Scottish Golf View - Golf News from Scotland

Scottish Disability Golf Partnership

2010-03-31T21:34:00.001Z

Team winners Derek Milne, Hugh Hutcheon, Steve Smith and Iain McLachlan

with Chairman Jim Gales (extreme left) and Steve Bramwell Secretary (extreme right)

Some forty golfers, from numerous areas of Scotland, took on the challenges of the Dukes Golf Course St Andrews, and the weather, on Monday 20 March.

Players attending participated in the latest Scottish Disability Golf Challenge Charities Cup, which was generated by the SDGP for related charities and other voluntary groups to take part in a new fun golf competition. Players were divided into numerous teams including groups like the SDGP, the Guide Dogs for the Blind, Sense Scotland, East Fife Sports Council and VONEF Cupar.

As well as the challenging course and the traditional nearest the pin competitions, players were all blindfolded for a tee shot and a one-armed putt each during their round.

Jim Gales, the Event Organiser said, "We certainly fell foul of the weather with the biting cold and even some snow, followed closely by persistent rain, but we had a great turn out for our biggest event so far this year. This was also the SDGP's first 2009 competition for our Order of Merit Tables where all golfers, for both 18 and 9 hole competitions compete for the title of the GolfbloggerUK Scottish Order of Merit Champion. We must thank the staff at the Dukes Golf Course and at VONEF Cupar for their assistance in the organisation of this event.

Steve Bramwell the SDGP Secretary mentioned that, "Thanks to companies like Mirror Tess and GolfbloggerUK, which has nominated the SDGP as its charity of the year, we have some Great companies supporting us at the Dukes and we have managed to generate some fantastic golfing opportunities for our members and coaches. As well as our new 2-day Scottish Championship at Machrihanish, we have just extended our Open Championship at Scotscraig Golf Club to 4-days, and these events alongside our regular free training days for anyone with a disability or serious health problem, promise to make 2010 our best year yet."

Results from the Dukes event:

Nearest the pin SDGP Coach sponsored by Glenmure was Stewart Copland of Johnstone
Nearest the pin Disabled sponsored by Sunderland was Jim Gales of Springfield
Nearest the pin Guest sponsored by ProQuip was Alex Brown

3rd SDGP player sponsored by the Open was Kenny Raeburn of Elderslie with 32pts bih
2nd SDGP player sponsred by RAM was Jim Davidson Johnstone with 32 pts
1st SDGP player sponsored by GolfBuddy was Steve Cunningham of Newton with 38 pts

3rd SDGP Coach sponsored by ProQuip was Paul Shepherd of Tayport with 22pts
2nd SDGP Coach sponsored by Scratch Sunglasses was Stewart Copland of Johnstone with 23 pts
1st SDGP Coach sponsored by PING was Rob Steel of Eaglesham with 30 pts

Team runners up winning a fourball golf was Bob Drysdale, Davey More and Jim Samson.
Team Winners winning the Charities Trophy for 2010 and a golf 4-ball were the Guide Dogs for the Blind Team #3 of Derek Milne, Hugh Hutcheon, Steve Smith and Iain McLachlan

For details about the event or disabled golf generally, contact www.sdgp.co.uk or info@sdgp.co.uk

Some of the competitors with the team trophy

WILLIE PARK ANNIVERSARY GOLF SUCCESS

2010-03-31T21:01:00.001Z

Lionel Freedman, organiser of the Willie Park Anniversary Tournament,
and Perry Somers from Australia, winner of the hickory division

Last weekend there were two days of golf over the Old Links to celebrate anniversary of the winning of the 150th Open Championship by Willie Park Sr. Saturday’s competition saw around eighty players battling it out with both hickory and modern clubs in a number of different divisions. The conditions of the day, though fine, were cold and blustery.
The men’s scratch prize was won by Christopher Higgins of the Musselburgh Club who scored 72. The ladies scratch prize was won by Ruth Carroll, also from the Musselburgh Club with 80. The hickory scratch was won by Perry Somers from Australia with 82.
The handicap prizes were won by Richard Mackie, Strathaven, with a net 70 and Marion Bell of Musselburgh Links Ladies carded a net 82. The first hickory handicap prize went to John Still of Bruntsfield with 73.
Two juniors figured in the prizes with Oliver Duffy and Catherine Small, both of Craigielaw, winning scratch prizes finishing second and third in their respective divisions.The prizes were awarded at the Gala Dinner in the Brunton Hall where the main speakers were Alex Hay, Mungo Park and David Kirkwood. Among those present were Sheena Richardson, Provost, Irene Tait, Chairperson of Musselburgh & Inveresk Community Council and the organisers, Alan Hay, Vice Chairman, Councillor John Caldwell and Lionel Freedman, Chairman of World Hickory. The evening was a great success and over 160 attended.
Having been treated to some excellent golf in difficult conditions on Saturday, ten amateurs qualified to join ten of our local young professionals in a team competition on the following day. The conditions were, if anything, more difficult than the day before but the Old Links was privileged to see some tremendous golf, where the winner of the Professional individual prize, Sean McAllister of Craigielaw scored a 5 under par 63. In second place was Elliot Saltman, Archerfield with 67 and third was Chris Russell, RAW Golf Design with 69. The Pro-am team prizes went to Sean McAllister and Douglas Harris (Kilspindie) with 61. Second was Chris Russell and Malcolm Roberts (Duddingston) 65 and third went to Chris Kelly and David Kirkwood (Gullane) with 66. Perry Somers from Australia, again playing with hickories, scored 77. Willie Park would have been proud of the calibre of golf played by the young professionals celebrating his historic win.

2010-03-31T19:58:00.007Z

1st MOROCCO FAMILY GOLF FESTIVAL
October 9 to 16, 2010 – based at MARRAKECH

TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR: Colin Farquharson

Colin@scottishgolfview.com
-
The MOROCCO GOLF FESTIVAL will be an annual golf competition – open to amateur golfers (Senior men, Senior women, men, women, boys & girls). Handicap limits: Men: 28, Ladies/girls 36.
AGGREGATE STABLEFORD TOURNAMENT: Four rounds, best three points totals to count
In addition to competitive golf, there is an exciting programme full of various activities: Cocktails party – City sightseeing tour of Marrakech– Gala Dinners– Accompanying person programme.
This tournament week in the warm of the North African sun in October is certain to be great fun and an enjoyable way of making new friends, enjoying friendly competition and playing a variety of outstanding golf courses in Morocco

PROGRAMME:

Saturday 9th October 2010:
Flight from London Gatwick to Marrakech (operated by ROYAL AIR MAROC (Flight AT673, depart from London Gatwick North Terminal at 20:30 and arrive to Marrakech at 23:05).
Assistance in Marrakech airport and transfer to the PALM PLAZA HOTEL & SPA 5*****
Check-in and overnight at the hotel
* Please note that flights can be arranged from other airport direct to Marrakech (From Edinburgh, Manchester, East Midlands, London Luton, Bristol) at a supplement.
Sunday 10th October 2010:
Buffet Breakfast at the hotel - transfer to the ROYAL Golf Club
Better-ball pairs, with a partner of your choice of with a partner allocated by the Tournament Director.
Transfer back to the hotel
Cocktail party at 19:00 in the hotel
Dinner & Overnight in the hotel
Monday 11th October
Buffet Breakfast at the hotel - transfer to PALMERAIE Golf Club
Individual Stableford Tournament Round 1
Transfer back to the hotel
Dinner & Overnight in the hotel
Tuesday 12th October
Buffet Breakfast at the hotel - transfer to the AMELKIS Golf Club
Individual Stableford Tournament Round 2
Transfer back to the hotel in the hotel, Dinner & overnight
Wednesday 13th October
Buffet Breakfast at the hotel – Guided city tour of Marrakech
Transfer back to the hotel - Afternoon at leisure
Dinner & Overnight in the hotel
Thursday 14th October
Buffet Breakfast at the hotel - transfer to the AL MAADEN Golf Club
Individual Stableford Tournament Round 3
Transfer back to the hotel in the hotel
Dinner & Overnight
Friday 15th October
Buffet Breakfast at the hotel - transfer to the AMELKIS Golf Club
Individual Stableford Tournament Round 4 (Final Round)
Transfer back to the hotel in the hotel
Gala Dinner with entertainment & Prizes presentations ceremony
Overnights at the hotel
Saturday 16th October 2010
Buffet Breakfast at the hotel – Morning at leisure
Transfer to Marrakech airport for the return flight to UK – assistance with the check-in formalities
(Flight AT672, Depart from Marrakech at 15:05 and arrive at 19:40)

WHAT IT WILL COST YOU
Golfer: £789 per person (sharing a Twin or Double room)
Non-Golfer: £630 (Sharing a Twin or Double Room)
Single room Supplement: £80 (for 7 Nights)
The price includes:
*Return schedule flight with Royal Air Maroc from London Gatwick to Marrakech (Flights from other UK airports at a supplement)
*Seven (07) Nights accommodation in the PALM PLAZA HOTEL & SPA 5***** in Marrakech
*Daily buffet breakfast
*Five rounds of competitive golf and playing on the Royal, Amelkis, Plameraie & Al Maaden Golf Courses
*Cocktail Party
*Gala Dinner with Prizes Presentation
*Five (05) Dinners at the hotel as per the programme
*Half Day guided tour of Marrakech
*Ground transfers & Transportation
*Our Permanent assistance in Marrakech

PRIZES
1st, 2nd & 3rd of each category: senior men, senior women, men, women, boys (under-18 and under-16), girls (under-18 and under-16).

OTHER Flight Options:

From EDINBURGH to MARRAKECH
+Saturday 9th October 2010: RYANAIR Flight No FR6824, Depart from Edinburgh at 14:50 and arrive to Marrakech at 18:10
+Saturday 16th October 2010: RYANAIR Flight No FR6825, Depart from Marrakech at 18:35 & Arrive to Edinburgh at 23:55
From BRISTOL to MARRAKECH
+Saturday 9th October 2010: RYANAIR Flight No FR8218, Depart from Bristol at 15:55 and arrive to Marrakech at 18:30
+Saturday 16th October 2010: RYANAIR Flight No FR8219, Depart from Marrakech at 18:55 & Arrive to Bristol at 23:35
From MANCHESTER to MARRAKECH
+Saturday 9th October 2010: EASYJET Flight No 1893, Depart from Manchester at 14:35 and arrive to Marrakech at 17:40
+Saturday 16th October 2010: EASYJET Flight No 1894, Depart from Marrakech at 18:10 & Arrive to Manchester at 22:55
From London Gatwick to MARRAKECH
+Saturday 9th October 2010:
+EASYJET Flight No 8895, Depart from Gatwick at 12:25 and arrive to Marrakech at 15:05
+EASYJET Flight No 8897, Depart from Gatwick at 15:35 and arrive to Marrakech at 18:15
+Saturday 16th October 2010:
+EASYJET Flight No 8896, Depart from Marrakech at 15:40 & Arrive to Gatwick at 20:10
+EASYJET Flight No 8898, Depart from Marrakech at 18:50 & Arrive to Gatwick at 23:20 ===============ENTRY FORM================
Competing as (Please tick the appropriate box)
Senior Man (over 55 yrs on Jan 1)

Senior Lady (over 50 yrs on Jan 1)
Man Lady

Boy (under 16yrs on Jan 1)

Girl (Under 16yr on Jan 1)
Boy (Under 18yr on Jan 1)

Girl (Under 18yr on Jan 1)

Title:
First Name:

Surname

Handicap
(Competitors should take up an up to date handicap from their home club)
Golf Club:

Full Postal
Address

Post Code

Tel (Home)

Tel (Mobile)

Email Address
Name of partner for Better-Ball Pairs
If you wish the Tournament Director to allocate you with a partner at random (Please indicate (Yes / No)

Accompanying Person / Non Golfer

Preferred Airport to fly from & to

Comments / Remarks

I confirm that I agree to abide by all the tournament rules & regulations and I enclose a deposit of £100 (please make cheques payable to MENARA TRAVEL LTD) – payment by cards accepted

Signature:

Please send your complete Entry Form to: Mohamed Fakir at Menara Travel Ltd, 200c Blythe Road, London W14 0HH

===========================================================
MARRAKECH
The Golf Holiday to remember in a city you will never forget
Lying at the foot of the Atlas Mountains, nested in the midst of a palm-grove is the red pearl, Marrakech! More than an Imperial city, Marrakech legitimately boasts the sumptuous relics of its glorious past: palaces, tombs, gardens and minarets compete with each other for the pleasure of the visitor. A most lively city, a city of thousand and one perfumes, colours and melodies where life is a continuous show, climaxing at the natural theatre of Djemaa El Fna Square where magicians, acrobats, storytellers, and fortune-tellers gather to entertain you. Extending north from the square is the medina within which lies the imperial heritage of Marrakech. Wandering the SOUKS in the Medina is like travelling back in time, some shops glittering with jewellery, some festooned with richly coloured carpets and all around you the sounds of bargaining for that all important “best price”!
A dry and healthy climate adds to the pleasures of visits and excursions, making it possible to practice all kinds of open-air sports.

