Hooters Tour victory within Scot's grasp

JAMIESON NOW LEADS BY

TWO IN US CHASE FOR

$33,500 PRIZE

Scott Jamieson maybe a rookie tour pro but he seems to be revelling in being in contention for his first professional victory and a $33,500 first prize.
Today, the Cathkin Braes Golf Club, Glasgow member fired a four-under par 68 in the third round of the NGA Hooters Tour's Quicksilver Classic over the 7,083yd, par-72yard course at Quicksilver Golf Club, Midway in Pennsylvania.
Jamieson, who turned pro last November after topping the Scottish Golf Union Order of Merit, is now clear of the field at 15-under par 201 with one round to play.
The former Augusta State University team player for four years on the US college circuit holds a two-stroke lead over Martin Catalioto (Hilton Head, South Carolina). Catalioto, a Clemson University grad, fired a six-under par 66 today to move from seven-under par at the start of the day to 13-under par 203.
2003 US Amateur runner-up Casey Wittenberg (Memphis, Tennessee) and second round co-leader Martin Flores (Mansfield, Texas) are tied for third place at 11-under par 205. Wittenberg matched the low round of the day with 65, while Flores had an even par 72.
The total purse for the Quicksilver Classic is $200,000 with $33,566 going to the winner.
David Skinns from Lincoln is in fifth place on 206 with scores of 70, 67 and 69.
Last year's winner, Gareth Maybin from Ballyclare, Northern Ireland, starts the final round in joint seventh place with scores of 68, 70 and 69 for 207.
Colin Speirs from Dunkeld is sharing 20th place on four-under-par 212 with rounds of 71, 73 and 68.

LEADING SCORES
201 Scott Jamieson (Sco) 69 64 68.
203 Martin Catalioto (US) 69 68 66.
205 Casey Wittenberg (US) 68 72 65, Martin Flores (US) 68 65 62.
206 David Skinns (Eng) 70 67 69.
Other scores:
207 Gareth Maybin (NIr) 68 70 69 (jt 7th).
212 Colin Speirs (Sco) 71 73 68.

REBECCA HUDSON REGAINS LEAD IN
SPANISH WOMEN'S OPEN
First-round leader Rebecca Hudson from Doncaster regained the third-round advantage over the Spanish Women's Open field at Castellon ith a 69 for 13-under-par 203. She leads by two shots from France's Gwladys Nocera and the deposed leader, Australian Nikki Garrett.
Kathryn Imrie, the only Scot to make the cut, is on 219.

THIRD-ROUND TOTALS
Par 216 (3 x 72). Players from GB&I unless stated.
203 Rebecca Hudson 65 69 69.
205 Gwladys Nocera (Fra) 66 68 71, Nikki Garrett (Aus) 68 65 72.
206 Kirsty Taylor 66 70 70.
208 Laurette Maritz (SAf) 72 70 66.
211 Carlota Ciganda (Spa) (am) 69 75 67, Danielle Masters 67 71 73.
212 Cherie Byrnes (Aus) 72 70 70, Veronica Zorzi (Ita) 73 68 71, Louise Friberg (Swe) 68 71 73.
213 Bettina Hauert (Ger) 71 74 68, Sophie Giquel (Fra) 73 72 68, Laura Cabanillas (Spa) 70 73 70.
214 Rebecca Coakley 74 70 70, Sarah Kemp (Aus) 70 71 73, Amy Yang (Kor) 69 71 74.
215 Maria Boden (Swe) 72 74 69, Cassandra Kirkland (Fra) 71 73 71, Eleanor Pilgrim 71 72 72, Eva Steinberger (Aut) 71 70 74.
216 Samantha Head 74 73 69, Elisabeth Esterl (Ger) 73 73 70, Helena Alterby (Swe) 70 74 72, Kiran Matharu 72 71 73, Beatriz Recari (Spa) 70 72 74, Iben Tinning (Den) 70 71 75, Fany Schaeffer (Fra) 69 72 75.
217 Anna Rawson (Aus) 71 75 71, Joanne Mills (Aus) 75 71 71, Titiya Plucksataporn (Tha) 70 75 72, Stephanie Arricau (Fra) 74 71 72, Tullia Calzavara (Ita) 71 72 74, Fame More 73 69 75.
218 Margherita Rigon (Ita) 73 74 71, Sophie Sandolo (Ita) 75 71 72, Lee-Anne Pace (SAf) 72 73 73, Lara Tadiotto (Bel) 70 73 75, Elin Ohlsson (Swe) 68 73 77.
219 Kathryn Imrie 73 74 72, Anna Tybring (Swe) 71 76 72, Amanda Moltke-Leth (Den) 70 76 73, Lisa Holm Sorensen (Den) 71 75 73, Lora Fairclough 72 73 74, Lynn Brooky (NZ) 69 76 74, Johanna Westerberg (Swe) 71 72 76, Paula Marti (Spa) 71 71 77.
220 Lisa Jean (Aus) 71 76 73, Georgina Simpson 73 73 74, Suzanne Dickens 73 73 74, Martina Eberl (Ger) 70 75 75.
221 Anne Lise Caudal (Fra) 74 73 74, Mianne Bagger (Den) 73 74 74, Isabella Maconi (Ita) 73 73 75, Ellen Smets (Bel) 69 75 77, Federica Piovano (Ita) 71 70 80.
222 Karen-Margrethe Juul (Den) 76 71 75, Stacy Lee Bregman (SAf) 74 73 75, Sara Beautell (Spa) 75 72 75, Virginie Lagoutte-Clement (Fra) 73 74 75, Elisa Serramia (Spa) 73 73 76, Ana B Sanchez (Spa) 70 75 77.
223 Shani Waugh (Aus) 76 71 76, Kirsty S Taylor 74 70 79.
224 Riikka Hakkarainen (Fin) 77 70 77.
228 Claire Coughlan 73 73 82.

LEE WESTWOOD CLIMBS INTO SPANISH LEAD WITH A 65

FOR 15-UNDER-PAR 201

Lee Westwood has strung together two of the best rounds for many a long day - a record 64 on Friday and a 65 today - to climb into a one-shot lead with one round to play in the European Tour's Valle Romano Open de Andalucia at Aloha Golf Club on Spain's Costa del Sol.
The English Ryder Cup player, pictured right, leads on 15-under-par 201 by one shot from the rising Spanish star with the name that causes consternation to scoreboard operators - Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano.
THIRD-ROUND SCOREBOARD
Par 216 (3 x 72).
Players from GB&I unless stated.
201 Lee Westwood 72 64 65.
202 Gonzalo Fdez-Castano (Spa) 67 68 67.
203 Michael Jonzon (Swe) 69 68 66, Louis Oosthuizen (SAf) 67 67 69.
204 Fredrik Andersson Hed (Swe) 69 71 64.
205 Matthew Zions (Aus) 65 70 70, Phillip Archer 69 70 66.
206 Chris Gane 67 71 68, Thomas Bjorn (Den) 71 69 66.
207 Alvaro Salto (Spa) 70 69 68, Francois Delamontagne (Fra) 69 66 72, Joakim Haeggman (Swe) 67 71 69, David Higgins 69 68 70, Steve Jones (US) 69 67 71
208 Carl Suneson (Spa) 69 68 71, Sam Walker 69 69 70, Robert Rock 70 73 65, Gareth Davies 69 71 68, David Griffiths 68 72 68, Soren Hansen (Den) 70 68 70
209 Gary Lockerbie 67 72 70, Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) 72 69 68, Alejandro Canizares (Spa) 66 73 70, Jamie Donaldson 70 69 70, Santiago Luna (Spa) 72 69 68, David Lynn 70 71 68
210 Garry Houston 71 67 72, Andrew Butterfield 70 73 67, Marcus Higley 70 71 69, Richard McEvoy 69 68 73, Oliver Fisher 70 69 71, Thomas Levet (Fra) 74 66 70, Paul Broadhurst 70 70 70
211 Shaun P Webster 74 67 70, Birgir Hafthorsson (Ice) 73 68 70, Eduardo De La Riva (Spa) 68 73 70, James Hepworth 72 68 71, Paul McGinley 71 72 68, Johan Axgren (Swe) 74 68 69
212 Sebastian Fernandez (Arg) 70 70 72, Jesus Maria Arruti (Spa) 73 71 68, Scott Strange (Aus) 72 71 69, Per-Ulrik Johansson (Swe) 72 71 69, Rafael Echenique (Arg) 73 71 68, Notah Begay III (US) 71 70 71, Wade Ormsby (Aus) 73 70 69, Philip Golding 74 69 69
213 Juan Parron (Spa) 72 71 70, Carlos Rodiles (Spa) 72 69 72, Terry Pilkadaris (Aus) 71 71 71, Pedro Linhart (Spa) 72 70 71, Sven Struver (Ger) 71 71 71, Yong-eun Yang (Kor) 74 69 70, Matthew Millar (Aus) 68 73 72, Ian Garbutt 72 70 71
214 James Heath 75 67 72, Sion Bebb 70 74 70, Sam Little 71 69 74, Peter Fowler (Aus) 73 71 70, Rafael Cabrera Bello (Spa) 69 73 72, Martin Maritz (SAf) 72 72 70.
215 Anthony Wall 72 72 71, Carlos Aguilar (Spa) 76 67 72, Damien McGrane 72 70 73, Nicolas Colsaerts (Bel) 68 73 74, Carlos Balmaseda (Spa) 71 71 73.
216 Adrien Mork (Fra) 71 73 72, Gary Emerson 71 72 73
217 Alvaro Velasco (Spa) 72 72 73, Peter Gustafsson (Swe) 73 70 74
218 Daniel Quiros (Spa) 72 72 74, Diego Borrego (Spa) 73 71 74, Jorge Benedetti (Col) 71 73 74
221 Simon Dyson 70 74 77.

RAMSAY SHARING LEAD IN IRELAND
WHERE PAR SCORING IS A STRUGGLE

United States amateur golf champion Richie Ramsay has been bemoaning the fact that he has been playing better than his scores have suggested this year.
Today, his second-round par 72 represented very good golf indeed in continuing rough weather for the Irish men's open amateur stroke play championship at Royal Dublin Golf Club's Bull Island course.
Ramsay won this Irish title in 2005 to signal the fact that he was on his way to the top of the amateur tree - he held the world No 1 ranking for six months after his American success.
Going into Sunday's final round, Ramsay shares the lead with Irishman Richard Kilpatrick from Banbridge and Welshman Rhys Enoch on one-over-par 145 - a score that tells the story of how tough it's been to sustain par golf over 36 holes on this course and in Ireland's May weather.
Irish wonder boy Rory McIlroy from Holywood, Belfast, beaten in a play-off for this title last year, is lurking on 147 after a second-round 147 and don't rule out the man in form, Lloyd Saltman from Craigielaw, even though he has slipped back with a 77 for 149.
In winning the Scottish champion of champions, the Craigmillar Park Open and last weekend's Lytham Trophy, Saltman proved he was a front runner par excellence. But he has also won in the past coming from behind and this might be one of those occasions.
On the same 149 bracket as Lloyd are fellow Scots Scott Henry (Cardross) and the Colville Park, Motherwell pair of Ross Kellett and Paul O'Hara. Kellett set a new record for the brutal Royal Dublin course with a three-under-par 69 today. Great effort by the young Scot!
Scottish non-qualifiers were Philip McLean (Peterhead), Zack Saltman and Shaun McAllister of Craigielaw, and Scottish match-play champion Kevin McAlpine (Alyth)

QUALIFIERS
Par 144 (2 x 72)
145 R Kilpatrick (Banbridge) 74 71, R Ramsay (Royal Aberdeen) 73 72, R Enoch (Wales) 72 73.
146 R McCarthy (The Island) 74 7.
147 P Murray (Limerick) 75 72, R McIlroy (Holywood) 73 74, J Granberg (Finland) 72 75.
148 N Grant (Knock) 75 73, J Caldwell (Clandeboye) 74 74.
149 R Kellett (Colville Park) 80 69, E Richardson (England) 76 73, S Henry (Scotland) 76 73, Z Gould (Wales) 76 73, P Cutler (Portstewart) 75 74, R Bechu (France) 74 75, P Figueiredo (Portugal) 74 75, P O'Hara (Colville Park) 74 75, L Saltman (Craigielaw) 72 77, M Novy (Czech Republic) 71 78.
150 M Thistleton (England) 79 71, D Lernihan (Castle/UCD) 78 72, M Armitage (England) 78 72, A Runcie (Wales) 78 72, D Leathem (Lisburn) 77 73, M Veijalainen (Finland) 76 74, K Le Sager (France) 75 75, B Fotheringham (Forres) 75 75, R Thuillier (France) 75 75, B Walton (The Island/UCD) 74 76, G Campbell (Blairgowrie) 74 76, R Zwahlen (France) 73 77, K McNicoll (Carnoustie) 72 78.
151 S Lowry (UCD/Esker Hills) 79 72, D Morgan (Mullingar) 79 72, A Hogan (Newlands/UCD) 77 74, C Macaulay (Tulliallan) 76 75, R McKnight (Barassie) 75 76, C Doran (Banbridge) 74 77, N Edwards (Wales) 74 77.
152 S McEwan (Caprington) 79 73, J McGinn (Laytown & Bettystown) 77 75, N Kearney (Royal Dublin) 77 75, X Poncelet (France) 76 76, L Lennox (Moyola Park) 74 78, C Geraghty (England) 74 78, J Morris (Rosslare) 73 79
MISSED THE CUT
153 G Carew (Edenderry) 81 72, C Cousins (Wales) 80 73, M Gaynor (US) 77 76, P McLean (Peterhead) 77 76, J Carvill (Warrenpoint) 77 76, B Evans (England) 76 77.
154 T Sistonen (Finland) 81 73, B Norton (US) 79 75, M Sinclair (Knock) 78 76, G O'Neill (Jersey) 78 76, R Thomas (Wales) 77 77, L Allen (England) 76 78, S McAllister (Craigielaw) 74 80.
155 S Grant (Birr) 82 73, P O'Hanlon (Curragh) 82 73, M Barbosa (US) 81 74, W Rieder (Austria) 79 76, S Ward (Co Louth) 78 77, J Lyons (Galway) 78 77, B Westgate (England) 77 78, B Grace (South Africa) 76 79, G Cambis (France) 76 79, K McAlpine (Alyth) 73 82.
156 E O'Connell (The Fox Club) 80 76, M McCoy (US) 80 76, J Smedley (England) 79 77, G Lawlor (Citywest) 77 79, A McCloy (Ballymena) 76 80, Z Saltman (Craigielaw) 76 80.
157 R Boal (Scrabo) 84 73, M O'Sullivan (Stow Acres) 81 76, S Kindsted (Finland) 80 77, A Rosado (Portugal) 77 80.
158 N Catesson (France) 83 75, C Vance (England) 80 78, S Doherty (Malone) 79 79, T Ortner (Austria) 78 80, J Savolampi (Finland) 77 81.
159 W McCully (Donaghadee) 86 73, M Salminen (Finland) 82 77, J Dale (England) 81 78, E McAnoy (Knock) 79 80, A Ross (Canada) 77 82.
160 N Henriques (Portugal) 80 80, B Jones (England) 80 80.
161 R Merchant (Wales) 89 72, A Fadel (US) 86 75, A Gabella Wenne (Sweden) 85 76, B Kosmin (France) 85 76, E Saxel (England) 83 78, J Pernaa (Finland) 79 82, J Guillet (France) 79 82.
162 C Mivis (Belgium) 83 79, T Halpen (Canada) 81 81, S Archibald (England) 81 81.
163 C Scotto (France) 86 77, J Vickery (Wales) 83 80, E Mercadier (France) 81 82, L Matthews (Wales) 80 83, R McNamara (Headfort) 78 85.
164 P Nelson (South Africa) 82 82.
166 K Hammer (US) 84 82, N Kirchner (Austria) 83 83, J Haglund (Finland) 80 86.
167 T Wyatt (US) 87 80.
168 R Leonard (Banbridge) 81 87.
169 S O'Brien (US) 82 87.
171 C Levitte (France) 90 81, J Shufflebotham (Wales) 89 82.
172 N Tyry (Finland) 88 84.
174 T McGowan (Strandhill) 88 86.
179 R Maunder (England) 93 86.
NR R Cannon (L'town & B'town) 77 NR
DQ: E O'Sullivan (The Island) 78 DQ

GWEN PUTTS OUT THE TOP SEED IN
P&K COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP

Gwen Lambie (Dunkeld & Birnham) “putted like a demon” to knocked out the No 1 seed, Jacqueline Sneddon (Alyth) in this afternoon’s quarter-finals of the Perth & Kinross women’s county golf championship at Kinross Golf Club.
Gwen, the No 9 qualifier, toppled Jacqueline by 2 and 1 with her putting making the decisive difference. In Sunday morning’s semi-finals Gwen will play Alexandra Bushby (Strathmore), a 4 and 3 winner over 15-year-old Annabel Niven (Crieff) in the quarter-finals.
The other semi-final will feature twice champion Jane Yellowlees (Murrayshall) against the No 2 seed, Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder).
Janye beat Emma Napper (Craigie Hill) 4 and 3 in the quarter-finals while Emily had a 6 and 5 win over Blairgowrie’s Sal Shepherd.

Saturday’s results:
First round – Jacqueline Sneddon bt C Turner (Alyth) 7 and 6, G Lambie bt C Dunbar (Aberfeldy) 3 and 1, A Niven (Crieff) bt J Griffiths (Crieff) 4 and 3, A Bushby (Strathmore) bt D Butchart (Strathmore) 6 and 5, J Yellowlees (Murrayshall) bt G Wallace (Glenisla) 1 hole, E Napper (Craigie Hill) bt M Begbie (Alyth) 4 and 3, S Shepherd (Blairgowrie) bt L Fertacz (Dunkeld & Birnam) 4 and 3, E Ogilvy (Auchtarder) bt N Morrison (Dunblane) 5 and 4.
Quarter-finals – Lambie bt Sneddon 2 and 1, Bushby bt Niven 6 and 5, Yellowlees bt Napper 4 and 3, Ogilvy bt Shepherd 6 and 5.
HANDICAP CHAMPIONSHIP
Quarter-finals – G Pennycook (Alyth) (13) bt A Smith (Kinross) (15) 2 and 1, L Murray (Kinross) (12) bt C Peelbes (Alyth) (21) 3 and 2, M Walker (Alyth) (25) bt Jillian Sneddon (Alyth) (23) 2 and 1, Jennifer Sneddon (Alyth) (19) bt S Crystal (Taynouth) (12).

ends

ROOKIE MURRAY IN WITH A VICTORY
CHANCE ON CHALLENGE TOUR

By MICHAEL GIBBONS
Press Officer, European Challenge Tour

Rookie tour pro George Murray from Anstruther is in with a fighting chance of a breakthrough victory in the European Challenge Tour event, the Toulouse Open, in France on Sunday.
Murray, a former Scottish amateur champion, has put together rounds of 67, 70 and 69 for a 10-under-par tally of 206 which puts him in a four-way tie for second place, just one shot behind the Belgian leader, Nicolas Vanhootegem.
George had birdies at the first, sixth, seventh and 18th and only one bogey, at the eighth, in his third-round 69 today when he coped very well with the kind of pressure he has not faced before the pro ranks.
The Fifer's birdie 2 at the 207yd home hole enabled him to join Christian Reimbold (Germany), Gareth Paddison (New Zealand) and Andre Bossert (Switzerland) in second place.
The only other Scottish qualifier for the last 36 holes, Andrew McArthur, another former Scottish amateur champion, is back in a share of 15th place on 209 after scores of 70, 71 and 68. McArthur actually played better than Murray today with a bogey-free round which had birdies at the seventh, 11th, 16th and 17th.

THIRD ROUND TOTALS
Par 216 (3 x 72). 6924yd.
205 Nicolas Vanhootegem (Bel) 71 65 69.
206 Christian Reimbold (Ger) 64 71 71, Gareth Paddison (NZ) 70 67 69, André Bossert (Swi) 67 69 70, George Murray (Sco) 67 70 69.
207 Jan-Are Larsen (Nor) 70 70 67, Michael Hoey (NIr) 64 74 69, Joost Luiten (Net) 70 71 66, Kalle Edberg (Swe) 68 72 67, Michiel Bothma (SAf) 69 66 72; Peter Kaensche (Nor) 70 70 68.
208 Magnus Persson (Swe) 73 67 68; Colm Moriarty (Ire 71 67 70, Leif Westerberg (Swe) 67 73 68.
209 Jeppe Huldahl (Den) 72 71 66, Andrew McArthur (Sco) 70 71 68, Kieran Staunton (Eng) 70 71 68, Van Phillips (Eng) 66 72 71, Jamie Little (Eng) 69 73 67, Raphaël De Sousa (Swi) 69 73 67, Paul Dwyer (Eng) 68 73 68.
210 Pontus Ericsson (Swe) 70 70 70; Julien Quesne (Fra) 69 72 69; Gareth Wright (Wal) 68 70 72, Michael Lorenzo-Vera (Fra) 69 74 67.
211 Felipe Aguilar (Chi) 72 71 68, John Wade (Aus) 68 71 72, Sébastien Delagrange (Fra) 66 75 70, Peter Baker (Eng) 70 73 68, Adam Gee (Eng) 69 69 73, Paul Nilbrink (Nor) 71 70 70, Rodolfo Gonzalez (Arg) 66 73 72, Oliver Whiteley (Eng) 70 73 68, Stephen Browne (Ire) 69 70 72, Iain Pyman (Eng) 71 71 69, Kevin Harper (Eng) 72 69 70.
212 Nicolas Joakimides (Fra) 70 71 71, Alfredo Garcia-Heredia (Spa) 71 69 72, Jean Marc De Polo (Fra) 68 71 73; Neil Walker (Eng) 72 69 71; Stuart Davis (Eng) 70 70 72, Julien Guerrier (Fra) 71 67 74; Benoit Teilleria (Fra) 71 72 69; Antti Ahokas (Fin) 72 69 71, Anders Schmidt Hansen (Den) 71 71 70; Raphaël Pellicioli (Fra) 73 70 69.
213 Bruno-Teva Lecuona (Fra) 70 69 74, Andrea Maestroni (Ita) 73 68 72, Daniel De Leon (Mex) 73 69 71.
214 Thomas Feyrsinger (Aut) 74 69 71, Robert Coles (Eng) 69 73 72, Robert Dinwiddie (Eng) 67 73 74, Emilien Chamaulte (Fra) 74 69 71, Michael Mcgeady (Ire) 71 71 72; Edouard Dubois (Fra) (am) 70 72 72.
215 Inder Van Weerelt (Ned) 70 72 73; Dominique Nouailhac (Fra) 72 70 73, Nicola Maestroni (Ita) 68 74 73, Arnaud Gabellon (Fra) 70 70 75, Charles-Edouard Russo (Fra) 71 72 72, Mikko Korhonen (Fin) 70 68 77, Didier De Vooght (Bel) 72 70 73, Julien Xanthopoulos (Fra) 73 70 72, Magnus A Carlsson (Swe) 70 71 74.
216 Juan Abbate (Arg) 72 70 74.
217 Benjamin Miarka (Ger) 70 73 74.
218 Toni Karjalainen (Fin) 69 73 76; Anthony Snobeck (Fra) 71 71 76.
220 Kasper Linnet Jorgensen (Den) 71 68 81.
224 Jacob Okello (Ken) 68 72 84.

