improvement on his opening round.
Taylor's second-round scorecard read:
OUT: 3-4-5-3-2-4-3-4-4-32 (four under par).
IN: 3-3-2-3-5-4-5-4-4-33 (three under par).
Glen had an eagle 3 at the 11th and birdies at the first, fourth, fifth, eighth, 12th and 13th. His only bogey came at the 16th.
Starting his round at the 10th, he had only three putts over the 10th-11th-12th-13th-14th. He single-putted the 10th, 11th and 12th and holed 40ft and 30ft pitches at the 13th and 14th.
"I celebrated my 45th birthday by breaking the Meldrum House course record with a 63 on August 1. This 65 was a similar type of round, holing everything, putts and pitches," said Taylor who has flourished in the leisure business by supplying keep-fit equipment to individuals, health clubs and the oil rigs.
Greg Paterson (St Andrews New) is sharing fifth place on 142 with the Fraserburgh pair of Jordan Findlay and Kris Nicol.
Paterson, a 21-year-old, +3 handicap player who lives in Drumoig, was a surprise, eight-shot winner of the Sutherland Chalice at Dumfries & Galloway a few weeks.
"I worked hard on my game with the help of coach Spencer Henderson," said Greg who had an eagle 3 at the 11th in his first-round 68 and a double bogey 6 at the second hole in his afternoon 74.
Paterson had never seen the Newmachar courses before today. In fact, he had never played golf in the Aberdeen area until today. Golf certainly broadens one's horizons!
Sunday’s third and fourth rounds will be played over the slightly tougher Hawkshill course, also designed by Dave Thomas, but if the rain continues unabated overnight there must be some doubt about the tournament going the scheduled four rounds.
The bad weather played its part in the decimation of the field with the number of withdrawals, “failed-to-shows” and "retired" after one round well into double figures.
The leading 40 players and ties with aggregates of 156 survived the halfway cut, which was tough luck on the only other four players who did complete 36 holes and are now eliminated. For all the difference it would have made to Sunday's time schedule, they could have been allowed to play on.
QUALIFIERS
Par 144 (2 x 72)
CSS 72 71
140 D Stewart (Grantown on Spey) 70 70, G Campbell (Blairgowrie) 70 70.
141 G Taylor (Meldrum House) 76 65, M Hillson (Craigielaw) 71 70.
142 G Paterson (St Andrews New) 68 74, Jordan Findlay (Fraserburgh) 71 71, K Nicol (Fraserburgh) 71 71.
144 K Shearer (Kemnay) 69 75, Jonathan Findlay (Fraserburgh) 73 71, M Buchan (Cruden Bay) 70 74, E McIntosh (Newmachar) 72 72.
145 M Lawrence (Newmachar) 70 75.
146 J Godward (McDonald Ellon) 71 75, G Esson (Portlethen) 77 69, A Dunton (McDonald Ellon) 76 70, D Gould (Ladybank) 75 71, P McLean (Peterhead) 75 71.
147 J Williamson (Turriff) 72 75, J Duff (Fraserburgh) 73 74, C Shaw (Royal Aberdeen) 78 69, E Forbes (Inverness) 76 71, B Fotheringham (Forres) 71 76, G Stewart (Murcar Links) 71 76.
148 J Scott (Deeside) 74 74, R Barr (Newmachar) 74 74, A Cameron (Inverness) 70 78.
149 F Milne (Fraserburgh) 75 74.
150 B Spoor (Westhill) 76 74, T McInroy (North Berwick) 77 73, J Duff (Newmachar) 74 76.
151 P Dempsey (Alloa) 74 77.
152 S Burt (Murcar Links) 75 77, A Hepburn (Fraserburgh) 79 73, F McCarron (Stonehaven) 79 73.
153 N Sadler (Murcar Links) 78 75, K Spence (Newmachar) 78 75, R Carson (Dalmahoy) 76 77.
155 R Hyland (Newmachar) 77 78, O Morton (Glenearn) 78 77, G Mitchell (Braemar) 75 80.
156 D Millar (Oldmeldrum) 75 81.
MISSED THE CUT
157 R Penny (Portlethen) 77 80.
158 G Sharpe (Murcar Links) 77 81, D Corkey (East Aberdeenshire) 80 78.
159 A Shah (East Aberdeenshire) 83 76.

BATHGATE WASH-OUT: POSTPONED TO SEPTEMBER 16

Today's Bathgate Golf Club pro-am was postponed because of the weather.
It has been rearranged for Sunday, September 16.

BRITISH MEN'S MID-AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

RESULTS FROM ALWOODLEY TODAY

Scroll down for a report from the third-round play

This morning's results from the third round of the British men's mid-amateur championship at Alwoodley, Leeds:

Mark Wharton, John O'Gaunt
Paul Moultrie, Troon Portland won at 19th hole.

Graeme Marchbank, Durham City won by 2 and 1
Nigel Sweet, Moortown

Mark Gaynor, USA
Paul Simson, USA won by 2 and 1.

Euan Moir, Hamilton won by 2 and 1.
Jody Greenall, Elton Furze

Matthew Cryer, Coventry won by 4 and 3.
John Kemp, John O'Gaunt

Sandy Twynholm, Morpeth won by 5 and 4.
Ulrich Schulte, Germany

Edward Richardson, Rye won by 4 and 3.
Francois Illouz, France

Steven Hudson, USA
Lee Yearn, Ely City won by 2 holes

FROM THE R&A WEBSITE:

Three times former champion John Kemp and his John O’Gaunt clubmate Mark Wharton were both bundled out of the British Mid-Amateur Championship in the third round today as Anglo-Scot Sandy Twynholm, beaten in the final in 1998, renewed his bid for the title at Alwoodley, Leeds.

Kemp lost 4 and 3 to Coventry’s England international Matthew Cryer while Wharton was beaten at the 19th by Paul Moultrie from Troon Portland.

Morpeth’s Twynholm, beaten by Gary Wolstenholme at Ganton in 1998, had the biggest win of the morning to move into the quarter-finals with a 5 and 4 victory over Germany’s Ulrich Schulte.

“I got off to a flying start by winning the first three holes with two pars and a birdie,” said Twynholm. He lost the next two, but won the ninth where Schulte suggested a half as both players were five feet from the pin after their approach putts.

"I said no, he missed his putt and I got mine to go back to two up,” said Twynholm.

He won the 10th with a birdie and the 11th and 13th with pars before the match was conceded on the short 15th.

Kemp, seeking to become the first player to win the title four times, admitted: “I just didn’t play well today and Matthew did. I didn’t give him much of a match I’m afraid.”

Cryer won the first three holes with a par and two birdies and held that lead until the turn. He won the 10th, lost the 12th then won the 14th to be four up with four to play.

“I was on the green for two at the 15th and putted up stiff, while John was in the greenside bunker and conceded the hole. I played nicely tee to green all the way round, just made a couple of mistakes on the greens,” said Cryer.

Wharton put up a determined fight, coming back from five down with seven to play against Moultrie, but then losing at the first extra hole. “He hit his second just over the back and then left his chip 12 feet short while I was 15 feet away in two and got a solid par,” said Moultrie, who admitted he was a bit shell-shocked after the way Wharton fought back.

With his 12-year-old son Callum as his caddie, Moultrie, a 42-year-old chartered surveyor from Troon, took advantage of some indifferent play by Wharton earlier on to race to four up at the turn.

“I won the first, fourth, sixth and ninth with pars then went five up when I eagled the long 10th with a three-wood, a five-iron to 15ft and one putt,” said Moultrie.Wharton won three holes in a row but was still two down at the 17th.

“He got a great birdie there," said Moultrie. "Then I made a mess of the 18th and conceded the hole, but thankfully my par was good enough at the first extra hole.”

Paul Simson beat fellow American Mark Gaynor 2 and 1, while the third American in the third round, Steven Hudson, lost by two holes to Cambridgeshire left-hander Lee Yearn. “It as a bit scrappy but the pins were in difficult places,” said Yearn.

In the other matches Ed Richardson from Rye in Sussex beat Francois Illouz from Paris 4 and 3, Durham City’s Graeme Marchbank reached the last eight with a 2 and 1 win over Nigel Sweet from nearby Moortown, while Hamilton’s Euan Moir beat Cambridgeshire captain Jody Greenall from Elton Furze 2 and 1.

ST ANDREWS PLAYER MAKES

EARLY RUNNING IN

NORTH-EAST DISTRICT OPEN

Greg Paterson from the St Andrews New Club, recent surprise winner of the Sutherland Chalice 72-hole Scottish Golf Union Order of Merit tournament at Dumfries & Galloway Golf Club, was back in the limelight at Newmachar Golf Club, near Aberdeen today.
Greg, pictured right, led the first round of the scheduled 72-hole North-east District Open with a four-under-par 68 over the Swailend course in miserably wet conditions.
The Fifer had a one-stroke lead from local player Kyle Shearer (Kemnay).
The best placed of the "big guns" were East of Scotland Open winner Duncan Stewart (Grantown on Spey) and former Scottish match-play champion Glenn Campbell (Blairgowrie), both on 70.
The leading 40 and ties after 36 holes qualified for the final two rounds, to be played over Newmachar's Hawkshill course on Sunday (weather permitting).

LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES
Swailend Course Par 72
68 G Paterson (St Andrews New).
69 K Shearer (Kemnay).
70 M Lawrence (Newmachar), A Cameron (Fortrose & Rosemarkie), M Buchan (Cruden Bay), D Stewart (Grantown on Spey), G Campbell (Blairgowrie).
71 J Godward (McDonald Ellon), G Stewart (Murcar Links), Jordan Findlay (Fraserburgh), K Nicol (Fraserburgh), B Fotheringham (Forres), M Hillson (Craigielaw).

Spaniard wins all-the-way British boys' final

Fraser Fotheringham (Nairn Golf Club) who was a gallant loser in the British boys' championship final today. Image reproduced by permission of Tom Ward who retains the copyright. Click on the image for an enlargement

BRAVE BID BY NAIRN'S FRASER FOTHERINGHAM
ENDS ON 36th GREEN AT ROYAL PORTHCAWL

FROM THE R&A WEBSITE

Spanish 16-year-old Emilio Cuartero got up and down from a greenside bunker at the last to win the Boys Amateur Championship by one hole after a gruelling 36-hole final against Fraser Fotheringham from Nairn at Royal Porthcawl Golf Club, South Wales today.

Cuartero, who plays off scratch, was introduced to the game by his 15-handicap father at the age of nine and has won the Spanish under-16 title.

Speaking through an interpreter after his victory he said: "This was far better than my Spanish win. The feeling is unbelievable. When I came here this week I just wanted to get some experience and hoped to get into the second round."

Cuartero is very conscious that previous Spanish winners of this Under-18s championship include Jose Maria Olazabal and Sergio Garcia.

He lives close to Barcelona and plays his golf at Costa Dorada. He has two years more at school and then hopes to go to college in Madrid.

Despite falling three holes behind in the early stages of the 36-hole final, the Spaniard won six holes out of seven from the sixth, but relinquished his lead at the half-way point and was one down at lunch.

Cuartero wiped out that deficit at the second hole of the afternoon round and went one ahead at the fifth, a lead he was never to lose. Fotheringham was unlucky to find his ball plugged in a greenside bunker at the 16th and could not prevent Cuartero from going two ahead, but he immediately got back to one down with a birdie at the long 17th.

At the final hole Fotheringham was first to play into the green and hit a good shot to 25 feet. The Spanish youngster, longer off the tee, punched the ball low into the wind, but was bunkered. He came out to eight feet and when the Scot's putt slipped past the hole, the Spanish teenager confidently holed out for the title.

Fotheringham, the third Scottish finalist in the championship since 2004, following in the footsteps of Fraserburgh's Jordan Findlay (2004-2005), said: "This has been a great experience, way beyond my expectations."

His good form this week could well earn him a place in the Great Britain & Ireland team to play the Continent of Europe in two weeks time for the Jacques Leglise Trophy.

Peter McEvoy, twice Amateur champion, Walker Cup player and captain and former Chairman of The R&A Selection Committee, commented:

"The quality of the golf during the week has been very impressive. The ball striking has been superb, no different to the senior amateurs."

Snapshots from the 36-hole final:

After 14 holes: Cuartero two up.

After 18 holes: Fotheringham one up.

After 27 holes: Cuartero one up.

After 36 holes: Cuartero one up

MORNING PLAY REPORT FROM THE R&A WEBSITE:

The first 18 holes of the Boys Amateur Championship final at Royal Porthcawl was described by one spectator who braved the morning's heavy rain and wind as "a game of three halves" so much did fortunes fluctuate as Fraser Fotheringham of Nairn went in to lunch one up against Spaniard Emilio Cuartero.

The young Scot, possibly more accustomed to the wild weather, raced away to a three hole lead after only five holes, but suddenly Cuartero moved into top gear to win six of the next seven holes, four of them with birdies.

At the 14th he had two putts from the front edge of the large green to increase his lead to four up, but four-putted to lose the hole.

That proved to be a second turning point in the match as the Spaniard struggled in the poor conditions and Fotheringham won three in a row from the 15th with par figures. Cuartero had a chance to square the match on the 18th, but missed from 15 feet to remain one down.

Under the rules of the championship only fellow competitors are allowed to act as caddies and Cuartero had the advantage during the morning as Fotheringham pulled his own trolley. But local Welsh youngster Matthew Phythian, who was knocked out in the fourth round, agreed to carry for the Scot this afternoon.

SCOTLAND v IRELAND FOR EURO SENIORS'
TITLE: HERE'S THE LINE-UP AT BLED G C

The line-up in today's Scotland v Ireland final in the European senior men's amateur team championship at Bled Golf Club, Slovenia is:

12.20 Donald McCart (Castlerock) & Gordon MacDonald (Callander) v Nigel Duke & Val Smyth.

12.28 Stephen Ellis (Cowal) v Hugh Smyth.

12.36 Ian Hutcheon (Monifieth) v Seamus McParland.

12.44 Brian Grieve (King James VI) v Tony Goode.

12.52 John Johnston (Royal Aberdeen) v Maurice Kelly.

++Scottishgolfview.com is relying on the tournament website to provide information from the final but it took an awful long time to go up on the website on Friday night.
++If you get any news before 8pm, E-mail it to colin@scottishgolfview.com

Good luck, Scotland in their defence of the title!

British men's mid-amateur championship at Leeds venue

FROM NAIRN TO ALWOODLEY,

AMERICAN SIMSON HOPING

FOR BETTER LUCK

FROM THE R&A WEBSITE

American golfer Paul Simson had plenty to smile about when he strolled into the last 16 of the British mid-amateur championship at Alwoodley, an event for competitors over the age of 25, just a week after he narrowly failed to retain his British seniors' amateur title for players over 55.

The 56-year-old insurance executive from Raleigh in North Carolina, pictured right on the first tee at Nairn, beat Steven Peel from the host club 3 and 1 in the morning, then had a 7 and 6 victory over Nicky Gold from Glasgow club Bonnyton in the afternoon.

“I was six under par when I won with a birdie at the 12th and we hadn’t turned back into the wind,” said Simson, who won the British seniors at Saunton in Devon last year and was fifth at Nairn last weekend.
He had four successive birdies from the second to go four up and although Gold birdied the sixth to cut it back to three, the Scot was only delaying the inevitable as Simson had another string of four birdies from the ninth.

“I had a lot of putts go in, which I’m pleased to see as I struggled a bit last week up at Nairn,” said Simson, who faces fellow American Mark Gaynor in the third round.

If Simson makes it all the way to Sunday’s final he will be running on a tight schedule. “I’m due back home at Pinehurst on Tuesday for the North-South Seniors and I’m the holder so I really should be there,” said Simson.

One of the challenges the American will have to face over the weekend is the John O’Gaunt factor. Leading qualifier Mark Wharton and three times winner John Kemp from the Bedfordshire club are both through to the last 16.

Wharton was taken all the way to the 18th before beating Peter Crowther from Royal Wimbledon by one hole, while Kemp continued on his relentless way, beating Richard Reed from Royal Birkdale 5 and 4.

“I played really solid against Richard and I only had one bogey,” said Kemp. “I lost the first hole to a birdie, then I won the third fourth, sixth, eighth and ninth to be four up at the turn to set up the win.”

Kemp now faces Matthew Cryer, a 32-year-old +3 player from Coventry, who plays the amateur circuit full time.

“I hit a tee shot on the 12th this morning and the whole thing clicked back into place,” said Cryer, who lost in the final of the English amateur this year.
“From that one golf shot I got the feel of my swing, which wasn’t there on the first two days.”

He went on the beat Tom Hawkings of Sunningdale by one hole in the morning and Craig Fort from Nelson 3 and 2 in the afternoon.

Nigel Sweet from nearby Moortown beat fellow Yorkshire county player Andy King by one hole in the second round and now faces Graeme Marchbank from Durham City.

In an all-French second round match Francois Illouz beat Pierre Carpentier by one hole having won in the morning by the same margin against Roger Roper from Wike Ridge when he holed out from a bunker on the 18th .

Illouz reached the semi-final at Southport & Ainsdale last year and the quarter-finals at Muirfield in 2005. He faces Edward Richardson from Rye in the third round.

Anglo-Scot Sandy Twynholm from Morpeth, a one-time Scotland international and beaten finalist in 1998 at Ganton, had to go all the way to the 21st before beating Jonathan Lawrence from nearby Moor Allerton and he next faces the only German in the field Ulrich Schulte.

The Cambrdgeshire connection also has two in the last 16, in county captain Jody Greenall from Elton Furze and his team-mate left-hander Lee Yearn from the Ely City. Greenall beat two Americans, David Bartman 2 and 1 Brian Harris by one hole, while Yearn beat Anthony Hill from Springead Park 3 and 2 and Michael Brown from Pike Hills by two holes.

Steven Hudson became the third American to reach the last 16 when he beat John Sheehy from Wike Ridge one up after being taken all the way to the 20th against fellow American Jay Blumenfeld in the first round.

SECOND ROUND RESULTS

Mark Wharton, John O'Gaunt won by 1 hole.

Peter Crowther, Royal Wimbledon
Tom Woodhouse, East Devon
Paul Moultrie, Troon Portland won by 2 and 1.

Graeme Marchbank, Durham City won by 1 hole.
Ian Barker, Burhill

Nigel Sweet, Moortown won by 1 hole.
Andy King, Garforth

Andrew Hardie, Astbury
Mark Gaynor, USA won by 2 and 1.

Paul Simson, USA won by 7 and 6.

Nicky Gold, Bonnyton
Euan Moir, Hamilton won by 4 and 3.

Matthew Cox, Royal Birkdale

Brian Harris, USA
Jody Greenall, Elton Furze won by 1 hole.

Craig Fort, Nelson
Matthew Cryer, Coventry won by 3 and 2.

Richard Reed, Royal Birkdale
John Kemp, John O'Gaunt won by 5 and 4.

Jonathan Lawrence, Moor Allerton
Sandy Twynholm, Morpeth won at 21st.

Ulrich Schulte, Germany won by 5 and 4.
Giles Legg, Broadstone

Andrew Inglis, Sunningdale Artisans
Edward Richardson, Rye won by 5 and 4.

Pierre Carpentier, France
Francois Illouz, France won by 1 hole.

John Sheeny, Wike Ridge
Steven Hudson, USA won by 1 hole.

Martin Brown, Pike Hills
Lee Yearn, Ely City won by 2 holes.

SCROLL DOWN FOR THE MORNING FIRST-ROUND RESULTS

EUROPEAN TOUR SCOREBOARD

SCANDINAVIAN MASTERS
Arlandastad, Stockholm
Par 140 (2 x 70)
(X) denotes amateurs
135 Henrik Nystrom (Swe) 67 68, Sam Walker 65 70, Martin Kaymer (Ger) 67 68
136 James Kingston (Rsa) 68 68
137 Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (Fra) 67 70, Nick Dougherty 68 69, Edward Rush 69 68
138 Joakim Backstrom (Swe) 69 69, Christian Cevaer (Fra) 69 69, Michael Jonzon (Swe) 71 67, Richard McEvoy 71 67, David Bransdon (Aus) 71 67, David Higgins 69 69
139 Mikko Ilonen (Fin) 67 72, Scott Strange (Aus) 64 75, Rafael Cabrera Bello (Spa) 67 72, Peter Hedblom (Swe) 68 71
140 Damien McGrane 70 70, Dawie Van der Walt (Rsa) 67 73, Simon Dyson 69 71, Jose Manuel Lara (Spa) 70 70, Joel Sjoholm (Swe) 69 71, Stephen Gallacher 68 72, Lee S James 67 73, Fredrik Qvicker (Swe) 65 75, Paul Lawrie 68 72, Corey Pavin (USA) 70 70, Cesar Monasterio (Arg) 71 69
141 David Carter 73 68, Mattias Eliasson (Swe) 69 72, Shaun P Webster 69 72, Jeff Sluman (USA) 70 71, Peter Lawrie 71 70, Fredrik Andersson Hed (Swe) 70 71, Johan Axgren (Swe) 73 68, Simon Wakefield 69 72, Simon Khan 70 71, Alessandro Tadini (Ita) 67 74, Tom Whitehouse 72 69
142 Richard Bland 70 72, Andrew Tampion (Aus) 72 70, Luis Claverie (Spa) 69 73, Per-Ulrik Johansson (Swe) 73 69, John Bickerton 72 70, Paul Broadhurst 69 73, Peter Hanson (Swe) 70 72, Lee Slattery 70 72, James Heath 71 71, Alejandro Canizares (Spa) 76 66, Phillip Archer 68 74, Wade Ormsby (Aus) 69 73, Santiago Luna (Spa) 72 70, Miles Tunnicliff 72 70, Barry Lane 70 72, Ian Garbutt 67 75
143 Steve Alker (Nzl) 74 69, Garry Houston 70 73, Martin Erlandsson (Swe) 71 72, Jarmo Sandelin (Swe) 72 71, Terry Pilkadaris (Aus) 74 69, Gary Emerson 73 70, Johan Edfors (Swe) 72 71, Gary Lockerbie 69 74, Alan McLean 69 74, Brett Rumford (Aus) 72 71, Gary Murphy 68 75, Stephen Dodd 72 71, Andrew Marshall 72 71, Oskar Henningsson (Swe) 72 71, Jesper Parnevik (Swe) 70 73

MISSED THE CUT

144 Juan Parron (Spa) 71 73, David Griffiths 69 75, Ross Fisher 74 70, Nicolas Colsaerts (Bel) 74 70, Steven O'Hara 71 73, Mads Vibe-Hastrup (Den) 73 71, Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) 73 71, Sven Struver (Ger) 71 73, Jamie Spence 69 75, Richard Finch 73 71, Taichi Teshima (Jpn) 71 73, Thomas Levet (Fra) 68 76
145 Pontus Widegren (Swe) 71 74, Benn Barham 73 72, Christopher Hanell (Swe) 73 72, Kyron Sullivan 70 75, Peter Gustafsson (Swe) 73 72, Andrew Raitt 74 71, Louis Oosthuizen (Rsa) 72 73, Robert Rock 72 73, Marcus Higley 72 73, Marc Warren 72 73, Alexander Noren (Swe) 72 73, Jonathan Lomas 74 71, Ignacio Garrido (Spa) 70 75
146 Christian Nilsson (Swe) 73 73, Anton Haig (Rsa) 68 78, Steve Webster 71 75, Bjorn Akesson (Swe) 70 76, Johan Skold (Swe) 74 72, Joakim Haeggman (Swe) 71 75, Phillip Price 73 73, Andrew Coltart 74 72, Maarten Lafeber (Ned) 74 72, David Park 71 75, Mardan Mamat (Sin) 73 73, Robert Karlsson (Swe) 69 77
147 Matthew Bliss (Can) 71 76, Jesus Maria Arruti (Spa) 74 73, Gareth Davies 72 75,
Birgir Hafthorsson (Ice) 75 72, Pelle Edberg (Swe) 74 73, Rafael Echenique (Arg) 74 73, Thomas Sundstrom (Fin) 74 73, Darren Fichardt (Rsa) 74 73, Oliver Fisher 72 75, John Daly (USA) 72 75, Eirik Tage Johansen (Nor) 72 75, Terry Price (Aus) 74 73, Fredrik Widmark (Swe) 69 78, Adam Gee 72 75
148 Andrew Butterfield 74 74, David Howell 73 75, Sion Bebb 76 72, Andrew McLardy (Rsa) 74 74, Tony Finau (USA) 74 74, Andreas Hogberg (Swe) 73 75, Jean-Francois Lucquin (Fra) 72 76, James Hepworth 73 75, Mark Foster 74 74
149 Niklas Lemke (Swe) 77 72, Matthew Millar (Aus) 71 78, Matthew Zions (Aus) 74 75, Marcel Siem (Ger) 75 74, Anders Hultman (Swe) 75 74, Scott Drummond 75 74, Sam Little 73 76, Tony Edlund (Swe) 77 72
150 Steven Jeppesen (Swe) 75 75
151 Alexandre Rocha (Bra) 74 77, Wilhelm Schauman (Swe) 75 76, Patrik Sjoland (Swe) 73 78, Johan Wahlqvist (Swe) 77 74, David Frost (Rsa) 76 75, Jonas Blixt (Swe) 75 76, Marc Cayeux (Zim) 74 77
152 Gipper Finau (USA) 75 77, Kasper Jorgensen (Den) 74 78
153 Alastair Forsyth 75 78, Carlos Rodiles (Spa) 77 76
154 Jose Manuel Carriles (Spa) 71 83, Jonas Henander Hedin (Swe) 74 80
155 David Lynn 75 80, Manuel Quiros (Spa) 76 79
156 Adrien Mork (Fra) 77 79

Beware Scots! Ireland are on a worldwide winning roll

SATURDAY FINAL IN SLOVENIA:

IT'S SCOTLAND v IRELAND FOR

EUROPEAN SENIORS TITLE

Defending champions Scotland swept through to the final of the European senior men’s amateur team championship for the second year in a row at Bled Golf & Country Club, Slovenia today.
The Scots, the top seeds and leading qualifiers for the match-play stages, swept aside the challenge of fourth qualifiers France 4 ½- ½. It would have been a 5-0 final scoreline because John Johnston (Royal Aberdeen) was two up on Alain Coune when the Scots’ winning margin was achieved.
By tradition, in most European team championships, matches which are not finished when an overall winning score is reached are declared halved – and that’s what happened to Johnston.
Gordon MacDonald (Callander) and Donald McCart (Castlerock) played the foursomes tie and beat Jean Pierre Combart and Georeges Roumeas by one hole.
Stephen Ellis (Cowal) won the top singles by two holes against R Fontagneres.
Team skipper and Scottish seniors champion Ian Hutcheon (pictured above) won by 3 and 1 against Aubert Riviere.
Brian Grieve (King James VI) was a 3 and 2 winner over Alexis Godillot.
Scotland will play Ireland, the No 2 qualifiers, in Saturday’s final. The Irish beat England 3-2 in a tight tussle and are confident that they can put yet another victory for Ireland up on the golfing map this season.
Padraig Harrington won the Open … Ireland won the European men’s amateur team championship at Western Gailes … Arthur Pierse from Tipperary won the British senior men’s amateur championship at Nairn last week … and Danielle McVeigh from Kilkeel won the World Student Games women’s golf gold medal in Thailand earlier today.
Ireland led 1-0 from the opening foursomes against England but David Lane and Chris Reynolds made it 2-1 for England by winning the first two singles. Then Hugh Smith levelled it with a 5 and 4 win over Alan Squires.
It was all on the Douglas Arnold (England) v Tony Good (Ireland) tie after that and Goode kept his nerve to win on the 18th green.

CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT
SEMI-FINALS
SCOTLAND 4 1/2, FRANCE ½
Foursome: G MacDonald, D McCart bt J P Combart, G Roumeas 1 hole.
Singles: S Ellis bt R Fontagneres 2 holes, I C Hutcheon bt A Riviere 3 and 1, B Grieve bt A Godillot 3 and 2, J W Johnston halved with A Coune.

IRELAND 3, ENGLAND 2
Foursome: N Duke, V Smyth bt R Smethurst, A Morrison 2 and 1.
Singles: M Kelly lost to D Lane 1 hole, S McParland lost to C Reynolds 3 and 2, T Goode bt D Arnold 1 hole, H Smyth bt A Squires 5 and 4.

SECOND FLIGHT
Germany 3, Sweden 2.
Italy 3, Spain 2.

THIRD FLIGHT
Denmark 3 ½, Finland 1 ½.
Switzerland 4 ½, Belgium ½.

FOURTH FLIGHT
Austria 3, Czech Republic 2.
Netherlands 3, Slovenia 2.

FIFTH FLIGHT
Norway 4, Luxembourg 1.

BY GEORGE! ROOKIE MURRAY SHARES
CHALLENGE TOUR LEAD AT LEXUS OPEN

From Michael Gibbons
European Challenge Tour Press Officer

Former Scottish amateur champion George Murray shares the lead at the European Challenge Tour’s Lexus Open, after a second round of one under par 71 took him to five under par for the tournament, alongside Austrian Martin Wiegele, at the halfway stage.
The 24 year old from Anstruther recorded his best finish (12th) of his rookie season as a professional at last week’s Scottish Challenge presented by Bank of Scotland Corporate, giving hope that he has now fully settled on tour and can concentrate on moving up the Rankings.
Currently 69th on the Rankings, a victory over the weekend could propel Murray towards the top 20 and a European Tour card for next season.
Aberdeen’s Scott Henderson is also in contention at the Miklagard Golf Club in Norway after a second round 69 took the 34 year old to two under, four behind Murray and Wiegele.
Eric Ramsay, Richie Ramsay, Murray Urquhart and Peter Whiteford will all join Henderson and Murray for the weekend action after the four Scots survived the halfway cut.
SCOREBOARD
Par 144 (2 x 72)
139 G Murray (Sco) 68 71, M Wiegele 68 71.
141 O Bergman 69 72, L Gagli8 69 72, P Worthington 70 71, P Kyllianen 72 69.
Other Scots scores:
142 S Henderson 73 69 (jt 7th).
145 R Ramsay 74 71.
146 M Urquhart 73 73, E Ramsay 73 73.
147 P Whiteford 77 70.
Over 148 did not qualify.

ROLEX TROPHY NEWS
Meanwhile, at the Challenge Tour’s second event of the week, the Rolex Trophy, Andrew McArthur and Jamie McLeary face a battle to make the 54 hole cut in the elite 39-man event after both players posted halfway totals of three over par 147 to lie in a tie for 33rd position at the Golf Club de Genève in Switzerland.

CRAIG LEE WINS £1,052 TOP PRIZE AT STIRLING

Craig Lee (All Golf Swing Centre), playing over his home course, lifted the first prize of £1,052 with a seven-under-par round of 65 in today's Stirling Golf Club pro-am.
Lee, who has been playing very well over the past two or three weeks, won by one stroke from Dean Robertson (Mearns Castle) who earned £842.

LEADING PROFESSIONALS
Par 72
65 C Lee (All Golf Swing Centre), £1,052.
66 D Robertson (Mearns Castle) £842.
67 T Burgoyne (Gotastroms GK), G Hutcheon (Peterculter) £552 each.
68 A Lockhart (Ladybank), M King (Kingsfield), P McKechnie (Braid Hills) £322 each.
69 J McKinnon (Irvine), R Arnott (Bishopbriggs), C Doak (unatt) £203 each.
70 S Cairns (Westerwood), S Gray (Hayston), G Collinson (Esporta Dougalston), J Sharp (Carrick at Cameron House), C Ronald (Carluke) £137 each.

STEVE BROWN WINS EDEN TROPHY

Steve Brown from the Old Padeswood club, Mold in Flintshire, won the Eden Trophy at St Andrews today when he beat Brian Taylor (Walton Heath) by 2 holes in the final.
Brown was 25th of the 64 qualifiers for the match-play stages, Taylor the 27th.
The Eden Tankard handicap competition was won by Harry Sayers from Tewkesbury Park. He beat Melvin Head (Ashford) 5 and 4 in the final.

Eden Trophy results today:

Semi-finals - S Brown (Olde Padeswood) bt J Perry (Heidelberg, Germany) 2 holes, B Taylor (Walton Heath) bt A Vincent (Bishops Stortford) 4 and 2.
Final - Brown bt Taylor 2 holes.

+Switch over to our sister website, www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk, to see who won the Strathtyrum Trophy tournament.

FRASER FOTHERINGHAM REACHES FINAL
OF BRITISH BOYS' CHAMPIONSHIP

Fraser Fotheringham from Nairn has won his way through to Saturday's 36-hole final of the British boys' championship at Royal Porthcawl Golf Club, South Wales.
Playing far above anything he has previously achieved Fraser will be following in the footsteps of Fraserburgh's Jordan Findlay who reached the British boys' final at Conwy, North Wales in 2004 - where he won the title - and 2005 at Hunstanton in Norfolk.
Three times in the final in the past four years by a North or North-east teenager is a brilliant record!
Fotheringham beat England's Eddie Pepperell (Drayton Park) by 4 and 3 in this afternoon's semi-final.
In the other tie, Spain's Emilio Cuartero bt Italy's Cristiano Terragni by 3 and 1.
The 36-hole final between Fotheringham and Cuartero will tee off at 8.30am and 1.30pm.
Good luck, Fraser!
FROM THE R&A WEBSITE:
Fraser Fotheringham had never been past the second round of any match-play event until this week - now he has survived seven rounds of the Boys Amateur Championship at Royal Porthcawl and will play in the 36-hole final tomorrow against Emilio Cuartero of Spain.
Fotheringham's match against strong English international Eddie Pepperell turned on a typical match-play situation at the par-5 12th where the Scot was one hole ahead.
Both players were close the the out-of-bounds area to the left of the green with their second shots, but Pepperell hit the better recovery to six feet. Fotheringham was 20 feet away but the pendulum swung in his favour when he holed the birdie putt.
Pepperell missed and from a chance to square the match he found himself two down.
At the 13th Fotheringham got up and down from a greenside bunker to go further ahead and Pepperell's fate was sealed when he three-putted the vast green at the short 14th to go four behind and one hole later lost the match by 4 and 3.
In difficult, breezy conditions Cuartero had a remarkable run, playing the 11 closing holes this morning and the first seven this afternoon without dropping a shot. In his semi-final he was never headed by Cristiano Terragni of Italy, pulling away to a lead of four holes at the 12th.
But the Italian made a spirited comeback, winning two of the next four holes before being beaten 3 and 1 when Cuartero birdied the long 17th.
Fotheringham, a self-confessed non-academic, moved into full-time amateur golf on a sunny day last year when he walked out of a class studying Romeo and Juliet at Nairn Academy. "What on earth am I doing here?" he asked himself, and set off for the golf course.
Since then he has spent seven months on Australia's Gold Coast, where his sister lives, and has been working hard at his game, being rewarded with a place in the Scottish team for last week's home internationals.
Fotheringham arrived at Porthcawl with few expectations other than a keen desire to get past the second round. Now he has his sights set on the title "to show mum and dad that all the money they have spent on me has been worthwhile".

LONGMUIR ONE SHOT OFF THE LEAD
IN ENGLISH SENIORS OPEN

By Graeme Hamlett
Press Officer, European Seniors Tour
Anglo-Scot Bill Longmuir is one shot off the lead held by defending champion Carl Mason at The Midas English Seniors Open at St Mellion after shooting a two under par 70 over the testing Nicklaus Course, where preferred lies were in operation owing to heavy rain in Cornwall over the previous two days.
Longmuir, who had three birdies and a bogey in his round, said: “All in all I am quite happy with it. It’s never easy when this wind gets up. I hit a lot of better putts and I am getting better. I’m not quite finishing it off – but I’m getting better. The putter feels like it’s more in control.
“I three-putted the par five 16th, which was such a shame, as I pitched it two feet from the hole, with a nice high, soft five wood, and that was very demoralising. But I’m in the hunt and I’m happy to be there. There’s a long way to go.”
Aberdonian John Chillas, meanwhile, got off to a great start, with birdies at the first and third holes, to go out in 34. He dropped a shot at the par three 11th, but roared straight back with a birdie four at the tree-lined par five 12th, only for the 13th to frustrate with a bogey.
A three-putt on the 17th took the 56 year old Scot back to level par, the score he ended up signing for. Chillas said: “I’m delighted with 72 because, for me, it’s the most difficult course in the world. Okay, I’ve played courses in more difficult conditions, but here, there’s no let-up. Everything about it is hard. Off the tee it’s tight, there’s the swirling wind, it’s playing long after all the rain, there are tough greens – it’s relentless. You have to be able to hit every shot in the bag.
“I had more birdie chances on a couple of holes on the front nine I didn’t take, but three birdies and three bogeys was an even trade. I don’t think you’ll get ten to 12 under par winning this week.”
Dundee man Steve Martin, who was fifth at the Bad Ragaz PGA Seniors Open in Switzerland last week, shot a four over par 76, as did Mike Miller, while Martin Gray scored 73.
Spooky goings on almost put the hocus-pocus on Carl Mason’s bid to win a record-setting fourth English Open title, but he blew away the early cob-webs with a three under par round of 69.
The St Mellion guesthouse where he is staying nearby is reported to be haunted – and Mason awoke in the middle of the night to some ghostly antics which he thought was fellow lodge room-mate, Ireland’s Eamonn Darcy, moving about.
Mason said: “It was unbelievable. I was standing outside the lodge last night, and there’s a guy sitting out in one of the cottages. He said: ‘Are you Carl Mason?’ I said: ‘Yes.’ He said: ‘Are you staying there.’ I said: ‘Yes.’ ‘With the ghost,’ he said. I said: ‘What?’ as I don’t believe in anything like that.
“Then, in the middle of the night, I woke up in a cold sweat. Alright, the duvet was half off me, but I was in such a cold sweat. So I’m lying there in bed, I got the duvet back all over me, and then I heard a switch click in my bathroom. I thought, ‘It must be Eamonn’ but it wasn’t him. I promise you – I thought someone had flicked on the switch. The light didn’t come on, but it sent the shivers right through me. I wish the bloke had never said anything to me about it!
“I probably won’t sleep tonight. It’s weird, because I never wake up like that, and when the light switch went off, woah. I was shivering all over. I may move out yet!”

FIRST ROUND SCOREBOARD
Par 72
69 C Mason (Eng)
70 J Heggarty (Nir), David J Russell (Eng), Nick Job (Eng), M Poxon (Eng), A Mew (Tri), B Longmuir (Sco), J Bland (RSA)
71 D Merriman (Aus), B Larratt (Eng), S Owen (Nzl), G Ralph (Eng), J Rhodes (Eng)
72 B Smit (RSA), GJ Brand (Eng), J Chillas (Sco), P Dugeny (Fra), G Townhill (Eng), T Dill (USA), D Cambridge (Jam), B Hardwick (Can), B Malley (USA), I Mosey (Eng), D O’Sullivan (Irl), R Stelten (USA)
73 G Encina (Chi), T Rastall (Eng), A Fernandez (Chi), I Palmer (RSA), P Teravainen (USA), E Rodriguez (Esp), T Johnstone (Zim), J Bruner (USA), D Johnson (USA), M Gray (Sco)
74 J Mashego (RSA), K Tomori (Jpn), T Gale (Aus), B Cameron (Eng), D Creamer (Eng), B Heuchan (Can), T Gideon (Ger), B Lendzion (USA), G Levenson (RSA), M Foster (Eng)
75 E Darcy (Irl), J Lapsley (Nzl), J Benda (USA), M Bembridge (Eng)
76 M Miller (Sco), S Martin (Sco)
77 N Clarke (RSA), K Spurgeon (Eng)
78 R Mann (Eng), V Garcia (Esp), D Good (Aus)
79 H Arnott (Eng), P Barber (Eng), G Watine (Fra), B Lincoln (RSA), P Dawson (Eng)
80 R Carrasco (USA), T Horton (Eng), JP Sallat (Fra), M Ferguson (Aus)
81 J Hall (Eng)
82 G Wintz (USA), G Cali (Ita)
84 I Richardson (Eng)
88 T Allen (Eng)
89 T Charnley (Eng)



_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

ANGLO IAN IS TOP SCOT IN PGA
ASSISTANTS CHAMPIONSHIP

Anglo-Scot Ian Campbell (Brighton & Hove) finished 12th in the Powerade PGA assistants golf championship at London Golf Club, Kent today (Friday).
He had rounds of 74, 71 and 76 for a five-over-par total of 221, which earned him £650.
Lee Harper (Archerfield Links) picked up £358 for a share of 20th place on 226 with scores of 74, 75 and 77.
Steven Duncan (unattached) scored 79, 76 and 72 for a share of 22nd place on 227. He received £316.
Chris McCalman (unatted) finished 29th on 229 with 81, 73 and 75. His cheque was for £265.
New Scottish professional champion Mark Loftus scored 80, 74 and 76 for 230 and a share of 30th place for £255.
Alyth’s Michael Rae earned £237 for joint 33rd position on 231 with scores of 75, 78 and 78.
Jonathan Lupton from Middlesbrough won the title and the £5,000 first prize with 73, 72 and 68 for three-under-par 213.
He won by one stroke from Ireland’s Barrie Trainor from Bray and Englishman Paul Hendriksen (Fingle Glen).

FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3 x 72)
213 J Lupton (Middlesbrough) 73 72 68.
214 B Trainor (Bray, Ireland) 72 73 69, P Hendriksen (Fingle Glen) 74 69 71.
Scots’ totals:
221 I Campbell 74 71 76 (12th).
226 L Harper 74 75 77 (jt 20th).
227 S Duncan 79 76 72 (jt 22nd).
229 C McCalman 81 73 75 (29th).
230 M Loftus 80 74 76 (jt 30th).
231 M Rae 75 78 78 (jt 33rd).

2007 FIFE HANDICAP FOURSOMES MATCH-PLAY
CHAMPIONSHIP

SEMI-FINALS to be played by SEPTEMBER 9.


THORNTON (Home Club) v PITREAVIE (Away Club)

BURNTISLAND GH (Home Club) v DUNFERMLINE (Away Club)

GOLDEN DAY FOR DANIELLE McVEIGH

Danielle McVeigh from Kilkeel in Northern Ireland won the women's gold medal in the golf programme of the World Student Games in Thailand.
But the Ireland women's team just missed out on another golf for Danielle. There was a silver lining for them - they finished second.
None of the British men's or women's team members figured in the medals distribution. Switch over to our sister website, www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk, to read the golf news from Thailand.

BRITISH MEN'S MID-AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Alwoodley Golf Club, Leeds

FIRST ROUND MATCH-PLAY RESULTS

Mark Wharton, John O'Gaunt won by 3 and 1.
Allan Wright, Hessle

Peter Crowther, Royal Wimbledon won by 2 and 1.
Doug Stiles, USA

Tom Woodhouse, East Devon won by 7 and 6.
Paul Burr, South Beds

Paul Moultrie, Troon Portland won by 3 and 2.
Marc Lambert, France

Graeme Marchbank, Durham City won by 1 hole.
Martin Hand, Carlisle

Ian Barker, Burhill won by 3 and 2.
Andrew Henderson, Woolston Manor

Nigel Sweet, Moortown won by 6 and 5.
Brian Woods, USA

Andy King, Garforth won by 2 and 1.
Trey Owen, USA

Andrew Hardie, Astbury won by 3 and 1.
Timothy Seaton, Headingley

Stephen Machin, Cowglen
Mark Gaynor, USA won by 1 hole.

Paul Simson, USA won by 3 and 1.
Steven Peel, Alwoodley

Stewart Elder, Kirkcaldy
Nicky Gold, Bonnyton won by 2 and 1.

Euan Moir, Hamilton won by 4 and 3.
Jon Baker-Odlin, Cumberwell Park

Michael Henson, Bedale
Matthew Cox, Royal Birkdale won by 2 and 1.

Brian Harris, USA won by 5 and 4.
Graeme Lawson, Tyneside

David Bartman, USA
Jody Greenall, Elton Furze won by 2 and 1l.

Craig Fort, Nelson won by 5 and 4.
Shaun Tarplett, Hillsborough

Matthew Cryer, Coventry won by 1 hole.
Tom Hawkings, Sunningdale

Richard Reed, Royal Birkdale won by 4 and 3.
Neil Harker-Bell, Bradford Moor

John Kemp, John O'Gaunt won by 4 and 3.
Neil Dean, Minchinhampton

Ian Crowther, Royal Lytham
Jonathan Lawrence, Moor Allerton won by 4 and 2.

Sandy Twynholm, Morpeth won by 3 and 2.
Dewitt Weaver, USA

Ulrich Schulte, Germany won at 20th.
John Stansbury, Sunningdale

Steven Barwick, Stoke Park
Giles Legg, Broadstone won by 1 hole.

Andrew Inglis, Sunningdale Artisans won by 2 and 1.
Rhys Barber, Newport

Edward Richardson, Rye won at 19th.
Bryan Innes, Murcar Links

Michael Curry, Brancepeth Castle
Pierre Carpentier, France won by 3 and 2.

Roger Roper, Wike Ridge
Francois Illouz, France won by 1 hole.

John Sheeny, Wike Ridge won by 3 and 2.
Jean-Charles Gouvernaire, France

Jay Blumenfeld, USA
Steven Hudson, USA won at 20th.

Martin Brown, Pike Hills 2 up after 13 holes.
Andrew Smith, Royal Ashdown Forest

Lee Yearn, Ely City won by 3 and 2.
Anthony Hill, Springhead Park

NAIRN JUNIOR MEMBER FOTHERINGHAM THROUGH
TO SEMI-FINALS OF BRITISH BOYS' CHAMPIONSHIP

FROM R&A WEBSITE
The semi-finals of the Boys Amateur Championship at Royal Porthcawl will feature a home nations contest between Eddie Pepperell of England and new Scots cap Fraser Fotheringham, and an all-Continental encounter with Emilio Cuarto of Spain facing Christiano Terragni of Italy.
Pepperell, the bronze medal winner in this year's European Young Masters, lost the first hole of his quarter-final against his England team captain and room-mate Jack Hiluta, but was two up after seven holes.
Hiluta brought the match back to square by the turn before Pepperell made a winning thrust with birdies at the 12th and 13th. Although he lost the 16th he held on to win by one hole.
"The course is beginning to grow on me," he said after admitting earlier in the week that he was not overly impressed with Royal Porthcawl.
Fotheringham, his opponent this afternoon, made his debut for Scotland in last week's home internationals, but the Nairn Golf Club junior member played like a seasoned veteran to beat experienced Danish international Nicolai Aagaard by 3 and 2.
Aagaard has been named in the Continent of Europe team to play Great Britain & Ireland in the Jacques Leglise Trophy later this month and he is renowned for his big-hitting exploits.
"I did manage to outdrive him once," said Fotheringham. But the Scot relied on other skills for his victory, winning the first with a birdie and chipping in at the second for another to go two up. He lost the short fourth to a two, but birdied the seventh and eighth to take a firm grip on the game.
In an all-Spanish match Jordi Garcia Pinto quickly went two up on Emilio Cuartero but the match was all square by the 12th and Cuartero won the 14th and 17th for a 2 and 1 victory.
England's third player in the quarter-finals, Gary King, took an early one-hole lead over Cristiano Terragni of Italy, but was soon pinned back and found himself two down with five to play. He won the 15th and had a chance to take the match into extra time until Terragni holed from 12 feet for a half on the final green to secure a one hole win.

QUARTER-FINAL RESULTS

Eddie Pepperell, Drayton Park won by one hole.
Jack Hiluta, Chelmsford

Nicolai Aagaard, Denmark
Fraser Fotheringham, Nairn won by 3 and 2.

Jordi Garcia Pinto, Spain
Emilio Cuartero, Spain won by 2 and 1.

Cristiano Terragni, Italy won by 1 hole.
Gary King, Tyrrells Wood

RALSTON'S SHAUN CONNOR SHARES

FOURTH PLACE IN ENGLISH EVENT

Stanislas Gautier from France became the first overseas player to win the English Under-14 boys' championship when he collected the Reid Trophy at Porters Park.
A final round of 68, the only sub-70 return on the day, for 212, saw the 14-year-old from Paris achieve a three-stroke victory from Rhys Pugh from Wales, who closed with 71.
Pugh, 13, a member of the Welsh team in the recent boys' home internationals, led for the first two rounds but Gautier, who is also the French Under-14 champion, turned on the power over the final circuit.
The pair, playing together, were neck-and-neck over the front nine but when Gautier secured an eagle and followed it with further birdies, he was heading for the title. The best English player was Patrick Horsting from Kent, who finished in fourth place on 224 after a closing 71 which also earned him the Under-13s prize.

Shaun Connor (Ralston), picture above by courtesy of TOM WARD, did well to finish joint fourth on 224 with scores of 73, 75 and 76.

TOP TEN FINISHERS
Stanislas Gautier, France 72 72 68 - 212.
Rhys Pugh, Vale of Glamorgan 71 72 72 - 215.
Javier Sainz, Spain 73 76 71 - 220.
Patrick Horsting, Royal Cinque Ports 78 75 71 - 224.
Shaun Connor, Ralston 73 75 76 - 224.
Raphael Higuet, Belgium 77 76 74 - 227
Harry Whittle, Woburn 75 77 75 - 227
Thomas Detry, Belgium 75 77 75 - 227
Nathan Ray, Maxstoke Park 81 73 74 - 228.
Oliver Carr, Heswall 76 76 76 - 228.

EUAN MOIR FROM HAMILTON TO THE FORE IN
BRITISH MID-AMATEUR AT ALWOODLEY

FROM THE R&A WEBSITE

Three times British open mid-amateur championship winner John Kemp is back in the hunt for a fourth title after taming the tricky Yorkshire breeze to get round the 6,793 yards Alwoodley, Leeds course in a best of the day level-par 71 to be among the leading qualifiers into the first round of tomorrow's match-play stages on 146.
Winner of the championship in 1999, 2002 and 2003 and beaten finalist in 2000, the 39-year-old packaging salesman from the John O’Gaunt club in Cambridgeshire, chipped in twice on the sixth and 16th and sank a 40ft putt for a birdie 2 at the ninth.
“I played well today, I was a bit more aggressive,” said Kemp, who matched four birdies with four bogeys.
His John O'Gaunt clubmate, 44-year-old Mark Wharton, the overnight leader on 66, added a 72 to lead the qualifiers on 138. "I played well - it was hard work out there and I'm glad to be through," said the six times Bedfordshire champion.
Cambridgeshire landscape gardener Lee Yearn added a second round 74 to his opening 67 for a one under par total of 141 to qualify with plenty to spare. “It was a bit brutal out there but I played well,” said the 36-year-old from the Ely City club.
“I dropped a stroke at the first when my tee shot ended up in a small hole just off the fairway, but I pulled it back at the long third, with a nine-iron second to 30ft and two putts. Then I found traps off the tee at the short seventh and ninth and failed to get up and down to drop two more shots.”
Out in two over par 38, Yearn got his shots back with a birdie at the long 10th and another at the 12th where he sank a 10-foot putt.
“I struggled a bit from there. I dropped a stroke at the 13th when I didn’t reach the fairway off the tee and took a five. I hit a great three iron onto the green at the 206-yard 14th into the wind and sank the putt from 20 feet, but then dropped strokes at three of the last four holes.”
A stroke behind Yearn is 41-year-old Steve Barwick from the Stoke Park club in Buckinghamshire, who also shot 74 to add to his opening 68. Like Yearn he dropped strokes on the way home after reaching the turn in one under 35.
“I had three putts at the 12th, didn’t get up and down from over the green at the 13th, found a bunker off the tee and could only hack out at the 17th and missed from four feet for par at the last,” said Barwick.
“But I’m in the match-play stages and the higher up the better.”
A stroke ahead of Kemp on 145 is another old hand at the Mid-Amateur, 39-year-old Scot Euan Moir from Hamilton and 25-year-old Cheshire country player Andrew Hardie who is playing for the first time.
Professional's son Moir, who won the qualifying at Seaton Carew in 2001 and was third last year at Southport & Ainsdale when he shot 65 in the first round, added a 73 to his opening 72, as did Hardie.
Moir had two birdies and two bogeys on the way out and three bogeys and just one birdie on the way home. His twin brother Michael failed to qualify.
Hardie, who plays out of Astbury near Crewe, opened with a birdie at the first but then dropped strokes at the second, eighth and ninth to be out in 38. He dropped further strokes at the 12th and 15th but then finished with a flourish, with birdies the 16th and 18th.
“I hit a seven-iron to 10 feet at the 16th and a three-wood to eight feet at the last,” he said.
Three experienced players - Roger Roper from Wike Ridge, Graeme Marchbank from Durham City and Nigel Sweet from nearby Moortown are on 147 and the group on 149 includes former Scotland international player Sandy Twynholme from Morpeth, beaten by Gary Wolstenholme in the 1998 Mid-Amateur final at Ganton.
Also on 149 are Americans Jay Blumenfeld from New Jersey, Paul Simson from North Carolina and Brian Harris from Indiana.
Blumenfeld, 51, a regular at the event and a previous quarter-finalist, added a 78 to his opening 71, while 56-year-old Simson, who is playing for the first time, added a 77 to his 72.“It’s a magnificent event and a great venue, said Simson, who won the British Seniors at Saunton in Devon last year and was fifth at Nairn last week.
Harris, 39, who shot 75 to add to his 74, is playing in the event for the sixth time. “I just love the golf over here,” said Harris. “I’ve reached the match-play stages every time and was in the quarter-finals last year.”

QUALIFIERS
Par 142 (2 x 71) CSS 72 74
138 Mark Wharton (John O'Gaunt) 66 72.
141 Lee Yearn (Ely City 67) 74.
142 Steven Barwick (Stoke Park) 68 74
145 Andrew Hardie (Astbury) 72 73, Euan Moir (Hamilton) 72 73.
146 John Kemp (John O'Gaunt) 75 71.
147 Roger Roper (Wike Ridge) 74 73, Graeme Marchbank, Durham City 72 75, Nigel Sweet (Moortown) 70 77.
149 Edward Richardson, Rye 76 73, Matthew Cryer (Coventry) 75 74, Brian Harris (US) 74 75, Paul Simson (US) 72 77, Sandy Twynholm (Morpeth) 71 78, Jay Blumenfeld (US) 71 78.
150 Tom Woodhouse, East Devon 76 74, Paul Moultrie (Troon Portland) 76 74, John Sheeny (Wike Ridge) 72 78, Ian Crowther (Royal Lytham) 70 80.
151 Stewart Elder (Kirkcaldy) 77 74, David Bartman (US) 75 76, Craig Fort (Nelson) 75 76,
Andrew Inglis, Sunningdale Artisans 75 76, Andy King (Garforth) 74 77, Ian Barker (Burhill) 73 78, Michael Curry (Brancepeth Castle) 71 80.
152 Richard Reed (Royal Birkdale) 77 75, Michael Henson (Bedale) 77 75, Stephen Machin (Cowglen) 77 75, Ulrich Schulter (Germany) 76 76, Martin Brown Pike Hills) 74 78, Peter Crowther (Royal Wimbledon) 73 79.
153 Doug Stiles (US) 80 73, Andrew Smith (Royal Ashdown Forest) 76 77, John Stansbury (Sunningdale) 76 77.
Other Scots among match-play qualifiers:
154 Nicky Gold (Bonnyton) 78 76.
155 Bryan Innes (Murcar Links) 75 80.

NON-QUALIFIERS INCLUDED:

157 Graeme Rodger (Cambuslang) 76 81.
159 Jamie Farmer, St Andrews 78 81, Michael Moir (Hamilton) 77 82, Andy Weir (Stirling) 76 83, John Laurie (Cowglen) 75 84.
160 Mark Riddell (Baberton) 78 82, Keith Macnair (Glasgow) 77 83.
163 Kevin Loughrie (Cambuslang) 80 83.
164 Kenny Reid (Prestwick) 80 84.
169 Gordon Landsburgh (Scotscraig) 90 82.

SCANDINAVIAN MASTERS SCOREBOARD
Arlandastad, Stockholm, Sweden
Par 70 (x) denotes amateurs
64 Scott Strange (Aus)
65 Fredrik Qvicker (Swe), Sam Walker
67 Rafael Cabrera Bello (Spa), Lee James, Ian Garbutt, Dawie Van der Walt (Rsa), Alessandro Tadini (Ita), Martin Kaymer (Ger), Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (Fra), Henrik Nystrom (Swe), Mikko Ilonen (Fin)
68 Gary Murphy, James Kingston (Rsa), Thomas Levet (Fra), Anton Haig (Rsa), Peter Hedblom (Swe), Phillip Archer, Nick Dougherty, Paul Lawrie, Stephen Gallacher
69 Shaun Webster, Wade Ormsby (Aus), Mattias Eliasson (Swe), David Griffiths, Simon Wakefield, Gary Lockerbie, Fredrik Widmark (Swe), Paul Broadhurst, Simon Dyson, David Higgins, Joakim Backstrom (Swe), Jamie Spence, Christian Cevaer (Fra), Robert Karlsson (Swe), Alan McLean, Luis Claverie (Spa), Edward Rush, Joel Sjoholm (Swe)
70 Barry Lane, Ignacio Garrido (Spa), Jose Manuel Lara (Spa), Peter Hanson (Swe), Corey Pavin (USA), Jesper Parnevik (Swe), Simon Khan, Lee Slattery, Bjorn Akesson (Swe), Damien McGrane, Jeff Sluman (USA), Garry Houston, Fredrik Andersson (Swe), Richard Bland, Kryon Sullivan
71 Michael Jonzon (Swe), Taichi Teshima (Jpn), James Heath, Steven O'Hara, Matthew Bliss (Can), Pontus Widegren (Swe), Sven Struver (Ger), Peter Lawrie, Richard McEvoy, Matthew Millar (Aus), Joakim Haeggman (Swe), Martin Erlandsson (Swe), Cesar Monasterio (Arg), David Park, Jose Manuel Carriles (Spa), David Bransdon (Aus), Juan Parron (Spa), Steve Webster
72 Andrew Tampion (Aus), Andrew Marshall, Oliver Fisher, Eirik Tage Johansen (Nor), Miles Tunnicliff, Louis Oosthuizen (Rsa), John Daly (US), Marc Warren, Marcus Higley, Brett Rumford (Aus), Tom Whitehouse, John Bickerton, Robert Rock, Johan Edfors (Swe), Oskar Henningson (Swe), Santiago Luna (Spa), Jean-Francois Lucquin (Fra), Jarmo Sandelin (Swe), Alexander Noren (Swe), Stephen Dodd, Adam Gee, Gareth Davies
73 David Carter, James Hepworth, Gary Emerson, David Howell, Mardan Mamat (Sin), Christian Nilsson (Swe), Patrik Sjoland (Swe), Andreas Hogberg (Swe), Benn Barham, Richard Finch, Johan Axgren (Swe), Peter Gustafsson (Swe), Per-Ulrik Johansson (Swe), Christopher Hanell (Swe), Phillip Price, Thongchai Jaidee (Tha), Sam Little, Mads Vibe-Hastrup (Den)
74 Andrew Raitt, Kasper Linnet Jorgensen (Den), Jesus Maria Arruti (Spa), Alexandre Rocha (Bra), Maarten Lafeber (Ned), Johan Skold (Swe), Steve Alker (Nzl), Terry Price (Aus), Thomas Sundstrom (Fin), Andrew Butterfield, Marc Cayeux (Zim), Darren Fichardt (Rsa), Matthew Zions (Aus), Nicolas Colsaerts (Bel), Andrew McLardy (Rsa), Andrew Coltart, Pelle Edberg (Swe), Tony Finau (USA), Ross Fisher, Rafael Echenique (Arg),
Jonas Enander Hedin (Swe), Mark Foster, Jonathan Lomas, Terry Pilkadaris (Aus)
75 Gipper Finau (USA), Wilhelm Schauman (Swe),
Jonas Blixt (Swe), Anders Hultman (Swe), David Lynn, Alastair Forsyth, Marcel Siem (Ger), Birgir Hasfthorsson (Ice), Steven Jeppesen (Swe), Scott Drummond
76 Sion Bebb, Alejandro Canizares (Spa), David Frost (Rsa), Manuel Quiros (Spa)
77 Niklas Lemke (Swe), Adrien Mork (Fra), Johan Wahlqvist (Swe), Tony Edlund (Swe), Carlos Rodiles (Spa)
80 Mark Pilkington

STEVEN TAYLOR HEADS QUALIFIERS FOR
DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY 36-HOLE PRO-AM

Steven Taylor (Bothwell Castle) headed the 29 qualifiers for the 36-hole Kerr Investments Classic pro-am at Dumferies & Galloway Golf Club on September 8 and 9.
The qualifying competition was over the same course today and Steven shot a four-under-par 66 to finish a shot clear of the field.
Only five of the players on the 72 mark got in. The odd man out was Norman Huguet (Musselburgh).
LEADING QUALIFIERS
66 S Taylor (Bothwell Castle).
67 S Lamb (Broomieknowe), G McInnes (Murcar Links), A Forrow (Whitecraigs), D Park (Wishaw).
69 S Morrison (Glenbervie), S Gray (ayston), C Gordon (Edinburgh Golf Centre).