Palm Plaza Hotel & Spa 5*****
Located in Agdal, a new residential district, Palm Plaza Hotel & Spa welcomes you in a luxury setting in the heart of Marrakech, 10 minutes from the airport and 8 minutes from Djamaâ Elfna Square. Palm Plaza Hotel features comfortable rooms and suites. Savour exotic dishes in the hotel’s restaurants.Have a snack in the pool bar and in the evening, a quiet time in the piano bar or an exciting night in the night club. Enjoy a relaxing stay in Palm Plaza Hotel. The spa features a heated indoor swimming pool, a sauna, a Hammam and a gym
Palm Plaza Hotel & SPA has 230 rooms, including 151 Twin, 52 Double, 2 rooms for disabled persons, 6 junior suites, 20 senior suites and a royal suite. Houses of Palm Plaza Hotel & Spa are equipped by air conditioning, heating, Internet access and free Wi-Fi, satellite TV, safe, mini bar, telephone, hair dryer, voice mail and automatic alarm

2010-03-31T19:56:00.000Z

Gary Player relishing Carnoustie return

Gary Player will return to Carnoustie and the scene of the ‘greatest shot of his career’ when he takes his place amongst an impressive line up of Major Champions in The Senior Open Championship presented by MasterCard from July 22-25.
Tickets are now on sale at a discounted rate for the 24th edition of the Championship, which this year returns to Scotland, visiting the magnificent Championship Course at Carnoustie for the first time.
It will be an emotional return for Player, who won The Open Championship at Carnoustie in 1968, claiming his second of three Claret Jugs after previously winning at Muirfield in 1959.
The 74 year old, who last week played in the Berenberg Bank Masters over the Fancourt course he designed in his native South Africa, still rates his majestic three wood approach shot to the 14th hole in his final round 42 years ago as the most memorable shot of his marvellous career.
Player’s ball stopped just inches from the pin to give him a tap in for eagle and set up his eventual two stroke victory over the legendary American Jack Nicklaus and New Zealand’s Bob Charles, who had claimed the Claret Jug five years previously.
“I’ve got great memories of Carnoustie,” said Player. “There were five of us going down the last five holes within one shot of each other and I was playing with Nicklaus.
“I got to the 14th hole, which is known as The Spectacles, because of the two large bunkers in the middle of the fairway, and the wind was blowing and I had a three wood in my hand and I had to decide whether to go for the green or not because there’s all this heather and junk around over the bigger of the two bunkers.
“There was only about a five yard gap and I put the ball eight inches from the hole, which enabled me to go on and beat Nicklaus and the others.
“That has to be the best shot of my life. I hit a shot at the PGA when there were nine of us in contention and a shot to a couple of feet at the 17th at Augusta when leading by one but nothing like that. That’s a three wood into the wind with such trouble all around.
“My wife was sitting in the stand and she was so nervous. After I played the shot she said she could hardly walk down the stand because her knees were shaking that much.
“Carnoustie is definitely one of the toughest courses I have played. It will be very tough for a Senior Open. Ben Hogan won The Open there before me, which I watched as a young man, and I always said Ben was the best player I’ve ever seen so Carnoustie has some very special memories for me.”
Player, who has missed only one of the 23 Senior Open Championships played since 1987, is the joint most successful player in the Championship’s history with Tom Watson, winning the title in 1988 and 1990 at Turnberry and in 1997 at Royal Portrush.
The Black Knight, who has 164 professional tournament wins worldwide, believes those victories surpassed even the feat of his nine regular Major Championship victories.
“People ask me what’s the greatest achievement of my life and I say my Grand Slam on the Senior Tour and they are shocked, but you have to do that after you turn 50,” he said.
“My three Senior Open titles were such a great achievement. The tournament is going from strength to strength and if you look at the scores they were shooting last year at Sunningdale it was remarkable. The field just gets better and better every year.”
Spectators can buy tickets now for The Senior Open Championship by visiting www.senioropengolf.com or by calling +44 (0) 800 023 2557 or on the gate. One day tickets are £25 and season tickets are £70.

Substantial savings can now be made both on day passes and season tickets for The 2010 Senior Open Championship, which are priced respectively at £16.50 and £60, with a further 10% discount available to MasterCard cardholders.
To order your tickets, go here or call +44 800 023 2557. Postal enquiries should be sent to European Tour Tickets, Mirren Court Three, 123, Renfrew Court Three, Paisley. PA3 4EA. Alternatively, you can email tickets@europeantour.com.

2010-03-30T20:41:00.001Z

Midlands Alliance draw for Thursday, April 8 at Montrose

The Midland Golfers' Alliance, WH Miller Team competition at Monifieth Links was postponed due to the severe weather. This will now take place on Monday 12th April, 8.30 - 12.30.
Next meeting JTC Interiors Express Midland Golfers' Alliance Championship, Thursday 8th April, Montrose Links / Royal Montrose Golf Club.

Draw
8.00/1.00 G. Brown S. Graham E. Rae
8.08/1.08 K. Bruce J. Craig R. Farquhar
8.16/1.16 M. Pirie R. Bell D. Spaven
8.24/1.24 J. Stevenson D. Herd G. Able
8.32/1.32 K. Hutton D. West H. Hunter
8.40/1.40 R. Ford M. Fraser I. McMurray
8.48/1.48 C. Donnely K. Harper S. O’Donnell
8.56/1.56 G. Finlay S. Harrod H. Cowburgh
9.04/2.04 R. Stewart R. Barton J. Leddy
9.12/2.12 P. Brookes D. Mitchell C. Westland
9.20/2.20 C. Matheson W. Crosbie G. Jenkins
9.28/2.28 P. Jamieson A. Lockhart J. Crawford
9.36/2.36 G. McLeod R. McDonald G. Cant
9.44/2.44 L. Vannet D. Chalmers J. Paisley
9.52/2.52 L. Sutherland M. Brown A. Mason
10.00/3.00 N. Cameron

Lee Sutherland
PGA Professional
Ballumbie Castle Golf Club

2010-03-30T20:01:00.004Z

MUIRFIELD MATCH FOR SCOTTISH ELITE SQUAD

FROM THE SCOTSMAN SPORT.COM WEBSITE
David Law, last year's double Scottish champion, and Ross Kellett, the country's highest-ranked amateur, joined five international team-mates in getting a couple of rounds at Muirfield in preparation for the Amateur Championship on the East Lothian links later in the year.
They lined up for the SGU Elite Squad against the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, the host club select including two former internationals in George Macgregor and Alistair Low.The SGU Elite Squad, which also included Greg Paterson, Steven McEwan, Philip McLean, Gordon Yates and Paul Shields, won 5-2.

2010-03-30T10:13:00.002Z

Burntisland Golf House Club win West/Central Fife Winter League

Burntisland Golf House Club won the 2009-2010 West/Central Fife Scratch Winter League, Alistair Low Trophy. after a keenly fought contest. Many teams had the chance to prevail over the winter but it was the Burntisland side that proved most resolute.
This title adds to the Club's success in 2000/1 and 2004/5 and the winning side now look forward to playing for the Elspeth Rae Trophy against St Andrews New Club, the winners of the NE Fife equivalent, on the 18th April at Balbirnie Golf Club.

2010-03-29T20:54:00.002Z

WEST KILBRIDE SET FOR SCOTTISH

BOYS' CHAMPIONSHIP

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE SCOTTISH GOLF UNION
The scenic setting of West Kilbride on the Ayrshire coast will be the stage as the Scottish Boys Championship gets the domestic golfing season gets underway in earnest next week (5 – 10 April).

Scotland’s leading 256 junior golfers will battle it out for the prestigious title, won last year by Aberdonian David Law who went on to make history as the first golfer to win the Scottish Boys Championship and Allied Surveyors Scottish Amateur Championship in the same year.

There are high hopes of an Ayrshire winner on home soil, with Kilmarnock Barassie’s Jack McDonald among the favourites to lift the trophy. The 17-year-old is the reigning Scottish Boys Stroke Play Champion and will be looking to emulate Scott Henry (2004-05), Steven Young (1994-95) and John Huggan (1977-78) all of whom achieved the Boys’ Stroke Play and Match Play double.

Another Ayrshire club, Troon Welbeck – home of 2008 winner Michael Stewart - will also harbour ambitions of glory, with no fewer than eight representatives in the field, more than any other club while Glasgow club Williamwood and Craigielaw in East Lothian are the next highest ranked with five junior members apiece. A total of 141 clubs are represented.

Deeside’s Jack Scott will go into the Championship full of confidence after his win in the opening SGU Junior Tour event of the season, as will young Borderer Simon Fairbairn (Torwoodlee) following his recent victory in the Scottish Junior Champion of Champions at The Duke’s, St Andrews.

Pollok player Conor O’Neil, a member of the Scottish Golf Academy (West), is the lowest handicap player in the field at +1.9 and will rate his chances of victory in the opening ‘Major’ of the season, while Craigielaw’s Grant Forrest – winner of the firstpointusa.com Scottish Boys U16s Championship last year – and Scott Gibson (Southerness), fresh from playing for Scotland’s Men’s team in South Africa, will be among the other players to look out for.

West Kilbride celebrates its tenth hosting of the Championship and SGU Championship Manager Euan Mordaunt is relishing a return to the picturesque venue:

“There’s always a great buzz leading up to the first major event of the domestic season and after a long hard winter I think there’s even more anticipation this year. West Kilbride is a fantastic venue with stunning views across to Arran and a warm welcome for everyone who visits the club.”

“This year’s Championship will be hotly contested with some great talent emerging through our junior ranks and several national champions at age group level in a very strong field. The course will be a testing but fair challenge and I’m sure we’ll have a very worthy champion come next Saturday.”

The handicap ballot fell at 5.4 with 32 players on the reserve list. A results service will be available on http://www.scottishgolf.org/ with live scoring during the latter stages of the Championship. The first match gets underway at 6.45am on Monday 5 April with the 36-hole final commencing at 8.30am on Saturday 10 April.

Click here for the draw.