FOUR SCOTS IN CONTENTION FOR
SENIORS VICTORY IN TURKEY

By STEVEN FRANKLIN
Press Officer, European Seniors Tour

Four Scots will go into Sunday's final round with a strong chance of winning the Gloria Classic in Turkey, the second event on the 2007 European Seniors Tour Schedule.
Sam Torrance and Ross Drummond spearhead the Tartan challenge at Gloria Golf Resort, Belek, two strokes behind joint leaders Martin Poxon of England and Doug Johnson of the United States.
Poxon and Johnson both carded six under par 66s during today's second round and top the leaderboard with an eight-under-par totals of 136.
A stroke further back are former Senior Open champion Pete Oakley of the United States, also round in 66, Delroy Cambridge of Jamaica (70) and Australian Stewart Ginn (70), followed on six under par by a strong group that includes Torrance and Drummond.
Torrance birdied two of the closing three holes for a second consecutive 69 while Drummond, playing in only his second European Seniors Tour event, reeled off a six-birdie 67.
Bill Longmuir is the next best placed Scot after rounds of 71 and 68 left him on five under par, two better than Bill McColl (72-69).
However, Aberdonian John Chillas, tied sixth after a first round 69, dropped out of contention with a 74, as did Ladybank's Martin Gray.
Drummond, whose most successful season on The European Tour was chronicled in the best-selling golf book 'Four Iron in the Soul', said: "It's early days for me on the Seniors Tour but I am happy with my game so far. The standard is very good out here. I played very solidly on Friday but was lying 22nd, so there were a lot of scores under par.
"Fortunately today I managed to make some birdies and that has got me up in contention. Par or one under doesn't get the job done out here, so I know I will have to go low tomorrow."
SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
New Course, Gloria Golf Resort, Belek.
Par 144 (2 x 72).
136 Doug Johnson (US) 70 66, Martin Poxon (Eng) 70 66.
137 Pete Oakley (US) 71 66, Stewart Ginn (Aus) 67 70, Delroy Cambridge (Jam) 67 70.
138 José Rivero (Spa) 69 69, Sam Torrance (Sco) 69 69, Terry Gale (Aus) 69 69, Nick Job (Eng) 71 67, Ross Drummond (Sco) 71 67.
139 Bill Longmuir (Sco) 71 68, Luis Carbonetti (Arg) 70 69, Juan Quiros (Spa) 70 69, Tony Johnstone (Zim) 67 72.
140 Jim Rhodes (Eng) 73 67, Giuseppe Cali (Ita) 71 69, Bob Cameron (Eng) 69 71.
141 Carl Mason (Eng) 73 68, Bill McColl (Sco) 72 69, Andrew Murray (Eng) 70 71, Adan Sowa (Arg) 69 72, Guillermo Encina (Chi) 70 71, Horacio Carbonetti (Arg) 68 73.
142 Glenn Ralph (Eng) 74 68, John Benda (US) 74 68, Emilio Rodriguez (Spa) 71 71, Bob Lendzion (US) 71 71, Bobby Lincoln (RSA) 68 74, Gordon J Brand (Eng) 70 72.
143 Kevin Spurgeon (Eng) 75 68, David Merriman (Aus) 73 70, John Chillas (Sco) 69 74, John Mashego (SAf) 70 73, Angel Fernandez (Chi) 71 72, Eamonn Darcy (Ire) 69 74.
144 Gavan Levenson (SAf) 73 71, Denis O'Sullivan (Ire) 71 73, Martin Gray (Sco) 70 74.
145 Mike Ferguson (Aus) 77 68, Jim Lapsley (NZ) 73 72, Ian Mosey (Eng) 73 72, Steve Martin (Sco) 73 72, Bruce Heuchan (Can) 72 73, David J Russell (Eng) 72 73, David Creamer (Eng) 71 74, Bob Larratt (Eng) 71 74, Peter Teravainen (US) 71 74.
146 Noel Ratcliffe (Aus) 77 69, Bill Malley (US) 76 70, Tommy Horton (Eng) 75 71, David Good (Aus) 72 74, Jerry Bruner (US) 72 74.
147 Philippe Dugeny (Fra) 76 71, Eddie Polland (NIr) 75 72, Manuel Piñero (Spa) 75 72, Tony Charnley (Eng) 73 74.
148 Simon Owen (NZ) 73 75149 Gery Watine (Fra) 73 76.
150 Tony Allen (Eng) 75 75, Jean Pierre Sallat (Fra) 74 76, Denis Durnian (Eng) 73 77.
151 Jimmy Heggarty (NIr) 77 74, Antonio Garrido (Spa) 76 75, Ray Carrasco (US) 74 77, Victor Garcia (Spa) 74 77.
153 Tim Rastall (Eng) 79 74, Malcolm Gregson (Eng) 79 74.
154 Alberto Croce (Ita) 75 79.
155 Maurice Bembridge (Eng) 78 77, Mike Miller (Sco) 78 77.
156 Bertus Smit (SAf) 81 75, Nigel Burch (Eng) 80 76.
177 Remzi Irier (Tur) 92 85.

HILLSON ENDS YOUNG ROSS RUN
IN LOTHIANS FINAL

Mark Hillson (Craigielaw) ended the great glory run of 17-year-old James Ross (Royal Burgess) - but only in the final of the Lothians' men's amateur championship over the Bruntsfield Links this afternoon.
Ross, who qualified for the match-play stages only in 30th place, claimed some notable scalps on his way to this morning's semi-finals.
In there he beat the No 5 seed, Craig Elliot (Carrickvale) at the 20th - Ross having also won at the 20th in the quarter-finals.
In the other semi-final, Hillson, the No 11 qualifier, beat John Hall (Royal Musselburgh), the No 15 qualifier by 4 and 2.
In the final, Ross kept his end up but was eventually worn down by Hillson who won the prestigious title by 2 and 1.
Today's results
Semi-finals
J Ross (Royal Burgess) bt C Elliot (Carrickvale) at 20th.,
M D R Hillson (Craigielaw) bt J Hall (Royal Musselburgh) 4 and 2.
Final
Hillson bt Ross 2 and 1.

MHAIRI McKAY IN TOP 20 IN BIG-MONEY
LPGA TOUR EVENT IN VIRGINIA

Mhairi McKay had a second-round 67 (four under par) to be sharing 19th place with Laura Davies (74) after two rounds of the $2,200,000 Michelob Ultra Open at Kingsmill Resort & Spa, Williamsburg in Virginia.
Catriona Matthew had a 71 for a share of 32nd place on 140.
Johanna Head made it through in joint 40th place on 141 after a 72.
But the best placed British player is Becky Morgan from Wales. Becky is in second place, two shots behind pacemaker Sarah Lee, after rounds of 68 and 65 for nine-under-par 133.
Janice Moodie missed the cut with 72 and 74 for 146.
LEADERBOARD
Par 142 (2 x 71)
131 Sarah Lee (US) 63 68.
133 Becky Morgan (Wal) 68 65.
135 Amy Hung (Kor) 67 68.
Other qualifiers:
139 Laura Davies (Eng) 65 74, Mhairi McKay (Sco) 72 67 (jt 19th).
140 Catriona Matthew (Sco) 69 71 (jt 32nd).
141 Johanna Head (Eng) 69 72 (jt 40th).
Non-qualifier:
146 Janice Moodie (Sco) 72 74.

ROSEANNE RETIRES AFTER NINE HOLES IN UTAH

Roseanne Niven, the Scottish Under-18 match-play girls champion from Crieff, retired after completing nine holes of her second round in the NCAA Division 1 women's West Regional Championship at Entrada at Snow Canyon golf course, St George in Utah.
From her scores, it was evident the Scot, who has been a golf scholarship student at the University of California Berkeley, was far from well. She had scored an 84 in the first round over the 6,234yd, par-71 course and then, starting her second round at the 10th, took as many as 48 shots (12 over par) to complete nine holes.
Sweden's Pernilla Lindberg (Oklahoma State) is leading the event by five shots with one round to play. Pernilla has scored a pair of 68s for six-under-par 136.
Yorkshire girl Jodi Ewart (New Mexico) has scored 71 and 75 for 146 to be sharing ninth place with the former British girls' open champion, Anna Nordqvist (Arizona State) with 72 and 74.
Ireland's Dawn-Marie Conaty (Memphis) is back in a share of 75th place on 161 with scores of 82 and 79.

MICHIGAN NIGHTMARE RUN FOR GEMMA

Glasgow's Gemma Webster, who had had a first-round 75, had a nightmare three double bogeys in seven holes during a second-round 84 in the NCAA Division 1 women's Central Regional championship at the University of Michigan course, Ann Arbor.
Gemma's 36-hole tally of 159 put her in a share of 82nd place on 159 with Ireland's Karen Delaney (Kent State) (82-77).
Jacqui Concolino (Vanderbilt) leads by one shot with one round to play after scores of 67 and 68 for seven-under-par 135.
Spain's Belen Mozo (Southern California), winner of both the British women's and British girls' open titles last summer, is sharing fifth place with 68 and 74 for 142.
Ireland's Curtis Cup player Tara Delaney is joint 27th on 149 with 75 and 74.
England's two players at Baylor University, Texas - Hannah Burke and Sian Reddick - are not having a tournament to remember at the end of a college season in which they have done well.
Hannah has had a pair of 77s for 154 and a share of 65th place; Sian has scored 83 and 81 for 164 and joint 98th place in a field of 107.

DANIELLE SHARING 10TH PLACE IN LOUISIANA

Ireland's Danielle McVeigh (Texas A&M) is sharing 10th place with one round to go in the NCAA Division 2 women's East Regional championship at University Club, Baton Rouge in Louisiana.
Danielle has scored 69 and 71 for 140 - six shots behind leader Sydnee Michaels (UCLA) (66-68).
Portia Abbott (Jacksonville State) from Wiltshire has scored 79 and 71 for 150 and a share of 70th place in a field of 108.

GREAT SCOTT! JAMIESON SHARING LEAD IN
CHASE FOR US PRIZE OF $33,500

Glasgow's Scott Jamieson is taking to life as rookie pro on the NGA Hooters Tour in America like the proverbial duck to water.
Last year's Scottish Golf Union Order of Merit winner, who turned pro in November, is sharing the halfway lead in the Quicksilver Classic at Quicksilver Golf Club, Midway in Pennsylvania.
Scott has had rounds of 69 and 64 over a longish course at 7,083yd with a par of 72 for an 11-under-par tally of 133, matched only by Martin Flores from Texas with scores of 68 and 65.
Jamieson had an outward half of six-under-par 30 in his second round, birdieing the second, third, fourth, fifth, seventh and ninth. He continued his hot streak after the turn with birdies at the 12th, 13th and 17th before he dropped his only shot of the round - in front of the clubhouse on the 18th green.
From the ninth hole in his first round, Great Scott had 13 birdies and no bogeys in 27 consecutive holes.
Is this the new Colin Montgomerie we've been waiting for?
First prize is $33,500.
David Skinns, like Jamieson, played four years on the American college circuit and it showed with him too as he climbed into a share of fourth place on 137 with scores of 70 and 67.
And, completing a trio of former US college players, Ulsterman Gareth Maybin, who won this title 12 months ago, is not all that far back in 11th place with 68 and 70 for 138.
The standard is high on this US satellite tour. You had to shoot level par to make the cut and Colin Speirs (Dunkeld) - who also played on the American college circuit - made it with nothing to spare with scores of 71 and 73.
Not so lucky or not so skilful were former Scotland amateur cap from Edinburgh, David Kirkpatrick, a long-time resident of Lakeland, Florida, and South Carolina based Joel Hendry, the twice Scottish youths champion from Elgin.
Kirkpatrick scored a pair of 73s for 146 while Hendry had 72 and 75 for 147.
The starting field was a massive 168 players - all playing huge Hooters Tour membership fees as well as tournament entry fees. That's why the prize funds are so lucrative for up-and-comers like Scott Jamieson.
LEADERBOARD
Par 144 (2 x 72). 7,083yd
133 Scott Jamieson (Sco) 69 64, Martin Flores (Tex) 68 65.
134 Tommy Biershenk (South Caroliina) 66 68.
Other scores:
137 David Skinns (Eng) 70 67 (jt 4th).
138 Gareth Maybin (NIr) 68 70.
144 Colin Spiers (Sco) 71 73.
MISSED CUT AT 144
146 David Kirkpatrick (Sco) 73 73.
147 Joel Hendry (Sco) 72 75.

ABERDEEN TRADES FOURSOMES RESULTS

Last night's results from Hazlehead:

FIRST ROUND

Surveyors w.o. MacLean Electrical scr.

Petrofac Brownfield beat North East Electrical Industries by 18 holes.
Jack Douglas & Ally Fiddes 12, Chris Ackers & Ricky James 0
George Paterson & Willie Donald 6, Derek Sword & Bill Smith 0

Teachers beat Garage Traders by eight holes
.Richard Anderson & Jimmy Lamont 5, Dave Mullen & Graham Bridges 0
Mike Wilson & Ian Brunton 3, Gary Anderson & Craig Malcolm 0

Greenkeepers beat Press by nine holes.
Ross McRae & George Mitchell 1, Roy Pirie & Dean Gardiner 0
Kevin Peace & Robert Hardie 8, Jim Christie & Stuart Campbell 0

SECOND ROUND

Aberdeen Telephones beat Corn Trade by three holes.
Donald Smith & Gregor Davidson 7, Ken Cooper & Greg Davidson-Gall 0
Peter Coutts & Ally Haining 0, Sandy Howie & George Manson 4

Bankers beat Police by four holes.
Colin Grant & Gregor Stewart 3, Brian Ritchie & Jordan Calder 0
Barry Gibson & Evan Duffus 1, Ronnie Yule & Euan Duthie 0.

Next week's programme:

MONDAY EVENING
SECOND ROUND
Tulloch Recruitment v Royal Mail
Morrison Construction v Insurance
Fish Trade v Lawyers
Bakers v Elmar UK
Surveyors v Petrofac Brownfield
Teachers v Greenkeepers

TUESDAY EVENING
Four quarter-final ties.

WEDNESDAY EVENING
Two semi-final ties.

THURSDAY EVENING
Final match.

MICKELSON LEADS BY TWO: TIGER
WOODS TRAILS BY NINE SHOTS
IN US PLAYERS' CHAMPIONSHIP

Phil Mickelson is the halfway leader in the US PGA Tour's Players' Championship at Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach in Florida.
He has had rounds of 67 and 72 for a five-under-par total of 139.
No doubt his new coach, Butch Harmon, will be claiming a bit of credit for putting "Leftie" back on the straight and narrow with his drives.
Tiger Woods made the cut on 148 (75-73) but nine shots is a lot to make up over 36 holes at this level - even for a man like the Tiger.
Colin Montgomerie missed out by one shot with scores of 76 and 74 for 150.
Paul Casey (76-78 for 154) will also be on the sidelines for the remainder of the tournament.
But Luke Donald, Ian Poulter and Padraig Harrington are still in there pitching. They are all on the 146 mark.
HALFWAY QUALIFIERS
Par 144 (2 x 72). Players from US unless stated.
139 Phil Mickelson 67 72
140 Nathan Green (Aus) 71 69
141 Rodney Pampling (Aus) 70 71, Sean O'Hair 72 69, Carl Pettersson (Swe) 70 71, Peter Lonard (Aus) 69 72
142 Chris DiMarco 68 74, Tom Pernice Jnr. 74 68
143 Kirk Triplett 75 68, Mathew Goggin (Aus) 72 71, Jim Furyk 71 72, Jose Coceres (Arg) 73 70, Stewart Cink 74 69, Tom Lehman 70 73, Rocco Mediate 72 71
144 Charley Hoffman 75 69, J.P. Hayes 71 73, Steve Lowery 78 66, Kevin Sutherland 73 71, Cliff Kresge 72 72, Steve Elkington (Aus) 73 71, Aaron Baddeley (Aus) 72 72, Jose-Maria Olazabal (Spa) 78 66, Rich Beem 71 73, Jason Gore 70 74
145 Adam Scott (Aus) 74 71, Retief Goosen (SAf) 71 74, Jeff Quinney 71 74, Harrison Frazar 74 71, Geoff Ogilvy (Aus) 74 71, Robert Karlsson (Swe) 77 68, Vijay Singh (Fij) 74 71, Daniel Chopra (Swe) 74 71, KJ Choi (Kor) 71 74, Jonathan Byrd 74 71, Tim Clark (SAf) 73 72, Stuart Appleby (Aus) 74 71
146 Jerry Kelly 73 73, Rory Sabbatini (SA) 67 79, Arron Oberholser 73 73, Zach Johnson 73 73, Sergio Garcia (Spa) 73 73, Ernie Els (Rsa) 73 73, Ian Poulter (Eng) 75 71, Luke Donald (Eng) 74 72, Brandt Snedeker 72 74, Padraig Harrington (Ire) 76 70
147 Steve Stricker 72 75, John Senden (Aus) 73 74, Ted Purdy 74 73, John Mallinger 73 74, Charles Howell III 73 74, Joe Durant 76 71, John Rollins 76 71, Mike Weir (Can) 75 72, Corey Pavin 75 72, Boo Weekley 74 73, Ryan Moore 78 69
148 Tiger Woods 75 73, Tim Herron 77 71, Davis Love III 77 71, Todd Hamilton 75 73, Mathias Gronberg (Swe) 75 73, Kenny Perry 73 75, J.B. Holmes 76 72, Ken Duke 76 72, Ryuji Imada (Jap) 77 71, Henrik Stenson (Swe) 72 76
149 Bernhard Langer (Ger) 72 77, Joey Sindelar 74 75, Charl Schwartzel (SAf) 74 75, Paul Azinger 78 71, David Toms 77 72, Heath Slocum 78 71, Bill Haas 76 73, Ryan Palmer 77 72, Brett Wetterich 74 75, Scott Verplank 72 77, Frank Lickliter II 77 72
MISSED THE CUT
150 Kent Jones 80 70, Bart Bryant 76 74, Jeff Gove 79 71, Brian Gay 80 70, Colin Montgomerie (Sco) 76 74, Stephen Leaney (Aus) 77 73, Mark Wilson 79 71, Hunter Mahan 78 72, Justin Leonard 78 72, J J Henry 76 74, Brett Quigley 78 72, Fredrik Jacobson (Swe) 76 74, Shaun Micheel 75 75, Shigeki Maruyama (Jpn) 76 74, D.J. Trahan 76 74
151 Brian Davis (Eng) 71 80, Vaughn Taylor 75 76, Craig Perks (Nzl) 75 76, Steve Flesch 79 72, Eric Axley 75 76, Woody Austin 81 70, Nick O'Hern (Aus) 76 75, Dean Wilson 75 76, Jeff Maggert 80 71, Bob Estes 82 69, Shane Bertsch 73 78
152 Charles Warren 78 74, Joe Ogilvie 79 73, Billy Mayfair 78 74, Chris Couch 77 75, Bubba Watson 77 75, Richard S Johnson (Swe) 78 74, Trevor Immelman (SAf) 80 72, Robert Allenby (Aus) 74 78, Bo Van Pelt 77 75, Briny Baird 78 74, Douglas Labelle 77 75, Bobby Wadkins 77 75
153 Will MacKenzie 74 79, David Branshaw 82 71, Camilo Villegas (Col) 80 73, Troy Matteson 75 78, Fred Funk 80 73, Jesper Parnevik (Swe) 76 77
154 Paul Casey (Eng) 76 78, Billy Andrade 81 73, Michael Campbell (NZ) 75 79, Niclas Fasth (Swe) 78 76, Ben Curtis 76 78
155 Nick Watney 75 80, Pat Perez 77 78, Jeff Sluman 75 80, Greg Owen (Eng) 77 78, Jason Bohn 76 79
156 Mark Calcavecchia 82 74, Lucas Glover 79 77, Olin Browne 81 75, Stephen Ames (Can) 77 79
157 Chad Campbell 79 78, Paul Goydos 80 77
159 Stephen Marino 81 78
160 Robert Garrigus 85 75
161 Anthony Kim 78 83.

LOTHIANS CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS
At Bruntsfield Links
SECOND ROUND
J Ross (Royal Burgess) bt T Poyser (Marriott Dalmahoy) 4 and 3.
G C Turner (West Linton) bt A G Culverwell (Dunbar) 2 and 1.
C Elliot (Carrickvale) bt G Fraser (Kingsknowe) 3 and 2.
R Anderson (Duddingston) bt A M Anderson (Bruntsfield Links) 1 hole.
S Armstrong (Turnhouse) bt S Walker (West Linton) 2 and 1.
M D R Hillson (Craigielaw) bt M A White (Haddington) 4 and 3.
J Hall (Royal Musselburgh) bt E C Shannly (Linlithgow) 1 hole.
S Corrigan (Greenburn) bt D W H Hunter (Marriott Dalmahoy) 1 hole.
QUARTER-FINALS
J Ross (Royal Burgess) bt G C Turner (West Linton) 3 and 2.
C Elliot (Carrickvale) bt R Anderson (Duddingston) 2 and 1.
M D R Hillson (Craigielaw) bt S Armstrong (Turnhouse) 1 hole.
J Hall (Royal Musselburgh) bt S Corrigan (Greenburn) at 20th.
SEMI-FINALS (Saturday, May 12)
Ross v Elliott
Hillson v Hall
FINAL (Saturday, May 12)
Ross or Elliott v Hillson or Hall.

COMMONWEALTH CHAMPIONS BRITAIN
BEATEN BY SPRINGBOKS

ON FINAL DAY

Great Britain, having already clinched the Commonwealth Tournament title on Thursday, lost their 100 per cent record in their final match at Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club.
After beating Canada, Australia and New Zealand, the British team lost 5 ½-1/2 to South Africa.
Australia beat New Zealand 5-2 in the other Friday match.
Britain topped the table with 3pt out of four.
Australia, South Africa and New Zealand each had 2pt. Australia, winners of the competition, played every four years, in 1995, 1999 and 2003, were the official runners-up to Britain.
The Aussies’ individual games-won tally of 16 ½ put them ahead of South Africa (14 ½) and Canada (10 ½).
New Zealand came bottom of the table with one point.
Ladies Golf Union chief executive Lesley Burn said from her St Andrews headquarters:
“Whoopee, what a fantastic win and what a stgart to the LGU’s most ex citing year yet! It is 16 years since we last won the Commonwealth Tournament and this victory underlines the talent that now exists in the British Isles.
“I am a great believer that success breeds success, so we can no look forward with confidence to the Vagliano Trophy later this year.”

Image above, by courtesy of Jeremy Campion, shows the tournament winners (left to right): Melissa Reid, Breanne Loucks, skipper Sue Turner, Naomi Edwards, Krystle Caithness and Kerry Smith.
It was almost inevitable that the British team, on a high when Thursday’s events conspired to make them champions even on their rest day, would suffer some sort of reaction on the final day.
South Africa had a much bigger incentive to finish with a victory and they at last found the form that had made them one of the favourites following their triumph in the women’s world amateur team championship for the Espirito Santo Trophy, also on home turf, earlier in the year.
The South Africans shared the foursomes with Britain and then cut the champions down to size in the singles by winning four of the five ties.
Krystle Caithness, the only Scot in the British squad, lost by 1 hole to Gina Switala.
The only British player not to lose in the final set of singles was Kerry Smith from the Waterlooville club, Hampshire. Kerry halved with Kelli Shean.
That meant that Miss Smith topped the individual British table with seven wins and a halved match – 7 1/2pt out of eight.
The other GB tallies were:
Naomi Edwards (six wins, two losses) 6pt.
Melissa Reid (four wins, one halved match, three losses): 4 1/2pt.
Breanne Loucks (four wins, one halved match, three losses) 4 1/2pt
Krystle Caithness (two wins, two losses) 2pt.

Friday results:
GREAT BRITAIN 1 ½, SOUTH AFRICA 5 ½
Foursomes: K Smith & N Edwards bt K Shean & I Verwey 1 hole; B Loucks & M Reid lost to G Switala & A Simon 1 hole (1-1).
Singles: Loucks lost to B Strauss 3 and 2, K Caithness lost to Switala 1 hole, Edwards lost to Verwey 2 and 1, Smith halved with Shean;l Reid lost to Simon 2 and 1 ( 1/2 -4 ½).
NEW ZEALAND 2, AUSTRALIA 5
Foursomes: T Clelland & P Smith lost to F Bondad & H Oh 6 and 4; Da Som Lee & Yeon Song Kim bt E Bennett & S Na 1 hole (1-1).
Singles – L Eruera lost to S Park 3 and 2, Smith lost to Na 4 and 2, Kim bt Oh 5 and 3, Lee lost to Bondad 1 hole, Clelland lost to Bennett 5 and 3 (1-4).
FINAL TABLE
1 Great Britain 3 pt (19)
2 Australia 2pt (16 ½).
3 South Africa 2pt (14 ½).
4 Canada 2pt (10 ½).
5 New Zealand 1pt (9 ½).
+Figures in brackets are individual games won.

ALISON DAVIDSON WINS STIRLING & CLACKMANNAN COUNTY TITLE

FOR FIFTH TIME SINCE 1990

Former Curtis Cup player and past Scottish champion Alison Davidson, now 39, won the Stirling & Clackmannan women’s county golf championship for a fifth time over a 17-year span at Alloa Golf Club this evening.
Mrs Davidson, a Stirling Golf Club member, never lost a hole in beating first-time finalist Margaret Tough (Falkirk) by 5 and 4 with level par figures.
Margaret put up stout resistance to halve the first five holes before her opponent went one up at the sixth, and two up at the ninth.
Mrs Davidson then wrapped up the title by winning the 11th, 12th and 14th holes.
This was Alison’s seventh county final. She had previously won the title in 1990, 1991, 1992 and 2005. She was beaten in the finals of 2002 and 2003.
A mother of two, Mrs Davidson averages, if she is lucky, one round of golf a week nowadays.
Result:
Final – A Davidson (Stirling) bt M Tough (Falkirk) 5 and 4.