EDEN TOURNAMENT RESULTS
FROM ST ANDREWS

THIRD ROUND
O Farr (Ludlow) bt D Bush (Holme Hall) 2 and 1.
S Brown (Old Padeswood) bt G Smith (West Linton) 2 and 1.
D Simpson (Penrith) bt A Johnston (Bonnyton) 4 and 3.
J Perry (Heidelberg, Germany) bt D Miller (Nuneaton) 3 and 2.
S Clarke (Kidderminster) bt T Aggett (Staddon Heighs) 5 and 4.
A Vincent (Bishops Stortford) bt A MacNaught (Colchester) 4 and 3.
K Williams (Patshull Park) b t H Greenhill (Dunfermline) retired.
B Taylor (Walton Heath) bt R Craig (Merchants of Edinburgh) 1 hole.

QUARTER-FINALS
S Brown bt O Farr (defending champion) 2 and 1.
J Perry bt D Simpson at 19th.
A Vincent bt S Clarke 2 and 1.
B Taylor bt K Williams 3 and 2.

FRASER FOTHERINGHAM FROM NAIRN IN
QUARTER-FINALS OF BRITISH BOYS

FROM THE R&A WEBSITE

Spain and England are guaranteed a place in the semi-finals of the Boys Amateur Championship at Royal Porthcawl as the field is whittled down from 256 at the start of the week to the last eight, with one Scot - Fraser Fotheringham from Nairn, one player from Denmark, one Italian and another English international completing the quarter-final line-up.
At the top of the draw Eddie Pepperell will face his England team captain Jack Hiluta tomorrow morning and Spaniards Jordi Garcia Pinto and Emilio Cuartero will battle each other.
Fotheringham will be matched against Nicolai Aagaard from Denmark and a third English international, Gary King, will play Cristiano Terragni of Italy.
Fotheringham made his debut for Scotland in the home internationals last week and knocked out the Scottish Boys champion Paul Ferrier in the fourth round at Royal Porthcawl.
Although he took an early two-hole lead against Chris Lloyd of Kendleshire he went one down when he three-putted the short 14th. The Highlander squared the match when Lloyd missed from short range at the 16th and Fotheringham got up and down for a birdie at the next where Lloyd lipped out for an eagle.
Both hit good drives at the first extra hole, but Lloyd missed the green and Fotheringham hit a wedge to 10 feet for the win.
Hiluta and Johnston, who are close friends and have been foursomes partners for three years, had a classic match-play encounter, Johnston taking a three-hole lead after seven, but Hiluta coming back to only one down at the turn.
The England team captain then holed from 15 feet at the 11th to stay just one down and squared the match with a birdie at the next.
He won the 14th with a par and Johnston lost his ball after a wayward second shot at the 15th and missed from six feet for a chance to save the match at the 17th, losing by 3 and 1.
Hiluta now faces Eddie Pepperell, another close friend and England team-mate with whom he is sharing a room this week. Pepperell was five up and well in command against Jamie Howie after 13 holes, but the Welsh youngster birdied the short 14th and won the next two with pars, but his fight-back came too late and he went down by 2 and 1.
Danish international Nicolai Aagaard was too strong for Ricky Pharo of Hawkstone Park, winning three of the opening five holes and staying comfortably in front for a 4 and 3 victory. He is an enormously powerful player, often using a two-iron from the tee and outdriving opponents hitting drivers.
Jordi Garcia Pinto of Spain was never behind in his match against Paul Fossum of France, extending a one-hole advantage after 12 holes by winning the next two and securing a 4 and 3 win.
Pinto's fellow countryman Emilio Cuartero came back from one down after seven holes to edge out Andrew Palmer of Chorley by one hole.
There was never much between Arnaud-Pierre Malinvaud of France and Cristiano Terragni of Italy, but the Italian won his way into the sixth round by 2 and 1.
In the final match of round five England international Gary King was two up after five holes against Henri Pyykola, an impressive player from Finland, and although he was pulled back to only a one hole advantage at the turn and moved on to a 3 and 2 victory.

FIFTH ROUND RESULTS

Jamie Howie, Royal St Davids
Eddie Pepperell, Drayton Park won 2 and 1.

Andrew Johnston, North Middlesex
Jack Hiluta, Chelmsford won 3 and 1.

Ricky Pharo, Hawkstone Park
Nicolai Aagaard, Denmark won 4 and 3.

Chris Lloyd, Kendleshire
Fraser Fotheringham, Nairn won at 19th hole

Paul Fossum, France
Jordi Garcia Pinto, Spain won 4 and 3.

Andrew Palmer, Chorley
Emilio Cuartero, Spain won by one hole.

Arnaud-Pierre Malinvaud, France
Cristiano Terragni, Italy won by 2 and 1.

Henri Pyykola, Finland
Gary King, Tyrrells Wood won by 3 and 2.

CAMPBELL LEADING SCOT IN PGA ASSISTANTS

Anglo-Scot Ian Campbell (Brighton & Hove) was the leading Scot after two rounds of the Powerade PGA assistants golf championship at London Golf Club today (Thursday).
Campbell has had rounds of 74 and 71 for 145 to be lying joint sixth behind joint leaders at three-under 141, Brett Taylor (Chelmsford) and Crue Elliott (Burnham Beeches).
Lee Harper (Archerfield Links) fell back with a 75 for 149 and a share of 13th place.
Other Scots qualifiers were: Michael Rae (Alyth) with 153, Chris McCalman (unatt) and Mark Loftus (Cowglen) on 154 and Steven Duncan on 155.

SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 144 (2 x 71)
141 B Taylor (Chelmsford) 74 67, C Elliott (Burnham Beeches) 73 69.
Scot scores:
145 I Campbell (Brighton & Hove) 74 71 (jt 6th).
149 L Harper (Archerfield Links) 74 75 (jt 13th).
153 M Rae (Alyth) 75 78 (jt 28th).
154 C McCalman (unatt) 81 73, M Loftus (Cowglen) 80 75 (jt 32nd).
155 S Duncan (unatt) 79 76 (jt 38th).
MISSED CUT
156 C Mathieson (Falkirk Tryst) 76 80.
1598 E Hogarth (Peebles) 81 78.
160 N Keast (Duff House Royal) 80 80.
161 M Henderson (Royal St Davids) 80 81.
164 L Mackie (unatt) 83 81.
165 D Blackadder (Kingsbarns) 84 81.
166 S O'Donnell (Balbirnie Park) 76 980.
170 A MacKenzie (Liberton) 84 86, B Wallace (unatt) 92 78.

GEORGE MURRAY'S FLYING START TO
LEXUS OPEN IN NORWAY

From Michael Gibbons
Challenge Tour Press Officer

Fifer George Murray made a blistering start to the European Challenge Tour’s Lexus Open in Norway with five birdies in his opening six holes helping the former Scottish amateur champion to a share of third place after the first round.
Murray could not keep up the unbelievable scoring of his opening six holes at the Miklagard Golf Club, but he ended the day with a four-under-par 68 to lie just two shots behind leader Michael McGeady of Ireland.
After a slow start to his rookie season on the Challenge Tour, Murray found some much needed form at last week’s Scottish Challenge presented by Bank of Scotland Corporate where he finished 12th at Cardrona.
The Anstruther 24 year old, currently 61st on the tour rankings, is now hoping for a strong finish to the season as he bids to break into the Challenge Tour’s top 45 in order to qualify for the season-ending Apulia San Domenico Grand Final, where those 45 players do battle for the 20 available European Tour cards.
Other Scots in the field did not do so well as George Murray.
Scott Henderson, still trying to come to terms with the theft of large sums of money from his bank account after his cheque book was stolen at Cardrona Hotel, had a 73 with birdies at the third, fifth and seventh.
Eric Ramsay and Murray Urquhart were both on the 73 mark.
Rookie Richie Ramsay had double bogeys at the second and seventh in returning a 74, the3 same score as Elliot Saltman.
David Patrick had a 78.
SCOREBOARD
66 M McGeady.
67 J Huldahl.
68 M Wiegele, G Murray.
69 C Brazillier, L Gagli, M Korhonen, R Swane, R Treis, O Bergman, I Van Weerelt.
Other scores:
72 G Wright.
73 S Henderson.
73 E Ramsay, M Urquhart.
74 R Ramsay, E Saltman.
78 D Patrick.

ROLEX TROPHY IN SWITZERLAND

While Murray was flying out of the blocks in Switzerland, Andrew McArthur and Jamie McLeary were flying the Scottish flag at the Challenge Tour’s other event this week – the Rolex Trophy in Switzerland.
McArthur and McLeary are the only two Scots in an elite 39 man field at the Golf Club de Genève and posted respective first rounds of level par 72 and three over 75.

SCOTS ARE LEADING QUALIFIERS IN
EUROPEAN SENIORS CHAMPIONSHIP

Defending champions Scotland were the leading qualifiers for the championship match-play flight in the European men's senior amateur team golf championship at Bled Golf Club, Slovenia today.
Stephen Ellis (Cowal) scored a 70, which helped him share the individual 36-hole honours with Ireland's Seamus McParland on one-under-par 145.
Ian Hutcheon (Monifieth) scored a 73 and finished ninth equal in the qualifying. John Johnston (Royal Aberdeen) had a second-round 75, Gordon MacDonald (Callander) a 78, and Donald McCart (Castlerock) slashed 14 shots off his first-day score to return a 73.
Brian Grieve (King James VI), Scotland's lowest first-day scorer with a 71, slumped to a non-counting 80. Only five of the six team players' scores counted daily.

LEADING QUALIFYING TOTALS
741 Scotland 372 369.
745 Ireland 382 363
746 England 371 375
760 France 387 373
763 Spain 383 380, Germany 384 379.
767 Sweden 385 382.
LEADING INDIVIDUAL TOTALS
Par 146 (2 x 73)
145 S Ellis (Sco) 75 70, S McParland (Ire) 74 71.
146 A Morrison (Eng) 71 75, H Smyth (Ire) 75 71.
Other scores:
149 I C Hutcheon (Sco) 76 73, C Reynolds (Eng) 75 74 (jt 9th).
151 J W Johnston (Sco) 76 75, B Grieve (Sco) 71 80 (jt 14th).
152 G MacDonald (Sco) 74 78 (jt 21st).
160 D McCart (Sco) 87 73, D Lane (Eng) 77 83 (jt 55th).

SCOTLAND TEAM NAMED FOR MEN'S HOME
INTERNATIONALS AT COUNTY LOUTH

The Scottish Golf Union selectors have chosen the following Scotland team for the men's home internationals at Co Louth from September 19 to 21:

WALLACE BOOTH (Comrie)
JAMES BYRNE (Banchory).
GLENN CAMPBELL (Blairgowrie).
GAVIN DEAR (Murrayshall).
JOHN GALLAGHER (Swanston New).
SCOTT HENRY (Cardross).
JONATHAN KING (Glasgow).
CALLUM MACAULAY (Tulliallan).
KEVIN McALPINE (Alyth).
KEIR McNICOLL (Carnoustie)
PAUL O'HARA (Colville Park).

First reserve: ROSS KELLETT (Colville Park).
Second reserve: SCOTT BORROWMAN (Dollar).

New caps at men's home internationals level are Gavin Dear, James Byrne, Wallace Booth and Callum Macaulay.
Byrne, of course, made his full international debut for Scotland in the European team championship. He flew to the United States this week for the introductory week for freshmen students at Arizona State University.
Booth made his full cap debut for Scotland against France in 2003 but has never appeared in the men's home internationals. Victories in two SGU Order of Merit events this summer - the Tennant Cup and the Cameron Corbett Vase - ensured his selection this year.
Macaulay's good run in the British amateur championship, coupled with good performances in Order of Merit events - he won the West of Scotland Open last year - always had him on the short leet.
The decision by Lloyd Saltman (Craigielaw) to turn professional immediately after the Walker Cup made another space available in the Scotland team for Co Louth. Richie Ramsay is another who would have been in the Scots line-up but for turning pro several weeks ago.
One man who might have expected at least to have been named a reserve is Duncan Stewart (Grantown on Spey). He won the East of Scotland Open at Lundin Links and made the Final Qualifying of the Open.
Scotland have won the Raymond Trophy as home international champions for the past two years. They have not completed a hat-trick of titles since 1934.
George Crawford (Williamwood) is the non-playing captain of the Scotland team.

DEAR AND BORROWMAN NOT IN HUNT FOR

MEDALS AT WORLD STUDENT GAMES

Stirling University's Gavin Dear and Scott Borrowman are lying joint 24th and tied 36th in a field of 85 players with one round to go in the World Student Games' men's golf championship at Watermill Golf and Gardens, Thailand.
Dear (Murrayshall Golf Club) has scored 73, 75 and 74 for a six-over-par tally of 222.
Borrowman (Dollar GC) has had ever-improving rounds of 81, 75 and 70 for 226.
Best placed member of the Great Britain team is England international Charlies Ford who has scored 71, 75 and 69 to be joint second on one-under-par 215, one shot behind the joint leaders, Ming-Chuan Chen (Taipei) and Aaron Goldberg (United States).
Britain (657) are fifth in the team event which is led by Japan.
In the women's events, Ireland's Danielle McVeigh has a seven-stroke lead in the chase for the golf medal. She has scorted 72, 75 and 69 for level par 216.
Anna Scott from the North-east of England is her nearest rival of 223.
Emma Fairnie (Edinburgh University) has not had a counting score so far for Britain after not playing in the first round.
Ireland are heading for the gold medals in the women's team event. Danielle McVeigh, Niamh Kitching and Gillian O'Leary lead by eight shots from Great Britain.

THIRD-DAY TOTALS

MEN INDIVIDUAL
214 Ming-Chuan Chen (Tai) 70 70 74, A Goldberg (US) 70 72 72.
215 C Ford (GB) 71 75 69, R Ngano (Jap) 71 73 71, Y Usami (Jap) 71 73 71.
Other scores:
222 G Dear (GB) 73 74 75 (jt 24th).
224 T Sherreard (GB) 76 74 74 (jt 28th).
226 S Borrowman (GB) 81 75 70 (jt 36th).
MEN'S TEAM EVENT
647 Japan. 650 Thailand. 651 Mexico, 653 Chinese Taipei. 657 Great Britain. 659 Korea, United States. 669 Italy. 672 New Zealand, Turkey. 673 South Africa. 684 Canada. 693 Switzerland. 726 Malaysia. 739 Poland.
WOMEN INDIVIDUAL
216 D McVeigh (Ire) 72 75 69.
223 A Scott (GB) 71 79 73.
224 H Ayada (Jap) 73 78 73.
Other scores:
231 H Burke (GB) 76 76 80 (jt 12th).
234 N Kitching (Ire) 83 75 76 (15th).
243 G O'Leary (Ire) 80 85 78 (jt 33rd).
NR E Fairnie (GB) NR 83 86.

WOMEN'S TEAM EVENT
447 Ireland. 455 Great Britain. 456 Mexico. 457 United States. 458 Japan (14 teams).

FOTHERINGHAM ONLY SCOT IN FIFTH
ROUND OF BRITISH BOYS' EVENT

Nairn's Fraser Fotheringham is the only Scot left in this afternoon's fifth round ties.
In this morning's fourth round, Fraser won the all-Scottish tie against Paul Ferrier, the Scottish boys' match-play champion from Baberton, by 3 and 2.

Results:
FOURTH ROUND

Jamie Howie, Royal St Davids won by 1 hole.
Damien Perrier, France

Julien Richelle, Belgium
Eddie Pepperell, Drayton Park won by 1 hole.

Andrew Johnston, North Middlesex won by 3 and 2.
Jack Clarke, Chelmsford

Matthew Phythian, Rhondda
Jack Hiluta, Chelmsford won by 5 and 4.

Christopher Parsons, Tredegar Park
Ricky Pharo, Hawkstone Park won by 5 and 4.

Tommy Fleetwood, Formby Hall
Nicolai Aagaard, Denmark won by 2 and 1.

Chris Lloyd, Kendleshire won by one hole.
Olesen Thorbjorn, Denmark

Paul Ferrier, Baberton
Fraser Fotheringham, Nairn won by 3 and 2.

Paul Fossum, France won by 5 and 4.
David Thomas, Braintree

Darryn Lloyd, Spalding
Jordi Garcia Pinto, Spain won by two holes.

Sergi Nogue, Spain
Andrew Palmer, Chorley won by two holes.

Luke Benford, Barton On Sea
Emilio Cuartero, Spain won by 2 and 1.

Darren Renwick, Worthing
Arnaud-Pierre Malinvaud, France won by 5 and 3.

Jack Bingham, Disley
Cristiano Terragni, Italy

Henri Pyykola, Finland won by 5 and 3.
Josh Sims, Caldy

Gary King, Tyrrells Wood won by 5 and 3.
Sam Jewell, Bradford

EDEN TOURNAMENT AT ST ANDREWS
MATCH-PLAY RESULTS

FIRST ROUND

1 Oliver Farr, Ludlow won 2 and 1.
64 Gary Turner, Telford

32 Miles Hooton, Colchester
33 Michael Stephenson, New won 1 hole.

16 Daniel Bush, Holme Hall won 4 and 3.
49 Martin Betts, Vicars Cross

17 Paul Johnson, Hawick
48 Derek Martin, Hawick won 1 hole.

8 Jonathan Osler, Royston
57 Jamie Dunster, The Worcestershire won 5 and 4.

25 Steve Brown, Old Padeswood won 5 and 4.
40 Mark Thorpe, Richmond

9 Graeme Smith, West Linton won 3 and 1.
56 Warren Dodd, Chester

24 David Rogerson, Portal Premier
41 Clive Appleby, Preston won 2 and 1.

4 Jason Barnes, Ashford won 2 and 1.
61 Phillip Davey, Chartham Park

29 David Simpson, Penrith won 4 and 3.
36 Phil Summersett, Arizona National (US)

13 Lee Ramsay, City of Edinburgh
52 Rhys Burden, West Essex won 2 and 1.

20 Allan Johnston, Bonnyton won at 19th.
45 Michael Paget, Bransford

5 Alasdair Dalgliesh, Haywards Heath won 7 and 5.
60 Jamie Wood, Ashford

28 Tommy Robertson, East Kilbride
37 David Miller, Nuneaton won 2 and 1.

12 Jason Perry, Heidelberg (Germany) won 3 and 2.
53 Colin Paul, Glencorse

21 Richard Stephenson, New
44 Alex Fuell, Kings Norton won at 22nd.

2 Steven Clarke, Kidderminster won 5 and 4.
63 Iain Cole, Hazel Grove

31 Chris Purves, Baberton won 1 hole.
34 Derek White, Caldwell

15 Tim Aggett, Staddon Heights won 2 and 1.
50 Ian Redford, King James VI

18 James Phillips, Windlesham won 4 and 3.
47 David Weir, Chester

7 Timothy Cowley, Haywards Heath won 3 and 2.
58 Paul McMullan, King Edward Bay

26 Alastair MacNaught, Colchester won at 19th.
39 Neill Smith, Ludlow

10 Sam Cowley, Haywards Heath won 4 and 2.
55 Alan MacNaught, Colchester

23 Andrew Vincent, Bishops Stortford won 3 and 2.
42 Andrew Carmichael, Chart Hills

3 Daniel Sommerville, St Andrews won 6 and 5.
62 Sandy Calder, Uphall

30 Hugh Greenhill, Dunfermline won 1 hole.
35 Colin Loveday, Dunbar

14 Kris Williams, Patshull Park won at 19th.
51 Liam James, Blundells Hill

19 David Southern, Westhoughton won 1 hole.
46 Scotty Thomson, Penrith

6 Luke Searle, Richmond
59 Tom Reed, Colchester won 5 and 4.

27 Ben Taylor, Walton Heath won 6 and 4.
38 David Twizell, Tynemouth

11 Richard Craig, Merchants of Edinburgh won 5 and 4.
54 Dave Green, Tewkesbury Park

22 James Rose, The Worcestershire won 4 and 3.
43 Allan Morrison, Hawick

SECOND ROUND

O Farr bt M Stephenson 3 and 2.
D Bush bt D Martin 1 hole.
S Brown bt J Dunster 5 and 3.
G Smith bt C Appleby 1 hole.
D Simpson bt J Barnes 3 and 2.
A Johnston bt R Burden 1 hole.
D Miller bt A Dalgleish 1 hole.
J Perry bt A Fuell at 19th.
S Clarke bt C Purves 3 and 1.
T Aggett bt J Phillips 5 and 4.
A MacNaught bt T Cowley 3 and 2.
A Vincent bt S Cowley 1 hole.
H Greenhill bt D Sommerville 1 hole.
K Williams bt D Southern 1 hole.
B Taylor bt T Reed 3 and 2.
R Craig bt J Rose 6 and 4.

BRITISH MEN'S OPEN MID-AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND SCORES
AT ALWOODLEY GC, LEEDS

Mark Wharton, John O'Gaunt 66
Lee Yearn, Ely City 67
Steven Barwick, Stoke Park 68
Pierre Carpentier, France 70
Ian Crowther, Royal Lytham 70
Nigel Sweet, Moortown 70
Jay Blumenfeld, USA 71
Michael Curry, Brancepeth Castle 71
Sandy Twynholm, Morpeth 71
Paul Cleverley, Copthorne 72
Andrew Hardie, Astbury 72
Steven Hudson, USA 72
Graeme Marchbank, Durham City 72
Euan Moir, Hamilton 72
John Sheeny, Wike Ridge 72
Paul Simson, USA 72
Ian Barker, Burhill 73
Paul Burr, South Beds 73
Peter Crowther, Royal Wimbledon 73
Mark Rogers, Hazel Grove 73
Robert Treweek, Moortown 73
Martin Brown, Pike Hills 74
Simon Coumbe, Pontefract 74
Martin Hand, Carlisle 74
Neil Harker-Bell, Bradford Moor 74
Brian Harris, USA 74
Andy King, Garforth 74
Roger Roper, Wike Ridge 74
David Bartman, USA 75
Matthew Cox, Royal Birkdale 75
Matthew Cryer, Coventry 75
Craig Fort, Nelson 75
Mark Gaynor, USA 75
Michael Hunt, Pleasington 75
Andrew Inglis, Sunningdale Artisans 75
Bryan Innes, Murcar Links 75
Kevin Kean, Ashton-on-Mersey 75
Ian Kearney, West Lancashire 75
John Kemp, John O'Gaunt 75
John Laurie, Cowglen 75
Kevin Marron, Stockley Park 75
Andrew Stracey, Littlestone 75
Brian Woods, USA 75
Stephen Brennan, Wheatley 76
Darren Fuller, Elsham 76
Jean-Charles Gouvernaire, France 76
Tom Hawkings, Sunningdale 76
Anthony Hill, Springhead Park 76
Marc Lambert, France 76
Giles Legg, Broadstone 76
Paul Moultrie, Troon Portland 76
Edward Richardson, Rye 76
Graeme Rodger, Cambuslang 76
Ulrich Schulte, Germany 76
Andrew Smith, Royal Ashdown Forest 76
John Stansbury, Sunningdale 76
Angus Weir, Stirling 76
Gary Wilson, Morpeth 76
Tom Woodhouse, East Devon 76
Jon Baker-Odlin, Cumberwell Park 77
Gary Cooper, Forest of Arden 77
Stewart Elder, Kirkcaldy 77
Michael Griffiths, Astbury 77
Chris Harrison, Sandiway 77
Michael Henson, Bedale 77
Michael Jones, Moortown 77
Ben Keegan, Bromborough 77
Jonathan Lawrence, Moor Allerton 77
Graeme Lawson, Tyneside 77
Jean-Pierre Leveille, France 77
Stephen Machin, Cowglen 77
Keith Macnair, Glasgow 77
Michael Moir, Hamilton 77
Richard Reed, Royal Birkdale 77
Timothy Seaton, Headingley 77
Paul Snowden, Moortown 77
Michael Anthony, Highwoods 78
Rhys Barber, Newport 78
Robin Clark, Walton Heath 78
Stephen East, Moortown 78
Jamie Farmer, St Andrews 78
Michael Franklin, Staverton Park 78
Nicky Gold, Bonnyton 78
Jody Greenall, Elton Furze 78
Robert Hearty, Bromborough 78
Steven Peel, Alwoodley 78
Malcolm Reid, Royal Ascot 78
Mark Riddell, Baberton 78
Simon Stephens, Moortown 78
Rob Stevens, Enville 78
Shaun Tarplett, Hillsborough 78
Simon Young, Workington 78
Edward Battye, Dewsbury 79
Joe Conway, Eaton Norwich 79
Kevin Diss, Gog Magog 79
John Edgar, Hankley Common 79
Iain Henderson, The Berkshire 79
Duncan McCarthy, Moortown 79
Neil Povall, Newport 79
Charles Rotheroe, The Berkshire 79
Glenn Sherwood, Rushcliffe 79
Dewitt Weaver, USA 79
John Green, Spain 80
Andrew Henderson, Woolston Manor 80
Kevin Loughrie, Cambuslang 80
Trey Owen, USA 80
Paige Peterson, USA 80
Kenny Reid, Prestwick 80
Doug Stiles, USA 80
Nicky Bell, Carlisle 81
Neil Dean, Minchinhampton 81
Russell Gunning, Moortown 81
Phillip Shurmer, The Worcestershire 81
Andrew Wood, USA 81
Dean Wright, Wyke 81
Benjamin Crowther, Dewsbury 82
Barry Giblin, Haydock Park 82
Allan Harrison, Southport & Ainsdale 82
Matthew Houghton, Kidderminster 82
Francois Illouz, France 82
Edward Shoard, Moortown 82
Garry Wilson, The Oaks 82
Juan Francisco Asturias, Guatemala 83
Garry Cuthbert, Oakdale 83
Christophe Fourel, France 83
David Peel, Stockport 83
Rodolfo Pesati, Italy 83
Stefan Priest, Hallowes 83
Allan Wright, Hessle 83
Jean-Christophe Bertin, France 84
Roger Butler, Wellingborough 84
Richard Norton, Beverley & East Riding 84
Peter Wheatcroft, Worksop 84
Richard Heyes, Girton 85
Pascal Ogden, Bramhall 86
Howard Webb, Swaffham 86
Paul Clarkson, Pleasington 87
Paul Williams, Hillside 87
Richard Partridge, Wildernesse 89
Tim Christmas, Farleigh Court 90
Gordon Landsburgh, Scotscraig 90
Jose Antonio Lara, Guatemala 93

EDEN TROPHY SECOND-ROUND
TOTALS AT ST ANDREWS

1 Oliver Farr Ludlow 72 71 143
2 Steven Clarke Kidderminster 73 71 144
3 Daniel Sommerville St Andrews 75 70 145
4 Jason Barnes Ashford 71 75 146
5 Alasdair Dalgliesh Haywards Heath 73 74 147
6 Luke Searle Richmond 75 72 147
7 Timothy Cowley Haywards Heath 72 77 149
8 Jonathan Osler Royston 74 75 149
9 Graeme Smith West Linton 75 74 149
10 Sam Cowley Haywards Heath 76 73 149
11 Richard Craig Merchants of Edinburgh 76 73 149
12 Jason Perry Heidelberg (Germany) 77 72 149
13 Lee Ramsay City of Edinburgh 79 70 149
14 Kris Williams Patshull Park 74 76 150
15 Tim Aggett Staddon Heights 75 75 150
16 Daniel Bush Holme Hall 77 73 150
17 Paul Johnson Hawick 77 73 150
18 James Phillips Windlesham 71 80 151
19 David Southern Westhoughton 73 78 151
20 Allan Johnston Bonnyton 79 72 151
21 Richard Stephenson New 79 72 151
22 James Rose The Worcestershire 75 77 152
23 Andrew Vincent Bishops Stortford 76 76 152
24 David Rogerson Portal Premier 75 78 153
25 Steve Brown Old Padeswood 76 77 153
26 Alastair MacNaught Colchester 77 76 153
27 Ben Taylor Walton Heath 77 76 153
28 Tommy Robertson East Kilbride 80 73 153
29 David Simpson Penrith 81 72 153
30 Hugh Greenhill Dunfermline 71 83 154
31 Chris Purves Baberton 75 79 154
32 Miles Hooton Colchester 78 76 154
33 Michael Stephenson New 79 75 154
34 Derek White Caldwell 79 75 154
35 Colin Loveday Dunbar 81 74 155
36 Phil Summersett Arizona National (USA) 74 82 156
37 David Miller Nuneaton 74 82 156
38 David Twizell Tynemouth 75 81 156
39 Neill Smith Ludlow 76 80 156
40 Mark Thorpe Richmond 77 79 156
41 Clive Appleby Preston 77 79 156
42 Andrew Carmichael Chart Hills 78 78 156
43 Allan Morrison Hawick 79 77 156
44 Alex Fuell Kings Norton 79 77 156
45 Michael Paget Bransford 77 80 157
46 Scotty Thomson Penrith 78 79 157
47 David Weir Chester 79 78 157
48 Derek Martin Hawick 80 77 157
49 Martin Betts Vicars Cross 81 76 157
50 Ian Redford King James VI 81 76 157
51 Liam James Blundells Hill 83 74 157
52 Rhys Burden West Essex 85 72 157
53 Colin Paul Glencorse 74 84 158
54 Dave Green Tewkesbury Park 75 83 158
55 Alan MacNaught Colchester 76 82 158
56 Warren Dodd Chester 78 80 158
57 Jamie Dunster The Worcestershire 78 80 158
58 Paul McMullan King Edward Bay 79 79 158
59 Tom Reed Colchester 79 79 158
60 Jamie Wood Ashford 81 77 158
61 Phillip Davey Chartham Park 82 76 158
62 Sandy Calder Uphall 84 74 158
63 Iain Cole Hazel Grove 74 85 159
64 Gary Turner Telford 75 84 159
65 Andrew Laurence Baberton 76 83 159
66 Richard Waddilove Chester 77 82 159
67 Colin Deans Glencorse 79 80 159
68 Tommy Malcolm Bathgate 80 79 159
69 Alastair Love Elderslie 82 77 159
70 Steve Shore Rushcliffe 82 77 159
71 Kirk O'Rourke Kirkintilloch 77 83 160
72 Alex Wiggins Tewkesbury Park 80 80 160
73 David Johnson Downfield 82 78 160
74 Norman Barnes Ashford 82 78 160
75 Paul Desport Hawick 84 76 160
76 Christopher Lojko Wharton Park 85 75 160
77 Craig McRavey Cawder 73 88 161
78 Robert Owens Chester 77 84 161
79 James Charlton Rushcliffe 78 83 161
80 Colin Sinclair Gullane 79 82 161
81 John Fletcher Preston 80 81 161
82 Wesley Perks Tamworth 80 81 161
83 Geoff Ross Tyneside 80 81 161
84 Paul MacNaught Colchester 82 79 161
85 John McMullan King Edward Bay 83 78 161
86 John Crawford RAF Leuchars 74 88 162
87 Andrew Graham Uttoxeter 76 86 162
88 David Murtagh Newcastle-under-Lyme 79 83 162
Eden Tournament 2007
Round 2 Results
Individual Stroke Play
Pos EC NC
89 Robbie McLeod Elderslie 80 82 162
90 Jon Schmieder Front Range (USA) 80 82 162
91 Malcolm Graham Newbattle 82 80 162
92 Ralph Cowe Kelso 82 80 162
93 Anthony McCreedy Herons' Reach 83 79 162
94 Goran Adde Falkenberg (Sweden) 84 78 162
95 Charles Burton Howley Hall 76 87 163
96 Kevin Cusack Dungarvan (Ireland) 77 86 163
97 William Paton Balmore 79 84 163
98 Pat Norris Dungarvan (Ireland) 83 80 163
99 Christopher Leroux Peterculter 72 92 164
100 Allister Raphael Canterbury 80 84 164
101 Nicholas Pomeroy Ross-on-Wye 81 83 164
102 Melvin Head Ashford 85 79 164
103 James Bloor Rushcliffe 75 90 165
104 Alan Williamson Bruntsfield Links 78 87 165
105 Martin Bennett Littlestone 78 87 165
106 Harry Sayers Tewkesbury Park 78 87 165
107 Joe McCormack Ballybunion (Ireland) 79 86 165
108 Donal Molyneaux Ballybunion (Ireland) 80 85 165
109 John Bain Panmure 82 83 165
110 Daniel Hookway Tynemouth 85 80 165
111 Stewart Rennie St Andrews 79 87 166
112 Robert Chandler Mendip 83 83 166
113 John Moloughney Templemore (Ireland) 79 88 167
114 Iain Stephen Elderslie 79 88 167
115 John-Paul Piper Vale of Glamorgan 79 88 167
116 Jason Dolman Dudley 81 86 167
117 Paul Aspey Silverdale 83 84 167
118 Kenneth Goodwin Glenbervie 83 84 167
119 Ian Whittaker Rushcliffe 83 84 167
120 Geert Snetselaar Herkenbosch (Netherlands) 83 84 167
121 Stephen Foster Chester 84 83 167
122 Lee Smith Ashford 84 83 167
123 Alexander Behrend Eisenhower (USA) 89 78 167
124 George Dobby Hebden Bridge 90 77 167
125 Colin Moseley West Rhine (Germany) 83 85 168
126 Colin Turner Baberton 84 84 168
127 Russull McNamara Tewkesbury Park 85 83 168
128 Fredi Waddilove Chester 86 82 168
129 Jonathon Houlston Telford 88 80 168
130 Roderick Ritchie Rosendaelsche (Netherlands) 88 80 168
131 Martin Kent Holme Hall 89 79 168
132 Ben Harmer Chart Hills 89 79 168
133 Ian McKnight Balmore 78 91 169
134 Simon Locke Cleeve Hill 78 91 169
135 Bob McClure Ballybunion (Ireland) 79 90 169
136 Terence Rice Blundells Hill 82 87 169
137 Bernd Hirthe Haus Bey (Germany) 83 86 169
138 John Gammon Ashford 84 85 169
139 Ian Gourlay Baberton 86 83 169
140 Stephen Bennett Broadstone 87 82 169
141 Kevin Vamplew Rushcliffe 81 89 170
142 Carl James Blundells Hill 82 88 170
143 Derek Anderson Cathcart Castle 82 88 170
144 Simon Moseley Tamworth 85 85 170
145 Joseph Metzger Red Deer (Canada) 87 83 170
146 Tom Foden Chester 93 77 170
147 Philip Addis Parkstone 78 93 171
148 Ken Chisholm Liberton 79 92 171
149 William Norton Ludlow 85 86 171
150 Gordon Cree Troon 85 86 171
151 Michael McGrath Dungarvan (Ireland) 85 86 171
152 Stephen Anstee Ferndown 86 85 171
153 Michael Dodd Chester 89 82 171
154 Mike Foden Eaton 89 82 171
155 Jason Brown Arcot Hall 83 89 172
156 Michael Berry College Pines 85 87 172
157 Andrew Crawford Hallamshire 89 83 172
158 David Aitken Lenzie 96 76 172
159 Neville Clarke The Worcestershire 82 91 173
160 David Anderson Cathcart Castle 83 90 173
161 Stephen McRavey Cawder 86 87 173
162 Andrew Robinson Patshull Park 94 79 173
163 Wim Van Keeken Herkenbosch (Netherlands) 83 91 174
164 Jim Harty Dungarvan (Ireland) 86 88 174
165 Robert Fish Ludlow 83 92 175
166 Ian Radmore Rushcliffe 84 91 175
167 Martin Janes Herkenbosch (Netherlands) 84 91 175
168 Stephen Mort Hindley Hall 85 90 175
169 Gavin Quinlivan Ballybunion (Ireland) 85 90 175
170 Philip Winchester Ashford 87 88 175
171 David Hogg Tewkesbury Park 75 101 176
172 David Strangeways Prudhoe 83 93 176
173 Ian Murray Kirkintilloch 86 90 176
174 Gordon Fletcher Kelso 88 88 176
175 Gordon Martin Trentham Park 89 87 176
176 Paul Schleier Woodlawn (Germany) 90 86 176
177 Grant Schmieder Spruce Goose (USA) 95 81 176
178 Gerard Higgins Rushcliffe 84 93 177
179 Mark Henderson Woodlawn (Germany) 85 92 177
180 Nick Axten-Rice Tewkesbury Park 86 91 177
181 Christopher Lee Tewkesbury Park 81 97 178
182 James Brannan Kirkintilloch 85 93 178
183 Jonathan Jones St Andrews 85 93 178
184 Michael Flynn Dungarvan (Ireland) 86 92 178
185 Steve Dawes Tewkesbury Park 88 90 178
186 Eldon Raab Red Deer (Canada) 92 86 178
187 Stephen Smith Washington (USA) 97 81 178
188 James Reed Colchester 99 79 178
189 Hans-Richard Mertens Haus Bey (Germany) 82 97 179
190 Marc van Rijt Herkenbosch (Netherlands) 86 93 179
191 Douglas Glennie Herkenbosch (Netherlands) 89 90 179
192 Kevin Frost Ballybunion (Ireland) 94 85 179
193 Rhys Garrett Falkirk 99 80 179
194 William Lucas Swinton 84 96 180
195 Kenneth Hill Kirkintilloch 85 95 180
196 Thomas Keane Ballybunion (Ireland) 85 95 180
197 James Brannan Jnr Kirkintilloch 90 90 180
198 Peter Lagemann Haus Bey (Germany) 81 100 181
199 Stuart Gatherer Elderslie 92 89 181
200 Colin Baxter Hindley Hall 87 95 182
201 Ian Osler Royston 89 93 182
202 John O'Rourke Kirkintilloch 84 99 183
203 Elmer Stang Red Deer (Canada) 90 93 183
204 Gary Barnett Ashford 91 92 183
205 Peter Kilburn Herkenbosch (Netherlands) 90 94 184
206 Frans Harryvan De Compagnie (Netherlands) 94 90 184
207 Maurice Allison Bishop Auckland 85 101 186
208 Neil McQuade Kirkintilloch 87 99 186
209 Alan Platten Hebden Bridge 99 87 186
210 Terry Nelson Black Bush (Ireland) 86 101 187
211 Tom Cummings Kirkintilloch 93 94 187
212 David McKnight Balmore 101 90 191
213 Norman Robertson Baberton 94 98 192
214 Chris Clancy West Waterford 99 95 194
215 Rein Murre Dronten (Netherlands) 92 103 195
216 Matt Costello Kirkintilloch 97 100 197
217 Peter Thomas Herkenbosch (Netherlands) 98 99 197
218 Kenneth Donaghy Tewkesbury Park 92 107 199
219 Frank Burns Crokhill Park 98 101 199
220 Dennis Chesworth Glossop & District 97 107 204

GRAY AND MARSHALL HIT IT OFF TOGETHER
FOR AN 11-UNDER 61 AT MUSSELBURGH

Stephen Gray (Hayston) and Andrew Marshall (Houston Golf Range), with a great combined effort of 11-under-par 60 at Musselburgh Golf Club today, led the Scottish qualifiers for the Glenbrae PGA Four-ball Championship final at Fulford Golf Club, Yorkshire from October 3 to 5.
They finished a shot ahead of Callum Nicoll (Prestwick) and Alan Lockhart (Ladybank).

LEADING SCORES
Par 71
60 S Gray (Hayston) & A Marshall (Houston GR).
61 C Nicoll (Prestwick) & A Lockhart (Ladybank).
65 T Buchanan (Duddingston) & B Mackay (Loch Lomond), R Smith (Gleneagles Hotel) & S Syme (Dumfries & Co), E Cameron (Hamilton) & K Esson (Craigie Hill), G Harvey (Kinross) & K Lobban (Keith Lobban Golf).
66 G Law (Uphall) & C Ronald (Carluke).

NEW SCOTTISH CHAMPION MARK LOFTUS
SLUMPS TO AN 80 IN POWERADE
ASSISTANTS' CHAMPIONSHIP


Former Scottish boys' match-play champion Lee Harper (Archerfield Links) and Anglo-Scot Ian Campbell (Brighton & Hove) were the leading Scots on two-over-par 74 at the end of the first round of the Powerade PGA assistants golf championship at London Golf Club today.
Harper would have been a couple of shots closer to leader Gary Wardlow from Dunmurry, Northern Ireland but for a double bogey 6 at the 16th. Campbell's highlights were birdies at the fourth, fifth and 12th. Wardlow birdied four in a row from the 12th to lead by two strokes with a 70.
Michael Rae (Alyth) and Craig Matheson (Falkirk Tryst) both ahd double bogey 6s at the 465yd par-4 16th. Rae finished the day on joint 14th place with a 75 - one ahead of Mathieson whose 76 put him alongside Sean O'Donnell (Balbirnie Park) in a share of 19th place.
New Gleneagles Scottish PGA champion Mark Loftus (Cowglen) had his worst round of the season - an eight-over-par 80 which included double bogey 6s at the first, second and 14th.
Also on the 80 mark was Graeme Lornie (Aspire) who had been playing well recently. He had a double bogey 7 at the 12th. Nathan Keast (Duff House Royal), another on the 80 mark, had a double bogey 6 at the 13th.
The first prize in the three-day event is £5,000.

LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 72
70 G Wardlow (Dunmurry).
Scots scores:
74 L Harper (Archerfield Links), I Campbell (Brighton & Hove) (Jt 8th).
75 M Rae (Alyth) (jt 14th).
76 C Matheson (Falkirk Tryst), S O'Donnell (Balbirnie Park) (jt 19th).
79 S Duncan (unatt) (jt 45th).
80 M Loftus (Cowglen), G Lornie (Aspire), N Keast (Duff House Royal (Jt 55th).
81 C McCalman (unatt), E Hogarth (Peebles) (jt 68th).
84 A MacKenzie (Liberton), D Blackadder (Kingsbarns) (jt 90th).
92 B Wallace (unatt) (115th).

British boys' amateur championship

FERRIER AND FOTHERINGHAM ONLY
TWO SCOTS STILL STANDING AFTER
THREE ROUNDS AT ROYAL PORTHCAWL

Scottish boys' match-play champion Paul Ferrier (Baberton) and Nairn's Fraser Fotheringham are the only two Scots still standing as the British boys' amateur championship goes into the fourth round.
Ferrier ousted Scotland team-mate Sam McLaren (King James VI) by 3 and 2 while Fotheringham won by 3 and 2 against Adams Wills (Sandway).
Michael Main (Thornton) lostt by 3 and 2 to Darren Renwick (Worthing) and after 8pm, Scott Fraser (Royal Aberdeen) went down by one hole to Josh Sims (Caldy).

Following from the R&A Website:

England boys' team captain Jack Hiluta has won his way into the fourth round of the Boys Amateur Championship at Royal Porthcawl where he is joined by several members of the squad he led to success last week in the home internationals.
But his success was at the expense of fellow Englishman Garrick Porteous. Hiluta always had the edge, but was taken to the demanding last hole which he birdied to close out the match by one hole.
Fellow international Andrew Johnston, who played with Hiluta in last year's home internationals, was also a winner by 2 and 1 over Billy Fowles of Wentworth. There were never more than two holes between them, but Johnston was always able to stay in front.
Other members of the England squad to go through to the fourth round include Eddie Pepperell, a 7 and 5 winner over Richard Bentham of Celtic Manor, and Tommy Fleetwood who beat Pedro Figueiredo of Portugal by 3 and 1.
Pepperell had to go four extra holes to defeat England team-mate Oscar Sharpe yesterday but said he felt much less pressure today.
Hiluta now plays Matthew Phythian, the biggest surprise of the championship so far. As a three handicap player he was 35th reserve for the event, but was waiting for his chance by the clubhouse when called to the first tee at 15 minutes notice.
Yesterday he beat much fancied Andrea Pavan of Italy by one hole and today added another Italian scalp to his belt with a 3 and 2 victory over Alberto Zani.
Phythian, a 17-year-old student at Gloucester College, has been coached recently by Royal Porthcawl club professional Peter Evans. "He has given me a lot of confidence, but I never expected to be in the fourth round," he said.
Jamie Howie of Royal St Davids, the first man out in every round since he got proceedings under way at 6.30am on Monday, had a 2 and 1 win over Daniel Bishop and will now play Damien Perrier of France, who put out defending champion Matthew Nixon in the first round and who hit 12 fairways in the 16 holes of his 4 and 2 victory against Jonathan Corke.
Paul Ferrier, the Scottish boys' match-play champion from the Baberton club, had a 3 and 2 win over fellow Scotland team member Sam McLaren (King James VI). He lost the opening hole, but won the fourth, fifth and sixth and was never behind from that point on.
"It was a bit difficult to concentrate and hard to believe we were playing in the British championship rather than playing a practice round together," he said.

SCOTS' RESULTS ON WEDNESDAY

ROUND TWO
C Parsons (Tredegar Park) bt C Baird (Bothwell Castle) 3 and 2.
S McLaren (King James VI) bt E Ash (Harrogate) 2 and 1.
F Fotheringham (Nairn) bt D Gregory (Burnham & Berrow) 4 and 2.
P Fossum (Fra) bt M Stewart (Troon Welbeck) at 19th.
S Fraser (Royal Aberdeen) bt J Hiscock (Marlborough) at 19th.

ROUND THREE
P Ferrier (Baberton) bt McLaren 3 and 2.
Fotheringham bt A Wills (Sandiway) 3 and 2.
D Renwick (Worthing) bt M Main (Thornton) 3 and 2.
J Sims (Caldy) bt Fraser 1 hole.

PERTH MAN BRIAN SHARES THE FIRST-ROUND
LEAD IN EUROPEAN SENIORS TEAM EVENT

Perth player Brian Grieve (King James VI) shared the day's low-scoring honours with England's Andrew Morrison in the first qualifying round of the European senior men's amateur team golf championship at Bled Golf Club, Slovenia today.
Grieve and Morrison topped the field of 108 with two-under-par 71s. Brian had an excellent outward half of 33, the best of the day, but came back in 38.
Gordon MacDonald (Callander was in a big group in joint fourth place on 74. Gordon had halves of 37.
Stephen Ellis (Cowal) shared 11th place with a first round 75 (39-36) while Royal Aberdeen's John Johnston and Ian Hutcheon (Monifieth) both had 76s to be in the joint 19th bracket.
John had birdfies at the first, second, ninth and 12th but tired over the last few holes and bogeyed the 15th, 16th and 18th for 40 home.
It was much the same story for Hutcheon who had said at Nairn last week that he felt tired BEFORE he went to Slovenia. Ian birdied the second and eighth but had a double bogey at the 11th and further shots dropped at the 14th and 18th in 41 for the second nine.
Donald McCart (Castlerock) was the Scot who least enjoyed his day's golf. He finished joint 96th with an 87 (45-42) which included triple bogey 7s at the fourth and the 15th.
Scotland are the defending champions but with no first-round team totals being issued by the organisers, it was difficult to calculate the Scots' position. On the face of it, with Grieve and MacDonald in the top four, one would have to assume that the Scots are sitting pretty, close to England.


Leading first qualifying round scores
Par 73
71 B Grieve (Sco), A Morrison (Eng).
72 A Squires (Eng).
784 G MacDonald (Sco), G Thenfors (Swe), S McParland (Ire), G Roumeas (Fra), J C Tinture (Spa), H G Reiter (Ger).
Other scores:
75 S Ellis (Sco), C Reynolds (Eng0, H Smyth (Ire).
76 J W Johnston (Sco), N Duke (Ire), I C Hutcheon (Sco).
77 D Lane (Eng), M Preysler (Spa), R Smethurst (Eng).
78 T Goode (Ire).
79 V Smyth (Ire).
81 M Kelly (Ire).
87 D McCart (Sco).

SCOTS TRAIL IN WORLD STUDENTS'

CHAMPIONSHIPS IN THAILAND

Stirling students Gavin Dear (Murrayshall) and Scott Borrowman (Dollar) are trailing by eight and 16 shots respectively at the halfway stage of the World Student Games' men's golf tournament at Watermill Golf & Gardens in Thailand.
Dear, pictured left, has scored 73 and 75 to be lying joint 24th on four-over-par 148.
Scottish youth champion Borrowman has had rounds of 81 and 75 for 156.
Two Thai players and one from the Czech Republic lead the men's field of 48 players on four-under-par 140.
Great Britain (Charles Ford, Gavin Dear, Thomas Sherreard and Scott Borrowman) are currently eighth of 16 in the men's team event with a total of 444 - 15 shots behind leaders Japan.
In the women's tournament, Ireland's Danielle McVeigh leads with 72 and 75 for 147. North of England student Anna Scott is lying second on 150 with 71 and 79.
Emma Fairnie (Edinburgh University), a member of the Great Britain team, "did not show" for the first round of the event and scored 83 in the second round.
Ireland (Danielle McVeigh-Naimh Kitching-Gillian O'Leary) share the women's lead with Great Britain (Anna Scott-Hannah Burke-Emma Fairnie) on 303 - five shots ahead of third-placed Chinese Taipei in a field of 14 teams.

DEARDEN WINS WEST WALES

CLASSIC IN AWFUL WEATHER

AT ASHBURNHAM

Vale of Glamorgan professional Matthew Dearden won the West Wales Classic in appalling conditions at Ashburnham Golf Club on Tuesday.

This was the fifth event of this season’s Dragon Tour, Wales’ first professional golf tour, and now rebranded as the Celtic Pro Tour and including events in Scotland and Ireland.
Dearden was in second place overnight after former Gower amateur, Lee Lewis, who turned professional last week, started his new career among the paid ranks with a round of two under par 70 to lead by one shot from Dearden who shot a one under par round of 71.
At one stage in round one, Dearden stood at four under par after 12 holes, only to drop three shots in the last six holes. In joint third place, also dropping shots on the last six holes of day one, was Matthew Prior (Machynys Peninsula) who was leading the field at four under par with Dearden after 12, but finished at level par 72.
Three other players sat alongside Prior at level par - Matthew Griffiths (Caerphilly), who won the Carmarthen Bay open at Machynys Peninsula last month, Asian Tour player Craig Smith (St Mellons), who won the last Celtic Pro Tour event in Wales at Garnant Park, and amateur Pete James (Belmont Lodge).
One of the stories of the first day was that of the only lady golfer in the field, Lauren Diggle (Celtic Manor).

Standing at four over par after 12 holes, while the men struggled on the last six holes, she gained two shots to finish at two over par after day one for a share of eighth place overnight, within striking distance of her first pay cheque on the Celtic Pro Tour.
Day two was a completely different affair, with the forecast heavy rain arriving overnight on Monday and continuing into the morning, meaning that a one hour suspension was required before play could start in round two in squally conditions.
Going out in the final grouping with Dearden and amateur Pete James (Belmont Lodge), Lewis found the going tough and drifted out of contention after 12 holes with the wind picking up. Diggle also struggled to cope with the conditions, but can be proud of her effort from the back tees, in finishing in tied 11th place in the professional event.
After 15 holes, Dearden had picked up further shots to go four strokes clear at -3, with Griffiths next at +1. After a shaky final few holes, dropping two shots in the process, Dearden held his nerve to win the event by two shots from Griffiths, with the only under par aggregate score of -1, collecting £1,000 a Sunderland of Scotland waterproof suit and a Powerbug electric trolley.
Griffiths’s second place finish (+1), winning £500, catapults him into second place in the Celtic Pro Tour Order of Merit, after seven events, and looks in great form, having finished as winner, runner up and runner up in each of his last three outings on the tour.
New Order of Merit leader is David Price (Aber Wrought Iron / http://www.vale-hotel.com/) whose third place finish at Ashburnham on +2, after two rounds of 73, won him £250.
Sharing joint 4th place were Prior and James Lee (Caerphilly) on +3, each picking up £125, while the leading amateur vouchers went to Pete James (Belmont Lodge) and James Frazer (Pennard) who finished on +5.
The next Celtic Pro Tour event is the Swansea Bay Open at Clyne Golf Club, next Wednesday and Thursday, August 22 and 23

For more information, visit the website at http://www.celticpro.com/ or telephone Rhydian Thomas on 07861 686568.

SEVEN NEW CAPS IN ENGLAND TEAM FOR
HOME INTERNATIONALS AT CO LOUTH

Daniel Willett, newly crowned English champion from Rotherham Golf Club, is one of seven new caps in the England squad for the Home Internationals at County Louth Golf Club, Ireland from September 19 to 21.
The other newcomers are Matthew Baldwin (Royal Birkdale), Ben Evans (Rye), Charlie Ford (Kirby Muxloe), Sam Hutsby (Liphook), Dale Whitnell (Five Lakes) and Chris Wood (Long Ashton).
Also in the team are Gary Boyd (Cherwell Edge), Matthew Cryer (Coventry), Ben Parker (Royal Birkdale) and Gary Wolstenholme (Kilworth Springs).
Willett, 19, who has also been selected for the Walker Cup, won the English championship earlier this month by beating Cryer 3 and 2 in the 36-hole final at Royal St George’s in Kent.
He is the in-form player, having followed up two wins at college in the United States with the Yorkshire championship, a ten-shot win in the South of England Championship at Walton Heath and the English crown.
Willett attends college at Jacksonville State University, Alabama.
Baldwin, 21, earns his cap after seven years on the England scene at under 16 and boys levels. A former winner of the McGregor Trophy, he was England Boy Captain in 2004 and third in the Carris Trophy that year.
Last year, he won the Formby Hare, finished third in the Scottish Open Stroke Play and the Danish Open Amateur and in 2007 reached the semi-finals of the Portuguese Amateur before winning the Lancashire Championship.
Evans, 20, is another with a long pedigree with England dating back to 2001. Also capped at under 16 and boys levels, he won the Sunningdale Foursomes with Danielle Masters last year and he finished third in the Riverswood Junior Open in Holland and in the South of England Stroke Play.
This year, the Rye golfer reached the quarter finals of the Spanish Amateur, was runner-up in the recent South of England Stroke Play, and has had top-ten finishes in the Berkhamsted and Berkshire Trophies and in the Welsh Open Stroke Play.
Ford is another US college student, attending the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. He had three top-ten finishes in the past collegiate season and was ranked 42nd in the US. He was also named in the Division One all-Region team for the South East US by the Golf Coaches Association of America.
At home this year, the Leicestershire 22 year old topped the individual rankings in the Midland qualifier at Coventry, finished third in the Midland Open Amateur at Northampton, finished fourth in the Tillman Trophy and seventh in the St Andrews Links Trophy.
Hutsby, 18, last year’s England Boy Captain, has also been capped at under 16 and boys levels. A year ago the Hampshire youngster pulled off a sensational victory in the Spanish Amateur, beating the then US Amateur Champion Edoardo Molinari. In 2006 he also won the Duke of York Young Champions tournament at Dundonald Links and was third in the Daily Telegraph Junior Championship.
This year he has won the George Henriques Trophy for the best score by a GB&I player aged under 20 when he finished joint fourth in the Brabazon Trophy and recently won the St Mellion International and the Stoneham Trophy.
Whitnell, 19, has blossomed over the past two years. Highly successful in Essex with victory in the Under 16 Championship in 2004 and a double of the county title and boys championship last year, he finished second in the Sir Henry Cooper Junior Masters in 2006 after which he was capped for the European Boys Team Championships and Boys Home Internationals.
Third in the Carris Trophy last year, he won the Daily Telegraph Junior Championship in Dubai and this year has a string of high finishes including victory in the North of England Youths, runner-up in the French Open Stroke Play and the Tillman Trophy and third in the Russian Amateur.
Wood, 19, has also shone over the last two years. Victories in his native Gloucestershire and in the South West at junior level have been followed by the Gloucestershire Championship last year and a runner-up spot in 2007.
Further afield, Wood finished fifth in the South of England Stroke Play last year and was a quarter-finalist in the Italian Amateur. In 2007 he has already won the West of England Stroke Play and the Russian Amateur, finished runner-up in the South West Championship and the Tillman Trophy and reached the quarter finals of the Amateur Championship.
Boyd, 20, winner of the inaugural Asia-Pacific Open Amateur in China last December, made his full England debut in last year’s Home Internationals in Wales as did 20 year old Parker, winner of the German Amateur last weekend.
Cryer, 32, earned his first full cap in the 2005 Home Internationals, while Wolstenholme, who will be 47 on August 21, has been selected for every Home Internationals since 1988.
Regular caps David Horsey, Jamie Moul, and John Parry were not considered as they are playing in the Walker Cup and attending the European Tour Qualifying School, while Paul Waring has turned professional.
Scotland are the defending champions while England last won the Home Internationals at Prestwick in 2004.

The full England team is:

Matthew Baldwin (Royal Birkdale).
Gary Boyd (Cherwell Edge).
Matthew Cryer (Coventry).
Ben Evans (Rye).
Charlie Ford (Kirby Muxloe).
Sam Hutsby (Liphook).
Ben Parker (Royal Birkdale).
Dale Whitnell (Five Lakes).
Daniel Willett (Rotherham).
Gary Wolstenholme (Kilworth Springs).
Chris Wood (Long Ashton).

SEAN STEVENS WINS ST

ANDREWS BOYS'
OPEN TOURNAMENT

Sean Stevens (Deeside), picture right from St Andrews Links Trust website, won the St Andrews Boys' Open tournament for the Merchants Cup. He beat John Burnett from Waterlooville, Hampshire by 2 and 1 in the final over the Old Course.
In the semi-finals, Sean beat James Byrd from Isleworth Country Club, United States by 4 and 3 while John beat Iain Finlay (St Andrews) by two holes.
In the boys' handicap tournament for the Murray Mitchell Trophy, Ewan Scott (St Andrews), playing off four, beat Tom Obergan (Gerrards Cross), also a four-handicapper, by one hole in the final.
In the semi-finals, Ewan beat three-handicapper S Howieson (Walton Heath) by 2 and 1. Obergan beat Robert Brown (Saltburn), playing off five, by one hole.

Barrie Edmond (Bon Accord), left, receives the Jaffrey Cup from NE District president Dr Douglas Fowlie after his victory in the final against Bryan Innes (Murcar Links), right.