2010-03-29T20:50:00.001Z

Tom Lewis destroys Berkhamsted Trophy field

British and English Boy Champion Tom Lewis was in record-breaking form as he demolished the field in the 51st Berkhamsted Trophy.
Exactly a week after helping England retain the European Nations Cup in Spain, Lewis carded rounds of 67 and 66 for a nine-under-par 133, the lowest ever aggregate, and a five stroke winning margin over Wiltshire’s Ben Loughrey.
“This is the third time I’ve played the Berkhamsted and on the two previous occasions I’ve messed up one round. But this time it all came right for me,” said Lewis, the first Hertfordshire player to win the title for 17 years.
In conditions similar to those sampled in Spain the previous week, sunny intervals with occasional showers, Lewis was a cut above the rest. “The time in Spain helped a lot,” he added. “I didn’t think I’d get into that team but spending time with some of the best England players definitely helped to sharpen up my game.”
He also felt his knowledge of the Berkhamsted course was another contributing factor. “I’ve played in a lot of events here and I know where the dangers are. But it is not a course that gives a lot of birdies. You have to work for them.”
He certainly did that. The 19-year-old from Welwyn Garden City (photo © Tom Ward) reeled off nine straight pars on the front nine of his morning round but came home in four-under 32 with an eagle, three birdies and just one dropped shot. In fact, he had only three bogeys in 36 holes, while his afternoon 66 from the tenth tee contained seven more birdies plus two three-putts.
But it was the manner of his play that stood out. He drove the ball well, peppered the pins with his approach shots, and would have secured even more birdies but for the tricky early-season greens. He was also able to play with the comfort of knowing that no one was making a threat to his supremacy, boy cap Max Smith carding the next best with 68 after a morning 75 which left him joint 12th.
Loughrey was only a shot behind Lewis at lunch but added 70 for second place on 138 while the home club’s Luke Colgate finished joint third on 139 with Andrew Shakespear from Five Lakes in Essex
.Final scores:
133 T Lewis (Welwyn Garden City) 67 66
138 B Loughrey (Wrag Barn) 68 70
139 L Colgate (Berkhamsted) 70 69, A Shakespear (Five Lakes) 70 69
140 R Smith (Notts) 71 69, T Hatton (Harleyford) 69 71
141 D Coupland (Boston) 71 70, M Wallace (Batchworth Park) 70 71
142 D Ginn (Sudbury) 73 69, A Wootton (Oxford City) 70 72, J Abbott (Fynn Valley) 69 73

2010-03-29T20:42:00.004Z

Ernie Els wins Arnold Palmer Invitational

FROM THE AOL GOLF NEWS SERVICE
Ernie Els completed a second successive victory and is unquestionably the hottest player in golf with The Masters now only 10 days away.
The 40-year-old South African survived a tense finish to beat Italian Edoardo Molinari and American Kevin Na by two after the storm-hit Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill spilled into a fifth day.
===================================
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=======================================
Els, among 21 players unable to complete his final round on Sunday, resumed two ahead with four to play, but that became one when Na birdied the long 16th.
In the trees off the tee at the same hole, Els had to settle for par there, but as he saved another par from a greenside bunker on the short 17th Na found trouble down the last.
Driving into the right-hand rough led to a bogey five, dropped the Korean-born player alongside former US Amateur champion Molinari on nine under par. Both closed with three under 69s.
Els, who sank testing six-footers at the 15th and 17th, knew a bogey would be good enough at the final hole, but parred it for a 71, an 11 under aggregate and his 64th professional victory.
He lifted the WGC-CA Championship in Miami by a much more comfortable four-shot margin two weeks ago and this was a far nervier affair.
FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72)
277 Ernie Els (Rsa) 68 69 69 71
279 Kevin Na 68 70 72 69, Edoardo Molinari (Ita) 70 70 70 69
280 Retief Goosen (Rsa) 71 67 73 69, Chris Couch 70 70 69 71
281 Ben Curtis 70 67 70 74
282 Ryuji Imada (Jpn) 73 70 69 70, J.P. Hayes 70 72 70 70, Kevin Streelman 68 75 68 71, D.J. Trahan 69 68 75 70
284 Steve Marino 70 70 72 72, Jim Furyk 71 74 66 73, Derek Lamely 71 70 70 73
285 Robert Allenby (Aus) 68 73 72 72, Davis Love III 66 71 74 74, Bo Van Pelt 72 70 73 70
286 D.A. Points 73 72 72 69, Bill Haas 72 71 70 73, K J Choi (Kor) 71 69 73 73, Briny Baird 72 72 70 72
287 J.B. Holmes 66 74 77 70, Sean O'Hair 70 73 71 73, Charles Howell III 72 72 71 72
288 Brian Davis (Eng) 74 71 73 70
289 Hunter Mahan 71 73 75 70, Ben Crane 69 74 73 73, John Senden (Aus) 71 74 70 74, Boo Weekley 70 73 68 78, Jason Day (Aus) 71 70 73 75
290 Jerry Kelly 71 74 72 73, Rory Sabbatini (Rsa) 75 70 74 71, Erik Compton 72 71 73 74, Phil Mickelson 71 67 75 77, Tim Petrovic 74 68 71 77, Tim Clark (Rsa) 74 70 75 71, Scott Verplank 75 70 70 75, Brandt Snedeker 72 72 70 76, Stephen Ames (Can) 73 71 71 75, Stuart Appleby (Aus) 70 74 70 76
291 Bryce Molder 74 70 75 72, Pat Perez 69 74 74 74, Rodney Pampling (Aus) 74 70 71 76, Ryo Ishikawa (Jpn) 74 70 71 76, Dustin Johnson 71 70 72 78, Nathan Green (Aus) 69 73 72 77, George McNeill 69 71 73 78, Marc Leishman (Aus) 70 73 72 76, Mike Weir (Can) 67 73 77 74, Ryan Moore 72 72 74 73
292 Sam Saunders 73 70 77 72, Rickie Fowler 73 72 74 73
293 Steve Stricker 69 71 79 74, Kris Blanks 74 69 73 77, Tim Herron 73 72 76 72, Charl Schwartzel (Rsa) 74 71 72 76, Matthew Every 74 70 70 79, Colin Montgomerie (Sco) 72 71 71 79, Henrik Stenson (Swe) 67 78 71 77
294 Kevin Sutherland 70 73 76 75, Stewart Cink 73 72 71 78, Carl Pettersson (Swe) 71 73 73 77
295 Joe Ogilvie 76 66 79 74, Chris DiMarco 69 73 75 78
296 Nick Watney 74 71 73 78, Jonathan Byrd 71 73 73 79
297 Ricky Barnes 72 71 82 72, Daniel Chopra (Swe) 74 71 70 82, Paul Goydos 70 72 82 73, Jason Dufner 69 72 73 83, Heath Slocum 69 72 76 80
298 Trevor Immelman (Rsa) 71 74 76 77, Skip Kendall 73 71 77 77
299 Garrett Willis 72 73 80 74
300 Martin Laird (Sco) 74 71 78 77
302 Josh Teater 72 71 79 80

2010-03-29T15:06:00.003Z

Three wins in a row for rookie senior Fred Couples

FROM THEPGA.COM WEBSITE
CAP CANA, Dominican Republic -- When Fred Couples joined the Champions Tour, most everyone predicted success befitting a 15-time PGA Tour winner and Masters champion.
Judging from his first four events, everyone was right.
Couples won his third straight start on the 50-and-over tour Sunday, shooting a course-record 10-under 62 at Jack Nicklaus-designed Punta Espada for a two-stroke victory over Corey Pavin in the Cap Cana Championship.
"I had a great stretch of golf in 1992," said Couples, who won three tournaments, including the Masters, in a two-month period then, "but I must say that these four weeks on the Champions Tour I'm not missing many shots."
Couples made 11 birdies in the final round and finished the tournament at 21-under 195. Pavin closed with a 66.
"It was an unbelievable day," said Couples, who made five birdies in a row from the second through sixth hole. "The first six or seven holes, there was an eagle, birdies and putts going in from everywhere."
The 50-year-old Couples is the first player in Champions Tour history to win three of his first four tournaments, and the eighth to win three straight starts, leaving him one behind the tour record set by Chi Chi Rodriguez in 1987.
The ACE Group Classic and Toshiba Classic winner after finishing second in the season-opening event in Hawaii, Couples hasn't had a score higher than 68 and is 77 under in 12 senior rounds. He earned $240,000 for a four-event total of $931,000.
Couples began the day two strokes behind Pavin and one back of Nick Price.
Pavin was the victim of a bad break when his second shot at the par 4 14th hole hit a greenside sprinkler head and bounced 60 yards over the green into a waste area. He was unable to recover and made a bogey, losing the lead for the first time since the seventh hole.
"I did a lot of things that were very good out there today," said Pavin, who made an eagle with a chip-in at the par-5 sixth hole to tie for the lead, five birdies and one bogey, "and one bad break does not make a tournament, but it doesn't help any."
Russ Cochran, never a factor in the chase for first place, shot a 67 to finish third at 14 under. Price, who shot himself out of contention with a watery approach shot and double bogey at the 15th hole, had a 71 to tie for fourth at 13 under with Tom Pernice Jr. (67) and Bernhard Langer (67).
Couples, Price and Pavin lit up a defenseless course for the third day in a row.
In the opening nine holes, they made 11 birdies and an eagle.
Couples ran off five more birdies in a row from the 11-15 and maintained a one-shot lead over Pavin when both birdied the par-5 15th. Of Couples' birdies, only one came from outside 30 feet and eight came from inside 15 or less.
Couples will play the PGA Tour's Shell Houston Open this coming week, then head to Augusta National for the Masters.

2010-03-29T14:46:00.002Z

Great Scott! Deeside's Jack wins at Monifieth

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE SCOTTISH GOLF UNION
Deeside’s Jack Scott got his season off to a flyer with a two-shot victory in the opening SGU Junior Tour event of the year at a cold and windy Monifieth.
The Scottish Boys Development Squad golfer fired rounds of 71 and 70 to post a one-under par aggregate of 141 to finish two shots clear of a group of five players – Eamon Bradley (Mount Ellen), Paul McPhee (King James VI), Conor O’Neil (Pollok), Ian Redford (St Andrews New) and Callum Stewart (Brora).
Despite opening his first round with a birdie three, Scott struggled to an outward half of 40, but notched five birdies on the back nine to storm home in 31, four-under par. That put the 17-year-old in joint first place with Stewart, Redford and Falkirk Tryst’s Jamie Lynch.
Scott fought back from two early bogeys to reach the turn in level par in the afternoon round and a closing birdie four for a one-under par round of 70 clinched victory, much to his delight:
“It’s great start to the season for me and puts me in good shape for the year ahead. It’s obviously been a harsh winter but I used the Squad Training Week in Portugal to good advantage and sharpened up my short game.” said Scott.
“I didn’t play all that well in the Boys Quads in France but since I got back I’ve been working hard with my coach Neil Marr two or three times a week just putting and chipping which has helped. I’ve made a couple of technical changes to my putting and it seems to be bearing fruit.”
“Now I can really look forward to the Scottish Boys at West Kilbride and believe I can win if I take it game by game. The furthest I’ve been was the last 16 at Southerness and I’d love to improve on that. This is my last year in the boys’ circuit and the British Boys in August – my last major boys' event – is also another goal.” he added.
Round off the day came from Mount Ellen’s Eamon Bradley – whose brother Paul won the Scottish Club Handicap Championship last year – who fired a superb three-under par 68 in the afternoon, which included four consecutive birdies from the sixth hole.
Click here for collated scores from the SGU Junior Tour Event at Monifieth.

2010-03-28T22:08:00.001Z

A FEW DOLLARS MORE FOR KNOX

Russell Knox came with a birdie blitz in a closing round of six-under-par 66 to finish jont 14th in the Hooters Tour event, the Terry Moore Ford Open at Rock Barn Golf & Spa, Conover, North Carolina.
Knox earned $4,320 after dramming eight birdies into the space of 12 holes between bogeys at the first and 17th. The Inverness exile, based in Florida for several years, birdied five in a row from the third to the seventh, then the ninth, 13th and 14th. He finish with a total fo 286 after earlier rounds of 70, 74 and 76 had put him out of the hunt for the $40,000 top prize won by American Billy Hurley with scores of 72, 67, 66 and 70 for 13 under par 275.
He won by four shots from Canadian Yohann Benson with Englishman David Skinns from Lincoln third on 280 for which he received $13,383.

ends

EUROPEAN CHALLENGE TOUOR

2010-03-28T21:39:00.004Z

Hot putter paves the way for Dinwiddie’s success
-
By PAUL SYMES, CHALLENGE TOUR PRESS OFFICER
A stunning round of 65, rounded off with three closing birdies, saw England’s Robert Dinwiddie capture his third Challenge Tour title in stylish fashion at the Kenya Open.
The 27 year old, winner of two titles in his maiden season in 2007, closed with a round of 65 – the best of the day and his lowest of the week – to finish on 12 under par, three shots clear of runner-up Julio Zapata of Argentina.
Dinwiddie got off to a shaky start with an opening bogey, but soon calmed his nerves with three successive birdies from the third hole. The only blip on the back nine was a bogey at the 11th hole but he promptly replied with four birdies, the last of which came courtesy of a 40 feet putt on the final green.
His winner’s cheque for €30,400 moved Dinwiddie, who finished fifth in the season-opening event in Colombia, to the top of the Challenge Tour Rankings, and gave him every chance of bouncing back to The European Tour at the first time of asking.
Dinwiddie said: “It feels fantastic to win again, because it’s been a while. I hadn’t expected to win by three shots, but it was only right at the end that I was able to pull away. I just trusted my swing, and fortunately it held together under pressure. I was still nervous – it wouldn’t be natural if I wasn’t – but I managed to keep the nerves in check. Maybe the fact that I’ve won before helped me, because I was able to draw on the experience and use it to my advantage.
“I didn’t get off the best of starts, and after that thoughts start to go through your mind that maybe it’s not going to be your day. But I got going with the birdie on the third, and after that my confidence grew. To be honest today wasn’t my best ball-striking day, but my putter was pretty hot – I probably couldn’t have putted any better. The long one at the last was a bit of a bonus, but coming down the final stretch I holed some crucial putts for birdie and par which gave me a bit of breathing space.
“I also have to thank the crowd, because they helped me on the last hole. I couldn’t actually see the leaderboard from my angle, so I had to ask them what the state of play was. Obviously if I was behind or level, I would’ve gone for the green in two. But because I was two shots clear I was able to lay up, so I owe the crowd a beer for letting me know!
“The people here have been really friendly and I even had a bit of a fan club following me, because the local lad I played in the Pro-Am with brought some of his friends along. I had a great week, and it’s been a great start to the season for me. Winning so early in the year takes a bit of the pressure off and gives me a lot of confidence, so hopefully I can relax a bit more and enjoy the rest of the season.”
Zapata did his best to apply some pressure with a round of 67 but ultimately had to settle for second place, one stroke clear of overnight leader Oliver Fisher of England.
Fisher got off to a sluggish start with a bogey at the third hole and, despite a birdie at the 11th, his round never really kicked into gear. A level par 71 meant he started and finished the day on eight under par, one shot clear of his compatriot Andrew Marshall, who closed with a round of 69.
FINAL TOTALS