EUAN CAMERON (64) WINS AT CAMBUSLANG

Euan Cameron (Hamilton) won the top individual pro prize of £879 in today's Special Olympics Cambuslang pro-am.
Euan had a score of six-under-par 64 - three shots ahead of Callum Nicoll (Prestwick) and Craig Ronald (Carluke) in joint second place. They each earned £651.
Top 10 totals:
64 E Cameron (Hamilton) £879.
67 C Ronald (Carluke), C Nicoll (Prestwick). £615 each.
68 R Gray (Torrance House), P McKechnie (Braid Hills), G Hutcheon (Peterculter), R Arnott (Bishopbriggs). £301 each.
69 S Savage (Dalmuir), G Collinson (Esporta Dougalston), S Gray (Hayston), D Robertson (Czech Design), C Lee (All Golf Swing Centre). £152 each.

HOME WIN FOR McELHINNEY IN EUROPRO
TOUR EVENT IN IRELAND

Irishman Brian McElhinney has won the first ever PGA EuroPro Tour event to be staged in his home country. He hit a round of 68 to finish on two-under at the Roganstown Golf and Country Club, Dublin to collect the £10,000 top prize.
A member of the North West Golf Club in Fahan, Co Donegal and a former European individual amateur champion, Brian had earlier scored totals of 71 and 72 and finished one shot ahead of three players.
After the first day McElhinney was tied 27th but four birdies in his final eight holes saw him come from nowhere to clinch the title.
Robert Steele and Christopher Hanson had been at the top of the leaderboard at the start of the last day but scores of 74 and 75 respectively proved costly.
Elsewhere, Englishman Mark Prue, who represents the Hillside Golf Club, produced one of the finest rounds of the week as he hit a four-under 67 to end his tournament in style.
His round included six birdies and two bogeys and helped him restore some pride after a disappointing second day effort on Thursday of five-over that effectively ended his chances of winning.
But the 67 today saw Prue end on level par to finish in tied fifth position and earn him £1,125 in prize money.
Mark Laskey (Brocket Hall) and Glyn Bateman (Royal Eastbourne) had both been inside the top ten after Day One but scores of 80 and 81 respectively on Thursday saw them dramatically fall down the leaderboard.
Bateman recovered well to hit one-under but the tournament ended in poor fashion for Laskey as a final day 76 saw him end far further down the field than he would have hoped for.
Graham Gordon from Aberdeen finished the top Scot on four-over-par 217 in joint 24th place, ahead of Paul Cormack (Inchmarlo) on 219 in jt 34th place.
Graham earned £355, Paul £275.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 213 (3 x 71)
211 B McElhinney (Ire) 71 72 68 (£10,000).
212 J Templer (Eng) 71 74 67, A Smith (Wal) 71 73 68, R Steele (Eng) 69 69 74 (£3,066 each).
Other scores:
217 G Gordon (Sco) 75 72 70 (jt 24th: £355).
219 P Cormack (Sco) 74 75 70 (jt 34th: £275).
222 P Doherty (Sco) 74 75 73 (jt 44th: £225).

ONLY TWO SCOTS BEAT CHALLENGE
TOUR CUT IN FRANCE

Only two Scots - George Murray and Andrew McArthur - and West-Linton based Welshman Gareth Wright survived the halfway cut at one-under-par 143 in the European Challenge Tour's Toulouse Open over the 6,924yd, par-72 course at Seilh.
Rookie Murray from Anstruther, 23, maintained his challenge with a 70 for seven-under-par 137 to be in joint fifth position. The former Scottish amateur champion started well - birdies at the third and fifth - sagged a bit in the middle with bogeys at the 11th and 13th, but then picked up momentum again to birdie the long 14th and short 15th.
Andrew McArthur, another past Scottish champion, had a 71 for 141 and a share of 30th place.. After a uninspired outward half, the Windyhill man was three under par for the last eight holes with birdies at the 11th, 12th and 17th.
Gareth Wright had a 70 for 138 to be in joint seventh position.
Scott Henderson missed out on 145 after a second-round 70 that included a triple bogey 7 at the second. Birdies at the fifth, eighth and 14th were cancelled out by three bogeys.
Peter Whiteford had a 72 for 146. He had as many birdies as any of the leaders - six in all - but he squandered too many shots - four single bogeys and a double at the 18th.
Former Walker Cup man David Patrick hardly looked like the man who won the Callaway Challenge on the Tartan Tour last week. The Edinburgh player had a 76 for 151 with halves of 33 and 43 in his second round. He had an eagle and two birdies in the first seven holes and then two double bogeys on the way home.

LEADING TWO-ROUND TOTALS
Par 144 (2 x 72)
135 M Bothma (SAf) 69 66, C Reimbold (Ger) 64 71.
136 A Bossert (Swi) 67 69, N Vanhootegem (Bel) 71 65.
137 G Paddison (NZ) 70 67, G Murray (Sco) 67 70.
Other scores:
138 G Wright (Al) 68 70.
141 A McArthur (Sco) 70 71.
Non-qualifiers included:
145 S Henderson (Sco) 70 75.
146 P Whiteford (Sco) 74 72.
151 D Patrick (Sco) 75 76.

KATHRYN QUALIFIES BUT LYNN KENNY
MISSES CUT BY 12 SHOTS IN SPAIN

Kathryn Imrie made it with nothing to spare but Lynn Kenny went crashing out of the Spanish Women's Open at the 36-hole stage at Mediterraneo Country Club, Castellon.
Kathryn had rounds of 73 and 74 for 147, dead on the cut-off mark.
Lynn Kenny had rounds of 75 and 84 (42-42) for 159 - 12 shots over the limit.
Inverness-based New Zealander Liz McKinnon also failed to qualify for the final round. She scored 76 and 79 for 155.
Australian Nikki Garrett leads by one shot with an 11-under-par tally of 133 (68-65).
Her closest challengers are Doncaster's Rebecca Hudson and Gwladys Nocera (France), both on 134.
Rebecca has scored 65 and 69, Gwlaldys 66 and 68.
SCOREBOARD
Par 144 (2 x 72).
133 Nikki Garrett (Aus) 68 65.
134 Rebecca Hudson (Eng) 65 69, Gwladys Nocera (Fra) 66 68.
136 Kirsty Taylor (Eng) 66 70.
138 Danielle Masters (Eng) 67 71.
139 Louise Friberg (Swe) 68 71.
Other qualifiers included:
147 Kathryn Imrie (Sco) 73 74.
Non-qualifiers included:
155 Liz McKinnon (NZ) 76 79.
159 Lynn Kenny (Archerfield Links) 75 84.

NO SCOTS LEFT IN SECOND HALF OF

EUROPEAN TOUR EVENT IN SPAIN

All four Scots - Euan Little (145), Scott Drummond (146), David Drysdale (148) and Andrew Oldcorn (152) - missed the cut figure of 144 at the halfway stage of the Valle Romano Open de Andalucia at Aloha Golf Club on Spain's Costa del Sol.

South African youngster Louis Oosthuizen left several well-known names in the shade, seizing the lead with a second-round 67 for a 10-under tally of 134.
Playing partner Steve Jones (67), the 1996 US Open champion, bogeyed the last to fall two strokes behind the 24-year-old pacesetter.
Lee Westwood was also two adrift of Oosthuizen after breaking the Aloha course record with a 64.
Oosthuizen was one ahead of last week's Italian Open winner Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano of Spain (68), first-round leader Matthew Zions of Australia (70) and Frenchman Francois Delamontagne (66).
The leader, though, was not overly impressed with his own form.
"I hit the ball really badly today but I kept recovering well and I made some crucial putts that kept up my momentum," he said.
Jones, who moved into contention by holing his second shot at the par-4 15th, was full of praise for the South African.
"He was bombing it, I was just trying to keep up with him," said the American. "He's going to be the one to catch this weekend, the way he's playing."
SUCCESSIVE WINS
Despite spending much of his time running the tournament he is promoting, Fernandez-Castano was on track for successive wins.
Tour rookie Zions woke up with a sore throat and was shivering badly at the start of his round. But he drank lots of water before a last-hole birdie gave him a big boost.
Westwood changed his putter, his grip and his fortunes on the greens dramatically as he lowered the Aloha record by one stroke with eight birdies.
The 2000 European No 1 had despaired after a dreadful start to the season with his putter.
Switching from a belly-putter to a normal model and deploying his left hand below his right, Westwood at last found his form on the greens.
"I'd brought out five putters in anticipation because of the way things have been going," he said.
"This one I used for the US Masters first round and vowed I'd never use it again but it suits the greens here. I putted cack-handed and I've not done that for a long, long time."

SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 144 (2 x 72). Players from GB&I unless stated.

134 Louis Oosthuizen (SAf) 67 67
135 Francois Delamontagne (Fra) 69 66, Matthew Zions (Aus) 65 70, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (Spa) 67 68
136 Lee Westwood 72 64, Steve Jones (US) 69 67
137 Carl Suneson (Spa) 69 68, Michael Jonzon (Swe) 69 68, Richard McEvoy 69 68, David Higgins 69 68
138 Chris Gane 67 71, Garry Houston 71 67, Sam Walker 69 69, Soren Hansen (Den) 70 68, Joakim Haeggman (Swe) 67 71
139 Gary Lockerbie 67 72, Alvaro Salto (Spa) 70 69, Jamie Donaldson 70 69, Phillip Archer 69 70, Alejandro Canizares (Spa) 66 73, Oliver Fisher 70 69
140 Sebastian Fernandez (Arg) 70 70, David Griffiths 68 72, Gareth Davies 69 71, Fredrik Andersson Hed (Swe) 69 71, Paul Broadhurst 70 70, Thomas Bjorn (Den) 71 69, James Hepworth 72 68, Sam Little 71 69, Thomas Levet (Fra) 74 66
141 Shaun P Webster 74 67, Birgir Hafthorsson (Ice) 73 68, Nicolas Colsaerts (Bel) 68 73, David Lynn 70 71, Carlos Rodiles (Spa) 72 69, Marcus Higley 70 71, Matthew Millar (Aus) 68 73, Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) 72 69, Notah Begay III (USA) 71 70, Eduardo De La Riva (Spa) 68 73, Santiago Luna (Spa) 72 69
142 Damien McGrane 72 70, Carlos Balmaseda (Spa) 71 71, Terry Pilkadaris (Aus) 71 71, Johan Axgren (Swe) 74 68, Pedro Linhart (Spa) 72 70, Sven Struver (Ger) 71 71, James Heath 75 67, Rafael Cabrera Bello (Spa) 69 73, Ian Garbutt 72 70
143 Juan Parron (Spa) 72 71, Andrew Butterfield 70 73, Per-Ulrik Johansson (Swe) 72 71, Scott Strange (Aus) 72 71, Peter Gustafsson (Swe) 73 70, Gary Emerson 71 72, Robert Rock 70 73, Carlos Aguilar (Spa) 76 67, Yong-eun Yang (Kor) 74 69, Wade Ormsby (Aus) 73 70, Paul McGinley 71 72, Philip Golding 74 69
144 Alvaro Velasco (Spa) 72 72, Jesus Maria Arruti (Spa) 73 71, Sion Bebb 70 74, Diego Borrego (Spa) 73 71, Rafael Echenique (Arg) 73 71, Simon Dyson 70 74, Anthony Wall 72 72, Adrien Mork (Fra) 71 73, Daniel Quiros (Spa) 72 72, Peter Fowler (Aus) 73 71, Jorge Benedetti (Col) 71 73, Martin Maritz (Rsa) 72 72
MISSED CUT
145 Joakim Backstrom (Swe) 70 75, Steve Alker (NZ) 73 72, Benn Barham 69 76, Simon Nash (Aus) 71 74, Andrew Raitt 72 73, Euan Little 72 73, Mads Vibe-Hastrup (Den) 70 75, Manuel Merizalde (Col) 72 73, Phil Worthington 75 70, Ariel Canete (Arg) 73 72, Miles Tunnicliff 73 72
146 Martin Erlandsson (Swe) 70 76, Warren Bennett 76 70, Jose Manuel Carriles (Spa) 72 74, Ignacio Garrido (Spa) 73 73, Scott Drummond 77 69, Francois Calmels (Fra) 76 70, Kenneth Ferrie 69 77
147 Francis Valera (Spa) 74 73, Andrew Tampion (Aus) 75 72, Henrik Nystrom (Swe) 74 73, Jean Hugo (SAf) 72 75, Tomas Jesus Munoz (Spa) 72 75, Eirik Tage Johansen (Nor) 71 76, Alessandro Tadini (Ita) 74 73, Taichi Teshima (Jpn) 74 73, David Bransdon (Aus) 74 73, Simon Hurd 73 74, Cesar Monasterio (Arg) 74 73
148 Alexandre Rocha (Bra) 75 73, David Drysdale 74 74, Lee S James 71 77, Jose Luis Adarraga Gomez (Spa) 73 75, Keith Horne (Rsa) 78 70, Edward Rush 72 76, Fredrik Widmark (Swe) 74 74
149 Rafael Gomez (Arg) 78 71, Tim Milford 75 74, Augustin Domingo (Spa) 76 73, Thomas Nielsen (Den) 76 73, Pelle Edberg (Swe) 76 73, Jonathan Lomas 75 74
150 Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (Fra) 73 77, Raphael Eyraud (Fra) 72 78, Denny Lucas 70 80, Matthew Richardson 76 74, Pablo Larrazabal (Spa) 77 73, Gabriel Canizares (Spa) 75 75, Daniel Vancsik (Arg) 73 77, Carlos Quevedo (Spa) 76 74, Stuart Little 75 75, Manuel Quiros (Spa) 76 74
151 Mattias Eliasson (Swe) 78 73, David Dixon 75 76
152 Carlos Del Moral (Spa) 75 77, Patrik Sjoland (Swe) 79 73, Ivo Giner (Spa) 75 77, Andrew Oldcorn 76 76, Terry Price (Aus) 73 79, Carlos De Corral (Spa) 79 73
153 Raul Quiros (Spa) 78 75, Vicente Blazquez (Spa) 79 74, Mickael Dieu (Fra) 78 75
154 Jamie Spence 68 86
155 Francisco Cea (Spa) 76 79
156 Luis Claverie (Spa) 80 76
159 Andres Jimenez (Spa) 86 73

ROSEANNE'S FORM SLUMPS IN UTAH

Scottish Under-18 girls' match-play champion Roseanne Niven's recent upsurge of form has nosedived in the NCAA Division 1 West Regional championship at Entrada at Snow Canyon Golf Club, St George in Utah.
A student at the University of California Berkeley for five months, Roseanne had a first-round, 13-over-par 84 to be lying joint 105th in the field of 108 behind leader Pernilla Lindberg (Oklahoma State).
The Swedish player set the pace with a fine round of three-under-par 678 over the 6,274yd, par-71 course.
Jodi Ewart (New Mexico) from Catterick was lying in joint sixth place after a 71.
Ireland's Dawn-Marie Conaty (Memphis) had an 82 to be sharing 69th place.
LATER NEWS: Starting at the 10th hole in her second round, Roseanne covered her first nine holes in 12-over-par 48, including two triple bogeys and two double bogeys.

GEMMA AND TARA BEST OF GB&I
PLAYERS UP MICHIGAN WAY

British and Irish players did not have a particularly good first day in the NCAA Division 1 women's Central Regional championship over the University of Michigan's Par-71 course (6,116yd) at Ann Arbor.
Ireland international Tara Delaney (Kent State) and Scotland cap Gemma Webster (Ohio State) did best of the bunch - and they were back in a share of 31st place in a field of 107 on the four-over-par 75 mark.
Tara had halves of 40 and 35, Gemma, also starting at the 10th, bogeyed the 12th, 15th, 16th and 17th and then parred holes one to nine.
England's Hannah Burke and Sian Reddick, both students at Baylor University, Texas, had rounds of 77 and 83 respectively. Hannah was in a share of 56th place. She had a double bogey 5 at the short 12th and no birdies.
Tara Delaney's sister Karen at an 82.
Jacqui Concolino (Vanderbilt) led the field with a 67.
The three players on 68 included Belen Mozo (Southern California), the Spaniard who won both the British girls and women's open amateur titles in Northern Ireland last summer.
Southern California (283) lead the team event from Texas Christian and Indiana, both on 289.

CZECH MATE AS SCOTS FLOOD TOP

TWENTY IN IRISH STROKE-PLAY

AT ROYAL DUBLIN

Unheralded Continental player Marek Novy from the Czech Republic carded a one under par 71 to lead the field on day one of the AIB sponsored Irish Amateur Open at Royal Dublin Golf Club.
The 22-year-old shot four birdies and dropped only three shots in difficult conditions as high winds and rain swept across the Bull Island.Novy leads by one stroke from a group of four who shot level par rounds including Scottish Walker Cup hopefuls Lloyd Saltman and Keir McNicholl, Rhys Enoch from Wales and Finn Joonas Granberg.
All in all it was a good day for the Scots in the field with plenty of them in the top 20.
On 73 and in joint sixth position was US amateur champion Richie Ramsay (Royal Aberdeen), pictured, a former winner of the Irish event, and Kevin McAlpine (Alyth), the reigning Scottish amateur match-play champion.
Glenn Campbell (Blairgowrie, a past Scottish champion was on 74 alongside Paul O'Hara (Colville Park) and youngster Shaun McAllister (Craigielaw), one shot ahead of Bryan Fotheringham from Forres and Robert McKnight of Kilmarnock Barassie.
Lloyd Saltman's younger brother Zack, Callum Macaulay (Tulliallan), just flown back from the University of Missippi, and Scott Henry (Cardross) were on 76.
Scottish youth cap Philip McLean from Peterhead was on 77.
Steven McEwan (Caprington) had a 79.

FIRST-ROUND SCOREBOARD
Players from Ireland unless stated.
71 M Novy (Czech Rep).
72 R Enoch (Wal), J Granberg (Fin), L Saltman (Sco), K McNicoll (Sco).
73 R Zwahlen (Fra), K McAlpine (Sco), J Morris, R Ramsay (Sco), R McIlroy.
74 L Lennox, R McCarthy, N Edwards (Wa), P Figueiredo (Porl), R Bechu (Fra), R Kilpatrick, J Caldwell, B Walton, P O'Hara (Sco), C Geraghty (Eng), S McAllister (Sco), G Campbell (Sco), C Doran.
75 N Grant, P Cutler, K Le Sager (Fra), R Thuillier (Fra), B Fotheringham (Sco), P Murray, R McKnight (Sco).
76 C Macaulay (Sco), S Henry (Sco, G Cambis (Fra), Z Gould (Wal), B Evans (Eng), X Poncelet (Fra), E Richardson (Eng), Z Saltman (Sco), M Veijalainen (Fin), B Grace (SAf), L Allen (Eng), A McCloy.
77 R Thomas (Wal), A Hogan, D Leathem, A Rosado (Por), R Cannon, J Carvill, J Savolampi (Fin), A Ross (Can), G Lawlor, J McGinn, M Gaynor (US), P McLean (Sco), N Kearney, B Westgate (Eng).
78 G O'Neill (Jer), E O'Sullivan, M Armitage (Eng), A Runcie (Wal), M Sinclair, R McNamara, T Ortner (Aut), S Ward, D Lernihan, J Lyons.
79 B Norton (US), S McEwan (Sco), S Doherty, J Smedley (Eng), E McAnoy, J Pernaa (Fin), S Lowry, J Guillet (Fra), M Thistleton (Eng), D Morgan, W Rieder (Aut).
80 C Cousins (Wal), S Kindsted (Fin), N Henriques (Por), B Jones (Eng), J Haglund (Fin), M McCoy (US), E O'Connell, L Matthews (Wal), R Kellett (Sco), C Vance (Eng).
81 M O'Sullivan, R Leonard, S Archibald (Eng, T Sistonen (Fin, G Carey, E Mercadier (Fra), M Barbosa (US), J Dale (Eng), T Halpen (Can).
82 S O'Brien (US), M Salminen (Fin), S Grant, P Nelson (SAf), P O'Hanlon.
83 N Catesson (Fra), J Vickery (Wal), E Saxel (Eng), N Kirchner (Aut), C Mivis (Bel).
84 K Hammer (US), R Boal.
85 A G Wenne (Swe), B Kosmin (Fra).
86 C Scotto (Fra), A Fadel (US), W McCully.
87 T Wyatt (US).
88 T McGowan, N Tyry (Fin).
89 J Shufflebotham (Wal), R Merchant (Wal).
90 C Levitte (Fra).
93 R Maunder (Eng)

SAM PLAYS IT AGAIN - BACK

IN ACTION WITH A

BOGEY-FREE 69 IN TURKEY

By STEVEN FRANKLIN

Press Officer, European Seniors Tour

Sam Torrance made a classy return to European Seniors Tour action at the Gloria Classic in Turkey today after battling back from a career-threatening injury.

Torrance, No. 1 on the over-50s' Order of Merit in each of the previous two years, is not fully recovered from a serious hand injury but still managed to negotiate the New Course at Gloria Golf Resort, Belek without dropping a shot.

Sam's three-under-par 69, matched by Aberdonian John Chillas, saw the two Scots finish the day in joint sixth place, two shots off the pace.Tony Johnstone of Zimbabwe, a former winner of the PGA Championship at Wentworth Club, Stewart Ginn of Australia, a Senior Major winner on the US Champions Tour, and Delroy Cambridge of Jamaica share the lead after rounds of 67.

For Torrance it was only his second competitive outing since November last year when he was first struck down by a painful index finger on his right hand.

He missed the opening event of the 2007 European Seniors Tour in Barbados, but after successfully completing 18 holes in Turkey he was feeling much happier about the future.The former Ryder Cup Captain, who picked up his shots at the second, third and 18th holes, said: "My hand is not great but it's on the mend. I was told six weeks ago it was arthritis, then I was told two weeks ago that no way was it arthritis.

"I was put in touch with a guy from New Zealand and he has done a lot of manipulation work from my finger up my forearm, bending it out and stretching it. It's 70 per cent better and in addition he has given me some herbal medication to take.

"I can no longer do my waggle (at address), but these are the things you have to put up with when you are an old man. Three months ago I really wasn't that sure whether I would play again.

"I didn't want to let that out, but now I know I will be able to and I am delighted to be back. I played really solid today and only missed one green."
Chillas was "flying" in the early holes with a string of birdies at the second, third, fourth and fifth. He dropped his first shot at the ninth to be out in 34 and bogeyed the 13th but finished on a high with his fifth birdie of the day at the 18th.

Martin Gray, joint 13th on 70, birdied the ninth, 12th and 18th, shedding a stroke only at the 10th.

Ross Drummond and Bill Longmuir are two of the bunch in joint 22nd place on 71.

Ross deviated from par at only three holes - the first and 18th which he birdied and the fifth which he bogeyed.

Bill birdied the second, seventh, 16th and 18th, bogeying the fourth, 12th and 14th.

Steve Martin, a rookie on the Seniors Tour, having gained his player's card at the Portugal Q School late last year, had to settle for a 73. In fact it looked like being a 75 until he got a brilliant eagle 3 at the long last hole. Earlier the Dundee man had bogeyed the first, 11th and 13th.

Bill McColl was also on 73 but after 10 holes he was in contention to lead at the end of the day. The Anglo-Scot birdied the first, second, sixth, ninth and 10th and only a bogey at the eighth had knocked him back to four under par for the day. Then came a horrendous run of bogeys on the inward half when he didn't look the same player at all.

McColl bogeyed the 11th, 12th, 13th, 15 and 17th.

Mike Miller signed for a 78 after a mediocre outward half of 42 with five bogeys and no birdies. He continued to bogey his way round until birdies at the 16th and 18th brightened the day for the Glasgow man.