Bon Accord player wins Jaffrey Cup for second time

EDMOND WINS NORTH-EAST DISTRICT
MATCH-PLAY TITLE


Bon Accord’s Barrie Edmond, playing in his fifth Jaffrey Cup final in the past six years, won the North-east District match-play title for a second time by beating Bryan Innes (Murcar Links) in atrocious conditions of mist and rain at Portlethen Golf Club tonight.
Edmond, who had a neck operation five weeks ago, and has only recently resumed played, took one hole to complete a 21st hole semi-final win over Gary Esson (Portlethen) – they had played 20 holes on Monday evening – and quickly went one up against Innes with a drive, five-iron and a 15ft putt for an eagle 3 at the fourth.
Innes hit back with a bird 2 at the short fifth to square the game but Edmond got one hand on the trophy he last won at Banchory in 2003 by winning the eighth, ninth and 10th to go three up.
Innes bogeyed the eighth but Edmond birdied the ninth and 10th , where he hit“a career three-iron to within 2 1/2ft” of the stick.
Innes did get one hole back with a pitch and putt par 4 at the 15th but he conceded the hole, the match and the title at the 17th where Edmond, a +2 player, hit another top-quality long iron, a No 4 this time, to within 10ft of the flag.
Considering the poor visibility and the thoroughly unpleasant conditions overhead and underfoot, it had been a final of very good play.
Results:
Semi-final – B Edmond (Bon Accord) bt G Esson (Portlethen) at 21st.
Final – Edmond bt B Innes (Murcar Links) 3 and 1.

HUTCHEON WINS ANOTHER

PLAY-OFF TO TAKE WEST

KILBRIDE TOP PRIZE

Greig Hutcheon’s run of good form since the last day of the Gleneagles Scottish PGA championship in which he finished sixth continued today with his sixth Tartan Tour win of the season.
The Peterculter tour pro, pictured right, beat Chris Kelly (Cawder) with a birdie at the fifth hole of a sudden-death play-off after they had tied on seven-under-par 135 in the Volvo/Ayrshire Hospice 36-hole pro-am at West Kilbride Golf Club.
It was Hutcheon’s second play-off win in less than a week. He beat Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills) in extra holes to win the Deer Park Masters last Wednesday.
Hutcheon closed with a three-under-par 68 with the most important of his six birdies coming at the last to match Kelly’s 135 total.
Kelly, who had an eagle in an outward 34, birdied the 16th and 18th for a 67.
Hutcheon, winner of the PGA Scottish Region Order of Merit last year, collected a first prize of £2,952.
For Kelly, the financial reward was £2,361.
Hutcheon and Kelly finished one stroke ahead of Dean Robertson (Mearns Castle) and Graeme McInnes (Murcar Links), the first-round leader at Gleneagles.

Robertson was officially placed third with a pair of 68s to earn £1,771 ahead of Graeme McInnes who also shot 68 in both rounds. For fourth place, he collected £1,326.

FINAL TOTALS
Par 142 (2 x 71)
135 G Hutcheon (Peterculter) 67 68 (£2,952), Chris Kelly (Cawder) 68 67 (£2,361). Hutcheon won sudden-death play-off at fifth extra hole.
136 D Robertson (Mearns Castle) 68 68 (£1,771), G McInnes (Murcar Links) 68 68 (£1,326).
137 C Lee (All Golf Swing Centre) 67 70 (£1,062).
138 M Loftus (Cowglen) 71 67 (£879), G Duncan (Westin Turnberry) 72 77 (£763), C Ronald (Carluke) 69 69 (£646), S Gray (Hayston) 69 69 (£561).
139 J McCreadie (Buchanan Castle) 72 67 (£501), E Cameron (Hamilton) 69 70 £440).
140 P McKechnie (Braid Hills) 74 66 (£384), C Doak (unatt) 69 71 (£354), M King (Kingsfield) 72 68 (£324), C Elliott (Haggs Castle) 70 70 (£295), D Orr (East Renfrewshire) 67 73 (£266).
141 S Cairns (Westerwood) 74 67 (£236), K Hutton (Downfield) 73 68 (£209).
142 G Law (Uphall) 73 69 (£190), R Gray (Torrance House) 72 70 (£170), C Gillies (Kingsifled) 71 71 (£157).
143 G McFarlane (Clober) 71 72 (£144), M Urquhart (Inverness) 72 71 (£137), A Crerar (King James VI) 70 73 (£131).
144 F Mann (Musselburgh) 73 71 (£124), P Wardell (Whitekirk) 72 72 (£118), A Lockhart (Ladybank) 71 73 (£111), N Colquhoun (Merchants of Edinburgh) 72 72 (£104), S Duncan (Balbirnie Park) 73 71 (£98), J McKinnon (Irvine) 69 75.
145 B Mason (Drumoig DR) 73 72, D McIntosh (Elderslie) 69 76, A Fullen (Irvine) 73 72, E Thomson (Largs) 70 75.
146 J Stevenson (Braehead) 76 70.
147 R Valentine (Craigielaw) 78 69, C Nicoll (Prestwick) 79 68, R Collinson (Bearsden GR) 75 72, I Pender (Aberfoyle) 74 73, R Cameron (McDonald Ellon) 73 74.
148 B Dunbar (Esporta Dougalston) 77 71, E Davie (Dunblane New) 75 73, S Savage (Dalmuir) 75 73.
149 R Aitken (North Gailes) 76 73, D Williamson (Kirkhill) 76 73.
151 S Robin (Kilmarnock Barassie) 80 71.
157 N Huguet (Musselburgh) 76 81.
161 M Barnard (Inchmarlo) 83 78, S Catlin (Greenburn) 82 79.

FORRESTER PARK FIFE ORDER OF MERIT
for THE MACKAY BOWL

Positions after 16 events

1 Greg Paterson (St Andrews New) 580pt.
2 Brian Soutar (Leven GS) 420.
3 James White (Lundin) 400.
4 Alex Main (Thornton) 385.
5 Stuart Meiklejohn (Aberdour) 305.
6 Scott Crichton (Aberdour) 230.
7 Darren Gould (Ladybank) 210.
8 Gary Page (Balbirnie Park) 185.
9 Lawrie Clark (Kinghorn) 160.
10 Colin Martin (Balbirnie Park) 130.

The next counting events are
*North-east District Championship - Newmachar GC, August 18-19.
*Dunfermline 36-hole Open - Pitfirrane GC - August 18.
*Fife stroke-play championship (rescheduled) - Dunnikier Park GC - August 19.

R&A Press Release

ALWOODLEY HOSTS BRITISH MID-AMATEUR
CHAMPIONSHIP

The centenary celebrations continue for Alwoodley Golf Club, Leeds when it hosts the British Mid-Amateur Championship from August 15-19, the first time the championship has been staged on this famed inland course.

The British Mid-Amateur has a record of producing repeat winners but in 2006, when Daniel Perrett was aiming to become the first player to win three successive titles, Simon Young of Workington emerged victorious at the 19th hole to have his name engraved on the trophy. Now Young, 28, will be hoping to follow Gary Wolstenholme, John Kemp and Perrett as players who have successfully defended the title since the tournament started in 1995.

Surprisingly, the trophy has never made the trip overseas and this year, with 13 players from the U.S. in the field of 144, perhaps the time has come. Former professional Paul Simson, 56, already has one R&A Championship under his belt – the 2006 Seniors – and will now be tackling the over-25’s in an attempt to put his name on R&A silverware for a second time. Other players who will be making the transatlantic crossing include Jay Blumenfeld, Trey Owen and DeWitt Weaver, while from France, Francois Illouz will be making a further attempt at capturing the Mid-Amateur crown.

Since a modest beginning in 1907 Alwoodley has become one of the country’s best loved inland courses. This impressive piece of golfing terrain has comfortably stood the test of time and will now list yet another championship in its impressive CV.

Its charms have been recognised on numerous occasions since the course staged its first major national event, the English Ladies’ Close Amateur Championship in 1967 and most recently, the Ladies’ British Open Amateur Championship was played there in June.

Each of the 144 competitors plays two rounds of stroke play and the top 64 compete in the match play stage that starts on Friday 17 August. The 18-hole final is played on the Sunday afternoon.

The full list of competitors can be viewed at www.randa.org – Championships.

British boys' amateur championship

FERRIER AND McLAREN MAKE PROGRESS
AT ROYAL PORTHCAWL

FROM THE R&A WEBSITE

A classic match-play battle between England team-mates Eddie Pepperell and Oscar Sharpe for a place in the third round of the Boys Amateur Championship at Royal Porthcawl finished after four extra holes with a victory for Pepperell.
Only last week they were playing side by side in England's team colours in the Boys Home Internationals. Today they were spirited opponents as the match went to the 18th and beyond.
Pepperell looked to be coasting to a comfortable victory when he was four up after seven holes, but he lost the eighth when Sharpe holed from 15 feet and he missed from three. His putting let him down again when he three-putted to lose the 10th and his lead slipped to one when he was out of bounds at the 12th.
Sharpe squared the match at the short 14th when Pepperell failed to get up and down from a greenside bunker and they halved the next six.
At the 212-yard fourth, their 22nd, Pepperell finally managed to break the deadlock with a three-iron to six feet for a winning birdie.
Their England boys team captain, Jack Hiluta, has also made it through to the next round with a two hole win over Richard Fitzgerald of Bromborough.
First player into the third round was Frenchman Daniel Perrier, the conqueror of defending champion Matthew Nixon in the opening round. Perrier had a runaway 6 and 5 victory over Ashley Chesters of Hawkstone Park.
The plus-four player from Brittany was two under par for the 13 holes played and looked in total command throughout the match.
Also through to the third round is Jamie Howie of Royal St Davids who reached the quarter-finals of the Welsh Amateur this year and has now been named for his country's men's team. He won the opening hole with a birdie and added three more on his way to a 4 and 2 win over Christopher Lampert of Germany.
There was a surprising defeat for Irish boys champion Stephen Healey by Henry Smart of Walton Heath who went two ahead with birdies at the 467yd 12th and the short 14th. When Healey missed from very short range at the 16th his championship was over.
Scott Fraser from Royal Aberdeen, who won all three singles for Scotland in the Boys Home Internationals last week, was two up on Belgium's Jean Relecom after birdies at the 10th and 11th and hit what he described as the best four-iron of his life to eight feet at the dangerous 18th to clinch a two hole victory.

Results of ties involving Scottish boys:
FIRST ROUND
J Corke (Rowany) bt C Gray (West Kilbride) 4 and 2.
A Wallace (Glenbervie) bt C Durnian (South Africa) 1 hole.
J Richelle (Belgium) bt N Henderson (Glen) 3 and 2.
J Hendrick (Pollok) bt L Burrows (Leigh) 5 and 3.
C Baird (Bothwell Castle) bt S Hodgson (Sunningdale) 2 and 1.
A Torrence (Wrexham) bt A Graham (Crow Wood) 6 and 5.
S McLaren (King James VI) bt T Boys (Royal Liverpool) 3 and 2.
P Ferrier (Baberton) bt A Tangkamolprasert (Thailand) 2 holes.
R Prophet (Shifnal) bt S Binning (Ranfurly Castle) 2 and 1
F Fotheringham (Nairn) bt P Spraggs (Stowmarket) 3 and 1.
M Stewart (Troon Welbeck) bt G Wilson (Ladybank) 4 and 3.
R Newman (Brookmans Park) bt M Cunningham (Longniddry) 2 and 1.
A Rees (East Brighton) bt F McKenna (Balmore) 3 and 2.
D Lloyd (Spalding) bt C Thomson (East Renfrewshire) 4 and 3.
P Neil (Craigielaw) bt J Wilson (Formby) 4 and 3.
S Campbell (Hallowes) bt M Daily (Erskine) 3 and 2.
L Bjerregaard (Den) bt J Anderson (Glenrothes) 5 and 3.
F Fihn (Swe) bt A Dunton (McDonald Ellon) 4 and 3.
E Cook (Burnham & Berrow) bt P Shields (Kirkintilloch) 2 and 1.
N Davis (Bush Hill Park) bt D Harrison (Crieff) 4 and 2.
S Fraser (Royal Aberdeen) bt J Relecom (Bel) 2 holes.
A Cooley (Chobham) bt T Spencer (Inchmarlo) 1 hole.

ESSON v EDMOND RESUME AT THE 21st
IN JAFFREY CUP SEMI-FINAL

Portlethen's Gary Esson and Barrie Edmond (Bon Accord) will resume their Jaffrey Cup semi-final tie at 4.30pm tomorrow at Portlethen Golf Club after darkness halted play tonight with the match still all square after 20 holes.
The other semi-final also went to the 20th but it did finish at the second extra hole with Bryan Innes (Murcar Links) the winner over Mark Halliday (Royal Aberdeen).
The tee off time for the final, originally set for 5.15pm, will depend on how quickly the Esson v Edmond tie is resolved.
The Jaffrey Cup is the North-east District's official match-play championship, featuring the four players with the lowest individual aggregates in Sunday's Journal Cup team competition.

LEE, HUTCHEON, ORR SHARE LEAD

AFTER 90min SUSPENSION EXTENDS

PLAY TO 9.30pm AT WEST KILBRIDE

The first round of the Volvo/Ayrshire Hospice 36-hole pro-am ended in darkness after 9.30pm following a 90min suspension of play earlier in the day when the West Kilbride Golf Club area was hit by torrential rain which flooded the greens temporarily.
Leading the field at the halfway stage are three men who finished high up in the recent Gleneagles Scottish PGA championship - Craig Lee (All Golf Swing Centre), Greig Hutcheon (Peterculter) and David Orr (East Renfrewshire), pictured right.
They all hit the four-under-par 67 mark to carry a one-stroke lead over Dean Robertson (Mearns Castle), Chris Kelly (Cawder) and Graeme McInnes (Murcar Links) into the final 18 holes.
McInnes led the West Kilbride GC captain's amateur trio of Stephen McAllister (5), Ian McKay (9) and Mark Henry (9) to victory in the team event with a net score of 55.
LEADING PROFESSIONALS
Par 71
67 D Orr (East Renfrewshire), C Lee (All Golf Swing Centre), G Hutcheon (Peterculter).
68 D Robertson (Mearns Castle), C Kelly (Cawder), G McInnes (Murcar Links).
69 S Gray (Hayston), E Cameron (Hamilton), C Doak (unatt), D McIntosh (Elderslie), C Ronald (Carluke), J McKinnon (Irvine).

ENGLISH GOLF UNION PRESS RELEASE

ENGLISH PLAYERS WIN THREE CONTINENTAL
TITLES IN FINLAND, CZECH REP & GERMANY

Hard on the heels of England’s fine victory in the Boys' Home Internationals in Wales, Luke Collins, Neil Chaudhuri and Ben Parker rounded off a triumphant week for English amateur golf by winning the Finnish, Czech and German Amateur Championships respectively.
Collins, 22, from Somerset, won the Finnish title in Helsinki, carding a closing round of 69 for seven-under-par 206 and a three-shot winning margin from Mikael Salminen from Finland.
Collins, a member of the England A squad and winner of the Berkshire Trophy this summer, had the lowest returns for each of the three rounds.
Ben Evans from Sussex finished fifth on 213 and Gary Wolstenholme, a former winner of the event, was 11th a shot further back.
Mark Thistleton was 44th after missing the halfway cut.
England also won the Nations Cup by six shots.
Leading final scores:
Finnish Open Amateur Championship
206 L Collins (Eng) 70 67 69.
209 M Salminen (Fin) 71 68 70.
212 M Christensen (Swe) 71 71 70.
212 J Haglund (Swe) 70 71 71.
Other English scores:
213 B Evans 70 71 72.
214 G Wolstenholme 71 71 72.
MISSED CUT
151 M Thistleton 80 71.

In the Czech Amateur at the Astoria Golf Resort, Chaudhuri was locked in a battle with Italy’s Nino Bertasio for the title. Chaudhuri went into the final round with a four-stroke lead but the Italian cut that to two on the front nine only for Chaudhuri to reply with some excellent shots. The key to his victory came on the 16th when he holed an eagle putt which was to prove decisive. Chaudhuri carded a closing 66 for 265, 15 under par, while Bertasio was on 12 under. Having been the joint winner of the Peruvian Open in 2005, this was Chaudhuri’s second victory of the season following his triumph in the Duncan Putter.
He said: “It is a very special moment for me. It is my first time in the Czech Republic and I am very glad that I was victorious. Nino gave me good run but I think I responded to that well. That is why I am very proud of this," said 22 year old from Leicestershire.
Andrew Sullivan finished equal 11th on 280 while Gregg Blainey shot 286 for joint 29th place. Leading final scores:
Czech Amateur Championship
265 N Chaudhuri (Eng) 67 65 67 66.
268 N Bertasio (It) 68 67 68 65 273 P Strýèek (Cze) 70 67 68 68 274 J Korda (Cze) 68 72 67 67 Other English scores:
280 A Sullivan 69 72 67 72.
286 G Blainey 71 71 72 72.
Parker, the England international, was a clear winner of the German Amateur at Seddiner See near Berlin, completing a five-stroke victory over the field.
The Hamburg-based 20 year old finished on six-under-par 282 after a closing round of 71. He won by five shots from Germany’s Alexander Knappe, who climbed the leader board with a final round of 68, and Hinrich Arkenau with 70.
Hugues Joannes from Belgium, runner-up in last year’s Carris Trophy at Sherwood Forest, carded a closing 73 to drop back into a share of fourth place with another German, Maximilian Kieffer.
Leading final scores:
German Amateur Championship
282 B Parker (Eng) 71 66 74 71.
287 A Knappe (Ger) 75 72 72 68.
287 H Arkenau (Ger) 73 73 71 70.
288 H Joannes (Bel) 72 70 73 73.
288 M Kieffer (Ger) 75 68 76 69.

PHILIP McLEAN JOINT 49TH IN HOLLAND

Peterhead's Philip McLean finished joint 49th in the Hilversum Open professional tournament at Hilversum Golf Club, Holland.
The Scotland youth cap had rounds of 75, 77, 70 and 79 for a total of 301.
Former Northern Open champion and past Murcar Golf Club professional, Peter Smith, who is now the Hilversum club pro, finished joint 31st on 296 with scores of 75, 71, 73 and 77.
Robert McKnight (Kilmarnock Barassie), the second young player sent by the Scottish Golf Union to play in the event, did not survive the halfway cut.
Robin Swane was the winner with 12-under-par 276, made up of rounds of 69, 69, 68 and 70.
He won by two shots from Floris De Vriews with Tim Sluitere third on 280.

TIGER WOODS WINS HIS

13th MAJOR BY TWO STROKES FROM

WOODY AUSTIN

Tiger Woods won the 13th major of his career with a two-stroke stroke victory over Woody Austin in the US PGA Championship at Southern Hills, Oklahoma.
The world number one successfully defended his title after a final-round 69 proved enough to hold off his rivals and maintain his amazing record of having won every major in which he has led heading into the final round.
Woods began the day with a three-shot advantage over Stephen Ames but he soon disappeared from contention as Els and Woody Austin emerged as the main challengers.
The lead was up to five from Els after eight holes but a bogey at nine and a birdie for the South African at 10 cut that back to three.
However, Els bogeyed the 12th but the gap was back to three when the South African birdied the long 13th.
And when he holed a six-footer at the par-three next he was within two of Woods, with Austin moving alongside him after three birdies in a row from the turn.
Woods then bogeyed the 14th after his short putt lipped out and his advantage was just one from Austin after Els bogeyed the 16th.
Typically, however, the world number one clawed that shot back at the next with a 14-foot birdie putt.
Els finished with two pars for a final-round 66 to finish five under and when Austin failed to hole a birdie putt from long distance on the 18th he closed with a 67 to be second on six under.
That left Woods to get down in four from the middle of the 18th fairway and he found the centre of the green and two putted for his fourth US PGA victory

Simon Dyson had earlier posted the clubhouse lead at level after a sparkling 64. The Yorkshire golfer carded seven birdies, including one on the last, with just one bogey to make his first appearance in the PGA Championship one to remember.
"Everything just seemed to click today," Dyson said. "It was good, one of the best days I've had for a long time."
Colin Montgomerie was three under for the round after a birdie at 15, his fifth of the day, but he faded down the stretch.

FINAL TOTALS

Par 280 (4 x 70)

272 Tiger Woods 71 63 69 69
274 Woody Austin 68 70 69 67
275 Ernie Els (Rsa) 72 68 69 66
279 Arron Oberholser 68 72 70 69, John Senden (Aus) 69 70 69 71
280 Trevor Immelman (Rsa) 75 70 66 69, Geoff Ogilvy (Aus) 69 68 74 69, Simon Dyson (Eng) 73 71 72 64
281 Scott Verplank 70 66 74 71 Kevin Sutherland 73 69 68 71 Boo Weekley 76 69 65 71
282 Adam Scott (Aus) 72 68 70 72, Justin Rose (Eng) 70 73 70 69, Anders Hansen (Den) 71 71 71 69, Stuart Appleby (Aus) 73 68 72 69, KJ Choi (Kor) 71 71 68 72, Stephen Ames (Can) 68 69 69 76
284 Hunter Mahan 71 73 72 68, Joe Durant 71 73 70 70, Pat Perez 70 69 77 68, Ken Duke 73 71 69 71, Brandt Snedeker 74 71 69 70
285 Steve Stricker 77 68 69 71, Retief Goosen (Rsa) 70 71 74 70, Steve Flesch 72 73 68 72, Heath Slocum 72 70 72 71, Kenny Perry 72 72 71 70, Peter Hanson (Swe) 72 71 69 73, Ian Poulter (Eng) 71 73 70 71, Camilo Villegas (Col) 69 71 74 71 N Green (Aus) 75 68 67 75
286 Bart Bryant 74 70 72 70, Stewart Cink 72 70 72 72, Phil Mickelson 73 69 75 69, John Daly 67 73 73 73, Shaun Micheel 73 71 70 72, Brett Wetterich 74 71 70 71, Luke Donald (Eng) 72 71 70 73, Lee Westwood (Eng) 69 74 75 68
287 Paul Casey (Eng) 72 70 74 71, Richard Green (Aus) 72 73 70 72
288 Rodney Pampling (Aus) 70 74 72 72, Sean O'Hair 70 72 70 76, Colin Montgomerie (Sco) 72 73 73 70, Niclas Fasth (Swe) 71 68 79 70, David Toms 71 74 71 72, Darren Clarke (NIrl) 77 66 71 74, Padraig Harrington (Irl) 69 73 72 74, Charles Howell III 75 70 72 71
289 Anthony Kim 73 72 71 73, Lucas Glover 70 75 74 70, Nick O'Hern (Aus) 72 72 72 73, Bob Tway 71 72 71 75, Shingo Katayama (Jpn) 76 67 72 74, Frank Lickliter II 70 75 75 69, Brian Bateman 71 74 76 68
290 Will MacKenzie 72 70 74 74, Robert Karlsson (Swe) 73 71 75 71, Chad Campbell 77 68 73 72
291 Billy Mayfair 76 69 75 71, Paul McGinley (Irl) 74 66 76 75
293 Brett Quigley 76 67 73 77, Thomas Bjorn (Den) 73 71 76 73, Corey Pavin 74 68 72 79, Graeme Storm (Eng) 65 76 74 78
294 Tim Herron 75 68 71 80, Todd Hamilton 73 72 74 75, Troy Matteson 72 69 73 80
296 Mike Small (Eng) 73 70 78 75, Tom Lehman 73 71 74 78
297 Ryan Benzel 71 72 80 74

STEVE MARTIN FINISHES FIFTH IN
EURO SENIORS TOUR IN SWITZERLAND

By GRAEME HAMLETT
Press Officer, European Seniors Tour

A three-putt on the last hole cost former Walker Cup player Steve Martin a share of second place at the Bad Ragaz PGA Seniors Open, as he signed for a closing 70 to finish fifth on nine under par, seven shots behind the winner, England’s Carl Mason, who shot a closing 65 to win by six strokes.
Yet the 52 year old from Dundee was happy with his three days’ golf and performance, having earned €9,492 for his efforts in Switzerland.
Martin, who was 72nd in the European Seniors Tour Order of Merit coming into the event and moves up to 55th place, said: “It’s my best tournament of the year, so I’m pleased. I can take a lot from the way I played and challenged, because I have been struggling and playing terribly.
“I started off a bit shaky, bogeying the first hole, but got it back with birdies at the third and seventh holes. I’m annoyed I three-putted the last. That leaves a bit of a bad taste in the mouth, but it’s been a good week, so I’m happy.”
Fellow Scot Bill Longmuir shot a level par 70 to finish tied 13th on six under par and admitted he had endured another very frustrating day, summed by his ninth hole. “I hit a perfect four iron – the best shot of the three-ball – but it ran through slightly and I end up walking off with a bogey, and the other two get pars,” he rued.
Aberdonian John Chillas scored his best round of the tournament, a 69, to finish in tied 40th position. Mike Miller followed suit with his best of the week, a 68, but Martin Gray shot a 75. Both players tied in 55th place.
Mason, meanwhile, registered his 16th European Seniors Tour victory in just four years competing on the circuit. He fired seven birdies and dropped only two shots in his 65, to close out his second win of 2007, after he claimed the Ryder Cup Seniors Open at Conwy in June.
The 54 year old said: “It feels wonderful. I never thought when I started out four years ago on the European Seniors Tour, I’d have won 16 times by now. It’s incredible.
“The birdies on ten and 11 were crucial. They opened up the gap and things were good from there. I am really pleased with the way I played this week. My putting was very good, considering I wasn’t happy with it when I arrived, and when I did get a chance I took it.”

FINAL TOTALS
Par 210 (3 x 70)
194 C Mason (Eng) 65 64 65.
200 H Carbonetti (Arg) 64 67 69, C Rocca (Ita) 68 62 70, D J Russell (Eng) 70 64 66.
201 S Martin (Sco) 64 67 70
202 K Tomori (Jpn) 66 71 65, J Heggarty (Nir) 65 72 65, S Ginn (Aus) 70 66 66, N Job (Eng) 69 68 65
203 B Cameron (Eng) 67 68 68, J Quiros (Esp) 67 65 71, D Johnson (USA) 66 68 69
204 J Benda (USA) 70 66 68, D Cambridge (Jam) 68 67 69, B Lincoln (RSA) 69 70 65, B Longmuir (Sco) 68 66 70, A Sowa (Arg) 67 69 68, P Dugeny (Fra) 70 65 69
205 J Bland (RSA) 67 72 66, J Rivero (Esp) 67 67 71, G Ralph (Eng) 70 67 68, B Lendzion (USA) 68 69 68
206 M Pinero (Esp) 68 71 67, A Fernandez (Chi) 70 69 67, E Rodriguez (Esp) 73 70 63
207 I Palmer (RSA) 67 71 69, T Johnstone (Zim) 72 65 70, G J Brand (Eng) 71 68 68, D Merriman (Aus) 70 67 70
208 D Creamer (Eng) 67 69 72, P Oakley (USA) 71 69 68, S Owen (NZ) 72 71 65
209 R Carrasco (USA) 68 69 72, J Rhodes (Eng) 67 72 70
210 J Lapsley (Nzl) 74 70 66, D O’Sullivan (Irl) 70 70 70
211 M Bembridge (Eng) 67 71 73, B Smit (RSA) 74 67 70, B Larratt (Eng) 69 70 72
212 I Mosey (Eng) 69 73 70, T Gale (Aus) 68 72 72, T Horton (Eng) 70 73 69, L Carbonetti (Arg) 70 72 70, J Chillas (Sco) 73 70 69, E Polland (Nir) 71 67 74, J Mashego (RSA) 71 73 68
213 T Allen (Eng) 71 70 72, G Cali (Ita) 78 67 68, T Price (Wal) 71 69 73
214 P Teraveinen (USA) 71 72 71, D Good (Aus) 73 70 71
215 B Malley (USA) 73 74 68, K Spurgeon (Eng) 72 71 72, G Encina (Chi) 69 74 72
216 T Rastall (Eng) 72 71 73, M Miller (Sco) 72 76 68, M Gray (Sco) 69 72 75, J Hall (Eng) 71 72 73, A Garrido (Esp) 74 72 70, G Watine (Fra) 72 68 76
217 G Levenson (RSA) 75 72 70
218 M Poxon (Eng) 73 73 72, N Ratcliffe (Aus) 70 68 80, B Charles (Nzl) 71 71 76
222 J Bruner (USA) 72 72 78, M Ferguson (Aus) 68 77 77
223 D Durnian (Eng) 78 74 71, L Higgins (Irl) 75 76 72, T Charnley (Eng) 74 76 73
229 V Krajewski (USA) 75 79 75, H Schumacher (Sui) 76 79 74
231 A Croce (Ita) 72 77 82

DINWIDDIE WINS SCOTTISH CHALLENGE PRIZE
FROM McLEARY WITH 20-UNDER-PAR 268

By MICHAEL GIBBONS
Press Officer, European Challenge Tour

Robert Dinwiddie cantered to a four-shot victory at the Scottish Challenge presented by Bank of Scotland Corporate title with a final round performance oozing class and confidence at the Macdonald Cardrona Hotel Golf and Country Club, near Peebles today.
The 24 year old Englishman, a member of the 2005 GB&I Walker Cup team, may have bogeyed the last hole of the tournament, but by that time he had written his name on the trophy and first place cheque for €32,000.
Dinwiddie signed off with an excellent five under par 67 to record a winning total of 20 under par 268 – four strokes clear of second placed Jamie McLeary from Kinross.
Dinwiddie, who reset the Cardrona professional course record with a second round 63, was in imperious form throughout the four days and thoroughly deserved his maiden professional victory.
“It is always going to be a milestone to get you first professional win and to do it in the UK makes it that little bit more special,” said Dinwiddie who hails from the North of England.
“It’s also a great feeling to win in my first year as a professional because it means I am improving and progressing. I always felt that I was good enough to win on the Challenge Tour but saying and doing it are two different things so I am delighted to have won.”
With a packed leaderboard just a few strokes behind Dinwiddie at the start of the day, it was hard to escape the notion that someone would emerge from the chasing pack to pile the pressure on the Englishman.
That charge came in the form of McLeary and Irishman David Higgins, but, in terms of the outcome of the tournament, was rendered meaningless by Dinwiddie’s sensational form.
Five birdies on the front nine from Dinwiddie mean there was only ever going to be one winner, but McLeary and Higgins did their own causes no harm with their final round surges.
Higgins' outstanding seven under 65 that contained a hole in one at the par-3 fifth hole catapulted him from 21st place to third on the final leaderboard.
McLeary’s rousing finish of four birdies in his closing five holes ensured a final round 67 and the second place prize money of €22,000.
That was good enough to see the Scot vault 75 places on the Challenge Tour rankings, from 101st to 26th, while Higgins also made a significant move from 126th to 46th.
Other big movers following the Challenge Tour’s third richest event on the 2007 schedule included Dutchman Joost Luiten, whose share of fourth place took him back to the top of the Rankings.
Felipe Aguilar of Chile moved to second place, while the Scottish Challenge presented by Bank of Scotland champion climbed to eighth spot.
Walker Cup Scot Lloyd Saltman will have been encouraged with his joint fourth place finish
on 275. It augurs well for his professional career which will start after next month's match against the United States at Royal County Down, Northern Ireland.

FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4 x 72). 6,990yd.
268 Robert Dinwiddie (Eng) 70 63 68 67.
272 Jamie McLeary (Sco) 67 72 66 67.
273 David Higgins (Ire) 69 69 70 65.
275 Jamie Donaldson (Wal ) 68 68 68 71, Andrew McArthur (Sco) 66 69 72 68, Joost Luiten (Ned) 69 66 70 70, Fabrizio Zanotti (Par) 70 66 70 69, Carlos Del Moral (Esp) 70 70 69 66, Lloyd Saltman (Sco) (am) 70 69 66 70.
276 Stuart Manley (Wal) 64 73 69 70, Eric Ramsay (Sco) 66 68 71 71.
277 George Murray (Sco) 70 68 65 74, Hernan Rey (Arg) 66 71 72 68, Peter Whiteford (Sco) 66 67 71 73.
278 Peter Baker (Eng ) 70 68 69 71; David Dixon (Eng) 72 68 67 71, Anders Schmidt Hansen (Den) 73 66 69 70.
279 Gustavo Rojas (Arg ) 71 69 68 71; Colm Moriarty (Irl ) 69 72 67 71; David Patrick (Sco ) 67 69 71 72, Alvaro Velasco (Esp ) 65 71 69 74;
280 Christian Reimbold (Ger ) 69 68 68 75; Dean Robertson (Sco ) 70 69 70 71; Simon Thornton (Irl ) 70 71 67 72; François Calmels (Fra ) 70 71 69 70; André Bossert (Sui ) 68 68 70 74;
281 Manuel Merizalde (Col ) 68 71 71 71; Chris Gane (Eng ) 68 72 68 73; Gary Clark (Eng) 71 70 69 71; Gareth Maybin (Nir ) 68 71 72 70; Kariem Baraka (Ger ) 72 67 72 70;
282 Julio Zapata (Arg ) 72 69 75 66; Liam Bond (Wal ) 71 68 73 70; Craig Williams (Wal) 67 71 71 73;
283 Richie Ramsay (Sco ) 67 70 72 74; Scott Henderson (Sco) 68 71 71 73; Luis Claverie (Esp ) 70 71 70 72; Ricardo Santos (Por ) 68 71 71 73; François Delamontagne (Fra) 68 72 71 72; Duncan Stewart (Sco) (am) 68 68 71 76.
284 Matt Ford (Eng ) 69 68 76 71; Paul Nilbrink (Nor) 72 69 72 71; Peter Fowler (Aus) 68 73 70 73; Jean Hugo (Rsa ) 71 67 72 74; Inder Van Weerelt (Ned ) 69 69 77 69; Anthony Snobeck (Fra ) 69 71 73 71; Alvaro Salto (Esp) 70 68 73 73;
285 Gary Marks (Eng ) 70 69 75 71; Greig Hutcheon (Sco) 73 66 72 74; Mahal Pearce (Nzl) 70 70 72 73; Stuart Davis (Eng ) 74 67 73 71; Rolf Muntz (Ned ) 70 68 69 78; Gareth Paddison (Nzl ) 70 69 74 72;
286 Euan Little (Sco ) 73 65 73 75; Stephen Scahill (Nzl) 71 70 71 74; John Mellor (Eng ) 68 68 70 80; Jan-Are Larsen (Nor ) 65 74 78 69;
287 James Ablett (Eng ) 66 75 72 74; Oskar Bergman (Swe) 71 69 75 72; Jerome Theunis (Bel ) 69 72 69 77;
288 Raphaël De Sousa (Sui ) 66 72 81 69; Scott Jamieson (Sco ) 73 67 72 76.
289 Chris Kelly (Sco ) 72 68 72 77; Van Phillips (Eng ) 68 71 74 76;
290 James H Williams (Wal ) 71 69 74 76; Adrien Mörk (Fra ) 70 71 74 75; Felipe Aguilar (Chi ) 67 72 75 76; Kevin McAlpine (Sco) (am) 67 73 70 80.
295 Murray Urquhart (Sco ) 68 72 82 73;

PORTLETHEN PIP MURCAR
LINKS FOR JOURNAL CUP

Portlethen, the host club, pipped Murcar Links by one stroke for the Journal Cup - the North-east District's inter-club team championship, with a total of 443.
The tournament should have been played in early July but was washed out and rearranged for today.
Portlethen's winning team were Gary Esson, C Brechin and L Shand.
The top four individual aggregates were returned by Mark Halliday (Royal Aberdeen) 142, Barrie Edmond (Bon Accord) 145, Bryan Innes (Murcar Links) 145 and Gary Esson (Portlethen) 145.
They will contest the NE District match-play championship for the Jaffrey Cup, also at Portlethen.
Monday evening ties are: Halliday v Innes, Esson v Edmond.

JOURNAL CUP FINAL TOTALS

443 Portlethen (C Brechin 73 76, L Shand 71 78, G Esson 74 71).
444 Murcar Links (A Bews 76 74, B Main 76 73, B Innes 72 73).
447 Bon Accord ( M Dunn 79 78, M Greig 69 76, B Edmond 74 71).
448 Fraserburgh (J Mitchell 71 75, G Smith 75 78, J Duff 74 75).
453 Meldrum House (C Stephen 79 75, N Robson 76 71, G Taylor 76 76).
454 Cruden Bay (R Coooer 75 80, M Buchan 74 75, L Phillips 73 77).
457 Nigg Bay (R Neilson 76 74, I Welsh 76 72, N Slater 81 78), Royal Aberdeen (W Barclay 80 76, A Reith 80 79, M Halliday 70 72).
464 Banchory (L Morrice 80 77, F Bisset 78 74, A Lindsay 82 73).
466 Caledonian (S Finbnie 76 85, A Doig 73 81, A Styles 76 75).
472 Oldmeldrum (D Forrest 80 77, D Miller 80 76, G Hogg 79 80).
473 Duff House Royal (D Stadames 83 82, A J Smith 80 80, D Morrison 78 70).
479 McDonald Ellon (B Mitchell 90 82, K Duncan 76 79, J Godward 76 76).
480 Hazlehead (S Robertson 79 75, P McIntosh 85 85, M Lynch 79 77), Kemnay (C Selbie 80 86, B Gibson 75 77, S Moore 82 80).
484 Turriff (J Robertson 75 83, M Richens 86 79, J Williamson 82 79).
491 Ballater (S McIntosh 84 94, F Anderson 81 77, S Barclay 77 78).
498 Longside (C McKay 89 84, B Daniel 86 81, G Cruickshanks 84 74).
510 Stonehaven (I McLeod 99 99, C Brown 76 79, E Kennedy 78 79).
No Returns: Auchmill, Deeside, Newmachar,

Weekend of very low scoring over Leven Links

BULLY FOR BRIAN! HOME COURSE

MAN SOUTAR WINS STANDARD LIFE

LEVEN GOLD MEDAL

Home course man Brian Soutar, 24^th in the Scottish amateur rankings and 27^th in the Scottish Golf Union Order of Merit, was the surprise winner today of the Standard Life Leven Gold Medal, the oldest amateur stroke-play tournament in the world.

No surprise to the locals, of course, because 23-year-old Brian, a recent graduate from Heriot Watt University, was fourth in the 72-hole championship last year and he was the Leven Golfing Society champion in 2003.

Brian finished with rounds of 66 67 66 and 67 for an 18-under-par total of 266 – three shots clear of third-round leader James White (Lundin) and former British boys champion Jordan Findlay (Fraserburgh). White bogeyed the last hole for a closing par round of 71 to finish joint runner-up while Findlay double-bogeyed it for a 68. Jordan had actually overhauled White and was in second place until he ran up a 6 at the last.

Both Findlay and White received silver medals from the sponsors.

Gary Tough, the Letham Grange head greenkeeper and winner of the Craigmillar Park Open among other 72-holers, showed there's still a lot of life left in the "old dog." Gary finished joint fourth with Mark Hillson (Craigielaw) and former Scottish match-play champion Glenn Campbell (Blairgowrie) on 12-under-par 272.

Tough shot a six-under-par 65 in the final round and the only other man to do that was Wallace Booth (Comrie), winner of the Cameron Corbett Vase and the Tennant Cup this season and joint 15th in the Standard Life Leven Golf Medal final totals.

There was never a dull moment for Wallace over the weekend. The par-5 sixth hole, with its out of bounds fence down the right, cost him a 10 in the first round and a 9 in the second round. So that was nine over par two holes alone. That means he must have been 16 under par for the other 70 holes he played!

And Wallace and his Sunday playing partner Steven Hume (Murrayshall) somehow contrived to do a "Mark Rose-Jesper Parnevik" with their third-round scorecards - they forgot to exchange them and, of course, instead of filling each other's figures on the proper scorecards, they filled them in on the ones with their own names at the top of them.

It was only when they noticed that their individual scores had been reversed on the third-round scoreboard in the clubhouse that they realised something was wrong and went to see the organising officials.

Then the players' blunder in not exchanging cards was revealed to them.
Now, prior to the 2003 Open in which Mark Roe and Jasper Parevik did the same thing and were disqualified, Messrs Hume and Booth would have been disqualified too. But, apparently the R&A, in view of what happened, changed the rule covering this scorecards situation and made it the responsibility of the officials who check scorecards to spot this mistake and rectify.
So that's what the Leven Gold Medal officials did - they changed the names at the top of Booth and Hume's scorecards to make the scores fit the names. No disqualification. End of story. Wallace and Steven went out and enjoyed the fourth round.

Highlighting a weekend of low scoring over a green-looking Leven links course in its best condition for some time, there was a course-record nine-under-par 62 by Steven McEwan (Caprington) in a wind-free first round, two holes in one and a staggering 94 sub-par scores (29-25-23-17) over the four rounds,
That represents very good golf indeed over a par-71 course that is shortish by modern standards at 6,506yd but certainly not easy.

In Saturday's second round, Steven Rennie (Airdrie) aced the seventh (182yd) with a five iron. It was his third hole in one.

In Sunday's fourth round, Ryan McKenzie (Easter Moffat) had a hole in one with an eight iron at the 163yd fifth hole. It was his fifth ace – and the link between the two is they are golfing pals.

"Steven phoned me up on Saturday to tell me he had had a hole in one.

I can't wait to say to him 'Snap!" said Ryan.

FINAL TOTALS
Par 284 (4 x 71). 6,506yd.
266 B Soutar (Leven GS) 66 67 66 67.
269 J Findlay (Fraserburgh) 71 65 65 68, J White jun (Lundin) 65 67 66 71.
272 M Hillson (Craigielaw) 68 70 68 66, G Tough (Letham Grange) 68 69 70 65, G Campbell (Blairgowrie) 67 69 68 68.
274 R McCarthy (The Island, Dublin) 70 66 69 69, S Mann (Carnoustie) 68 67 68 71, R Dixon (Kilmarnock Barassie) 68 66 69 71..
275 L Miller (Cawder) 68 70 70 67, S McEwan (Caprington) 62 69 71 73..
276 G Paterson (St Andrews New) 72 67 68 69, M Main (Thornton) 74 65 65 72.
277 W Booth (Comrie) 70 71 71 65, S Rennie (Airdrie) 70 66 71 70, K Nicoll (Fraserburgh) 67 68 71 71..
278 R Kellett (Colville Park) 69 72 71 66, S Robertson (Sandyhills) 72 65 68 73.
279 R McKenzie (Easter Moffat) 72 71 69 67, D Martin (Longniddry) 71 70 68 70, A Main (Thornton) 68 71 69 71.
280 P O’Hara (Colville Park) 69 68 69 74.
281 C Harkins (Ayr Belleisle) 66 74 69 72.
283 B Fotheringham (Forres) 70 73 73 67, G Stevenson (Whitecraigs) 73 70 71 69, A Howard (Murrayshall) 69 73 69 72.
284 S Graham (Blairgowrie) 66 73 72 73.
285 M Lawrence (Newmachar) 70 73 68 74, J Welsh(Australia) 72 71 72 70, E Polson (Inverness) 69 73 70 73, G Robertson (Silverknowes) 69 69 72 75, Z Saltman (Craigielaw) 67 72 74 72.
286 J Laurie (Cowglen) 71 73 69 73, D Downie (Sutton, Dublin) 72 72 70 72, S Machin (Cowglen) 72 71 71 72.
287 S Hume (Murrayshall) 69 72 77 69.
289 B Heggie (Leven GS) 70 74 74 71, S McAllister (Craigielaw) 69 72 74 74.
291 S Michie (Thornton) 71 71 71 78.
292 G Turner (West Linton) 69 70 74 79.
293 D Yeats (Newmachar) 73 69 76 75.
296 C Mundie (Falkirk) 72 70 78 76.

JAMES WHITE LEADS AFTER THREE ROUNDS AT LEVEN

Stirling University student James White, the 2006 Scottish boys' match-play champion from Lundin Golf Club, took up the running after three rounds of the Standard Life Leven Gold Medal today.

James, whose father won the tournament in 2003, had a third-round 66 for a 15-under-par tally of 198 in what has been one of the lowest-scoring events in the oldest amateur-stroke play golf tournament in the world.

White leads from host club member Brian Souter by one shot with former British boys champion Jordan Findlay (Fraserburgh) gaining ground with a 65 to take up third place on 201.

Overnight leader Steven McEwan (Caprington), who set a new course record of nine-under-par 62 in the first round, has subsequently had rounds of 69 and 71 for fourth place on 202.

White overhauled playing partner McEwan with birdies at the third, fourth and fifth on his way to an outward three-under-par 31 in the third round.

James dropped his only shot of the round at the 11^th but finished strongly with birdies at the 14^th and 16^th for 35 home and a 66.

Brian Soutar also had a 66.

Former British boys champion Jordan Findlay has come into the reckoning, thanks to back-to-back 65s - 12 under par for 36 holes.

Following Steven Rennie (Airdrie) having a hole in one at the seventh (182yd) in Saturday's second round, Ryan McKenzie (Easter Moffat) notched the second aced of the weekend with an eight-iron at the 163yd fifth hole in his final round.

THIRD-ROUND AGGREGATES

Par 213 (3 x 71). CSS 71 71 71

198 J White jun (Lundin) 65 67 66.

199 B Soutar (Leven GS) 66 67 66.

201 J Findlay (Fraserburgh) 71 65 65.

202 S McEwan (Caprington) 62 69 71.

203 S Mann (Carnoustie) 68 67 68, R Dixon (Kilmarnock Barassie).

204 M Main (Thornton) 74 65 65, G Campbell (Blairgowrie) 67 69 68.

205 S Robertson (Sandyhills) 72 65 68, R McCarthy (The Island, Dublin) 70 66 69.

206 M Hillson (Craigielaw) 68 70 68, P O'Hara (Colville Park) 69 68 69, K Nicoll (Fraserburgh) 67 68 71.

207 G Paterson (St Andrews New) 72 67 68, G Tough (Letham Grange) 68 69 70, S Rennie (Airdrie) 70 66 71.

208 A Main (Thornton) 68 71 69, L Miller (Cawder) 68 70 70.

209 D Martin (Longniddry) 71 70 68, C Harkins (Ayr Belleisle) 66 74 69.

210 G Robertson (Silverknowes) 69 69 72,

211 M Lawrence (Newmachar) 70 73 68, A Howard (Murrayshall) 69 73 69, S Graham (Blairgowrie) 66 73 72.

212 R McKenzie (Easter Moffat) 72 71 69, E Polson (Inverness) 69 73 70, R Kellett (Colville Park) 69 72 71, W Booth (Comrie) 70 71 71.

213 J Laurie (Cowglen) 71 73 69, S Michie (Thornton) 71 71 71, Z Saltman (Craigielaw) 67 72 74, G Turner (West Linton) 69 70 74.

214 D Downie (Sutton, Dublin) 72 72 70, S Machin (Cowglen) 72 71 71, G Stevenson (Whitecraigs) 73 70 71.

215 J Welsh (Australia) 72 71 72, S McAllister (Craigielaw) 69 72 74.

216 B Fotheringham (Forres) 70 73 73.

218 B Heggie (Leven GS) 70 74 74, D Yeats (Newmachar) 73 69 76, S Hume (Murrayshall) 69 72 77.

220 C Mundie (Falkirk) 72 70 78.

FIFER LATIMER WINS DORNOCH'S CARNEGIE SHIELD

 

By ROBIN WILSON

After eliminating a former double winner in the semi final, 19 year old US colege student Peter Latimer from Markinch in Fife beat the holder, Jimmy Gunn (Royal Dornoch), in the final to win the Carnegie Shield for the first time at Royal Dornoch on Saturday.

Latimer, who returns for his second year at Guilford College, North Carolina next weekend, was almost out of the tournament after 12 holes in the semi final against a former Guilford student, Californian Andrew . Biggadike.

Three down to the American Latimer found four birdies over the remaining six holes, the 13th, 14th, 17th and 18th to take him through to meet Gunn. 

He and Gunn were eveningly matched in the final with Latimer gaining an edge over the holder due to his less than normal dependable putter. Gunn went two behind after a three putt on the third green. He  had lost the second hole when he pulled left from the tee,and was still two behind on the turn for home. 

At the short tenth Gunn found his second birdie of the tie and following this up up with two fine shots onto the par five 12th green the local favourite, who is hoping soon to turn professional, got back to level but he was never able to get his nose in front.

Another three putt putt on the 14th and three from the edge of the green at the next hole against Latimer's birdie loosened the Gunn 's grip on the Shield and following halves on the next two holes Latimer took ownership of the majestic trophy on the 17th green.

Royal Dornoch's Elgin based member Philip Gauld beat Frenchman Stephanne Ygora 3&2 to win the Class 1 handicap Davidson Shield and Tom Lynch (Craigielaw) won the Class 2 handicap E. C. Fraser Trophy beating Bruce Gall (The Wisley) in the final.

Results.

CARNEGIE SHIELD

 Semi-Finals - P Latimer (St Andrews New) bt A Biggadike (US) 1 hole,  J M Gunn bt G Bacon (Mellor & Townscliffe) 3 and 2.

Final - Latimer beat Gunn 2 and 1.

DAVIDSON TROPHY

Semi-finals - P J Gauld (Royal Dornoch) (5) bt J Shepherd (4) 4 and 3, S Ygora (Courday) bt G O'Hagan (Broadway) 5 and 3.

Final - Gauld beat Ygora 3 and 2.

E C FRASER CUP

Semi-finals - T. Lynch (Craigielaw) (10) beat A. Mackay (Royal Dornoch) (10) 5 and 3, B R Gall (The Wisley) (10) bt A Rose (Royal Ashdown) (10) 6 and 4.

Final - Lynch beat Gall 3 and 1. 

 

TIGER WOODS HEADING FOR US
PGA TITLE AND HIS 13th
MAJOR TRIUMPH

Tiger Woods stands on the verge of his 13th major as he heads into the final day of the US PGA Championship at Southern Hills with a three-shot lead over his rivals.
The world number one, who has won all of his major titles when he has had the 54-hole lead, carded a one-under-par 69 to move to seven under to stay ahead of second-placed Stephen Ames, who had a 69, with Woody Austin another shot back after a 69 of his own.
John Senden (69) is two under and Ernie Els (69) at one under with no other players in red numbers.
Woods did not match the fireworks of his second-round 63 but a controlled display means he is now just 18 holes away from successfully defending his US PGA Championship title and avoiding a major-less year for only the fourth time in a professional career dating back to 1997.
"I accomplished my goal which was to shoot under par and increase my lead and I was able to do that so it was a positive day all around," said Woods. "I only made one bogey, which was good, and I really kept myself out of trouble most of the day.
"I just tried to keep hitting fairways and put the ball in the centre of the greens and lag putt well. I tried not to leave myself a second putt because the greens aren't very smooth out there so I never really tried to take a run at any putts."
Boo Weekley livened up the early action with a superb round and a mistake that, in part, led to the disqualification of Sergio Garcia. Weekley came to the 18th hole needing a birdie for a 63 but he left himself a long attempt and three-putted for a bogey and a five-under 65.
However, it was enough to give him the clubhouse lead at level par along with Nathan Green, KJ Choi and Kevin Sutherland. Trevor Immelman moved to one over for the championship with a 66, while Garcia would have had a 74 to fall to nine-over but he signed an incorrect scorecard and was disqualified.
Colin Montgomerie struggled to a three-over 73 that included five bogeys and left him at eight over, while Darren Clarke was at one under with three holes to play he finished with a pair of bogeys for a 71.
Justin Rose (70), Luke Donald (70) were both three over while fellow Englishmen Ian Poulter (70) was one shot back with Paul Casey (74) six over after a homeward nine of 40.

SCROLL DOWN FOR THE THIRD-ROUND SCOREBOARD AND THE STORY OF HOW SERGIO GARCIA CAME TO BE DISQUALIFIED.

HUGH HUNTER'S CLACKMANNANSHIRE NEWS

DISAPPOINTING WEEK

There were disappointments for both Callum Macaulay and Bob Stewart last week in their latest tournaments. Tulliallan’s Bob Stewart made the journey to Nairn for the British Seniors Amateur, but with rounds of 84 and 80, he missed the cut for the last day of the event. The title was won by former Walker Cup player Arthur Pierse (Tipperary) on a play off with scores of 67,71,73.
There was some consolation for Bob in that he has moved up the Scottish Seniors Order of Merit from 19th place to 16th place, and will be looking forward to the Order of Merit Finals at Blairgowrie.
At the other end of the country, Callum Macaulay (Tulliallan) was one of the six Amateur invites in a field of 156 at the Scottish Challenge event at Cardrona near Peebles. Callum started brilliantly in the first round with birdies at the first three holes, but saw shots slip away later and finished with a 75.
In the second round, he started at the eighth hole, and after a number of pars, the next three bogeys could have been a complete setback - especially as his group took around three hours to play 10 holes.
However, showing his true class, Callum rallied with five birdies in the next eight holes to give a respectable pne under par 71, and a two round total of two over par. With the qualifying cut set at three under par, Callum just missed out on the last two rounds.
Again there was a bit of consolation in the Scottish Amateur Golf Rankings, in that Callum is now in second spot to Lloyd Saltman. Lloyd will be turning professionals just after the Home Internationals in September, so Callum has a good chance of taking over the No 1 position.

BELHAVEN BEST SCOTTISH CLUB HANDICAP CHAMPIONSHIP

There was better news for other Clackmannan County golfers elsewhere. At the Regional Final held at Forrester Park in Fife, two local clubs competed (Braehead and Dollar) with Braehead (Jim Anderson, Stevie Duncan) finishing in 14th place and securing a place in the final which is also being played at Cardrona in September. The Dollar team finished further down the field.
Another regional final to be played at Cawder will see Tulliallan (James Robb, Stewart Kennedy) trying to become the second Wee County club in the final.

BELHAVEN BEST CAPTAINS AND SECRETARIES CHAMPIONSHIP

The club administrators get their chance in this event, and Wee County clubs Dollar (S Morrison, J Cant) and Alloa (C White, T White) will be trying their luck in a regional final at Duddingston on August 21, and hoping to reach the Grand Final at Blairgowrie on September 11.

COUNTY SENIOR LEAGUE
Reports will appear soon on the progress of the local Golf Clubs in the league which is played on Monday evenings.

SERGIO GARCIA DISQUALIFIED FOR SIGNING
AN INCORRECT THIRD-ROUND SCORECARD

Sergio Garcia is not enjoying the best of luck these days. Coming hard on the heels of his failure to hold on to the lead down the last hole at Carnoustie in the Open championship, comes the news that the young Spaniard has been disqualified at the end of the third round of the US PGA championship at Southern Hills, Oklahoma.
Garcia signed an incorrect scorecard - his own - after the third round. In tournament golf, players keep each other's scores. Garcia's playing partner, Boo Weekley, put down a 4 for Garcia on the 17th hole when the Spaniard actually made a 5.
It's the player's responsibility to ensure his scorecard is accurate before he signs it. Garcia didn't. And when the mistake was noticed in the scoring tent, Garcia had already left.
"He just took off," Weekley said. "I called him back down and tried to get him before he got all the way up the stairs."
Garcia did, in fact, return to the scoring area, but only to be told he had been disqualified. Once he left what US PGA officials call the "scoring area perimeter," his scorecard was considered turned in and not able to be changed.
Garcia had left the course and was not available for comment when his disqualification was announced.
"It's my fault for putting the wrong score in, but it's his fault for not checking," said Weekley, who shot five-under 65. "I just said 'Sergio, I put a 4 but in fact you had a 5.' He said, 'That just puts the icing on the cake.'
Indeed, it has been a rough week and a rough summer for Garcia. On Thursday, Garcia got into an animated argument with a course official who put his group on the clock as they made the turn. After an opening-round 70, he shot 75 the second day to fall out of contention. He made the cut with no room to spare.
At the Open, Garcia lost to Padraig Harrington in a play-off after missing a putt on the 18th hole that would have won the tournament.
In a memorable post-round news conference, for all the wrong reasons, Sergio complained about all the breaks that go against him and all the bad luck he has.
"You know what's the saddest thing about it?" Garcia said. "It's not the first time. It's not the first time, unfortunately. So, I don't know, I'm playing against a lot of guys out there, more than the field."
This time, it was Weekley's mistake and his own carelessness that did in Garcia.
Both players three-putted the 18th green and Garcia was furious after his second putt didn't go in. He reared back with his putter as if he was going to swing it in anger, but held back. He spent a few moments staring in disbelief at the area where he'd just putted.

US PGA CHAMPIONSHIP SCOREBOARD
THIRD ROUND
Southern Hills GC, Oklahoma.
Par 210 (3 x 70)
203 Tiger Woods 71 63 69
206 Stephen Ames (Can) 68 69 69
207 Woody Austin 68 70 69
208 John Senden (Aus) 69 70 69
209 Ernie Els (Rsa) 72 68 69
210 Arron Oberholser 68 72 70, Nathan Green (Aus) 75 68 67, Adam Scott (Aus) 72 68 70, KJ Choi (Kor) 71 71 68, Boo Weekley 76 69 65, Kevin Sutherland 73 69 68, Scott Verplank 70 66 74
211 Trevor Immelman (Rsa) 75 70 66, Geoff Ogilvy (Aus) 69 68 74
212 Peter Hanson (Swe) 72 71 69, Sean O'Hair 70 72 70
213 John Daly 67 73 73, Anders Hansen (Den) 71 71 71, Justin Rose (Eng) 70 73 70, Steve Flesch 72 73 68, Ken Duke 73 71 69, Luke Donald (Eng) 72 71 70, Stuart Appleby (Aus) 73 68 72
214 Steve Stricker 77 68 69, Tim Herron 75 68 71, Stewart Cink 72 70 72, Heath Slocum 72 70 72, Darren Clarke (NIrl) 77 66 71, Bob Tway 71 72 71, Joe Durant 71 73 70, Shaun Micheel 73 71 70, Ian Poulter (Eng) 71 73 70, Corey Pavin 74 68 72, Camilo Villegas (Col) 69 71 74, Troy Matteson 72 69 73, Brandt Snedeker 74 71 69, Padraig Harrington (Irl) 69 73 72
215 Kenny Perry 72 72 71, Retief Goosen (Rsa) 70 71 74, Richard Green (Aus) 72 73 70, Brett Wetterich 74 71 70, Graeme Storm (Eng) 65 76 74, Shingo Katayama (Jpn) 76 67 72
216 Pat Perez 70 69 77, Rodney Pampling (Aus) 70 74 72, Bart Bryant 74 70 72, David Toms 71 74 71, Simon Dyson (Eng) 73 71 72, Nick O'Hern (Aus) 72 72 72, Paul Casey (Eng) 72 70 74, Will MacKenzie 72 70 74, Hunter Mahan 71 73 72, Anthony Kim 73 72 71, Brett Quigley 76 67 73, Paul McGinley (Irl) 74 66 76
217 Phil Mickelson 73 69 75, Charles Howell III 75 70 72
218 Chad Campbell 77 68 73, Niclas Fasth (Swe) 71 68 79, Colin Montgomerie (Sco) 72 73 73, Tom Lehman 73 71 74, Lee Westwood (Eng) 69 74 75
219 Robert Karlsson (Swe) 73 71 75, Sergio Garcia (Spa) 70 75 74, Lucas Glover 70 75 74, Todd Hamilton 73 72 74
220 Thomas Bjorn (Den) 73 71 76, Billy Mayfair 76 69 75, Frank Lickliter II 70 75 75
221 Mike Small (Eng) 73 70 78, Brian Bateman 71 74 76
223 Ryan Benzel 71 72 80

RECORD-BEATER McEWAN ONLY ONE SHOT AHEAD
GOING INTO LAST DAY OF LEVEN GOLD MEDAL

New course record-holder Steven McEwan (Caprington) followed up his nine-under-par 62 (one shot inside the old mark set by Leven Golfing Society member Euan Bullians) with a 69 for a halfway total of 11-under-par 131.
But even that very low scoring mark did not given Steven a clear lead to take into Sunday’s final 36 holes of the Standard Life Leven Gold Medal.
Former Scottish boys’ match-play champion James White, junior, well acquainted with the Levin Links through his membership of neighbouring Lundin Golf Club, is right on his tail with 65 and 67 for 132.
Steven Rennie had a hole in one at the fifth in the afternoon and Wallace Booth (Comrie), the SGU Order of Merit leader, survived the cut at 144 despite a 10 and a 9 on his scorecards of 70 and 71 for 141.
QUALIFIERS FOR FINAL 36 HOLES
131 S McEwan 62 69.
132 J White jun 65 67.
133 B Soutar 66 67.
134 R Dixon 68 66.
135 S Mann 68 67, K Nicol 67 68.
136 J Findlay 71 65, S Rennie 70 66, R McCarthy 70 66, G Campbell 67 69.
137 S Robertson 72 65, P O’Hara 69 68, G Tough 68 69.
138 G Robertson 69 698, M Hillson 68 70, L Miller 68 70.
139 M Main 74 65, G Paterson 72 67, G Turner 69 70, A Main 68 71, Z Saltman 67 72, S Graham 66 73.
140 C Harkins 66 74.
141 D Martin 71 70, W Booth 70 71, S Hume 69 72, R Kellett 69 72, S McAllister 692 72.
142 D Yeats 73 69, C Mundie 72 70, S Michie 71 71, A Howard 69 73, E Polson 69 73.
143 G Stevenson 73 70, R McKenzie 72 71, J Welsh 72 71, S Machin 72 71, M Lawrence 70 73, B Fotheringham 70 73.
144 D Downie 72 72, J Laurie 71 73, B Heggie 70 74.
MISSED THE CUT
145 D Sommerville 77 68, F Henderson 76 69, P Betty 73 72, E Malcolm 73 72, B Erskine 72 73, G Yates 71 74, D Gould 71 74, J Hempstock 70 75.
146 J Brownlee 74 72, A Culverwell 73 73, K Weir 72 74, G Thomson 76 71, D Murray 73 74.
148 R Carson 73 75.
149 M Dargie 77 72, K Blyth 75 74, M Anderson 73 76.
150 S Neilson 78 72, B McDermott 75 75, S Elder 73 77.
152 E Bullions 76 76, O Morton 75 77, M Wilson 75 77.
153 W Anderson 79 74, N Hutcheon 75 78, R Craig 78 77, D Mitchell 74 81.
161 D Nicolson 83 78.