Par 284 (4x71)
272 R Dinwiddie (Eng) 68 69 70 65,
275 J Zapata (Arg) 72 68 68 67,
276 O Fisher (Eng) 71 66 68 71,
277 A Marshall (Eng) 68 70 70 69,
278 O Floren (Swe) 71 68 71 68, J Billot (Fra) 69 73 66 70, J Roos (RSA) 65 75 68 70, P Del Grosso (Arg) 69 72 70 67,
279 L Moolman (RSA) 70 68 73 68,
280 F Praegant (Aut) 68 73 70 69, C Russo (Fra) 69 70 67 74, B Barham (Eng) 71 70 67 72, M Bothma (RSA) 69 69 73 69,
281 S Manley (Wal) 70 69 72 70, C Brazillier (Fra) 71 71 69 70, A Willey (Eng) 71 72 69 69, B Evans (Eng) 72 70 68 71,
282 O Bekker (RSA) 72 70 70 70, J Clément (Sui) 70 71 71 70, C Ford (Eng) 72 68 72 70, A Haindl (RSA) 68 71 73 70, F De Vries (Ned) 68 71 71 72, T Whitehouse (Eng) 69 73 71 69,
283 L Saltman (Sco) 73 70 70 70, A Kimani (Ken) 70 65 76 72, V Riu (Fra) 73 70 74 66, J Abbate (Arg) 70 71 69 73, F Widmark (Swe) 68 73 71 71, B Chapellan (Fra) 71 71 66 75, N Meitinger (Ger) 70 68 72 73,
284 P Golding (Eng) 72 69 72 71, M Korhonen (Fin) 74 69 74 67, T Charamba (Zim) 71 72 70 71, B Mason (Eng) 71 70 72 71, J Sjöholm (Swe) 71 69 72 72, G Clark (Eng) 68 72 71 73, G Houston (Wal) 72 69 70 73, A Högberg (Swe) 66 75 74 69, D Brooks (Eng) 70 69 73 72,
285 M Higley (Eng) 72 70 69 74, B Wiesberger (Aut) 69 70 76 70, G Watremez (Bel) 72 71 70 72, J Larsen (Nor) 68 70 71 76, O Whiteley (Eng) 70 70 73 72,
286 N Cheetham (Eng) 70 73 70 73, J McLeary (Sco) 70 73 68 75, B Ritthammer (Ger) 69 68 75 74,
287 B Grace (RSA) 70 72 71 74, C Macaulay (Sco) 67 76 73 71, M Vibe-Hastrup (Den) 75 67 72 73, T Remkes (Ned) 70 73 75 69, A Snobeck (Fra) 71 72 73 71,
288 A Ahokas (Fin) 70 68 75 75, R Karlberg (Swe) 69 74 73 72, A Maestroni (Ita) 71 72 69 76,
289 K Eriksson (Swe) 68 72 70 79, S Surry (Eng) 70 73 70 76,
290 A Gee (Eng) 69 71 79 71, A Mellor (Eng) 74 69 74 73, J Grillon (Fra) 74 69 74 73, S Jamieson (Sco) 72 71 74 73,
291 T Mordt (RSA) 71 72 74 74,
293 S Buhl (Ger) 72 70 77 74,
** S Davis (Eng) 69 73 75 RT

2010-03-28T21:28:00.002Z

Sam Torrance has to settle for share of second place

By STEVE TODD, EUROPEAN SENIORS TOUR PRESS OFFICER
Thailand’s Boonchu Ruangkit sealed a historic hat-trick of victories on the European Senior Tour after shooting a superb final round 69 to win the Berenberg Bank Masters by three strokes in South Africa.
Ruangkit held off former Ryder Cup Captain Sam Torrance and South African Bobby Lincoln to capture the €75,000 first prize and become the first player since Tommy Horton in 1997 to win three consecutive Senior Tour events, following his back-to-back victories in Brunei and his native Thailand.
He also became the quickest player to win three times on the Senior Tour – doing so on his seventh appearance – to break Welshman Brian Huggett’s record of achieving three victories in his first eight events, which has stood for 17 years.
“I’m very happy to win three times in a row,” he said. “I’d never thought about winning doing it before but I’m very proud.
“It was my first time in South Africa and I’d met Gary Player before but it was great to play with him in the first round.
“I had not thought about winning the Order of Merit before but I will go to England to play the next event and if it is not too cold I will try to make it four wins.”
The 53 year old, known as ‘The Godfather of Asian Golf’, had started the day four strokes behind joint leaders Angel Franco and Torrance at The Links at Fancourt but a run of four birdies in five holes on the back nine saw Ruangkit move clear.
Torrance suffered a difficult start to the day with a double bogey on the third hole followed by consecutive dropped shots on the fourth and fifth to surrender the lead.
The Scot battled back in typical fashion with three birdies but a double bogey six on the 15th left him with too much to do and, despite a birdie on the last, the 2009 Order of Merit winner signed for a two over par 75 to finish on level par 219.
Lincoln posted four birdies in his last six holes to card a superb 70 and surge up the leaderboard but Ruangkit came home with three consecutive pars to finish the tournament as the only player under par, with a total of three under par 216.
The Thai player had led after the first round following a 69 but struggled to a 78 in tough windy conditions during the second round over the Gary Player-designed course.
However with the gusts not a factor on the final day, Ruangkit played some scintillating golf, particularly on the back nine, to pull clear of the field.
“I played much better today,” he said. “On the front nine I thought a top three finish would be okay but I had three birdies in a row.
“This week was much more difficult than in Brunei and Thailand. I’m not familiar with this golf course and the wind and slopes on the green made it very hard but I’m proud that I was the only player under par here.”
Although he won the US Champions Tour Qualifying School in 2006, Ruangkit was a relative unknown on the Senior Tour until his stunning victory in the Aberdeen Brunei Senior Masters presented by The Stapleford Forum.
He went on to tear up the record books the following week in the Chang Thailand Senior Masters presented by ISPS, where his 11 stroke win two weeks ago was a record victory margin on the Senior Tour and his 21 under par 195 winning score the lowest 54 hole total on the Senior Tour.
His latest record breaking performance attracted high praise from Torrance, who sees Ruangkit as a real threat to his defence of the Order of Merit crown.
“He’s some player – he’s fantastic,” said Torrance. “We’ve got a new rival on the scene and I’ve got my work cut out this year if he plays anymore.
“I had such a horrific start today. I dropped four shots in three holes but I dug in and made birdies on the 13th and 14th but Boonchu went crazy on the back nine.
“It was another great week for me though. It’s always disappointing not to win but I’m delighted with how I played.”
Lincoln’s late rally meant he finished as the leading South African on the Senior Tour’s maiden visit to the country and moved him up to third in the Order of Merit, with Torrance now in second and Ruangkit extending his lead at the top having amassed €118,815.
Franco and England’s Roger Chapman finished in a tie for fourth place on two over par after rounds of 77 and 75 respectively, while former World Number One and Ryder Cup Captain Ian Woosnam posted a closing 74 for a share of 11th.
FINAL TOTALS
Par 292 (4x73)
216 B Ruangkit (Tha) 69 78 69,
219 S Torrance (Sco) 72 72 75, B Lincoln (RSA) 74 75 70,
221 A Franco (Par) 72 72 77, R Chapman (Eng) 74 72 75,
223 B Cameron (Eng) 74 78 71,
224 M Clayton (Aus) 76 75 73, R Drummond (Sco) 73 77 74,
225 G Cali (Ita) 71 77 77, R Stewart (RSA) 72 79 74,
226 M Harwood (Aus) 72 77 77, I Woosnam (Wal) 74 78 74,
227 B Smit (RSA) 74 74 79, N Job (Eng) 76 81 70, I Mosey (Eng) 74 79 74, D Merriman (Aus) 71 81 75, J Quiros (Esp) 75 76 76,
228 H Carbonetti (Arg) 74 81 73, J Bruner (USA) 70 83 75,
229 G Ralph (Eng) 78 81 70, C Rocca (Ita) 76 81 72, C Williams (RSA) 72 80 77, D Russell (Eng) 72 83 74, M Poxon (Eng) 78 76 75, T Giedeon (Ger) 72 82 75,
230 M Gray (Sco) 73 81 76, J Chillas (Sco) 76 81 73, S Bennett (Eng) 74 81 75, D O'Sullivan (Irl) 78 79 73,
231 J Rhodes (Eng) 76 80 75, M Saengsui (Tha) 73 79 79, J Heggarty (Nir) 74 79 78, P Mitchell (Eng) 80 79 72, S Van Vuuren (RSA) 71 83 77, D Hospital (Esp) 78 76 77,
232 G Towne (USA) 72 82 78, M Piñero (Esp) 74 78 80, M Farry (Fra) 72 85 75,
233 D Johnson (USA) 78 83 72, G Banister (Aus) 78 82 73, T Johnstone (Zim) 77 84 72, K Spurgeon (Eng) 73 80 80, J Mashego (RSA) 76 82 75, M Williams (Zim) 74 84 75,
234 A Sowa (Arg) 83 78 73,
235 J Chitprasong (Tha) 78 83 74, S Ebihara (Jpn) 74 86 75,
236 L Carbonetti (Arg) 78 85 73, D Smyth (Irl) 77 81 78,
238 H Baiocchi (RSA) 81 80 77, A Garrido (Esp) 79 76 83,
239 D Cambridge (Jam) 78 79 82,
240 A Johnsson (Swe) 76 82 82, G Brand (Eng) 77 86 77, P Oakley (USA) 73 86 81,
241 A Murray (Eng) 77 81 83, G Player (RSA) 77 85 79,
242 E Rodriguez (Esp) 80 81 81, J Bland (RSA) 75 89 78, G Levenson (RSA) 80 82 80,
243 B Longmuir (Sco) 72 87 84,
244 S Hobday (RSA) 76 85 83, M Miller (Sco) 78 83 83,
245 F Mann (Sco) 76 84 85, J Rivero (Esp) 83 82 80, N Clarke (RSA) 82 89 74,
246 J Hawkes (RSA) 80 86 80, B Boyd (USA) 88 85 73,
248 S Mokgare (RSA) 80 91 77, J Fourie (RSA) 81 89 78, I Palmer (RSA) 80 88 80,
251 M Bembridge (Eng) 82 84 85, T Horton (Eng) 81 86 84, V Tshabalala (RSA) 83 87 81,
257 J Ackerman (RSA) 83 90 84,
259 B Hardwick (Can) 84 87 88,
261 T Fisher Snr (RSA) 94 90 77,
** T Manyama (RSA) 85 92 RT,
** C Mason (Eng) 73 RT 0, A Henning (RSA) 80 RT 0,