FIRST ROUND SCOREBOARD
Gloria Golf Resort New Course (6,772yd), Belek. Par 72
67 Stewart Ginn (Aus), Tony Johnstone (Zim), Delroy Cambridge (Jam)68 Horacio Carbonetti (Arg), Bobby Lincoln (SAf).
69 Eamonn Darcy (Ire), Adan Sowa (Arg), Terry Gale (Aus), Bob Cameron (Eng), José Rivero (Esp), Sam Torrance (Sco), John Chillas (Sco).
70 Doug Johnson (US), Luis Carbonetti (Arg), Gordon J Brand (Eng), Juan Quiros (Esp), Andrew Murray (Eng), Guillermo Encina (Chi), Martin Gray (Sco), Martin Poxon (Eng), John Mashego (SAf).
71 Angel Fernandez (Chi), Pete Oakley (US), Bob Lendzion (US), Bob Larratt (Eng), Bill Longmuir (Sco), Denis O'Sullivan (Ire), Peter Teravainen (US), Giuseppe Cali (Ita), Ross Drummond (Sco), Nick Job (Eng), Emilio Rodriguez (Esp), David Creamer (Eng).
72 David J Russell (Eng), Jerry Bruner (USA), Bruce Heuchan (Can), Bill McColl (Sco), David Good (Aus).
73 Steve Martin (Sco), Ian Mosey (Eng), Simon Owen (NZ), Denis Durnian (Eng), Gavan Levenson (SAf), Carl Mason (Eng), Jim Rhodes (Eng), Gery Watine (Fra), David Merriman (Aus), Tony Charnley (Eng), Jim Lapsley (NZ).
74 Ray Carrasco (US), John Benda (US), Jean Pierre Sallat (Fra), Victor Garcia (Spa), Glenn Ralph (Eng).
75 Kevin Spurgeon (Eng), Tommy Horton (Eng), Manuel Piñero (Esp), Eddie Polland (NIr), Tony Allen (Eng), Alberto Croce (Ita).
76 Philippe Dugeny (Fra), Antonio Garrido (Esp), Bill Malley (US).
77 Jimmy Heggarty (NIr), Mike Ferguson (Aus), Noel Ratcliffe (Aus).
78 Mike Miller (Sco), Maurice Bembridge (Eng).
79 Malcolm Gregson (Eng), Tim Rastall (Eng).
80 Nigel Burch (Eng).
81 Bertus Smit (SAf).
92 Remzi Irier (Tur).

BON ACCORD BEAT CRAIBSTONE IN OPENING
RITSON SMITH ABERDEEN PENNANT TIE

That Ritson Smith Aberdeen Pennant League result we were looking for from Tuesday night turned out to be:
Bon Accord 4 1/2, Craibstone 1 1/2.
Thanks to Craibstone Golf Club for passing on the information.
This is the only tie played this week because Thursday's Caledonian v Northern match was postponed because the King's Links were closed because they were waterlogged.
Next week's matches:
TUESDAY (May 15)
Bon Accord v Deeside.
Craibstone v Hazlehead.
Nigg Bay v Westhill.
Stonehaven v Auchmill.
THURSDAY (May 17)
East Aberdeenshire v Portlethen.
Newmachar v Caledonian.
Northern v Murcar Links.
Royal Aberdeen v Peterculter.

Scottishgolfview.com would be delighted to display the results on the same night as the ties are played or the following morning if possible.
We need the home clubs' co-operation to run a Ritson Smith Aberdeen Pennant League results and news service.
The results can be E-mailed to colin@scottishgolfview.com or, next week, phoned to 07843 446411 because Colin Farquharson will be down at Barassie, reporting on the Scottish women's amateur championship.

CLACKMANNAN COUNTY'S NEW

BOY MATCH-PLAY CHAMPIONS

By HUGH HUNTER

New boy match-play champions were crowned at the conclusion of the 2007 events. The premier event was for the Ponton shield and the resultant senior boy match-play champion was Scott Clark of Braehead with a surprisingly easy victory over the stroke-play champion Grant Dowie (Alloa).
Scott, a fifth year student at Alloa Academy, established a two-hole lead by the seventh, and gradually increased it with confident play to close out Grant by 6 and 5 and deny him the chance of doing the double.
Both Scott and Grant had comfortable wins in their semi-finals although Scott lost two out of the first three holes before fighting back against Gary Elliot (Alva).
In the junior final for the Anderson Trophy, Lawrence Allan (Alva) once again produced an amazing performance to take the title on the last green from Gary Chalmers (Dollar).
In a close match, which was square at the 10th and square again after 16 holes, the 12-year-old Alva star finished with two pars to edge out Gary again and add the match-play title to the stroke-play title which he won recently. And he still has another six years in boys’ golf!!
In the semi-finals at Tillicoultry, Lawrence got the better of his fellow Alva golfer Daniel Ashe, while Gary was awarded his tie after his opponent failed to turn up at his allotted tee time.
The final of the handicap event between William Nelson and Martin Hall looked as if it would finish early with William moving into a three-hole lead by the ninth. However, Martin fought back reducing the lead, but ran out of holes eventually, and left William as the Jubilee trophy winner.
In their semi-finals, Martin reversed a one-hole deficit at the turn, while William took until the last few holes to overcome 10-year-old Brian Macadam who must have found the hills of Tillicoultry golf course a bit of an ordeal on the second circuit.
The support of this event by Mr Kenneth Thomson of Thomson printers from Alloa is much appreciated by the players and Clackmannan County Golf Union.

Caption for Hugh Hunter's picture above. Front row (left to right): Lawrence Allan, Scott Clark, William Nelson. Back row: Mr Kenneth Thomson (Alloa Printers), Gary Chalmers, Martin Hall and Grant Dowie.

FULL RESULTS

PONTON SHIELD
Semi-finals – S Clark (Braehead) bt G Elliot (Alva) 4 and 3, G Dowie (Alloa) bt S McPherson (Dollar) 7 and 6.
Final – Clark bt Dowie 6 and 5.

ANDERSON TROPHY
Semi-finals – L Allan (Alva) bt D Ashe (Alva) 5 and 4, G Chalmers (Dollar) w.o. J Pollock (Braehead) scr.
Final – Allan bt Calmers 2 holes.

JUBILEE TROPHY
Semi-finals – W Nelson (Alloa) (23) bt B McAdam (Alloa) (26) 4 and 2, M Hall (Alva) (16) bt N. Forbes (Alva) (14) 2 and 1.
Final – Nelson bt Hall 2 and 1.

Now that the boys’ championships have been decided, the boys will turn their attention to the boys’ league matches, starting soon between the county clubs. At the same time, the selectors will be choosing four boys to represent Clackmannanshire in the national boys’ area team championship to be held at Forres Golf Club on June 10.
It’s now almost 30 years since Clackmannanshire won this title when it was played at Alloa Golf Club in 1978.

EMPHATIC WIN FOR BRAEHEAD OVER TILLICOULTRY IN CLACKMANNAN FOURSOMES

By HUGH HUNTER

The 2007 Clackmannan county club foursomes tournament ended with an emphatic win for Braehead Golf Club over Tillicoultry Golf Club at the rain-soaked Tulliallan course this evening.
The tournament uses a traditional scoring system whereby three couples play against each other over 18 holes, the result is decided by the aggregate of holes up and down. Braehead’s top couple of team captain Ross Benvie, partnered by Scott McChristie, quickly established a two-hole lead by the seventh. Although pulled back to a single hole by the 11th, the duo struck back with wins at 12 and 13, eventually finishing four holes up.
Although Tillicoultry made a slight rally in the last two games at the 11th and 12th holes, the result became clear well before the end and Braehead finished 16 holes up.
Their path to the final started with a shock win against the holders, Tulliallian over their home course, followed by a semi-final win against Alloa by seven holes.
Tillicoultry’s route to the final involved only a semi-final win against Dollar (who had beaten Alva in the first round) by 11 holes. Interestingly, the semi-final match found two former Wee County Scottish boy champions on opposite sides -- John Gullen for Tillicoultry and Bobby Watson for Dollar.

Caption for Hugh Hunter's picture above. Front row (left to right): Mike Rust, captain Ross Benvie with trophy, Scott McChristie. Back row: David Finlayson, James Muir and Scott Moffat.

Results:
SEMI-FINALS
Braehead beat Alloa by seven holes
Scott Moffat & Mike Russell 0, Ian Ross & James Aitken 0.
David Finlayson & James Muir 7, Phil Dempsey & Andre Scotland 0.
Ross Benvie & Scott McChristie 0, Craig O’Connor & Ian Guthrie 0.
Tillicoultry beat Dollar by 11 holes.
Andrew McPherson & Jim Malcolm 0, Dareren Hulston & Gary Smith 0.
John Gullen & Ross Jamieson 8, Vic Allan & Mark Inglis 0.
Colin Johnson & Gary Kinnaird 3, Craig Downie & Bobby Watson 0.
FINAL
Braehead beat Tillicoultry by 16 holes
Benvie & McChristie 4, Malcolm & McPherson 0.
Finlayson & Muir 4, Gullen & Jamieson 0.
Moffat & Rust 8, Kinnaird & Johnson 0.

MONTY HAS A 76 BUT HE'S ONLY
ONE BEHIND TIGER WOODS IN
PLAYERS' CHAMPIONSHIP

Colin Montgomerie could do no better than a four-over-par 76 in the first round of the US Players' Championship at Sawgrass. Mind you, Tiger Woods, beset by putting problems, was only one better.
Setting a hot pace on 67 were Phil Mickelson and South African Rory Sabbatini.

SCOREBOARD
Par 72 (players from US unless stated)
67 Phil Mickelson, Rory Sabbatini (SAf).
68 Chris DiMarco.
69 Peter Lonard (Aus).
70 Rodney Pampling (Aus), Tom Lehman, Carl Pettersson (Swe), Jason Gore
71 Brian Davis (Eng), Retief Goosen (SAf), Jeff Quinney, J.P. Hayes, Nathan Green (Aus), Jim Furyk, KJ Choi (Kor), Rich Beem.
72 Bernhard Langer (Ger), Steve Stricker, Cliff Kresge, Aaron Baddeley (Aus), Sean O'Hair, Mathew Goggin (Aus), Scott Verplank, Rocco Mediate, Brandt Snedeker, Henrik Stenson (Swe).
73 Jerry Kelly, Arron Oberholser, Zach Johnson, John Senden (Aus), Kevin Sutherland, John Mallinger, Steve Elkington (Aus), Charles Howell III, Kenny Perry, Sergio Garcia (Spa), Jose Coceres (Arg), Ernie Els (SAf), Tim Clark (SAf), Shane Bertsch.
74 Joey Sindelar, Geoff Ogilvy (Aus), Harrison Frazar, Will MacKenzie, Daniel Chopra (Swe), Vijay Singh (Fij), Boo Weekley, Stuart Appleby (Aus), Adam Scott (Aus), Charl Schwartzel (SAf), Ted Purdy, Stewart Cink, Tom Pernice jun, Robert Allenby (Aus), Luke Donald (Eng), Brett Wetterich, Jonathan Byrd.
75 Nick Watney, Kirk Triplett, Charley Hoffman, Tiger Woods, Vaughn Taylor, Mathias Gronberg (Swe), Todd Hamilton, Dean Wilson, Shaun Micheel, Mike Weir (Can), Craig Perks (NZ), Michael Campbell (NZ), Eric Axley, Jeff Sluman, Ian Poulter (Eng), Corey Pavin, Troy Matteson.
76 Bart Bryant, Ben Curtis, Nick O'Hern (Aus), Joe Durant, Bill Haas, Ken Duke, Jesper Parnevik (Swe), Jason Bohn, Colin Montgomerie (Sco), Paul Casey (Eng), John Rollins, J.B. Holmes, J J Henry, Fredrik Jacobson (Swe), Shigeki Maruyama (Jap), D.J. Trahan, Padraig Harrington (Ire).
77 Pat Perez, Tim Herron, Davis Love III, David Toms, Stephen Leaney (Aus), Chris Couch, Bubba Watson, Greg Owen (Eng), Robert Karlsson (Swe), Ryan Palmer, Bo Van Pelt, Ryuji Imada (Jap), Douglas Labelle, Bobby Wadkins, Frank Lickliter II, Stephen Ames (Can).
78 Charles Warren, Paul Azinger, Billy Mayfair, Steve Lowery, Heath Slocum, Hunter Mahan, Jose-Maria Olazabal (Spa), Anthony Kim, Richard S Johnson (Swe), Justin Leonard, Brett Quigley, Niclas Fasth (Swe), Briny Baird, Ryan Moore.
79 Chad Campbell, Jeff Gove, Lucas Glover, Joe Ogilvie, Steve Flesch, Mark Wilson
80 Kent Jones, Jeff Maggert, Trevor Immelman (SAf), Paul Goydos, Brian Gay, Camilo Villegas (Col), Fred Funk.
81 Billy Andrade, Stephen Marino, Woody Austin, Olin Browne
82 Bob Estes, David Branshaw, Mark Calcavecchia
85 Robert Garrigus.
Withdrawn: Daisuke Maruyama (Jap).

GREAT SCOTT! JAMIESON UNDER PAR AGAIN
ON HOOTERS' TOUR QUICKSILVER CLASSIC

Scott Jamieson continues his good form as a rookie tour pro on the NGA Hooters Tour with a first-round, three-under-par 69 at the Quicksilver Classic at Quicksilver Golf Club, Midway in Pennsylvania.
That put the Glasgow man in a share of 11th place in the huge field at the end of the day.
Ulsterman Gareth Maybin from Ballyclare, winner of this title 12 months ago, made an even better start with a 68 to be in joint fourth place.
David Skinns from Lincoln had a 70 and Colin Spiers from Dunkeld a 71 to be lying joint 35th.
Joel Hendry, the twice former Scottish youths champion from Elgin, is in joint 57th place after a par-matching 72.
Scots exile David Kirkpatrick from Edinburgh but a resident of Lakeland, Florida for at least a decade, had an uninspired one-over-par 73 to be sharing 81st place. To be among the leading 60 and ties who will beat the 36-hole cut on the NGA Hooters Tour you normally have to score at worst par over 36 holes.
FIRST-ROUND SCOREBOARD
Par 72
66 Tommy Biershenk (South Carolina), Tim Ailes (Ohio).
67 James Vargas (Miami).
Other scores:
68 Gareth Maybin (NIre) (jt 4th).
69 Scott Jamieson (Sco) (jt 11th).
70 David Skinns (Eng).
71 Colin Spiers (Sco) (jt 35th).
72 Joel Hendry (Sco) (jt 57th).
73 David Kirkpatrick (Sco) (jt 81st).
81 Andrew Bravant (Eng) (jt 160th).

ABERDEEN PENNANT LEAGUE TIE RAINED OFF

Tonight's Caledonian v Northern Ritson Smith Aberdeen Pennant League match was postponed because the King's Links course was closed after 24 hours of rain.
The Pennant League for 2007 started on Tuesday night with Bon Accord playing Craibstone. If anyone knows the result of that tie, we would be grateful if they could E-mail it to: colin@scottishgolfview.com
We would like to display the Pennant League results nightly as they are played but we need the co-operation of the home clubs.
The next scheduled round of matches is on Tuesday (May 15):
Bon Accord v Deeside.
Craibstone v Hazlehead.
Nigg Bay v Westhill.
Stonehaven v Auchmill.

JACQUELINE SNEDDON IS TOP QUALIFIER AGAIN
FOR PERTH & KINROSS MATCH-PLAY STAGES

Alyth’s Jacqueline Sneddon topped the 16 qualifiers for the match-play stages of the Perth & Kinross women’s county championship at Kinross today for the second year in a row.
On a day of non-stop rain, when the greens had to be repeatedly swept clear of excess water and the course played very long with no run on the ball, Jacqueline’s score of 82 was matched by Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder) but the Alyth player was declared the top seed of a card countback.
The match-play starts over the same course at 9.28 on Saturday morning with the quarter-finals teeing off from 2.0. The semi-finals and final will be played on Sunday.
All three members of the Sneddon family who played in the qualifying round won their way through to the match-play. Apart from daughter Jacqueline, mother Jennifer and sister Jillian made it through in the handicap championship and could meet in the semi-finals.
QUALIFIERS
82 Jacqueline Sneddon (Alyth), E Ogilvy (Auchterarder).
84 J Yellowlees (Murrayshall), A Bushby (Strathmore).
86 A Niven (Crieff), E Napper (Craigie Hill).
87 L Fertacz (Dunkeld & Birnam), C Dunbar (Aberfeldy), G Lambie (Dunkeld & Birnham).
90 S Shephered (Blairgowrie).
91 M Begbie (Alyth), J Griffiths (Crieff), D Butchart (Strathmore), G Wallace (Glenisla), N Morrison (Dunblane).
92 C Turner (Alyth).
AUTOMATIC DRAW
Jacqueline Sneddon v Turner, Lambie v Dunbar, Niven v Griffiths,. Butchart v Bushby, Yellowlees v Wallace, Begbie v Napper, Fertacz v Shepherd, Morrison v Ogilvy.
HANDICAP CHAMPIONSHIP
A Smith (Kinross) (15) v G Pennycook (Alyth) (13), L Murray (Kinross) (12) v C Peebles (Alyth) (21), M Walker (Alyth) (25) v Jillian Sneddon (Alyth) (23), Jennifer Sneddon (Alyth) (19) v S Crystal (Taymouth) (19).

TONIGHT'S RESULTS FROM ABERDEEN TRADES FOURSOMES

At Hazlehead.

Morrison Construction w.o. Aberdeen Motor Trade scr.

Insurance beat Sparrows Offshore by 11 holes.
Alastair Martin & Donald Love 5, Jim Henderson & Stuart Watt 0
Nick Henderson & Alan Ross 6, Brian Smith & Pat McCrory 0

Fish Trade beat Production Services Network by five holes
Francis Clark & Colin Fraser 1, Chris Flint & Andy Powell 0
Mike Pocock & Darren Ross 4, Alan Sheldrick & Bill Riley 0

Lawyers beat Agricola by 20 holes.
Bill Barclay & Jim Christie 9, John Wallace & Ray Sutherland 0
Duncan Kerr & Donald Macandrew 11, Russell Hooper & Dave Miller 0

Bakers beat Lumsden Security by one hole.
Stephen Scott & Gary Geddes 3, Cammy McBain & Frank McBeath 0
Kenny Milne & Stuart Milne 0, Neil Forbes & Fred Lawson 2

Elmar UK beat Meat Trade by four holes.
Gary Lyon & Kenny Coull 2, John Simmers & Donny Adam 0
Allan Strath & Kevin Selbie 2, Evan Leslie & Bruce Fraser 0

AUSSIE ZIONS LEADS EUROPEAN TOUR
EVENT AT ANDALUCIA, SPAIN

Matthew Zions, a 28-year-old Denver, Colorado-based Australian, who came through all three stages of the European Tour Qualifying School last year, was the surprise leader on seven-under-par 65 at the end of the first round of the Valle Romano Open de Andalucia at Aloha Golf Club on Span's Costa del Sol today.
He led by one shot from American-based Spaniard, Alejandro Canizares.
FIRST ROUND SCOREBOARD
Par 72. Players from GB&I unless stated.
65 Matthew Zions (Aus).
66 Alejandro Canizares (Spa).
67 Louis Oosthuizen (SAf), Joakim Haeggman (Swe), Gary Lockerbie, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (Spa), Chris Gane.
68 David Griffiths, Matthew Millar (Aus), Eduardo de la Riva (Spa), Nicolas Colsaerts (Bel), Jamie Spence.
69 Richard McEvoy, Steve Jones (US), Michael Jonzon (Swe), Kenneth Ferrie, Phillip Archer, Rafael Cabrera Bello (Spa), Benn Barham, Fredrik Andersson Hed (Swe), Francois Delamontagne (Fra), Gareth Davies, Sam Walker, Carl Suneson (Spa), David Higgins.
70 Mads Vibe-Hastrup (Den), Alvaro Salto (Spa), Denny Lucas, Robert Rock, Andrew Butterfield, Sion Bebb, Jamie Donaldson, Soren Hansen (Den), Oliver Fisher, Martin Erlandsson (Swe), Paul Broadhurst, Simon Dyson, David Lynn, Marcus Higley, Joakim Backstrom (Swe), Sebastian Fernandez (Arg)
71 Gary Emerson, Carlos Balmaseda (Spa), Sam Little, Lee James, Sven Struver (Ger), Thomas Bjorn (Den), Notah Begay (USA), Eirik Tage Johansen (Nor), Terry Pilkadaris (Aus), Simon Nash, Paul McGinley, Adrien Mork (Fra), Garry Houston, Jorge Berendt (Arg).
72 Martin Maritz (SAf), Alvaro Velasco (Spa), Per-Ulrik Johansson (Swe), James Hepworth, Pedro Linhart (Spa), Andrew Raitt, Jean Hugo (SAf), Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa), Anthony Wall, Damien McGrane, Santiago Luna (Spa), Edward Rush, Tomas Jesus Munoz (Spa), Raphael Eyraud (Fra), Jose Manuel Carriles (Spa), Euan Little, Carlos Rodiles (Spa), Lee Westwood, Juan Parron (Spa), Ian Garbutt, Manuel Merizalde (Col), Daniel Quiros (Spa), Scott Strange (US).
73 Rafael Echenique (Arg), Jose Luis Adarraga Gomez (Spa), Ariel Canete (Arg), Terry Price (Aus), Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (Fra), Peter Fowler (Aus), Ignacio Garrido (Spa), Wade Ormsby (Aus), Birgir Hafthorsson (Ice), Miles Tunnicliff, Simon Hurd, Steve Alker (NZ), Peter Gustafsson (Swe), Jesus Maria Arruti (Spa), Daniel Vancsik (Arg), Diego Borrego (Spa).
74 Fredrik Widmark (Swe), Philip Golding, YE Yang (Kor), Francis Valera (Spa), David Bransdon (Aus), David Drysdale, Shaun Webster, Alessandro Tadini (Ita), Thomas Levet (Fra), Taichi Teshima (Jpn), Cesar Monasterio (Arg), Johan Axgren (Swe), Henrik Nystrom (Swe).
75 Ivo Giner (Spa), Tim Milford, Carlos Del Moral (Spa), Stuart Little, James Heath, Miguel Angel Martin (Spa), Andrew Tampion (Aus), Jonathan Lomas, Alexandre Rocha (Bra), Phil Worthington, David Dixon, Gabriel Canizares (Spa).
76 Agustin Domingo (Spa), Francisco Cea (Spa), Pelle Edberg (Swe), Carlos Quevedo (Spa), Matthew Richardson, Francois Calmels (Fra), Thomas Nielsen (Den), Warren Bennett, Manuel Quiros (Spa), Andrew Oldcorn, Carlos Aguilar (Spa).
77 Pablo Larrazabal (Spa), Scott Drummond
78 Mickael Dieu (Fra), Raul Quiros (Spa), Mattias Eliasson (Swe), Hernan Rey (Arg), Lee Slattery, Rafael Gomez (Arg), Keith Horne (SAf).
79 Vicente Blazquez (Spa), Patrik Sjoland (Swe), Carlos De Corral (Spa)
80 Luis Claverie (Spa).
86 Andres Jimenez (Spa).

QUALIFIERS FOR LGU MEDAL GRAND FINAL AT CRIEFF

Leading scores in the Ladies Golf Union Medal North area final at Monifieth today were:

Silver Division – Caroline Barclay (Milnathort) (15) 73; Ann B Ramsay (Kirriemuir) (10) better inward half, Lynne Fotheringham (Grange) (4) 74; Ruth Mitchell (Murcar Links) (15) 75 (bih).
Bronze Division – Judy Proudfoot (Taymouth Castle) (26) 66; Angie Isbister (Montrose Caledonia) (22) 69; Anne Geddes (Arbroath Artisans) (34) 70; Sheila Walton (Kintore) (23) 72.
Mrs Ramsay is unable to attend the Grand Final at Crieff on Sunday, June 3, which means the qualifiers are: Barclay, Fotheringham, Mitchell, Proudfoot, Isbister and Geddes.

NORTHERN VETS BEAT MIDLANDS

AT GLENISLA

Northern beat Midland 5-2 in a veteran women's inter-area golf match to win the Patrick Rosebowl at the third attempt at Glenisla Golf Club, Alyth today at Glenisla.
Details (Northern names first):.
K Sutherland (Royal Montrose ) bt F De Vries (St Regulus) 4 and 3, H Anderson (Downfield ) lost to L Bennett (Ladybank) 6 and 5, L Terry (Cruden Bay ) bt M Tough (Falkirk) 2 and 1, F Neish (Murcar Links) bt E Wilson (Elie & Earlsferry) 5 and 4, A Smart (Banchory) bt A Chisholm (Dunfermline) 3 and 2, R Dunsmuir (Cruden Bay) bt K Keir (Elie & Earlsferry) 3 and 2, P Wilson (Murcar Links ) lost to I Harvey (St Regulus) 3 and 2.