SAM CAIRNS WINS £1,821 PRIZE FOR
7-UNDER PAR 64 AT PETERCULTER

Sam Cairns (Westerwood) shot what is believed to be a professional course record of seven-under-par 64 in winning the top prize of £1,821 in the Kippie Lodge pro-am at Peterculter Golf Club, near Aberdeen today.
Cairns' blemish-free round had birdies at the seventh, 12th, 13th, 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th in halves of 35 (one under par) and 29 (six under par).
He won by one stroke from Graeme Lornie (Aspire Golf Centre) who collected his biggest ever cheque for £1,450.
Former Walker Cup player Lindsay Mann (Kings Links) led "The Footballers" team of Joe Harper (handicap 13), Duncan Davidson (11) and Drew Jarvie (10) to victory with a net two-ball score of 121.

LEADING PROFESSIONALS
Par 71
64 S Cairns (Westerwood).
65 G Lornie (Aspire).
66 B Mason (Drumoig DR), S Rettie (Royal Troon).
67 D McCormack (East Aberdeenshire), P McKechnie (Braid Hills), M King (Kingsfield), A Lockhart (Ladybank), B Dunbar (unatt), S Gray (Hayston), S Duncan (Balbirnie Park).

DINWIDDIE LEADS BY TWO FROM MURRAY
WITH ONE ROUND TO GO IN CARDRONA
CHALLENGE TOUR EVENT

By MICHAEL GIBBONS
Press Officer, Challenger Tour

A bout of self psychology, coupled with a superb 30 foot birdie putt, helped Robert Dinwiddie take a two shot lead over George Murray at the Scottish Challenge presented by Bank of Scotland Corporate.
The Englishman was not entirely satisfied with his mindset over the opening seven holes of his third round at the Macdonald Hotel Golf and Country Club, but after re-focusing himself and then draining that 30 footer on the eighth hole, Dinwiddie surged forward and picked up a further four birdies en route to a four under par 68.
That ensured a 15 under 201 total and a two shot advantage over Scotsman Murray, with another Scot Peter Whiteford – who double bogeyed the par five 18th after losing a ball – and Welshman Jamie Donaldson on 12 under.
Dinwiddie is hoping to close out what would be a maiden Challenge Tour victory after a formidable amateur record before turning professional at the end of last season, having played in the 2005 Walker Cup and collected the 2005 Scottish and Welsh Amateur Open Strokeplay Championships as well as the English edition in 2006.
“I played nicely although didn’t feel as focused as I should have been for the first few holes,” said Dinwiddie.
“Then I managed to roll in a really nice birdie putt on the eight and that got me going for the round.
“It can be tough when you don’t feel entirely focused but you have to try and have a talk to yourself and holing a nice putt as I did in the eighth is often the best way to boost your spirits.
“I’m just going to go out and play tomorrow. I have to be patient but I am really looking forward to it. It’s exciting to be in this position and hopefully I can finis the job.”
Despite the damp, soggy conditions at the Macdonald Cardrona Hotel Golf and Club, Murray produced a brilliant third round performance, the best round of the day, to sign for a seven under 65.
“If I can shoot the same again tomorrow I’ll be in with a great chance. It was solid today – I only ever looked like dropping one shot but I managed to get up and down from 110 yards.
“I putted well today, the best I have done for some while which I have needed to do because I need a big week.”
As the Scottish Challenge presented by Bank of Scotland Corporate enters its final round, hopes of a home winner are high, with Murray and Whiteford joined by Jamie McLeary and amateur star Lloyd Saltman in contention for the title.
McLeary and Saltman carded matching 66s on day three to finish on 11 under 205 and four shots off the lead.
McLeary is hoping for a strong finish to kick start his season and break into the Challenge Tour’s top 100, while Saltman, who looks likely to turn professional after the forthcoming Walker Cup, is gauging his skills against some of Europe’s best young professionals.
The 22 year old Saltman is currently ranked third on the R&A’s amateur world rankings, a statistic he has thoroughly justified this week with a performance packed with class, control and authority, having played his last 42 holes of the tournament without dropping a stroke.
It promises to be a thrilling final day, with some of the Challenge Tour’s highest ranked players of 2007 in position to make a bid for the €32,000 first prize that would guarantee their place on The 2008 European Tour via the top 20 on the Rankings.
Currently 19th with season’s earnings of €36,195, Donaldson can almost double his money with a winning surge from his current position of third on 12 under; while Dutchman Joost Luiten can earn instant promotion to The European Tour by collecting his third title of 2007.
The 21 year old is currently fourth on the Rankings and sitting ominously on 11 under par 205 given his record of unbelievable final rounds this season. Luiten won in France with a last day 64 before re-writing Challenge Tour history in Germany with a stunning final round 61, the lowest final round by a winner in the tour’s history.

THIRD ROUND TOTALS
Macdonald Cardrona Hotel G&CC
Par 216 (3 x 72). 6,990yd

201 Robert Dinwiddie (Eng) 70 63 68;
203 George Murray (Sco) 70 68 65;
204 Peter Whiteford (Sco) 66 67 71; Jamie Donaldson (Wal) 68 68 68;
205 Alvaro Velasco (Esp) 65 71 69; Eric Ramsay (Sco) 66 68 71; Jamie McLeary (Sco) 67 72 66; Christian Reimbold (Ger) 69 68 68; Joost Luiten (Ned) 69 66 70; Lloyd Saltman (Sco) (am) 70 69 66; Stuart Manley (Wal) 64 73 69;
206 Fabrizio Zanotti (Par) 70 66 70; André Bossert (Sui) 68 68 70; John Mellor (Eng) 68 68 70;
207 Peter Baker (Eng) 70 68 69; David Patrick (Sco) 67 69 71; David Dixon (Eng) 72 68 67; Andrew McArthur (Sco) 66 69 72; Rolf Muntz (Ned) 70 68 69; Duncan Stewart (Sco) (am) 68 68 71; Gustavo Rojas (Arg) 71 69 68; Colm Moriarty (Irl) 69 72 67; David Higgins (Irl) 69 69 70; Anders Schmidt Hansen (Den) 73 66 69; Simon Thornton (Irl) 70 71 67; Chris Gane (Eng) 68 72 68;
209 Craig Williams (Wal) 67 71 71; Richie Ramsay (Sco) 67 70 72; Hernan Rey (Arg) 66 71 72; Dean Robertson (Sco) 70 69 70; Carlos Del Moral (Esp) 70 70 69;
210 Manuel Merizalde (Col) 68 71 71; Scott Henderson (Sco) 68 71 71; Ricardo Santos (Por) 68 71 71; Jerome Theunis (Bel) 69 72 69; Gary Clark (Eng) 71 70 69; François Calmels (Fra) 70 71 69; Jean Hugo (Rsa) 71 67 72; Kevin McAlpine (Sco) (am) 67 73 70;
211 Kariem Baraka (Ger) 72 67 72; Euan Little (Sco) 73 65 73; Gareth Maybin (Nir) 68 71 72; Alvaro Salto (Esp) 70 68 73; François Delamontagne (Fra) 68 72 71; Greig Hutcheon (Sco) 73 66 72; Luis Claverie (Esp) 70 71 70; Peter Fowler (Aus) 68 73 70;
212 Stephen Scahill (Nzl) 71 70 71; Chris Kelly (Sco) 72 68 72; Mahal Pearce (Nzl) 70 70 72; Liam Bond (Wal) 71 68 73; Scott Jamieson (Sco) 73 67 72;
213 Anthony Snobeck (Fra) 69 71 73; Gareth Paddison (Nzl) 70 69 74; Van Phillips (Eng) 68 71 74; James Ablett (Eng) 66 75 72; Paul Nilbrink (Nor) 72 69 72; Matt Ford (Eng) 69 68 76;
214 Stuart Davis (Eng) 74 67 73; Gary Marks (Eng) 70 69 75; Felipe Aguilar (Chi) 67 72 75; James H Williams (Wal) 71 69 74; Inder Van Weerelt (Ned) 69 69 77; Oskar Bergman (Swe) 71 69 75; Adrien Mörk (Fra) 70 71 74;
216 Julio Zapata (Arg) 72 69 75;
217 Jan-Are Larsen (Nor) 65 74 78;
219 Raphaël De Sousa (Sui) 66 72 81;
222 Murray Urquhart (Sco) 68 72 82;

PETERHEAD PLAYER 16 SHOTS OFF THE
PACE IN HILVERSUM

Scotland youth cap Philip McLean from Peterhead had a third-round, two-under-par 70 for a three-round total of 222 in the Hilversum Open at Hilversum Golf Club in the Netherlands.
Philip's earlier rounds were 75 and 77. He goes into Sunday's final round in joint 36th place, 16 shots behind the joint leaders on 10-under 206, Floris De Vries and Robin Swane.
Former Northern Open champion Peter Smith, the club pro at Hilversum, has scored 75, 71 and 73 for 219.
Robert McKnight (Kilmarnock Barassie) missed the halfway cut with 77 and 78 for 155.

RED-HOT ROCCA SHOOTS 62 BUT
MASON LEADS BY ONE IN SWITZERLAND

Italy’s Costantino Rocca rolled back the years to fire an eight under par 62 and roar into contention at the Bad Ragaz PGA Seniors Open in Switzerland, where Zimbabwe’s Tony Johnstone holed in one in his score of 65, but it is England’s Carl Mason who leads the way by one stroke on 11 under par after a second round of 64.
The Golf Club Bad Ragaz, nestled in The Alps, proved conducive to low scoring on day two of the European Seniors Tour event, and red numbers littered the scorecards of those competing for the €31,500 first prize.
With the tight, 6,152 yard course again wet and playing longer due to overnight rain, preferred lies were in operation – and Rocca took advantage with some red-hot golf as he surged through the field to the top of the leaderboard until Mason displaced him.
Out in 33, Rocca hit six birdies in a row from the 11th hole onwards to get to ten under par, coming home in just 29 shots.
Rocca, winner of the AIB Irish Seniors Open in June, is enjoying his debut senior season, and said: “It is my best golf for a long time. Ten years ago, in 1997, I shot a 62 at Crans-sur-Sierre, so I like Switzerland, yes. I hit my irons very close today, but you still need to make the putt.
“I missed a short putt on ten but holed a good putt on 11, and all of a sudden I clicked. I found good rhythm, which is very important. The best one I put on the 14th, the par three, which I put it to a foot. I just hope I can carry on tomorrow.”
Rocca’s playing partner Terry Gale, winner at Bad Ragaz in 2005, said: “He played fantastic golf and his irons were a joy to watch.”
Mason, who opened with a 65, continued his fine play with a round that had seven birdies and just one dropped shot.
Finding the conditions to his liking, he got off to a flier, with birdies at the opening three holes, in an outward nine of 31 strokes, before coming back in 33.
He said: “The start was perfect – and certainly makes your round that little bit easier. I hit to six feet at the first, knocked it stiff on the second for a tap in, and holed from 10 feet on the third – so we’re off and running straight away.
“Anytime you’re in a position to win is exciting – you’ve just got to take your chances when they come. I’m looking forward to tomorrow and playing with Costantino. Hopefully, I’ll do enough to win.”
Overnight co-leader, Scotland’s Steve Martin, will go out in the penultimate group, which he was happy to hear after admitting to some nerves during his second round while playing in the last group of the day with Argentina’s Horacio Carbonetti and Northern Ireland’s Jimmy Heggarty.
The Dundee man went out in 35 and back in 32 for his three under par 67. He said: “I’ve got no complaints. There was a wee bit more pressure today, playing in the final three-ball, as I’ve not had that experience for a long time. I three-putted the first, so didn’t get off to the best of starts, but I birdied the par five fourth hole and that settled me down.
“I played a good back nine. There’s only one leaderboard on the back nine, on the 16th, so I wasn’t looking at the scores. But I think I’ll be in the last group and playing with Costantino and Carl, so I’ll look forward to it. We’ll see what tomorrow holds.”
After his 65, Tony Johnstone was left to ponder whether he had room for a brand new A170 Mercedes at home in Sunningdale after holing in one on the 17th and winning the car.
“I think it’s worth £16,000 – £20,000, so I’m going to ask for a cheque, and put it in my pocket,” he laughed. “I haven’t got space for anymore cars at home on the driveway.
“I just bought my 17 year old daughter Lauren a car, unfortunately, a month ago. My wife Karen’s got a new car, about a year old, and I’ve got two little fun cars. So we’ve got five cars on the driveway – it’s too much! But I’m not going to say no to another one, after that shot.”
Talking about his ace, he said: “It was a six iron. I absolutely nailed it straight down the flag, which was at the front. It pitched just short of the green and took a firm bounce – which was quite a bit of luck really, as the fringes are quite soft – dead straight forward. It rolled up and in dead centre.
“I could see it in all the way, as the 17th is a raised tee. There’s nothing worse than getting a hole in one and not seeing it because of a mound or something in the way. We just tracked it all the way in and there were quite a few people who saw it too, which was nice.
“That was my sixth hole in one in my career. I’ve been quite lucky – it’s my third car. I won a Mercedes station wagon in the German Open in 1980, and a Volvo at Moor Park in 1984. I’m doing well.”
What most pleased Johnstone, however, was his overall score and the way he performed on the greens.
“I birdied three in a row – four, five and six – played really well all day, but didn’t really hit it close enough on the rest of the way around. I had a few that shaved the hole, and three putted on 16 after getting on in two, for a par five. That was my only mistake of the day.
“I was bitching and moaning about three-putting and then get a hole in one. It’s a lovely game. I’m very happy with my 65, as that is probably my best putting round in the last two years. I’ve been putting miserably. I came off the course yesterday and said to my caddie, ’I’m not going to hit another practice ball. I’m just going to putt and get it sorted.’”
Northern Ireland’s Eddie Polland, playing in the group behind Johnstone, almost followed suit, but pitched inches behind the cup. He joked: “I won one three years ago, so don’t need it.” He signed for 67, a score he professed to be “very happy with.”
Another feeling good was England’s David J Russell, who shot a 64 as he continues to recover from pulling a muscle in his lower back.
He birdied the third hole, rolling in a 15 footer for a two, holed out from 10 feet on the eighth hole for an outward 33. Coming home, Russell holed from six feet at the 13th, eagled the 484-yard par five 16th by holing from 25 feet, and then had another birdie two on 17 after draining a 15 foot effort.
He said: “I’m back – I just need to hole a few putts to compete. It was nice to putt well, as I’ve been leaving the ball short. It’s confidence. I started rolling the ball out a bit better and I’m pleased, because it’s a tricky course and isn’t one that really suits me that much.
“You have to fiddle it around the trees. I’d rather stand up and hit it, but I’m happy with the score and that I’m starting to do better. I’ve had a horrific season up until last week at the Wentworth Senior Masters, but I’m pleased I’m getting back to where I feel I belong, and challenging.”
Scotland’s Bill Longmuir shot a 66 that included five birdies. He said: “I was steady. I missed a lot of putts but did feel I was a bit more threatening on the greens. So there’s definitely an improvement, as I’ve been struggling to hole putts for a long time. But I feel as if I’ve turned a corner here.
“Little bit more stable. Although they’re not going in so often, I feel they’ve got more of a chance now. It’s better than it has been. It’s been a miserable year up until now and it’s been frustrating. It goes back through your game when you’re not holing putts when you hit good shots. It’s getting a bit better, but a good day tomorrow is what I need.”
Defending champion Juan Quiros of Spain shot 65 to be three off the pace on an eight under par, 132 total.
SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 140 (2 x 70).
129 C Mason (Eng) 65 64
130 C Rocca (Ita) 68 62
131 S Martin (Sco) 64 67, H Carbonetti (Arg) 64 67
132 J Quiros (Esp) 67 65
134 J Rivero (Esp) 67 67, D Johnson (USA) 66 68, DJ Russell (Eng) 70 64, B Longmuir (Sco) 68 66
135 P Dugeny (Fra) 70 65, B Cameron (Eng) 67 68, D Cambridge (Jam) 68 67
136 D Creamer (Eng) 67 69, J Benda (USA) 70 66, A Sowa (Arg) 67 69, S Ginn (Aus) 70 66
137 R Carrasco (USA) 68 69, G Ralph (Eng) 70 67, B Lendzion (USA) 68 69, D Merriman (Aus) 70 67, J Heggarty (Nir) 65 72, N Job (Eng) 69 68, T Johnstone (Zim) 72 65, K Tomori (Jpn) 66 71
138 I Palmer (RSA) 67 71, E Polland (Nir) 71 67, N Ratcliffe (Aus) 70 68, M Bembridge (Eng) 67 71
139 GJ Brand (Eng) 71 68, B Larratt (Eng) 69 70, J Bland (RSA) 67 72, J Rhodes (Eng) 67 72, B Lincoln (RSA) 69 70, M Pinero (Esp) 68 71, A Fernandez (Chi)
140 D O’Sullivan (Irl) 70 70, P Oakley (USA) 71 69, G Watine (Fra) 72 68, T Price (Wal) 71 69, T Gale (Aus) 68 72
141 B Smit (RSA) 74 67, M Gray (Sco) 69 72, T Allen (Eng) 71 70
142 B Charles (Nzl) 71 71, I Mosey (Eng) 69 73, L Carbonetti (Arg) 70 72
143 J Chillas (Sco) 73 70, T Rastall (Eng) 72 71, E Rodriguez (Esp) 73 70, D Good (Aus) 73 70, S Owen (Nzl) 72 71, K Spurgeon (Eng) 72 71, G Encina (Chi) 69 74, J Hall (Eng) 71 72, T Horton (Eng) 70 73, P Teravainen (USA) 71 72
144 J Lapsley (Nzl) 74 70, J Mashego (RSA) 71 73, J Bruner (USA) 72 72
145 G Cali (Ita) 78 67, M Ferguson (Aus) 68 77
146 M Poxon (Eng) 73 73, A Garrido (Esp) 74 72
147 G Levenson (RSA) 75 72, B Malley (USA) 73 74
148 M Miller (Sco) 72 76
149 A Croce (Ita) 72 77
150 T Charnley (Eng) 74 76
151 L Higgins (Irl) 75 76
152 D Durnian (Eng) 78 74
154 V Krajewski (USA) 75 79
155 H Schumacher (Sui) 76 79

STEVEN MCEWAN BREAKS LEVEN LINKS
RECORD WITH A NINE-UNDER-PAR 62

Steven McEwan shaved a stroke of the Leven Links course record with a splendid opening round of nine-under-par 62 in the 72-hole Standard Life Leven Gold Medal today
McEwan, 19-year-old member at Caprington Golf Club, near Kilmarnock, lowered the mark of 63 set earlier this season by Leven Golfing Society member Euan Bullions.
McEwan, winner of the Scottish boys' stroke-play championship at Monifieth in 2005, had a great run of five successive 3s from the fifth to the ninth. The sixth was an eagle 3 and the eight a birdie 3 in an outward half of four-under-par 30. He held his score together well in showery weather to come in 32 for 62.
That gave him a three-stroke lead over James White (Lundin), a Stirling University student and last year's Scottish boys' match-play champion at West Kilbride.
James' father, a reinstated Tartan Tour pro, won the Leven Gold Medal in 2002.

LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 71. CSS 71
62 S McEwan (Caprington).
65 J White jun (Lundin).
66 S Graham (Blairgowrie), B Soutar (Leven GS), C Harkins (Ayr Belleisle).
67 Z Saltman (Craigielaw), G Campbell (Blairgowrie), K Nicol (Fraserburgh).
68 R Dixon (Kilmarnock Barassie), L Miller (Cawder), M Hillson (Craigielaw), A Main (Thornton), S Mann (Carnoustie), G Tough (Letham Grange).
69 A Howard (Murrayshall), G Robertson (Silverknowes), S McAllister (Craigielaw), G Turner (West Linton), R Kellett (Colville Park), E Polson (Inverness), P O'Hara (Colville Park), S Hume (Murrayshall).
70 W Booth (Comrie), B Heggie (Leven GS), B Fotheringham (Forres), S Rennie (Airdrie), J Hempstock (Dumfries & Galloway), R McCarthy (The Island, Dublin), M Lawrence (Newmachar).
71 G Yates (Hilton Park), D Martin (Alyth), J Findlay (Fraserburgh), J Laurie (Bonnyton), D Gould (Ladybank), S Michie.
72 C Mundie, G Paterson, D Downie, S Machin.
73 P Betty, A Culveerwell, E Malcolm, M Anderson, S Elder, G Stevenson, D Yeats.
74 J Brownlee, M Main, D Mitchell.
75 M Wilson, O Morton, N Hutcheon, K Blyth.
76 F Henderson, G Thomson, E Bullions.
77 M Dargie, D Somerville, G McNab.
78 R Craig, S Neilson.
79 W Anderson.
83 D Nicolson.

SCOTS WHO DID WELL IN BRITISH SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP

PATRICK TOMISSON (Nairn), left), and JOHN FRASER (Royal Burgess), who finished joint 11th and tied 13th respectively from a starting field of more than 250 for the British senior men's open amateur championship at Nairn and Nairn Dunbar golf clubs.
The leading Scot was Gordon Brown (Vale of Leven). He had the best last-round score of 67 for 217 to finish joint seventh.
Didn't they do well?

BEGORRAH! FIRST HARRINGTON, THEN PIERSE FOR IRISH GLORY DOUBLE

Arthur Pierse, 56, from Tipperary, the first Irishman to win the British senior men's open amateur championship. He beat Canadian Graham Cooke, 60, from Hudson, Quebec at the third hole of a sudden-death play-off after they had tied on five-under-par 211 at Nairn on Friday evening. Picture copyright Cal Carson Golf Agency. Click on the image to enlarge it. Scroll down for a full report on the last day's play.

PETER LATIMER KOs LEADING

QUALIFIER IN ROYAL DORNOCH

CARNEGIE SHIELD

By ROBIN WILSON

Peter Latimer from Markinch in Fife, a freshman student at Guilford College, North Carolina enjoyed a comprehensive 6 and 5 victory over leading qualifier Ian Rennie (Royal Dornoch ) in round two of the Carnegie Shield at Royal Dornoch.

This set up an intriguing semi final against the 2005 winner, Andrew Bigadike. Biggadike it was, when the two met in a quarter final in 2005, who recommended Guilford College and his former coach Jack Jenson to Latimer when he was considering a scholarship in the States and in the Spring this year the Fifer won his first tournament on the the US College Tour.

Latimer is pictured on right.
Local holder Jimmy Gunn, with a one-hole lead over Greg Lynn (Bathgate), got into a dormy position and won on the 17th green to line up against Greg Bacon (Mellor & Townscliffe) from near Stockport. Bacon beat the No 2 seed John Miller (Gullane) after 16 holes in the quarter final.
Results.

SECOND ROUND

I Rennie bt M Leiville (Ansley) 2 and 1.

P Latimer (St Andrews New) bt A Easterbrook (Rancho Park) 5 and 3.

W B Anderson (Cumbuslang) bt K Matheson 2 holes.
A Biggadike (US) bt G MacIntyre (Stirling) 8 and 6.

G Lynn (Bathgate bt M O'Hara (Bathgate) 1 hole.

J M Gunn bt D M MacIntyre (Strirling) 4 and 2.

G Bacon (Mellor & Townscliffe) bt S Wilson (Inverness) 1 hole.

J Miller (Gullane) bt M Oliver (Shifnal) 1 hole.

QUARTER-FINALS

Latimer bt Rennie 6 and 5.

Biggadike bt Anderson 2 and 2.

Gunn bt Lynn 3 and 1.

Bacon bt Miller 3 and 2.

TIGER TAKES COMMAND OF US PGA
CHAMPIONSHIP WITH A 63

Tiger Woods came within a fraction of making history but has still done more than enough to take command of the US PGA Championship at Southern Hills, Oklahoma.
Woods was nearly as hot as the 100 degree temperatures, firing a seven-under-par 63 to claim a two-shot lead in the second round.
No-one in major history has carded a 62 but the world number one almost added another milestone to his incredible career when his curling birdie putt on the 18th green horse-shoed out.
"It was an ideal start," Woods said. "I was three under through five and it just turned. I hit some nice shots out there."
A birdie at 10 got the back nine off to a good start but it was a par that really jump-started Woods. After hitting into a bunker, Woods had a 35-foot putt for his four on the 12th and the putt found the left edge of the cup and dropped.
"That just kept the momentum of the round going, that was a big putt," Woods admitted. Then from there I made a couple more birdies, which was nice."
Three straight birdies followed and with three holes to play that ground-breaking 62 was on the cards.
He failed with a 15ft birdie attempt at 16 but it was 18 where history looked like being made as his 18ft effort appeared set to drop into the cup before jumping out. An exasperated Woods dropped his putter to the green in disgust.
"I hit a good putt and I thought I made it," Woods said. "It would have been nice to have gotten a record and a three-shot lead going into the weekend. I hit a good putt, that's the important part. It just didn't go in."
Canadian Stephen Ames had the lead briefly at four under after consecutive birdies at the 13th and 14th but closed with a bogey on 18 to tie for third at three under after a 69. Australian Geoff Ogilvy was tied for the lead with Woods late in his round but a pair of bogeys to drop to three-under.

US PGA CHAMPIONSHIP SCOREBOARD
Southern Hills CC.
SECOND ROUND TOTALS
Par 140 (2 x 70)
QUALIFIERS
134 Tiger Woods 71 63
136 Scott Verplank 70 66
137 Geoff Ogilvy (Aus) 69 68, Stephen Ames (Can) 68 69
138 Woody Austin 68 70
139 Pat Perez 70 69, Niclas Fasth (Swe) 71 68, John Senden (Aus) 69 70
140 John Daly 67 73, Arron Oberholser 68 72, Adam Scott (Aus) 72 68, Ernie Els (Rsa) 72 68, Camilo Villegas (Col) 69 71, Paul McGinley (Irl) 74 66
141 Retief Goosen (Rsa) 70 71, Troy Matteson 72 69, Stuart Appleby (Aus) 73 68, Graeme Storm (Eng) 65 76
142 Anders Hansen (Den) 71 71, Kevin Sutherland 73 69, Stewart Cink 72 70, Heath Slocum 72 70, Paul Casey (Eng) 72 70, Will MacKenzie 72 70, Phil Mickelson 73 69, Sean O'Hair 70 72, KJ Choi (Kor) 71 71, Corey Pavin 74 68, Padraig Harrington (Irl) 69 73
143 Tim Herron 75 68, Darren Clarke (NIrl) 77 66, Bob Tway 71 72, Peter Hanson (Swe) 72 71, Ryan Benzel 71 72, Nathan Green (Aus) 75 68, Mike Small (Eng) 73 70, Brett Quigley 76 67, Justin Rose (Eng) 70 73, Luke Donald (Eng) 72 71, Lee Westwood (Eng) 69 74, Shingo Katayama (Jpn) 76 67
144 Rodney Pampling (Aus) 70 74, Bart Bryant 74 70, Tom Lehman 73 71, Nick O'Hern (Aus) 72 72, Simon Dyson (Eng) 73 71, Robert Karlsson (Swe) 73 71, Hunter Mahan 71 73, Kenny Perry 72 72, Joe Durant 71 73, Shaun Micheel 73 71, Thomas Bjorn (Den) 73 71, Ken Duke 73 71, Ian Poulter (Eng) 71 73
145 Billy Mayfair 76 69, David Toms 71 74, Todd Hamilton 73 72, Charles Howell III 75 70, Chad Campbell 77 68, Sergio Garcia (Spa) 70 75, Boo Weekley 76 69, Frank Lickliter II 70 75, Steve Stricker 77 68, Lucas Glover 70 75, Colin Montgomerie (Sco) 72 73, Steve Flesch 72 73, Brian Bateman 71 74, Anthony Kim 73 72, Trevor Immelman (Rsa) 75 70, Richard Green (Aus) 72 73, Brett Wetterich 74 71, Brandt Snedeker 74 71
MISSED THE CUT
146 Brad Lardon 70 76, Davis Love III 72 74, Ben Curtis 75 71, Mark Wilson 69 77, Vijay Singh (Fij) 75 71, J J Henry 71 75, Jim Furyk 75 71, Robert Allenby (Aus) 74 72, Markus Brier (Aut) 69 77, Rich Beem 76 70, Jonathan Byrd 74 72, D.J. Trahan 72 74
147 David Howell (Eng) 75 72, Jeff Sluman 74 73, Joe Ogilvie 77 70, Tom Pernice Jnr. 73 74, Philip Schmitt 79 68, Aaron Baddeley (Aus) 73 74, Justin Leonard 75 72, Wen-chong Liang (Chn) 73 74, Bradley Dredge (Wal) 73 74
148 Dean Wilson 75 73, John Rollins 73 75, Paul Goydos 75 73, Jose Coceres (Arg) 71 77
149 Michael Campbell (Nzl) 74 75, Raphael Jacquelin (Fra) 76 73, Toru Taniguchi (Jpn) 77 72, Tim Thelen 74 75, Daniel Chopra (Swe) 76 73, Mike Weir (Can) 77 72, Ryuji Imada (Jpn) 78 71, Kelly Mitchum 77 72, Henrik Stenson (Swe) 75 74, Gregory Havret (Fra) 75 74
150 Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) 76 74, Rory Sabbatini (Rsa) 74 76, Vaughn Taylor 76 74, Zach Johnson 74 76, Yong-eun Yang (Kor) 74 76, Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) 78 72
151 Charley Hoffman 75 76, Mark Calcavecchia 79 72, Bo Van Pelt 77 74, Angel Cabrera (Arg) 81 70
152 Jeff Quinney 78 74, Chris DiMarco 79 73, Eric Axley 75 77, Ted Purdy 76 76, John O'Leary (Irl) 75 77, Fred Funk 76 76
153 Nick Watney 78 75, Charl Schwartzel (Rsa) 77 76, Soren Hansen (Den) 74 79, Nick Dougherty (Eng) 79 74, Steve Elkington (Aus) 75 78, Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) 80 73, Andres Romero (Arg) 81 72, Ryan Moore 79 74
154 Robert Gaus 78 76, Tim Clark (Rsa) 82 72
155 Jose-Maria Olazabal (Spa) 75 80, Stephen Leaney (Aus) 77 78, Kevin Burton 79 76, Mark Brooks 79 76, Johan Edfors (Swe) 79 76, Scott Hebert 79 76
156 Jerry Kelly 79 77, Butch Sheehan 82 74
157 Matt Call 81 76, William Amundsen 76 81
158 Denis Watson 74 84, Bob McGrath 80 78, Chip Sullivan 78 80, Bubba Watson 79 79, Don Yrene 80 78
159 Micah Rudosky 83 76
160 Erik Wolf 83 77
161 Greg Bisconti 82 79
164 Matthew Seitz 83 81

WARDROP SCORES FIRST PGA EUROPRO TOUR
VICTORY AT OULTON HALL MASTERS

Daniel Wardrop has won his first ever PGA EuroPro Tour event. Wardrop, 24, a member of the Didsbury Golf Club in Manchester, ended on 12-under in the De Vere Oulton Hall Masters in Leeds to scoop the £10,000 top prize.
He has played on the tour since 2002 and had never previously won a competition, with his closest effort being a second place finish at Swallow Farleigh Court, Surrey, in June 2005.
His recent form had been impressive after coming fifth at Bovey Castle, Devon and level sixth at Maylands, Essex, last week and he maintained that performance in Yorkshire.
Scores of 67 and 68 on the opening two days saw him comfortably make the cut as he started the final day in tied fifth, one shot behind four players.
But an eagle on the 527-yard par-five fourth moved him into the lead and three birdies from his last seven holes ensured he stayed there.
This victory moves Wardrop up to fifth in the PGA EuroPro Tour’s Order of Merit and guarantees him a place at the end-of-season Tour Championships in October.
There could also be a further incentive for Wardrop as if he is in the top five after that competition, then he will qualify for a 2008 Challenge Tour card.
Simon Robinson (The Wynyard Club, Billingham) finished in second on 11-under, with Andrew Willey (Ramsdale Park, Nottinghamshire), James Morrison (St George’s Hill, Weybridge) and Michael Searle (Woodbury Park, Devon) all on 10-under.
Three birdies in his first four holes helped Ireland’s Justin Kehoe, who played in the 2007 Open, claim his first tour top 15 finish of the year in level eighth.
Guy Woodman (Stoke Park), a winner in event five at Collingtree Park, Northampton at the end of May, could not repeat that triumph again in this tournament. A score of 68 on Thursday had gave him an opportunity of securing a top ten finish but his hopes were dashed with a third round of 72, despite an eagle on the 16th.
There was a large amount of local interest on the final day as two-time 2007 winner Graeme Clark (Doncaster) finished level sixth on eight-under, while Christopher Hanson (Crosland Heath) and James Mason (Rotherham GC) both finished on five-under.
Other local interest saw Joe Feather (Leeds Golf Centre) end on one-under, Michael Hempstock (Doncaster) finish on par with Haminder Matharu (Cookridge GC) a shot further back.
The next event of the season is at the Whittlebury Park Golf and Country Club in Northamptonshire from Wednesday, August 22 to Friday, August 24.
SCOREBOARD
201 Daniel Wardrop (Eng) 67 68 66 (£10,000).
202 Simon Robinson (Eng) 66 69 67 (£5,000).
203 Andrew Willey (Eng) 66 71 66, James Morrison (Eng) 64 70 69, Michael Searle (Eng) 65 69 69.
205 Graeme Clark (Eng) 67 70 68, Eddie Vernon (Eng) 66 70 69.

STEVE MARTIN INSPIRED BY THE ALPS,
HITS PEAK FORM IN SWITZERLAND

By GRAEME HAMLETT
European Seniors Tour press officer

Former Walker Cup player Steve Martin from Dundee is the co-leader of the Bad Ragaz PGA Seniors Open, with Argentina’s Horacio Carbonetti, after shooting a six under par 64, to have a one-stroke advantage in Switzerland from Northern Ireland’s Jimmy Heggarty and England’s Carl Mason.
Playing in the first group teeing off at 8.30am, Martin admitted he found inspiration in the form of the picturesque Alpine course, and said: “I’m very pleased – it’s my best round of the year and I just felt right in these surroundings. I’ve been struggling and finishing in 50-60th place in most tournaments. There have been some disasters, so I didn’t come here with any great expectations.
“The difference today was I got off to a good start and kept it going. I played steady and kept finding the greens. It’s a very congested course, so you’ve got to keep it tight and be able to move the ball. It’s a lovely place to have shot my best score of the year.”
The 52 year old from Dundee went out in 31 strokes and back in 33. His birdies on the outward nine came from three feet on the second hole, he got up and down from the greenside bunker on the 480-yard par five fourth hole, and then hit back to back birdies on holes eight and nine.
A run of six pars followed until he drained a 12 foot effort for a four on the 484-yard par five 16th hole. Then, on the 18th hole, Martin sank a snaking 20 foot putt down a slope to put the seal on a great score.
There were successful starts to the tournament for two other competing Scots. Bill Longmuir fired a two under par 68 and Martin Gray shot 69, while Mike Miller and John Chillas endured less favourable opening rounds after shooting 72 and 73 respectively.

YOUTH CAPS DOWN THE HILVERSUM FIELD

Scotland youth caps Philip McLean (Peterhead) and Robert McKnight (Kilmarnock Barassie) were lying joint 63rd and tied 86th respectively after the second round of the Hilversum Open professional golf tournament at Hilversum Golf Club in the Netherlands.
Philip had rounds of 75 and 77 for 152, Robert 77 and 78 for 155.
Former Northern Open champion Peter Smith, who is now the club pro at Hilversum, was in joint 24th place with scores of 75 and 71 for 146,.
Jurrian Van der Vaart led the field at eight under par 136 with 64 and 72.

DINWIDDIE AND WHITEFORD FORGET
FRIENDSHIP WHEN CHIPS ARE DOWN

By Michael Gibbons
European Challenge Tour Press Officer

Robert Dinwiddie and Peter Whiteford will put their friendship to one side as they lock horns for the third round of the Scottish Challenge presented by Bank of Scotland Corporate.
The Englishman and the Scot share the lead on 11-under-par 133 at the Macdonald Cardrona Hotel Golf and Country Club, near Peebles, one clear of another Scot, Eric Ramsay, with Andrew McArthur also flying the Saltire with pride, having moved into a share of fourth place with Dutchman Joost Luiten on nine under at the halfway stage.
Dinwiddie and Whiteford have been living life almost in tandem for the past week. Both men missed the cut in Ireland seven days ago and spent their free weekend celebrating Whiteford’s 27th birthday and taking in a spot of fishing on the banks of Lough Ree.
Of the tournament leaders, it was Dinwiddie who made the biggest move of the day as he put on a tremendous display to set a course record of nine-under 63 at the Macdonald Cardrona Hotel Golf and Country Club.
The 24 year old was flawless as he racked up nine birdies in a fantastic performance.
He said: “That was the lowest round I have shot as a professional so I have got be happy with that. I played well, very steady from tee to green and gave myself a lot of chances and holed few nice putts so I am delighted – especially given the prize money that is on offer this week.
“I’m 37th on the Rankings at the moment so a good finish on Sunday would move me up a fair bit.”
Whiteford’s two scores of 66-67 are all the more remarkable because he achieved them without his own golf clubs, which were lost in Lisbon over five weeks ago and have yet to be found.
The Scot has been playing with an assortment of borrowed drivers, three-woods and irons as he looks to get his season on track after a miserable first half of the year.
“I am taking most of my chances out there,” said Whiteford. “I’m delighted with my position because I need a big week with the way my season has gone. I should be able too do that from here.
“I’m looking forward to playing with Dinwiddie on Saturday. He’s a good lad and we were actually fishing in Ireland last week when we both missed the cut, although I caught nothing – hopefully I’ll be better on the golf course this weekend.”
The leaders, of course, will have to keep one eye over their shoulders as well as on each other as the third round heats up, with 15 players within five strokes of the 11 under par lead.
Luiten is an obvious danger, the low scoring Dutchman having won twice already on the 2007 Challenge Tour and eyeing the third victory that would ensure him automatic promotion to The European Tour.
LEADING HALFWAY TOTALS
Par 144 (2 x 72). 6,990yd.
133 Peter Whiteford (Sco) 66 67; Robert Dinwiddie (Eng) 70 63;
134 Eric Ramsay (Sco) 66 68;
135 Andrew McArthur (Sco) 66 69; Joost Luiten (Ned) 69 66;
136 André Bossert (Sui) 68 68; John Mellor (Eng) 68 68; Jamie Donaldson (Wal) 68 68; David Patrick (Sco) 67 69; Fabrizio Zanotti (Par) 70 66; Alvaro Velasco (Esp) 65 71; Duncan Stewart (Sco) (am) 68 68;
137 Christian Reimbold (Ger) 69 68; Hernan Rey (Arg) 66 71; Richie Ramsay (Sco) 67 70; Stuart Manley (Wal) 64 73; Matt Ford (Eng) 69 68; Raphaël De Sousa (Sui) 66 72;
138 Rolf Muntz (Ned) 70 68; 38 David Higgins (Irl) 69 69; Alvaro Salto (Esp) 70 68; Craig Williams (Wal) 67 71; Jean Hugo (Rsa) 71 67; Euan Little (Sco) 73 65; Peter Baker (Eng) 70 68; George Murray (Sco) 70 68; Inder Van Weerelt (Ned) 69 69;
139 Jan-Are Larsen (Nor) 65 74; Manuel Merizalde (Col) 68 71; Greig Hutcheon (Sco) 73 66; Ricardo Santos (Por) 68 71; Gareth Paddison (NZ) 70 69; Anders Schmidt Hansen (Den) 73 66; Van Phillips (Eng) 68 71; Kariem Baraka (Ger) 72 67 ; Scott Henderson (Sco) 68 71; Felipe Aguilar (Chi) 67 72; Jamie McLeary (Sco) 67 72; Liam Bond (Wal) 71 68; Gary Marks (Eng) 70 69; Dean Robertson (Sco) 70 69; Gareth Maybin (Nir) 68 71; Lloyd Saltman (Sco) (am) 70 69;
140 Mahal Pearce (Nzl) 70 70; David Dixon (Eng) 72 68; James H Williams (Wal) 71 69; Anthony Snobeck (Fra) 69 71; Chris Gane (Eng) 68 72; François Delamontagne (Fra) 68 72; Murray Urquhart (Sco) 68 72; Gustavo Rojas (Arg) 71 69; Carlos Del Moral (Esp) 70 70; Oskar Bergman (Swe) 71 69; Scott Jamieson (Sco) 73 67; Chris Kelly (Sco) 72 68; Kevin McAlpine (Sco) (am) 67 73;
141 James Ablett (Eng) 66 75; Gary Clark (Eng) 71 70; Paul Nilbrink (Nor) 72 69; ; Stuart Davis (Eng) 74 67; Jerome Theunis (Bel) 69 72; Julio Zapata (Arg) 72 69; Colm Moriarty (Irl) 69 72; Luis Claverie (Esp) 70 71; Stephen Scahill (Nzl) 71 70; François Calmels (Fra) 70 71; Adrien Mörk (Fra) 70 71; Peter Fowler (Aus) 68 73; Simon Thornton (Irl) 70 71;
142 Warren Bladon (Eng) 72 70; Andrew Butterfield (Eng) 74 68; Rodolfo Gonzalez (Arg) 72 70; Craig Lee (Sco) 71 71; Adam Frayne (Eng) 71 71; Raphaël Eyraud (Fra) 73 69; Raymond Russell (Sco) 71 71; Leif Westerberg (Swe) 72 70; Antti Ahokas (Fin) 70 72; Julien Guerrier (Fra) 69 73; Johan Sköld (Swe) 74 68; Elliot Saltman (Sco) 73 69; Fredrik Widmark (Swe) 67 75; Benjamin Miarka (Ger) 70 72.
143 Mikko Korhonen (Fin) 71 72; Benoit Teilleria (Fra) 71 72; Mickael Dieu (Fra) 75 68; Tim ; Milford (Eng) 72 71; Scott Strange (Aus) 72 71; Alessio Bruschi (Ita) 71 72; Niki Zitny (Aut) 73 70; Keir McNicoll (Sco) (am) 69 74;
144 Ross Mcgowan (Eng) 71 73; Chris Doak (Sco) 72 72; Callum Nicoll (Sco) 72 72; on Bevitt (Eng) 70 74; Craig Smith (Wal) 75 69; Jonathan Lomas (Eng) 70 74; Stephen Browne (Irl) 71 73; Magnus Persson (Swe) 72 72; Paul Doherty (Sco) 74 70; Edward Thomson (Sco) 73 71; Mark Sheppard (Wal) 74 70; Mark F Haastrup (Den) 73 71; Jack Doherty (Sco) 68 76; Didier De Vooght (Bel) 74 70;
145 Sébastien Delagrange (Fra) 72 73; Michael Hoey (Nir) 74 71; Thomas Nielsen (Den) 74 71; John Wade (Aus) 73 72; Gareth Wright (Wal) 73 72; Robert Coles (Eng) 70 75; Magnus A Carlsson (Swe) 73 72; Mark Laskey (Wal) 73 72; Graeme Brown (Sco) 78 67; Olivier David (Fra) 72 73; Jamie Little (Eng) 70 75.
146 Miguel Rodriguez (Arg) 70 76; Francis Valera (Esp) 74 72; Andrew Oldcorn (Sco) 74 72; Graham Gordon (Sco) 75 71; Pablo Herreria (Esp) 72 74; Julien Foret (Fra) 74 72; Phil Worthington (Eng) 73 73; Denny Lucas (Eng) 72 74; Callum Macaulay (Sco) (am) 75 71.
147 Peter Kaensche (Nor) 76 71; Ben Mason (Eng) 74 73; Marco Crespi (Ita) 73 74; Toni Karjalainen (Fin) 75 72; Alasdair Hay (Sco) 77 70; Steven Lamb (Sco) 73 74; Julien Van Hauwe (Fra) 74 73.
148 Klas Eriksson (Swe) 75 73; Carlos Balmaseda (Esp) 72 76; Mikael Lundberg (Swe) 78 70; Tim Dykes (Wal) 75 73; Ally Mellor (Eng) 74 74.
149 Jordi G Del Moral (Esp) 73 76; Matthew Cort (Eng) 74 75; Richard O'Hanlon (Eng) 73 76; Cédric Menut (Fra) 74 75; Daniel De Leon (Mex) 72 77; Roope Kakko (Fin) 72 77; Nicolas Vanhootegem (Bel) 73 76; Simon Hurd (Eng) 75 74.
150 Pablo Del Grosso (Arg) 72 78; Matthew Richardson (Eng) 75 75; Jorge Benedetti (Col) 74 76; Martin Lemesurier (Eng) 73 77;
151 Daniel Barbetti (Arg) 75 76; Edoardo Molinari (Ita) 76 75.
153 Barry Hume (Sco) 73 80, Neil Cheetham (Eng) 76 77.
155 Scott Henry (Sco) (am) 74 81.
156 Matthew King (Eng) 74 82.

JASON WINS THE £990 TOP PRIZE AT ELLON

Buchanan Castle professional Jason McCreadie won the top prize of £990 with a bogey-free round of five-under-par 64 in the Container Company Aberdeen McDonald Ellon pro-am.
McCreadie had an eagle 2 at the 14th and birdies at the first, 10th, 15th and 16th.
He won by one shot from Ross Cameron, who is attached to the McDonald Ellon Golf Club.
Mark King (Kingsfield) steered the Ron Mackie Cars trio of Ron Mackie (handicap 11), Kevin Mackie (9) and Johnnie Milne (16) to victory in the team event with a net score of 121.
LEADING PROFESSIONALS
Par 70
64 J McCreadie (Buchanan Castle).
65 R Cameron (McDonald Ellon).
67 C Ronald (Carluke).
69 I Bratton (Newburgh), S Gray (Hayston).
70 R Arnott (Bishopbriggs), K Walker (Castle Park), M King (Kings field), C Gillies (Kingsfield), P Lawrie (unatt).

IRISH EYES SMILING AGAIN AS

ARTHUR WINS BRITISH SENIOR

AMATEUR TITLE PLAY-OFF

Arthur Pierse from Tipperary completed a great double for Ireland in the early evening at Nairn Golf Club.
Only a week or two after his “very good friend” Padraig Harrington won the Open at Carnoustie, the 56-year-old Pierse (pictured left) became the first Irishman to win the British senior men’s open amateur championship.
And there was just as much late drama in Arthur’s win as there was for Padraig.
After some confusion over his and playing partner Canadian Graham Cook’s scorecards, the two were found to have tied over the regulation 54 holes at five-under-par 211.
Pierse, starting the day two shots clear of Cook and Spaniard Miguel Preysler at six-under-par 138, had a closing 73 and Cook a 71 to match the Irishman’s 211 total.
The sudden-death play-off lasted the best part of 45min and did not end until the third extra hole – the first hole second time round – when Pierse outdrove his opponent with a drive of some 280yd, about 50 to 60 yards longer than the Canadian’s.
Cooke went through the back of the green, just off the fringe, with a long iron at this par-4 holes. Pierse left his wedge approach some 20ft short of the stick.
Cook used his putter but misjudged the pace and hit his ball 15ft past the hole in 3. Pierse lagged his putt up to 2ft and when Cook missed his putt for a par 4, the Irishman gently rolled his putt in for a title-winning par 4.
“I’m thrilled to bits. I’ve won a lot of things in my career – including a Walker Cup honour and I played in the Eisenhower Trophy GB&I team as well. But, at the moment, this is my greatest win,” said the Tipperary garage owner.
“And I also very pleased that my 15-year-old daughter Jill caddied for me for the first time in this tournament and she was able to share all the emotions.”
Pierse had been three strokes clear of Cook with two holes to play in the regulation third round. But he tugged his second into a bush, had to take a penalty drop for an unplayable lie and finished up with a double bogey 6.
Suddenly, Cook was only one shot behind and he holed a 12ft putt for a birdie at the par-5 last while Pierse could only manage a 5.
Cook, who, according to the reference books, is "a legend of Canadian amateur golf," is 60 years old and comes from Hudson, a small town in the Montreal metropolitan area.
"I have no complaints at all. Arthur Pierse is a worthy champion. The high standard of senior amateur golf never ceases to amaze me. I came over here to Scotland and played, even though I say so myself, very well - and it got me into a play-off. I lost but I've enjoyed the championship, I've enjoyed the course and meeting all the other guys," said Cook.
Miguel Preysler from Malaga, last year’s European senior amateur champion, finished a close third on 212, only one shot outside being in the play-off – then he paid tribue to his caddie and long-time friend, Gillian Stewart, the former Curtis Cup player and Ladies European Tour player who is now a golf coach based in Inverness.
“Gillian sorted out my putting for me, she sorted out my short game for me – she is a brilliant coach. I am going to tell Sergio Garcia about Gillian.
“I putted like a dream thanks to Gillian, including one for a birdie at the last which kept hopes alive of being in a play-off right until the last.”
Chris Reynolds (Littlestone) was only two shots behind Pierse and Cook after a 71 for fourth place on 213.
“I got to five under par for the tournament and was only one shot behind Pierse until I took four putts on the 14th green for a double bogey 5,” said Chris ruefully.
Defending champion American Paul Simson finished fifth on 215 after a closing round of two-under-par 70. His middle round of 77 was so costly in the final analysis.
The leading performance by an over-65 player was shared by three – Ian Hutcheon (Monifieth), David Lane (Goring & Streatley) and Joel Hirsh (United States), all on 223.
The top Scot was Gordon Brown from Vale of Leven. Gordon, who turned pro when he was 50 to play on the European Seniors Tour for a spell, was reinstated in 2005. He had a brilliant last round of 67 – the only sub-70 score in the final day – to tied for seventh place on 218.
“I struggled for a 76 and 75 through the first two rounds but everything fell into place beautifully today. I never looked like having a single bogey,” said Gordon.
Next best in the Scottish hit parade was Nairn member Patrick Tomisson in joint 11th place with three rounds of 73 for three-over 219.
John Fraser, one of two Royal Burgess players in the top 30, shared 13th place on 220 with a final round of 74.

FINAL TOTALS FROM BRITISH SENIOR
MEN’S OPEN AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Nairn and Nairn Golf Clubs. Final round at Nairn GC.

FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 ( 3 x 72).

211 G Cooke (Canada) 70 70 71, A Pierse (Tipperary) 67 71 73 (Pierse beat Cooke at third hole of a sudden death play-off).
212 M Preysler (Spain) 70 70 72.
213 C Reynolds (Littlestone) 67 75 71.
215 P Simson (US) 68 77 70.
217 M Kelly (Killeen) 74 71 72.
218 G Brown (Vale of Leven) 76 75 67, B Leonard (US) 75 73 70, R Woulfe (US) 74 72 72, J Baldwin (US) 73 73 72.
219 P Tomisson (Nairn) 73 73 73, E Myrmo (US) 70 73 76.
220 K Richardson (US) 75 75 70, D Arnold (Copthorne) 72 74 74, J Fraser (Royal Burgess) 73 73 74.
221 J Blumendfeld (US) 73 76 72.
222 R Berg (US) 72 70 80.
223 J Jermine (Sunningdale) 76 75 72, D Lane (Goring & Streatley) 75 75 73, G Rees (Fleetwood) 75 75 73, J W Johnston (Royal Aberdeen) 79 70 74, I C Hutcheon (Monifieth) 76 73 74, G Verble (US) 74 75 74, J Hirsch (US) 75 69 79.
224 R Smethurst (Crewe) 79 73 72.
225 C Hurst (London) 79 75 71, W Jackson (US) 74 77 74, D Crawford (US) 74 76 75, M Brummer (US) 74 74 77, V Mandelli (Italy) 73 74 78, I Taylor (RoyalBurgess) 75 72 78.
226 B Kain (US) 77 76 73, J Whitcutt (Burnham & Berrow) 76 76 74, R Thoms (US) 74 77 75, P Saggers (Nairn) 75 76 75, D Perrie (Paisley) 78 73 75, A Patterson (Sunningdale) 77 73 76, T McGraw (US) 74 74 78.
227 R Wallace (Crosland Heath) 80 74 73, S Ellis (Cowal) 77 76 74, J Hubbard (Sunningdale) 79 74 74, R Humble (Kilspindie) 75 76 76, B Mills (Clandeboye) 72 78 77.
228 S Hakes (US) 73 77 78, G Patterson (Northern) 73 77 78.
229 B Griffiths (Llanymynech) 76 77 76, A Fiddes (Murcar Links) 73 79 77, V Singh (India) 77 73 79, B Reddan (Co Louth) 75 77 77.
230 R Gill (Gerrards Cross) 72 82 76, F Lukasik (US) 74 79 77, C Salaber (US) 76 76 78.
231 G Potton (Berkhamsted) 74 79 78, N P Machado (Portugal) 78 75 78, J Myers (US) 71 76 84.
232 B Edgar (Blackpool North) 75 79 78, K Benson (US) 77 75 80.
233 J Putt (Sunningdale) 76 76 81, M Wigley (Hankley Common) 76 76 81.
234 R Paton (Nairn) 75 79 80.
235 S Smale (Royal St George’s) 78 76 81.

STORM LEADS US PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

FIRST ROUND
Par 70
65 Graeme Storm (Eng)
67 John Daly
68 Arron Oberholser
69 Markus Brier (Aut), Geoff Ogilvy (Aus), Camilo Villegas (Col), Lee Westwood (Eng), Mark Wilson
70 Pat Perez, Rodney Pampling (Aus), Sergio Garcia (Spa), Retief Goosen (Rsa), Sean O'Hair, Brad Lardon, Frank Lickliter II
71 Hunter Mahan, Tiger Woods, Ryan Benzel, KJ Choi (Kor), Niclas Fasth (Swe), Bob Tway, Brian Bateman
72 Colin Montgomerie (Sco), Steve Flesch, Stewart Cink, Nick O'Hern (Aus), Heath Slocum, Peter Hanson (Swe), Ernie Els (Rsa), Luke Donald (Eng), Rocco Mediate
73 Tom Lehman, Kevin Sutherland, Tom Pernice Jnr., Robert Karlsson (Swe), Anthony Kim, Shaun Micheel, Ken Duke, Bradley Dredge (Wal)
74 Denis Watson, Bart Bryant, Soren Hansen (Den), Tim Thelen, Corey Pavin, Brett Wetterich, Jonathan Byrd, Brandt Snedeker
75 Charley Hoffman, Tim Herron, John O'Leary (Irl), Charles Howell III, Steve Elkington (Aus), Jose-Maria Olazabal (Spa), Dean Wilson, Jim Furyk, Trevor Immelman (Rsa), Henrik Stenson (Swe), Gregory Havret (Fra)
76 Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind), Billy Mayfair, Fred Funk, Raphael Jacquelin (Fra)
William Amundsen, Boo Weekley, Rich Beem, Richard Sterne (Rsa), Shingo Katayama (Jpn)
77 Steve Stricker, Chad Campbell, Charl Schwartzel (Rsa), Mike Weir (Can), Bo Van Pelt, Darren Clarke (NIrl)
78 Nick Watney, Jeff Quinney, Chip Sullivan
79 Scott Hebert, Ryan Moore, Philip Schmitt
80 Bob McGrath
82 Greg Bisconti
83 Erik Wolf, Micah Rudosky

CAMPBELL ONLY SCOT TO BEAT THE CUT
IN PGA EUROPRO TOUR EVENT

There will be a thrilling finish to the latest PGA EuroPro Tour event. After two days at De Vere Oulton Hall, Leeds, four players are tied on eight-under-par 134 at the top of the leaderboard.
Irishman Alan Murray (Greystones) finished tied third last Friday at Maylands in Essex and is on course for another good finish in the tenth competition of the season. He hit a five-under 66 on Wednesday and followed that up with a three-under 69 on Thursday to stay in the hunt for the £10,000 top prize.
Murray is on eight-under, the same figure as Michael Searle (Woodbury Park, Devon), Andrew Jones (Ladbrook Park) and day one leader James Morrison (St George’s Hill).
They are all one shot ahead of three other players on seven-under - Simon Robinson (The Wynard Club, Cleveland), Daniel Wardrop (Didsbury Golf Club) and Jeremy Kavanagh (Stoke Park, Buckinghamshire).
One of the best performances of the second round came from Scott Jackson (High Legh Park, Cheshire), who drastically moved up the leaderboard with a round of 65, only 24 hours after shooting a 74.
He has played in six tour events this season, has now made the cut in three of them and has a good opportunity to beat his previous highest finish of the season of level 15th at Cardrona, Scotland in May.
Doncaster golfer Graeme Clark, who has already won at Faithlegg, Ireland, and The Players Club, Bristol, is still in contention to win his third tour event of the season.
Clark is only three shots behind the four leaders after a second day 70 followed a round of 67 on Wednesday.
Elsewhere, Christopher Hanson, a member of the Crosland Heath club in Huddersfield, maintained his amazing record of making the cut in every one of the nine 2007 tour events he has played in.
He started the day on three-under and at one stage had the lead on nine-under. However, he bogeyed the eighth before a disastrous eight on the par-four ninth, which could cost him the chance of winning the tournament and the £10,000 top prize
Inconsistent Chris Sands (Surrenda Link) failed to finish in the top 50 and ended up on three-over, despite recording two eagles on successive days at the 495-yard par-five 16th.
Chris Campbell (Carnegie Club, Skibo Castle) was the only Scot to survive the 36-hole cut. He made it with nothing to spare on level par 142 with scores of 70 and 72.
Neil Mitchell (Murcar Links) and Lee Harper (Archerfield Links) just missed out on 143. Mitchell scored 73 and 70, Harpere 70 and 73.
Thomas Higson (Eyemouth) failed with 72 and 74 for 147, as did Paul Cormack (Inchmarlo) with 77 and 71 for 148.
SCOREBOARD
Par 142 (2 x 71)
134 Alan Murray (Ire) 66 68, Michael Searle (Eng) 65 69, Andrew Jones (Eng) 67 67, James Morrison (Eng) 64 70.
135 Simon Robinson (Eng) 66 69, Jeremy Kavanagh (Eng) 69 66, Daniel Wardrop (Eng) 67 68.
Scottish qualifier:
142 Christopher Campbell (Carnegie Club) 70 72.
Scottish non-qualifers:
143 N Mitchell (Murcar Linkis) 73 70, L Harper (Archerfield Links) 70 73.
147 T Higson (Eyemouth) 72 74.
148 P Cormack (Inchmarlo) 77 71.