Peter Whiteford joint second in Andalucian Open

2010-03-28T21:16:00.004Z

Oosthuizen wins first European Tour title

FROM THE AOL GOLF NEWS SERVICE
South African Louis Oosthuizen put four runners-up finishes behind him to land his first European Tour title.
And with victory in the Andalucian Open in Malaga comes a return trip to Augusta for The Masters in two weeks. The 27-year-old had to win to climb into the world's top 50.
With a closing three under par 67 Oosthuizen won by three from England's Richard Finch and Scot Peter Whiteford.
=============================
More links to golf news
Els one clear in Florida
Wie moves into contention
Palmer wants Woods to open up
McGowan opts against Masters bid
European Tour's official website
=============================
Second to Rhys Davies last week with a 23 under par total, he found 17 under was easily good enough round the par 70 Parador course.
After being drenched in champagne by fellow countryman Thomas Aiken and then kissing his wife and three-month-old daughter Jana he added: "I was quite nervous down the stretch and very nervous on the 18th tee.
"I just decided to hit it as hard as I could."
As for not letting another victory chance go begging the former amateur team-mate of current European Tour number one Charl Schwartzel stated: "I knew I was good enough to win one."
Martin Dempster (The Scotsman sports website) writes:
Lothians stalwart Stephen Gallacher may fall short in his first target of the season but he's feeling confident about his long-term prospects.The former Dunhill Links champion shared 12th place in the Anadalucian Open after a closing 68 saw him finish on ten-under-par.
He earned £13,796 but still has to make more than £125,000 in two events – the China Open and the Korea Masters – to secure his card through a ten-event medical exemption.
Failing that, Gallacher would have to resort to the card he won at the Qualifying School at the end of last season, which won't get him to as many events later in the year.
Nevetheless, the former Walker Cup player is pleased with the way he has returned to the Tour after missing the second half of last season through illness.
"My game is getting better every week," said Gallacher after finishing seven shots behind winner Louis Oosthuizen.
Fifer Peter Whiteford finished joint-second – his best-ever performance on the European Tour - after a closing 66.The 29-year-old from Kirkcaldy picked up a cheque for £77,410 despite suffering the disappointment of having his driver stolen outside the Parador clubhouse before his third round on Saturday.
Dunbar's David Drysdale tied for 45th on two-under, just ahead of Lothians-based Richie Ramsay, while Andrew Oldcorn closed with two 73s to finish six-over.

SCROLL DOWN TO READ ALL THE ANDALUCIAN OPEN SCORES

Lloyd Saltman's top-25 finish in Kenya Open

On the Challenge Tour, Lloyd Saltman was a model of consistency as he finished in the top 25 in the Kenya Open in Nairobi.
After opening with a 73, the Aegon player reeled off three successive 70s to finish on one-under-par for the tournament.That made him the leading Scot after Jamie McLeary of Marriott Dalmahoy closed with a costly 75 to finish on two-over.
In South Africa, Musselburgh's Fraser Mann had his worst finish so far on the European Seniors Tour.After an opening 76 in the Berenberg Masters at Fancourt, Mann slumped to rounds of 84 and 85 to finish on 26-over - 29 shots behind winner Boonchu Ruangkit.

Arnold Palmer Invitational finish delayed

Ernie was set for a second straight US PGA Tour win before storms led to the abandonment of play in the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational on Sunday.
South African Els had a two-shot lead over Kevin Na and was on the 15th hole when the storms moved in and officials called the players off the course.Play was abandoned for the day around three hours later at 1730 local time and the tournament was scheduled to resume at 1000 on Monday day.
Els looked frustrated at the decision but the forecast heavy rain, thunder and lightning began in earnest and put paid to hopes of finishing on Sunday.

ANDALUCIAN OPEN FINAL TOTALS
Par 280 (4x70)
263 Louis Oosthuizen (Rsa) 67 63 66 67
266 Peter Whiteford 69 64 67 66, Richard Finch 68 65 66 67
268 Francesco Molinari (Ita) 68 68 65 67, Robert Coles 69 65 63 71
269 Gabriel Canizares (Spa) 69 64 65 71, Soren Kjeldsen (Den) 65 67 69 68, Joost Luiten (Ned) 66 69 68 66, Jamie Donaldson 67 69 67 66, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (Spa) 68 66 67 68, James Morrison 71 63 70 65
270 Robert Jan Derksen (Ned) 68 65 67 70, Sam Hutsby 67 63 70 70, Stephen Gallacher 67 70 65 68, Francois Delamontagne (Fra) 68 67 70 65, Pablo Larrazabal (Spa) 72 64 68 66
271 Paul Lawrie 65 68 68 70, David Howell 69 69 67 66, Thomas Levet (Fra) 69 70 63 69
273 Steve Webster 71 66 68 68, Ignacio Garrido (Spa) 66 73 68 66, Mark Brown (Nzl) 66 68 70 69
274 Gary Orr 68 68 66 72, Stephen Dodd 73 66 67 68, Ariel Canete (Arg) 68 68 69 69
275 Paul Waring 74 62 69 70, Gregory Bourdy (Fra) 72 65 68 70, Bradley Dredge 66 70 71 68
276 Jose-Filipe Lima (Por) 71 66 65 74, Richard Bland 68 68 69 71, Gary Lockerbie 69 67 72 68, Mark F Haastrup (Den) 69 68 68 71, Michael Jonzon (Swe) 69 68 71 68, Julien Guerrier (Fra) 66 69 71 70, Benjamin Hebert (Fra) 70 69 68 69
277 Carlos Del Moral (Spa) 68 68 70 71, John Parry 68 69 68 72, Thomas Aiken (Rsa) 70 69 73 65, Gareth Maybin 70 67 68 72, David Lynn 67 70 69 71, Rafael Cabrera Bello (Spa) 68 70 65 74, Simon Thornton 69 70 70 68, Michael Hoey 69 69 70 69, Gregory Havret (Fra) 73 67 68 69
278 Felipe Aguilar (Chi) 69 69 71 69, David Drysdale 71 68 68 71, Phillip Archer 66 74 70 68, Danny Willett 74 66 71 67, Lorenzo Gagli (Ita) 71 67 68 72, Paul McGinley 68 66 74 70, Alvaro Quiros (Spa) 69 71 68 70
279 Richie Ramsay 73 67 69 70, Santiago Luna (Spa) 73 64 70 72, Darren Clarke 70 68 72 69
280 Marco Ruiz (Par) 70 67 72 71, Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) 71 68 72 69, Steven Jeppesen (Swe) 71 67 75 67
281 Daniel Vancsik (Arg) 66 71 70 74, Jamie Elson 70 68 74 69, Robert Rock 69 71 76 65, Alexander Noren (Swe) 69 71 73 68, Phillip Price 72 68 71 70, Jean-Francois Lucquin (Fra) 67 71 72 71
282 Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (Fra) 70 69 72 71, Alvaro Velasco (Spa) 68 72 71 71, Jeppe Huldahl (Den) 67 71 75 69, Stephan Gross Jnr (Ger) 70 68 71 73, Dale Whitnell 68 70 70 74, Shane Lowry 72 67 74 69
283 Miguel Angel Martin (Spa) 72 67 70 74, Marc Warren 71 68 71 73
284 Niclas Fasth (Swe) 71 69 72 72, Nick Dougherty 72 68 74 70, Barry Lane 70 70 73 71, Manuel Quiros (Spa) 71 68 76 69
285 Alastair Forsyth 71 69 70 75
286 Anthony Wall 68 69 76 73, Andrew Tampion (Aus) 70 70 75 71, Andrew Oldcorn 71 69 73 73, Peter Lawrie 68 72 71 75
288 Gary Murphy 69 71 75 73, Julien Quesne (Fra) 71 69 77 71

===========================

Colin Farquharson is in Portugal for the next two weeks and a bit. He will be able to update the service only in the late evenings.
Please be patient.
Colin@scottishgolview.com

2010-03-27T17:46:00.002Z

European Tour Scoreboard
ANDALUCIA OPEN
Parador de Malaga, Costa del Sol, Spain
THIRD-ROUND TOTALS
Par 210 (3x70)
196 Louis Oosthuizen (Rsa) 67 63 66 197 Robert Coles 69 65 63
198 Gabriel Canizares (Spa) 69 64 65
199 Richard Finch 68 65 66
200 Sam Hutsby 67 63 70, Robert Jan Derksen (Ned) 68 65 67, Peter Whiteford 69 64 67
201 Soren Kjeldsen (Den) 65 67 69, Francesco Molinari (Ita) 68 68 65, Paul Lawrie 65 68 68, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (Spa) 68 66 67
202 Jose-Filipe Lima (Por) 71 66 65, Gary Orr 68 68 66, Stephen Gallacher 67 70 65, Thomas Levet (Fra) 69 70 63
203 Joost Luiten (Ned) 66 69 68, Jamie Donaldson 67 69 67, Rafael Cabrera Bello (Spa) 68 70 65
204 Mark Brown (Nzl) 66 68 70, James Morrison 71 63 70, Pablo Larrazabal (Spa) 72 64 68
205 Richard Bland 68 68 69, Steve Webster 71 66 68, John Parry 68 69 68, Francois Delamontagne (Fra) 68 67 70, Paul Waring 74 62 69, Gareth Maybin 70 67 68, David Howell 69 69 67, Mark F Haastrup (Den) 69 68 68, Gregory Bourdy (Fra) 72 65 68, Ariel Canete (Arg) 68 68 69
206 Carlos Del Moral (Spa) 68 68 70, Stephen Dodd 73 66 67, Julien Guerrier (Fra) 66 69 71, David Lynn 67 70 69, Lorenzo Gagli (Ita) 71 67 68
207 Daniel Vancsik (Arg) 66 71 70, David Drysdale 71 68 68, Santiago Luna (Spa) 73 64 70, Ignacio Garrido (Spa) 66 73 68, Benjamin Hebert (Fra) 70 69 68, Bradley Dredge 66 70 71
208 Gary Lockerbie 69 67 72, Dale Whitnell 68 70 70, Michael Jonzon (Swe) 69 68 71, Paul McGinley 68 66 74, Michael Hoey 69 69 70, Gregory Havret (Fra) 73 67 68, Alvaro Quiros (Spa) 69 71 68
209 Felipe Aguilar (Chi) 69 69 71, Marco Ruiz (Par) 70 67 72, Richie Ramsay 73 67 69, Stephan Gross Jnr (Ger) 70 68 71, Miguel Angel Martin (Spa) 72 67 70, Simon Thornton 69 70 70
210 Marc Warren 71 68 71, Phillip Archer 66 74 70, Alastair Forsyth 71 69 70, Jean-Francois Lucquin (Fra) 67 71 72, Darren Clarke 70 68 72
211 Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (Fra) 70 69 72, Alvaro Velasco (Spa) 68 72 71, Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) 71 68 72, Phillip Price 72 68 71, Danny Willett 74 66 71, Peter Lawrie 68 72 71
212 Jamie Elson 70 68 74, Thomas Aiken (Rsa) 70 69 73, Niclas Fasth (Swe) 71 69 72
213 Anthony Wall 68 69 76, Jeppe Huldahl (Den) 67 71 75, Alexander Noren (Swe) 69 71 73, Andrew Oldcorn 71 69 73, Shane Lowry 72 67 74, Steven Jeppesen (Swe) 71 67 75, Barry Lane 70 70 73
214 Nick Dougherty 72 68 74
215 Andrew Tampion (Aus) 70 70 75, Gary Murphy 69 71 75, Manuel Quiros (Spa) 71 68 76
216 Robert Rock 69 71 76
217 Julien Quesne (Fra) 71 69 77

EUROPEAN SENIORS TOUR

2010-03-27T17:37:00.002Z

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Torrance and Franco tame wind to share lead