BRITAIN'S GOLF GIRLS WIN COMMONWEALTH
TITLE AFTER SOUTH AFRICA, AUSTRALIA
LOSE TO TOURNAMENT UNDERDOGS

Great Britain's female amateur golf squad today won the Commonwealth Tournament for the first time since 1991 - when they were miles away from the course at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club.
Britain still have to play host nation South Africa on Friday's final programme but Thursday's results meant that Sue Turner's team, with three wins out of three over Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, cannot be overtaken at the top of the league table, whatever happens in the final session of play.
Today, the underdogs bit back. New Zealand, whipped by the Brits on Wednesday, beat South Africa 4-3 and Canada, thrashed 7-0 by Britain on Monday, shocked Australia by beating them 4-3.
Britain have 3pt, and their nearest challengers, Canada with 2pt, have completed their programme of four matches. Australia, New Zealand and South Africa have 1pt apiece. They are playing for runner-up place on Friday.
British skipper Sue Turner said: “We may be out of reach at the top of the table because no other team can catch us, but we are determined to win all of our four matches before we celebrate our victory.”
The British team - Scotland's Krystle Caithness, Breanne Loucks from Wales, and England's Melissa Reid, Kerry Smith and Naomi Edwards, were playing with lion cubs and on a shopping spree, when news filtered through of the shock defeats for their only challengers, South Africa and Australia.
The last British team to win the tournament, played every four years, comprised of two Scots, Catriona Lambert (Matthew), Elaine Farquharson, two English players, Julie Hall and Linzi Fletcher, and Vicki Thomas from Wales. They won in 1991 over the Northumberland Golf Club course.
Today's results:
Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club - Third day - New Zealand 4, South Africa 3; Canada 4, Australia 3.

GRAHAM GORDON LEADING SCOT

IN PGA EUROPRO TOUR EVENT

AFTER DAY OF TOUGH CONDITIONS

Conditions were so tough for the second round of the Oceanico Group Irish Classic, this week's PGA EuroPr0 Tour event at Roganstown Golf Club, that the projected 36-hole cut figure rose steadily during the day until it reached 150.
Everyone with 151 or worse failed to make it through to Friday's final round.
That meant that Aberdonian Graham Gordon, the former Scottish amateur champion, qualified after all. An early finisher, it had looked has if his total of 147 (75-72) would be on the wrong side of the cut.
But as events transpired Gordon (pictured right) finished the second day as the leading Scot in the field!
Paul Cormack and Paul Doherty were the only two compatriots who joined him among the qualifiers. They were both on 149 and both with rounds of 74 and 75.
Graham Brown, Elliot Saltman and Freddy Valenti were sidelined on 151 and, surprisingly enough, so too was Christopher Campbell who was the joint top Scot with Paul Cormack at the end of Day 1. The Skibo Castle man slumped to a second-round 78 for 152.
SCOREBOARD
138 C Hanson (Eng) 66 72, R Steeele (Eng) 69 69.
139 G Clark (Eng) 70 69, N Fox (Ire) 66 73.
141 J Ruebotham (Eng) 70 71.
Other qualifiers included:
147 G Gordon (Sco) 75 72.
149 P Cormack (Sco) 74 75, P Doherty (Sco) 74 75.
SCOTS WHO MISSED CUT
151 G Brown 75 76, E Saltman 79 72, F Valenti 78 73.
152 C Campbell 74 78.
154 N Mitchell 75 79.
156 J Doherty 81 75.
157 A Mackenzie 78 79.
159 L Harper 78 81.

NORTH-EAST BLOOD McLEAN AGAINST ARGYLL & BUTE

Peterhead's Philip McLean, a Scotland youth international, will make his debut for the North-east men's six-strong team in the first of the Scottish area championship ties at Murcar Links a week on Sunday against Argyll & Bute.
Team is:
Gary Esson (Portlethen), Mark Halliday (Royal Aberdeen), Bryan Innes (Murcar Links), Terry Mathieson (Murcar Links), Philip McLean (Peterhead), Laurie Phillips (Cruden Bay).
Reserve: Alan Reith (Deeside).

FOUR SHARE VICTORY IN SCOTTISH WATERAID 54-HOLE PRO-AM
AT FAIRMONT ST ANDREWS

It could hardly have been closer at the top of the final scoreboard in the Scottish Wateraid 54-hole Order of Merit pro-am over the Torrance course at Fairmont St Andrews (formerly St Andrews Bay).
It was a logjam on three-under-par 213 with four players tied for the top spot and no play-off according to the rules of the SPGA competition.
The four men who each earned £1,756 were former PGA Cup player Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs), pictured right, Stephen Gray (Hayston), Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills) and Gary McFarlane (Clober).
McFarlane had shared the lead with Greig Hutcheon (Peterculter with one round to go but could do no better than a closing score of 71 for 213.
Robert Arnott made up the most ground with a 67, Gray a 68 and McKechnie a 69.
Hutcheon slipped back to joint fifth place, only one shot behind, on 214 with a closing 72. Alson o 214 was Sam Cairns (Westerwood).
TOP FINAL PLACINGS
Par 216 (3 x 72)
213 Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs) 73 73 67, Stephen Gray (Hayston) 74 71 69, Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills) 73 71 69, Gary McFarlane (Clober0 72 70 71.
214 Sam Cairns (Westerwood) 73 71 70, Greig Hutcheon (Peterculter) 71 71 72.
215 Chris Doak (unatt) 77 68 70.
216 Graham Rankine (Drumpellier) 76 71 69, Jim McKinnon (Irvine) 74 72 70, Fraser Mann (Musselburgh) 76 68 72, Mark Loftus (Cowglen) 73 70 73.

KATHRYN IMRIE ON 73 AS REBECCA SETS
PACE WITH 65 AT SPANISH LADIES OPEN

Doncaster's Rebecca Hudson was back at her best with a seven-under-par 65 to lead the Ladies Spanish Open by one shot at the end of the first round at Campo Mediterraneo in Castellon.
Rebecca started at the 10th and covered her first nine holes in 30, only one above the Ladies European Tour record low for nine holes.
Kathryn Imrie was the best of the two Scots in the field. She scored a 73 with birdies at the sixth, eighth, 13th and 17th to be sharing 49th place on 73.
Lynn Kenny had a 75 with no birdies and Liz McKinnon a 76, again with no birdies.
Clare Queen is not in the field for this one.
FIRST ROUND SCOREBOARD
Par 72 (Players from GB&I unless stated).
65 Rebecca Hudson.
66 Kirsty Taylor, Gwladys Nocera (Fra).
67 Danielle Masters.
68 Louise Friberg (Swe), Nikki Garrett (Aus), Elin Ohlsson (Swe)
69 Asa Gottmo (Swe), Amy Yang (Kor), Fany Schaeffer (Fra), Carlota Ciganda (Spa) (am), Ellen Smets (Bel), Lynn Brooky (NZ).
70 Amanda Moltke-Leth (Den), Sarah Kemp (Aus), Iben Tinning (Den), Martina Eberl (Ger), Beatriz Recari (Spa), Laura Cabanillas (Spa), Titiya Plucksataporn (Tha), Helena Alterby (Swe), Ana B Sanchez (Spa), Lara Tadiotto (Bel).
71 Paula Marti (Spa), Bettina Hauert (Ger), Anna Rawson (Aus), Cassandra Kirkland (Fra), Lisa Jean (Aus), Anna Tybring (Swe), Johanna Westerberg (Swe), Lisa Holm Sorensen (Den), Eva Steinberger (Aut), Eleanor Pilgrim, Federica Piovano (Ita), Tullia Calzavara (Ita).
72 Maria Boden (Swe), Lee-Anne Pace (SAf), Lora Fairclough, Becky Brewerton, Lisa Hall, Cherie Byrnes (Aus), Natascha Fink (Aut), Julie Tvede (Den), Laurette Maritz (Rsa), Kiran Matharu
73 Christine Hallstrom (Swe), Georgina Simpson, Sophie Giquel (Fra), Jehanne Jail (Fra), Elisabeth Esterl (Ger), Elisa Serramia (Spa), Fame More, Anja Monke (Ger), Virginie Lagoutte-Clement (Fra), Rebecca Stevenson (Aus), Kathryn Imrie, Claire Coughlan, Karen Lunn (Aus), Veronica Zorzi (Ita), Suzanne Dickens, Isabella Maconi (Ita), Mianne Bagger (Den), Margherita Rigon (Ita), Denise Simon (Ger).
74 Hanna-Leena Salonen (Fin), Lill Kristin Saether (Nor), Jo Clingan, Stacy Lee Bregman (Rsa), Anne Lise Caudal (Fra), Samantha Head, Marlene Hedblom (Swe), Kirsty S Taylor, Stephanie Arricau (Fra), Leah Hart (Aus), Rebecca Coakley, Tania Elosegui (Spa), Cecilia Ekelundh (Swe), Ana Larraneta (Spa), Sofia Renell (Swe), Rikke Rasmussen (Den), Mette Buus (Den).
75 Martina Gillen, Lynn Kenny, Joanne Mills (Aus), Sophie Sandolo (Ita), Virginie Auffret (Fra), Ludivine Kreutz (Fra), Kris Lindstrom (US), Emma Cabrera (Spa) (am), Anna Knutsson (Swe), Sara Beautell (Spa).
76 Carlie Butler (Aus), Elizabeth McKinnon (NZ), Stefania Croce (Ita), Karen-Margrethe Juul (Den), Trish Johnson, Nicole Gergely (Aut), Sarah Heath, Jade Schaeffer (Fra), Marta Prieto (Spa), Shani Waugh (Aus), Bree Turnbull (Aus), Anna Rossi (Ita)
77 Nienke Nijenhuis (Ned), Riikka Hakkarainen (Fin), Marina Arruti (Spa), Vanessa Vignali (Spa)
78 Felicity Johnson, Jenni Kuosa (Fin), Stefanie Michl (Aut), Nuria Clau (Spa), Katie Bakken (US).
79 Nora Angehrn (Swi), Lotta Wahlin (Swe), Anna Temple (US), Carmen Alonso (Spa), Emma Zackrisson (Swe), Natalie Claire Booth, Maria Angeles Jimenez (Spa).
80 Nathalie David-Mila (Fra)
81 Cecilie Lundgreen (Nor), Sophie Hunter.
82 Frederique Seeholzer (Swi), Maria Beautell (Spa).
89 Maria Blomqvist (Swe).

GEORGE MURRAY STARTS
WITH A 67 IN CHALLENGE
TOUR EVENT IN FRANCE
From MICHAEL GIBBONS
Press Officer, European Challenge Tour
An explosive finish of an eagle and two birdies in his closing three holes saw former Scottish amateur champion George Murray leap into contention in joint sixth place at the European Challenge Tour’s A.G.F. Allianz Golf Open de Toulouse today.
The 23-year-old from Anstruther, who started his round on the back nine, covered his closing three holes at the Golf de Toulouse-Seilh in four under par after a spectacular eagle 2 at the par-4 seventh hole was supplemented by consecutive birdies to help Murray to a five-under-par 67 which included a double bogey at the fourth.
In all, Murray, pictured right, had an eagle and five birdies.
That left the Fifer just three shots off the pace set by Northern Ireland’s Michael Hoey and Christian Reimbold of Germany. Hoey won the British amateur championship at Prestwick in 2001; Reimbold was beaten in the previous year's final of that event.
Murray leads the Scottish challenge, with former European Tour Rookie of the Year Scott Henderson of Aberdeen and Glasgow’s Andrew McArthur, like Murray a former Scottish amateur title-holder, on two under after a pair of opening 70s.
Scott Henderson started with a double-bogey 6. He birdied the seventh and 10th before bogeying the 11th. The Aberdonian finished strongly with birdies at the 13th, 15th and 16th.
McArthur birdied the fifth, seventh and eight for a sparkling first nine of 33. But he bogeyed the 10th and 13th and had to birdie the 14th to get back to two under par.
Peter Whiteford had a disappointing 74 with included a double bogey 7 at the long 11th. He birdied the second and eighth but dropped single shots at the fourth and 18th.
Edinburgh's former Walker Cup player David Patrick soon lost the form that won him the Callaway Challenge on the Tartan Tour a week or so ago. Patrick had double bogeys at two short holes, the sixth and the 18th as well as single shots dropped at the second and 16th. Birdies at the fifth, seventh and 15th could not repair all the damaged as he stumpled to a 75.
Next to Murray, the leading Scottish-based player was Welshman Gareth Wright, son of the West Linton club professional. Gareth birdied the sixth, ninth, 13th, 14th and 17th with only one bogey, at the 12th.
LEADERBOARD
6,924yd. Par 72
64 Michael Hoey (NIr), Christian Reimbold (Ger).
66 Van Phillips (Eng), Rodolfo Gonzalez(Arg), Sebastian Delagrange (Fra).
67 George Murray (Sco), Robert Dinwiddie (Eng), Andre Bossert (Swi), Johan Skold (Swe), Leif Westerberg (Swe).
68 Kalle Edberg (Swe), Gareth Wright (Wal), Paul Dwyer (Eng), Nicola Maestroni (Ita), John Wade (Aus), Jacob Okello (Ken), Jean Marc De Polo (Fra).
69 Robert Coles (Eng), Stephen Browne (Ire), Marc Farry (Fra), Raphaël De Sousa (Swi), Julien Quesne (Fra), Adam Gee (Eng), Jamie Little (Eng), Michael Lorenzo-Vera (Fra), Jacques Thalamy (Fra), Kalle Brink (Swe), Toni Karjalainen (Fin), Michiel Bothma (SAf).
70 Nicolas Joakimides (Fra), Peter Kaensche (Nor), Scott Henderson (Sco), Christoffer Lange (Den), Bruno-Teva Lecuona (Fra), Benjamin Miarka (Ger), Mikko Korhonen (Fin), Joost Luiten (Net), Pontus Ericsson (Swe), Carlos Cardeza (Arg), Kieran Staunton (Eng), Stuart Davis (Eng), Bertrand Coathalem (Fra), Andrew McArthur (Sco), Fabien Marty (Fra), Wilhelm Schauman (Swe), Oskar Bergman (Swe); Magnus A Carlsson (Swe); Jan-Are Larsen (Nor), Oliver Whiteley (Eng), Arnaud Gabellon (Fra), Gareth Paddison (NZ), Peter Baker (Eng), Inder Van Weerelt (Net), Edouard Dubois (Fra) (am).
71 Pierre-Henry Brunel (Fra), Laurent Richard (Bel), Christophe Brazillier (Fra), Samuel Tanfin (Fra), Simon Robinson (Eng), Anders Schmedt Hansen (Den), Kasper Linnet Jorgensen (Den), Frédéric Schoettel (Fra), Colm Moriarty (Ire), Liam Bond (Wal), Richard Treis (Ger), Charles-Edouard Russo (Fra), Anthony Snobeck (Fra), Iain Pyman (Eng), Julien Guerrier (Fra); Paul Nilbrink (Nor), Gary Clark (Eng), Ghislain Rosier (Fra), Fabrizio Zanotti (Par), Michael McGeady (Ire), Mikael Lundberg (Swe), Benoit Teilleria (Fra), Alfredo Garcia-Heredia (Spa), Nicolas Vanhootegem (Bel).
72 Felipe Aguilar (Chi), Didier De Vooght (Bel), Wil Besseling (Net), Dominique Nouailhac (Fra), Juan Abbate (Arg), Jeppe Huldahl (Den), Daniel Barbetti (Arg), Eric Chaudouet (Fra), Antti Ahokas (Fin), Jean-Nicolas Billot (Fra), Marco Crespi (Ita); Neil Walker (Eng), Kevin Harper (Eng).
73 Roope Kakko (Fin);Julien Van Hauwe (Fra); James H Williams (Wal); Ben Willman (Eng); Ben Mason (Eng); Tuomas Tuovinen (Fin); Raphaël Pellicioli (Fra); Daniel De Leon (Mex); Per Barth (Swe); Julien Millet (Fra); Andrea Maestroni (Ita); Julien Xanthopoulos (Fra); Manuel Kempe (Ger); Magnus Persson (Swe); Frédéric Cupillard Fra); Klas Eriksson (Swe).
74 Niki Zitny (Aut); Cédric Menut (Fra); Martin Wiegele (Aut); Jacques Chevalier (Fra); Julien Grillon (Fra); Thomas Feyrsinger (Aut); Jerome Theunis (Bel); Lasse Jensen (Den); Ally Mellor (Eng); Morten Hedegaard (Den); Michael Hill (Fra), Zane Scotland (Eng); Emilien Chamaulte (Fra); Daniel Denison (Eng); Robin Swane (Ned), Peter Whiteford (Sco).
75 John E Morgan (Eng); Fredrik Ohlsson (Swe); Thomas Fournier (Fra); Paul Hendriksen (Eng), David Patrick (Sco), Thomas Rouyer (Fra), Jean-Charles Thoreux (Fra); Olivier David (Fra); Benjamin Hebert (Fra) (am).
76 Stuart Cage (Eng); Charles Dubois (Fra); Jd Yvet (Fra), Ross McGowan (Eng), Kariem Baraka (Ger); Anthony Pailler (Fra) (am).
77 Laurent Pargade (Fra), Stuart Manley (Wal), Julien Foret (Fra), Benoit Bozio (Fra); Alessio Bruschi (Ita), Bernd Wiesberger (Aut); Ilya Goroneskoul (Fra); Robert Mcguirk (Eng); Alan Bihan (Fra), Renaud Guillard (Fra).
78 Matthew King (Eng).
79 Miguel Rodriguez (Arg).
80 Philip Rowe (Eng), Lionel Alexandre (Fra), Stephane Piget (Fra), Anthony Grenier (Fra).
86 Jeremy Kirkland (Fra).

STIRLING UNIVERSITY GOLFERS ARE TOP
OF THE CLASS IN BRITISH FINALS

Stirling University golf teams won both the BUSA Championship final and the BUSA Trophy final at the British Universities Sports Association match-play finals at Royal Liverpool Golf Club this week.
In the championship semi-finals at Hoylake, Exeter beat St Andrews 5-4 and Stirling beat Dundee 8 ½-1/2. Stirling beat Exeter 5 ½-3 ½ in the final to win the championship for the third year in succession.
The Stirling University second team beat University of Highlands and Islands 5-4 to win the BUSA Trophy.
The winning teams were:

Stirling University first team: Gordon Yates, Gavin Dear, Scott Borrowman, Bobby Rushford, Paul Betty, James White, David Booth.
Stirling University second team: Rory Doran, Evan Bryceland, Craig Haugh, Bradley Brooke, Byron Campbell, Matt Dargie.

“The wins are on the back of Stirling’s triumphs in the Scottish universities championships and the winter team trophy competition,” said Raleigh Gowrie, the Stirling sports performance manager.
“This proves that the University of Stirling is the strongest institution for golf in Britain.”
Stirling University head coach Gordon Niven said: “The students have performed consistently well throughout this season. It’s good that they can take this form into the final stages of events and produce the golf that is required to win tournaments. Hopefully, their form can continue through to the British universities individual championship next month.”
Twelve Stirling University golfers have qualified for the 54-strong field for the BUSA individual championship at De Vere Slaley Hall Golf Club from June 13 to 15.
They include Gordon Yates (sports studies), who represented the R&A in the Manual Prado Cup tournament in Peru recently, Gavin Dear (international managerment studies), who finished third in the Craigmillar Park Open last month, and David Booth (sports studies), winner of the BUSA regional order of merit (Scotland).

R&A PRESS RELEASE

SELECTION TARGET FOR GB&I BOYS

Notts Golf Club at the end of August is the target for boys aiming to cap a successful season by being selected for the GB&I team to compete against the Continent of Europe in the Jacques Leglise Trophy.
For many years GB&I had an unyielding grip on the trophy but the 19½ - 4½ win for Europe at Marianske Lazne in 2006 showed that they are now a force to be reckoned with.
Over the next few months, contenders for the GB&I team will be expected to compete in most of the major boys events and while a few names have already been ‘pencilled in’, the way is still open for relatively unknown boys to play their way into contention.
Jeff Toye, Chairman of the Boys Selection Committee said: “We will be naming the team after the Boys Championship therefore there is everything to play for in the events before that. There are only three of last year’s team still available for selection so we will be picking at least six players who have not previously played for GB&I.
“Even at this early stage of the season, there have been several outstanding performances and at the Lytham Trophy, no fewer than four boys who are eligible for selection, made the cut –a superb achievement that points to a stronger GB&I team this year.”
“From a selection point of view, the Boys Home Internationals and European Boys Team Championship in Denmark will be top of our list as all potential candidates are likely to be in their respective national teams.”
Events at which selectors have been and will be present: -
Scottish Boys - Dunbar.
Peter McEvoy Trophy - Copt Heath.
Sir Henry Cooper Junior Masters - Nizels.
European Boys Team Championship - Denmark.
Scottish Boys Open Strokeplay - Cardrona.
English Boys Open Strokeplay - Saunton.
Welsh Boys Championship - Nefyn & District.
Boys Home Internationals - Machynys Peninsula.
Boys Championship - Royal Porthcawl
Selection Committee: -
Jeff Toye – Chairman
Richard Cusack
Mark Heames
Jim Miller
Brian Roake

TIGHT FINISH ON CARDS IN

SCOTTISH WATERAID

ORDER OF MERIT PRO-AM

It promises to be a tight finish later today in the 54-hole Scottish Wateraid Order of Merit pro-am over the Torrance course at Fairmont St Andrews.
Gary McFarlane (Clober) and Peterculter's Greig Hutcheon (pictured right) are locked together in the lead at two-under-par 142.
Gary has had rounds o f 72 and 70, Greig a pair of 71s.
They are one stroke ahead of Mark Loftus (Cowglen) who has scored 73 and 70.
Then, on 144, come Fraser Mann (Musselburgh), Sam Cairns and Paul McKechnie.

The total prize fund is £16,000 so keen competition for the top four-figure cheques.

The top 10 with one round to go are:

142 Gary McFarlane (Clober) 72 70, Greig Hutcheon (Peterculter) 71 71.
143 Mark Loftus (Cowglen) 73 70.

144 Fraser Mann (Musselburgh) 76 68, Sam Cairns (Westerwood) 73 71, Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills) 73 71.

145 Chris Doak (unatt) 77 68, Chris Kelly (Cawder) 75 70, Stephen Gray (Hayston) 74 71, Lee Vannet (Carnoustie Golf Links).

+ Our apologies for being unable to display the scores last night but the Scottish PGA is having problems with its national computer network so we had to wait until this morning to contact Tournament Director Hugh Malcolm at Fairmont St Andrews. He will supply Scottishgolfview.com with the top final totals at the end of play today - so look out for them on Scottishgolfview.com in the early evening.

DAVID HARRISON TO BE NEXT
CAPTAIN OF ROYAL & ANCIENT
GOLF CLUB

David J Harrison has been nominated as Captain of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews for the year 2007-2008 and will assume office at the traditional driving in ceremony during the club's autumn meeting in September.
David Harrison joined the R&A in 1981 and from 2003-2006 was Chairman of the General Committee. He has also served on the Rules and Championship Committees and was a member of The R&A Training Panel for more than 10 years.
He is a qualified Rules official and on many occasions has acted as a referee at the Open Championship and at other major golf events.
In addition to his committee work at the R&A, David Harrison has spent over 30 years in golf administration, particularly at the English Golf Union where he was President in 1992. He has also held the positions of Joint Chairman of the International Golf Federation, President of the Association of Golf Club Secretaries and Chairman of the Championship Committee of The European Golf Association.
He won an England Boys’ cap in 1954, a Youths’ cap the following year, represented the RAF from 1957-1958 and was an Oxford Blue from 1959 – 1961. He played for Hampshire from 1955-1980 and was county champion a record six times.
He has been President of the Hampshire PGA since 1982 and is President of the Hampshire Schools Golf Association. He is an honorary member of Stoneham and Alresford golf clubs and plays to a handicap of five.

ABERDEEN TRADES FOURSOMES RESULTS

The Aberdeen Trades foursomes began at Hazlehead this evening with the following results:

Aberdeen Telephones beat Chartered Accountants by five holes.
Donald Smith & Gregor Davidson 4 v Julie Henderson & Martin Duncan 0
Peter Coutts & Ally Haining 1 v Iain McPherson & Graham Shiels 0

Corn Trade beat Plumbing & Heating Engineers by one hole.
Ken Cooper & Greg Davidson-Gall 3 v Ian Welch & Gary Lappin 0
Sandy Howie & George Manson 0 v Colin Philip & Gary Reid 2

Bankers beat Banchory Contractors by six holes.
Colin Grant & Gary Walker 0 v Nick Sangster & Brian Bell 1
Barry Gibson & Evan Duffus 7 v Richard Barron & Neil Walker 0

Grampian Police beat Licensed Trade by 15 holes.
Brian Ritchie & Jordan Calder 9 v Ian Donald & Stuart Clark 0
Ronnie Yule & Euan Duthie 6 v Stuart Paterson & Philip Adam 0

Tulloch Recruitment beat Aberdeen University by three holes.
Kevin Daglish & Mark McDonald 1 v Stewart Finnie & Dave McKay 0
John Hewitt & Andrew Massie 2 v Scott Sinclair & Ken Gunnyeon 0

Royal Mail beat Baker Hughes by two holes
Kevin Duthie & Ross McKen 2 v Alan Middleton & John Strachan 0
Tony Robertson & Scott Spiers 0 v Dave Stuart & Roddy Grant 0

HAT-TRICK FOR HELEN, DOUBLE
FOR DOUGLAS PARK
Helen Faulds completed a hat-trick and Douglas Park Golf Club a title double on the last day of the West of Scotland veteran women's championship at Renfrew Golf Club today.
Douglas Park member Helen won the scratch title for the third year in a row, beating Jennifer Mack (Haggs Castle) 5 and 4 in the final.
In the Bronze championship final, there was another success for Douglas Park when Maureen Rennie beat Mary Irving (Ranfurly Castle) 4 and 3.