The next event of the season is at the Whittlebury Park Golf and Country Club in Northamptonshire from Wednesday, August 22 to Friday, August 24.

For more information about the PGA EuroPro Tour, please visit the official website www.europrotour.com

Scotland's only singles winner against England, Scott Fraser (Royal Aberdeen) in action

against Darren Renwick. Picture by courtesy of Tom Ward. Click on the image for an enlargement.

SCOTS BOYS LOSE THE HOME INTERNATIONALS
CROWN, WELL BEATEN BY ENGLAND

England have regained the boys' home internationals crown after a one-year reign by Scotland.
At Machynys Peninsula, Wales today, the English boys had a big-margin win over the Scots, 3 1/2-1 1/2 in the fouorsomes and 8-2 in the singles for a 11 1/2-3 1/2 victory.
Ireland beat Wales 10 1/2-4 1/2 in the other concluding match.

Details:
ENGLAND 11 1/2, SCOTLAND 3 1/2
Foursomes: A Johnston, J Hiluta halved with J Byrne, F Fotheringham; E Pepperell, G King bt A Campbell, A Wallace 6 and 4, D Renwick, M Nixon halved with S McLaren, P Shields, M Haines, T Fleetwood bt S Fraser, M Stewart 1 hole (3 1/2-1 1/2).
Singles: Johnston bt Byrne 4 and 3, Fleetwood bt Fotheringham 4 and 2, Nixon bt Wallace 2 holes, Best bt N Henderson 4 and 3, Renwick lost to Fraser 1 hole, H Smart bt Gaittens 4 and 3, Pepperell bt Shields 4 and 2, King halved with Ferrier, Haines halved with McLaren, Hiluta bt Stewart 2 and 1 (8-2).
Other match:
IRELAND 10 1/2, WALES 4 1/2.
Foursomes: 3 1/2-1 1/2.
Singles: 7-3

MANLEY SHOOTS A BRILLIANT 64 TO LEAD
SCOTTISH CHALLENGE AT CARDRONA

By MICHAEL GIBBONS,
Press Officer, Challenge Tour

Welshman Stuart Manley roared into the lead at the Scottish Challenge presented by Bank of Scotland Corporate with a brilliant eight under par 64 to lead by one from Norway’s Jan Are Larsen and Spain’s Alvaro Velasco.
With sun shining over the magnificent Border hills, it was a perfect day for low scoring at the Macdonald Cardrona Hotel and Country Club, where 78 of the 156 strong field went under par, with Manley the best of them all.
The 28 year old dropped just one shot in an otherwise splendid first round, notching nine birdies as he continues to reconstruct the putting technique that made him one of Britain’s best amateur players before he turned professional in 2003.
As a result of his improvement on the greens, Manley has made a notable surge up the Challenge Tour Rankings in recent weeks, with four top ten finishes in the last five events helping him move to 12th position.
“I just played nicely all day really,” said Manley. “I have been playing nicely recently, well, scoring better than anything, but I have had a few results that have been encouraging.
“Most of that is down to my putting. I changed to an old putter because the alignment on the one I was using was way out. I was aiming miles right and it was no wonder that I was missing putts.
“Going back to the old putter has been great and given me a lot of confidence because I used to be a great putter in my amateur days and it feels that I am getting back to the level I was at then.”
Amongst the hungry pack chasing Manley, Larsen and Velasco are a group of home players determined to flourish in their native Scotland.
Andrew McArthur, the leading Scot on the Challenge Tour Rankings in 25th place, was joined by Eric Ramsay and Peter Whiteford on six under par 66, while Jamie McLeary, David Patrick and Richie Ramsay are just a further stroke back
With a prize fund of €200,000, the Scottish Challenge presented by Bank of Scotland Corporate is the third richest full Challenge Tour event on the 2007 Schedule, a fact that is reflected in the strength of the field this week, with every one of the top ten players on the Challenge Tour Rankings in attendance.
Larsen, among others, is fully aware of the significance of that €200,000 prize fund.
He said: “This tournament is like a semi-major for us because of the prize money. Obviously you can’t control which tournaments that you do well in, but it’s a nice bonus for me that I have made such a good start – hopefully it can continue until Sunday.”
SCOREBOARD
Par 72
64 S Manley (Wal).
65 J-A Larsen (Nor), A Velasco (Spa).
66 J Ablett (Eng), R De Sousa (Swi), A McArthur (Sco), E Ramsay (Sco), H Rey (Arg), P Whiteford (Sco).
Other Scots scores:
67 K McAlpine (Alyth) (am), J McLeary, D Patrick (Mortonhall), R Ramsay (Royal Aberdeen).
68 J Doherty, S Henderson (Kings Links), D Stewart (Grantown on Spey) (am), M Urquhart (Inverness).
69 K McNicoll (Carnoustie) (am).
70 G Murray, L Saltman (Craigielaw) (am).
71 C Lee (All Golf Swing Centre).
72 C Nicoll (Prestwick).
73 B Hume, G Hutcheon (Peterculter), S Jamieson, E Little, E Thomson (Largs), E Saltman.
74 P Doherty, S Henry (Cardross) (am).
75 G Gordon, C Macaulay (Tulliallan) (am).
78 G Brown.

GRAHAM FOX WINS AT MELDRUM HOUSE

Graham Fox from West Kilbride won the top prize of £696 in the Meldrum House Young Professionals' pro-am today. Graham birdied the first, second, fifth, 11th, 13th and 18th and had only one bogey, at the seventh, in heading the field with a five-under-par 65.
He had two strokes to spare from James McGhee (Turnhouse) and David Orr (East Renfrewshire).
Sean O'Donnell (Balbirnie Park) steered the Stena Drilling team of Davie Coutts (handicap 16), Alan Findlay (8) and Neil Hardie (10) to victory in the team event with a net score of 16-under-par 54.
LEADING PROFESSIONALS
Par 70
65 G Fox (West Kilbride).
67 J McGhee (Turnhouse), D Orr (East Renfrewshire).
68 K Monaghan (Bothwell Castle).
69 J Cliff (Murrayfield), M Barnard (Inchmarlo).
70 S Grieve (Kings Acre), G Lornie (Aspire), N Keast (Duff House Royal), S Taylor (Bothwell Castle).

TEE TIMES FOR FINAL ROUND AT NAIRN

Tee times for Friday's third and final round in the British senior open amateur championship over the Nairn course.
There is no charge for admission or car parking. Spectators welcome.

8.45 R Paton, marker.
8.54 R Gill, S Smale.
9.03 R Wallace, B Edger.
9.12 C Hurst, S Ellis.
9.21 F Lukasik, G Potton.
9.30 N P Machado, J Hubbard.]
9.39 B Griffiths, B Kain.
9.45 C Salaber, A Fiddes.
9.57 J Putt, J Whitcutt.
10.06 K Benson, R Smethurst.
10.20 B Reddan, M Wigley.
10.29 W Jackson, R Thoms.
10.38 J Jermine, P Saggers.
10.47 D Perrie, R Humble.
10.56 G Brown, D Lane.
11.05 K Richardson, V Singh.
11.14 S Hakes, G Rees,
11.23 G Paterson, A Patterson.
11.32 D Crawford, B Mills.
11.41 J Blumenfeld, G Verble.
11.55 J W Johnston, I C Hutcheon.
12.04 M Brummer, B Leonard.
12.13 T McGraw, V Mandelli.
12.22 J Myers, I Taylor.
12.31 P Tomisson, D Arnold.
12.40 R Woulfe, J Baldwin.
12.49 J Fraser, P Simson.
12.58 M Kelly, J Hirsch.
1.07 E Myrmo, C Reynolds.
1.16 R Berg, M Preysler.
1.25 G Cooke, A Pierse.

McLEAN HAS 75 AT HILVERSUM OPEN

Peterhead's Philip McLean had a three-over-par 75 in the first round of the Hilversum Open professional golf tournament at Hilversum Golf Club in the Netherlands today.
McLean birdied the first and 14th but double bogeyed the ninth in halves of 39 and 36.
Robert McKnight (Kilmarnock Barassie) had a 77.
Dutchman Jurrian Van der Vaart led the field with an eight-under-par 64.

SCOTS GIRLS SET TO RETAIN HOME
INTERNATIONALS TITLE

Scotland took a huge step towards retaining the girls' home internationals golf title with a crushing 7-2 win over arch-rivals England on the second day at Southerndown Golf Club, South Wales.
In the other match, Ireland beat Wales 7 1/2-1 1/2.
Scotland, the only team with two wins out of two, finish their programme by playing Wales.
The Under-18 Scots girls took a 2-1 lead in the foursomes with Krystle Caithness and Sally Watson 4 and 2 winners of the top tie. Carly Booth and Megan Briggs, and Kelsey MacDonald and Roseanne Niven figured in square games.
The Scots showed their class in the singles with wins by Carly Booth (4 and 2), Sally Watson (2 and 1), Megan Briggs (3 and 2), Pamela Pretswell (2 and 1) and halved games for Roseanne Niven, who had been three down at the turn, and Krystle Caithness, who was one down on the 16th tee.
Details:
ENGLAND 2, SCOTLAND 7
England names first.
Foursomes: E Givens, H Barwood lost to K Caithness, S Watson 4 and 2; K Tidy, R Dyer halved with C Booth, M Briggs; R Connor, K Mundy halved with K MacDonald, R Niven (1-2)l
Singles: Givens lost to Booth 4 and 2, Tidy lost to Watson 2 and 1, Douglass lost to Briggs 3 and 2, Clyburn lost to Pretswell 2 and 1, Connor halved with Niven, Barwood halved with Caithness (1-5)l
Other result:
WALES 1 1/2, IRELAND 7 1/2
Foursomes: 1 1/2-1 1/2.
Singles: 0-6.

THREE NAIRN MEMBERS SURVIVE CUT AS
IRISHMAN PIERSE LEADS BY TWO

Nairn Golf Club member Patrick Tomisson is rubbing shoulders with the elite of the over-55s circuit as the British senior men’s amateur golf championship moves into its third and final round over his home links tomorrow.
Patrick has shot 73 over both the Nairn and Nairn Dunbar courses for a very tidy two-over-par tally of 146.
And there must be something to the theory that local knowledge is worth a couple of shots around on these courses because two other Nairn members, Peter Saggers and Robin Patson also beat the cut which reduced the massive field of 250+ to the leading 60 and ties after 36 holes.
Those who scored 10-over-par 154 or better made it through to the final day.
At the top of the board we have an international cast – former Walker Cup player and Tipperary garage owner Arthur Pierse, Spain’s Miguel Preysler who is related through marriage to singer Julio Iglesias, and Graham Cooke from Hudson, Quebec, billed as a “legend in Canadian amateur golf” in the reference books.
Preysler, 59, from Malaga, last year’s European senior amateur champion and third in this year’s event, set the early second-round target of four-under-par 140 after a two-under of 70.
In cooler, windier conditions than prevailed for the first round, Preysler made his score at Nairn Dunbar with an outward half of three-under-par 32.
He birdied the first, second, sixth and ninth with only one bogey at the fifth.
The Spaniard had to battle for his figures after the turn and bogeyed the 10th, 14th and 15th but birdies at the 11th and 16th helped him salvage a one-over-par inward 38.
Then Preysler was dislodged from the pole position by Arthur Pierse in mid-afternoon, by which time, the flags were barely stirring.
Pierse shot a 71 at Nairn Dunbar for seven-under-par 137.
Arthur played in the 1983 Walker Cup team captained by Charlie Green at Hoylake where the team included Scots George Macgregor, Andy Oldcorner, Lindsay Mann and David Carrick.
Pierse is a remarkable man in many ways. He was a fixture in the Ireland amateur international team from 1976 to 1987 – yet he maintains he has never had a golf lesson and learned how to play golf by reading Ben Hogan’s book “The Modern Fundamentals of Golf” several times.
“I would recommend it to anybody who wants to become a better golfer,” says Arthur who birdied the second, 13th, 14th and 16th with bogeys at the third, 10th and 15th in so-steady halves of 35 and 36.
Canadian Graham Cooke has strung together a pair of 70s to be alongside Preysler on 140. Astonishingly, the seven-time Canadian Mid-Amateur champion and twice Canadian senior title-holder, had a triple bogey 7 at the sixth hole at Nairn Dunbar. That lit the fire under him and he covered the last 12 holes in five under with birdies at the seventh, 13th and 14th and an eagle 3 at the 16th for 33 (four under par) home.
On the same two-over-par 146 mark as Tomisson – sharing 10th place overall - is former Newtonmore shinty star John Fraser whose teaching profession took him from Aberdeen to Edinburgh and from Murcar Links to Royal Burgess golf club.
Fraser can swing a golf club as well as he used to wield a caman. John salvaged a 73 at Nairn Dunbar after going out in one-under 34 and then crashing to a double bogey 6 at the 10th and a bogey 4 at the short 11th.
He was able to birdie 13th and 16th.
Two members of the Scotland team to defend the European seniors title in Slovenia next week, John Johnston (Royal Aberdeen) and Monifieth maestro Ian Hutcheon qualified with ease on 149. Hutcheon had a 73 at Nairn Dunbar for 149, the same score as Johnston who looked in trouble after a 79 at Nairn on Thursday. But his round of 70 at Nairn Dunbar was bettered only by former British champion Joel Hirsch’s 69.
John looked on his way out of the tournament when a double bogey 6 at the fifth saw him turn in two over par 37, but he birdied the 11th,13th, 15th and 16th in a sparkling four-under-par inward half of 34.
Scottish seniors champion three times in the past five years, Ian Hutcheon from Monifieth assured himself a place among the qualifiers with a 73 at Nairn Dunbar for 149.
Hutcheon had a dreadful start, bogeying the third, fourth, fifth and sixth before he settled to birdie the eighth, ninth, 11th, 12th and 16th in halves of 37 and 36.
Two Aberdonians who have been playing well on the new SGU Scottish seniors circuit, George Paterson (Northern) and Alastair Fiddes (Murcar Links) made it through on 150 and 152 respectively. Both sagged a little on the second day, George with a 77 and Alastair with a 79 but they can be quite proud to have reached the final day of a British championship.
So too can Nairn's Peter Saggers and Robin Paton who made it through on 151 (75-76) and 154 (75-79) respectively.
Surprising non-qualifiers – with just one shot too many – former Walker Cup player George Macgregor (Glencorse) with an 80 for 155 and Mike Bell, the reigning US Senior amateur champion from Indianapolis. Mike too had an 80.

NAIRN END OF DAY 2 SCOREBOARD

SECOND ROUND TOTALS
Nairn & Nairn Dunbar golf clubs.
QUALIFIERS FOR FINAL ROUND
Par 144 (2 x 72)
CSS: Nairn 75-74. Nairn Dunbar 74-74
137 A Pierse (Tipperary) 67 71.
140 M Preysler (Spain) 70 70, G Cooke (Canada) 70 70.
142 C Reynolds (Littlestone) 67 75, R Berg (US) 72 70.
143 E Myrmo (US) 70 73.
144 J Hirsch (US) 75 69.
145 M Kelly (Killeen) 74 71, P Simson (US) 68 77.
146 P Tomisson (Nairn) 73 73, D Arnold (Copthorne) 72 74, R Woulfe (US) 74 72, J Baldwin (US) 73 73, J Fraser (Royal Burgess) 73 73.
147 I Taylor (Royal Burgess) 75 72, J Myers (US) 71 76, V Mandelli (Italy) 73 74.
148 T McGraw (US) 74 74, M Brummer (US) 74 74, B Leonard (US) 75 73.
149 I C Hutcheon (Monifieth) 76 73, J Blumenfeld (US) 73 76, G Verble (US) 74 75, J W Johnston (Royal Aberdeen) 79 70.
150 K Richardson (US) 75 75, D Crawford (US) 74 76, G Paterson (Northern) 73 77, D Lane (Goring & Streatley) 75 75, A Patterson (Sunningdale) 77 73, G Rees (Fleetwood) 75 75, V Singh (India) 77 73, B Mills (Clandeboye) 72 78, S Hakes (US) 73 77.
151 R Humble (Kilspindie) 75 76, P Saggers (Nairn) 75 76, J Jermine (Sunningdale) 76 75, D Perrie (Paisley) 78 73, R Thoms (US) 74 77, G Brown (Vale of Leven) 76 75, W Jackson (US) 74 77.
152 A Fiddes (Murcar Links) 73 79, B Reddan (Co Louth) 75 77, K Benson (US) 77 75, J Whitcutt (Burnham & Berrow) 76 76, C Salaber (US) 76 76, J Putt (Sunningdale) 76 76, R Smethurst (Crewe) 79 73, M Wigley (Hankley Common) 76 76.
153 N P Machado (Portugal) 78 75, F Lukasik (US) 74 79, S Ellis (Cowal) 77 76, G Potton (Berkhamsted) 74 79, J Hubbard (Sunningdale) 79 74, B Kain (US) 77 76, B Griffiths (Llanymynech) 76 77.
154 B Edgar (Blackpool North) 75 79, C Hurst (London) 79 75, R Paton (Nairn) 75 79, S Smale (Royal St George’s) 78 76, R Wallace (Crosland Heath) 80 74, R Gill (Gerrards Cross) 72 82.

NON-QUALIFIERS
155 A Morrison (Appleby) 78 77, D McKinnon (Ballochmyle) 75 80, G MacGregor (Glencorse) 75 80, C Christy (Kilmacolm) 78 76, J Dennis (US) 75 80, M Bell (US) 75 80, R McLellan (Turnberry) 77 78, T Brown (Stand) 80 75, P Jones (Bromborough) 80 75.
156 J Greenbaum (US) 76 80, K MacBryde (Newcastle under Lyme) 81 75, J Bruce (Edzell) 78 78, D Eccleston (Ormskirk) 76 80, G Thomson (Bearsden) 78 78, D Harte (Fota Island) 75 81, M McKenna (Elsenham) 78 78, R Walker (Crewe) 75 81, S Coyne (Killarney) 78 78, R McDonnell (Co Louth) 78 78, S Baker (Little Aston) 78 78, H MacKeown (Portmarnock) 78 78, L Fowler (Royal Aberdeen) 75 81.
157 B Simmons (Canada) 77 80, I Stewart (Curragh) 76 81, B Rowan (Drift) 74 83, R Shimwell (Hessle) 78 79, P Garner (Sunningdale) 76 81, D Bunker (Nairn Dunbar) 81 76, T Hewan (South Africa) 80 77, J French (US) 80 77, J Keller (US) 78 78, T Coffield (US) 82 75.
158 G Bray (Carrickmines) 78 80, L J Trenor (Spain) 76 82, C Nelson (US) 79 79, D Kuehn (US) 76 82, G MacDonald (Callander) 79 79, J Kinloch (Cardross) 82 76, D Brodie (Nairn Dunbar) 76 82, G Rodaks (Moffat) 79 79, E Fontecilla (Spain) 81 77, R Stevens (US) 83 75,D Longmuir (Verulam) 81 77, K Howie (West Kilbride) 78 80, J Hobday (South Africa) 82 76, H Heyns (South Africa) 82 76, B Cramb (Tenby) 80 78, A Clay (Minchinhampton) 81 77.
159 R Searle (High Post) 83 76, T Hartnett (St Andrews) 80 79, T McEvoy (Hatfield) 76 83, B Grieve (King James VI) 79 80, D Miller (Murrayfield) 83 76, J Smith (Taunton & Pickeridge) 79 80, D McCart (Castlerock) 78 81, B Methven (Royal Aberdeen) 79 80, G McGee (Erskine) 78 81, J Wellington (South Africa) 75 84.
160 A Deichler (US) 81 79, I Cumming (Eastwood) 79 81, T Lyford (US) 83 77, G Allan (Wildernesse) 84 76, R A Abdellaoui (Morocco) 79 81, C Moir (Worksop) 79 81, P Kinloch (Cardross) 79 81, M Fleming (Whitley Bay) 83 77, A K Pirie (Hazlehead) 85 75, T Bennett (Great Barr) 81 79, F Urquhart (Inverness) 81 79.
161 B Varn (US) 79 82, G Reynolds (Ludlow) 74 87, B Nicholson (Royal Dornoch) 81 80, G Graham (US) 83 78, F Clark (Royal Aberdeen) 81 80, J Watt (Letham Grange) 82 79, R Thomson (St Andrews) 80 81, D Doodson (Temple) 81 80, L Frankel (France) 79 82, J Marks (Woodbridge) 84 77, F Lang (Italy) 82 79, F Silver (Canada) 79 82, D Alexander (US) 81 80, M Wilde (Camberley Heath) 81 80, A Ferguson (Drumpellier) 83 78, J Black (Scotscraig) 82 79, R Kulp (US) 81 80, S Bannerman (Glasgow) 81 80, A Elder (Kirkcaldy) 80 81.
162 N Barnes (Brokenhurst Manor) 79 83, C Macleod (Moray) 79 83, V Villarreal (Mexico) 80 82, J Anderson (Radcliffe on Trent) 82 80, K Ballanger (UAE) 82 80, H Brown (Lothianburn) 85 77, M Morris (Portmarnock) 88 74, P Cowley (Cork) 84 78.
163 N Fletcher (Chorley) 79 84, S Radcliffe (US) 78 84, N Cameron (Porters Park) 83 80, D Bentham (Bolton) 78 85, G Steel (Moor Park) 86 77, T Finn (Cork) 85 78, R Stuart (US) 83 80, H Clunas (Nairn Dunbar) 80 83, J Westwood (Moray) 80 83, R Linacre (Coxmoor) 84 79, A Waddington (Crewe) 83 80.
164 R Stewart (Tulliallan) 84 80, S Segsworth (Canada) 75 89, R Crisp (Ellesborough) 84 80, N Hughes (Gog Magog) 85 79, T Dickinson (Royal Liverpool) 81 83, J Nash (Sunningdale) 82 82, J O’Neill (Reddish Vale) 80 84, L Gordon (Turnhouse) 85 79.
165 A Brownridge (Canada) 80 85, N Wilson (Spain) 81 84, B Back (Sweden) 85 80, K Sargent (Haydock Park) 85 80, S Sander (Sunningdale) 83 82, G Payne (Prestbury) 82 83, W Wallace (Strathaven) 80 85.
166 J Dolk (Sweden) 84 82, A Grufman (Sweden) 83 83, D Clifford (Cork) 86 80, J Broadfoot (Turnberry) 84 82, L Engstrom (Sweden) 85 81, M Irrgang (Germany) 84 82, S Pond (Worksop) 81 85, G Larrazabal (Spain) 83 83, D Lindsay (Windyhill) 80 86.
167 S Hickey (Spain) 81 86, R Horseman (Woodhall Spa) 81 86, A Cameron (Gourock) 87 80, N Marsden (Moor Park) 85 82.
168 J Anderson (Scotscraig) 82 86, A Tarumianz (US) 78 90, I Duncan (Nairn Dunbar) 86 82, J Provot (France) 81 87, C W Green (Cardross) 83 85, D Du Temple (Australia) 83 85, M Britovsek (Nairn Dunbar) 86 82, J Andrew (Western Gailes) 88 80, J Adams (Costa Rica) 86 82, J Wilson (Frilford Heath) 89 79, B Josefsson (Sweden) 83 85, Y Hofstetter (Switzerland) 85 83, R Haig (Northamptonshire Co) 87 81, A Wight (Glencorse) 82 86.
169 T Wells (Burnham Beeches) 83 86.
170 R Carter (North Manchester) 85 85, J Kirwan (US) 89 81, W Morgan (The Wynyard) 81 89, J Stevens (Hayston) 81 90, C Alexander (Murcar Links) 82 88, R Pauley (Woodhall Spa) 89 81, C Heath (Silloth on Solway) 85 85..
171 B Christie (Bridge of Allan) 86 85.
172 D Millar (St Andrews New) 87 85, J Pierce (US) 85 87, O Browne (The Richmond) 88 84, R Floyd (Celtic Manor) 87 85, J Kidney (US) 84 88, G Chatham (US) 88 84.
173 D Millar (Berwick) 81 92, K N Andersson (Sweden) 83 90.
174 D Sharp (Boat of Garten) 87 87.
175 P Cromption (Eaton) 87 88, H Douthwaite (Dumbarton) 89 86, R Lawson (Sunningdale) 92 83.
176 F Natali (France) 94 82.
177 P Bradley (Retford) 83 94, M Lironi (Cathkin Braes) 88 89, R Kidd (Royal Norwich) 84 93.
180 W Weynerowski (Canada) 87 93.
184 R King (Hong Kong) 91 93.

NICK FALDO JUNIOR SERIES GRAND FINAL
AT CELTIC MANOR, OCTOBER 9 to 11

This year’s Faldo Series grand final promises to be the largest ever, with a total field of around 70 players, representing some of the best young golfing talent from around the world. Now recognised as an official R&A World Amateur Golf Ranking event, the 54-hole tournament will be played over Celtic Manor’s Roman Road course from October 9 to 11.
Nick Faldo will be on hand to host the tournament and to pass on some of the experiences that he has amassed during three decades on the professional golf circuit.
“This year’s tournament will also have a real international flavour with invitees from across the globe following recent Faldo Series championships at top-class venues from Ireland to Iceland and from Thailand to Chinese Taipei. The best of British talent will be given a unique opportunity to compete against and also integrate with their peers from throughout the world and that is a very exciting prospect.”

CHARLES (71 YEARS YOUNG) BIDS TO BECOME
OLDEST WINNER OF SENIORS' EVENT

By Graeme Hamlett
Press Officer, European Seniors Tour
Bob Charles can add another notable achievement to his distinguished career by becoming the oldest winner in golf history should he maintain his fine recent form and capture the Bad Ragaz PGA Seniors Open, which gets underway on Friday at the stunning Golf Club Bad Ragaz, nestled amid the south west Alps of Switzerland.
The 71 year old, a winner of over 75 titles worldwide since turning professional in 1960, has respectively finished tied 21st, tied 34th and second in his last three European Seniors Tour events – the Open de France Senoir de Divonne, The Senior Open Championship at Muirfield and Wentworth Senior Masters.
Most recently, at the Wentworth Senior Masters, Charles bettered his age by a stroke with his 70 on the final day, having matched his years with a brace of 71s for the first 36 holes, to finish four under par and register his best result since 2005, when he was runner-up at the Ryder Cup Wales Senior Open.
It means the New Zealander has arrived in the Swiss Alps full of confidence – and should he win on Sunday after completing the 54-hole event, he would be 71 and 151 days, making him the oldest winner in European Seniors Tour history.
Charles would beat the record of England’s Neil Coles, who was 67 and 276 days at the 2002 Lawrence Batley Seniors Open, and would also be the oldest player to win an official Seniors Tour event in the world.
It is a goal the 1963 Open Champion is keen to realise. He said: “I’ve been playing well, swinging nicely and hitting good shots, so why shouldn’t I feel I can win again? I still have the desire to compete and perform the best I can.
“Tournaments like I had at Wentworth inspire me so much, to not hang up the clubs and keep competing. It was great to finish second and to come back in 32 on the back nine was very pleasing – it goes to show there’s still a little spark of life in the old boy!
TOUGH COURSES
“We’ve been playing some long, tough courses in Muirfield and the Edinburgh Course at Wentworth. They’re over 7,000 yards and it’s been a relentless, hard couple of weeks. I made a career playing courses 6,600-700 yards in length, so I’m glad we’re at a course in Bad Ragaz that’s only 6,100-200 yards. We’re all in need of it, I think, and I’m looking forward to it. We’ll have to see on Sunday if I’m in with a chance.”
However, Charles will be challenged in his pursuit of a history making victory by Spain’s defending champion, Juan Quiros, who says he is determined to hold onto the title he won in 2006 on only his seventh seniors start.
At least Quiros will not have the problem he had last weekend, when, as he checked out of the Runnymede Hotel, near Wentworth Club, he was confused with Argentina’s Eduardo Romero by the receptionist and presented with the wrong bill.
There is no danger of that happening in Switzerland, as Romero is taking a break after saying on Sunday, after his bid to win a third consecutive Wentworth Senior Masters was ended by Ireland’s Des Smyth, that he “was tired and needed a rest” after draining recent run of tournaments.
It means the battle to get closer to overhauling Romero, who leads the Order of Merit with €241,280 from four events, will be contested by the next four players in the top five – England’s Carl Mason (€187,879), Australia’s Stewart Ginn (183,099), Quiros (€178,703) and Italy’s Costantino Rocca (€125,164).
Rocca, paying his first visit to Bad Ragaz, enthused: “It is a beautiful course – in perfect condition. The rain we had on Wednesday night has softened it up, so I think there will be plenty of birdies and good scores. I hope I will be among them.”
Meanwhile, Australian Terry Gale, tournament winner in 2005, is another hoping to do well and finish inside the top two, for if he does, he can achieve a unique feat.
“I’m chasing passing the million Euros – but I don’t know if it will beat me or I’ll beat it. We’ll just have to see what happens this week,” said Gale, who has accumulated €985, 550 from his 11 years on the European Seniors Tour.
As well as Gale, England’s Nick Job and Ireland’s Denis O’Sullivan could also pass that million Euros milestone if they are successful and win in Switzerland.
Job, who has earned €975,490 in his eight years on Tour, was tied third last year at Bad Ragaz and is seeking his fourth senior title, while O’Sullivan, in his tenth season on tour after turning professional in 1997, is chasing a seventh victory to add to his career haul of €977,248.

PRESS RELEASE

PETER THOMSON TO DESIGN FIRST SIGNATURE
COURSE IN THE MIDDLE EAST

Peter Thomson, five-time Open Champion and principal of Thomson Perrett and Lobb Golf Course Architects, has signed an agreement in St Andrews with UAE based Al Qudra Real Estate, to design the company’s first signature golf course in the Middle East.
Thomson Perrett & Lobb will design a traditional, classic style championship golf course at Ain Al Emarat, an award-winning residential and leisure development being built near Al Ain, the second city of the Abu Dhabi Emirate and known as ‘The Garden City of the Gulf.’
Peter Thomson, said: “The growth of golf in the Middle East has been phenomenal and TPL is honoured to contribute to the growth of the sport in the region by creating a unique, traditional style course in a groundbreaking city, that will set international benchmarks for sustainability, healthy living and sporting opportunity.”
In a ceremony held at The Old Course Hotel in St Andrews overlooking the world famous ‘Road Hole,’ Peter Thomson signed an agreement with Mr Victor E.J. Orth Jr, CEO and General Manager of Al Qudra Real Estate – a subsidiary of Al Qudra Holding – for the design of the golf course, which is set to be a major attraction for residents and visitors at Ain Al Emarat.
Victor E.J. Orth Jr, said: “TPL has a commitment to excellence in golf course design that mirrors our corporate ethos and we look forward to creating a golf course that will thrill the residents of the UAE and its international golfing visitors.”
TPL has joined forces with global architectural practice HOK, creators of the new Wembley and Emirates stadia in London, to design the golf course as part of this ground-breaking city. Plans for the residential and sporting development have already won a prestigious award.
The TPL golf course will act as a centrepiece for the development alongside a landmark 40,000-seat indoor sports and entertainment arena, which will be built to the same standard as HOK’s acclaimed Emirates Stadium, home of Arsenal Football Club.
The championship golf course will harness natural topography, including rolling sand hills and views to the nearby mountains, as well as benefiting from TPL’s expertise in sustainable golf course design.
The use of recycled effluent will reduce water requirements and will be offset by minimal use of excess turf to keep the golf course in harmony with its natural desert environment.
Image to come:
Photo Caption: (From left) Peter Thomson, principal Thomson Perrett & Lobb Golf Course Architects, Victor E.J. Orth Jr, CEO and general manager Al Qudra Real Estate.

R&A PRESS RELEASE

BOYS' AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP AT ROYAL
PORTHCAWL NEXT WEEK

It is over 75 years since James Lindsay, of Falkirk Tryst, successfully defended the Boys Amateur Championship but Matthew Nixon, the 2006 Champion, now has the chance of entering the record books when this year’s Championship is played at Royal Porthcawl from Monday 13 to Saturday 18 August.

Nixon, 18, who lifted the trophy last year at Royal Aberdeen, has eight rounds of match play to negotiate if he is to add his name to the silverware for a second time.

England recently took second place in the European Boys Team Championship and, while most of that squad are in the field at Porthcawl, 17 year old Matt Haines has hit form at the right time with his recent win in the Carris Trophy, at Saunton. That success followed his win earlier in the season in the McEvoy Trophy.

Paul Ferrier of Edinburgh club, Baberton, won the Scottish title at Dunbar in April and will be out to add to the list of recent Scottish winners which includes Jordan Findlay (2004), David Inglis (2000) and Steven O’Hara (1998).

Wales will be strongly represented by Joe Vickery, their match play Champion, and Ben Enoch, the defeated finalist, while Ireland will be looking for a title winning performance from their 2006 Boys title holder, Stephen Healy.

Players representing European Champions, Denmark, can be expected to advance through the early rounds of the Championship and, in particular, Nicolai Aagaard, who gained a decisive 18th hole win to seal Denmark’s defeat of England in the final.

Also in the field is Matteo Manassero, the recent winner of the European Young Masters, played at Bondues Golf Club, France.

Royal Porthcawl has been a venue often used by The R&A for Championships and international matches, but on only one previous occasion, in 1984, has it hosted the Boys Championship.

It has, however, been the venue for six Amateur Championships and, in 1995, was the scene of a memorable win for GB&I in the Walker Cup, heralding the start of a series of four home wins in five stagings of the match.

The full list of entrants can be viewed at http://www.randa.org/ – Championships.

HARPER, CAMPBELL LEADING SCOTS IN
PGA EUROPRO TOUR EVENT

Lee Harper (Archerfield Links) and Christopher Campbell (Carnegie Club, Skibo) were the joint best Scots at the end of the first day of this week's PGA EuroproTour event - the De Vere Oulton Hall Masters.
Both had one-under-par 70s to start the second round in joint 32nd place.
FIRST ROUND SCOREBOARD
Par 71
64 James Morrison (Eng).
65 Rob Harris (Eng), Michael Searle (Eng).
Scots' scores:
70 Lee Harper (Archerfield Links), Christopher Campbell (Carnegie Club) (jt 32nd).
72 Thomas Higson (Eyemouth) (jt 58th).
73 Neil Mitchell (Murcar Links) (jt 73rd).
75 Ian Simpson (Fulford), Paul Cormack (Inchmarlo Golf Resort) (jt 107th).

HUTCHEON WINS DEER PARK TOP PRIZE
AFTER TIE WITH McKECHNIE ON 134

Greig Hutcheon (Peterculter) won the top prize of £2,696 in the Deer Park 36-hole, two-day pro-am tournament today.
He beat Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills) in a sudden death play-off after they had tied on 10-under-par 134.
Hutcheon, who had finished strongly on Sunday to fill fifth place in the Gleneagles Scottish PGA championship, had rounds of 63 and 71; McKechnie scored 68 and 66.
Paul earned £2,157.
Craig Lee (All Golf Swing Centre), joint runner-up on Sunday, finished third here, one shot behind Greig and Paul with 66 and 69 for 135. Lee earned £1,618.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 144 (2 x 72)
134 G Hutcheon (Peterculter) 63 71 (£2,686), P McKechnie (Braid Hills) 68 66 (£2,157).
135 C Lee (All Golf Swing Centre) 66 69 (£1,618).
136 M Loftus (Cowglen) 70 66 (£1,211).
137 S Gray (Hayston) 66 71 (£970).
138 D Orr (East Renfrewshire) 71 67 (£803).
139 M King (Kingsfield) 70 69 (£697).
140 R Arnott (Bishopbriggs) 74 66, C Gordon (Edinburgh Golf Centre) 73 67 (£552 each).
141 L Barn (Noah's Ark) 70 71, G Fox (West Kilbride) 70 71, S Taylor (Bothwell Castle) 70 71 (£412 each).
142 D Robertson (Mearns Castle) 74 68, S Savage (Dalmuir) 74 68 (£337 each)

SCOTLAND BOYS LOSE TO IRELAND AS
ENGLAND WALLOP WELSH

Defending champions Scotland were beaten 9 1/2-5 1/2 by Ireland on the second day of the boys' home internationals at the Machynys Peninsula.
In the other match, England showed no mercy on Wales, beating them 14 1/2-1/2, taking the singles 10-0.
Scotland play England tomorrow.

Details:

SCOTLAND 5 1/2, IRELAND 9 1/2

Foursomes: J Byrne, F Fotheringham lost to P Cutler, G Boyd 2 and 1; A Campbell, A Wallace bt S Healy, R McNamara 4 and 3; P Ferrier, C Gaittens bt G McGrane, C Drumm 1 hole; S Fraser, S McLaren lost to R McGee, C Martin 3 and 2; P Shields, M Stewart lost to L Lennox, A Dunbar 2 and 1 (2-3).
Singles: Byrne lost to Cutler 5 and 3, Campbell lost to Healy 3 and 2, N Henderson lost to Lennox 1 hole, Fotheringham lost to McNamara 2 and 1, Ferrier lost to C Fairweather 2 and 1, Wallace bt McGrane 4 and 2, Fraser bt McGee 1 hole, McLaren halved with Martin, Shields lost to Dunbar 3 and 1, Stewart bt Boyd 5 and 3 (3 1/2-6 1/2).

Other result:

ENGLAND 14 1/2, WALES 1/2.
Foursomes: 4 1/2- 1/2.
Singles: 10-0.

British seniors open amateur championship

REYNOLDS AND PIERSE POST 67s AT
NAIRN AS SHADOWS LENGTHEN

Monifieth maestro Ian Hutcheon possibly lost his chance of winning the British senior men’s open amateur championship over the space of four holes in the first round today (WED).
Three times Scottish over-55s champion in the past five years, the 65-year-old finished on four-over-par 76 at the Nairn links.
That was six shots off the pace set for most of the day at this venue by American Erik Myrmo and Spaniard Miguel Presysler.
Then, between 7.30pm and 8.15pm, with the shadows lengthening at the end of gloriously sunny day, first Chris Reynolds from Littlestone Kent, came storming home in 32 at Nairn to return a five-under-par 67, followed in the last group to finish by Arthur Pierse from Tipperary, also with a 67.
Pierse was four under par after three holes after a birdie-eagle-birdie start.
Not that laid-back Ian will have lost any sleep over it, but he could have been in contention instead of nine strokes adrift but for a most uncharacteristic spell of five shots dropped between the 10th and the 13th.
Hutcheon had had a bogey 5 at the short sixth but he came out of the outward half on level par 36, thanks to birdies at the first, second and seventh.
He dropped another one at the 10th but then came a horrendous triple bogey 7 “from nowhere” at the 444yd 12th.
“I am in the middle of the fairway with my drive and then I hit my second way off line into some bushes. I’ve not hit as bad a shot as that for a long, long time,” said Hutcheon who improved his handicap to +3 with a pair of 66s at Monifieth last week when he won the East of Scotland Seniors open by 13 strokes.
“I just don’t know where it came from but that cost me a 7 and then I dropped another one at the next. I felt better after parring the next four holes and birdieing the last, but it wasn’t one of my best days. I missed a few putts too.”
The top Scots at the end of a long day which saw a field of 250-odd competitors in action – only the leading 60 and ties will play Friday’s final round – were former Newtonmore shinty ace John Fraser (Royal Burness), the Nairn trio of Peter Saggers, Patrick Tomisson and Robin Paton, former Walker Cup player George Macgregor (Glencorse), Robert Gill (Gerrards Cross) and Aberdeen’s Alastair Fiddes (Murcar Links) and George Paterson (Northern).
Former Murcar man Fraser’s 73 (37-36) at Nairn represented a very good recovery from a double bogey 7 at the second.
One of the last to finish after 8pm, Northern’s George Paterson matched Fraser’s round with halves of 34 and 39. George had six birdies in all but, unfortunately, he had seven bogeys, including at the 12th, 13th, 14th and 16th.
Also at Nairn Saggers used his local knowledge to come roaring home in 35 for a 75 and five-handicapper Fowler did it the other way round: 35 to the turn and then 40 home, including a quadruple bogey 8 at the 12th.
Macgregor (35-40) ran up a double bogey 7 at the last.
At the marginally longer Nairn Dunbar, Gill finished strongly with birdies at the 13th, 14th and 18th for for 35 home and a 72.
Tomisson had a 73 (38-35) after a shaky outward half with bogeys at the fourth, fifth and eight but a stout finish with birdies at the 13th and 16th no blemishes at all in an inward half.
Fiddes had a double bogey 6 at the sixth and dropped another shot at the seventh but he had enough birdies – at the fifth, ninth, 13th and 16th – to salvage a one-over 73 (37-36).
Paton had a 75 (37-38) at Nairn Dunbar.


maestro Ian Hutcheon possibly lost his chance of winning the British senior men’s open amateur championship over the space of four holes in the first round today.
Three times Scottish over-55s champion in the past five years, the 65-year-old finished on four-over-par 76 at the Nairn links. That’s not too bad a score in the context that 70s by American Erik Myrmo and Spaniard Miguel Preysler were the best at this venue.
Not that laid-back Ian will have lost any sleep over it, but he could have been right up there disputing the lead but for a most uncharacteristic spell of five shots dropped between the 10th and the 13th.
Hutcheon had had a bogey 5 at the short sixth but he came out of the outward half on level par 36, thanks to birdies at the first, second and seventh.
He dropped another one at the 10th but then came a horrendous triple bogey 7 “from nowhere” at the 444yd 12th.
“I am in the middle of the fairway with my drive and then I hit my second way off line into some bushes. I’ve not hit as bad a shot as that for a long, long time,” said Hutcheon who improved his handicap to +3 with a pair of 66s at Monifieth last week when he won the East of Scotland Seniors open by 13 strokes.
“I just don’t know where it came from but that cost me a 7 and then I dropped another one at the next. I felt better after parring the next four holes and birdieing the last, but it wasn’t one of my best days. I missed a few putts too.”
By the way, Nairn joint leader Myrmo, a 57-year-old from Eugene, Oregon wasn’t exactly doing handstands after finishing his very good round with a bogey 5 at the 17th and a double bogey 7 at the last.
The defending champion, Paul Simson from Raleigh, North Carolina, 56-year-old president of an insurance ageny, began impressively with a best of the day, four-under-par 68 at Nairn Dunbar.
Simson got his bogeys out of the way early – at the second and fifth – and then covered the last 13 holes in six under par with birdies at the sixth, eighth, ninth, 13th, 15th and 18th in halves of 34 (one under par) and 34 (three under par).
The top Scots at the end of a long day which saw a field of 250-odd competitors in action – only the leading 60 and ties will play Friday’s final round – were former Newtonmore shinty ace John Fraser (Royal Burness), the Nairn trio of Peter Saggers, Patrick Tomisson and Robin Paton, former Walker Cup player George Macgregor (Glencorse), and Robert Gill (Gerrards Cross).
Fraser’s 73 (37-36) at Nairn represented a very good recovery from a double bogey 7 at the second.
At the same venue Saggers used his local knowledge to come roaring home in 35 for a 75 and five-handicapper Fowler did it the other way round: 35 to the turn and then 40 home, including a quadruple bogey 8 at the 12th.
Macgregor (35-40) ran up a doule bogey 7 at the last.
At the marginally longer Nairn Dunbar, Gill finished strongly with birdies at the 13th, 14th and 18th for for 35 home and a 72.
Tomisson had a 73 (38-35) after a shaky outward half with bogeys at the fourth, fifth and eight but a stout finish with birdies at the 13th and 16th no blemishes at all in an inward half.
Paton had a 75 (37-38) at Nairn Dunbar.

FIRST ROUND SCORES (end of play)

NAIRN
Par 72. 6,670yd
67 C Reynolds (Littlestone), A Pierse (Tipperary).
70 E Myrmo (US), M Preysler (Spain), G Cooke (Canada).
72 R Berg (US).
73 J Fraser (Royal Burgess), V Mandelli (Italy), G Paterson (Northern).
74 G Potton (Berkhamsted), M Kelly (Killeen), M Brummer (US).
75 P Saggers (Nairn), L Fowler (Royal Aberdeen), J Hirsch (US), G Macgregor (Glencorse), J Dennis (US), D Harte (Fota Island), M Bell (US).
76 J Putt (Sunningdale), G Brown (Vale of Leven), I C Hutcheon (Monifieth), J Greenbaum (US).
77 K Benson (US), B Kain (US), A Patterson (Sunningdale).
78 D Perrie (Paisley), D McCart (Castlerock), S Baker (Little Aston), H MacKeown (Portmarnock), S Smale (Royal St George’s), G McGee (Erskine), G Thomson (Bearsden).
79 J W Johnston (Royal Aberdeen), J Keller (US), R Smethurst (Crewe), C Nelson (US), C Macleod (Moray), I Cumming (Eastwood), C Christy (Kilmacolm), G MacDonald (Callander), G Rodaks (Moffat), B Grieve (King James VI), C Moir (Worksop).
80 T Hewan (South Africa), J French (US), W Wallace (Strathaven), P Jones (Bromborough), R Wallace (Crosland Heath), B Cramb (Tenby), V Villarreal (Mexico), A Brownridge (Canada), R Thomson (St Andrews), H Clunas (Nairn Dunbar).
81 D Longmuir (Verulam), S Pond (Worksop), T Bennett (Great Barr), F Urquhart (Inverness), J Clay (Minchinhampton), J Provot (France), A Deichler (US), B Nicholson (Royal Dornoch), S Hickey (Spain),K MacBryde (Newcastle-under-Lyme), D Doodson (Temple).
82 F Lang (Italy), G Payne (Prestbury), T Coffield (US), D Alexander (US), M Wilde (Camberley Heath), H Heyns (South Africa), A Wight (Glencorse), J Watt (Letham Grange), J Nash (Sunningdale).
83 A Ferguson (Drumpellier), G Larrazabal (Spain), T Wells (Burnham Beeches), T Lyford (US), N Cameron (Porters Park), D Du Temple (Australia), R Stuart (US).
84 J Broadfoot (Turnberry), J Marks (Woodbridge), M Irrgang (Germany), P Cowley (Cork), J Dolk (Sweden), G Millerick (Fota Island), G Allan (Wildernesse), R Kidd (Royal Norwich), J Kidney (US).
85 B Back (Sweden), L Engstrom (Sweden), N Marsden (Moor Park), K Sargent (Haydock Park), A K Pirie (Hazlehead), Y Hoffstetter (Switzerland), C Heath (Silloth on Solway), R Carter (North Manchester), J Pierce (US), T Finn (Cork), N Hughes (Gog Magog), M Eager (Lucan).
86 J Adams (Costa Rica), G Steel (Moor Park), B Christie (Bridge of Allan), M Britovsek (Nairn Dunbar).
87 R Haig (Northamptonshire Co), D Millar (St Andrews New), P Crompton (Eaton)..
88 G Chatham (US), M Morris (Portmarnock), O Browne (Richmond), J Andrew (Western Gailes).
89 J Wilson (Frilford Heath), R Pauley (Woodhall Spa), J Kirwan (Bramhall), W Morton (Dunbar).
92 R Lawson (Sunningdale).
94 F Natali (France).

NAIRN DUNBAR
Par 72. 6,703yd.
68 P Simson (US).
71 J Myers (US).
72 B Mills (Clandeboye), R Gill (Gerrards Cross), D Arnold (Copthorne).
73 J Baldwin (US), S Hakes (US), P Tomisson (Nairn), A Fiddes (Murcar Links), J Blumenfeld (US).
74 R Woulfe (US), B Rowan (Drift), G Verble (US), R Thoms (US), W Jackson (US), T McGraw (US), G Reynolds (Ludlow), D Crawford (US), F Lukasik (US).
75 D Lane (Goring & Streatley), G Rees (Fleetwood), I Taylor (Royal Burgess), B Leonard (US), R Walker (Crewe), R Paton (Nairn), J Wellington (South Africa), K Richardson (US), D McKinnon (Ballochmyle), S Segsworth (Canada), B Edgar (Blackpool North), B Reddan (Co Louth), R Humble (Kilspindie).
76 P Garner (Sunningdale), C Salaber (US), J Jermine (Sunningdale), B Griffiths (Llanymynech), M Wigley (Hankley Common), L J Trenor (Spain), D Kuehn (US), D Eccleston (Ormskirk), T McEvoy (Hatfield), D Brodie (Nairn Dunbar), I Stewart (Curragh), J Whitcutt (Bur nham & Berrow)..
77 R McLellan (Turnberry), S Ellis (Cowal), V Singh (India), B Simmons (Canada).
78 M McKenna (Elsenham), R Shimwell (Hessle), S Coyne (Killarney), J Thomas (Ravensworth), K Howie (West Kilbride), R McDonnell (Co Louth), A Morrison (Appleby), G Bray (Carrickmines), J Bruce (Edzell), N P Machado (Portugal), D Bentham (Bolton).
79 L Frankel (France), P Kinloch (Cardross), J Smith (Taunton & Pickeridge), C Hurst (London), J Hubbard (Sunningdale), F Silver (Canada), B Methven (Royal Aberdeen), N Barnes (Brokenhurst Manor), B Varn (US), N Fletcher (Chorley), R A Abdellaoui (Morocco).
80 T Brown (Stand), D Lindsay (Windyhill), A Elder (Kirkcaldy), T Hartnett (St Andrews), J Westwood (Moray), J O’.Neill (Reddish Vale).
81 T Dickinson (Royal Liverpool), N Wilson (Spain), E Fontecilla (Spain), D Bunker (Nairn Dunbar), R Kulp (US), S Bannerman (Glasgow), W Morgan (Wynyard), D Millar (Berwick), F Clark (Royal Aberdeen), R Horseman (Woodhall Spa), J Stevens (Hayston).
82 K Ballenger (UAE), J Black (Scotscraig), J Anderson (Scotscraig), J Anderson (Radcliffe on Trent), J Kinloch (Cardross), C Alexander (Murcar Links).
83 D Miller (Murrayfield), B Josefsson (Sweden), K N Andersson (Sweden), J Hodday (South Africa), A Waddington (Crewe), P Bradley (Retford), R Searle (High Post), G Graham (US), S Radcliffe (US), C W Green (Cardross), A Grufman (Sweden), S Sander (Sunningdale).
84 R Linacre (Coxmoor), R Stewart (Tulliallan), R Crisp (Ellesborough).
85 L Gordon (Turnhouse).
86 N Kirkness (Wilmslow), A Tarumianz (US), I Duncan (Nairn Dunbar), D Clifford (Cork).
87 A Cameron (Gourock), R Floyd (Celtic Manor), D Sharp (Boat of Garten), W Weynerowski (Canada).
88 M Lironi (Cathkin Braes).
89 H Douthwaite (Dumbarton).
90 G Eiras (Argentina).
91 R King (Hong Kong).
92 G Wilson (Dalhousie).

DAVID AND ANDREW FOR BELGIUM TOURNAMENT

The Scottish Golf Union have nominated David Law (Hazlehead) and Andrew McLachlan (Bonnyton) to take part in the SAAB International Junior Championship at the Royal Golf Club of Belgium, Brussels from August 22 to 25.
The Scottish Ladies Golfing Association last month named Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm) and Kelsey MacDonald (Nairn Dunbar) to be their representatives.

GREIG HUTCHEON LEADS WITH BRILLIANT
63 IN DEER PARK MASTERS FIRST ROUND

Greig Hutcheon finished the Gleneagles Scottish PGA championship strongly on Sunday and carried on in fine fettle for the first round of the Deer Park Masters pro-am.
Greig shot a brillant round of nine-under-par 63 to lead by three shots at the halfway stage from Stephen Gray (Hayston) and Craig Lee (All Golf Swing Centre).
LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 72
63 G Hutcheon (Peterculter).
66 S Gray (Hayston), C Lee (All Golf Swing Centre).
68 P McKechnie (Braid Hills).
69 F Mann (Musselburgh).
70 S Taylor (Bothwell Castle), M Loftus (Cowglen), M King (Kingsfield), L Barn (Noah's Ark), G Fox (West Kilbride).
71 D Orr (East Renfrewshire), E Cameron (Hamilton).
72 J Sharp, A E Reid (West Lothian), J McCreadie (Buchanan Castle), G McInnes (Murcar Links), G Duncan (Westin Turnberry), K Glen (Royal Musselburgh).
73 G Lornie (Aspire), J McKinnon (Irvine), C Gillies (Kingsfield), C Gordon (Edinburgh GC).

English Golf Union Press Release

ENGLAND RECALL MORRISON FOR EURO
SENIORS TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP

Andrew Morrison, a retired schoolteacher from Cumbria, has earned a recall to the England team for the European senior men’s amateur team championship at Bled in Slovenia next week (August 15 to 18).
Morrison, a former Northern Counties Seniors champion, was last capped four years ago in the Seniors Home Internationals at Seaton Carew when Ireland and Wales shared the title.
The team manager will be Jon Marks.
Doug Arnold, from Sussex, has won three English Seniors titles, in 2002 at Heswall, in 2003 at Frilford Heath, and at Yelverton in 2006. He has also represented England in Europe last year and in every Seniors Home Internationals since its inception in 2002. The Copthorne club member also lost a play-off for the European Seniors title in 2003, and he is the current Sussex Seniors Champion.
David Lane, from BB&O, has been a kingpin of seniors golf for many years. He also has three English titles to his credit, the most recent coming at Enville in June, as well as the British Seniors Championship in 1998. Lane has also won the Scottish Seniors twice, the South East Seniors and the BB&O Seniors on eight occasions.
Chris Reynolds made his England seniors debut in last year’s Seniors Home Internationals in Scotland and represented Kent in the Seniors County Finals at Lincoln last year. He also finished runner-up to Lane in this year’s English Seniors Championship.
Roy Smethurst is arguably the most successful seniors golfer in Britain. Since 2000 he has won the English title four times, the British title once, the European Seniors once, and helped Cheshire to the past two English Seniors County titles. He has also had several runners-up finishes including a losing playoff for the European Seniors Championship and has been a seniors international for the past six years.
Roy has also claimed the Cheshire seniors title on several occasions. Squires, the current Lancashire Seniors Champion, has played in the past three Seniors Home Internationals and well as last year‘s European Seniors Team Championships. In the past three English Seniors Championship, he has finished third on two occasions and joint second in 2006.
A year ago at the inaugural European Seniors Team Championships in Finland, England finished third behind winners Scotland and Ireland. England
Full England team for Bled, Slovenia is:

Doug Arnold (Copthorne).
David Lane (Goring & Streatley).
Andrew Morrison (Appleby).
Chris Reynolds (Royal Cinque Ports).
Roy Smethurst (Crewe).
Alan Squires (Oldham).

Team Captain/Manager:
Jon Marks (Woodbridge).

SCOTS BOYS RECOVER IN SINGLES TO BEAT WALES

Scotland and England both trailed after the opening morning foursomes in the boys' home internationals at Machynys Peninsula in South Wales.

But at the end of the day Scotland had beaten Wales 10 1/2-4 1/2 and England had beaten Ireland 8-7.

The Welsh jumped into a 3 1/2-1 1/2 foursomes lead but were outclassed in the singles. Scotland won nine of the 10.

Ireland led England 3-2 but the singles here were more evenly contested. The English managed to take them 6-4 to cancel out the 1pt lunchtime deficit.

Scotland v Wales details:

FOURSOMES (1 1/2-3 1/2)

J Byrne & F Fotheringham bt J Green & G Evans 4 and 3.

A Campbell & N Henderson lost to J Howie & J Vickery 5 and 3.

P Ferrier & C Gaittens lost to B Enoch & L Evans 1 hole

S Fraser & S McLaren halved with R Pugh & R McLister.

P Shields & M Stewart lost to L Jackson & R Harston 3 and 1.

SINGLES (9-1)

Byrne bt C Nugent 3 and 2.

Campbell lost to L Evans 2 and 1.

Henderson bt Howie 3 and 2.

Fotheringham bt Enoch 5 and 4.

Ferrier bt Vickery 5 and 4.

A Wallace bt Jackson 5 and 4.

Fraser bt Pugh 4 and 3.

McLaren bt McLister 4 and 2.

Shields bt Harston 1 hole.

Stewart bt Green 7 and 6.

For details of the England v Ireland match and the full story, log on to the R&A website, www.randa.org

Wednesday's matches sees Scotland, winners of the title at Lossiemouth last year, play Ireland while Wales play England.

R&A PRESS RELEASE

WALKER CUP TICKETS GO ON PUBLIC SALE

Tickets for the Walker Cup ,to be played at Royal County Down on September 8-9, have been released for sale to the public by The R&A.
An adult ticket will cost £25 per day while juveniles under the age of 16 will be admitted for £10.
David Hill, the Director of Championships for The R&A said: “We have limited the daily attendance to ensure that it remains comfortable for spectators to follow the match of their choice round the course.”
“Royal County Down is a true links course set in a spectacular setting with the mountains of Mourne as a backdrop and we are anticipating a large and enthusiastic local support as Great Britain and Ireland attempt to regain the Walker Cup.”
“I would therefore advise intending spectators to apply for tickets as soon as possible to avoid the disappointment of being unable to watch the match.”
Ticket applications should be directed to: Ticket Office, The R&A, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9JD, Scotland, through on-line purchasing at www.randa.org or by telephone on ++44 1334 460010.

HUTCH IS THE MAN

TO END AMERICAN

GRIP ON BRITISH
SENIORS' TITLE

The Scotland team who will seek to win the European senior men's amateur team golf championship for the second year in a row at Bled Golf & Country Club, Slovenia next week has been announced.
John Johnston (Royal Aberdeen) for Allan Ferguson (Drumpellier) is the only change in the six-man line-up that won the title for the first time in Finland 12 months ago.
The team is:
Ian Hutcheon (Monifieth), capt., Stephen Ellis (Cowal), Brian Grieve (King James VI), John Johnston (Royal Aberdeen), Donald McCart (Castlerock), Gordon MacDonald (Callander).
The players will get the best possible preparation this week when they compete as individuals in the British senior open amateur championship, starting at Nairn and Nairn Dunbar tomorrow.
A huge field of 252 players will play 18 holes over both courses with the leading 60 and ties after 36 holes contesting the final round at Nairn on Friday.
It’s an R&A-organised championship that is particularly popular with Americans, many of whom follow an unofficial global circuit for amateurs in the over-55 age bracket. Eight of the past 10 winners of the “British” title, have come from the United States.
Paul Simson, 56, from North Carolina, is defending the title he won at Saunton last year in his first attempt.
If any Scot can halt the American domination of the event - for one year at least - then it is Ian Hutcheon (pictured above) who is currently playing as good if not better golf than he did in his heyday of 30 years ago.
At the age of 65, he improved his handicap from +2 to +3 last week when he won the East of Scotland Seniors open over his home Monifieth course by 13 shots with a pair of 66s. He has won every event he has played in in the new Scottish Golf Union Seniors' Circuit.
Ian, a four-time Walker Cup player between 1975 and 1981 and Scottish champion at match-play (1973) and stroke-play (1974 & 1979), won the Scottish senior open amateur title earlier this year for the third time since 2003.
"Hutch" will be conceding the best part of five to 10 years to the leading Americans but the way Ian is playing at the moment, the age factor does not come into it.