By STEVE TODD, European Seniors Tour Press Officer
Sam Torrance ended a difficult second round of the Berenberg Bank Masters on a high to share the lead with Angel Franco in South Africa and move firmly into contention for his 12th European Senior Tour title.
The 2002 Ryder Cup Captain used all of his experience of playing in windy conditions to card a battling one under par 72 amidst strong gusts which swirled around the notoriously unforgiving Links at Fancourt.
Only Torrance, Franco and England’s Roger Chapman, who trails the leading pair by one stroke, shot under par on a tough day over the Gary Player designed course.
After back-to-back birdies on the fourth and fifth holes, Torrance dropped a shot on the seventh before consecutive bogeys on the tenth, where he lost his ball after pulling his tee shot right into the bushes, and the 11th hole.
However he steadied himself on the way in, picking up a shot on the 14th and holing an 18ft birdie putt on the 16th before saving par with a superb up and down on the last to tie for the lead with the big hitting Franco, who birdied the 18th to join him on two under par 146.
Torrance compared the tricky conditions to those of a Senior Open Championship but admitted the wind also played into his hands.
The Scot said: “I played fabulous today. I lost a ball on the tenth and bogeyed the 11th when I went off the back of the green but apart from that it was exemplary.
“It was a tough run in with the wind. The 17th is a difficult hole. I hit it on the green there then my first putt went 15ft past but I holed the return.
“Then it was nice to get up and down on the last. I had a great drive and poor second shot – I duffed a three wood – before a good third shot which the wind took into the bunker. I’m in good shape now.
“It was extremely tough out there and you’ve got to keep your head. I love conditions like this though. I’ve got a good head so I just play my game and take whatever comes at you.”
Victory for Torrance on the Senior Tour’s first trip to South Africa would see the 56 year old return to the top of the Senior Tour Order of Merit, which he won last year ahead of Ian Woosnam.
The €75,000 first prize would take him past current leader Boonchu Ruangkit, of Thailand, who was a victim of the windy conditions at Fancourt, relinquishing his three stroke overnight advantage over Torrance after signing for a five over par 78 to trail by three shots going into the final round.
Torrance has begun the defence of the John Jacobs Trophy in fine fashion this season, with two top five finishes in three appearances in 2010, and is targeting adding another title to his collection.
“I’m feeling great and I’m just going to go out and do my best,” he said. “I’m not even thinking about winning – I’m just going to go out and do my best - but it would be nice to get another victory.
“It’s a great golf course – it’s very tough but if you are playing well it suits you. If you are having a bad day you wouldn’t want to be here but I’m playing well.”
Franco, who began the season with a share of third place in Mauritius, will be aiming to capture his maiden title having finished runner up on five occasions in two seasons on the Senior Tour.
Likewise Chapman will hope to avoid another near miss after finishing in the top three in two of his first three appearances on the Senior Tour after turning 50 last May.
Chapman has spent most of 2010 on holiday in South Africa, either side of the Senior Tour’s Far East swing, and he feels that preparation has given him a genuine chance of landing his maiden title.
“I played a lot of golf – a lot more than I would have done at home,” he said. “We had three weeks out here before Brunei, in Cape Town playing at Royal Cape, Erinvale and Steenberg, and it was pretty hot, so going to Brunei and Bangkok didn’t seem that difficult.
“It all depends what they do with the pins tomorrow though. I wouldn’t want another day with the wind like today. That was the toughest round of golf I’ve played for a long time
“It’s been a steady start to 2010 so far for me. To finish ninth, fourth and 11th – you’d take that – and it’s great being in contention again going into the final round.”
Elsewhere Bertus Smith, winner of the 2009 Ryder Cup Wales Seniors Open, is the leading South African after posting a 74 to lie in a share of fifth place with Italy’s Giuseppe Cali.
Woosnam, the former World Number One and Ryder Cup Captain, posted a five over par 78, which moved him up nine places from tied 22nd at the start of play to a share of 13th position.
SECOND ROUND TOTALS
Par 146 (2x73)
144 A Franco (Par) 72 72, S Torrance (Sco) 72 72,
146 R Chapman (Eng) 74 72,
147 B Ruangkit (Tha) 69 78,
148 G Cali (Ita) 71 77, B Smit (RSA) 74 74,
149 M Harwood (Aus) 72 77, B Lincoln (RSA) 74 75,
150 R Drummond (Sco) 73 77,
151 R Stewart (RSA) 72 79, M Clayton (Aus) 76 75, J Quiros (Esp) 75 76,
152 M Saengsui (Tha) 73 79, M Piñero (Esp) 74 78, C Williams (RSA) 72 80, B Cameron (Eng) 74 78, D Merriman (Aus) 71 81, I Woosnam (Wal) 74 78,
153 K Spurgeon (Eng) 73 80, I Mosey (Eng) 74 79, J Heggarty (Nir) 74 79, J Bruner (USA) 70 83,
154 M Poxon (Eng) 78 76, G Towne (USA) 72 82, M Gray (Sco) 73 81, T Giedeon (Ger) 72 82, D Hospital (Esp) 78 76, S Van Vuuren (RSA) 71 83,
155 A Garrido (Esp) 79 76, H Carbonetti (Arg) 74 81, D Russell (Eng) 72 83, S Bennett (Eng) 74 81,
156 J Rhodes (Eng) 76 80,
157 J Chillas (Sco) 76 81, N Job (Eng) 76 81, D O'Sullivan (Irl) 78 79, M Farry (Fra) 72 85, C Rocca (Ita) 76 81, D Cambridge (Jam) 78 79,
158 A Murray (Eng) 77 81, A Johnsson (Swe) 76 82, D Smyth (Irl) 77 81, M Williams (Zim) 74 84, J Mashego (RSA) 76 82,
159 P Oakley (USA) 73 86, G Ralph (Eng) 78 81, B Longmuir (Sco) 72 87, P Mitchell (Eng) 80 79,
160 S Ebihara (Jpn) 74 86, F Mann (Sco) 76 84, G Banister (Aus) 78 82,
161 T Johnstone (Zim) 77 84, D Johnson (USA) 78 83, A Sowa (Arg) 83 78, M Miller (Sco) 78 83, J Chitprasong (Tha) 78 83, H Baiocchi (RSA) 81 80, E Rodriguez (Esp) 80 81, S Hobday (RSA) 76 85,
162 G Player (RSA) 77 85, G Levenson (RSA) 80 82,
163 L Carbonetti (Arg) 78 85, G Brand (Eng) 77 86,
164 J Bland (RSA) 75 89,
165 J Rivero (Esp) 83 82,
166 M Bembridge (Eng) 82 84, J Hawkes (RSA) 80 86,
167 T Horton (Eng) 81 86,
168 I Palmer (RSA) 80 88,
170 J Fourie (RSA) 81 89, V Tshabalala (RSA) 83 87,
171 S Mokgare (RSA) 80 91, N Clarke (RSA) 82 89, B Hardwick (Can) 84 87,
173 J Ackerman (RSA) 83 90, B Boyd (USA) 88 85,
177 T Manyama (RSA) 85 92,
184 T Fisher Snr (RSA) 94 90,
** C Mason (Eng) 73 RT, A Henning (RSA) 80 RT,

2010-03-27T15:44:00.002Z

Fisher on course to net maiden victory

From Challenge Tour Press Officer Paul Symes

A round of 68 on the third day of the Kenya Open has put Challenge Tour debutant Oliver Fisher, pictured right, in sight of his maiden professional title.
On a hot and humid day at Muthaiga Golf Club in Nairobi, Fisher – playing with local hero Ali Kimani, who was unable to replicate his heroics of the previous day – posted six birdies and three bogeys to move to eight under par.
He currently leads by one stroke from Frenchman Charles-Edouard Russo, who shot a joint lowest of the day 67, and by two shots from his fellow Englishman Robert Dinwiddie, who signed for a round of 70.
Fisher got off to the perfect start with a seven iron to three feet for a birdie on the first hole, which was promptly cancelled out by a bogey at the second. He duly recovered with a 15-feet birdie putt on the third, and picked up another shot after hitting a wedge to eight feet on the seventh hole.
After three-putting the eighth hole for bogey, he rallied with consecutive birdies on the 10th and 11th. An unfortunate bogey at the 12th, where he flew the green after the wind picked up mid-shot, was erased when he picked up a shot on the last hole, which he has birdied on all three days.
Fisher said: “I had a couple of strokes of luck today, but overall it was another good day at the office. It was quite difficult to concentrate at times because obviously there were a lot of people following Ali, but I managed to block out the distractions quite well and it was nice to play in front of a crowd. The wind was quite changeable which made club selection tricky at times, so a round of 69 was pretty good going in the circumstances. I’m in a great position, and hopefully now I can finish it off.”
Big things were expected of Fisher when he turned professional in a blaze of publicity in 2006, but thus far in his fledgling career the 21 year old has been outshone by Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy, in whose company he played much of his amateur career. But tomorrow gives Fisher a chance to grab a share of the limelight, and he is determined to seize it with both hands.
He said: “I wouldn’t say I’m due a win exactly, because there are a lot of good players out here who haven’t won yet. But I won a lot during my amateur career, so I know what it takes. I had maybe hoped I would’ve won by now in my pro career, but hopefully I can put that right tomorrow. It might come down to whoever plays the back nine the best, because there are some really tricky holes. If I can shoot another 68 I’ll have a great chance – all I can do is give it my best shot, and hope it’s good enough. But whatever happens, I want to enjoy it.”
Fisher will be paired in the final group with Russo, who like his playing partner is also seeking his maiden Challenge Tour title. The Frenchman’s only blemish came at the eighth hole, but he collected five birdies either side of that bogey to sign for his lowest round of the week.
Dinwiddie, twice a winner on the Challenge Tour in 2007, will be hoping to take advantage of any slip-ups by the front two. He got off to a flying start with birdies at the third and fourth holes, but a double bogey at the long sixth checked his charge. The back nine was also a mixed bag, with three birdies and two bogeys, but Dinwiddie’s experience could be crucial on what promises to be an engaging final day.
THIRD-ROUND TOTALS

Par 213 (3x71)
205 O Fisher (Eng) 71 66 68,
206 C Russo (Fra) 69 70 67,
207 R Dinwiddie (Eng) 68 69 70,
208 A Marshall (Eng) 68 70 70, J Billot (Fra) 69 73 66, B Barham (Eng) 71 70 67, J Zapata (Arg) 72 68 68, B Chapellan (Fra) 71 71 66, J Roos (RSA) 65 75 68,
209 J Larsen (Nor) 68 70 71,
210 J Abbate (Arg) 70 71 69, B Evans (Eng) 72 70 68, N Meitinger (Ger) 70 68 72, F De Vries (Ned) 68 71 71, O Floren (Swe) 71 68 71, K Eriksson (Swe) 68 72 70,
211 A Kimani (Ken) 70 65 76, G Houston (Wal) 72 69 70, P Del Grosso (Arg) 69 72 70, S Manley (Wal) 70 69 72, J McLeary (Sco) 70 73 68, C Brazillier (Fra) 71 71 69, G Clark (Eng) 68 72 71, M Bothma (RSA) 69 69 73, L Moolman (RSA) 70 68 73, M Higley (Eng) 72 70 69, F Praegant (Aut) 68 73 70,
212 F Widmark (Swe) 68 73 71, J Sjöholm (Swe) 71 69 72, O Bekker (RSA) 72 70 70, A Maestroni (Ita) 71 72 69, J Clément (Sui) 70 71 71, A Willey (Eng) 71 72 69, D Brooks (Eng) 70 69 73, B Ritthammer (Ger) 69 68 75, C Ford (Eng) 72 68 72, A Haindl (RSA) 68 71 73,
213 T Whitehouse (Eng) 69 73 71, B Grace (RSA) 70 72 71, N Cheetham (Eng) 70 73 70, G Watremez (Bel) 72 71 70, O Whiteley (Eng) 70 70 73, B Mason (Eng) 71 70 72, P Golding (Eng) 72 69 72, A Ahokas (Fin) 70 68 75, S Surry (Eng) 70 73 70, L Saltman (Sco) 73 70 70, T Charamba (Zim) 71 72 70,
214 M Vibe-Hastrup (Den) 75 67 72,
215 A Högberg (Swe) 66 75 74, B Wiesberger (Aut) 69 70 76,
216 C Macaulay (Sco) 67 76 73, R Karlberg (Swe) 69 74 73, A Snobeck (Fra) 71 72 73,
217 T Mordt (RSA) 71 72 74, V Riu (Fra) 73 70 74, M Korhonen (Fin) 74 69 74, S Jamieson (Sco) 72 71 74, S Davis (Eng) 69 73 75, J Grillon (Fra) 74 69 74, A Mellor (Eng) 74 69 74,
218 T Remkes (Ned) 70 73 75,
219 A Gee (Eng) 69 71 79, S Buhl (Ger) 72 70 77

2010-03-27T14:47:00.002Z

European Tour Scoreboard
ANDALUCIA OPEN
Parador de Malaga, Spain
LEADING THIRD-ROUND POSITIONS
Par 210 (3x70)
-12 after 10 holes Louis Oosthuizen.
-12 after 10 holes Sam Hutsby.
-11 after 13 holes Robert Coles.
-9 after 11 holes Paul Lawrie.
-9 after 11 holes Richard Finch.
-9 after 11 holes Peter Whiteford.
Selected positions:
-8 after 18 holes Stephen Gallacher (65 for 202).
-7 after 13 holes Gary Orr.
-3 after 18 holes David Drysdale (68 for 207).
-1 after 18 holes Richie Ramsay (69 for 209).
Level par after 18 holes Alastair Forsyth (70 for 210).