ALISON DAVIDSON THROUGH
TO SEVENTH STIRLING &
CLACKMANNAN FINAL

Former Scottish champion and past Curtis Cup star Alison Davidson is through to her seventh final of the Stirling & Clackmannan women’s county championship.
The Stirling Golf Club member, who will be 39 next month, recaptured some of her old form to be five under par in winning her semi-final this evening by 6 and 5 against clubmate Elaine Allison.
Now No 2 seed Mrs Davidson, a mother of two who plays golf only once a week on average these days, will play Margaret Tough (Falkirk) in Friday’s final (5.30pm).
Margaret, the No. 4 qualifier, also played very well to be level par in beating the top seed, 18-year-old clubmate Louise MacGregor by 5 and 4.
Margaret Tough is in the final for the first time. Mrs Davidson won the title in 1990, 1991, 1992 and 2005. She was beaten in the finals of 2002 and 2003.

Results:
Semi-finals – M Tough (Falkirk) bt L MacGregor (Falkirk) 5 and 4, A Davidson (Stirling) bt E Allison (Stirling) 6 and 5.

CAMPBELL COMES IN LATE
TO SHARE SCOTS HONOURS
WITH THE TWO PAULS

Skibo Castle's Christopher Campbell (pictured right) came in late in the day with a three-over-par 74 to join Paul Cormack from Inchmarlo, Banchory and South Wales-based Paul Doherty as the leading Scots on three-over-par 74 on the opening day of the second PGA EuroPr0 Tour event of the year - the Oceanico Group Irish Classic at Roganstown Golf Club today.
Irishman Noel Fox and Englishman Christopher Hanson shared the lead with a five-under-par 66.
Campbell, playing out of the Carnegie Club, had birdies at the fifth, 10th and 14th but a double-bogey 6 at the sixth, a treacherous short hole that ruined many a scorecard.
Paul Cormack had an eagle 3 at the fifth but no birdies, only bogeys at the first, third, eighth, ninth and 15th.
Former Scottish boys’ match-play champion Doherty had birdies at the fifth, 14th and 17th but marred his card with a triple bogey 6 at the short sixth.
Aberdonian Neil Mitchell had a 75 which was a mixed bag of birdies at the fourth, fifth and sixth but bogeys at the second, third, ninth, 12th, 13th, 14th and 16th in halves of 35 and 40.
Graeme Brown from Montrose also had a 75, despite double b0geys at the short ninth and long 10th. He had birdies at the second and 15th.
A second Aberdonian, Graham Gordon, the former Scottish amateur champion, also finished on 75 after a dreadful start of bogey-bogey-double bogey. Out in 40, Graham birdied the 10th and 11th but dropped a shot at the 15th
Rookie pro Elliot Saltman (Craigielaw), who did well in his last out, got a reminder that playing golf for a living is not always as easy as picking apples off a tree. He finished on 79, taking 41 shots for the inward half, including a double bogey 6 at the 15th and a bogey at the 18th.
Alastair Mackenzie (Liberton) had a 78 which had a triple bogey 6 at the short sixth and a double bogey 6 at the 16th. He did birdie the 14th, 17th and 18th in halves of 40 and 38.
Lee Harper, the former Scottish boys match-play champion from Musselburgh, now attached to Archerfield Links, also hit the seven-over 78 mark with halves of 36 and 42. He had a horrendous inward half - a triple bogey 8 at the long 10th and a triple bogey 7 at the 15th, brightened only by a birdie 4 at the long 18th.
Paul Doherty’s older brother Jack did not enjoy himself in returning an 81 which included a double bogey 5 at the short sixth and a double bogey 7 at the lonth 10th.
Welshman Alex Smith had a hole in one at the 187yd 17th with a seven-iron on his way to matching the par of 71, which put him in joint 15th place.
LEADING SCORES
Par 71
66 N Fox (Team Ireland), C Hanson (Crosland Heath).
67 G Bateman (Royal Eastbourne).
68 L Walker (Dundalk), A Scallon (Eng).
69 M Dearden (Wales), D Sugrue (Ireland), M Cort (England), R Harris (Blankney), R Steele (Kenilworth), H Santos (Portugal), M Laskey (Brocket Hall), M Searle (Woodbury Park).
Scots’ scores:
74 P Cormack (Inchmarlo), P Doherty (Vale of Glamorgan), C Campbell (Carnegie Skibo).
75 N Mitchell (Murcar Links), G Brown (Montrose), G Gordon (Newmachar).
78 A Mackenzie (Liberton), L Harper (Archerfield Links), F Valenti (Pryors Haynes).
79 E Saltman (Craigielaw).
81 J Doherty (Vale of Glamorgan).

BRAND LOOKING FOR TURKISH DELIGHT
AS NEW EURO SENIORS CIRCUIT TEES
OFF WITH GLORIA CLASSIC AT BELEK

Gordon J Brand, the English former Ryder Cup player, tees up in the €325,000 Gloria Classic on Friday with his sights firmly set on blazing a trail into the European Seniors Tour record books.
Brand is in the middle of a remarkable run of form that has seen him win three of the last four events and another success at Gloria Golf Resort in Belek, Turkey, this week would put him alongside Tommy Horton as the only other golfer to have triumphed in three consecutive European Seniors Tour tournaments.
Horton, the most successful player in the history of the Tour, won the final three events of the 1997 season and now, a decade later, Brand is threatening to match that achievement after capturing the last tournament of 2006 - the Arcapita Seniors Tour Championship - and the first one of 2007 - the DGM Barbados Open.
Standing in Brand’s way is a strong field that has gathered in Turkey for the second outing of 2007 and the start of a seven-week tournament stretch that will take in the UK, Ireland, Continental Europe and the United States for the US Senior PGA Championship.
A total of 29 of the leading 30 players on the 2006 Order of Merit are in action, led by reigning No 1 Sam Torrance of Scotland and Carl Mason of England, who between them won five of the last seven events in 2006, plus a wide range of rookie players including Ross Drummond of Scotland, Andrew Murray of England and 2006 Qualifying School winner David Merriman of Australia.

ROOM FOR HANDICAP PLAYERS

ON NEW SCOTTISH SENIORS

AMATEUR CIRCUIT

The new Scottish men's open amateur circuit this summer is not just for the elite over-55 golfers - anyone with a handicap of 12 or under will be able to enter the events at Stirling (June 28-29), Nairn Dunbar (July 19-20), Hamilton (July 26-27) and Monifieth (August 2-3).
Former Scottish seniors champion Gordon MacDonald (Callander), pictured right, Scottish seniors champion in 2005 and winner of the Spanish Open seniors title for the past two years, is one of the leading lights in the SGU-backed drive to launch a mini-seniors tour.
"We are disappointed in the number of entries so far. Anything new takes time to establish itself but there are very few entries from players other than the ones you would expect from the low-handicap international team contenders," said Gordon.
"I want to stress that there are seven scratch prizes and seven HANDICAP prizes at each of the four two-round stroke tournaments. The maximum handicap is 12.4 and I want to squash the idea that this circuit is only for the top-notchers with low handicaps.
"We've got three age groups - 55 to 59, 60 to 64 and over 65, so there is something for everybody at these tournaments. We also want to encourage those who are over-50, and technically not senior golfers till they have their 55th birthdays, to come along and join us."
Former Walker Cup player Sandy Pirie (Hazlehead) was one active senior golfer who felt there was a danger of overcrowding the new circuit's field by letting in those aged over 50 but under 55.
"This has not happened," said Gordon MacDonald. "We have had very few entries from those in that age category."
There will be an Order of Merit point scheme linking all four events and the top 30 players will compete in a special one-round tournament over Blairgowrie Lansdowne on August 30.
Anyone who is any doubt about how to enter any or all of the four Scottish senior open amateur circuit tournaments can get more information from the Scottish Golf Union website (http://www.scottishgolfunion.org/) or from their club secretaries.

+++Scottishgolfview.com is planning to display the scores at the end of each day's play from the four tournaments on the new Scottish men's senior circuit. We will, of course, also be reporting on the British seniors open amateur championship (Nairn & Nairn Dunbar, August 8-10) as well as the Scottish equivalent at Drumpellier later this month (May 22 to 24).

10,000 DAILY CROWD LIMIT ON

WALKER CUP MATCH AT

ROYAL COUNTY DOWN

By MARK GARROD, Press Association

Demand is certain to exceed supply after the decision to put a crowd limit of 10,000 on Britain and Ireland's attempt to regain the Walker Cup - the amateur equivalent of the Ryder Cup - at Royal County Down Golf Club, about 40 miles south of Belfast on September 8 and 9.
The figure is only a third of the daily attendance at last year's Ryder Cup near Dublin.
Royal and Ancient Club championship director David Hill said: "If we could accommodate more people safely we would do so, but moving crowds around on this course is particularly difficult and we have to be mindful of that.
"The golf fraternity understands that the Walker Cup is very different to the Ryder Cup and we think that giving every club in Ireland an allocation of tickets is the fairest thing to do. There will be allocations for the United Kingdom and America as well."
Unlike the Ryder Cup, the crowd will be allowed to walk on the fairways behind matches - four foursomes followed by eight singles on each of the two days.
The United States won by a single point in Chicago two years ago, but Britain and Ireland were successful at Porthcawl in 1995 (Tiger Woods was part of the American line-up that year), Nairn in 1999, Sea Island in Georgia two years later and then again at Ganton in 2003.
The demand for the tickets will be huge, especially since the home team is almost certain to include Northern Ireland teenager Rory McIlroy, pictured above, the reigning European amateur champion from Holywood Golf Club, near Belfast.

Team captain Colin Dalgleish said: "To have somebody of his extraordinary talent definitely ramps up the interest."
Dalgleish gave a broad hint that six players - McIlroy, United States amateur championship winner Richie Ramsay, fellow Scot Lloyd Saltman, Welsh pair Rhys Davies and Nigel Edwards and England's Jamie Moul - are likely to be in the 10-man line-up.

FOUR SCOTS IN FIELD FOR

HOOTERS TOUR'S

QUICKSILVER CLASSIC

Six players from Scotland, England and Northern Ireland are among a field of 168 for the NGA Hooters Tour event later this week, the $200,000 Quicksilver Classic at Quicksilver Golf Club, Midway in Pennsylvania.

There are four Scots - rookie pro Scott Jamieson, pictured right, from Glasgow, who is doing rather well on the US satellite circuit, Joel Hendry from Elgin but resident at Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, Colin Speirs from Dunkeld and long-term Lakeland, Florida resident David Kirkpatrick, orginally from the Edinburgh area.

Then's there Ulsterman Gareth Maybin from Ballyclare, one of the most successful competitors from outwith the United States on the Hooters Tour over the last couple of seasons, and another former US college circuit player, David Skinns from Lincoln.

When the tournament starts, you will get daily news on this website.

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

WEST VETS FINALISTS AT RENFREW

Defending champion Helen Faulds (Douglas Park) is through to Wednesday morning's final of the West of Scotland veterans' championship at Renfrew Golf Club.
She beat Sheila Shaw (Lochwinnoch) and then Anna Telfer (Milngavie) to earn a match against Jennifer Mack (Haggs Castle) for the title.
Mrs Mack beat leading qualifier Janice Patgerson (Drumpellier) in the morning and Pat Hutton (Lanark) in the semi-finals.
Mary Irving (Ranfurly Castle) will play Maureen Rennie (Douglas Park) in the final of the Bronze championship.

Today's (Tuesday) results:
Quarter-finals - Jennifer Mack (Haggs Castle) bt Janice Patgerson (Drumpellier) at 19th, Pat Hutton (Lanark) w.o. Heaher Anderson (Caldwell) scr, Anna Telfer (Milngavie) bt Fiona Roger (Ranfurly Castle) 2 and 1, Helen Falds (Douglas Park) bt Sheila Shaw (Lochwinnoch) 2 and 1.
Semi-finals - Mack bt Hutton 2 and 1, Faulds bt Telfer 6 and 5.

VANNET AND HUTCHEON SHARE LEAD
IN SCOTTISH WATERAID PRO-AM

Lee Vannet (Carnoustie Golf Links) and Greig Hutcheon (Peterculter) shared the lead on one-under-par 71 at the end of the first round of the Scottish Wateraid Order of Merit 54-hole pro-am over the Torrance Course at Fairmont St Andrews today.
Gary McFarlen (Clober) was lying third on 72.
SCOREBOARD
71 L Vannet (Carnoustie), G Hutcheon (Peterculter).
72 G McFarlane (Clober).
73 M Loftus (Cowglen), R Arnott (Bishopbriggs), P McKechnie (Braid Hills), S Cairns (Westerwood).
74 J McKinnon (Irvine), S Catlin (Greenburn), S Gray (Hayston).
75 M Barnard (unatt), P Wardell (Whitekirk), C Kelly (Cawder), G Law (Uphall).
76 R Cameron (McDonald Ellon), G Rankin (Drumpellier), F Mann (Musselburgh), K Hutton (Downfield).
77 C Ronald (Carluke),S Morrison (Glenbervie), S Savage (Dalmuir), C Nicoll (Prestwick), A Purdie (Kingsbarns), C Doak (unatt).
78 G Harvey (Bearsden), E Thomnson (North Gailes), C Gillies (Kingsfield), A Coopere (Newmachar), C Matheson (Falkirk Tryst).
79 I Pender (unatt), C Lee (All Golf Swing Centre), C Russell (Dunbar), A Mackrell (Gary Mitchell Golf), S Moir (Aboyne), N Huguet (Musselburgh).
80 G McInnes (Murcar Links), D Robertson (Czech Design), J Erskine (Portpatrick Dunskey), A Lockhart (Ladybank).
81 A Crerar (King James VI), R Gray (Torrance House), E Cameron (Hamilton).
82 D McLure (Troon Welbeck), J Stevenson (Braehead), C Everett (Caldwell), K Monaghan (Bothwell Castle), M King (Kingsfield).
83 P Arthur (Aberdour).
86 M Urquhart (Inverness).

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO DAVID
INGLIS? WONDER BOY'S CAREER
HAS NOSEDIVED AS A PRO

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

If any Scottish amateur had looked a gilt-edged prospect to make it - and make it big - in the pro ranks it was David Inglis from Glencorse.
In the year 2000, he beat David Skinns in the 36-hole final of the British boys championship at Hillside.
In 2003, David (pictured right) was a member of the successful GB&I team in the Walker Cup match at Ganton. He played in all four sessions and lost only one tie.
Inglis by then had gone to the University of Tulsa on a four-year scholarship and was a success on the American circuit.
David, as expected, turned pro in America ... and his golfing career has nosedived ever since.
Married to an American girl and resident in West Palm Beach, Florida, David made a brief return to Scotland last year to play in the Scottish Challenge at Murcar Links. He made little or no impact.
Things have gone from bad to worse this year as David pursues his pro career on one of America's better known satellite circuits, the Gateway Tour.
January started off not too badly with finishes of joint 11th, joint 30th and tied 19th in his first three events. His earnings were $2,285, $1,305 and $1718 - just about enough to pay the rent.
Then came five cuts missed in a row - no money coming in for over a month.
David broke the dismal spell in the mid-March Gateway Tour event in which he tied for 24th place with earnings of $1,277.
Since then another five cuts in a row have been missed.
Perhaps not surprisingly, David Inglis withdrew from this week's Gateway Tour event.
Total earnings for the first five months of 2007 amount to $6,584 give or take a buck. A far cry from the lucrative career predicted for the red-haired Scot on the US PGA or even the European Tour.
He is, of course, still a young man. There is plenty of time to turn his fortunes around. Didn't Ian Woosnam, for instance, go to SEVEN Final Qualifying Schools before he won a card to play the European Tour? But that was then and this is now.
What's gone wrong with David Inglis? If he knew the answer himself, he would not be in such a dire position in which he must be seriously considering he has chosen the wrong profession.
ANY COMMENTS? E-mail them to colin@scottishgolfview.com

SALTMAN BREAKS INTO R&A

WORLD TOP TEN AMATEUR

RANKINGS FOR FIRST TIME

Lytham Trophy winner Lloyd Saltman has broken into the top 10 of today's updated R&A World Amateur Golf Rankings for the first time on the back of his weekend victory in the prestigious English 72-hole stroke-play tournament.
Saltman, pictured right, winner of the Scottish Champion of Champions at Leven and then the Craigmillar Park Open in Edinburgh in successive weekends prior to his all-the-way Lytham Trophy success, was 16th in the rankings last week.
Now he is officially the ninth best male amateur golf in the world - in fact some would say in effect he is really a lot higher than that.
Englishman Jamie Moul, who has been No 1 in the rankings for 13 weeks in a row, finished down the Lytham Trophy field behind Saltman. So too did Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) and England's Gary Wolstenholme who are also still ahead in Lloyd in the sixth and seventh spots in the rankings.
Spaniard Pablo Martin, an American college student and winner of a recent European Tour event, is ranked No 2 behind Moul. Martin will turn pro after the NCAA championships at the end of this month.
Edinburgh-born Welsh Walker Cup playere Rhys Davies, another on the American college circuit, is ranked No 3.
US amateur champion Richie Ramsay (Royal Aberdeen), long-time No 1 in the world after his victory last autumn at Hazeltine, has dropped four places this week to No 12.
There are no other Scots in the world's top 50, according to the R&A rankings.
Scott Henry (Cardross) has improved from 77th to 64th while Paul O'Hara (Colville Park) has gone down from 55th to 76th, both on the strength of their Lytham Trophy performances.
Scottish amateur match-play champion Kevin McAlpine (Alyth) has dropped from No 56 to 83 while John Gallagher (Swanston) has come into the top 100 from 106th place to 93rd.
LEADING RANKINGS
1 Jamie Moul (Eng) 1092.11.
2 Pablo Martin (Spa) 1068.97.
3 Rhys Davies (Wal) 1068.85.
4 Billy Horschel (US) 1061.40.
5 Jamie Lovemark (US) 1054.00.
6 Rory McIlroy (Ire) 1049.09.
7 Gary Wolstenholme (Eng) 1034.43.
8 Chris Kirk (US) 1022.41.
9 Lloyd Saltman (Sco) 1015.00.
10 Bronson LaCassie (Aus) 1003.23.
11 Webb Simpson (US) 1003.17.
12 Richie Ramsay (Sco) 1002.27.
13 Niklas Lemke (Swe) 990.00.
14 John Parry (Eng) 987.88.
15 Kyle Stanley (US) 982.93.
16 Dustin Johnson (US) 980.00.
17 Jonathan Moore (US) 980.00.
18 Alan Wagner (Arg) 958.82.
19 Nigel Edwards (Wal) 953.66
20 Rohan Blizard (Aus) 949.35.
Other Scots in top 100:
64 Scott Henry.
76 Paul O'Hara.
83 Kevin McAlpine.
93 John Gallagher.

LESLEY FROM GOLSPIE IS PGA’S
FEMALE ASSISTANT
PROFESSIONAL OF YEAR

Golspie-born Lesley Mackay, 29, collected one of the star awards at today’s Professional Golfers’ Association graduation ceremony at The Belfry headquarters in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands.
Lesley, a former Scotland amateur international player, shrugged off a career-threatening wrist injury to come out of the PGA’s three-year foundation degree course as the Female Assistant Professional of the Year, sponsored by the Ladies European Tour.
Lesley, who started her pro career under the wing of Karyn Dallas at Kirriemuir Golf Club, is now based at Glasgow’s World of Golf.
She received a £1,000 cheque and became the first recipient of the Beverly Lewis Trophy, named in honour of the PGA’s first female captain.
Acushnet Europe managing director Gary Miller said: “We are constantly impressed by the quality of young men and women coming through the ranks of the PGA training programme. As we strive to grow and develop the game of golf and make it more accessible, it is reassuring to see that the high standard of PGA graduates, reflected in another outstanding crop of Titleist assistants of the year, is being maintained. The future of golf is in good shape, judging by these young professionals.”
Michael Langford from Lincolnshire’s Kenwick Park Golf Club collected the prestigious Whitecombe Cox Trophy and a cheque for £3,500 as the Titleist Assistant of the year.

+Picture shows (left to right): Lesley Mackay, Beverly Lewis and Alison Nicholas.

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

YOUNG EILIDH IN FORM AT HAGGS CASTLE

Eilidh Briggs, 14-year-old Kilmacolm Golf Club junior member, led the Silver Division section with a net 71 off six in the West Division final of the Ladies Golf Union Medal at Haggs Castle Golf Club today (Tuesday). The CSS was 74 (+1).
The eight qualifiers for the Grand Final at Crieff Golf Club on Sunday, June 3 were:
Silver Division – Eilidh Briggs (Kilmacolm) (6) 71; Christine Whitelaw (Largs) (11) 72; Elaine Whyte (Windyhill) (12) 73; Pat McWhirter (Westerwood) (15) 75 (bih).
Bronze Division – Susan Campbell (Whitecraigs) (24) 63; Vivien Howe (Ranfurly Castle) (20) 69; Margaret McDevitt (Gourock) (22) (bih), Patricia Brown (Ralston) (21) 73 (bih).

KELLY BEATS EMMA IN

FINAL OF EAST LOTHIAN
CHAMPIONSHIP

Former Scottish girls’ match-play champion Kelly Brotherton (Craigielaw) added the East Lothian women’s county title to her collection at North Berwick Golf Club today.
The 21-year-old, pictured left of the two on right, a student at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, first beat another past Scottish girls title-winner, Mrs Moira Thomson (North Berwick) by one hole in the semi-final before beating Emma Fairnie (Dunbar), pictured far right, by 3 and 1 in the final.
It was the second year in a row that Emma had suffered defeat in the final.
She had beaten the leading qualifier and former Scottish champion Mrs Jayne Smith (Gullane Ladies) by 4 and 3 in the morning semi-finals.
In a contest between two long-hitting players, Emma had the edge over the opening holes in the final and was one up on Kelly after seven holes. But Miss Brotherton, a former Tulliallan Golf Club member, had got into her stride by the turn and was two holes to the good after 13 holes.
Emma got a bad lie at the 14th but lost it anyway to a birdie to go three down.
Miss Fairnie kept her hopes alive by winning the 16th but Kelly clinched her victory with a birdie 4 at the 17th.
The Handicap Quaich final was won by Ros Thoresen (North Berwick) who beat Lynda Jeffrey (Dunbar) by 3 and 2.
Today's results:
Semi-finals – E Fairnie (Dunbar) bt J Smith (Gullane Ladies) 4 and 3, K Brotherton (Craigielaw) bt M Thomson (North Berwick) 1 hole.
Final – Brotherton bt Fairnie 3 and 1.
HANDICAP QUAICH
Final – R Thoresen (North Berwick) bt L Jeffrey (Dunbar) 3 and 2.

Commonwealth Tournament news from South Africa

KERRY THE HEROINE AS BRITAIN BEAT
THE AUSSIES FOR SECOND VICTORY

Britain's amateur golfing girls are on course to win the Five Nations Commonwealth Tournament in South Africa for the first time since 1991 after a second-day win over Australia at Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club.
The British team followed up a 7-0 whitewash win over Canada on the first day by grinding out 4-3 win over the Aussies who had also started with a victory, 5 1/2-1 1/2 over hosts South Africa.
It was 1-1 at lunchtime after the foursomes were shared. Then it looked as if the Australians were gaining the upperhand when they bounced back from losing the top singles (Breanne Loucks beating Helen Oh 3 and 2) to lead 3-2 with wins by Stephanie Na by 3 and 2 over Krystle Caithness from Fife and by Frances Bondad by 6 and 4 over Naomi Edwards.
But the very experienced Kerry Smith, a chef at Waterlooville Golf Club, Hampshire, landed the match-winning victory after Engish compatriot Melissa Reid from Derby, recent impressive winner of the Helen Holm Scottish women's open title for the second year in a row, had levelled the overall scoreline at 3-3 by beating Emma Bennett 4 and 2.
Everything rest for Britain on Kerry's shoulders and she was equal to the task, beating Sunny Park on the last green by one hole.
It's an all-play-all league table format which ends on Friday with the team having the most points being declared the champions. Britain with two wins from two matches head the table from Australia and Canada (one win apiece) and the pointless New Zealand and South Africa.
On Wednesday, Britain play the Kiwis and then have the day off on Thursday before coming back into the fray on Friday to complete their programme with a match against South Africa.
"The team are hyper after that great win," said the Ladies Golf Union's Scottish chairman, Janet Brown from the Borders. "But Sue Turner, the skipper, will have got them all calmed down again in time for Wednesday's match against New Zealand. Every member of the team deserves praise but I would give Kerry Smith a special mention for winning the vital match at the end of the day."
Canada beat New Zealand 4-3 in the other match.