LEADING TEE TIMES
WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY

Nairn tee time first; Nairn Dunbar second

7.55 & 12.01: Erik Myrmo (US), Federico Lang (Italy), Sandy Pirie (Hazlehead).
8.06 & 1.21: John Johnston (Royal Aberdeen), Timothy Hewan (SAf), Bob Kain (US).
8.33 and 12.34: Alan Ferguson (Drumpellier), Manfred Ingang (Ger), Willilam Wallace (Strathaven).
9.28 and 1.34: Denny Alexander (US), Mike Wilde (Camberley Heath), Donald McCart (Castlerock).
9.39 and 1.45: John Fraser (Royal Burgess), Peter Cowley (Cork), Clifford Heath (Silloth on Solway).
9.50 and 1.56: Stephen Baker (Little Aston), Fraser Urquhart (Inverness), Roy Smethurst (Crewe).
10.50 and 2.56: Joel Hirsch (US), Andrew Wright (Glencorse), Alan Clay (Minchinhampton).
11.50 and 7.44: Ian Hutcheon (Monifieth), Jerry Greenbaum (US), Bert Nicholson (Royoal Dornoch).
12.45 aand 8.44: Geoff Allan (Wilderness), John Dennis (US), Gordon MacDonald (Callander).
1.45 and 9.39: Neil Hughes (Gog Magog), Brian Grieve (King James VI), George Rodaks (Moffat).
2.56 and 10.50 George Paterson (Northern), Arthur Pierse (Tipperary), Hugh Clunas (Nairn Dunbar).

Nairn Dunbar first tee time; Nairn second tee time.
7.22 and 11.23: Neil Wilson (Spain), Stephen Ellis (Cowal), David Lane (Goring & Streatley).
8.06 and 12.12: John Baldwin (US), Patrick Garner (Sunningdale), David Sharp (Boat of Garten).
10.28 and 2.34: Jock Wellington (SAf), Michael Wigley (Hankley Common), Paul Simpson (US) (holder).
11.23 and 7.22: Mark Lironi (Cathkin Braes), Kemp Richardson(US), Patrick Tomisson (Nairn).
12.34 and 8.33: Alistair Fiddes (Murcar Links), David Eccleston (Ormskirk), Nuno Pereira Machado (Por).
2.12 and 10.06: Iain Stewart (Curragh), Robert Humble (Kilspindie), Phlip Slater (Sandiway).

LOFTUS NOW LEADING TARTAN

TOUR MONEY-WINNER AFTER

VICTORY AT GLENEAGLES

Mark Loftus's capture of the £8,800 first prize in the Gleneagles Scottish PGA championship on Sunday has propelled the Cowglen tour pro to the top of the Tartan Tour money table with earnings of £19,516.
He is about £2,000 ahead of Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills).

Loftus, only 28, still has ambitions to play on the European Tour and he will have another go at the Tour School qualifying process over the next month or two.

Leading totals:
1 M Loftus (Cowglen) £19,516.
2 P McKechnie (Braid Hills) £17,433.
3 R Arnott (Bishopbriggs) £14,980.
4 G Hutcheon (Peterculter) £14,911.
5 S Cairns (Westerwood) £14,186.
6 S Gray (Hayston) £12,971.
7 M Urquhart (Inverness) £12,477.
8 D Patrick (Mortonhall) £11,289.
9 C Doak (unatt) £11,234.
10 C Lee (All Golf Swing Centre) £10,698.
11 D Robertson (Mearns Castle) £10.615.
+Image of Mark Loftus above by courtesy of andyformanimages.com

R&A PRESS RELEASE

WILL AMERICANS CONTINUE MONOPOLY OF
SENIORS OPEN AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
AT NAIRN & NAIRN DUNBAR THIS WEEK?

Over the past ten years, the Senior Open Amateur Championship has taken on a decidedly transatlantic bias with American players winning in eight of those ten years. It is therefore no surprise that U.S. based players dominate the entry and are strong contenders for the title at Nairn and Nairn Dunbar from Wednesday to Friday this week.
Paul Simson, 56, from North Carolina was the winner last year at Saunton in his first attempt at the title. With a 10 over par aggregate of 223, he shot to a five shot victory over fellow American Rick Woulfe and 2002 Champion John Baldwin.
In September 2006, Mike Bell, holed an 8-foot putt to win the USGA Senior Amateur Championship. Now, the 60-year-old Indianapolis resident is hoping to add to his collection of silverware with a win in the ‘British’ at Nairn. Tom McGraw, 56, the defeated finalist is also in the field.
England’s Roy Smethurst, the winner in 2003 at Blairgowrie is again competing as is Ian Hutcheon, of Monifieth, the four times Walker Cup player who won this year’s Scottish Seniors title at Drumpellier to add to his wins of 2003 and 2004.
Nairn Golf Club on the shores of the Moray Firth, has been a regular venue for championships at every level and only last August played host to the Scottish Amateur Championship. In 1999 it was the scene of a historic win for GB&I in the Walker Cup, heralding the start of a run of three successive victories.
Nairn Dunbar, to the east of the town, also enjoys a reputation as a fine links course and has recently hosted the Northern Professional Championship, the Scottish Ladies’ Stroke Play and the Seniors’ Home Internationals.
The field of 252 players play 18-holes on each of Nairn and Nairn Dunbar with the leading 60 players and ties playing at further 18-holes over Nairn on the Friday.
The full list of competitors can be viewed at www.randa.org – Championships.

++Colin Farquharson will be reporting on the championship from Nairn this week. Look out for all the scores daily and regular updates on this website.

NORTH-EAST BOYS' DOUBLE WHAMMY
OVER ANGUS BOYS AT ABOYNE

North-east beat Angus by the same 5-4 scoreline in two Under-16 and Under-18 boys’ matches at Aboyne.
Details (NE boys’ names first):

NORTH-EAST U-18s 5, ANGUS U-18s 4

Foursomes (2-1)
T Spencer & C Trehan halved with W Bremner & M Reid.
S Griffiths & A Campbell halved with D Mellon & G Torrie.
S Fraser & R Penny bt P Drummond & J McNeill 1 hole.

Singles (3-3)
Spencer bt Bremner 2 and 1.
Griffiths lost to Reid 2 and 1.
Trehan bt Mellon 4 and 3.
Campbell lost to Torrie 1 hole.
Penny lost to Drummond 3 and 2.
Fraser bt McNeill 5 and 4.

NORTH-EAST U-16s 5, ANGUS U-16S 4

Foursomes (1 ½-1 ½)
R Bain & O Coull bt C Bremner & R Pert 6 and 5.
W Rennie & N Macandrew halved with R Storrier & A Simpson.
D Law & D Chrfistie lost to R Mitchell & A Bremner 5 and 4.

Singles (3 ½-2 ½)
Law bt C Bremner 4 and 3.
B ain halved with Pert.
Macandrew lost to Storrier 3 and 2.
Christie lost to Simpson 1 hole.
Coull bt A Bremner 4 and 3.
Rennie bt Mitchell 3 and 2.

BORROWMAN GETS THAILAND TICKET

Scottish youths champion Scott Borrowman (Stirling University & Dollar GC) has received a late call into the British golf team for the World University Games in Thailand.
Read the full story on www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk

TWO YOUNG SCOTS FOR HILVERSUM

Scotland youth caps Philip McLean (Peterhead) and Ross McKnight (Kilmarnock Barassie) are being sent by the Scottish Golf Union to play in the Hilversum Open - an event on the Netherlands PGA domestic circuit - at Hilversum Golf Club.
The 72-hole event starts on Thursday.

INTER-DISTRICT BOYS GOLF AT EDZELL

Honours were shared when the Angus hosted two boys' golf matches at Edzell. Angus won the Under-18s match 7-2 but North won the Under-16s' encounter 5-4.
Details:

ANGUS U-18s 7, NORTH U-18s 2
North names first
Foursomes - W Bremner jun, A Cappi bt C Gaiten,s R Elder 3 and 2; K Harper, M Reid bt R Asher, A Billie 5 and 4; D Mellon, G Torrie bt I Allan, S Connell 4 and 2 (3-0).
Singles: Bremner bt Gaitens 4 and 3, Cappi bt Connell 1 hole, Harper bt Baillie 5 and 3, Reid lost to Asher 2 and 1, Mellon lost to Allan 7 and 4, Torrie bt Elder 4 and 2 (4-2).
ANGUS U-16s 4, NORTH U-16s 5
North names first
R Storrier, C Bremner lost to K Godsman, J Treasurer 7 and 6; R Mitchell, A Simpson bt L Reid, M Moss 3 and 1; A Bremner, C Cook lost to P Ramsay, D Cairns 4 and 3 (1-2).
Singles - Storrier bt Treasurer 4 and 3, C Bremner lost to Godsman 5 and 4, Mitchell bt Reid 3 and 2, Simpson lost to Ross 3 and 2, A Bremner lost to Ramsay 5 and 4, Cook bt Cairns 4 and 3 (3-3).

DUNCAN WEIR SAYS FUTURE IS

BRIGHT FOR SCOTLAND'S

PROSPECTS

Carnoustie 2007 will go down in the annals as another brilliant showpiece for Scotland. The Open golf course was a perfectly dreich four-day test producing sporting drama of the highest calibre. And Irishman Padraig Harrington – who was coached by Scottish legend Bob Torrance - became the first European to pick up the Claret Jug since Paul Lawrie's win at the same Angus links course in 1999.

Back in 1999, Lawrie's triumph was a huge boost for indigenous Scottish golf – but since then the fans in the stands have relied too heavily on Colin Montgomerie and his moments of flag-waving inspiration. But the disappointing statistics for Scots at this year's Open were that only three Scots made the cut for the last two days, and that wasn't including Montgomerie or Lawrie.
Alastair Forsyth scored a final-day 80 for a combined total of 299 – that was 22 strokes behind the winner, while the ageing Sandy Lyle carded 298. Ross Bain was the top Scot of the event, shooting respectable scores of 73, 71, 72 and 74 for a respectable six over par total of 290.
So what are the prospects for the emerging generation of Scotland's young golfers?

UNDER NO ILLUSIONS

Duncan Weir, Director of Golf Development at the R&A, says there are some exciting prospects for Scotland. But Scotland's golfing administrators and the Scottish Golf Union are under no illusions about how difficult it will be to get more Scots competing on the final days of the Open. "Golf is now a global game enjoyed around the world and many more people are playing and a lot more countries are producing brilliant young players," says Weir.

"We can no longer expect the Scots just to get in because the tournament is in their own backyard. They have to earn the right, like every other hopeful."

The performance of the young Scots at the European men's amateur team championship at Western Gailes in Ayrshire in early July has given Weir and his development team tremendous heart.

It's an indication of what is emerging. Although the event was won by the Irish, including the 18-year-old Rory McIlroy who won the Open's silver medal for top amateur, who beat France in the final, Scotland ended the week with a 4-3 victory over England.

RAMSAY'S CLINCHING POINT

Richie Ramsay sealed the winning point with a 2 and 1 win over Gary Wolstenholme. Ramsay, the young Royal Aberdeen golfer who made history in 2006 by becoming the first British winner of the coveted US Amateur title in almost a century, said afterwards:

"We showed our will to win after yesterday's disappointment against France. Any Scotland v England game will be a tough fight and it was important to the boys that we finished on a high. Third place in Europe is very respectable although obviously we'd have loved to go two places better."
"There is lot of potential for Scotland at the moment," say Weir. "I think the performance by our players at Western Gailes shows that we have a crop of outstanding young players."

Lloyd Saltman, who has been Scotland's leading amateur for the last two years, had a fine win over David Horsey in the event. The 21-year-old Craigielaw star is expected to turn professional after the Walker Cup.

Ramsay, as Scotland's No 2, has certainly been able to put his name on the golfing map after his spectacular US victory at Hazeltine National when he secured the Havemeyer Cup - a trophy whose previous winners include Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer.

CARNOUSTIE'S MAGIC

Banchory's James Byrne, still only 18, made his debut for Scotland in Ayrshire playing with Keir McNicoll – and he also led Scotland's Under-18s in the European boys' team championships in Denmark.

The magic of Carnoustie is helping to bring on more Scots. McNicoll hails from the Angus town and has the kind of golfing ability to get to the top.

Duncan Weir said: "Carnoustie has an excellent track record of finding talented young golfers. We've seen the course in all its glory this week - and if you are young player who learns your golf here, then you can play anywhere."

Weir also singles out 22-year-old Kevin McAlpine, the son of the former Dundee United goalkeeper, Hamish, as a future professional star. The Alyth club golfer won the Scottish amateur championship at Nairn in 2006 and then the Scottish stroke play at Royal Dornoch this year.
Weir also says that Jonathan King, a Glasgow stockbroker in his late 20s, is one of the best country's best amateurs. Amateurs are allowed to earn up to £500 in prize money. At Western Gailes, King showed his quality in the Scotland jersey to see off Walker Cup squad member Gary Boyd with an excellent 3 and 2 victory, maintaining his excellent record for his national team.
Whether King decides to have a shot at playing professional golf remains to be seen, but his ability highlights one of the greatest predicaments of the highly talented. Do they give up a good job with decent earnings and prospects for the lottery, hard work and grind of the professional golf circuit?

CHALLENGE FOR WINNERS

That is the challenge for all of Scotland's golfing winners. So what do our emerging golfers need to make the big time?
"There are already some tremendous efforts being made, first by the parents, who are supported by the golf clubs, club professionals and coaches, through to the counties, and the Scottish Golf Union, to bring through our young and promising players. These players need to work at their game and compete at every level. They need to work hard to learn how to challenge at the highest level," says Duncan Weir.

© Copyright In The Winning Zone, MMVII, All Rights Reserved

ROBB WINS PAUL LAWRIE

JUNIOR MATCH-PLAY

TITLE AT NEWBURGH

Inchmarlo’s Chris Robb has followed up his recent successes in the North-east District Under-18 boys’ match-play and Under-16 boys’ stroke-play championships by winning the Paul Lawrie Junior Match-play title at Newburgh-on-Ythan Golf Club.
Chris received a bye into the final when his semi-final opponent, Scott Fraser (Royal Aberdeen) had to travel south with the Scotland team for this week’s boys’ home internationals in Wales.
In the semi-final that was played, Michael Campbell (Buckpool) beat Dennis Grant (Huntly) by 4 and 2.
Chris Robb took an early lead in the field with birdies at the second and third holes and was still two up at the turn. Dennis could not make any inroads on his opponent’s lead and Chris closed him out with an excellent tee shot at the 16th for a 3 and 2 victory.
Paul Lawrie followed the final and later demonstrated his skills at a short-game clinic for the competitors.
“Congratulations are due to all three boys who played with great endeavour and a high level of sportsmanship throughout the day,” said Paul.
“The standard of junior golf continues to improve in the North-east of Scotland.”

+Picture above shows Paul Lawrie with the three boys.

Results:
Semi-final – M Campbell (Buckpool) bt D Grant (Huntly) 4 and 2.
Final – C Robb (Inchmarlo) bt Campbell 3 and 2.
The qualifiers for the Paul Lawrie Girls’ Match-play semi-finals are Mhairi Johnstone (Northern), Samantha Leslie (Westhill), Lauren MacCallum (McDonald Ellon) and Lauren Whyte (Aberdeen Ladies).

Peterculter Golf Club have very kindly agreed to give the courtesy of the course for the girls' semi-finals and final on Sunday, August 26.

UNITED STATES NAME EIGHT OF THE TEAM
TO PLAY GB&I AT ROYAL COUNTY DOWN

Two collegiate champions, a USGA champion and three who have qualified for a U.S. Open are among the eight chosen as part of the 10-man squad to represent the United States of America team for the 2007 Walker Cup Match that will be played on Sept. 8-9 at Royal County Down Golf Club in Newcastle, Ireland.
The remainder of the squad will be selected following the U.S. Amateur Championship, which is scheduled to conclude Aug. 26 at The Olympic Club in San Francisco, Calif. Chosen by the International Team Selection Committee of United States Golf Association, the squad will face an amateur team representing Great Britain and Ireland.
NCAA champions Jonathan Moore, 22, of Vancouver, Wash., and Jamie Lovemark, 19, of Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., and three-time Walker Cup pick Trip Kuehne, 35, of Irving, Texas, are among the early selections for the USA squad. Kuehne qualified for the 2007 U.S. Open while Moore played in the 2006 Open.
They are joined on the team by Billy Horschel, 20, of Grant, Fla.; Dustin Johnson, 23, of Myrtle Beach, S.C.; Chris Kirk, 22, of Woodstock, Ga.; USGA champion Colt Knost, 22, of Dallas, Texas; and Webb Simpson, 21, of Raleigh, N.C. All but Kuehne are collegians or recent graduates who are playing on their first Walker Cup team.
The Walker Cup Match consists of 16 singles and eight foursomes (alternate shot) matches. The USA reclaimed the Cup with a one-point victory at Chicago (Ill.) Golf Club in 2005. Great Britain and Ireland’s team had won the three previous Matches, in 1999, 2001 and 2003, twice by scores of 15-9 and by 12½ -11½ in 2003. The USA leads the series overall, 32-7-1.
George “Buddy” Marucci, 55, of Villanova, Pa., who played on the USA Walker Cup teams of 1995 and 1997 and was runner-up to Tiger Woods at the 1995 U.S. Amateur, will serve as team captain. Marucci, who continues to add his total of having competed in more than 40 USGA championships, is co-owner of luxury car dealerships in the Philadelphia area.
“It is a dream come true to be involved with the Walker Cup Match again,” said Marucci, who played for the USA team in 1995 and 1997. “I know firsthand how truly talented this group of golfers is. I will try to share my passion for this event with them and turn them loose. I know they will represent themselves and all of amateur golf well.”
Horschel has been among the top-five finishers at a handful of prestigious amateur competitions in 2007 – the Azalea Invitational, Northeast Amateur, Porter Cup and Southern Amateur. Already a two-time first team All-American heading into his junior year at the University of Florida, he posted a USGA record 60 in the first round of stroke play at the 2006 U.S. Amateur. He also qualified for the 2006 U.S. Open.
Johnson took recent titles at the Monroe Invitational and the Northeast Amateur, where he was helped by a round of 64 in securing a two-stroke victory. He is a recent graduate of Coastal Carolina University where he was the Big South Conference 2007 Player of the Year.
Kirk won the 2007 Ben Hogan Award as the nation’s top collegiate golfer, representing the University of Georgia. He was the individual runner-up at the 2006 NCAA Championship and finished ninth in 2007. He played for the USA squad at the 2006 World Amateur Team Championship.
Knost won the 2007 U.S. Amateur Public Links title and played in the EDS Byron Nelson PGA Tour event, where he shot a second round 64 on his way to finishing tied for 67th. A recent graduate of Southern Methodist University, Knost was the 2007 Conference USA Player of the Year.
Kuehne qualified for his fourth U.S. Open in 2007 and reached the quarterfinals of the 2006 U.S. Amateur. In addition, he was runner-up at the 2006 Sunnehanna Amateur. A 1995 graduate of Oklahoma State University, Kuehne also was named to the 1995 and 2003 USA Walker Cup teams. He lost to Woods in the 1994 Amateur final.
Lovemark became only the eighth freshman to win the NCAA individual title in 2007, representing the University of Southern California. Playing as an invited amateur, he was runner-up at the professional 2007 Nationwide Tour’s Rochester Area Charities Showdown event, where he lost in a two-hole playoff. In July, he finished tied for 45th at the PGA Tour’s AT&T National.
Moore won the 2006 NCAA title as a freshman for Oklahoma State University, and shortly thereafter qualified for the 2006 U.S. Open. His NCAA title came by a comfortable four-stroke margin. Moore represented the USA at the 2006 World Amateur Team Championship and the 2007 Copa de las Americas Championship.
Simpson was named to the 2006 USA World Amateur Team and the 2007 USA Copa de las Americas team. He reached the semifinals of the 2006 U.S. Amateur. He won the 2006 Sunnehanna Amateur and the 2007 Azalea Amateur and the 2007 Southern Amateur.

MEET THE PARTIAL 2007 USA TEAM
+In the United States, players' home towns are listed instead of their home golf clubs as is the tradition on this side of the Atlantic.

Billy Horschel (20), Grant, Florida.
Dustin Johnson (23), Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Chris Kirk (22), Woodstock, Georgia.
Colt Knost (22), Dallas, Texas.
Trip Kuehne (35), Irving, Texas.
Jamie Lovemark (19), Rancho Santa Fe, California.
Jonathan Moore (22), Vancouver, Washington St.
Webb Simpson (21), Raleigh, North Carolina.

Captain
George “Buddy” Marucci (55), Villanova, Pennsylvania.

LLOYD SALTMAN ONLY

SCOT IN GB&I

WALKER CUP TEAM

Rhys Davies, Nigel Edwards and Lloyd Saltman, pictured right, all members of the 2005 Walker Cup team that played the United States at Chicago Golf Club, have been selected for the match at Royal County Down on September 8 and 9.

The team of 10 is made up of five English, three Welshman, one Scot and one Irishman.
Certain to attract a large home support is 18-year-old Rory McIlroy from the Holywood club, near Belfast and the only amateur to complete 72-holes in The Open at Carnoustie and the winner there of the Silver Medal.
Tony Disley, Chairman of The R&A Selection Committee said: “We have picked a strong team that is more than capable of defeating the Americans at Royal County Down.

“The team not only includes players with experience at the highest level but has a number of exciting younger players who we believe will excel on the occasion.”
“While a number of players will naturally feel disappointed at being left out of the team, we have no doubt that the ten players selected can regain the Walker Cup for Great Britain and Ireland.” Jonathan Caldwell, 23, was a member of the Irish side that won the European Team Championship at Western Gailes where he gained 4 points out of a possible six. He has represented Ireland at various levels since being capped as a boy in 2002 and this year made the semi-final stage of the Irish Close Amateur.
Welsh player Rhys Davies, 22, played in the 2005 Walker Cup match and graduated this year from East Tennessee State University with a degree in Business Administration. Prior to starting his four year university course he won the 2003 Boys Amateur Championship and represented Welsh Boys from 2000-2003. While at Tennessee, Davies recorded 10 USA Collegiate Tournament wins and was an NCAA first team All American from 2005-2007.
He played in the U.S. Open at Oakmont after qualifying and was a 2007 Ben Hogan Award finalist.
Nigel Edwards, 38, will be playing in his fourth Walker Cup after being in the winning teams of 2001 (Ocean Forest) and 2003 (Ganton) and in the squad that lost at Chicago in 2005. He holds down the position of Director of Player Development and Coaching in the Golf Union of Wales while competing successfully at the highest level. Already this year he has won the Duncan Putter and finished second in the Lytham Trophy, third in the Welsh Stroke Play and fifth in the St Andrews Links Trophy. He has represented Wales from 1995 to the present day.
David Horsey, 22, this year successfully defended his West of England title at Saunton and followed that win with a fourth place in the Brabazon Trophy at Forest of Arden and a sixth place in the St Andrews Links Trophy. In the Amateur Championship at Lytham, he shot a course record 64 to lead the qualifiers on 132. Since 2006 he has been an England International.
Llewellyn Matthews, 23, is the winner of the 2007 Welsh Order of Merit, a title that has come through consistency over the season.

That includes his wire-to-wire win in the St Andrews Links Trophy where he shot a 15-under-par score of 273 to win by three after a final round over the Old Course of 67.

On Friday, he successfully defended his Welsh Amateur title with a 2 and 1 win in the final at Royal St. David’s. Matthews qualified at Monifieth for The Open at Carnoustie.
Rory McIlroy, 18, has been pencilled in as a potential Walker Cup player for some time and his performance in The Open at Carnoustie where he won the Silver Medal, underlined his selection. He was exempt into The Open through his win in the 2006 European Amateur and in 2007 won the Sherry Cup, was second in the Lytham Trophy and fourth in the Irish Stroke Play. He has a full hand of Irish Boys, Youth and Senior titles and successfully defended the latter at the European Club in 2006 following his win a year earlier at Westport.
Jamie Moul, 22, was No. 1 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking for 16 weeks based on his performances over the 12-month period that started with his win in the 2006 Lytham Trophy followed by a third place in the Brabazon Trophy. That same year, he reached the semi-finals of both the British and English Amateur Championships. He has won the Brabazon Trophy this year, finished fourth in the St Andrews Links Trophy and reached the last 16 of the Amateur Championship. He has played for GB&I in both the Jacques Leglise Trophy and the St Andrews Trophy and has represented England in the Eisenhower Trophy.
John Parry, 20, came into Walker Cup reckoning with wins this year in the Spanish Amateur and the Welsh Stroke Play at Machynys. He is a former winner of the McEvoy Trophy and the Danish Amateur and was the Faldo Series Under-21 Champion in 2005.
With the sudden departure of Richie Ramsay to the pro ranks, it was always going to be very likely that the only Scot in the GB&I team would be Lloyd Saltman, 21, currently the top GB&I player, at No. 3 in the WAGR.

In 2007 he has found the same form that justified his position in the 2005 Walker Cup match in Chicago. This year he dominated the early tournaments with wins in the Scottish Champion of Champions, the Craigmillar Park Open, the Lytham Trophy and the Irish Open Stroke Play.

The Walker Cup will be Saltman's swansong as an amateur.

Kevin McAlpine from Alyth, holder of the Scottish open amateur stroke-play championship but dethroned as Scottish amateur match-play champion at Prestwick last week, is named as one of two reserves.
Daniel Willett, 19, is currently a player in form, having won the English Amateur Championship at the weekend and seven days earlier had a 10-shot win in the South of England Championship at Walton Heath. He attends college in Jacksonville, Florida.

TEAM
Jonathan Caldwell, 23, Clandeboye
Rhys Davies, 22, Royal Porthcawl
Nigel Edwards, 38, Whitchurch
David Horsey, 22, Styal
Llewellyn Matthews, 23, Southerndown
Rory McIlroy, 18, Holywood
Jamie Moul, 22, Stoke-by-Nayland
John Parry, 20, Harrogate
Lloyd Saltman, 24, Craigielaw
Daniel Willett, 19, Rotherham

RESERVES

Gary Boyd, 20, Cherwell Edge
Kevin McAlpine, 23, Alyth

CAPTAIN

Colin Dalgleish, 46, Helensburgh

CHAIRMAN OF R&A SELECTION COMMITTEE

Tony Disley, 56, Royal Porthcawl

HUGH HUNTER'S CLACKMANNANSHIRE NEWS

SWEET AND SOUR FOR WEE COUNTY TOP TWO

2007 SCOTTISH AMATEUR GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP

It was sweet and sour for the Wee County golfers Callum Macaulay (Tulliallan) and Scott Borrowman (Dollar) in the 2007 Scottish amateur championship played over the 6,700yd Prestwick golf course. But that’s golf.

The sweet bit first: once again they did themselves and the Wee County proud with two good performances to reach the latter stages of the event - Callum to the last 16 and Scott to the last eight from 256 competitors.

Their losses perhaps left a slightly sour taste in that they probably felt that their matches were winnable had it not been for some missed opportunities. Two great performances and I am sure that all Clackmannanshire golfers would want to congratulate them on their fine achievements.
Callum’s campaign opened with a match against a local who gave a good demonstration of how to tackle the humps and hollows of Prestwick. A two-hole lead vanished over the last three holes, and Callum’s par 3 at the second extra hole took him to the second round where he demolished a rather ill-tempered club thrower.

STUBBORN RESISTANCE

The next two opponents put up stubborn resistance, and it took considerable skill on Callum’s part to win through (he was three down to Mark Lamb at one stage). This set up a match against cack-hander John Gallagher, runner-up in the 2004 British Amateur. It was an outstanding match with John being about four under par when he won on the 17th.

Callum had a chance to square the match on the 14th, but his shortish putt slipped past, and a bogey at the short par-4 16th made the result pretty inevitable.
CALLUM MACAULAY RESULTS

Round 1 - Beat Steven Wallace (Prestwick St Cuthbert) at 20th.
Round 2 - Beat Garry Wood (Crow Wood) 6 and 5.
Round 3 - Beat Graeme Belch (Haggs Castle) 2 and 1.
Round 4 - Beat Mark Lamb (Haddington) 1 hole.
Round 5 - Lost to John Gallagher (Swanston New) 3 and 1.
LONG-HITTING BY BORROWMAN
Scott Borrowman, above picture by Hugh Hunter, opened the Scottish amateur championship with a couple of tight matches, impressing many with his long hitting – a drive to 2 ft at the 284yd par-4 18th yard 18th sealed his second round match.
In two consecutive rounds he took out two past champions - Graham Lowson (1991) and with a shattering, five-under-par 5 performance, and the 2006 title-winner, Kevin McAlpine.

Two down after nine holes against the defending champion, Scott clawed his way back and took the lead for the first time on the 13th. Two up with two to play, he could only watch as Kevin birdied 17 from a bad lie to take the match down the last.

A deadly pitch under pressure from Scott took him through by one hole.An outstanding victory. Alas the magic did not appear the next day when he took on the 1989 champion Allan Thomson, and Borrowman went down at the 16th.
SCOTT BORROWMAN RESULTS

Round 1 - Beat Colin Peddie (Hayston) at 19th.

Round 2 - Beat Kenneth Fairbrother (Cochrane Castle) 1 hole.
Round 3 - Beat Stephen McBlain (Prestwick St Cuthbert) 6 and 5.
Round 4 - Beat Graham Lowson (Auchterarder) 4 and 3.
Round 5 - Beat Kevin McAlpine (Alyth) 1 hole.
Quarter-final - Lost to Allan Thomson 3 and 2.

The 36 hole final was won by John Gallagher (Swanston New) who defeated Keir McNicoll (Carnoustie) by 4 and 3, so giving Callum a tiny crumb of comfort in that he was defeated by the eventual winner.

2007 AMATEUR GOLF RANKINGS (prior to Scottish Amateur)
The latest World Golf Rankings published by the R and A show Callum Macaulay at 51st in the world (up three places and the second best Scottish golfer behind Lloyd Saltman). Scott is at 769th (35th in Scotland).

In the Scottish Golf Union Order of Merit for mostly domestic golf events, Callum is ranked fifth and Scott 22nd.

THE 2007 SCOTTISH CHALLENGE

The Macdonald Cardrona Hotel, Golf and Country Club is the venue for the Scottish Challenge to be played this week from Thursday to Sunday.

It is part of the Challenge Tour (a series of golf events below the European Tour level) for professional golfers who are keen to move up to the top Tour.

Around 135 golf professionals are competing (28 from Scotland) and they are joined by six Scottish amateurs who have received special invites, including local Callum Macaulay.

The event is decided over 72 holes on the par-72, 6,990yd Cardrona lay-out along the Tweed valley with a cut after two rounds - the amateurs of course cannot win the money. It will be a useful test for Callum because he has hopes of joining the professional ranks sometime.

Entry for specators is free.

TOP TEN FINISH FOR BOB…….AGAIN!
In last week's East of Scotland Seniors tournament at Monifieth, Bob Stewart (Tulliallan), with rounds of 77 and 73, finished in eighth equal position, collecting more Order of Merit points and securing a place in the Order of Merit Final to be held at Blairgowrie at the end of August.

The results there will help to decide the Scottish team for the Senior Home Internationals. Local Ian Hutcheon, with two rounds of 66, won the East event by an amazing 13 strokes, and lowered the 65 year old’s handicap from plus 2 to plus 3!!

UNLUCKY FOR COUNTY AGAIN
Heavy rain put paid to the hopes of the County golf team in their bid to reach the final stages of the 2007 Area team championship at Braehead last Sunday. After the morning foursomes against the North-east, the County trailed by two matches to one, and had hopes of recovering in the afternoon singles matches, but despite heroic efforts by the Braehead staff to keep the greens playable, the incessant rain won the day and the foursomes result stood.

The same thing happened last year when a match at Letham Grange (not involving Clackmannan) was abandoned.

CLACKMANNAN 1, NORTH-EAST 2

Foursomes results (Clackmannanshire names first):
Callum Macaulay & Ross Benvie beat Philip MacLean & Mark Halliday 2 and 1.
Scott Borrowman & Ian Ross lost to Laurie Phillips & Gary Esson 1 hole.
Mark Crichton & Steven Horne lost to Bryan Innes & Terry Mathieson 1 hole.
Singles - Abandoned.

NOBODY CAN HOLD THAT TIGER
AT FIRESTONE COUNTRY CLUB!

Tiger Woods has made another piece of history, becoming the first player in US PGA Tour history to win the same event three consecutive times on two separate occasions.
Woods came from a shot behind in Sunday's final round, carding a bogey-free five under par 65 (13 shots better than Paul Casey's Sunday score) to blow away the field in intermittent rain and win the WGC Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club.
Tiger finished at eight under 272, eight strokes ahead of overnight leader Rory Sabbatini (74) and England's Justin Rose (68).
It is Woods' sixth victory in the past eight times the World Golf Championships event have been played at Firestone - his first three victories came from 1999-2001.
He was fourth in 2002, when it was played in Seattle, before finishing tied fourth and tied second the following two years when it returned to Firestone. He has now won an impressive 14 times in 26 starts in WGC events.
Woods wasted little time taking the lead, with four birdies in the first six holes, and the back nine was little more than an exhibition as everyone else played for second.

HOW THEY FINISHED AT FIRESTONE
Par 280 (4 x 70)
272 Tiger Woods 68 70 69 65
280 Rory Sabbatini (Rsa) 67 67 72 74, Justin Rose (Eng) 69 72 71 68
281 Chris DiMarco 69 70 72 70, Peter Lonard (Aus) 70 70 73 68
282 Andres Romero (Arg) 71 71 69 71, Davis Love III 74 65 74 69, Tim Clark (Rsa) 71 70 72 69
283 Justin Leonard 73 67 71 72, Scott Verplank 70 68 73 72
284 Kenny Perry 69 69 71 75, Zach Johnson 71 65 76 72, KJ Choi (Kor) 71 73 69 71
285 Rodney Pampling (Aus) 71 73 74 67, Joe Durant 74 67 71 73, Arron Oberholser 68 74 72 71, Mark Calcavecchia 68 72 76 69, Stuart Appleby (Aus) 68 74 69 74, Padraig Harrington (Irl) 72 69 72 72
286 Aaron Baddeley (Aus) 70 74 67 75, Sergio Garcia (Spa) 71 77 71 67
287 Charley Hoffman 71 73 74 69, Anders Hansen (Den) 71 72 71 73, Hunter Mahan 67 73 71 76, Niclas Fasth (Swe) 75 73 70 69, Ernie Els (Rsa) 70 77 72 68, Luke Donald (Eng) 75 75 67 70, Lee Westwood (Eng) 68 71 79 69, Stephen Ames (Can) 71 73 71 72
288 John Rollins 73 75 68 72, Ian Poulter (Eng) 71 73 74 70, Richard Green (Aus) 73 73 68 74, Boo Weekley 68 78 70 72, Brett Wetterich 74 75 70 69, Carl Pettersson (Swe) 70 79 68 71
289 Adam Scott (Aus) 75 76 70 68, Trevor Immelman (Rsa) 73 76 69 71, Mark Wilson 76 75 68 70
290 Paul McGinley (Irl) 72 74 73 71, Charles Howell III 72 76 70 72
291 Steve Stricker 70 73 76 72, J J Henry 73 69 74 75, Colin Montgomerie (Sco) 71 72 73 75, Henrik Stenson (Swe) 72 74 72 73
292 John Senden (Aus) 71 69 78 74
293 Phil Mickelson 74 72 74 73, Jerry Kelly 73 71 74 75, Michael Campbell (Nzl) 71 74 72 76, Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) 73 76 73 71, Shingo Katayama (Jpn) 71 73 75 74
294 Paul Casey (Eng) 67 73 76 78, Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) 72 74 72 76, Geoff Ogilvy (Aus) 73 71 72 78, Troy Matteson 71 74 73 76, Richard Sterne (Rsa) 77 72 74 71
295 Vijay Singh (Fij) 74 72 75 74, Yong-eun Yang (Kor) 73 74 70 78, Woody Austin 74 77 68 76, Stewart Cink 79 67 76 73, Nick O'Hern (Aus) 72 72 75 76
296 Nick Watney 72 72 76 76, Vaughn Taylor 72 77 71 76, Retief Goosen (Rsa) 74 73 72 77, David Howell (Eng) 74 77 75 70, David Toms 76 74 71 75, Liang Wen Chong (Chn) 75 74 72 75
297 Mark Hensby (Aus) 73 71 79 74, Darren Clarke (NIrl) 70 76 76 75
298 Robert Karlsson (Swe) 76 72 72 78, Angel Cabrera (Arg) 73 76 74 75, Fred Funk 75 74 74 75, Graeme Storm (Eng) 75 72 76 75, Gregory Havret (Fra) 73 73 76 76
299 Paul Goydos 69 76 73 81, Brian Bateman 77 75 72 75
300 Jose Manuel Lara (Spa) 71 77 77 75
302 Chad Campbell 73 73 77 79, Anton Haig (Rsa) 77 75 71 79, Raphael Jacquelin (Fra) 71 77 73 81
303 Ben Curtis 74 79 77 73
312 Robert Allenby (Aus) 76 74 82 80
314 Jose-Maria Olazabal (Spa) 77 80 78 79

ALL SUNDAY'S AREA TEAM
CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS

After what seemed like hundreds of phone calls, we now have all the results of Sunday's Scottish men's area championship ties. Here they are:

GROUP A

AYRSHIRE 0, LANARKSHIRE 3
Lanarkshire won the foursomes 3-0 at Ballochmyle then the singles were cancelled because the course was flooded.

RENFREWSHIRE 6 1/2, SOUTH 2 1/2
at Ranfurly Castle

GROUP B

ARGYLL & BUTE 2, FIFE 1

Argyll & Bute secured a narrow victory against Fife at a waterlogged Millport.
With constant rain making the greens barely playable, two halved matches and a victory by Bolton and Reynolds in the foursomes was enough to give a morning lead of 2-1. Play was suspended for 1 1/2 hours in a forlorn hope for the incessant rain to cease. However after a brief respite, the rain continued to fall heavily. With several greens now submerged the afternoon singles were cancelled, leaving Argyll & Bute the winners on the strength of their lead in the foursomes.

CLACKMANNANSHIRE 1, NORTH-EAST 2

It was a similar story at Braehead where North-east took the morning foursomes 2-1 and were then declared the winners with that scoreline after the siix afternoon singles had to be abandoned as the course flooded.
Foursomes results (Clackmannanshire names first):
C Macaulay & R Benvie bt P McLean & M Halliday 2 and 1.
S Borrowman & I Ross lost to L Phillips & G Esson 1 hole.
M Crichton & S Horne lost to B Innes & T Mathieson 1 hole.

GROUP C

NORTH 5 1/2, STIRLINGSHIRE 3 1/2
Played at Nairn Golf Club.

GLASGOW 3, LOTHIANS 6

From Lothians website:

Trailing by 2 matches to 1 after the morning foursomes, Lothians staged a tremendous fightback by winning the singles 5-1 at a rain soaked Pollock Golf Club. Having won their foursomes, Scott Walker (West Linton) and Mark Hillson (Craigielaw) went on to maintain their 100% record in the afternoon.
Steven Armstrong (Turnhouse) and Shaun McAllister (Craigielaw) bounced back from a last green defeat in the morning to win the top two singles matches before Graham Turner (West Linton) came back from three down to snatch victory at the last hole.
Alexander Culverwell (Dunbar) took his singles match to the last green but was not quite able to grab a half point.
A great team effort in terrible conditions and a much closer match than the result suggests against a strong Glasgow team who made us fight all the way for our win.

GROUP D

ANGUS 5, DUNBARTONSHIRE 4
Played at Piperdam.
Angus came from behind to record a 5-4 victory.
Dunbartonshire took the foursomes 2-1 but could win only two of the singles.

Foursomes: R Coull & S Smith lost to K Smyth & P Betty 3 and 2; G Bell & C Heslip lost to G Yates & C Harper 1 hole; C Donaldson & R Bell bt C Checkley & M Williams 2 and 1 (1-2).
Singles: Coull bt Smyth 4 and 3, Smith bt Bertty 2 and 1, M Lindsay lost to Yates 4 and 3, G Bell bt Williams 6 and 5, Heslip bt Checkley 2 holes, R Bell lost to Harper 3 and 2 (4-2.

BORDERS 3 1/2, PERTH & KINROSS 5 1/2
Played at Kelso

SWEDE WINS TITANTIC BATTLE FOR VICTORY
IN CHALLENGE OF IRELAND EVENT

From MICHAEL GIBBONS
Press Officer, European Challenge Tour

Sweden’s Magnus A Carlsson emerged the victor from a magnificent final round battle with Michael Lorenzo-Vera of France at the Challenge of Ireland presented by Glasson.
Two shots clear at the start of the day, Carlsson and Lorenzo-Vera teed off at 12:05 local time and proceeded to exchange blows for the next four and a half hours, producing a thrilling contest that came down to the very last putt of the tournament that secured the Swede the first prize of €24,000.
Lorenzo-Vera signalled his intent with a birdie at the second hole to get within a stroke of Carlsson before both men picked up a shot on the third. That was followed by Carlsson’s first bogey of the round on the seventh that levelled the scores for two holes before the Swede hit back with a birdie to go back into the lead.
Lorenz-Vera refused to go away though and hit back with a stinging combination of three successive birdies between the tenth and 12th to surge two clear.
KILLER BLOW OF A PUTT
Carlsson was clearly reeling from his playing partner’s attack, but managed to land his own killer blow – an outrageous 50 foot putt for birdie on the 13th that, coupled with Lorenzo-Vera’s bogey, saw Carlsson at the top of the leaderboard once more.
As Lorenzo-Vera dropped another shot on the 16th, the battle looked to be over – only for Carlsson to keep the suspense alive by leaving himself a testing two foot putt for victory on the 18th green.
The Swede kept his nerve though, and rolled home the bogey putt for a final round of two under 70 to land the final blow of what was a sensational tussle.
“There were a lot of ups and downs and Michael made three good birdies to go two ahead,” said Carlsson, who finished the week on ten under par 278 for a on stroke victory.
“But then I made two good putts and Michael had a three-putt and everything changed.
“On the 13th I holed from 45 feet and then I made another great one from just off the green on the 14th from 18 feet - it was nothing compared to the other one.
“This morning when I woke up I felt I could have a good day. I felt comfortable with my game. It feels very good to win. I don't think it has sunk in yet.”
Carlsson’s €24,000 prize lifted him to sixth position on the Challenge Tour Rankings, while Lorenzo-Vera, who shared second place with Gustavo Acosta after the Argentine surged through the field with an excellent final round 67, can console himself with the fact that he is now the Challenge Tour Number One after his own prize of €13,500 took him to the summit of the money list.
LEADING TOTALS
Par 288 (4 x 72)
278 M A Carlsson (Swe) 69 70 69 70.
279 M Lorenzo-Vera (Fra) 63 73 74 68, J Zapata (Arg) 69 73 70 67.
Scots' scores:
291 A McArthur 64 78 75 74 (jt 25th) (1335 Euros).
292 G Murray 71 74 73 74, S Henderson 72 72 75 73 (jt 29th) (1200 Euros each).
302 E Ramsay 74 72 77 79 (jt 52nd) (570 Euros).
305 J Doherty 73 72 78 82 (jt 58th) (480 Euros)l

DES SMYTH SWOOPS TO WIN WENTWORTH
SENIORS TITLE FROM BOB CHARLES

By STEVEN FRANKLIN
Press Officer, European Seniors Tour

Des Smyth continued an excellent golfing summer for the Irish when he closed in three under par 69 to win the Wentworth Senior Masters, the flagship event on the European Seniors Tour, in front of tournament record crowds at Wentworth Club today.
Last year’s Ryder Cup Vice-Captain, who finished the 54 holes on six under par 210, captured the £37,500 first prize and the winner’s Green Jacket by two shots from former Open champion Bob Charles, the 71 year old New Zealander beating his age with a round of 70 on the final day at Wentworth Club.
Eduardo Romero, winner of the previous two editions of the Wentworth Senior Masters, saw his bid for a record-setting hat-trick derailed with a one over par 73 at the Gary Player-designed Edinburgh Course, which left the Argentine in third place on three under par 213.
“It’s great to win again, as I have struggled all year with my game. So many great players have won here before and it is very special to add my name. I lost the PGA Championship in a play-off to Rodger Davis in 1986, so this makes up for that,” said 54 year old Smyth.
REPORT ON SCOTS
BY GRAEME HAMLETT
John Chillas came away happy with his best finish of the 2007 European Seniors Tour season after he ended up in seventh place, seven shots behind Des Smyth.
“I’ve had a good tournament, and aye, I’m pleased to have my best one of the year on a course as tough as this. I was in contention for about five minutes, but that was about it. Des’s six under is a great score and he deserves to win with that score," said Aberdonian John.
Having spoken of the difficulties of playing positive shots amid the awkward breeze that blows through the Edinburgh Course, the 56 year old Chillas once more steadily plotted his way around.
Chillas moved to two under for the tournament after birdieing the second hole, going out in 36. A birdie on the 10th was given back with a dropped shot on the 11th, and a nasty double bogey 6 at the last, where he three putted, undid his round after he appeared set for an even par 216 finish.
He said: “It’s slippy down there and the first putt dived down the hill at the rate of knots. I mis-read it. Ce’st la vie. I go to Bad Ragaz in Switzerland now and I’ll hope to carry on the form I’ve shown here.”
Sam Torrance, a day after his son and caddie Daniel’s 19th birthday, was unable to give his eldest child a belated present in the form of a low-scoring round and top ten finish.
After his 79 on Saturday put the 2004 winner out of contention, he followed it up with another disappointing round by his standards, firing 77, the only highlights coming with a birdie on the 476 yard par five tenth and 515-yard par five 16th.
Wentworth resident Torrance, supported by his family as he competed on home turf, was struggling with the hand injury he has been suffering with over the past month.
Martin Gray shot 73 to finish in tied 29th place, and Bill Longmuir shot a 74 for a tied 38th finish.
FINAL TOTALS
Edinburgh Course
Par 216 (3 x 72)
210 D Smyth (Ire) 70 71 69.
212 Bob Charles (Nzl) 71 71 70.
213 Eduardo Romero (Arg) 71 69 73.
215 Carl Mason (Eng) 70 74 71, Katsuyoshi Tomori (Jap) 67 74 74.
216 Bruce Heuchan (Can) 72 70 74.
217 John Chillas (Sco) 70 73 74.
218 Noel Ratcliffe (Aus) 72 74 72, David J Russell (Eng) 68 76 74, Gordon J Brand (Eng)71 73 74, Horacio Carbonetti (Arg) 73 71 74, Eamonn Darcy (Ire) 71 72 75, John Bland (RSA) 74 69 75. 219 Delroy Cambridge (Jam) 71 77 71, Juan Quiros (Esp) 72 76 71, José Rivero (Esp) 73 75 71, Glenn Ralph (Eng) 72 71 76.
220 Luis Carbonetti (Arg) 73 76 71, Stewart Ginn (Aus) 72 74 74, Andrew Murray (Eng) 72 74 74, Neil Coles (Eng) 74 72 74, Terry Gale (Aus) 69 75 76, Bob Cameron (Eng) 69 75 76, Seiji Ebihara (Jap) 76 67 77.
221 Denis O’Sullivan (Ire) 76 73 72, Martin Poxon (Eng) 72 70 79.
222 Emilio Rodriguez (Esp) 76 75 71, David Merriman (Aus) 75 74 73.
223 Mike Clayton (Aus) 75 75 73, Ray Carrasco (USA) 74 76 73, Guiseppe Cali (Ita) 74 76 73, Martin Gray (Sco) 73 77 73, Manuel Pinero (Esp) 78 70 75, Simon Owen (Eng) 72 75 76, Guillermo Encina (Chi) 75 73 75, Tommy Horton (Eng) 77 69 77, Pete Oakley (USA) 72 70 81.
224 Jeff Hawkes (RSA) 75 77 72, Bill Longmuir (Sco) 74 76 74, Ian Mosey (Eng) 74 75 75, Jim Rhodes (Eng) 71 78 75.
225 Jimmy Heggarty (Nir) 74 78 73, Gery Watine (Fra) 70 81 74, Bertus Smit (RSA) 73 78 74, Tony Johnstone (Zim) 75 76 74, Nick Job (Eng) 74 73 78.
226 David Good (Aus) 74 78 74, Kevin Spurgeon (Eng) 73 78 75, Sam Torrance (Sco) 70 79 77.
227 Steve Martin (Sco) 75 81 71, Bobby Lincoln (RSA) 81 75 71, Jerry Bruner (USA) 73 81 73, Bill McColl (Sco) 81 73 73, Jim Lapsley (Nzl) 73 78 76, Doug Johnson (USA) 81 70 76, John Mashego (RSA) 71 79 77.
228 Tony Allen (Eng) 76 76 76.
229 Ian Palmer (RSA) 76 76 77, Maurice Bembridge (Eng) 79 79 71.
231 Mike Miller (Sco) 79 73 79, Costantino Rocca (Ita) 76 76 79, Peter Teravainen (USA) 77 76 78, Gavan Levenson (RSA) 77 77 77.
232 Adan Sowa (Arg) 75 77 70, David Creamer (Eng) 75 78 79, Jeff Hall (Eng) 76 73 83.
233 Mike Ferguson (Aus) 74 78 81.
234 Philippe Dugeny (Fra) 75 79 80.
235 Eddie Polland (Nir) 79 76 80.
237 Greg Hopkins (USA) 77 81 79238 Tony Charnley (Eng) 82 78 78.
240 Antonio Garrido (Esp) 78 81 81.
242 Denis Durnian (Eng) 80 79 83

Professional champion of Scotland - a rather wet Mark Loftus with the trophy at Gleneagles. Picture by courtesy of Andy Forman . Click on the image to enlarge it.

LOFTY IS SWINGING IN THE RAIN TO LAND
HIS BIGGEST TITLE AND CHEQUE

“Lofty” Mark Loftus – 6ft 4in in his stocking soles – was walking even taller than usual last night after become the Gleneagles Scottish PGA champion.
Starting the day with a one-stroke lead, Mark, 28-year-old Cowglen Golf Club, Glasgow tour pro, never lost the advantage, although twice he had to share it, as he splashed his way to his biggest title and top pay day in only his second year on the Tartan Tour.
On a day of unrelenting rain, which stopped short of flooding the fairways, Loftus signed off with a two-over-par 75 for a two-under-par final total of 290. That earned him a cheque for £8,800.
After the luxury of a three-putt, bogey 6 at the last – “I asked an official if I could take three putts and still win, and when he said ‘Yes,’ I decided that I would play safe with three putts” – Loftus won by one shot from joint runners-up Craig Lee (All Golf Swing Centre) and Sam Cairns (Westerwood) who each picked up a £5,875 consolation reward.
Loftus, a one-time protégé of Paul Lawrie, birdied the first but lost a ball at the seventh and dropped another shot in the sodden conditions at the 13th.
But he wedged to 2ft for a birdie at the 14th and that was the turning point.
“I knew from the scoreboards that I was back in a clear lead and it was just a case of playing sensibly from there in,” said Loftus.
“The course was playing so long with the rain – absolutely no run on the fairways where you were lucky to find a dry spot to drop the ball away from casual water – but my ball striking’s been tremendous all week and that was important on a day like today.
“I phoned my coach, Adam Hunter on Saturday night and he told me just to go out and enjoy myself in the lead. He told me I had done all the hard work to get to the front. Adam’s been a very big help to me”

ends
Lee, beaten by Dean Robertson in a play-off for the title last year, birdied the last three holes with putts of 20ft, 40ft and 15ft for a 71 and 291.
Cairns birdied the first three holes to achieve his highest ever finish in a four-round event with a 71 for the same one-under-par total.
Cairns got on terms with leader Loftus at two-under-par after 13 holes after birdieing the 11th and 12th but his challenge was blunted when he was plugged in a fairway bunker at the 15th and missed a 10ft putt that would have saved par.
Halfway leader David Orr (East Renfrewshire), Loftus’s closest rival at the start of the final day, had a repeat of his third-round 76 and tied for fourth place with David Patrick (Mortonhall) on 292.
Patrick, a member of the Walker Cup-winning GB&I team at Nairn in 1999, made up three strokes on Loftus to share the lead at three under par overall after 10 holes. But he leaked shots to par at the 11th, 13th and 15th – so easily done in conditions that had the rain running down the nearby gutters in torrents.
GREIG'S GOOD FINISH
Peterculter's Greig Hutcheon, joint third in the event 12 months ago, finishing strongly with a 70 - only Scott Morrison (Glenbervie) matched that three-under-par score - for 293 to earn a £2,2000 prize for sixth place.
And Hutcheon's round included a double-bogey 6 at the seventh. Earlier he had birdied the second, third and fifth to give himself the kind of start that had escape him over the first three rounds.
Coming home, Greig birdied the 12th, 14th and 16th and dropped only one more shot, at the 15th.
Northern Open champion Murray Urquhart from Inverness again showed that he needs three or four rounds to utilise his golfing stamina to the full. His final round of 71 pulled him up through the field into a share of ninth place on 293, earning him a cheque fore £1,117.
First round leader Graeme McInnes (Murcar Links) had a closing 77 for 304 and a share of 29th place.
Graeme Lornie (Aspire), who is having his swing remodelled by Adam Hunter and knows he has to be patient in waiting for the good scores to come, played well in the awful conditions for his last round of 71, easily his best of the four, for a share of 39th place on 307.

HOW THEY FINISHED AT GLENEAGLES

GLENEAGLES SCOTTISH PGA CHAMPIONSHIP
PGA Centenary Course.
Par 292 (4 x 73).

FINAL TOTALS
290 M Loftus (Cowglen) 73 70 72 75 (£8,800)
291 S Cairns (Westerwood) 73 75 72 71, C Lee (All Golf Swing Centre) 71 73 74 73 (£5,875 each).
292 D Patrick (Mortonhall) 75 71 72 74, D Orr (East Renfrewshire) 71 69 76 76 (£3,350 each)
293 G Hutcheon (Peterculter) 75 73 75 70 (£2,200).
294 C Doak (unatt) 76 69 77 72, R Arnott (Bishopbriggs) 74 74 74 72 (£1,612 each).
295 P Wardell (Whitekirk) 74 75 75 71, M Urquhart (Inverness) 73 79 72 71 (£1,117 each)
296 J McCreadie (Buchanan Castle) 71 73 76 76 (£988).
297 P McKechnie (Braid Hills) 70 79 75 73 (£937)
298 S Morrison (Glenbervie) 75 71 82 70, J McKinnon (Irvine) 76 71 78 73, C Ronald (Carluke) 78 70 75 75, D Park (Wishaw) 76 74 72 76 (£812 each).
299 C Gillies (Kingsfield) 72 72 80 75 (£687).
300 C Kelly (Cawder) 79 71 77 73, F Mann (Musselburgh) 74 72 79 75, I Campbell (unatt) 74 76 75 75, S Gray (Hayston) 72 72 79 77 (£605 each).
301 G Law (Uphall) 74 73 80 74, E Thomson (Largs) 73 77 75 76, A J Webster (Edzell) 77 69 78 77 (£527 each).
302 I Taylor (Drumpellier) 77 77 74 74 (£487).
303 C Nicoll (Prestwick) 72 74 80 77, A Lockhart (Ladybank) 73 78 75 77, G McFarlane (Clober) 75 76 72 80 (£447 each).
304 J Sharp (Carrick at Cameron House) 75 77 80 72, G McInnes (Murcar Links) 69 83 75 77, L Harper (Archerfield Links) 74 72 80 78 (£390 each)..
305 L Barn (Noah’s Ark ) 73 75 78 79, G Fox (West Kilbride) 74 77 75 79 (£361 each)..
306 R Gray (Torrance House) 72 79 82 73, A Fleming (North Highland College) 76 74 80 76, S Catlin (Greenburn) 75 77 75 79, E Cameron (Hamilton) 78 72 76 80 (£343 each).
307 G Lornie (Aspire) 73 78 85 71, M King (Kingsfield 82 72 78 75 (£331 each).
309 J Stevenson (Braehead) 77 74 80 78, P Wytrazek (Burntisland) 77 73 80 79 (£325 each).
310 G Cook (Prestonfield) 77 76 81 76, G Harvey (Kinross) 76 77 79 78, K Campbell (Machrihanish) 76 73 82 79, S Duncan (Balbirnie Park) 72 79 80 79 (£318 each).
311 S Taylor (Bothwell Castle) 78 76 78 79 (£315).
314 A MacKenzie (Liberton) 73 81 82 78 (£314).
315 G Collinson (Esporta Dougalston) 80 70 83 82, G Duncan (Westin Turnberry) 81 72 79 83, A Mackrell (Gary Mitchell Golf) 77 77 76 85 (£312 each).
316 J Cliff (Murrayfield) 77 76 85 78 (£310).
318 S Brown (Gleneagles Hotel) 77 75 82 84 (£309)

ROOKIE RAMSAY'S FIRST PAY DAY:
£3,380 IN RUSSIAN OPEN DEBUT

Rookie Richie Ramsay earned £3,380 in his first appearance as a professional - in the European Tour event - the Russian Open - at Le Meridien Moscow G&CC.
The Aberdonianian had rounds of 70 72 70 and 74 for two-under-par 286 and a share of 54th.
Euan Little earned £5,544 for a total of 284.
Sweden's Per-Ulrik Johansson won the tournament by six strokes with an exceptional 23-under-par total of 265, which included a second round of 10-under 62.

FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4 x 72)

265 Per-Ulrik Johansson (Swe) 69 62 67 67
271 Robert Jan Derksen (Ned) 68 69 65 69
272 Alan McLean 73 64 67 68
275 Dawie Van der Walt (Rsa) 72 68 68 67, Adam Gee 69 68 68 70
277 Gary Murphy 67 68 70 72, Steve Webster 73 68 71 65, Christopher Hanell (Swe) 73 65 69 70
278 Sam Walker 69 71 68 70, Henrik Nystrom (Swe) 73 70 69 66, Sam Little 67 71 69 71, Kasper Jorgensen (Den) 73 70 68 67
279 Richard Bland 74 71 66 68, Jesus Maria Arruti (Spa) 70 68 72 69, Kyron Sullivan 71 71 73 64, Peter Gustafsson (Swe) 71 69 70 69, Carlos Rodiles (Spa) 71 70 70 68, Terry Pilkadaris (Aus) 73 71 68 67, Simon Lilly (Gb) 70 71 67 71, Philip Golding 70 69 70 70
280 Alexandre Rocha (Bra) 68 68 72 72, David Carter 71 67 73 69, Scott Strange (Aus) 71 71 70 68, Simon Hurd 73 70 68 69
281 Jeppe Huldahl (Den) 69 72 69 71, Gareth Davies 70 71 70 70, Matthew Zions (Aus) 72 71 70 68, Marcel Siem (Ger) 75 64 70 72, Joakim Haeggman (Swe) 71 72 69 69, Peter Lawrie 71 69 69 72
282 Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (Fra) 66 71 71 74, Brett Rumford (Aus) 72 70 67 73, Alvaro Salto (Spa) 72 73 71 66, Lee Slattery 71 70 73 68, Zane Scotland (Gb) 70 75 69 68, Christian Nilsson (Swe) 65 71 72 74, Julien Guerrier (Fra) 68 76 70 68
283 Prom Meesawat (Tha) 71 70 72 70, Chris Wood 72 68 73 70, Lasse Jensen (Den) 72 72 71 68, Jean-Francois Remesy (Fra) 76 68 70 69, Keith Horne (Rsa) 73 68 72 70, Peter Fowler (Aus) 70 72 71 70
284 Tim Milford 75 69 70 70, Steven Jeppesen (Swe) 70 71 71 72, Euan Little 72 70 72 70, Martin Maritz (Rsa) 72 71 73 68
285 Carl Suneson (Spa) 72 72 71 70, Iain Pyman 74 68 71 72, Alessandro Tadini (Ita) 70 70 72 73, Richard McEvoy 70 72 73 70, Manuel Quiros (Spa) 72 73 73 67, Edward Rush 72 71 74 68
286 Simon Robinson 72 70 73 71, Francisco Cea (Spa) 72 73 71 70, Richie Ramsay 70 72 70 74, Ian Garbutt 73 70 76 67, Marc Cayeux (Zim) 71 71 75 69, Sam Osborne 69 74 74 69
287 Pedro Linhart (Spa) 73 69 74 71, Garry Houston 75 69 70 73, Marcus Higley 70 71 74 72, Ignacio Garrido (Spa) 73 70 72 72
288 David Park 71 74 72 71, Darren Fichardt (Rsa) 71 71 74 72
289 Sebastian Fernandez (Arg) 75 70 72 72, Michael Jonzon (Swe) 74 71 75 69
290 Marc Farry (Fra) 70 69 73 78
291 Rafael Gomez (Arg) 75 70 71 75, Birgir Hafthorsson (Ice) 74 71 70 76
292 Sven Struver (Ger) 72 72 76 72.
293 Chris Gane 73 71 76 73.
294 Sion Bebb 74 71 76 73.
295 Jean Hugo (Rsa) 72 71 73 79.

John Gallagher (Swanston New) proudly displays the Scottish amateur championship trophy after his victory over Keir McNicoll (Carnoustie) at Prestwick Golf Club on Saturday.
Click on Andy Forman's copyright image to enlarge it.
Picture by courtesy of andyformanimages.com

RUSSIAN OPEN SCOREBOARD
Le Meridien Moscow G & CC.
THIRD-ROUND TOTALS
Par 216 (3 x 72)
198 Per-Ulrik Johansson (Swe) 69 62 67
202 Robert Jan Derksen (Ned) 68 69 65
204 Alan McLean 73 64 67
205 Gary Murphy 67 68 70, Adam Gee 69 68 68
207 Christopher Hanell (Swe) 73 65 69, Sam Little 67 71 69
208 Alexandre Rocha (Bra) 68 68 72, Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (Fra) 66 71 71, Christian Nilsson (Swe) 65 71 72, Sam Walker 69 71 68, Dawie Van der Walt (Rsa) 72 68 68, Simon Lilly (Gb) 70 71 67
209 Brett Rumford (Aus) 72 70 67, Marcel Siem (Ger) 75 64 70, Peter Lawrie 71 69 69, Philip Golding 70 69 70
210 Jesus Maria Arruti (Spa) 70 68 72, Jeppe Huldahl (Den) 69 72 69, Peter Gustafsson (Swe) 71 69 70
211 David Carter 71 67 73, Richard Bland 74 71 66, Gareth Davies 70 71 70, Carlos Rodiles (Spa) 71 70 70, Kasper Jorgensen (Den) 73 70 68, Simon Hurd 73 70 68
212 Marc Farry (Fra) 70 69 73, Steve Webster 73 68 71, Henrik Nystrom (Swe) 73 70 69, Richie Ramsay 70 72 70, Alessandro Tadini (Ita) 70 70 72, Steven Jeppesen (Swe) 70 71 71, Scott Strange (Aus) 71 71 70, Joakim Haeggman (Swe) 71 72 69, Terry Pilkadaris (Aus) 73 71 68
213 Chris Wood 72 68 73, Prom Meesawat (Tha) 71 70 72, David Drysdale 70 73 70, Iain Pyman 74 68 71, Keith Horne (Rsa) 73 68 72, Matthew Zions (Aus) 72 71 70, Peter Fowler (Aus) 70 72 71
214 Lee Slattery 71 70 73, Zane Scotland (Gb) 70 75 69, Garry Houston 75 69 70, Tim Milford 75 69 70, Julien Guerrier (Fra) 68 76 70, Jean-Francois Remesy (Fra) 76 68 70, Euan Little 72 70 72
215 Simon Robinson 72 70 73, Lasse Jensen (Den) 72 72 71, Kyron Sullivan 71 71 73, Birgir Hafthorsson (Ice) 74 71 70, Richard McEvoy 70 72 73, Carl Suneson (Spa) 72 72 71, Marcus Higley 70 71 74, Ignacio Garrido (Spa) 73 70 72
216 Rafael Gomez (Arg) 75 70 71, Francisco Cea (Spa) 72 73 71, Alvaro Salto (Spa) 72 73 71, Pedro Linhart (Spa) 73 69 74, Jean Hugo (Rsa) 72 71 73, Darren Fichardt (Rsa) 71 71 74, Martin Maritz (Rsa) 72 71 73
217 Sebastian Fernandez (Arg) 75 70 72, David Park 71 74 72, Sam Osborne 69 74 74, Edward Rush 72 71 74, Marc Cayeux (Zim) 71 71 75
218 Manuel Quiros (Spa) 72 73 73
219 Ian Garbutt 73 70 76
220 Chris Gane 73 71 76, Sven Struver (Ger) 72 72 76, Michael Jonzon (Swe) 74 71 75
221 Sion Bebb 74 71 76

BRIDGESTONE INVITATIONAL SCOREBOARD
Firestone CC, Akron, Ohio.
THIRD-ROUND TOTALS
Par 210 (3 x 70)
206 Rory Sabbatini (Rsa) 67 67 72
207 Tiger Woods 68 70 69
209 Kenny Perry 69 69 71
211 Hunter Mahan 67 73 71, Aaron Baddeley (Aus) 70 74 67, Justin Leonard 73 67 71, Chris DiMarco 69 70 72, Andres Romero (Arg) 71 71 69, Scott Verplank 70 68 73, Stuart Appleby (Aus) 68 74 69
212 Joe Durant 74 67 71, Zach Johnson 71 65 76, Justin Rose (Eng) 69 72 71
213 Davis Love III 74 65 74, KJ Choi (Kor) 71 73 69, Tim Clark (Rsa) 71 70 72, Peter Lonard (Aus) 70 70 73, Padraig Harrington (Irl) 72 69 72
214 Arron Oberholser 68 74 72, Anders Hansen (Den) 71 72 71, Richard Green (Aus) 73 73 68
215 Stephen Ames (Can) 71 73 71
216 Paul Casey (Eng) 67 73 76, J J Henry 73 69 74, John Rollins 73 75 68, Mark Calcavecchia 68 72 76, Colin Montgomerie (Sco) 71 72 73, Boo Weekley 68 78 70, Geoff Ogilvy (Aus) 73 71 72
217 Michael Campbell (Nzl) 71 74 72, Yong-eun Yang (Kor) 73 74 70, Luke Donald (Eng) 75 75 67, Carl Pettersson (Swe) 70 79 68
218 Jerry Kelly 73 71 74, Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) 72 74 72, Rodney Pampling (Aus) 71 73 74, Charley Hoffman 71 73 74, John Senden (Aus) 71 69 78, Charles Howell III 72 76 70, Trevor Immelman (Rsa) 73 76 69, Paul Goydos 69 76 73, Niclas Fasth (Swe) 75 73 70, Ian Poulter (Eng) 71 73 74, Lee Westwood (Eng) 68 71 79, Troy Matteson 71 74 73, Henrik Stenson (Swe) 72 74 72
219 Steve Stricker 70 73 76, Retief Goosen (Rsa) 74 73 72, Woody Austin 74 77 68, Nick O'Hern (Aus) 72 72 75, Mark Wilson 76 75 68, Sergio Garcia (Spa) 71 77 71, Ernie Els (Rsa) 70 77 72, Brett Wetterich 74 75 70, Paul McGinley (Irl) 72 74 73, Shingo Katayama (Jpn) 71 73 75
220 Nick Watney 72 72 76, Phil Mickelson 74 72 74, Robert Karlsson (Swe) 76 72 72, Vaughn Taylor 72 77 71
221 Vijay Singh (Fij) 74 72 75, Adam Scott (Aus) 75 76 70, David Toms 76 74 71, Raphael Jacquelin (Fra) 71 77 73, Liang Wen Chong (Chn) 75 74 72
222 Stewart Cink 79 67 76, Darren Clarke (NIrl) 70 76 76, Gregory Havret (Fra) 73 73 76, Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) 73 76 73
223 Chad Campbell 73 73 77, Anton Haig (Rsa) 77 75 71, Mark Hensby (Aus) 73 71 79, Angel Cabrera (Arg) 73 76 74, Fred Funk 75 74 74, Graeme Storm (Eng) 75 72 76
Richard Sterne (Rsa) 77 72 74
224 Brian Bateman 77 75 72
225 Jose Manuel Lara (Spa) 71 77 77
226 David Howell (Eng) 74 77 75
230 Ben Curtis 74 79 77
232 Robert Allenby (Aus) 76 74 82
235 Jose-Maria Olazabal (Spa) 77 80 78

SWEDE LEADS BY TWO BUT STAGE SET FOR
LAST-DAY EURO CHALLENGE CRACKER

Sweden’s Magnus A Carlsson forged a two shot lead at the Challenge of Ireland presented by Glasson after a third round of 69 left him atop a crammed leaderboard going into the last day.
It promises to be a tense, nerve-wracking final round at the Glasson Golf Hotel and Country Club, with nine players within five strokes of the lead and all capable of testing Carlsson’s mettle with a fourth round surge.
The Swede moved to eight under par 208 – two strokes clear of Frenchman Michael Lorenzo-Vera and three ahead of Welshman Liam Bond, Norway’s Peter Kaensche, Spain’s Alvaro Velasco and another Swede, Lief Westerberg.
Matthew Cort of England is a further shot back on four under, alongside Fredrik Widmark of Sweden and Argentina’s Julio Zapata.
But the man to catch is Carlsson after a fine third round that included four birdies and just a single dropped shot.
The 26 year old is hoping to secure a maiden Challenge Tour victory after taking a couple of seasons to adjust to the vagaries of life on tour.
“I have been playing well this season and actually been hitting the ball well for a couple of years but my short game wasn’t good enough,” said Carlsson, who is currently 19th on the Challenge Tour Rankings.
“That is improving and the other important thing for me has been getting more comfortable on the Challenge Tour.
“I have been becoming more settled because it is tough when you start out here with the travelling to so many different countries. But I am enjoying it, especially now that I am playing well.
“Tomorrow I just have to keep the ball in play and more or less play for par. If I can do that the chances to make birdies will come eventually. I am in a good position – the guys behind me have to come at me.
“I will probably have some nerves tomorrow, especially on the first tee, but as long as I get going then I am sure I will settle down once I am out there.”
Gareth Maybin, meanwhile, is the only hope of a home winner going into the final round.
It will take a seriously low score for Maybin to catch Carlsson after the Northern Irishman signed for a third round of level par 72 to lie six shots off the pace.
Maybin said: “I didn’t really play that great today but I knocked it round and got up and down. It was good for my character to get up and down and make pars the way I did, but I didn’t hit it well.
“To win from here I need a low one tomorrow and probably a bit of help. I’ve taken up Membership of the Challenge Tour so that my money counts on the Rankings. My goal is to make top 10 and get into Scotland next week.”
Justin Kehoe had sparked hopes of an Irish charge by getting to within a stroke of the lead midway through the third round, but after making four birdies in his opening ten holes, the 27 year old compiled a hugely disappointing back nine of 41 and eventually signed for a 75 to fall back to one over par for the tournament.
LEADERBOARD
208 M A Carlsson (Swe) 69 70 69.
210 M Lorenzo-Vera (Fra) 67 73 74.
211 L Bond (Wal) 73 66 72, P Kaensche (Nor) 70 73 68, A Velasco (Spa) 69 72 70, L Westerberg (Swe) 71 69 71.
Scots scores:
217 A McArthur 64 78 75.
218 G Murray 71 74 73.
219 S Henderson 72 72 75.
223 J Doherty 73 72 78.

Eduardo Romero leads Wentworth Senior Masters

.
CHILLAS SPEARHEADS SCOTTISH CHALLENGE
AFTER SECOND-ROUND 79 BY TORRANCE

By STEVEN FRANKLIN
Press Officer, European Seniors Tour

A brilliant season for Argentinian golf is well placed to continue after Eduardo Romero moved into the 36-hole lead at the Wentworth Senior Masters, as he looks to wrap up a record-setting third straight victory in the event.
Romero rediscovered his putting touch in front of large galleries at a sun-drenched Wentworth Club on Saturday, reeling off four birdies down the back nine of the Edinburgh Course to add a three under par 69 to his opening 71.
It leaves Romero on four under par 140 and one stroke clear of Ireland’s Des Smyth and Japan’s Katsuyoshi Tomori heading into Sunday’s final round.
Aberdonian John Chillas is the Scotland standard-bearer on 143 after rounds of 70 and 73. Sam Torrance had a most uncharacteristic second-round 79 for 149.
Having watched long-time friend Angel Cabrera win the US Open in June and one of Argentina’s brightest young stars, Andres Romero, finish third at The Open Championship and then win last week at The Deutsche Bank Players’ Championship of Europe, Romero senior is keen to get in on the winning act this season.
“I have been playing good for a long time and I feel strong and comfortable. I am hitting the ball long – maybe it’s the Argentinian steak! You’ve seen with the victories of Cabrera and Andres Romero that our golf is good – we are working well with the younger players in my country. I think this is the year for South America,” said Romero, who has enjoyed eight top tens so far this year, including a runner-up finish in the US Senior PGA Championship and a tied fourth in last week’s Senior Open Championship at Muirfield.
In contrast, Smyth has struggled for form this year and the Irishman has ground out rounds of 70 and 71. He will partner Romero and Tomori in the final group on Sunday but is not hopeful of denying the Argentine a third consecutive victory, following his wins by eight strokes in 2005 and by a margin of two in 2006.
“I am worried about tomorrow to be honest, as my game is not good. I will have to do a lot of work on the range tonight and hope I can find something,” added Smyth.
Among four players tied for fourth place on two under par 142 is 1963 Open Champion Bob Charles, who has matched his age on both days with rounds of 71.

LEADING SECOND ROUND TOTALS
Par 144 (2 x 72)
140 Eduardo Romero (Arg) 71 69.
141 Des Smyth (Ire) 70 71, Katsuyoshi Tomori (Jap) 67 74.
142 Pete Oakley (USA) 72 70, Bruce Heuchan (Can) 72 70, Martin Poxon (Eng) 72 70, Bob Charles (Nzl) 71 71.
143 Seiji Ebihara (Jap) 76 67, John Bland (RSA) 74 69, Glenn Ralph (Eng) 72 71, Eamonn Darcy (Ire) 71 72, John Chillas (Sco) 70 73.
144 Horacio Carbonetti (Arg) 73 71, Carl Mason (Eng) 70 74, Gordon J Brand (Eng), Bob Cameron (Eng) 69 75, Terry Gale (Aus) 69 75, David J Russell (Eng) 68 76.
146 Tommy Horton (Eng) 77 69, Neil Coles (Eng) 74 72, Noel Ratcliffe (Aus) 72 74, Stewart Ginn (Aus) 72 74, Andrew Murray (Eng) 72 74.
147 Nick Job 74 73, Simon Owen (Nzl) 72 75.
148 Manuel Piñero (Esp) 78 70, Guillermo Encina (Chi) 75 73, Jose Rivero (Esp) 73 75, Juan Quiros (Esp) 72 76, Delroy Cambridge (Jam) 71 77.
149 Denis O’Sullivan (Ire) 76 73, Jeff Hall (Eng) 76 73, David Merriman (Aus) 75 74, Ian Mosey .(Eng) 74 75, Luis Carbonetti (Arg) 73 76, Jim Rhodes (Eng) 71 78, Sam Torrance (Sco) 70 79.
150 Mike Clayton (Aus) 75 75, Ray Carrasco (USA) 74 76, Bill Longmuir (Sco) 74 76, Giuseppe Cali (Ita) 74 76, Martin Gray (Sco) 73 77, John Mashego (RSA) 71 79.
151 Doug Johnson (USA) 81 70, Emilio Rodriguez (Esp) 76 75, Tony Johnstone (Zim) 75 76, Bertus Smit (RSA) 73 78, Kevin Spurgeon (Eng) 73 78, Jim Lapsley (Nzl) 73 78, Gery Watine (Fra) 70 81.
152 Mike Miller (Sco) 79 73, Tony Allen (Eng) 76 76, Ian Palmer (RSA) 76 76, Costantino Rocca (Ita) 76 76, Adan Sowa (Arg) 75 77, Jeff Hawkes (RSA) 75 77, David Good (Aus) 74 78, Jimmy Heggarty (NIr) 74 78, Mike Ferguson (Aus) 74 78.
153 Peter Teravainen (USA) 77 76, David Creamer (Eng) 75 78.
154 Bill McColl (Sco) 81 73, Gavan Levenson (RSA) 77 77, Philippe Dugeny (Fra) 75 79, Jerry Bruner (USA) 73 81.
155 Eddie Polland (NIr) 79 76.
156 Bobby Lincoln (RSA) 81 75, Steve Martin (Sco) 75 81.
158 Maurice Bembridge (Eng) 79 79, Greg Hopkins (USA) 77 81.
159 Denis Durnian (Eng) 80 79, Antonio Garrido (Esp) 78 81.
160 Tony Charnley (Eng) 82 78

TEE TIMES FOR FINAL ROUND AT

GLENEAGLES ON SUNDAY



Car parking is free and there are no admission charges for spectators at Gleneagles tomorrow for the final round of the Gleneagles Scottish PGA championship.

Here are the tee times:



9.0 J Cliff & marker.

9.08 G Lornie & A MacKenzie.

9.16 S Brown & G Cook.

9.24 G Collinson & R Gray.

9.32 J Sharp & G Harvey.

9.40 G Duncan & S Taylor.
9.48 M King & K Campbell.
9.56 J Stevenson & S Duncan.
10.04 P Wytrazek & A Fleming.
10.12 A Mackrell & S Morrison.
10.20 I Taylor & G Law.
10.28 C Kelly & G McInnes.
10.36 S Catlin & C Nicoll.
10.44 L Harper & L Barn.
10.52 E Cameron & A Lockhart.

11.00 G Fox & F Mann.

11.08 J McKinnon & E Thomson.

11.16 D Robertson & I Campbell.

11.24 C Gillies & A J Webster.

11.32 P Wardell & P McKechnie.

11.40 M Urquhart & S Gray.

11.48 C Ronald & G McFarlane.

11.56 G Hutcheon & C Doak.

12.04 R Arnott & D Park.

12.12 J McCreadie & S Cairns.

12.20 C Lee & D Patrick.

12.28 D Orr & M Loftus.

Gleneagles Scottish PGA championship climax tomorrow

LOFTUS LEADS ORR BY ONE SHOT
GOING INTO FINAL ROUND

For the second year in a row the stage is set for a great finish to the £55,000 Gleneagles Scottish PGA golf championship over the PGA Centenary course tomorrow.
Mark Loftus (Cowglen) was one of six players to score a day’s best one-under-par 72 in a wild southwesterly wind and he slipped past playing partner and halfway leader David Orr (East Renfrewshire) into a one-stroke lead at four-under-par 215.
Orr had a 76 for 216 and it looks like a straight fight between them over the final 18 holes for the £8,800 first prize although Craig Lee (All Golf Swing Centre), who lost to Dean Robertson in a play-off for the title 12 months ago, and David Patrick (Mortonhall) will have something to say about that assumption.
They are on 218, only two shots off the pace and over this Jack Nicklaus-designed “mini monster” course with knee-high rough, anything can happen, especially if the wind blows again.
For instance, David Orr’s overnight three-stroke lead disappearned over over the first three holes with a double bogey at the first and a bogey at the third while Loftus emphasised the swign with a birdie at the second.
“The wind made it a nightmare out there,” said Loftus who has not won a 72 hole event since the Scottish Champion of Champions as an amateur in 2001.
“It was at least a three-club wind into your face. I was needing a seven-iron where I would normably used a gap wedge. I think David and I would have shaken off the field but for that wind.”
The Scottish PGA officials had shown some mercy on the field by moving some of the tees forward before the start of play, recognising that the course as it stood was too long and too tough. They reduced its length by some 200 yards, below the intimidating 7,000yd mark.
But no time of course to use a scythe to the long grass bordering the fairways, left to grow with the European Tour event – the Johnnie Walker Classic – coming up at the end of August over the same track.
“I knew it was going to a long, long day in that wind,” said Orr. “But I didn’t let my head go down when I lost by three-shot lead after only three holes.
“If you had told me last week that I would go into the final round at Gleneagles only one shot off the pace, I would have taken it. So I can hardly complain now that that’s the position. I’ve known Mark for years.
I know his game. He knows mine. I will be going out to enjoy myself on Sunday and if I hole a few putts, which I didn’t do in the third, round, then I could just about win it”
Loftus was five under par for the par-5s - an eagle at the ninth and birdies at the second, 12th and 18th.
He also bogeyed the fourth, sixth, seventh and 14th as he and Orr struggled for supremacy in an almost match-play situation.
Orr had a double bogey from a bunker at the first, dropped another shot at the third and yet another with three putts at the seventh. A birdie put him out in 39 (three over). Another birdie at the 11th helped to offset the bogeys that were to come - at the 17th and 18th.

THIRD-ROUND TOTALS FROM GLENEAGLES

GLENEAGLES SCOTTISH PGA CHAMPIONSHIP
Centenary Course.
THIRD-ROUND TOTALS
Par 219 (3 x 73)

215 M Loftus (Cowglen) 73 70 72.
216 D Orr (East Renfrewshire) 71 69 76.
218 D Patrick (Mortonhall) 75 71 72, C Lee (All Golf Swing Centre) 71 73 74.
220 S Cairns (Westerwood) 73 75 72, J McCreadie (Buchanan Castle) 71 73 76.
222 D Park (Wishaw) 76 74 72, R Arnott (Bishopbriggs GR) 74 74 74, C Doak (unatt) 76 69 77.
223 G McFarlane (Clober) 75 76 72, G Hutcheon (Peterculter) 75 73 75, C Ronald (Carluke) 78 70 75, S Gray (Hayston) 72 72 79.
224 M Urquhart (Inverness) 73 79 72, P Wardell (Whitekirk) 74 75 75, P McKechnie (Braid Hills) 70 79 75, A J Webster (Edzell) 77 69 78, C Gillies (Kingsfield) 72 72 80.
225 I Campbell (unatt) 74 76 75, E Thomson (Largs) 73 77 75, D Robertson (Mearns Castle) 73 77 75, J McKinnon (Irvine) 76 71 78, F Mann (Musselburgh) 74 72 79.
226 G Fox (West Kilbride) 74 77 75, A Lockhart (Ladybank) 73 78 75, E Cameron (Hamilton) 78 72 76, L Barn (Noah’s Ark) 73 75 78, L Harper (Archerfield Links) 74 72 80, C Nicoll (Prestwick) 72 74 80.
227 S Catlin (Greenburn) 75 77 75, G McInnes (Murcar Links) 69 83 75, C Kelly (Cawder) 79 71 77, G Law (Uphall) 74 73 80.
228 I Taylor (Drumpellier) 77 77 74, S Morrison (Glenbervie) 75 71 82.
230 A Mackrell (Gary Mitchell Golf) 77 77 76, A Fleming (North Highland College) 76 74 80, P Wytrazek (Burntisland) 77 73 80.
231 S Duncan (Balbirnie Park) 72 79 80, J Stevenson (Braehead) 77 74 80, K Campbell (Machrihanish) 76 73 82.
232 M King (Kingsfield) 82 72 78, S Taylor (Bothwell Castle) 78 76 78, G Harvey (Kinross) 76 77 79, G Duncan (Westin Turnberry) 81 72 79, J Sharp (Carrick at Cameron House) 75 77 80.
233 R Gray (Torrance House) 72 79 82, G Collinson (Esporta Dougalston) 80 70 83.
234 G Cook (Prestonfield) 77 76 81, S Brown (Gleneagles Hotel) 77 75 82.
236 A MacKenzie (Liberton) 73 81 82, G Lornie (Aspire) 73 78 85.
238 J Cliff (Murrayfield) 77 76 85.

Allied Surveyors Scottish amateur championship

JOHN GALLAGHER IS NEW SCOTTISH
CHAMPION: 4 & 3 WINNER
AGAINST KEIR McNICOLL

Keir McNicoll won the third with a birdie 3 to go one up.
John Gallagher squared with a birdie at the fourth.
Gallagher went one up with a par at the fifth.
McNicoll squared the match with a birdie at the ninth.
Gallagher regained one-hole lead by winning the 10th with a par.
Gallagher went two up with a par at the 13th.
Gallagher went three up with a birdie at the 14th.
Gallagher went four up with a birdie at the 16th.

At the end of the first round, John Gallagher (Swanston New) was four up on Keir McNicoll (Carnoustie).

Gallagher went five up at the 19th.
McNicoll birdied the 20th to get back to four down.
Gallagher birdied the 21st to go five up again.
McNicoll won the 24th to be four down again.
Gallagher won the 25th and 26th with pars to go six up.
McNicoll won the 28th and 28th to cut the lead to four holes.
Gallagher won the 31st to go five up.
McNicoll won the 32nd with a birdie to get it back to four down.
A half at the 33rd made Gallagher the champion by 4 and 3.

++In the 36-hole English men's amateur championship final at Royal St George's, Daniel Willett beat Matthew Cryer 3 and 2.

SIX AMATEURS IN SCOTTISH CHALLENGE FIELD

Six amateurs - including Walker Cup man Lloyd Saltman from Craigielaw - have accepted invitations to play alongside the tour professionals in next week's Scottish Challenge tournament at Cardrona Hotel & Golf Resort, near Peebles.
They are Duncan Stewart (Grantown on Spey), Callum Macaulay (Tulliallan), Scott Henry (Cardross), Kevin McAlpine (Alyth) and Keir McNicoll (Carnoustie).
STEWART CHANGES PLANS
Stewart, who spent a successful four golfing years at Jacksonville University, Florida, has returned from the States because funding for a bid to win a US PGA Tour player's card has fallen through.
He now plans to tackle the European Tour School process and will be in the field for the First Stage qualifier at Chart Hills, Kent.

IAN HUTCHEON BECOMES +3 AT AGE OF 65!
WINS EAST SENIORS BY 13 STROKES


What a man Ian Hutcheon is! The older he gets, the better he gets.
Playing over his home course at Monifieth, Ian won the East of Scotland Seniors Open - part of the new Scottish Senior Golfers Society circuit of events - by THIRTEEN strokes with two rounds of 66 for 132.
That has promoted Ian from being a +2 golfer to +3. Amazing at the age of 65. There is hope for us all yet.
It's a remarkable fact that Hutcheon's 132 total would have led the Open qualifying at Monifieth.
He has a 100 % success record on the new Scottish seniors' circuit - played three, won three.
David Miller (Kilmarnock Barassie) was runner-up at Monifieth on 145 with scores of 70 and 75.
Jim Watt (Letham Grange) finished third on 147, made up of a 70 and a 77.
Roy Smethurst, no stranger to senior events in Scotland, came up from Crewe and finished joint fourth on 148.

FINAL TOTALS
CSS 72 73
132 I C Hutcheon (Monifieth) 66 66.
145 D Miller (Kilmarnock) 70 75.
147 J Watt (Letham Grange) 70 77.
148 R Smethurst (Crewe) 76 72, R McLellan (Turnberry) 76 72.
149 S Pond (Worksop) 77 72, H Anderson (Callendar) 76 73.
150 R Stewart (Tulliallan) 77 73, A K Pirie (Hazlehead) 77 73, D McCart (Castlerock) 76 74, J S Macdonald (Dunfermline) 74 76, G Rodaks (Moffat) 73 77, C Cairnie (Monifieth) 72 78.
151 J Roy (Grange) 78 73, G Rees (Fleetwood) 76 75, A Fiddes (Murcar Links) 75 76, D Murphy (Kinross) 74 77, G MacDonald (Callander) 74 77, W Brown (Strathaven) 73 78, B Grieve (King James VI) 70 81.
152 J Johnson (Wishaw) 79 73, A Ferguson (Drumpellier) 76 76, D Millar (St Andrews New) 75 77.
153 R Thomson (St Andrews) 80 73, B Griffiths (Llanymynech) 76 77, I Dickson (Lundin Links) 74 79.
154 A Elder (Kirkcaldy) 78 76, J W Johnston (Royal Aberdeen) 76 78, P Tomisson (Nairn) 75 79.
155 K Howie (West Kilbride) 80 75, I Taylor (Royal Burgess) 79 76, F Hutcheon (Monifieth) 77 78, B Nicholson (Royal Dornoch) 77 78, D Sim (Moor Hall) 76 79, S Herd (Leven Thistle) 76 79, I Stewart (Curragh) 74 81, A William Wallace (Strathaven) 73 82.
156 D McKinnon (Ballochmyle) 79 77, D Smith (Stirling) 79 77, K Bruce (Edzell) 78 78, J Fraser (Royal Burgess) 77 79.
157 R McDonald (Monifieth) 80 77, J Kinloch (Cardross) 78 69, D Mitchell (Grange) 76 81, P Kinloch (Cardross) 75 82.
158 G Paterson (Northern) 81 77, W Erskine (Kilsyth Lennox) 78 80, D Maxwell (Letham Grange) 78 80, F Sharp (Boat of Garten) 77 81, B Edgar (Blackpool) 77 81, J Aman (Grangemouth) 76 82.
159 L Fowler (Royal Aberedeen) 81 78, J Noon (Leven GS) 79 80, B Christie (Bridge of Allan) 79 80, B Bingham (Haggs Castle) 78 81.
160 S Ellis (Cowal) 85 75, K Lumsden (Glenbervie) 81 79, P Lee (Royal Dornoch) 78 82, R Gill (Gerrards Cross) 76 84.
161 J Westwood (Moray) 81 80, C Moir (Worksop) 79 82, D McQuade (Glenbervie) 78 83.
162 A Cameron (Gourock) 84 78.
163 S Quinn (Stirling) 84 79, J Johnston (Northumberland) 83 80, P Costello (Hirsel) 82 81, W Methven (Royal Aberdeen) 79 84.
164 J B Campbell (Panmure) 85 79, G Crichton (St Andrews) 82 82, M Hill (Douglas Park) 82 82, R Lawson (Sunningdale) 79 85.
165 A Williamson (Bruntsfield Links) 83 82, R Grant (Caledonian) 79 86.
166 M Brook (Queens Park) 84 82.
167 J Russell (Lost Canyon) 93 74.
168 V Trojan (Kirriemuir) 86 82.
169 M Mather (Ballater) 85 84, M Lironi (Cathkin Braes) 84 85, A Davidson (Ballater) 83 86, J Harrison (Newmachar) 82 87.
170 J Mackie (Glenearn) 85 85.
171 J Wilson (Paisley) 86 85.
172 J Hamilton (Murcar) 87 85, D Lowe (Grange) 86 86.
173 D Nelson (Aboyne) 87 86.
174 N MacDonald (Glenbervie) 91 83, D Albutt (Tain) 87 87.
182 C Champion (Inchmarlo) 89 93.

BRIDGESTONE INVITATIONAL SCOREBOARD

Firestone CC, Akron, Ohio
Par 140 (2 x 70)
134 Rory Sabbatini (Rsa) 67 67
136 Zach Johnson 71 65
138 Kenny Perry 69 69, Tiger Woods 68 70, Scott Verplank 70 68
139 Chris DiMarco 69 70, Davis Love III 74 65, Lee Westwood (Eng) 68 71
140 Hunter Mahan 67 73, Paul Casey (Eng) 67 73, Justin Leonard 73 67, Mark Calcavecchia 68 72, John Senden (Aus) 71 69, Peter Lonard (Aus) 70 70
141 Joe Durant 74 67, Justin Rose (Eng) 69 72, Tim Clark (Rsa) 71 70, Padraig Harrington (Irl) 72 69
142 J J Henry 73 69, Arron Oberholser 68 74, Andres Romero (Arg) 71 71, Stuart Appleby (Aus) 68 74
143 Steve Stricker 70 73, Anders Hansen (Den) 71 72, Colin Montgomerie (Sco) 71 72
144 Nick Watney 72 72, Jerry Kelly 73 71, Charley Hoffman 71 73, Rodney Pampling (Aus) 71 73, Mark Hensby (Aus) 73 71, Geoff Ogilvy (Aus) 73 71, Nick O'Hern (Aus) 72 72, Aaron Baddeley (Aus) 70 74, KJ Choi (Kor) 71 73, Ian Poulter (Eng) 71 73, Stephen Ames (Can) 71 73, Shingo Katayama (Jpn) 71 73
145 Paul Goydos 69 76, Michael Campbell (Nzl) 71 74, Troy Matteson 71 74
146 Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) 72 74, Stewart Cink 79 67, Darren Clarke (NIrl) 70 76, Phil Mickelson 74 72, Chad Campbell 73 73, Vijay Singh (Fij) 74 72, Richard Green (Aus) 73 73, Boo Weekley 68 78, Paul McGinley (Irl) 72 74, Gregory Havret (Fra) 73 73, Henrik Stenson (Swe) 72 74
147 Yong-eun Yang (Kor) 73 74, Retief Goosen (Rsa) 74 73, Ernie Els (Rsa) 70 77, Graeme Storm (Eng) 75 72
148 Robert Karlsson (Swe) 76 72, John Rollins 73 75, Sergio Garcia (Spa) 71 77, Niclas Fasth (Swe) 75 73, Raphael Jacquelin (Fra) 71 77, Charles Howell III 72 76, Jose Manuel Lara (Spa) 71 77
149 Vaughn Taylor 72 77, Angel Cabrera (Arg) 73 76, Fred Funk 75 74, Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) 73 76, Liang Wen Chong (Chn) 75 74, Trevor Immelman (Rsa) 73 76, Brett Wetterich 74 75, Carl Pettersson (Swe) 70 79, Richard Sterne (Rsa) 77 72
150 Robert Allenby (Aus) 76 74, David Toms 76 74, Luke Donald (Eng) 75 75
151 Adam Scott (Aus) 75 76, David Howell (Eng) 74 77, Woody Austin 74 77, Mark Wilson 76 75
152 Anton Haig (Rsa) 77 75, Brian Bateman 77 75
153 Ben Curtis 74 79
157 Jose-Maria Olazabal (Spa) 77 80

Aberdonian rookie has four shots to spare in Moscow

RICHIE RAMSAY MAKES FIRST
CUT IN PROFESSIONAL EVENT

Rookie Richie Ramsay made his first cut in a professional event when he had a par 72 in the delayed finish to the second round this morning in the European Tour's Russian Open at Le Meridien Moscow G&CC.
The Aberdonian, playing in his first event since he turned professional late last week, qualified with ease on 142 - three shots inside the limit mark.
Sweden's Per-Ulrik Johansson had an incredible second round of 62 to be on 13-under-par 131 after 36 holes.

QUALIFIERS
Par 144 (2 x 72)
131 Per-Ulrik Johansson (Swe) 69 62
135 Gary Murphy 67 68
136 Alexandre Rocha (Bra) 68 68, Christian Nilsson (Swe) 65 71
137 Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (Fra) 66 71, Robert Jan Derksen (Ned) 68 69, Alan McLean 73 64, Adam Gee 69 68
138 David Carter 71 67, Jesus Maria Arruti (Spa) 70 68, Christopher Hanell (Swe) 73 65, Sam Little 67 71
139 Marc Farry (Fra) 70 69, Marcel Siem (Ger) 75 64, Philip Golding 70 69
140 Sam Walker 69 71, Chris Wood 72 68, Alessandro Tadini (Ita) 70 70, Peter Gustafsson (Swe) 71 69, Dawie Van der Walt (Rsa) 72 68, Peter Lawrie 71 69
141 Jeppe Huldahl (Den) 69 72, Steve Webster 73 68, Gareth Davies 70 71, Steven Jeppesen (Swe) 70 71, Carlos Rodiles (Spa) 71 70, Simon Lilly (Gb) 70 71, Prom Meesawat (Tha) 71 70, Lee Slattery 71 70, Marcus Higley 70 71, Keith Horne (Rsa) 73 68
142 Simon Robinson 72 70, Richie Ramsay 70 72, Richard McEvoy 70 72, Kyron Sullivan 71 71, Scott Strange (Aus) 71 71, Euan Little 72 70, Darren Fichardt (Rsa) 71 71, Marc Cayeux (Zim) 71 71, Brett Rumford (Aus) 72 70, Iain Pyman 74 68, Pedro Linhart (Spa) 73 69, Peter Fowler (Aus) 70 72
143 Henrik Nystrom (Swe) 73 70, Jean Hugo (Rsa) 72 71, Matthew Zions (Aus) 72 71, Joakim Haeggman (Swe) 71 72, Kasper Jorgensen (Den) 73 70, David Drysdale 70 73, Ignacio Garrido (Spa) 73 70, Simon Hurd 73 70, Martin Maritz (Rsa) 72 71, Ian Garbutt 73 70, Sam Osborne 69 74, Edward Rush 72 71
144 Chris Gane 73 71, Garry Houston 75 69, Lasse Jensen (Den) 72 72, Terry Pilkadaris (Aus) 73 71, Carl Suneson (Spa) 72 72, Sven Struver (Ger) 72 72, Tim Milford 75 69, Julien Guerrier (Fra) 68 76, Jean-Francois Remesy (Fra) 76 68
145 Rafael Gomez (Arg) 75 70, Richard Bland 74 71, Zane Scotland 70 75, Sebastian Fernandez (Arg) 75 70, Francisco Cea (Spa) 72 73, Sion Bebb 74 71, Birgir Hafthorsson (Ice) 74 71, David Park 71 74, Alvaro Salto (Spa) 72 73, Michael Jonzon (Swe) 74 71, Manuel Quiros (Spa) 72 73
MISSED THE CUT
146 Mahal Pearce (Nzl) 77 69, Francois Delamontagne (Fra) 72 74, Luis Claverie (Spa) 73 73, Dimitry Vinogradov (Rus) 73 73, Carlos De Corral (Spa) 76 70, Sean Whiffin 74 72, Richard Finch 72 74, Adrien Mork (Fra) 74 72, Gary Birch jr (Ger) 77 69
147 Eirik Tage Johansen (Nor) 74 73, Martin Erlandsson (Swe) 72 75, Jonathan Lomas 74 73, Steven O'Hara 77 70, James Morrison 73 74
148 Mark Pilkington 76 72, Ari Savolainen (Fin) 76 72, Alejandro Villavicencio (Gt) 76 72, Thomas Sundstrom (Fin) 74 74, Chris Rodgers 77 71
149 Brian Watts (Can) 78 71, Jose Manuel Carriles (Spa) 77 72, David Bransdon (Aus) 76 73, Rafael Cabrera Bello (Spa) 75 74, Stuart Little 78 71
150 Steve Alker (Nzl) 73 77, Andrew Oldcorn 75 75, Simon Nash (Aus) 77 73, Alfredo Garcia-Heredia (Spa) 78 72
151 Michiel Bothma (Rsa) 81 70, Robert McGuirk 75 76, Stuart Cage 75 76, Ben Howlett 76 75, Mikhail Morozov (Rus) 74 77, Wade Ormsby (Aus) 77 74
152 Alexander Gruzdov (Rus) 76 76
153 Kalle Edberg (Swe) 80 73, David Higgins 81 72
154 Andrey Pavlov (Rus) 80 74
157 Matt Laasse (USA) 80 77
158 Victor Ostankov (Rus) 83 75
165 Gregory Bondarenko (Rus) 82 83

McARTHUR SUFFERS PUTTING COLLAPSE WITH
A 78 IN CHALLENGE OF IRELAND


From Michael Gibbons
Challenge Tour Press Officer

Andrew McArthur struggled to a second round 78 to fall from eight under to two under at the halfway stage of the Challenge of Ireland presented by Glasson.
The Scot suffered a putting collapse that he could not recover from on a blustery day at the Glasson Golf Hotel and Country Club, missing from two feet to bogey the par five second hole before four putting the par four fourth.
“I dug my own grave today,” said McArthur, who now trials Frenchman Michael Lorenzo-Vera by six shots going into the weekend.
“It was difficult enough in those conditions without doing that – it was a day I’ll have to try and forget as quickly as possible and try and get things going again tomorrow.”
Despite his poor second round, McArthur is the only Scot under par at the €150,000 Challenge Tour event, with Scott Henderson on level par after a second consecutive 72.
Joining McArthur and Henderson for the weekend action are Jack Doherty and George Murray – both on one over after respective second rounds of 72 and 74 – as well as Eric Ramsay who carded a 72.
SECOND ROUND TOTALS
Par 144 (2 x 72)
136 Michael Lorenzo-Vera (Fra) 63 73;
139 Fredrik Widmark (Swe) 67 72; Liam Bond (Wal) 73 66; Magnus A Carlsson (Swe) 69 70;
140 Leif Westerberg (Swe) 71 69;
141 Alvaro Velasco (Esp) 69 72; Stuart Manley (Wal) 70 71;
142 Andrew McArthur (Sco) 64 78; Francis Valera (Esp) 71 71; Gareth Maybin (Irl) 69 73; Julio Zapata (Arg) 69 73; Mikael Lundberg (Swe) 70 72; Tim Dykes (Wal) 68 74; Justin Kehoe (Irl) 69 73;
143 John Mellor (Eng) 70 73; Ally Mellor (Eng) 74 69; Gareth Paddison (Nzl) 71 72; Matthew Cort (Eng) 70 73; Magnus Persson (Swe) 71 72; David Mortimer (Irl) 72 71; Peter Kaensche (Nor) 70 73; Andrew Butterfield (Eng) 74 69;
144 Oskar Bergman (Swe) 71 73; Stuart Davis (Eng) 67 77; Scott Henderson (Sco) 72 72 ; Gary Clark (Eng) 73 71; Jamie Little (Eng) 70 74;
145 Jack Doherty (Sco) 73 72; Didier De Vooght (Bel) 67 78; Peter Baker (Eng) 72 73; Andrea Maestroni (Ita) 70 75; Inder Van Weerelt (Ned) 69 76; Martin Wiegele (Aut) 70 75; Mark Murphy (Irl) 67 78; Matthew Richardson (Eng) 70 75; George Murray (Sco) 71 74;
146 Colm Moriarty (Irl) 72 74; Stephen Scahill (Nzl) 69 77; John E Morgan (Eng) 69 77; Mickael Dieu (Fra) 71 75; Richard O'hanlon (Eng) 71 75; Gary Cullen (Eng) 70 76; Roope Kakko (Fin) 71 75; Eric Ramsay (Sco) 74 72;
147 Oliver Whiteley (Eng) 72 75; Warren Bladon (Eng) 68 79; Thomas Nielsen (Den) 72 75; Felipe Aguilar (Chi) 71 76; David Dixon (Eng) 74 73; Fabrizio Zanotti (Par) 72 75; Gustavo Acosta (Arg) 73 74; Mark Campbell (Irl) 73 74; Paul Nilbrink (Nor) 71 76; Raphaël Eyraud (Fra) 76 71; Kieran Staunton (Eng) 71 76; Michael Hoey (Nir) 74 73; Juan Abbate (Arg) 71 76; Christophe Brazillier (Fra) 70 77; Leslie Walker (Irl) 72 75; Ross Mcgowan (Eng) 75 72; Craig Smith (Wal) 72 75;
148 Rodolfo Gonzalez (Arg) 72 76; Glen Robinson (Irl) 73 75; Toni Karjalainen (Fin) 70 78; Kariem Baraka (Ger) 73 75; Phil Worthington (Eng) 72 76; Soren Juul (Den) 73 75; Gary Madden (Irl) 74 74; Van Phillips (Eng) 72 76;
149 Robert Coles (Eng) 74 75; Klas Eriksson (Swe) 75 74; Thomas Feyrsinger (Aut) 75 74; Christian Reimbold (Ger) 72 77; Padraig Dooley (Irl) 74 75; Adam Frayne (Eng) 74 75; Gustavo Rojas (Arg) 71 78;
150 Julien Xanthopoulos (Fra) 74 76; Olivier David (Fra) 72 78; Jamie Donaldson (Wal) 70 80; Paul Dwyer (Eng) 73 77; Jose Luis Adarraga Gomez (Esp) 76 74; Jan-Are Larsen (Nor) 76 74; Pontus Ericsson (Swe) 71 79; Hernan Rey (Arg) 75 75; Jamie McLeary (Sco) 73 77; Carlos Del Moral (Esp) 75 75; Edoardo Molinari (Ita) 71 79; Stephen Browne (Irl) 73 78; François Calmels (Fra) 74 77; Simon Thornton (Irl) 72 79; Kevin Harper (Eng) 76 75; Ben Willman (Eng) 71 80; David P Jones (Irl) 71 80; Jorge Benedetti (Col) 75 76; John Dwyer (Irl) 72 79; Damian Mooney (Nir) 72 79; James Ablett (Eng) 77 74; James H Williams (Wal) 71 80; Mark Sheppard (Wal) 74 77;
152 Robert Dinwiddie (Eng) 74 78; Robin Swane (Ned) 73 79; Gavin Mcneill (Irl) 70 82; Marco Crespi (Ita) 76 76; Jean-Nicolas Billot (Fra) 76 76; Miguel Rodriguez (Arg) 73 79; Denny Lucas (Eng) 73 80; Anthony Grenier (Fra) 73 80; Antti Ahokas (Fin) 74 79; Nicolas Colsaerts (Bel) 75 78; Fredrik Ohlsson (Swe) 75 78; Mark Staunton (Irl) 72 81;
154 Gareth Wright (Wal) 78 76; Mark O'Sullivan (Irl) 72 82; Pablo Del Grosso (Arg) 71 83; Alex R Sundsten (Nor) 77 77; Martin Lemesurier (Eng) 76 78; Seamus Power (Am) ; (Irl) 75 79;
155 Michael Curtis (Irl) 78 77; Paolo Terreni (Ita) 75 80; Matthew King (Eng) 73 82; Tobias Dier (Ger) 78 77; Johan Sköld (Swe) 77 78; Daniel De Leon (Mex) 78 77; Peter Whiteford (Sco) 80 75; Jon Bevitt (Eng) 78 77; Ted Higgins (Irl) 81 74; Joe Lyons (Am) (Irl) 77 78;
156 Anthony Tarchetti (Eng) 78 78; Carlos Balmaseda (Esp) 75 81; Cédric Menut (Fra) 78 78; Jorge Bartolome (Esp) 73 83; Wilhelm Schauman (Swe) 77 79; Peter Williamson (Irl) 72 84;
157 Scott Jamieson (Sco) 78 79; Noel Fox (Irl) 76 81; Craig Williams (Wal) 77 80;
158 Tiago Cruz (Por) 80 78; Jerome Theunis (Bel) 77 81; Julien Foret (Fra) 77 81;
159 Daniel Sugrue (Irl) 74 85; Anthony Snobeck (Fra) 79 80; Michael Mcgeady (Irl) 76 83; Alessio Bruschi (Ita) 72 87; Greg Bowden (Irl) 73 86;
160 Jason Kelly (Nor) 77 83; Tim Rice (Irl) 80 80; Kevin McGrath (Irl) 79 81;
161 Mark Laskey (Wal) 79 82;
162 Daniel Barbetti (Arg) 81 81; Simon Harrison (Eng) 84 78;
163 Julien Van Hauwe (Fra) 83 80; Shane Franklin (Irl) 74 89;
171 Adian Dooley (Am) (Irl) 89 82;
Disqualified - Paul McDonald (Irl) 76.
Withdrew - Mervyn Owens (Irl) 83.

_

GLENEAGLES SCOTTISH PGA CHAMPIONSHIP
TEE TIMES FOR SATURDAY

Spectators will be admitted free of charge - car parking also free - for the Saturday and Sunday play in the Gleneagles Scottish PGA championship over the PGA Centenary Course.

Saturday tee times:

9.0 M King & marker.
9.08 A MacKenzie, A Mackrell.
9.16 I Taylor, S Taylor.
9.24 J Cliff, G Cook.
9.32 G Duncan, G Harvey.
9.40 S Brown, S Catlin.
9.48 G McInnes, J Sharp.
9.56 M Urquhart, S Duncan.
10.04 G Fox, R Gray.
10.12 A Lockhart, G Lornie.
10.20 G McFarlane, J Stevenson.
10.28 E Cameron, I Campbell.
10.36 G Collinson, A Fleming.
10.44 C Kelly, D Park.
10.52 D Robertson, E Thomson.
11.00 P Wytrazek, K Campbell.
11.08 P McKechnie, P Wardell.
11.16 R Arnott, L Barn.
11.24 S Cairns, G Hutcheon.
11.32 C Ronald, G Law.
11.40 J McKinnon , L Harper.
11.48 F Mann, S Morrison.
11.56 C Nicoll, D Patrick.
12.04 A J Webster, C Doak.
12.12 C Gillies, S Gray.
12.30 C Lee, J McCreadie.
12.28 M Loftus, D Orr.

There will be a fresh draw for Sunday with the leaders going off last at 12.28.

Scottish PGA championship reaches halfway stage

TAXI? NO, ITS DAVID ORR DRIVING
CLEAR OF THE GLENEAGLES FIELD

East Renfrewshire tour pro David Orr, who doubles up as a Glasgow taxi driver, is a couple of steady rounds away from his biggest win for four years.
He leads the Gleneagles Scottish PGA championship by three strokes at the halfway stage after a second day in which he posted the clubhouse target of six-under-par 140 before noon – and his name was still clear at the top of the leaderboard at the end of play, just before 8pm.
Orr was a shade lucky in that his 7am starting time gave him the best scoring conditions of the day. Although there was the odd sub-par score later to confound the theory, a freshening wind made it a lot tougher for the second half of the field.
Orr, at the late age of 33 is undergoing PGA training with his club pro, Stewart Russell, which is enabling his Tartan Tour scores to count for Order of Merit points this season for the first time.
He has had rounds of 71 and 69, classy scoring over a PGA Centenary Course which will host the Ryder Cup match in 2014 and is a bit of a mini-monster for the Scottish pros at more than 7,100yd with a par of 73 and long rough bordering on the fairways.
So what about his taxi driving second job?
“I’m employed to drive private hire car, so I’m not going touting for business. And I have a very flexible arrangement. I fit the golf between early morning calls, sometimes 4am, and evening shifts up to 11pm,” said 33-year-old Orr, winner of the British assistants golf title in 2002 and the PGA EuroPro Tour championship on the Algarve the following year.
“I’ve not been making much off the golf for the past six weeks so the money I make from the taxi shifts comes in very handy. Rona and I have a wee boy James, who is two, and another one on the way so it’s all about making ends meet.
“I used to spend a lot of time practising but I’ve found nowadays that I can keep my golf game in good nick without spending hours on the range.”
Orr is actually nine under par for the last 27 holes he has played in the £50,000 Gleneagles event.
“I took a while to get warmed up over the opening nine on Thursday but my run of good form started with the back nine and I’ve kept it going in the second round.
“There’s no question that you have to drive it straight to score over this course. I got a new Wilson Staff driver from the factory at Irvine earlier this week and it’s working well for me. I average about 290yd off the tee but it’s accuracy not distance that is so important over the Centenary Course.”
Orr birdied the first, second, eighth, 14th, 15th and 18th , dropping shots only with bunker visits at the 13th and 17th.,
Cowglen’s Mark Loftus, 28-year-old, one-time Walker Cup reserve, was another to benefit for a morning starting time. He got nearest to Orr with a 70 for 143, which included one of the strongest finishes of the day: 4-3-4 against the par of 5-3-5.
Two former Northern Open champions, Colin Gillies (Kingsfield) and Jason McCreadie (Buchanan Castle), are bracketed with Hayston’s Stephen Gray and Craig Lee (All Swing Golf Centre) on 144..
Gillies, the all-time money-winner in PGA Scottish Region Events by a long way with £428,035, is resigned to having a back problem for the rest of his life.
“The basic problem is that I have a long back and relatively short legs. Every so often that means trouble at the base of the spine. Before this tournament, I had not played since Friday, July 13 when it seized up again,” said Gillies.
“If this event had been last week, I wouldn’t have been fit enough to play. As it was I almost pulled out on the eve of the tournament because I still felt only 50-50.”
A third past Northern Open winner, Chris Doak had the joint best round (with Orr and Edzell’s Alastair Webster) of a dull, sometimes wet day – a 69 for 145, to be five shots behind leader Orr.
As David Huish used to say in days gone by, “This tournament is not over yet. I feel I’m back in the saddle with a 69. Can I still win? Most definitely,” said Doak.
Overnight leader Graeme McInnes (Murcar Links) went from the sublime (an opening round of 69) to the ridiculous, a error-strewn, birdie-less round of 83 for a tally of 152.
McInnes was not alone in his struggle against the course and the conditions.
Late starter defending champion Dean Robertson (Mearns Academy) also saw his title chance this weekend all but disappear with a 77 for 150.
His playing partners suffered too. Northern Open champion Murray Urquhart (Inverness) had a 79 for 152 and Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills), one shot off the pace at the start of the day, dropped well back with a 79 and 149.
Players with totals of eight-over-par 154 and better survived the halfway cut.

GLENEAGLES SCOTTISH PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

QUALIFIERS
Par 146 (2 x 73)
Players with totals of 154 or less qualified for the final two round
140 D Orr (East Renfrewshire) 71 69.
143 M Loftus (Cowglen) 73 70.
144 J McCreadie (Buchanan Castle) 71 73, C Gillies (Kingsfield) 72 72, S Gray (Hayston) 72 72, C Lee (All Golf Swing Centre) 71 73.
145 C Doak (unatt) 76 69.
146 L Harper (unatt) 74 72, C Nicoll (Prestwick) 72 74, F Mann (Musselburgh) 74 72, D Patrick (Mortonhall) 75 71, S Morrison (Glenbervie) 75 71, A J Webster (Edzell) 77 69.
147 G Law (Uphall) 74 73, J McKinnon (Irvine) 76 71.
148 R Arnott (Bishopbriggs) 74 74, L Barn (Noah’s Ark) 73 75, C Ronald (Carluke) 78 70, G Hutcheon (Peterculter) 75 73, S Cairns (Westerwood) 73 75.
149 K Campbell (Machrihanish) 76 73, P Wardell (Whitekirk) 74 75, P McKechnie (Braid Hills) 70 79.
150 P Wytrazek (Burntisland) 77 73, E Cameron (Hamilton) 78 72, G Collinson (Esporta Dougalston) 80 70, I Campbell (unatt) 74 76, C Kelly (Cawder) 79 71, D Park (Wishaw) 76 74, A Fleming (North Highland College) 76 74, E Thomson (Largs) 73 77, D Robertson (Mearns Castle) 73 77.
151 S Duncan (Balbirnie Park) 72 79, G Lornie (Aspire) 73 78, J Stevenson (Braehead) 77 74, A Lockhart (Ladybank) 73 78, R Gray (Torrance House) 72 79, G McFarlane (Clober) 75 76, G Fox (West Kilbride) 74 77.
152 G McInnes (Murcar Links) 69 83, J Sharp (Carrick at Cameron House) 75 77, S Brown (Gleneagles Hotel) 77 75, S Catlin (Greenburn) 75 77, M Urquhart (Inverness) 73 79.
153 J Cliff (Murrayfield) 77 76, G Duncan (Westin Turnberry) 81 72, G Cook (Prestonfield) 77 76, G Harvey (Kinross) 76 77.
154 M King (Kingsfield) 82 72, S Taylor (Bothwell Castle) 78 76, A Mackrell (Gary Mitchell Golf) 77 77, I Taylor (Drumpellier) 77 77, A MacKenzie (Liberton) 73 81.
MISSED THE CUT
155 S Savage (Dalmuir) 82 73, K Walker (Castle Park) 75 80, S Thompson (Castle Golf) 80 75, I Pender (Aberfoyle) 76 79, P Alexander (Caldwell) 72 83, R Smith (Gleneagles Hotel) 77 78, L Mann (Kings Links) 80 75, D Williamson (Kirkhill) 79 76, K Sables (Elgin) 77 78, C Elliott (Haggs Castle) 81 74, K Hutton (Downfield) 74 81, B Mason (Drumoig DR) 75 80..
156 S Syme (Dumfries & Co) 84 72, A Hunter (Mearns Castle) 80 76, S Reekie (King James VI) 76 80, J McGhee (Turnhouse) 79 77, A E Reid (West Lothian) 82 74, A Jowett (Gleneagles Hotel) 74 82.
157 D Thomson (Carnegie Club) 82 75, C Everett (Caldwell) 84 73, K McGowan (Burntisland) 78 79, N Scott-Smith (Palacerigg) 79 78, S Craig (Paragon Golf Akademie) 80 77.
158 K Baxter (Buchanan Castle) 83 75, A Marshall (Houston GR) 81 77, J Anton (Noah’s Ark) 83 75, S Pardoe (Nevada Bobs) 80 78.
159 F McLaughlan (Bothwell Castle) 78 81, A Crerar (King James VI) 79 80, S Pithie (Carluke) 82 77.
160 D Brown (Gleneagles Hotel) 75 85, J Murray (Gleneagles Hotel) 81 79, L Vannet (Carnoustie) 78 82, G Dingwall (Royal Dornoch) 78 82, G Niven (Stirling Univ) 80 80, D Gordon (Paisley) 79 81, E Hogarth (Peebles) 80 80, B Mackay (Loch Lomond) 82 78.
161 D McIntosh (Elderslie) 80 81, G Cowbrough (Muckhart) 82 79, P Mitchell (Aberdour) 81 80, R Clark (Dumfries & Co) 83 78, K Monaghan (Bothwell Castle) 78 83, N Colquhoun (Merchants of Edinburgh) 81 80, A Cooper (Newmachar) 84 77, S Smith (Ladybank) 79 82.
162 M Henderson (Royal St David’s) 79 83, R Neill (unatt) 81 81, A Macrae (Gleneagles Hotel) 80 82, Billy Marchbank (Auchterarder) 82 80, S Rettie (Royal Troon) 75 87.
163 S O’Donnell (Balbirnie Park) 80 83, M Goldie (Lochgelly) 80 83, A Purdie (Kingsbarns) 75 88, S Finlayson (Charleton) 84 79.
164 I Graham (Crow Wood) 78 86, G Bruce (Westhill) 82 82.
165 A Hutton (World of Golf) 82 83.
166 A Campbell (Farringdon) 87 79, M Berrie (Braid Hills) 81 85.
168 B Wallace (unatt) 84 84, C Gordon (Murrayshall) 78 90.
169 G Rankin (Stirling) 83 86, R Valentine (Craigielaw) 81 88.
170 M Lacey (Gleneagles Hotel) 79 91.
171 N Reid (Deeside) 80 91, S Wilson (Gleneagles Hotel) 84 87.
172 C Campbell(Loch Lomond) 88 84.
178 C Knowles (Murrayshall) 90 88.
Retired – D McCormack (East Aberdeenshire) 78 -, M Barnard (unatt) 77 -, J Hedberg (unatt) 74 -..
Disqualified – I Nicholson (Kilmacolm) 86 -, C Donnelly (Balbirnie Park) 85 -, K Phillips (Winterfield) 81 -.