2010-03-27T13:47:00.006Z

Scott Larkin leading vouchers' winner in
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North-east Alliance 2009-2010 season

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Banchory's Scott Larkin, pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency, who played the American college circuit for four years as a student at the College of Charleston, was the leading "money-winner" in the 2009-2010 North-east Golfers Alliance season just ended.
As he is an amateur, with +2 of a handicap, Larkin, of course, cannot accept cash prizes. Instead he collected £600 of prize vouchers from secretary Ron Menzies during the season which had several Wednesday competitions cancelled because of bad weather - or else the Banchory man might well have got much nearer the £1,000 mark.
Ian Bratton, the Newburn on Ythan club professional, was the next most successful competitor with £490 cash winnings.
Larkin also headed the Scratch Order of Merit with an average weekly score of -1.4 in relation to CSS.
Many thanks to Ron Menzies for compiling the following statistics:

MONEY/VOUCHERS LIST
a denotes amateur voucher,
p denotes professional cash
1 Scott Larkin (Banchory) a £670.
2 Ian Bratton (Newburgh) p £490.
T3 Kris Nicol (Fraserburgh) a £420.
T3 Kevin Duncan (McDonald Ellon) a £420.
5 Adam Dunton (McDonald Ellon) a £370.
6 Paul Cormack (Inchmarlo) p £310.
7 Graham Gordon (unatt) p £300.
8 Laura Murray (Alford) a £276.
9 Stewart Pert (Huntly) a £258.
10 Derek Randall (Banchory) a £256.
11 Steven Kennedy (Craibstone) a £250.
12 Mike Booth (Kemnay) a £217.
13 Norman Stewart (Northern) a £213.
T14 Craig Carnegie (Kemnay) a £200.
T14 Jordan Findlay (Fraserburgh) a £200.
16 David Law (Hazlehead) a £190.
17 Jim Scott (Peterculter) a £188.
18 Michael Rogers (Kemnay) a £186.
19 Robert Lamb (Newmachar) a £185.
20 Alister Petrie (Oldmeldrum) a £181.

ORDER OF MERIT (Scratch)
Average weekly score in relation to CSS
1 Scott Larkin (Banchory) -1.4
2 Ian Bratton (Newburgh) -0.6.
3 Kris Nicol (Fraserburgh) -0.4.
4 Kevin Duncan (McDonald Ellon) 0.2
5 Adam Dunton (McDonald Ellon) 0.7.
6 Jordan Findlay (Fraserburgh) 2.0.
7 Sandy Pirie (Hazlehead) 2.3.
8 Stewart Pert (Huntly) 2.4.
9 Fergus Bisset (Banchory) 2.7.
10 George Paterson (Northern) 2.9.

ORDER OF MERIT (Class 1)
+Average net score in relation to CSS
1 Kevin Duncan (McDonald Ellon) (scr) 0.2.
2 Sandy Pirie (Hazlehead) (2) 0.3.
3 Les Fowler (Royal Aberdeen) (6) 0.3.
T4 Stewart Pert (Huntly) (2) 0.4
T4 James Duncan (Newburgh) (4) 0.4.
6 Paul McIntosh (Newburgh) (4) 0.5
T7 Scott Larkin (Banchory) (+2) 0.6.
T7 Robert Lamb (Newmachar) (3) 0.6.
T7 Charles Cassie (Nigg Bay) (5) 0.6.
T10 Fergus Bisset (Banchory) (2) 0.7
T10 Brian Harper (Newburgh) (6) 0.7
ORDER OF MERIT (Class 2)
+Average net score in relation to CSS
1 Steven Kennedy (Craibstone) (11) -0.2.
2 Mike Booth (Kemnay) (19) 0.0.
3 Jim Scott (Peterculter) (10) 1.3.
4 Derek Townsley (Peterculter) (13) 1.4.
T5 Raymond Brown (Craibstone) (12) 1.6.
T5 Derek Randall (Banchory) (14) 1.6
6 Michael Rogers (Kemnay) (13) 2.3.
8 Norman Stewart (Northernb) (12) 2.7.
9 David Bisset (Banchory) (9) 2.8.
T10 Ian Strachan (Royal Aberdeen) (11) 2.9.
T10 Gerry Kelly (Peterculter) (14) 2.9

So how about Summer Alliance fixtures?

Colin Farquharson writes: As the North-east Alliance season ended with the finals of the foursomes competitions at Murcar Links GC on Friday and players said their farewells until the start of the 2010-2011 season in September, there were one or two who speculated that they would not mind it if the North-east Alliance season continued through the summer months.
Secretary Ron Menzies was quick to put a damper on such idle talk:
"The clubs are quite glad to have us during the late autumn, winter and early spring months on the Alliance terms of so much per competitor, which is considerably less than the visitor's green fee. But it would be a different story in the summer months when the difference between what the Alliance pays and what a host club's visitor's green rate is would be much greater."
Just to test the water to see if Ron Menzies is correct in his assumption, if there are any North-east golf clubs out there who would be prepared to host an Alliance fixture in the so-called summer months at a "winter rate" with regard to green fees, E-mail me at Colin@scottishgolfview.com

ARNOLD PALMER INVITATIONAL

2010-03-27T12:19:00.003Z

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Laird birdies 16th to make the cut in Florida

FROM THE AOL GOLF NEWS SERVICE
Former Open champion Ben Curtis fired a second-round, five-under-par 67 to move into a four-way share of the lead at the halfway stage in the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill in Florida yesterday
Curtis, winner of the 2003 Open, recovered well after starting his round with two bogeys, hitting five birdies in seven holes between 10 and 16 to sit on seven under for the tournament.
He was joined by fellow Americans D J Trahan and Davis Love III and South Africa's Ernie Els. Trahan shot a 68, Els a 69 and Love III a 71.
Three birdies in the opening five holes set Trahan on his way, while Els, having been two over for his round after seven, birdied six of the last 11, including 17 and 18, to get right back in the hunt.
Love III had perhaps the most bizarre round of the day with seven birdies, including three in a row at 15, 16 and 17, and six bogeys.
Two more Americans, Kevin Na and Phil Mickelson, and South Africa's Retief Goosen were a shot further back. Mickelson and Goosen both fired 67s, the former's round featuring an eagle on the par-four eighth, and Na a 70.
J B Holmes, who held a share of the lead after the first day, endured a tough second round as he sought a top-four finish which would keep his chances of securing a place at the Masters alive.
The American double-bogeyed the seventh and 13th on the way to a two-over 74 which left him four under overall.
Holmes was one of eight players on four under, including world number two Steve Stricker who shot a 71.
Colin Montgomerie fired a 71 to sit one under overall, but England's Justin Rose missed the cut. He could only manage a 73 to go with his opening-round 75 to lie four over and will now need to win next week's Houston Open to stay on course for a Masters place.
Martin Laird, who saddled himself with a double bogey 5 at the short 17th in his first-round 74, needed to get at least one birdie over the last three holes to survive the cut - and the Scot rose to the occasion. He birdied the 16th, only his second of the round (the eighth was his first birdie) and he had a bogey at the second in his only other deviation for par in a 71 for 145 to make the cut with nothing to spare.
SCROLL DOWN FOR ALL THE SECOND-ROUND SCORES

2010-03-27T11:58:00.005Z

Tiger at the Masters: 'I'll
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have to watch what I say

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on TV' - Peter Alliss

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FROM THE SCOTSMAN WEBSITE
Peter Alliss is 79-years-old. Or, as he prefers to put it, "seven-over-par". In a week's time, he'll be heading for Georgia to tee off his 23rd season as the BBC's main golf commentator. Covering events like The Masters have almost become second nature to Alliss yet, on this occasion, he admits to feeling a sense of trepidation.
The reason is the name on everyone's lips. Unlike most, however, Alliss isn't too worried that Tiger Woods might not be strong enough mentally to be making his return after a near five-month absence at the opening major of the season. His concern is about the words he utters when the world No1 is framed within the TV cameras at Augusta National.
Famed for his flippant remarks, Alliss was going about some business quietly recently when, out of the blue, it dawned on him. Woods won't be the only person in the spotlight at The Masters. A word out of place by commentators, he says, could have disastrous consequences.
"I've got to be very mindful in two weeks time about what I say," he remarked. "I can sometimes get a bit silly, romantic or whatever. I will have to be very mindful that I am not too flippant, I'm not too supportive, I'm not too down on him. It's almost (got to be] as if nothing has ever happened.
"I would think it could be one of the biggest tests of my career. I hadn't thought about it until the last two weeks, to be honest, but I've got to be very careful because I could destroy myself. And I'm not going to do that after 40 years on bloody Tiger Woods' sh******."
Every man and his dog has wanted to talk to Alliss about Woods over the last few months. During a visit to Glasgow before Christmas to attend a lunch hosted by the Scottish Region of the PGA, he suggested the world's top golfer should appear on a celebrity chat show and confess he was a sex addict.
"It would appear that if you declare yourself as an addict of something in America and have treatment for it, you get sympathy," said Alliss back then. "If he's going to declare he's a sex addict, like Michael Douglas, the actor did, and went to a clinic for treatment, and says he is trying to get back on track, that could be in his favour."
While Woods has stopped short of admitting to such an addiction, the 34-year-old has been receiving therapy. Alliss, though, still shakes his head in disbelief any time he reflects on the spectacular nature of Woods seeing his life fall apart.
"I know there are certain people addicted to certain things – that's a fact of life," he said. "Some people are addicted to sunbeds or sunshine, others to gardening or booze or something. However, I think for a man it is very difficult to be addicted to sex.
"In a way, and this is just an opinion that may be unfounded, I get the feeling that Tiger might have been suppressed as a kid under his father's thumb and under his mother's guidance, almost prepared to be a Catholic celibate priest, you might say, until, he became the kiddie in the sweetie shop.
"They were all there and he found he could have anyone he wanted. As for his selection of women, for an intelligent man and probably one of the 20 most famous faces in the world, how he thought he could go to places that were a little bit, well you know what, and get away with it is beyond my comprehension."
Warming to the theme, Alliss added: "It's almost as if he's done this ten years too late (in life]. In doing so, his behaviour has thrown a cloak of tardiness over his life."
Even Alliss has been surprised by the enormity of the story. "I know plenty of golfers who've sh***** more women than he's ever waved a stick at but no-one has ever known anything about it," he remarked.
"Because he was found out and who he is – and also because of the press we live with today – it's a huge story. It's been as big a bloody story as the world recession, for goodness sake. Tiger's been doing this, he's been doing that is all we've heard for weeks now."
It's likely to be pretty much all we'll be hearing over the next couple of weeks as well. After endless speculation, Woods has decided to make his comeback in the full glare of the opening major of the season.
"His presence at The Masters could take away from the tournament, it certainly could," observed Alliss. "It would have been very interesting if the Augusta people had said, 'sorry we aren't accepting your entry' but that would have been construed as being very petty.
"Nevertheless, I think they are in a position to get a member of the committee to tell him, 'Mr Woods, you have come to our club and you will behave yourself otherwise you might not get back'.
"Although he has won there in the past, if he mucks it up, then he might not be invited back again. I think they have an opportunity to fire a shot across his bows without letting the world know about it."
Woods was criticised for making his first public statement since admitting "transgressions" during the Accenture World Match Play Championship earlier in the year. Last weekend, he gave his first TV interviews on the final day of another big tournament.
"When Ernie Els said Tiger was 'selfish' I thought that was a bit of a childish thing to say at first. But he's right," said Alliss. "He could have taken away a bit of the glamour from (Jim] Furyk (the winner of last week's Transitions Championship], though I don't think Jim would really have minded because he's off with the cheque.
"You could easily say Tiger has always been selfish. But that's what life is about. People are selfish. Whether you are Branson with his Virgin brand or whoever. Everything these people do is done is motivated to do something for them."
Perhaps it was the Yorkshire air – he was at Oulton Hall on the outskirts of Leeds to launch a new golf membership concept for the De Vere Group – or, alternatively, it may have been another example of him not caring these days about being politically correct. Whatever the reason, "The Scotsman" seemed to catch Alliss on a day when he was keen to express robust opinions.
The Masters tournament itself got him a bit hot and bothered, though not nearly as much, bizarrely, as the literacy rates in Scotland or, to a lesser extent, the lack of Scottish support for an event he has hosted in the home of golf for more than 20 years.
"While I would defend the Augusta people with my dying breath, they are a strange bunch and I certainly don't agree with everything they do," he opined. "There are certain things I would do at Augusta that I think would make it better. In fact, I have written to them but have never even had a reply.
"I found it interesting having been there for 40 years, for example, that there was that great furore a few years ago about the old stars taking up places in the field. I would still want them to be there and I would have a competition for them that started at the tenth.
"There are 30,000 people in there each day from 9am yet they go down the bottom of the course and don't see any golf for five hours. Put the old boys off at the tenth, put them off front tees and give them buggies if they want. They'd play nine holes every day and at the end of it present the winner with a piece of Waterford Crystal.
"You're not telling me that a cavalcade of champions, if you like, would detract from the occasion. I'm sure the spectators would love it. I think it would be a cracking idea."
While born in Germany and regarded by many as standing for middle England, Alliss has an affinity for Scotland. His father, Percy, served with the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders in the First World War, Alliss himself won the Tooting Bec Cup (awarded to the PGA member with the lowest single-round score) for a 67 at Muirfield in the 1959 Open and many of his most treasured commentaries have been on Scottish soil.
He obviously keeps a close eye on non-golfing matters north of the Border, too. In an extraordinary response to a straightforward golf question about whether he felt it was a disappointment that, for the third year running, Sandy Lyle would be flying the Saltire on his own at The Masters, Alliss launched into an unsolicited social commentary on 21st century Scotland.
"The biggest disappointment for me about Scotland in the last ten years – and I am listening to all this bull**** coming out from the government about education being wonderful – is that Scotland has 17 per cent illiteracy at the moment," he said in reply.
"I'm reading this and telling myself, 'hold on a minute, calm down'. When I was a young lad 50 years ago, the Scots took education and engineering around the bloody world. Yet now I'm reading about this level of illiteracy and I can't believe it.
"If I were a Scot, I'd be saying: 'Hang on a minute, this is ridiculous.' We used to be 100 per cent literacy'."
Turning his attention to the Alliss Masters, an annual event held at Elie to raise money for powered wheelchairs, he added: "I love Scotland but I find many things about Scotland strange. I've done an Alliss Masters at Elie for 23 years and we've given away hundreds of powered wheelchairs as a result of that event.
"However, not one Scottish club contributes. My partner in the event, Dr Hamish McLeod, says he can't understand that and I can't either. It is extraordinary, as the Scots are so passionate about some things."
When Alliss eventually gets on to talking about Lyle, it has nothing to do with The Masters. "If I was Sandy Lyle, I think I would be disappointed with the cards I'd been dealt," he remarked. "Maybe something has happened behind scenes I don't know about. I've heard it rumoured that his wife isn't popular but that can't be right. She's always been all right with me.
"Whether Sandy has been too English, too docile or something, I don't know. But, he deserved to be Ryder Cup captain. I deserved to be Ryder Cup captain yet never had a look in. Neither has Sandy – and he won't get it now."
Alliss has seen it and done it. A professional at 16, winner of 23 major tournaments and member of eight Ryder Cup teams, he has worked for the BBC at every Open since 1961, having been signed up by the corporation after Ray Lakeland, a producer, sat near him on a flight from Dublin and marvelled at his humour.
A few years ago a newspaper organised a poll asking readers to vote on whether Alliss was past his sell-by date and should he go. They were compelled to announce that it was eight to one in favour of Alliss staying. A member of the staff phoned him to whisper that the real figure was more than 10 to one.
Alliss will head for Augusta National – he has high hopes of commentating on a British winner this year, with Rory McIlroy and Ross Fisher the two players he believes have the game to do well there – with a heavy heart following the death earlier this week of Harry Carpenter, a former member of the BBC golf team.
"I was talking about Harry today and I nearly had a tear. Heck, I'm going to do it now," said Alliss. "I have never thought about death and I am 80 next birthday. I don't feel 80 and I feel I can hold conversations with anyone about myriad subjects. I want to pack it in before they say it is time to go.
"They ended Harry's time without telling him properly. I was at the Dunhill Cup at St Andrews and one of the stage hands came up and asked me if I knew that this was Harry's last tournament. I'm supposed to be one of the stars yet a stage hand knew before me and, sure enough, his contract had come to an end and no-one called him, and they let him go."
+The full article above appears in The Scotsman newspaper today.