Tuesday results:
GREAT BRITAIN 4, AUSTRALIA 3
Foursomes: Kerry Smith & Naomi Edwards bt Frances Bondad & Helen Oh 1 hole; Breanne Loucks & Melissa Reid lost to Emma Bennett & Stephanie Na 3 and 2 (1-1).
Singles: Loucks bt Oh 3 and 2, Krystle Caithness lost to Na 3 and 2, Edards lost to Bondad 6 and 4, Smith bt Sunny Park 1 hole, Reid bt Bennett 4 and 2 (3-2).
CANADA 4, NEW ZEALAND 3
Foursomes: Maude Aimee LeBlanc & Sue Kim bt Tammy Clelland & Penny Smith 1 hole; Mary Ann Lapointe & Meaghan Leblanc bt Da Som Lee & Yeon Song Kim 5 and 4 (2-0).
Singles: Lapointe bt Larissa Eruera 6 and 5, Lindsay Knowlton lost to Kim 2 holes, Meaghan Leblanc lost to Clelland 1 hole, Sue Kim lost to Lee 1 hole, Maude Aimee Leblanc bt Smith 4 and 3 (2-3).
HOW THEY STAND
Great Britain 2 wins, Australia 1 win, Canada 1 win, New Zealand 0 wins, South Africa 0 wins.
WEDNESDAY MATCHES
Canada v South Africa, Great Britain v New Zealand.

ends

FORTROSE & ROSEMARKIE MISS OUT ON THIS
YEAR'S NORTHERN COUNTIES SENIOR CUP

By ROBIN WILSON

Fortrose & Rosemarkie Golf Club, winners of the Northern Counties Cup at Royal Aberdeen last September, are a surprise omission from the draw for the senior version of the three-day competition, getting underway at Nairn Dunbar on Wednesday of next week.
The host club provide two of the 24 teams competing and they will be aiming to deny Brora a third win of the B D Fraser Cup. As holders, the Brora first team have received a bye into the second round.
Brora's first-choice four have remained the same for the past four years - Jim Miller, Ronnie Sim, Robin Wilson and Ian Hamilton - but it is only this week that Hamilton declared himself fit to play at Dunbar, following a long lay-off with a shoulder injury from a fall on the Royal Dornoch course last November.
With home advantage Nairn Dunbar should be favourites with their first-team line-up of the current North District senior champion Hugh Clunas, John Ellon, David Bunker and Douglas Brodie, to repeat their win at Elgin in 2005.
Inverness were fortunate in receiving a bye into round two but then could have the daunting task of meeting the home club in their first game if Nairn Dunbar gets past Murcar Links in their opener. The Inverness first team are the familiar names of Jocky Thomson, Fraser Urquhart, Gordon Fraser and Jim Elliot. Elliot for Bob McAdam is the only change from when the other three won at Cruden Bay in 2004.
The Nairn second team and Torvean get the first round underway on Wednesday morning and the full draw is:
First Round (Wednesday, 8am) - Nairn 2 v Torvean, Nairn 1 v Forres, Brora 2 v Cruden Bay 1, Elgin 1 v Turriff, Deeside v Tain, Elgin 2 v Royal Dornoch, Nairn Dunbar 1 v Murcar Links, Peterhead v Nairn Dunbar 2.
Round 2 – Brora 1 v Nairn 1 or Torvean, Duff House Royal 1 v Nairn 1 or Forres, Inverness 2 v Brora 2 or Cruden Bay 1, Strathpeffer v Elgin 1 or Turriff, Moray v Deeside or Tain, Cruden Bay 2 v Elgin 2 or Royal Dornoch, Inverness 1 v Nairn Dunbar 1 or Murcar Links, Duff House Royal 2 v Peterhead or Nairn Dunbar 2.

MORAY AND NAIRN LEAGUE

The Moray and Nairn Golf League matches for the G R Thomson Trophy get underway on Thursday over the Nairn golf course where the host club have home advantage in defending the G R Thomson Shield, beginning with a match against neighbouring Nairn Dunbar.
The league matches continue until Sunday in the following order of play:
Friday: 5pm Elgin v Moray.
Saturday: 10.0am Forres v Nairn Dunbar. 10.50 Elgin v Nairn. 2pm Moray v Forres. 2.50 Nairn Dunbar v Elgin.
Sunday 10.00am Nairn v Forres. 10.50am Nairn Dunbar v Moray. 2.00pm Forres v Elgin. 2.50pm Moray v Nairn.



The Dornoch Firth Golf League club matchs have for a second year been hit with a withdrawal and the hosts, Invergordon will only be joined by Brora, Tain and Royal Dornoch this weekend. Golspie withdrew from the league last year and Alness were invited to join but they also are unable to raise a scratch team.

Royal Dornoch the holders for the past two years have posted a team of seven minus their leading two players, Jimmy Gunn and Kevin Matheson, as this week they are in South Korea representing their club in the World Club Team Championships being played over the Nine Bridges Resort Golf Club. This event is by invitation only to clubs within the World's Top 100 rated courses. It is Matheson's second visit to Nine Bridges, in 2002 he acompanied club mate Chris Mailley to the event.
The order of play at Invergordon beginning on Saturday afternoon is; Invergordon v Royal Dornoch. Tain v Brora. Sunday morning, Invergordon v Tain and Brora v Royal Dornoch. Sunday afternoon, Invergordon v Brora and Tain v Royal Dornoch.


End

Lesley Mackay is Female Assistant Pro of the Year

PGA TITLEIST ASSISTANT OF THE

YEAR PRESS RELEASE

Michael Langford collects trophy

and cheque for £3,500

Former US Women's Open champion Alison Nicholas led the congratulations at the PGA's graduation ceremony at the Belfry today.

Michael Langford, from Lincolnshire's Kenwick Park Golf Club collected the prestigious Whitcombe Cox Trophy and a cheque for £3,500 as the Titleist Assistant of the Year from Acushnet Europe managing director Gary Miller.

Langford, who has already become head pro at the Scunthorpe club, narrowly beat off Doonbeg's Liam Duggan, who pocketed a cheque for £2,500, and the Belfry's Jonathan Watts, who received £1,500.

The trio graduated along with 250 of their fellow young professionals, who have all successfully come through the PGA's three-year foundation degree.

Acushnet's Miller said: "We are constantly impressed by the quality of young men and women coming through the ranks of the PGA training programme."

As we strive to grow and develop the game of golf, and make it more accessible, it's reassuring to see that the high standard of PGA graduates, reflected in another outstanding crop of Titleist Assistants of the Year, is being maintained. The future of golf is in good shape, judging by these young professionals."

Former Scotland international Lesley Mackay shrugged off a career-threatening wrist injury to come out on top in the Female Assistant of the Year, sponsored by the Ladies European Tour.

Mackay, based at Glasgow's World of Golf, collected £1,000 and became the first recipient of the Beverly Lewis Trophy, named in honour of the PGA's first female captain.

Bath's Ben Lloyd (Cumberwell Park) capped an excellent year as he came top of the second year assistant, winning £1,000 in the process, just edging out runner-up Richard King (Whitchurch, Cardiff) and third-placed Phillip Kenyon (Hillside, Southport).

Once-promising footballer Daniel Malcolm has found his niche in golf after being named Rookie Assistant of the Year, winning £1,000 in the process.

The Springwater professional beat runner-up Ben Waller (Kendal) and Craig Jones (Celtic Manor).

Above pictures shows (left to right) Liam Duggan, Gary Miller, managing director of Acushnet Europe, PGA Titleist Assistant of the Year Michael Langford, Alison Nicholas MBE and Jonathan Watts .

JUSTIN ROSE TARGETS BMW PGA
CHAMPIONSHIP AT WENTWORTH

Justin Rose has put the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Club in Surrey, from May 24-27, on his 2007 schedule.
Rose, winner of three tournaments on the European Tour International Schedule including this season’s MasterCard Masters in Australia, joins an elite field which includes English compatriot David Howell, the defending champion, and seven of the current top 15 players in the world – Paul Casey, Luke Donald, Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Padraig Harrington, Vijay Singh and Henrik Stenson.
Rose, who came within a whisker of winning the Masters at Augusta National last month, said: “I’m returning to Britain to receive treatment for a back condition and I called George O’Grady, the Tour’s Chief Executive, to let him know that I planned to enter the BMW PGA Championship.
“I am feeling very positive that my back injury will continue to improve at the same rate so that I am able to play. I was delighted to win again on the European Tour this season and like everyone, nothing would give me greater pleasure than to win the BMW PGA Championship as all the players know that this is our flagship event.
“It will be good to play the West Course again at Wentworth and I’ve been told about the changes made by Ernie Els so I know it will be a challenging examination especially with such a great field of players lined up.
“I’ve been climbing the World Rankings this season and winning the BMW PGA Championship would lift me close to the top 10, which is obviously a target with the US Open and Open Championship also on the agenda in the next two months or so.”
Rose enjoyed a superb amateur career, culminating in his tied fourth place finish in the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale in 1998 just a few days before turning professional, aged just 17. He won four times worldwide in 2002, including the Dunhill Championship and the British Masters on The European Tour International Schedule.
He went on to play in the winning Great Britain and Ireland side in the 2003 Seve Trophy, during the same season that he finished in a share of fifth place in the US Open Championship. In 2004, he came close to winning the PGA Championship when he led at the halfway stage after rounds of 67 and 66, before Scotland’s Scott Drummond moved through to win with a closing 64.
The 2007 BMW PGA Championship will boast one of the strongest international fields on The European Tour Schedule, with many of the world’s best players in action. All four days will be broadcast live on BBC Television.

Tickets to the 2007 BMW PGA Championship can be purchased online at www.europeantourtickets.com or by telephoning +44 (0) 800 023 2557. For Hospitality packages, please call The European Tour Hospitality Department on +44 (0) 1344 840483.

Become a golf pro and see the world

SEVEN YEARS TO GET FROM BANCHORY

TO CANARY ISLANDS

VIA GERMANY,

ALGARVE AND EGYPT

By MURDO McCORQUODALE

I was Head Pro at Inchmarlo Golf Centre, Banchory between 1995 and 2000 after doing my apprenticeship with Doug Smart at Banchory Golf Club and then Dean Vannet at Peterculter.
In 1999 I met a Spanish lass called Ana who was studying in Aberdeen. I often visited her and her family in Spain and this gave me a real desire to move to warmer climes (That's Murdo, Ana and baby Alba pictured above).
I wrote a letter to Derek Brown from Valderrama who had worked with my father as a pro at Gleneagles and he advised me to learn German if I planned to work abroad. It just so happened that an old buddy from Elgin called Derek McKenzie was a pro in Cologne and so I called him up to see if he knew of any vacancies.
Luckily, his club required a teaching pro for spring 2000 and so, with absolutely no experience of German, I bade farewell to friends and family and headed for Cologne.
The day I left my family in Inverness it was snowing all over Britain, roads were blocked and the radio spoke only of ‘Mad Cow Disease’ and blizzards.

A combination of road closures and a strike by Dutch fishermen caused our ferry to sit in limbo for 36 hours. It meant it took me five days to arrive to Germany and so I was two days late starting my new job. Fortunately the head pro saw the funny side.
Ana joined me in Germany and within a few months we had a basic grasp of the language and eventually I was giving lessons without using English at all. We had two fantastic seasons in the Rhine Valley where the warm climate and beautiful scenery really took us by surprise. But we had achieved our goal and it was time to move south.
I was offered a job on the Algarve by a contact in Germany and although not Spain it seemed to be the next best thing. The Algarve is stunning - the golf courses are very good, the beaches are breathtaking and the fresh fish, fruit and vegetables are superior to northern Europe but it is a very difficult place to make a living – especially as a golf pro.
We also discovered that the Germans had been driven elsewhere by inflated prices that only the ‘new rich’ (Irish and southern English) could afford. This was a problem for the golf academy as German-speaking golfers are the best clients in that they have the mentality that to become golfers they must have lots of lessons (great for us!!).
Ana was working as a beautician, we had made great friends in Portugal and had just got married and purchased a home on the Spanish side of the border but we both felt our future was not here and so my buddy Derek came to the rescue again!
I was offered a job with Derek at a fantastic resort called Somabay (www.somabay.com) on Egypt’s Red Sea Riviera where the Gary Player course and golf academy were the best I’d ever seen.
Ana was working in the biggest spa in the world and I was teaching every day to Swiss, German and Austrian pupils so we were both busy but also had time to enjoy the beauty of Egypt. The people were the most welcoming I’d come across since leaving Scotland and the country’s history made our experience there a special one.
We took up scuba diving, windsurfing and wakeboarding and had free time in the afternoons to enjoy all the activities on offer and so our two years in Egypt were unforgettable to say the least.

When Ana found out she was pregnant we decided we had to leave Egypt and try to find a job in Spain where we could finally settle down. So, last June we left Somabay with many tears and headed to Alicante where Ana wanted to have the baby (near mama).
Alba was born in August and she is the best thing that has ever happened in our lives.
Recently, I finally got a job in Spain, on the Canary Island of Fuerteventura and this appears, even though it is early days yet, to be the ideal spot for us. I am Director of golf/head pro at Las Playitas Grande Resort (http://www.playitas.net/) and my job is to open the golf academy and eventually the 18-hole course here.
At the moment we have six academy holes open which are top quality. We also have three other 18-hole courses within a 30min drive so Fuerteventura could become a top golf holiday destination in the future. Here’s hoping!
Seven years on and, looking back,we’ve been very lucky with the friends we’ve made and the cultures and languages we’ve learned about but we did it and we still have very close links with our friends and families back home, and, of course,I still get to see the Rangers wherever I am!!!

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

Great to hear that Murdo has gone from strength to strength. I'm not suprised - he's a great lad, always friendly and helpful. As the teaching pro at Inchmarlo he set James (Byrne) off on his golfing career. I remember his first lesson as if it was yesterday! Please give him our best wishes.

Paul and James Byrne

BRITAIN AND AUSTRALIA SHARE FOURSOMES ON
DAY 2 OF COMMONWEALTH TOURNAMENT

Britain and Australia, the two winning teams from the opening day of the Commonwealth tournament in South Africa, shared the morning foursomes on their Day 2 encounter at Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club.
Karry Smith and Naomi Edwards beat Frances Bondad and Helen Oh by one hole but Curtis Cup players Breanne Loucks and Melissa Reid lost by 3 and 2 to Emma Bennett and Stephanie Na.
Krystle Caithness, for the second day in a row, will not come into action until the singles in which she will play Stephanie Na in the second match.
Canada, thrashed 7-0 by Britain yesterday, won both foursomes from New Zealand who did not play on the opening day.

STEWART, KNOX END US COLLEGE CAREERS ON A HIGH NOTE

Highlanders Duncan Stewart from Grantown on Spey and Russell Knox from Inverness have ended their United States collegiate golf careers on a high note.
They were both selected for the all-Atlantic Sun Conference golf team for the second year in a row. The team never plays any matches but is selected by the golf coaches of all the colleges that play in the conference and is an indication of the recognised best players.
Stewart (pictured far right) and Knox (right) spent four years on golf scholarships at Jacksonville University, Florida. They finished their American careers as Nos 1 and 2 on the university team’s all-time scoring average table.
Stewart won eight tournaments on the US college circuit, including the Atlantic Sun Conference individual champion in 2005 and again in 2006.
Knox won three tournaments.
The Scots helped the Jacksonville University team – the Dolphins – to win four team titles during the 2006-20076 college season. That was the most in the university’s golf programme history.
“These two student-athletes raised the bar for the Jacksonville University program and, I am sure, they will be successful in their future endeavours,” said Jacksonville University head golf coach Jim Taketa.

GLASGOW GOLF UNION SENIORS' TITLE
FOR RALSTON'S GORDON FULLER

Gordon Fuller of Ralston Golf Club is the new Glasgow Golf Union seniors’ champion. He beat a big field by three strokes with a par-matching round of 71 at Glasgow Gailes Golf Club. The CSS was 72.

LEADING SCORES
SCRATCH
71 Gordon Fuller (Ralston).
74 Gordon Thomson (Glasgow).
76 Ian Weir (Bishopbriggs).
77 Alastair Connell (Glasgow), David Sergeant (Bishopbriggs), William Gemmell (Glasgow).
78 Ian Wallace (Glasgow), John Semple (Haggs Castle).
79 James McNally (Williamwood).
80 Mark Lironi (Cathkin Braes).
81 Gordon Cosh (Cowglen), Alexander Turpie (Glasgow).
82 Lindsay Renfrew (Glasgow), Andrew Kellock (Ralston).
83 D McLucas (Ralston), G Sinclair (Bishopbriggs), Stewart Bannerman (Glasgow).
85 John Vallance (Haggs Castle), John A S Douglas (Ralston).
86 Ian Aitchison (Ralton), John Baxter (Cowglen), Kenneth McIntyre (Glasgow).
87 John Greene (Cowglen), George Elton (Sandyhills).
88 Peter G Lockhart (Cowglen).
89 Thomas\ Andrews (Haggs Castsle), W Gordon McLean (FRalston).
HANDICAP
Division 1
70 Gordon Fuller (Ralston) (1).
71 Alastair Connell (Glasgow) (6), Ian Weir (Bishopbriggs) (5).
72 Ian Wallace (6), John Semple (Haggs Castle), Gordon Thomson (2).
73 Alexander Turpie (Glasgow) (8), William Gemmell (Glasgow) (4).
74 David Sergeant (Bishopbriggs) (3), Alistair St Clair (Glasgow) (5).
76 Mark Lironi (Cathkin Braes) (4), G Sinclair (Bishopbriggs) (7), James McNally (Williamwood) (3).

Division 2
70 D McLucas (Ralston) (13).
71 Fraser Spalding (Haggs Castle) (9).
73 Lindsay Renfrew (Glasgow) (9).
75 John Greene (Cowglen) (12), Peter G Lockhart (Cowglen) (13).
76 W Gordon McLean (Ralston) (13), John Baxter (Cowglen) (10).
78 Edward J Robertson (Sandyhills) (13), George Elton (Sandyhills) (9), David Reading (Pollok)(13).
78 Peter Mitchell (Linn Park) (11).

Division 3
67 Andrew Kellock (Ralston) (15).
70 John Vallance (Haggs Castle).
74 Thomas Andrews (Haggs Castle) (15), William McIntyre (Cathkin Braes) (16).
75 James Mitchell (Glasgow) (15), Joseph Pearson (Ralston) (15).
76 Harry Reid (Ralston) (17), Archibald McFarlne (Pollok (16).
77 Charles Oliphant (Bishopbriggs) (15), John Scott (Williamwood) (16).
78 Robert Miller (Bishopbriggs) (14), Martin McSherry (Cawder) (16).
79 Thomas A Gilchrist (Haggs Castle) (14).

Division 4
73 Alex Dunlop (Glasgow) (19).
74 Joseph Baird (Ralston) (21).
75 Ian Ferguson (Haggs Castle) (18), Norman Macleod (Glasgow) (21).
76 Richard McAneney (Ralston) (18), Thomas Dougan (Glasgow) (22).
77 Michael A C Thom (Glasgow) (21), Stephen Doohan (Victoria) (1`8).
78 John Cairns (Sandyhills) (27).

BORDERS B CHAMPIONSHIP FINALIST SARAH PLAYED 13 HOLES WITH BROKEN ANKLE

Can you imagine playing 13 holes with a broken ankle! It's painful just even thinking about it.
But that's what Border Ladies County Golf Association vice-captain Sarah Bolton did in the final of the county's B championship at The Roxburghe, Kelso last Sunday.
Her husband Bob tells the story.
"Sarah fell over on the path to the fifth tee during the final. Thinking she had just twisted her ankle, she played on. She managed to keep going right to the 17th green where she finally lost by 2 and 1 to her Hirsel clubmate Corinne Campbell.
"Sarah was never behind in the match until the 16th when the pain just became too much for the adrenalin to keep it at bay. Later, we discovered she had broken her ankle!"

+Picture, courtesy of Border Ladies County Golf Association, shows Sarah on left and Corinne on right - presumably BEFORE the final!

ends

A THANK YOU MESSAGE FROM RENTON LAIDLAW

The support and encouragement I have received over the last few weeks after the drama which followed the first of my three operations has been absolutely remarkable. To all my friends and colleagues who wrote, emailed, telephoned or passed on get well messages, my grateful thanks. Knowing so many people around the world were pulling for me was a great encouragement. The consultants warned me the recovery process, of necessity, would be a long one and I am not expected to be fully fit before July at the earliest.
I am back home at Sunningdale, however, and have had a good check-up report from the surgeon.The heart pacemaker installed in the second operation is also working well.
I am beginning to move about again and looking forward to getting back to normal in due course. Once again many thanks to everyone who sent messages of support.

Renton

ALVA YOUNGSTERS DOMINATE AT DOLLAR
IN CLACKMANNASHIRE BOYS' EVENTS

By HUGH HUNTER

Five Alva youngsters reached the semi-final stages in the three events over a windy and showery Dollar course on Monday evening, emphasising the strength of junior golf at the smallest club in Clackmannanshire
In the senior boys’ event, it was Gary Elliot who scraped through at the 18th against Andrew Borek. In the junior event, county junior champion Lawrence Allan held a lead of two holes at the turn, and upped his game to close out John Salmond on the 14th green with some skilful golf. Daniel Ashe had a much easier passage with a 6 and 5 win after being five up at the turn against Grant Ross. Finally, in the handicap section, Martin Hall and Neil Forbes also had fairly easy wins.
County boys champion Grant Dowie stayed on course for a double when he defeated Andre Scotland on the 17th with a birdie. Comeback of the evening just had to belong to 10-year-old Brian McAdam with a last-hole win against R Hunter of Alva after being three down at the turn. His win no doubt made up for big brother Bruce’s loss at the 19th.
The event now moves to Tillicoultry for the semi-finals on Wednesday with the finals at Tulliallan on Thursday.
RESULTS
SENIOR BOYS
Quarter-finals – G Elliot (Alva) bt A Borek (Braehead) 2 holes, S Clark (Braehead) bt B McAdam (Alloa) at 19th, G Dowie (Alloa) bt A Scotland (Alloa) 3 and 2, S McPherson (Dollar) beat C Carberry (Tillicoultry) 4 and 3.
JUNIOR BOYS
Quarter-finals – L Allan (Alva) bt J Salmond (Alloa) 5 and 4, D Ashe (Alva) bt G Ross (Alloa) 6 and 5, G Chalmers (Dollar) beat A Ashe (Alva) 2 and 1, J Pollock (Braehead) w.o.S Nicol (Braehead) scr.
HANDICAP (SENIORS AND JUNIORS)
Quarter-finals – M Hall (Alva) bt J Ferguson (Alva) 8 and 7, N Forbes (Alva) bt S Thomson (Alva) 5 and 4, B McAdam (Alloa) bt R Hunter (Alva) 1 hole, W Nelson (Alloa) bt C Macdonald (Alva) 2 holes.

EMMA MUST BEAT TOP SEED

JAYNE TO GET BACK TO

EAST LOTHIAN FINAL

Borders youngster Emma Fairnie, now a member at Dunbar Golf Club, is on the trail of repeating last year’s appearance in the final of the East Lothian women’s county golf championship.
At North Berwick Golf Club today, Emma, who lost at the last stage to Fiona Prior 12 months ago, reached the last four with wins over Linda Grieve (Musselburgh) and Diane Huish (North Berwick).
Miss Fairnie, pictured right, the No 4 qualifier, will now play the No 1 seed, former Scottish champion Jayne Smith (Gullane Ladies) for a place in the final.
Jane beat Elinor Blair (North Berwick) and Joan Henderson (North Berwick) today.
Tuesday’s second semi-final will feature a clash between the Scottish girls’ champions of 1968 (Moira Thomson of North Berwick) and 2003 (Kelly Brotherton, now playing out of Craigielaw).
More recently Moira has won the Scottish veteran women’s title at Blairgowrie.
Kelly, the No 7 qualifier, ousted the No 2 seed, Mary Lou Renton (Gifford) by 3 and 2 in the quarter-finals while Mrs Thomson had a 6 and 5 win over the No 3 seed, Susan Penman (Gullane Ladies) to reach the semi-finals.
Today's results:
First round – J Smith (Gullane Ladies) bt E Blair (North Berwick) 2 and 1, J Henderson (North Berwick) bt K Ward (Glen) 1 hole, D Huish (North Berwick) bt A Chainey (North Berwick) 4 and 3, E Fairnie (Dunbar) bt L Grieve (Musselburgh)5 and 4, S Penman (Gullane Ladies) bt V McKenzie (Longniddry) 8 and 6, M Thomson (North Berwick) bt J Herd (Musselburgh) 23 and 1, K Brotherton (Craigielaw) bt L Fortune (Kilspindie) 6 and 5, M L Renton (Gifford) bt E Black (Haddington) 5 and 4.
Quarter-finals – Smith bt Henderson 4 and 2, Fairnie bt Huish 5 and 4, Thomson bt Penman 6 and 5, Brotherton bt Renton 3 and 2.