SAM TORRANCE THREE OFF THE PACE WITH
70 IN WENTWORTH SENIOR MASTERS

By GRAEME HAMLETT
Press Officer, European Seniors Tour

Sam Torrance is within three shots of the Wentworth Senior Master leader, Japan’s Katsuyoshi Tomori, after opening his tournament with a two under par round of 70.
However, the Scot was not happy with his score, after dropping a shot on the last hole after finding the fairway bunker from the tee and taking two to get out. He said: “It’s okay, not great, because it was a perfect day and the pins were set up easy. But it’s not pay day yet, and I’m still in contention.”
After his tied tenth place finish at The British Senior Open Championship, presented by Aberdeen Asset Management, at Muirfield, Torrance has been enjoying a fine week upon returning to his southern home in Virginia Water.
On Thursday evening at Wentworth Club, Torrance collected the John Jacobs Trophy at the annual European Seniors Tour Dinner, for his success in topping the 2006 European Seniors Tour Order of Merit, and also The Rolex Trophy, an award voted for by the players – each for the second consecutive year.
It proved the perfect pre-tournament boost for Torrance, who said: “It was a lovely evening and I went out this morning feeling good.” The 2004 Wentworth Senior Masters champion once more found the Edinburgh Course to his liking, on a beautiful, benign sunny day in Surrey.
After opening with five pars and then a bogey six at the 555 yard par five seventh hole, courtesy of a three-putt, Torrance rallied with three consecutive birdies around the turn to reach two under par through ten holes.
It was a real family affair for Torrance, who, as well as having son Daniel on his bag, had the support of his wife Danielle, and two daughters Phoebe and Anouska, throughout his round.
He gave his watching family plenty more moments to cheer, as he continued his fine play on the back nine, recording a further birdie on the 13th to go to three under par, only to give it back at the 15th. Another birdie came on 17, before his dropped shot at the last after finding the sand.
The Scottish challenge for Argentine Eduardo Romero’s title continued when John Chillas matched Torrance’s score. Chillas, who turned 56 on Tuesday, has struggled for form in 2007, but said he enjoyed the Edinburgh Course and his score that leaves him tied fifth place.
LEADERBOARD
67 K Tomori (Jap).
68 D J Russell (Eng).
69 B Cameron (Eng), T Gale (Aus).
70 J Chillas (Sco), S Torrance (Sco), C Mason (Eng), D Smyth (Ire), G Watine (Fra).
Other scores:
73 M Gray (Sco) (jt 26th).
74 B Longmuir (Sco) (jt 44th).
79 M Miller (Sco) (jt 66th).
81 B McColl (Sco) (jt 70th).

GRAHAM GORDON TOP SCOT IN EUROPRO TOUR
EVENT WITH FOUR-UNDER-PAR 209

Lloyd Kennedy completed a fantastic performance to comfortably win the ninth event of the PGA EuroPro Tour season.
Kennedy, 22, a member of the Chelmsford Golf Club, had a narrow lead on the final day at the Maylands Golf and Country Club, near Romford, Essex, but extended his advantage to win by five shots.
“I was very nervous when I teed off as I hadn’t been in contention to win this year,” said Kennedy.
“But once I was out there and got off to a good start I then felt comfortable. I’ve worked really hard over the last few months and it’s now paying off.
“I knew if I put myself into contention then I wouldn’t be scared to win and I did the hard bit over the first two days.
“It has been a difficult year for me but it has all come together today. This will be a kick-start for me and I’m looking to finish in the top five on the Order of Merit.”
This is Kennedy’s first full year on the tour and he showed his promise by winning a pre-qualifying event at Stoke-by-Nayland, near Colchester, Essex at the start of April before performing well at the Final Qualifying School.
Before this week he had only made the cut once in four main events and had been in 178th place in the Order of Merit.
But rounds of 66, 65 and 64 saw him finish on 18-under and the £10,000 prize money he won shoots him up to tenth in the money list.
Mark Smith (Erewash Valley) came second on 13-under, with Alan Murray (Greystones) and Paul Curry (Braintree) level in third on 12-under.
The best placed Scot was Aberdonian Graham Gordon in joint 36th place on four under par 209 with scores of 68, 72 and 69. He earned £263.
Elliot Saltman finished joint 46th on two-under 211 with scores of 71, 67 and 73 for a £220 pay-out.
Paul Doherty made £188 for a joint 53rd finish on one-over-par 214. He had scores of 72, 68 and 74.
The next tournament of the season takes place at the De Vere Oulton Hall in Leeds from Wednesday, August 8 to Friday, August 10. Competition will be fierce as each of the players will be aiming to cement their positions in the top 50 on the Order of Merit and guarantee a spot at the end of year Tour Championships.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
213 (3 X 71)

195 Lloyd Kennedy (Chelmsford) 66 65 64 (£10,000).
200 Mark Smith (Erewash Valley) 71 63 66 (£5,000).
201 Alan Murray (Greystones, Ireland) 67 67 67, Paul Curry (Colne Valley) 65 67 69 (£2,500 each).
202 Daniel Brooks (Mill Hill) 68 65 69 (£1,400).
203 Richard Gurney (Kings Norton) 66 69 68, Daniel Wardrop (Didsbury) 65 70 68 (£1,000 each).
Scottish scores:
209 Graham Gordon (Aberdeen) 68 72 659 (jt 36th) (£263).
211 Elliot Saltman (Dalkeith) 71 67 73 (jt 46th) (£220).
214 Paul Doherty (Vale of Glamorgan) 72 68 74 (jt 53rd) (£188)

ENGLISH GOLF UNION PRESS RELEASE

CRYER v WILLETT FOR ENGLISH AMATEUR TITLE

Matthew Cryer, from Coventry, will meet Yorkshire’s Daniel Willett in tomorrow’s 36-hole final of the English amateur championship at Royal St George’s, Sandwich.
Cryer, who beat Dale Marmion in the morning quarter finals, ended a successful day by overcoming Shane Winstone in the semis. Having reached the quarter and semi-finals in the past two years, 32-year-old international Cryer will be hoping he can land the major prize this time.
“I’ve been disappointed in the past two years but I’m looking forward to playing in the final of a tournament I’ve always wanted to win,” said Cryer.
“From what I’ve heard, Daniel is playing good, so I‘m expecting a tough match.”
Not that Cryer looked happy over the opening holes against Winstone, who took an early lead and was still one hole ahead after eight. But the Midlander got to grips with the task around the turn and from then on was never really threatened.
He won the ninth and tenth with birdies to go 1up while winning pars at the 12th, 14th and 15th sealed his victory.
“The first six holes were atrocious,” Cryer added. “I was around four over in that spell but three under for the rest.”
Winstone, a Gloucestershire county player, was the surprise of the championship, having shot a record 64 in the qualifying at Royal Cinque Ports and booking a semi-final spot by beating international John Parry on the final green in the morning.
But three destructive shots cost him dear against Cryer and left him with a sour taste in his mouth.
“It’s been a great week for me but I’m very disappointed to lose the way I did,” he said. “I expected to go all the way after my 64 on the first day but I hit a few very bad shots this afternoon which you can’t afford to do.”
Willett, 19, on a golf scholarship at Jacksonville in Florida, is the man in form. He’s won the Yorkshire Championship and the South of England Stroke Play at Walton Heath last week and is seeking to complete the hat-trick after requiring just 29 holes to beat Chris Paisley and James Robinson.
“I got ahead early on against James in the semi-finals and although he came back a bit I was never worried,” said a confident Willett. In fact, Willett birdied the second and third holes to take a grip on the match and although Robinson twice pegged him back, the Yorkshireman pulled away again on each occasion.
The beginning of the end came when Willett went 3-up on the 12th and he wrapped up another productive day on the 15th. “I know of Matt but I’ve never played him before,” added Willett.
“But if I can repeat my form of today it should be good enough although anything can happen over 36 holes.”
Go to the English Golf Union website for all the latest results, news and photos, www.englishgolfunion.org.

Allied Surveyors' Scottish men's amateur championship

IT'S KEIR McNICOLL v JOHN GALLAGHER
FOR SCOTTISH TITLE ON SATURDAY

It'S Keir McNicoll v John Gallagher in tomorrow's 36-hole final on Saturday. the climax to the Allied Surveyors Scottish men's amateur championship at Prestwick Golf Club.
After nine holes in the 18-hole semi-finals this afternoon, McNicoll from Carnoustie, the only surviving seed, was four up on Sean McAllister (Craigielaw), conqueror in the morning of the top seed and clubmate Lloyd Saltman.
Young McAllister must have been exhausted after his career-best win over Saltman.
McNicoll went on to win by 5 and 3.
Gallagher (Swanston New) is due to have a hand/wrist operation very soon to solve an injury problem which has ruled him out of so many Order of Merit events this season.
John was four down after nine and still four down after 12 to former champion Allan Thomson from Ayr Belleisle. Then Gallagher mounted one of the most famous comebacks in recent "Scottish" history. He won the 13th, 15th, 17th and 18th to take the semi-final down the first again - and John won there to reach the final for the first time.
and clubmate, Lloyd Saltman, and former champion Allan Thomson from Ayr Belleisle was four up against John Gallagher

Results:

QUARTER-FINALS

Shaun McAllister (Craigielaw) bt Lloyd Saltman (No 1 seed) (Craigielaw) 2 holes.

Keir McNicoll (No 4 seed) (Carnoustie) bt Wilson Bryson (Drumpellier) 2 and 1.

Allan Thomson (Ayr Belleisle) bt Scott Borrowman (Dollar) 3 and 2.

John Gallagher (Swanston New) bt Mark Hillson (Craigielaw) 5 and 4.

SEMI-FINALS

McNicoll bt McAllister 5 and 5.
Gallagher bt Thomson at 19th.

English men's amateur championship down to quarter-finals

MATTHEW CRYER AIMING FOR PLACE IN
FINAL AT ROYAL ST GEORGE'S

FROM THE ENGLISH GOLF UNION WEBSITE

Over the past two English men's amateur championships Matthew Cryer has been beaten in the quarter finals and the semi-finals. He aims to maintain the progression this time after reaching the last eight.
As the sun was replaced by overcast conditions at Royal St George’s yesterday, Cryer beat Andrew Cooley then Chris Bartlett to earn a quarter final place against Dale Marmion.
Against Bartlett, Cryer had to pull out all the stops to continue his quest before powering to a 4 and 2 victory over the back nine.
“It was a tough match,” said Cryer. “I had to batten down the hatches and hold on over the first eight holes to stay all square.
“Then Jack hit a couple of loose shots and I managed a couple of birdies. I was happy not to drop a shot and to be in the quarters. I’m on the dawn patrol again tomorrow so I’ll put the flags out as I go round.”
John Parry has a poor record in the championship. He has rarely got beyond the early rounds but after also reaching the quarter finals and with the demise of his international team-mates he could go all the way.
The Yorkshireman faced a tricky encounter against Lancashire’s Matthew Baldwin in a Roses tussle but three birdies in a row from the tenth put Parry through.
“With my record I’ll take each match at a time,” he said. “I felt the match with Matt would go the distance but the birdies were crucial.”
Parry will now face Shane Winston from Bristol, who beat Essex teenager Dale Whitnell 3 and 1. “I played John in last year’s County Finals at Prince’s and we halved so I’m looking forward to locking horns again,” said Winstone.
There are many ways to celebrate your birthday and Ross Wilson celebrated his 25th by booking a place in the quarter finals at the expense of Tom Shadbolt. Wilson, from Chelmsford, beat the Hertfordshire man 6 and 5 and modestly summed up his success by saying:
“I’m quite pleased.”
It didn’t start well for Wilson as Shadbolt chipped in for birdie at the first. But the Essex man was soon ahead and a run of birdies saw him five up at the turn before the end came on the 13th.
Wilson, who has twice finished runner-up in the Essex championship, has ambitions to turn professional but feels he needs to do well in a ’big event’ before making the switch. The title would be his best-ever present.
Wilson now faces James Robinson from Southport, who came back from an early deficit to beat Ben Evans 3 and 2. John Ambridge, the oldest player in the championship at 50, gave 19 year old Daniel Willett a run for his money including draining a 70-foot putt from off the 17th green to stay alive, before bowing out on the final green.
“I didn’t play well this afternoon,” said Ambridge. “I hit three poor tee shots and didn’t putt well and you cannot afford to do that.”
Willett also felt he wasn’t in the best form. “I scrambled a bit on the front nine but did a little better coming home,” he admitted. “John didn’t make many mistakes but a win is a win.” Willett, the Yorkshire champion, now meets fellow US college student Chris Paisley from Northumberland, who put out Durham’s Michael Curry 4 and 3.
Go to the English Golf Union website for all the latest results, news and photos, www.englishgolfunion.org

MARK SMITH FIRES EIGHT-UNDER 63 IN
PGA EUROPRO TOUR EVENT

MARK Smith produced the best individual round of the season on the second day of the latest PGA EuroPro Tour event.
Smith, a member of Erewash Valley Golf Club in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, fired eight birdies for an eight-under 63 at the Maylands Golf and Country Club, near Romford, Essex.
This performance saw him jump from tied 64th after a level-par 71 on Wednesday into the top dozen to comfortably qualify for the final day’s play.
His 63 was the lowest total of the campaign, beating the 64s by Christopher Hanson (Crosland Heath), Jonathan Evans (Wentworth) and Robert McGuirk (Princes) at Bovey Castle, Cardrona and Faithlegg respectively.
Smith, who topped the EuroPro Tour Order of Merit in 2005, is currently tenth in the 2007 standings after finishing second at The Players Club, Bristol.
However, with £10,000 going to the winner, Smith could make a leap up the rankings if he has a successful final day.
It promises to be an exciting day’s play on Friday as a host of players will still be confident of finishing on top of the leaderboard in the Towergate Insurance-sponsored event.
Former European Tour event winner Paul Curry (Braintree), a victor at the 1994 Jersey European Airways Open, was an early leader on Thursday on ten-under.
But he was soon joined on that total by Neil Walker, who is aiming for his second triumph of the year after winning at Cardrona, Scotland in May.
However, Chelmsford’s Lloyd Kennedy ended Thursday in front with a total of 11-under after scores of 66 and 65.
Daniel Brooks (Mill Hill) and Ian Ridgway (High Legh Park) are on nine-under, with amateur Tony Piccolo (Sports Academy) and Ross Whitelock (Staddon Heights) two of the six players on eight-under.
Daniel Wardrop, a member of the Didsbury Golf Club, near Manchester, has made the cut for the fourth time this season. His best performance of the campaign was when he came fifth at Bovey Castle, Devon in June and he is well placed to beat that mark after a second round score of 70 followed up an effort of 65 on Wednesday.
Clacton on Sea golfer Jason Levermore also has a chance to claim his highest finish of the year. After the first round he was joint first and recorded a one-over 72 to ensure he would remain in the top 50 and still be playing on Friday.
Three Scots -Elliot Saltman, Graham Gordon and Paul Doherty, made the final day's play.
SECOND-ROUND LEADERS
Par 142 (2 x 71)
131 Lloyd Kennedy (Chelmsford) 66 65.
132 Neil Walker (Special Steel Group) 67 65, Paul Curry (Colne Valley) 65 67.
133 Daniel Brooks (Mill Hill) 68 65, Ian Ridgway (High Legh Park) 69 64.
134 Tony Piccolo (am) (Sports Academy) 67 67, Ross Whitelock (Staddon Heights) 68 66.
Mark Smith (Erewash Valley) 71 63, Alan Murray (Greystones) 67 67, Lawrence Dodd (Thetford) 69 65, Christopher Hanson (Crosland Heath) 65 69.

Scots qualifiers (140 and better was 36-hole cut-off point):
138 E Saltman 71 67 (jt 24th).
140 G Gordon 68 72, P Doherty 72 68 (jt 45th).
Scots non-qualifiers:
143 N Mitchell 70 73.
145 G Brown 72 73.

McARTHUR GRITS HIS TEE AND CARDS
A 64 ON CHALLENGE TOUR IN IRELAND

By MICHAEL GIBBONS
Challenge Tour Press Officer

Glasgow's Andrew McArthur played through the pain barrier to card a brilliant eight under par 64 at the Challenge of Ireland presented by Glasson yesterday.
Despite a bout of suspected tendonitis in his left elbow, McArthur played superbly at the Glasson Golf Hotel and Country Club, timing his return to form perfectly as the Challenge Tour prepares to move to Peebles for next week’s Scottish Challenge presented by Bank of Scotland Corporate.
Starting on the 10th tee, the 28 year old Scot got off to a great start with a birdie 4 and soon followed that up with two superb iron shots – a four iron to 25 feet on the par 5 14th that he holed for eagle and then a beautiful five iron to two feet on the stunning par-3 15th that he duly rolled home for birdie.
After two great up and downs to save par on the 16th and 17th, McArthur got back on the birdie trail as he hit the front nine, picking up shots on the fourth, sixth and eighth holes to post the best score of the day.
“I was going to pull out of the tournament yesterday because of the injury,” said McArthur, who trails the Michael Lorenzo-Vera by a shot after the Frenchman’s fantastic front nine of 29 helped him to a nine under 63.
“I wasn’t very clever at all yesterday. I have been playing well for a while but I haven’t been hitting balls over the last few days because of the elbow. I noticed it on Saturday and the best way to get rid of these things is usually to rest.
“This is one of the best rounds of the year – I shot nine under in Switzerland where I went out in 28, but it was good today as well.”
McArthur is the leading Scot of eight in the Challenge of Ireland presented by Glasson field, with George Murray the next best placed on two under.

Monty has a one-over 71 in Bridgestone Invitational

PAUL CASEY SHARES LEAD AT AKRON, OHIO

WGC BRIDGESTONE INVITATIONAL
Firestone CC South Course, Akron, Ohio.
Par 70.
67 Paul Casey (Eng), Hunter Mahan, Rory Sabbatini (RSA)
68 Arron Oberholser, Tiger Woods, Mark Calcavecchia, Boo Weekley, Lee Westwood (Eng), Stuart Appleby (Aus)
69 Kenny Perry, Paul Goydos, Justin Rose (Eng), Chris DiMarco
70 Aaron Baddeley (Aus), Steve Stricker, Ernie Els (RSA), Scott Verplank, Darren Clarke (NIrl), Carl Pettersson (Swe), Peter Lonard (Aus)
71 Charley Hoffman, Anders Hansen (Den), Jose Manuel Lara (Spa), Sergio Garcia (Spa), Shingo Katayama (Jpn), Stephen Ames (Can), Rodney Pampling (Aus), Zach Johnson, Michael Campbell (Nzl), Colin Montgomerie (Sco), John Senden (Aus), Raphael Jacquelin (Fra), Andres Romero (Arg), KJ Choi (Kor), Ian Poulter (Eng), Troy Matteson, Tim Clark (RSA)
72 Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind), Nick Watney, Vaughn Taylor, Paul McGinley (Irl), Nick O'Hern (Aus), Charles Howell III, Padraig Harrington (Irl), Henrik Stenson (Swe)
73 Jerry Kelly, Mark Hensby (Aus), Angel Cabrera (Arg), Geoff Ogilvy (Aus), Thongchai Jaidee (Tha), J J Henry, Justin Leonard, Chad Campbell, John Rollins, Trevor Immelman (RSA), Yong-eun Yang (Kor), Richard Green (Aus), Gregory Havret (Fra)
74 Phil Mickelson, Vijay Singh (Fij), Joe Durant, Retief Goosen (RSA), David Howell (Eng), Davis Love III, Woody Austin, Brett Wetterich, Ben Curtis
75 Adam Scott (Aus), Niclas Fasth (Swe), Luke Donald (Eng), Fred Funk, Liang Wen Chong (Chn), Graeme Storm (Eng)
76 Robert Karlsson (Swe), Robert Allenby (Aus), David Toms, Mark Wilson
77 Jose-Maria Olazabal (Spa), Anton Haig (RSA), Mike Weir (Can), Richard Sterne (Rsa), Brian Bateman
79 Stewart Cink.

GOOD START FOR RICHIE RAMSAY IN RUSSIA

Richie Ramsay made a promising start to his professional golf career with a round of 70 to be lying joint 11th going into the second day of the European Tour event - the Russian Open - at Le Meridien Country Club, Moscow.

The first round will not be completed until Friday due to bad weather.

FIRST ROUND

Par 72.
65 Christian Nilsson (Swe)
66 Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (Fra)
67 Gary Murphy, Sam Little
68 Robert Jan Derksen (Ned), Alexandre Rocha (Bra)
69 Jeppe Huldahl (Den), Sam Walker, Per-Ulrik Johansson (Swe), Adam Gee, Sam Osborne
70 Marc Farry (Fra), Jesus Maria Arruti (Spa), Richie Ramsay, Zane Scotland (Gbr), Gareth Davies, Steven Jeppesen (Swe), Richard McEvoy, Simon Lilly (Gbr), David Drysdale, Marcus Higley, Alessandro Tadini (Ita), Peter Fowler (Aus), Philip Golding
71 David Carter, Scott Strange (Aus), Peter Gustafsson (Swe), Kyron Sullivan, Joakim Haeggman (Swe), David Park, Darren Fichardt (Rsa), Peter Lawrie, Carlos Rodiles (Spa), Marc Cayeux (Zim), Lee Slattery, Prom Meesawat (Tha)
72 Simon Robinson, Francisco Cea (Spa), Martin Erlandsson (Swe), Euan Little, Alvaro Salto (Spa), Sven Struver (Ger), Edward Rush, Manuel Quiros (Spa), Chris Wood, Jean Hugo (Rsa), Francois Delamontagne (Fra), Matthew Zions (Aus), Dawie Van der Walt (Rsa), Brett Rumford (Aus), Carl Suneson (Spa), Richard Finch, Martin Maritz (Rsa)
73 Steve Alker (Nzl), Henrik Nystrom (Swe), Steve Webster, Christopher Hanell (Swe), Luis Claverie (Spa), Dimitry Vinogradov (Rus), Terry Pilkadaris (Aus), James Morrison, Alan McLean, Keith Horne (Rsa), Ignacio Garrido (Spa), Ian Garbutt, Simon Hurd
74 Richard Bland, Sean Whiffin, Eirik Tage Johansen (Nor), Sion Bebb, Adrien Mork (Fra), Birgir Hafthorsson (Ice), Jonathan Lomas
75 Robert McGuirk, Garry Houston, Andrew Oldcorn, Tim Milford, Stuart Cage, Marcel Siem (Ger), Rafael Cabrera Bello (Spa)
76 Mark Pilkington, Ari Savolainen (Fin), Ben Howlett, Jean-Francois Remesy (Fra), David Bransdon (Aus), Alejandro Villavicencio (Gua), Carlos De Corral (Spa)
77 Jose Manuel Carriles (Spa), Simon Nash (Aus), Wade Ormsby (Aus), Chris Rodgers, Gary Birch jr (Ger), Steven O'Hara.
78 Brian Watts (Can), Alfredo Garcia-Heredia (Spa), Stuart Little
80 Matt Laasse (USA)
81 Michiel Bothma (Rsa), Lee S James, David Higgins
82 Gregory Bondarenko (Rus)
83 Victor Ostankov (Rus)

EAST SENIORS OPEN FIRST ROUND

IAN HUTCHEON LEADS BY FOUR OVER HIS

HOME COURSE AT MONIFIETH

Scottish seniors champion Ian Hutcheon was always going to be favourite to win the inaugural East of Scotland Seniors Open – part of the new Scottish Senior Golf Society circuit – over his home course at Monifieth where he still plays off +2 at the age of 65.

Ian has not won the title yet but a superb round of five-under-par 66 sees him four strokes clear of a field of 102 with the second and last round to be played on Friday.

His closest rivals are Perth's Brian Grieve (King James VI), James Watt from Letham Grange, and Ayrshire's David Miller (Kilmarnock Barassie), all bracked on the 70 mark.

LEADING SCORES

Par 71. CSS 72

66 I C Hutcheon (Monifieth).

70 B Grieve (King James VI), J Watt (Letham Grange), D Miller (Kilmarnock Barassie).

72 C Cairney (Monifieth).

73 G Rodaks (Moffat), W Brown (Strathaven), A William Wallace (Strathaven).

74 J S Macdonald (Dunfermline), I Stewart (Curragh), D Murphy (Kinross), I Dickson (Lundin Links), G MacDonald (Callander).

75 P Tomisson (Nairn), P Lamb (Biggar), P Kinloch (Cardross), D Millar (St Andrews New), A Fiddes (Murcar Links).

76 D Sim (Moor Hall), B Griffiths (Llanynynech), R Gill (Gerards Cross), A Ferguson (Drumpellier), R Smethurst (Crewe), J W Johnston (Royal Aberdeen), D McCart (Castlerock), R McLellan (Turnberry), S Herd (Leven Thistle), D Mitchell (Monifieth), J Aman (Grangemouth).

77 F Hutcheon (Monifieth), B Nicholson (Royal Dornoch), J Fraser (Royal Burgess), R Stewart (Tulliallan).

Allied Surveyors Scottish men's amateur championship

LATEST NEWS FROM PRESTWICK


Top seed Lloyd Saltman (Craigielaw) was the first man into Friday morning's quarter-finals of the Allied Surveyors Scottish men's amateur championship at Prestwick Golf Club.
He beat former British amateur champion Craig Watson (East Renfrewshire) by 4 and 3 in the first Fifth Round tie to finish.
Keir McNicoll from Carnoustie was the only other seed to make it through to the last eight.
Scottish youths champion Scott Borrowman (Dollar) ended the reign of defending champion Kevin McAlpine (Alyth) while John Gallagher (Swanston New) knocked out Callum Macaulay (Tulliallan).
ROUND FIVE RESULTS
SALTMAN (Seeded No 1) bt Watson 4 and 3.
McAllister bt O'Hara 1 hole.
McNICOLL (Seeded No 4) bt Mann.
Bryston bt Heslip at 19th.
Thomson bt Findlay at 21st.
Borrowman bt McALPINE (Seeded No 3) 1 hole.
Gallagher bt MACAULAY (Seeded No 7) 3 and 1.
Hillson bt Clark 2 and 1.

SCROLL DOWN FOR THE FOURTH ROUND RESULTS

Gleneagles Scottish PGA championship

GRAEME McINNES FINDS HIS WAY AGAIN TO LEAD WITH A 69 - THANKS TO RIVAL CRAIG LEE!

By his own admission, Graeme McInnes had lost his way as a golfer in the 10 years since he decided he could make a living as a tour professional.
But at the end of today's first round of the Gleneagles Scottish PGA championship, it was the 34-year-old Aberdonian, pictured right, who occupied the pole position on the leaderboard with a four-under-par 69.
Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills) was his nearest rival on 70 with Craig Lee, David Orr and Jason McCreadie on 71.
It was a day when only 11 players in a field of 132 broke the par of 73. The length and degree of difficulty of the course, the severity of the rough and a boisterous cross wind all combined to put some of the pre-tournament favourites seemingly out of contention on the opening day of the 72-hole championship.
Craig Ronald took 78, Chris Kelly 79, Gary Collinson and Adam Hunter 80 and Mark King 82.
The man who has helped Graeme to rediscover the talent he had as an amateur is fellow competitor Craig Lee . Lee lost to Dean Robertson in a play-off for the Gleneagles title 12 months ago – so he obviously Knows what he’s talking about!
“Craig and I are good pals from way back but this has been a commercial relationship over the past year,” said Graeme. “Sometimes I go down to his place in Stirling. On other occasions he will come up to Murcar Links.
“My mind had become too full of technique. Craig has simplified things for me, clearing out from between my ears what I don’t need to think about, and it certainly helped a lot today.”
Only those who drove it straight and kept out of the penal rough close to the edge of the fairways had a chance of getting round the Jack Nicklaus-designed “mini monster” that is the PGA Centenary Course at Gleneagles. And a blustery wind blowing across most of the fairways made it a real test of skill.
The composite par-73 course – some blue tees, some white tees - in use for this tournament is 7,153yd long, still some 200yd short of the maximum length for the 2014 staging of the Ryder Cup contest.
“It’s long and it’s tough but the Centenary Course is possibly my favourite inland course in Scotland,” said Graeme. “And I’m not just saying that because I had a 69 today. I missed the cut last year and the year before I actually broke a finger playing out of the rough at the 12th hole!”
And yet McInnes could not have been blamed for thinking “Here we go again” when he was three over par after six holes with bogeys at the first, third and sixth.
But birdies at the seventh and ninth gave him back his self confidence and, after turning in over-over-par 37, he birdied three in a row from the 10th and finished on a high with putts of 25 and 10 feet dropping for birdies at the 17th and 18th.
Graeme had come storming home in five-under-par 32, including five single putts - easily the best inward half of the day.
Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills), leader of the Tartan Tour money table and Order of Merit this season, shot a 70 for second place overnight.
“It’s a fantastic course, really demanding and that’s how it should be for a championship You just have to keep the ball on the fairways to get a score and my game plan was to play the round from the middle of the fairways,” said 30 year old Paul who birdied the first, second, third and 14th and had only one bogey, at the sixth.
“I succeeded because I did not miss a single fairway. This course suits my game. You just can’t stand up on every tee and slash it anywhere. And you have to keep your patience.”
Greig Hutcheon, winner of the title eight years ago, lost a ball at the second hole and ran up a 7. “I really struggled after that and had to birdie the 12th and 16th to escape with a 75,” said the Peterculter pro. “I should have listened to my caddie’s advice more than I did.”
Northern Open winner Murray Urquhart from Inverness, who has his reservations about the changes made recently to Jack Nicklaus's original design for the course, hung on in there to match the par of 73. He had a rough time approaching the turns with bogeys at the fifth, seventh and ninth, having birdied the second but he got it going again with birdies at the 10th, 15th and 16th and only a bogey at the very last hole cost him one of the day’s 11 sub-par rounds.
In the last trio to finish - some 5 1/2 hr out on the course - was Graeme Lornie from Aspire Golf Centre. All things considered, Graeme did very well to return a 73.
Only the leading 50 and ties after Friday's second round will go forward to the weekend 36 holes.
ALL THE FIRST ROUND SCORES
PGA Centenary Course. Par 73. 7,153yd.

69 G McInnes (Murcar Links).
70 P McKechnie (Braid Hills).
71 C Lee (All Golf Swing Centre), D Orr (East Renfrewshire), J McCreadie (Buchanan Castle).
72 R Gray (Torrance House), S Gray (Hayston), C Nicoll (Prestwick), C Gillies (Kingsfield), S Duncan (Balbirnie Park), P Alexander (Caldwell).
73 L Barn (Noah’s Ark), A Lockhart (Ladybank), E Thomson (Largs), S Cairns (Westerwood), D Robertson (Mearns Castle GA), M Urquhart (Inverness), M Loftus (Cowglen), A MacKenzie (Liberton), G Lornie (Aspire).
74 P Wardell (Whitekirk), G Law (Uphall), L Harper (unatt), R Arnott (Bishopbriggs DR), A Jowett (Gleneagles Hotel), G Fox (West Kilbride), K Hutton (Downfield), J Hedberg (unatt), F Mann (Musselburgh), I Campbell (unatt).
75 S Catlin (Greenburn), S Morrison (Glenbervie), A Purdie (Kingsbarns Links), G McFarlane (Clober), S Rettie (Royal Troon), G Hutcheon (Peterculter), D Brown (Gleneagles Hotel), K Walker (Castle Park), J Sharp (Carrick at Cameron House), B Mason (Drumoig DR), D Patrick (Mortonhall).
76 D Park (Wishaw), A Fleming (North Highland College), G Harvey (Kinross), I Pender (Aberfoyle), J McKinnon (Irvine), C Doak (unatt), K Campbell (Machrihanish), S Reekie (King James VI).
77 I Taylor (Drumpellier), J Stevenson (Braehead), R Smith (Gleneagles Hotel), K Stables (Elgin), G Cook (Prestonfield), A J Webster (Edzell), P Wytrazek (Burntisland), J Cliff (Murrayfield), A Mackrell (Gary Mitchell Golf), S Brown (Gleneagles Hotel).

============PROJECTED CUT AFTER SECOND ROUND =========

78 C Gordon (Edinburgh GC), K Monaghan (Bothwell Castle), C Ronald (Carluke), F McLaughlan (Bothwell Castle), D McCormack (East Aberdeenshire), E Cameron (Hamilton), K McGowan (Burntisland), L Vannet (Carnoustie GL), G Dingwall (Royal Dornoch), S Taylor (Bothwell Castle), I Graham (Crow Wood).
79 J McGhee (Turnhouse), D Williamson (Kirkhill), D Gordon (Paisley), S Smith (Ladybank), A Crerar (King James VI), N Scott-Smith (Palacerigg), M Henderson (Royal St David’s), C Kelly (Cawder), M Lacey (Gleneagles Hotel).

80 S O’Donnell (Balbirnie Park), A Macrae (Gleneagles Hotel), M Barnard (unatt), S Pardoe (Nevada Bobs), G Niven (Stirling Univ), N Reid (Deeside), M Goldie (Lochgelly), S Craig (Paragon Akademie), E Hogarth (Peebles), D McIntosh (Elderslie), S Thompson (Castle Golf), A Hunter (Mearns Castle GA), G Collinson (Esporta Dougalston)..
81 M Berrie (Braid Hills GR), G Duncan (Westin Turnberry), N Colquhoun (Merchants of Edinburgh), L Mann (Kings Links), A Hutton (World of Golf), C Elliott (Haggs Castle), A Marshall (Houston GR), P Mitchell (Aberdour), K Phillips (Winterfield), C Elliott (Haggs Castle), J Murray (Gleneagles Hotel), R Valentine (Craigielaw), R Neill (unatt).
82 Billy Marchbank (Auchterarder), A E Reid (West Lothian), S Savage (Dalmuir), D Thomson (Carnegie Club), G Crowbrough (Muckhart), B Mackay (Loch Lomond), G Bruce (Westhill), S Pithie (Carluke), M King (Kingsfield GR).
83 K Baxter (Buchanan Castle), R Clark (Dumfries & Co), G Rankin (Stirling), J Anton (Noah’s Ark).
84 A Cooper (Newmachar), S Finlayson (Charleton), S Wilson (Gleneagles Hotel), C Everett (Caldwell), S Syme (Dumfries & Co), B Wallace (unatt).
85 C Donnelly (Balbirnie Park).
86 I Nicholson (Kilmacolm).
87 A Campbell (Farringdon).
88 C Campbell (Loch Lomond).
90 C Knowles (Murrayshall).
Retired: G Boswell (Mearns Castle).
*Disqualified – I Hanna (Strathclyde Park), V Brown (Westerwood), D F G Scott (Kingsbarns Links)
*Under SPGA "rules," disqualified covers "No Returns."

Allied Surveyors Scottish men's amateur championship

TODAY'S RESULTS AT PRESTWICK

Fourth-day results at the Allied Surveyors' Scottish men' s amateur championship at Prestwick Golf Club:

FOURTH ROUND

L SALTMAN (Craigielaw) (No 1 seed) bt L Miller (Cawder) 7 and 5.
C Watson (East Renfrewshire) bt J Clarke (Royal Montrose) 4 and 3.
P O'Hara (Colville Park) bt J Hendrick (Pollok) 2 and 1.
S McAllister (Craigielaw) bt S McEwan (Caprington) 6 and 4.

K McNICOLL (Carnoustie) (No 4 seed) bt E Brown (Kilmarnock Barassie) 7 and 6.
S Mann (Carnoustie) bt R Bell (Downfield) 2 holes.
W F Bryson (Drumpellier) bt R Dixon (Kilmarnock Barassie) 4 and 2.
C Heslip (Monifieth) bt J Shanks (Irvine) 4 and 3.

A Thomson (Ayr Belleisle) bt J KING (Glasgow) (No 6 seed) 2 and 1.
J Findlay (Fraserburgh) bt G Dear (Murrayshall) 1 hole.
S Borrowman (Dollar) bt G Lowson (Auchterarder) 4 and 3.
K McALPINE (Alyth) (No 3 seed) bt R Carson (Dalmahoy) 4 and 3.

C MACAULAY (Tulliallan) (No 7 seed) bt M Lamb (Haddington) 1 hole.
J Gallagher (Swanston New) bt C Colraine (Windyhill) 4 and 2.
M Clark (Kilmacolm) bt M Kerr (Craigielaw) 2 holes.
M Hillson (Craigielaw) bt E McIntosh (Newmachar) 4 and 3.

ITALIAN GOLFER FAILS DRUGS TEST

An Italian golfer has failed a drugs test, according to the Italian Olympic Committee.
His name is Alessandro Pissilli. He is a professional and plays on the Italian Pro Tour.
Pissilli tested positive for finasteride during the Omnium National Championship near Turin on June 29 after a test was requested by the Italian Golf Federation.
Finasteride, most commonly used in treating hair loss, is not performance-enhancing but is on the banned list because it can be used as a masking agent.
The European Tour and the other major international circuits are formulating an anti-doping policy which is planned to come into effect next year.
The Italian Olympic Committee, which acts as the country's anti-doping body, has been on a crusade to clean up sport with athletes, from volleyballers to cyclists, being brought in for doping hearings.
Pissilli has been suspended by the Italian Golf Federation. He could face a two-year ban if found guilty of a doping violation.
His local golf club in Florence released a statement, saying he had informed authorities at the time of the test that he had taken the drug for almost two years to treat a prostate problem.

Allied Surveyors Scottish men's amateur championship

THE LAST 32 AT PRESTWICK

They are down to the last 32 in the Allied Surveyors' Scottish men's amateur championship at Prestwick.
Here is the fourth-round line-up on Thursday morning.

Lindsay Miller (Cawder) v Lloyd Saltman (Craigielaw) (No 1 seed).
Joshua Clarke (Royal Montrose) v Craig Watson (East Renfrewshire).
Paul O'Hara (Colville Park) v James Hendrick (Pollok).
Steven McEwan (Caprington) v Shaun McAllister (Craigielaw).
Keir McNicoll (Carnoustie) (No 4 seed) v Euan Brown (Kilmarnock Barassie).
Scott Mann (Carnoustie) v Ross Bell (Downfield).
Ross Dixon (Kilmarnock Barassie) v Wilson Bryson (Drumpellier).
John Shanks (Irvine) v Chris Heslip (Monifieth).
Jonathan King (Glasgow) (No 6 seed) v Allan Thomson (Ayr Belleisle).
Jordan Findlay (Fraserburgh) v Gavin Dear (Murrayshall).
Scott Borrowman (Dollar) v Graham Lowson (Auchterarder).
Robert Carson (Dalmahoy) v Kevin McAlpine (Alyth), defending champion, No 3 seed.
Callum Macaulay (Tulliallan) (No 7 seed) v Mark Lamb (Haddington).
John Gallagher (Swanston New) v Colin Colraine (Windyhill).
Mark Kerr (Craigielaw) v Matthew Clark (Kilmacolm).
Mark Hillson (Craigielaw) v Euan McIntosh (Newmachar).

SCROLL DOWN FOR ALL OF TODAY'S RESULTS

GRAHAM GORDON FINDS EUROPRO TOUR
FORM WITH THREE-UNDER-PAR 68

Aberdonians Graham Gordon and Neil Mitchell had their best rounds on the PGA EuroPro Tour for some time in this week's event at Maylands Golf & Country Club, Romford in Essex.
Former Scottish amateur champion Gordon had a three-under-par 68 to be just outside the top 20 at the end of the first day. Gordon had a bogey-free card with birdies at the fourth, 13th and 18th in halves of 33 and 35.
Mitchell had a one-under-par 70 (36-34) with birdies at the fifth, 12th, 13th, 16th and 17th but four bogeys ruined a really good score.
Elliot Saltman from Dalkeith matched the par of 71 with four bogeys cancelling out four birdies.
Graham Brown from Montrose and South Wales-based Paul Doherty were both on the 72 mark.
Four Englishmen led with 65s.
LEADING SCORES
Par 71
65 C Hanson (Eng), D Wardrop (Eng), P Curry (Eng), J Levermore (Eng).
66 R Gurney (Eng), R Wheatley (Eng), L Kennedy (Eng), T Butler (Eng), B Taylor (Eng), D Prosser (Eng).
Scots scores:
68 G Gordon.
70 N Mitchell.
71 E Saltman.
72 G Brown, P Doherty.

SCOTT HENRY BEATEN IN THIRD

ROUND AT PRESTWICK BY

SHAUN McALLISTER

Eighth seed Scott Henry (Cardross) became the second seed to fall by the wayside in the Allied Surveyors Scottish men's amateur championship this afternoon.

In a third-round tie Henry lost by the big margin of 6 and 5 to Shaun McAllister (Craigielaw), pictured right, a member of last year's successful Scotland boys' team and winner of the 2006 Scottish boys' open stroke-play title at Alloa.

Top seed Lloyd Saltman (Craigielaw) had a 3 and 1 third-round win over Stephen Neilson (Dunbar).

Although unseeded, Wallace Booth from Comrie was expected to go through Thursday's play at least but Wallace, leader of the SGU Order of Merit with wins in the Cameron Corbett Vase and the Tennant Cup, was beaten at the 20th by Steven McEwan (Caprington), winner of the Scottish boys' open stroke-play championship in 2005.

SCROLL DOWN FOR LATER THIRD-ROUND RESULTS

HARRINGTON NAMED EUROPEAN TOUR
GOLFER OF MONTH FOR JULY

Padraig Harrington, who enjoyed the finest moment of his career by claiming the 136th Open Championship at Carnoustie, has been named the European Tour Golfer of the Month for July.
Harrington, the first European-born player to win a Major Championship since Paul Lawrie at the same venue in 1999, earned the accolade at the end of a superb month on the European Tour which saw a number of truly outstanding achievements by Tour Members.
However Harrington’s play-off victory over Spain’s Sergio Garcia surpassed all those other outstanding accomplishments, which included Argentine Andres Romero’s spectacular entrance on the world stage, Colin Montgomerie’s return to winning ways and Frenchman Grégory Havret’s dramatic triumph over World Number Three, Phil Mickelson.
Harrington, winner of the May Golfer of the Month Award after his success in the Irish Open on home turf, arrived at Carnoustie having won the Irish PGA Championship for a fourth time. Despite a double bogey on the final hole, the Dubliner recovered his composure wonderfully to beat Garcia by a shot in the four hole play-off.
Romero’s rise from 114th to 29th in the World Rankings followed his third place finish in The Open followed by his first European Tour victory at the Deutsche Bank Players’ Championship of Europe in Hamburg.
Victory in the Open swept Harrington to the top of the European Tour Order of Merit and to a career-high sixth on the Official World Golf Rankings.
As he prepared to hit his first shot as Open Champion in the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio, Harrington commented: “I am delighted to receive this honour after a month which underlined the strength of The European Tour.
“The young guns like Andres Romero and Grégory Havret showed what they are capable of while Monty proved he is still a winner. A lot of Europeans will definitely be encouraged by my win because they know they can match my game and it will help them visualise the day when they, too, win a Major.”

English Golf Union Press Release

TOP SEED BOYD AND MOUL EARLY CASUALTIES
IN MATCH-PLAY STAGES AT ROYAL ST GEORGE'S


There were shocks aplenty when the English men's amateur championship entered the match play stage at Royal St George’s today with internationals Gary Boyd and Jamie Moul being early casualties.
Both players are Walker Cup candidates but Boyd went out at the 19th to Michael Moore while an off-colour Moul was demolished 5 and 3 by Dale Marmion.
Boyd had shown tremendous form in finishing top of the qualifiers with a record-equalling 64 at Royal Cinque Ports and he didn’t do much wrong against Moore. But the Cheshire man matched him blow-for-blow and drained a 40-footer for birdie to win on the 19th.
Moore had stated his intentions with birdies at the second and third holes to go two up. However, Boyd got back on terms and they were still level at the 15th before Boyd went ahead with a par at the short 16th. He was still ahead on the 18th tee but after being bunkered off the tee, Boyd just avoided going out of bounds behind the green and could do no better than a bogey 5 to lose the hole to a par.
When they visited the first for the second time, Moore delivered the fatal blow with that 40-footer for a birdie three.
Moore, back from college in Florida, said: “I’ve been struggling with my driving all week and I just hung in there. It wasn’t a pretty match but this was a big win for me. I was virtually scrambling my way around but I had belief in myself,” he added before departing for the range to put his driving right.
The curse of the leading qualifier clearly hit Boyd. “I felt I was hit by a bus over the first three holes and this is a big disappointment with the Walker Cup team being picked at the end of the week,” he said.
“This sort of thing seems to keep happening to me. I was one-up with two to play against Tim Stewart in the British and he birdied the last two and in this event two years ago Steven Capper won the last two to beat me. But at least I didn’t give it away.”
Marmion, who is enjoying a successful year with top-ten finishes in four key event, was also fast out of the blocks against Moul. He won two of the first three holes while a second birdie at the seventh put him three up.
Although Moul won the eighth, Marmion took the ninth, 10th and 12th to go five up, several with pars. Moul took the 14th with a birdie, but the end came with a Marmion par at 15.
“Jamie was struggling a bit and a little out of sorts,” said Marmion. “Although I was five over around here in the qualifying I still felt confident and was happy to be playing Jamie. You want to play the best and he is and you’ve got to prove yourself against players of his calibre.” Yorkshire’s John Parry made short work of fellow international Ed Richardson, winning 7 and 5, but former boy cap Dale Whitnell, two up through 13 holes, was taken to the 18th green before edging past Shaun Malone.
In an all-teenage tussle, Tom Lewis got the better of last year’s England boy captain Sam Hutsby, The Duke of York Young Champions Trophy winner at Dundonald, by 2 and 1. "Neither of us played very well. We were both over par at the end but as long as you shoot level par around here you shouldn‘t be too far away,” said Lewis.
In fact, there was nothing to choose between the pair through ten holes but Lewis won the 11th with a par and the 12th with birdie to go 2up and although Hutsby took the 14th with a birdie-four, Lewis bounced back with a par at 15 and shared the next two for victory.
“We both had chances at 16 and 17 but neither of us took them,” Lewis added. “At 17, Sam’s putt lipped out which was fortunate for me.”
Daniel Willett, the Yorkshire champion and now one of the favourites after Boyd and Moul’s defeats, marched on with a 3 and 2 win over Jarrad McKnight. But Stephen Capper, beaten finalist in 2005 and a last green winner over 14 year old Oscar Sharpe in the preliminary round this morning, was on the wrong end of a 6 and 5 scoreline against Ben Rickett, another US college student.
For the latest scores and news updates click here to go to the EGU website, www.englishgolfunion.org.

RUSSELL WEIR DROPS OUT OF GLENEAGLES
SCOTTISH PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

Cowal's Russell Weir has had to withdraw from the field for the £50,000 Gleneagles Scottish PGA championship over 72 holes, teeing off tomorrow.
Russell played 10 holes in practice over the PGA Centenary course on Tuesday before walking off. He had developed a swollen left leg and had blisters on his feet. He has made a medical appointment tonight but has, in any case, withdrawn from the championship.
The veteran Weir, who has not played regularly on the Tartan Tour for some time, is still the second biggest money winner in PGA Scottish Region history with a total of £269,151.
Only Colin Gillies, Scottish champion in 1995 and 1998, has won more - £428,035 at the start of this season.
Former Italian Open champion Dean Robertson, who shot a remarkable third-round 63 in this event last year, on his way to a 72-hole tie at 17-under-par 275 with Craig Lee, whom he beat at the second hole of a play-off, is expected to be one of the leading contenders once again for the £8,800 first prize.
"This is the start of a big month for me. After Gleneagles it's the Challenge Tour event at Cardrona followed by two Tartan Tour Order of Merit events and then the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles again," said Dean.
Paul McKechnie, Robert Arnott and Greig Hutcheon, the leading money-winners on the Tartan Tour this season, are three of the men Robertson has to beat.

Allied Surveyors' Scottish men's amateur championship

TODAY'S RESULTS FROM PRESTWICK

Today's results in the Allied Surveyors Scottish men's amateur championship at Prestwick Golf Club.

Pictured right: Jonathan King (Glasgow), the No 6 seed, who was taken to the last green by Steven Higgins (Gourock) this morning. King later beat Robert McKnight (Kilmarnock Barassie) 5 and 4.

SECOND ROUND
J Shanks (Irvine) bt A Johnston (Bonnyton) 3 and 1.
C Heslip (Monifieth) bt D Currie (Kilmarnock Barassie) 2 and 1.
J McMahon (Cardross) bt M Stewart (Ranfurly Castle) 5 and 4.
J KING (Glasgow) (seeded No 6) bt S Higgins (Gourock) 1 hole.
R McKnight (Kilmarnock Barassie) bt G Paterson (St Andrews New) 3 and 1.
P Moultrie (Troon Portland) bt S Maxwell (Windyhill) 4 and 3.
J A Thomson (Ayr Belleisle) bt L Kirton (Newmachar) 1 hole.
J Findlay (Fraserburgh) bt G Munro (Ranfurly Castle).

K Nicol (Fraserburgh) bt D Ferguson (Paisley) 2 and 1.

A Cappi (Loretto School) bt D Henderson (Hamilton) at 22nd.

G Dear (Murrayshall) bt S Barras (Helensburgh) 8 and 7.

G Smith (Stirling) bt D Harrison (Crieff) 1 hole.

G Lowson (Auchterarder) bt M Bookless (Sandyhills) at 20th.

S Borrowman (Dollar) bt K Fairbrother (Cochrane Castle) 1 hole.

S McBlain (Prestwick St Cuthbert) bt B Scott (Dumfries & Galloway) 4 and 3.

R Carson (Marriott Dalmahoy) bt N Lamond (Balmore) 3 and 2.

W Blair (Troon Portland) bt S Roberts (Gullane) at 19th.

K McALPINE (Alyth) (No 3 seed) bt S Simants (Dunbar) 3 and 2.

G Burnett (Swanston New) bt K Harper (Carnoustie) 5 and 3.

G Belch (Haggs Castle) bt S Michie (Thornton) 2 and 1.

C MACAULAY (Tulliallan) (N0 7 seed) bt G Wood (Crow Wood) 6 and 5.

J Greer (Gourock) bt D Anderson (Cochrane Castle) 4 and 3.

M Lamb (Haddington) bt R Bunch (St Andrews New) 5 and 4.

L McLaughlin (Cowglen) bt P Ferrieer (Baberton) 7 and 6.

J Gallagher (Swanston New) bt G Rodger (Cambuslang) 2 and 1.

A Culverwell (Dunbar) bt S Morrison (US) 5 and 4.

C Colraine (Windyhill) bt A McDonald (Crow Wood) 3 and 2.

S Clark (Haggs Castle) bt M Daily (Erskine) 6 and 5.

M Kerr (Craigielaw) bt A Doherty (Cowglen) 5 and 4.

M Clark (Kilmacolm) bt W Anderson (Cambuslang) at 19th.

P Betty (Hayston) bt M Stewart (Troon Welbeck) 1 hole.

M Hillson (Craigielaw) bt J Neilson (Dunbar) 5 and 4.

R Anderson (Duddingston) bt K Reid (Moray) at 19th.

M Main (Thornton) bt S Buckley (Royal Burgess) 2 holes.

E McIntosh (Newmachar) bt R Gill (Craigmillar Park) 3 and 2.

THIRD ROUND

L Miller (Cawder) bt G Thomson (Moray) at 19th.

L SALTMAN (Craigielaw) (No 1 seed) bt S Neilson (Dunbar) 3 and 2.

J Clarke (Royal Montrose) bt C Mundie (Falkirk) 4 and 3.

C Watson (East Renfrewshire) bt A Main (Thornton) 1 hole.

P O'Hara (Colville Park) bt J Bunch (Prestwick) 4 and 3.

J Hendrick (Pollok) bt G Stewart (Murcar Links) 3 and 2.

S McEwan (Caprington) bt W Booth (Comrie) at 20th.

S McAllister (Craigielaw) bt S HENRY (Cardross) (No 8 seed) 6 and 5.

K McNICOLL (Carnoustie) (No 4 seed) bt J Bradley (Paisley) 5 and 4.

E Brown (Kilmarnock Barassie) bt K Fergusson (Prestwick St Cuthbert) 2 and 1.

S Mann (Carnoustie) bt A Bews (Murcar Links) 5 and 3.

R Bell (Downfield) bt P Latimer (St Andrews New) 1 hole.

R Dixon (Kilmarnock Barassie) bt G Gimson (Prestwick St Cuthbert) 4 and 3.

W F Bryson (Drumpellier) bt Z Saltman (Craigielaw) 4 and 3.

Shanks bt F McKenna (Balmore) 3 and 2.

Heslip bt McMahon 3 and 2.

KING (No 6 seed) bt McKnight 5 and 4.

Thomson bt Moultrie 3 and 2.

Findlay bt Nicol 1 hole.

Dear bt Cappi 3 and 2.

Lowson bt Smith 4 and 3.

Borrowman bt McBlain 6 and 5.

Carson bt Blair 3 and 2.

McALPINE (No 3 seed) bt Burnett 4 and 3.

MACAULAY (No 7 seed) bt Belch 2 and 1.

Lamb bt Greer 2 and 1.

Gallagher bt McLaughlin at 20th.

Colraine bt Culverwell 2 holes.

Kerr bt S Clark 5 and 4.

M Clark bt Betty 1 hole.

Hillson bt R Anderson 6 and 5.

McIntosh bt M Main 5 and 4.

TEAMS FOR THE BOYS' HOME INTERNATIONALS

We now have all four teams - from the R&A website - for the boys' home internationals at Machynys Peninsula from August 7 to 9:

ENGLAND
Playing captain: Jack Hiluta
Adam Best, Cleveland
Tommy Fleetwood, Formby Hall
Matt Haines, Rochester & Cobham Park
Jack Hiluta, Chelmsford
Andrew Johnston, North Middlesex
Gary King, Tyrrells Wood
Matthew Nixon, Ashton-under-Lyne
Eddie Pepperell, Drayton Park
Garrick Porteous, Bamburgh Castle
Darren Renwick, Worthing
Oscar Sharpe, Minchinhampton

IRELAND
Non-playing captain: Richard Cusack
Garth Boyd, Donaghadee
Paul Cutler, Portstewart
Chris Drumm, Rosslare
Alan Dunbar, Rathmore
Colin Fairweather, Knock
Stephen Healy, Claremorris
Luke Lennox, Moyola Park
Ruaidhri McGee, Rosapenna
Gary McGrane, Royal Dublin
Rory McNamara, Headfort
Craig Martin, Kilkenny

SCOTLAND
Non-playing captain: Barrie Douglas
James Byrne, Banchory
Andrew Campbell, Dumbarton
Paul Ferrier, Baberton
Fraser Fotheringham, Nairn
Scott Fraser, Royal Aberdeen
Christopher Gaittens, Fortrose & Rosemarkie
Neil Henderson, Glen
Sam McLaren, King James VI
Paul Shields, Kirkhill
Michael Stewart, Troon Welbeck
Andrew Wallace, Glenbervie

WALES
Non-playing captain: Mark Heames
Ben Enoch, Truro
Gareth Evans, Wrexham
Lloyd Evans, Wenvoe Castle
Joshua Green, Clays
Rhodri Harston, Felixstowe Ferry
Jamie Howie, Royal St David’s
Luke Jackson, Mold
Ross McLister, Cardiff
Christopher Nugent, Fulford Heath
Rhys Pugh, Vale of Glamorgan
Joseph Vickery, Newport

GARY BOYD TOPS QUALIFIERS

FOR ENGLISH AMATEUR

CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH-PLAY

FROM THE ENGLISH GOLF UNION WEBSITE

Just 24 hours after Shane Winstone set the record with 64 at Royal Cinque Ports, Gary Boyd (pictured right) matched it with 64 of his own to top the qualifiers in the English amateur championship.
Boyd’s eight under par score followed his fine 70 at Royal St George’s and ensured his position as No 1 seed for the match-play stages that start at Sandwich this morning.
He was four strokes clear of second-placed Winstone, who found Royal St George’s a tougher proposition with a 74 for 138.
Boyd was an early starter at 8.20am at Deal and benefited from calm, early morning conditions. But he still had to post a score and put it all down to his improved swing,
“I’ve been working on it all year with Tim Rouse at Northants County and my swing feels a lot better,” he said modestly. “ I’ve had a few poor weeks but overall it’s been a consistent year when I’ve only missed one cut.”
The 20 year old England international was out in 30, thanks to six successive birdies from the third, and, although he dropped a shot with a 5 at the 12th, he reeled off three more at the 15th, 16th and 17th.
“It’s my best tournament round,” he added. “I don’t think I could have dreamt of a 64 but you get days like this when everything seems to go right. I had a lot more chances so I could have broken 60.”
Boyd has a fine record in the "English," having reached the quarter finals for the past two years. He also did well in last year’s British amateur championship at Royal St George’s before losing to Spanish ace Pablo Martin at the 20th hole in the last 32.
While Boyd was buoyant after his 64, Winstone found matters a whole lot different at Royal St George’s but he was happy with his 74.
“I didn’t hit the ball as well as yesterday but this course is a lot tougher,” said the lad from Bristol. “I chipped and putted well but the breeze got up on the back nine and made it even trickier.”
International David Horsey shot 68 at Cinque Ports for 136, while Ben Evans, 73 at St George’s, qualified fourth on 139
A stroke further back were Adam Wainwright from Lincolnshire and Leicestershire’s Neil Chaudhuri after both shot 70 while Jamie Moul (the highest placed Englishman in the R&A WAGR) carded 72 at Royal St George’s to qualify on 141 alongside Neil Harris from Manchester who had 72 and Hertfordshire’s Tom Shadbolt 71, both at Cinque Ports.
Also on 141, after 72 at St George’s, is Daniel Willett, the player many believe is a real danger after his exploits in America and an impressive 10-stroke victory in last week’s South of England stroke play championship at Walton Heath.
“I didn’t play that well but I’ll take 72 round here,” said the 19 year old from Rotherham who must have caught the eye of the Walker Cup selectors.
“I’ve had a good year,” he added. “I’ve won twice in America this year and last week’s big win has showed me what I’m capable of.”
A total of 75 players on 149 or better qualified for the beginning of the match play. One notable exception is 2005 champion Paul Waring whose best-of-the-day 69 at St George’s left him on 151.
“This championship has come a week too soon for me,” he said. “I needed a week off after playing in the Open Championship and although I came back in 32 today I never expected a lot this week.”

LEADING MATCH-PLAY QUALIFIERS

134 Gary Boyd (Cherwell Edge) 70 64.

136 David Horsey (Styal) 68 68.

138 Shane Winstone (Knowle) 74 64, .

139 Ben Evans (Rye) 73 69.

140 Adam Wainwright (Gainsborough) 70 70, Neil Chaudhuri (The Leicestershire) 70 70.

141 Nicky Harris (Whitefield) 69 72, Thomas Shadbolt (Mid Herts) 70 71, Jamie Moul (Stoke by Nayland) 72 69, Daniel Willett (Rotherham) 72 69.

142 Matthew Baldwin (Royal Birkdale) 73 69, David Corsby (Fleetwood) 74 69.

143 Andrew Cooley (Chobham) 72 71, Chris Paisley (Stocksfield) 73 70, John Parry (Harrogate)

73 70, Jamie Howarth (Stockport) 73 70, Liam Burns (Sundridge Park) 73 70, Ben Rickett (Surbiton) 74 69.

Campbell, Lloyd
Rochester & Cobham
72
72
144
20
O'Reilly, Danny
North Foreland
73
71
144
21
Blainey, Gregg
Bearwood Lakes
75
69
144