2010-03-27T08:22:00.003Z

Price and Beck share US Seniors Tour lead

Nick Price shot a 6-under 66 for a share of the lead with Chip Beck after the first round of the US Champions (Seniors) Tour's $1.6 million Cap Cana Championship in the Dominican Republic yesterday.
Price and Beck took advantage of light winds and brilliant sunshine at the 7,176-yard Punta Espada Golf Club to head the 78-player field.
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• Complete scores
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Rookie senior Fred Couples, already a two-time winner on the Champions Tour this season, former Masters champion Larry Mize, Olin Browne and David Peoples each shot a 67 and were one shot back on the par-72, Jack Nicklaus-designed course.
Major championship winners Corey Pavin (US Open) and Bob Tway (US PGA Championship) were among six players who shot 68. Nine others were at 69.
In all, 38 players were able to better par, while 11 matched it.
But it was Price and Beck who ran off seven birdies each to grab the lead.
"The conditions were good and the wind laid down toward the end of the round," said Price, a three-time major winner whose only Champions victory came last April at the Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am.
"My game has been pretty good this year. It seems like one part of my game was missing before, but in the last two weeks it has come together. That's a good feeling for me."
Price shot 32 on the back nine, with birdies from inside 15 feet on Nos. 11, 12 and 14, and he two-putted the par-5 15th for another birdie.
Beck, a long-time US PGA Tour player, is trying to return to form. He regained conditional playing status at Q-school last November and is making his first start.
Always upbeat, Beck said his comeback will happen.
"I'm feeling confident and I've been playing well," said Beck, winless over the last four seasons.
Most of the attention centered on Couples, the hottest player on any tour, and he didn't disappoint -- initially. He birdied the first two holes and then hit a wall, mostly due to poor drives which forced him to play from the rough several times.
"I played the par 5s 4-under, and those are the holes I needed to play well," said Couples. "I didn't drive the ball poorly but I missed (tee shots) in the rough and then hit second shots 30 feet from the hole because I couldn't make the shot stop."
It was on the 540-yard, par-5 No. 12 where Couples made his move. His drive left him 240 yards from the hole, and a crisply struck 5-iron nestled to within eight feet of the cup. He sank the eagle putt, jumping from 2-under to 4-under.
A follow-up birdie three holes later put Couples within striking distance of his third consecutive Champions win with two rounds left.
"The leader board is very good," said Couples. "It was important for me to be close. I'm in good shape."

2010-03-26T23:14:00.006Z

United States PGA Tour Scoreboard
ARNOLD PALMER INVITATIONAL
Bay Hill Golf Club, Florida
SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 144 (2x72)
1 D.J. Trahan 69 68 137
T1 Ben Curtis 70 67 137
T1 Davis Love III 66 71 137
T1 Ernie Els 68 69 137
T5 Kevin Na 68 70 138
T5 Retief Goosen 71 67 138
T5 Phil Mickelson 71 67 138
T8 Edoardo Molinari (Italy) 70 70 140
T8 George McNeill 69 71 140
T8 Steve Stricker 69 71 140
T8 Steve Marino 70 70 140
T8 J.B. Holmes 66 74 140
T8 K.J. Choi 71 69 140
T8 Chris Couch 70 70 140
T8 Mike Weir 67 73 140
T16 Jason Dufner 69 72 141
T16 Derek Lamely 71 70 141
T16 Robert Allenby 68 73 141
T16 Dustin Johnson 71 70 141
T16 Heath Slocum 69 72 141
T16 Jason Day 71 70 141
T22 Tim Petrovic 74 68 142
T22 J.P. Hayes 70 72 142
T22 Nathan Green 69 73 142
T22 Paul Goydos 70 72 142
T22 Joe Ogilvie 76 66 142
T22 Chris DiMarco 69 73 142
T22 Bo Van Pelt 72 70 142
T29 Marc Leishman 70 73 143
T29 Ben Crane 69 74 143
T29 Bill Haas 72 71 143
T29 Pat Perez 69 74 143
T29 Sam Saunders 73 70 143
T29 Colin Montgomerie (Scotland) 72 71 143
T29 Erik Compton 72 71 143
T29 Josh Teater 72 71 143
T29 Kevin Sutherland 70 73 143
T29 Ricky Barnes 72 71 143
T29 Sean O'Hair 70 73 143
T29 Boo Weekley 70 73 143
T29 Ryuji Imada 73 70 143
T29 Kevin Streelman 68 75 143
T29 Kris Blanks 74 69 143
T44 Briny Baird 72 72 144
T44 Hunter Mahan 71 73 144
T44 Ryan Moore 72 72 144
T44 Matt Every 74 70 144
T44 Brandt Snedeker 72 72 144
T44 Tim Clark 74 70 144
T44 Bryce Molder 74 70 144
T44 Skip Kendall 73 71 144
T44 Jonathan Byrd 71 73 144
T44 Charles Howell III 72 72 144
T44 Rod Pampling 74 70 144
T44 Stephen Ames 73 71 144
T44 Stuart Appleby 70 74 144
T44 Carl Pettersson 71 73 144
T44 Ryo Ishikawa 74 70 144
T59 Tim Herron 73 72 145
T59 Charl Schwartzel 74 71 145
T59 John Senden 71 74 145
T59 Rory Sabbatini 75 70 145
T59 Stewart Cink 73 72 145
T59 Nick Watney 74 71 145
T59 Scott Verplank 75 70 145
T59 Trevor Immelman 71 74 145
T59 Daniel Chopra 74 71 145
T59 Jerry Kelly 71 74 145
T59 D.A. Points 73 72 145
T59 Brian Davis (England) 74 71 145
T59 Rickie Fowler 73 72 145
T59 Garrett Willis 72 73 145
T59 Jim Furyk 71 74 145
T59 Henrik Stenson 67 78 145
T59 Martin Laird (Scotland) 74 71 145
MISSED THE CUT
CUT Scott McCarron 76 70 146
CUT Anders Hansen 73 73 146
CUT Danny Lee 75 71 146
CUT Gregor Main 76 70 146
CUT Lee Janzen 76 70 146
CUT Kevin Stadler 74 72 146
CUT Kenny Perry 73 73 146
CUT John Mallinger 72 74 146
CUT Chad Collins 72 74 146
CUT Matt Jones 71 75 146
CUT Jason Gore 74 73 147
CUT Bubba Watson 76 71 147
CUT Billy Mayfair 77 70 147
CUT Robert Gamez 76 71 147
CUT Vaughn Taylor 72 75 147
CUT Alex Prugh 74 73 147
CUT Brian Stuard 77 70 147
CUT Rocco Mediate 73 74 147
CUT Brian Gay 74 73 147
CUT Zach Johnson 71 76 147
CUT John Rollins 70 77 147
CUT Mark Wilson 70 77 147
CUT Graeme McDowell (Northern Ireland) 71 76 147
CUT Brett Quigley 74 73 147
CUT Justin Rose (England) 75 73 148
CUT Yuta Ikeda 76 73 149
CUT David Duval 73 76 149
CUT David Toms 71 78 149
CUT Webb Simpson 73 76 149
CUT Fred Funk 75 74 149
CUT Tom Gillis 75 74 149
CUT Andrew Magee 76 74 150
CUT Steve Flesch 77 73 150
CUT Brendon de Jonge 76 74 150
CUT Byeong-Hun An 77 73 150
CUT Charlie Wi 78 72 150
CUT Camilo Villegas c77 73 150
CUT Ryan Palmer 74 77 151
CUT Troy Matteson 79 72 151
CUT Michael Allen 72 79 151
CUT Greg Owen (England) 77 74 151
CUT Jamie Lovemark 75 79 154
CUT Michael Campbell 80 81 161
CUT Mike Keymont 84 77 161
Withdrew: Steve Elkington 75 75 150