LOUISE (18) ON COURSE FOR STIRLING FINAL
AGAINST CURTIS CUP STAR ALISON

Birthday girl Louise MacGregor (Falkirk) – she was 18 on Sunday – is on course for a place in the final against former Curtis Cup star Alison Davidson (Stirling) in the Stirling & Clackmannan women’s county golf championship at Alloa Golf Club.
Top seed Louise beat Claire Capocci (Bridge of Allan) by 5 and 4 with one-over-par figures in the quarter-finals tonight.
On Wednesday, Miss MacGregor will play Margaret Tough (Falkirk), the fourth-best qualifier, for a place in the final. Margaret won her quarter-final by one hole over Stella Mitchell (Dunbracken Ladies).
The other midweek semi-final will be between Alison Davidson, the No 2 qualifier, who was level par in winning by 5 and 4 over senior tour professional John Chillas’s wife, Tricia, a Stirling member) and Elaine Allison (Stirling), the No 3 seed. Elaine won her quarter-final tie by 2 and 1 over the defending champion Linda Allan (Falkirk Tryst).
This evening's results:
Quarter-finals – L MacGregor (Falkirk) bt C Capocci (Bridge of Allan) 5 and 4, M Tough (Falkirk) bt S Mitchell (Dunbracken Ladies) 1 hole, E Aliison (Stirling) bt L Allan (Falkirk Tryst) 2 and 1, A Davidson (Stirling) bt T Chillas (Stirling) 5 and 4.

GREG McBAIN (handicap now +4)

TO TURN PRO AS ROYAL

DORNOCH ASSISTANT

NORTH CLUB NEWS FROM ROBIN WILSON

Royal Dornoch Golf Club professional Andrew Skinner’s search for a new young assistant ended on his doorstep when he took on Highland College student Greg McBain.
Aberdonian McBain (23), pictured right, will complete his golf management degree course at the Highland College in Dornoch within the next two weeks but before signing his professional forms he is leading the Highland College team in the British universities championships at Hoylake this week.
Greg ended his amateur career with the lowest gross score, a level par 70, in the Burghfield tournament last Saturday.
McBain, who spent a couple of successful years at a junior college in the United States, was a member of Newmachar Golf Club, where he played team golf for the North-east. After Saturday's round of 70, his handicap dropped to +4.
ROYAL DORNOCH PAIR OFF TO
SOUTH KOREA
Royal Dornoch club champions Jimmy Gunn and Kevin Matheson have only been named as reserves in the club team travelling to Invergordon this weekend to make a defence of the Dornoch Firth League Targe.
Jimmy and Kevin left last weekend to represent the club in the World Club Championships at the Nine Bridges Golf Resort in South Korea.
It is not expected they will return in time to play any games at Invergordon. This is Kevin’s second trip to Nine Bridges where a selection of the world’s top 100 clubs/courses are invited to send their champions to compete on an annual basis. Kevin and Chris Mailley were in South Korea in 2002.
The Royal Dornoch team for Invergordon is: Bert Nicholson, Alex MacDonald, Chris Mailley, John Shepherd, Daniel Holden, Colin Murray and Brian Urquhart.
Representing Royal Dornoch in the Senior Northern Counties cup at Nairn Dunbar next week are:
Roly Bluck, Bert Nicholson, Alan Ramsay and Grant Shannon. Their opponents in round one are the Elgin second string.

Commonwealth Tournament at Johannesburg

KRYSTLE MAKES IMPRESSIVE DEBUT
AS BRITAIN CLOBBER
CANADIANS 7-0 ON DAY ONE

Britain could not have made a better start to the Five Nations Commonwealth Tournament for women’s amateur teams over the Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club’s East championship course today.
They slammed Canada 7-0, beating them 2-0 in the foursomes and 5-0 in the singles.
On the second day of this all-play-all league format, the British
play Australia who beat the very highly-rated host country, South Africa, 5 ½-1 ½ .
The Brits – four English players, one Welsh and one Scot (Krystle Caithness from Cellardyke, Fife) make up this week’s squad -have not won this prestigious tournament, played every four years, since 1991 at Northumberland Golf Club.
The Aussies, on the other hand, have been Commonwealth champions on the last three occasions – 1995-1999-2003.
Krystle Caithness, pictured above in the recent Helen Holm Scottish tournament, a member of the St Regulus, St Andrews club, had to wait until the afternoon before skipper Sue Turner brought her into the line-up to make her debut at British international level.
And quite an impressive debut it was because the 18-year-old Scot, who starts a four-year golf scholarship at the University of Georgia in the autumn, beat Sue Kim of Canada by 2 and 2.
In a tight match of some quality, both players reached the turn in an approximate par 37. The Canadian birdied the first to take an early lead but a par at the short second was good enough for the Scot to square the match.
Krystle went one up at the fourth with a birdie but bogeyed the next two holes.
Kim squared with a par at the fifth but could only match her opponent’s 6 at the par-5 sixth. Caithness edged ahead again with a birdie 4 at the long eight but Kim countered with a birdie of here own at the ninth to level matters.
After the first three holes of the inward half were halved, the Canadian was the first to crack. She bogeyed the 13th and 14th, which allowed Krystle to go two up at a vital stage with back-to-back pars.
The Scot closed out her opponent with halves in pars at the 15th, 16th and 17th. Krystle was level par for the holes played.
Welsh Curtis Cup player Breanne Loucks from Wrexham was two under par in winning by 4 and 3 against Maude Aimee LeBlanc.
Naomi Edwards from Ganton was three over par in beating Lindsay Knowlton by one hole.
Kerry Smith, out in five-over-par 42, was five over par in winning by 3 and 1 against Meaghan Leblanc. The Canadian, four up after six holes, bogeyed the eighth and ninth to be out in 39 and two up.
Then Leblanc bogeyed four holes in a row from 11th to slip one down. Smith birdied the 15th to go two up and finished the match at the 17th with a par.
Melissa Reid (Chevin, Derby), who recently retained the Helen Holm Scottish open amateur stroke-play title with impressively low figures, was four under par in beating Maryann Lapointe by 6 and 4. Melissa, out in one-under-par 36 and three up, finished off her opponent by birdieing the 12th, 13th and 14th.

RESULTS

GREAT BRITAIN 7, CANADA 0
Foursomes: K Smith & N Edwards bt M A LeBlanc & L Knowlton 2 and 1;
B Loucks & M Reid bt M Lapointe & M Leblanc 4 and 2 (2-0).
Singles – Loucks bt M A LeBlalnc 4 and 3, K Caithness bt S Kim 2 and 1, Edwards bt Knowlton 1 hole, Smith bt M Leblanc 3 and 1, M Reid bt Lapointe 6 and 4 (5-0).

AUSTRALIA 5 ½, SOUTH AFRICA 1 ½,
Foursomes: F Bondad & H Oh bt G Switala & I Verwey 2 and 1;
E Bennett & S Na bt K Shean & A Simon 3 and 2 (2-0).
Singles: Oh bt B Strauss 4 and 3, Na bt Switala 7 and 6, Bondad bt Verwey 4 and 3, S Park lost to Shean 4 and 3, Bennett halved with Simon (3 1/2-1 ½).

Tuesday matches:
Great Britain v Australia, Canada v New Zealand.
Wednesday:
Canada v South Africa, Great Britain v New Zealand.
Thursday:
South Africa v New Zealand, Canada v Australia.
Friday (final day):
Australia v New Zealand, Great Britain v South Africa.

STARS COME OUT FOR BMW PGA CHAMPIONSHIP
AT WENTWORTH LATER THIS MONTH

A world-class international field is set to challenge for the €725,000 first prize from a record €4,350,000 prize fund in the 2007 BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Club, Surrey from May 24-27.
Seven of the top 15 players in the Official World Golf Ranking, representing five different countries, will bid to win a highly prized title on the European Tour International Schedule over the outstanding West Course.
In all, 18 winners from the current season are taking part while 11 of last year’s successful European Ryder Cup team and captain Ian Woosnam have confirmed their participation.
South Africa’s Ernie Els, ranked fifth in the world, heads the OWGR list with Henrik Stenson of Sweden (sixth), Vijay Singh of Fiji (seventh), South Africa’s Retief Goosen (ninth), Luke Donald of England (10th), Padraig Harrington of Ireland (11th) and England’s Paul Casey (13th).
Also in attendance will be last year’s Ryder Cup winners, Casey, Darren Clarke, Donald, Harrington, David Howell, Robert Karlsson, Paul McGinley, Colin Montgomerie, José Maria Olazábal, Stenson and Lee Westwood.
Montgomerie, the winner in 1998, 1999 and 2000, will be attempting to claim a record-equalling fourth title while Olazábal is bidding to add to his 1994 success and Woosnam to his two wins in 1988 and 1997.
David Howell, who played in Europe’s last two Ryder Cup victories, defends the title he won by five shots from fellow countryman, Simon Kahn, 12 months ago.

WINNING SPANIARD SAYS DON'T PUT YOUR
MONEY ON ME TO WIN THIS WEEK!

Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño gave himself the perfect fillip for this week's Valle Romano Open de Andalucia at Aloha Golf Club on the Costa del Sol by claiming his third European Tour title with a sensational victory in the Telecom Italia Open on Sunday.
Fernandez-Castaño beat Austrian Markus Brier at the second hole of a sudden-death play-off at Castello di Tolscinasco, but before backers rush to put their hard earned cash on the affable 26 year old completing a notable back-to-back success, he had words of caution for his many supporters.
"Every time I have won a tournament, the following week I have played terribly so I would keep your money in your pocket," joked the Spaniard who added the Italian title to that of the 2005 KLM Open and the 2006 BMW Asian Open.

TIGER WOODS CHALKS UP 57th WIN ON
US PGA TOUR - BY TWO STROKES

Hold that Tiger! Well, it seems that nobody could in the US PGA Tour's Wachovia Championship which ended at Quail Hollow, Charlotte in North Carolina on Sunday.
Tiger, who had his problems over the so difficult last few holes, won in the end by two shots with a three-under-par-69 in testing, very windy conditions. It must have been windy all over the world on Sunday!
Woods finished at 13-under 275 for his 57th career victory on the US PGA Tour, and his third victory in six starts this year.
Steve Stricker (69) pulled his second shot into the creek at the brutal par-four 18th, but salvaged a bogey to finish second on 11-under.
Phil Mickelson (70) sneaked into a tie for third place with Rory Sabbatini (74) at nine-under when several other contenders made a mess of the last.
Woods started the day a stroke behind overnight leader Sabbatini, but took command by picking up four shots in a brilliant three-hole stretch from the par-five seventh.
That gave him the cushion to withstand a double bogey 5 at the par-three 13th.
And what about first-round leader Padraig Harrington? Have a look at the final totals and see how far the Irishman plummeted over the last 54 holes.

ALL THE FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4 x 72). Players from US unless stated.
275 Tiger Woods 70 68 68 69
277 Steve Stricker 72 70 66 69
279 Phil Mickelson 70 71 68 70, Rory Sabbatini (Rsa) 70 71 64 74
280 Anthony Kim 72 69 69 70, Stewart Cink 70 71 69 70
281 Vijay Singh (Fij) 67 71 69 74, Arron Oberholser 69 69 69 74, Ken Duke 70 70 68 73
283 Bernhard Langer (Ger) 70 73 71 69, Brett Quigley 70 74 69 70, John Senden (Aus) 72 70 69 72, Billy Mayfair 73 71 67 72
284 Trevor Immelman (Rsa) 68 74 68 74, Sergio Garcia (Spa) 71 71 70 72
285 Jose-Maria Olazabal (Spa) 70 72 71 72, Rodney Pampling (Aus) 71 70 71 73, J J Henry 72 73 69 71, Robert Garrigus 72 73 67 73, Fredrik Jacobson (Swe) 70 73 71 71, Briny Baird 72 73 70 70
286 Joey Sindelar 69 72 70 75, Carl Pettersson (Swe) 68 73 71 74
287 Nick Watney 72 71 74 70, Adam Scott (Aus) 73 69 73 72, Ted Purdy 70 69 74 74, J.P. Hayes 75 72 69 71, Geoff Ogilvy (Aus) 72 73 69 73, Kevin Sutherland 75 69 71 72, Heath Slocum 68 77 71 71, Robert Karlsson (Swe) 71 72 72 72, KJ Choi (Kor) 70 74 69 74, Mike Weir (Can) 73 71 70 73
288 Lucas Glover 75 72 68 73, Nick O'Hern (Aus) 75 69 69 75, Parker McLachlin 71 75 69 73, Nathan Green (Aus) 70 76 71 71, Stephen Marino 74 71 70 73, J.B. Holmes 69 74 71 74, Mathew Goggin (Aus) 70 73 72 73, Robert Allenby (Aus) 70 76 69 73, Ernie Els (SAf) 71 74 73 70
289 Jerry Kelly 69 73 70 77, Retief Goosen (Rsa) 72 74 72 71, Davis Love III 74 72 67 76, Woody Austin 71 74 72 72, Ben Curtis 70 75 74 70, Aaron Baddeley (Aus) 71 75 71 72, Boo Weekley 72 75 69 73, Camilo Villegas (Col) 69 76 72 72, Padraig Harrington (Ire) 66 75 79 69
290 Jeff Maggert 68 74 77 71, Ryuji Imada (Jpn) 70 73 75 72, Jason Bohn 67 72 73 78, Charles Howell III 78 69 74 69
291 Charlie Wi (Kor) 74 68 75 74, Dean Wilson 72 75 72 72, John Rollins 70 76 73 72, Cameron Beckman 75 72 72 72, Michael Putnam 72 70 76 73
292 Charles Warren 70 73 76 73, Jeff Gove 74 69 72 77, Bo Van Pelt 77 70 75 70, Lee Westwood (Eng) 72 74 74 72, Stephen Ames (Can) 69 73 74 76, Mark Wilson 76 70 71 75
293 Steve Flesch 70 74 71 78, Jeff Sluman 71 76 73 73
294 Billy Andrade 73 74 72 75, Brian Davis (Eng) 72 75 72 75, Robert Gamez 75 71 73 75, Chris DiMarco 74 71 73 76, Todd Demsey 72 75 72 75, Henrik Stenson (Swe) 72 74 72 76
295 Bob Tway 72 75 71 77, Ryan Moore 74 72 74 75
296 Gavin Coles (Aus) 76 71 72 77, Cliff Kresge 75 72 77 72
297 Stephen Leaney (Aus) 75 70 75 77, Craig Kanada 73 73 77 74, Tripp Isenhour 75 72 77 73
299 David Berganio jun 69 76 71 83, Shigeki Maruyama (Jap) 73 74 78 74
301 Zach Johnson 71 75 75 80

RELAX AND ENJOY IT - THAT'S THE SECRET
OF HEATHER MACRAE'S NEW SUCCESS

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Photo Courtesy and Copyright TOM WARD

Heather MacRae's weekend success in the Welsh women's open amateur stroke-play championship at Newport has give her confidence a great boost with the Scottish championship due to start at Kilmarnock Barassie next week.
Heather, of course, has won the British women's open amateur title (at Nairn) and the Scottish girls' match-play title (at Glenbervie) - but she has never won the Scottish women's championship.
Miss MacRae played for Great Britain & Ireland in the Vagliano Trophy match in France in 2005 and she was a Curtis Cup team reserve last year.
What's the secret of Heather's good early form this year - she was lying third in the "Helen Holm" with one round to go at Royal Troon and made all the running to follow in the footsteps of Scots such as Catriona Lambert (Matthew), Anne Walker and Vikki Laing in winning the Welsh open title.
Could it be because she has adopted a new approach to tournaments this year?
Instead of going out and "busting a gut" to birdie every hole, she is relaxing and letting it happen, rather than trying to make it happen. Sounds easy but we all know that nothing is easy in golf.
Here's what Heather had to say after her Newport triumph:
"It was down to all-round steady play. I am hitting the ball really well just now and my short game has come on a lot. Yes, I am just trying to relax a lot more and enjoy it, so far so good.
"I have been working really hard over the winter, practising at Gleneagles a lot. They have great facilities, even through the winter, and its only 10 minutes up the road for me.
"I've been for a few lessons with Stuart Wilson at Gleneagles too so that's obviously working too. Let's hope it continues."

GRANT DOWIE (ALLOA)

WINS CLACKMANNAN

SENIOR BOYS'

CHAMPIONSHIP

By HUGH HUNTER

The 2007 Clackmannan County boys' golf championships were contested over Braehead Golf course in windy and showery conditions on Sunday. Over 50 boys competed in the two age group divisions (14 years and under; 15 – 17).
With 19 competitors, Alva provided the largest entry, and it was pleasing to the organisers and spectators to see all the boys smartly turned out.

In the senior boys' category, it was always going to be a contest between the present “Big Three” of Wee County boys' golf - Grant Dowie (Alloa), Andrew Borek (Braehead) and Andre Scotland (Alloa).

Grant posted a level par 35 on the outward nine to give him a six-shot advantage over the others, but they could not take advantage of Grant’s slip-ups on the homeward nine when he dropped seven shots to par, and they had to be content with second and third spots.

PRIZEWINNERS

SCRATCH

1 Grant Dowie (Alloa) 77.

2 Andrew Broek (Braehead) 79.

3 Andre Scotland (Alloa) 81.

HANDICAP

1 Callum Carberry (Tillicoultry) (9) 74.

2 Scott Clark (Braehead) (9) 74.

3 Bruce McAdam (Alloa) (11) 75.

FULL SCOREBOARD

77 G Dowie (Alloa).

79 A Borek (Braehead).

81 A Scotland (Alloa).

83 C Carberry (Tillicoultry), S Clark (Braehead).

85 S McPherson (Braehead).

86 B McAdam (Alloa).

87 G Elliot (Alva).

89 J Ferguson (Alva).

92 R Hunter(Alva).

93 N Forbes (Alva).

94 S Thomson (Alva).

In the Junior category there was a large entry, and two classy players, Lawrence Allan (Alva) and Gary Chalmers (Dollar), dominated the event.

Gary, with steady play, held a comfortable lead over Lawrence until the 425yd par-4 18th where it all went wrong with a disastrous triple bogey 7.

Twelve-year-old Lawrence countered with a magnificent birdie 3 (the only one in the field) to snatch the title by one shot.

Top handicap prize went to local Steven Nicol with an unbelievable net 54 which will no doubt be dealt with by the handicap committee.

Finally, all credit to 10-year-old Angus Boyd (Alloa) -- undaunted by playing from the medal tees and showing great perseverance, he returned a card of 110 when many others threw in the towel during their round.

PRIZEWINNERS
SCRATCH
1 Lawrence Allan (Alva) 76.
2 Gary Chalmers (Dollar) 77.
3 Daniel Ashe (Alva) 78.
HANDICAP
1 Steven Nicol (Braehead) (31) 54.

2 Jamie Pollock (Braehead) (17) 64.

3 Grant Ross (Alloa) (17) 67.
FULL SCOREBOARD
76 L Allan (Alva).
77 G Chalmers (Dollar).
78 D Ashe (Alva).

81 J Pollock Braehead), J Salmond (Alloa).
82 A Ashe (Alva).

84 G Ross (Alloa).

85 M Hall (Alva), S Nicol (Braehead).

86 J Macpherson (Braehead).

88 K Ross (Tillicoultry), D Young (Alva).

90 W Nelson (Alloa).

91 B Hamilton (Alva).

92 C Macdonald (Alva).

93 C Boyd (Alloa), R Kennedy (Alva).

94 C Watson (Alloa).

96 G McIntosh (Alloa), S Buchanan (Alva).

97 C Graham (Alloa), B McAdam (Alloa), J Gardner (Alva), R Brown (Tillicoultry).

109 R Walker (Alva).

110 A Boyd (Alloa).

The top eight boys in each category qualify for the match-play titles, and a handicap title is contested by the top four handicap scores in each category.
*Hugh Hunter's picture shows the leading prizewinners: Left to right, Brian McAdam,Grant Dowie, Lawrence Allan and Gary Chalmers (Brian McAdam stood in to accept the prize when his older brother Bruce could not stay to collect it).

VIKKI FINISHES JT 23rd IN EL PASO CLASSIC

Vikki Laing finished joint 23rd in the El Passo Classic at the Underwood Complex in Texas with steady rounds of 75, 72 and 72 for a total of 219. She earned $649.
Lisa D Mickey is one of the very best golf writers around these days. You might like to read her report on the tournament from the Duramed Futures Tour website:

Mo Martin Holds On For First Pro Title in El Paso

EL PASO, Texas, May 6, 2007 – Last year, the winner of the El Paso Golf Classic won in a nine-hole playoff. This year, champion Mo Martin bounced back from a Saturday morning trip to the hospital and outlasted both a hard-charging Swede and the fast-sinking sun today for her first professional win. Playing on the Duramed FUTURES Tour in her second season, the former UCLA collegian carded rounds of 69-71-67 to win the $80,000 event at 207 (-9), beating Caroline Larsson on the 18th hole by one shot. Larsson finished the week with rounds of 70-68-70 for second at 208 (-8).
“I was on my toes and I had to play my best,” said Martin, of Altadena, Calif., who earned $11,200 for her victory. “And right now, I can’t wipe the smile off my face.”
Martin and Larsson started their tug-of-war for the trophy during the first round on the Sunrise Course at Underwood Golf Complex, located on the U.S. Army’s Fort Bliss base. Martin grabbed the lead on Friday and was trailed by Larsson and Mexico’s Violeta Retamoza. Fierce gusts kicked up on Saturday, suspending play because of high wind for the first time in the Tour’s history. That forced 97 players to return to the course on Sunday to finish – or in Martin’s case, to start – the second round before playing the final round.
That’s when Martin knew her stars were lining up. She came down with a gastro-intestinal infection on Friday night and spent the entire night sleeping on a bed of towels on her housing host’s bathroom floor. Early Saturday morning, at the advice of a physician relative, she went to a local hospital and was hooked up to an IV for two hours. Her goal was to replenish the fluids she had lost throughout the night on Friday and to be ready for her Saturday afternoon tee time. When play was suspended before her round ever started, Martin went home for another day of R&R..
“I had Pedialyte, water, chicken broth and I snuck three saltine crackers on Saturday,” said Martin. “I felt tons better today, but I tried to be smart about my warm-up time this morning. I mostly putted and chipped and tried to get ready to play 36 holes.”
Even before the stomach ailment set in, Martin played in the Thursday pro-am with four local attorneys. One of the lawyers pulled a trick on Martin that gave her the feeling that he had read her mind. And two holes later in the pro-am, he told the Californian that she was going to win this week.
“I thought, ‘Yeah, I’d be the outside pick for sure, especially since my best finish before this was a tie for 13th,’” laughed Martin, who was a member of UCLA’s 2004 NCAA Championship team.
But it got her thinking -- even in the throes of illness and in the wooziness of recovery. Martin was playing well and now she was thinking about winning. Her mother, along with her 95-year-old grandfather, Lincoln Martin, had made the trip from California to El Paso to watch her play, and for some reason, things just felt right this week. But there was plenty of work to do.
Canada’s Salimah Mussani and Larsson got hot in the second round and grabbed the lead at 138 (-6). Mussani blistered the course with a seven-under-par score of 65 that included two eagles in her round, while Larsson fired a four-under 68 to keep hanging on. Martin shadowed them two shots back at 140 (-4).
“My putter worked really well and I used good course management,” said Larsson, a rookie from Danderyd, Sweden, who played collegiately at Florida State University. “And even though I only hit eight greens in regulation [in the second round], I had 21 putts today.”
The day’s first 18 holes, followed by a three-hour break until her tee time in the final group, was difficult for Mussani, who has Lupus. The temperature also dropped dramatically, which affected the Canadian’s circulation in her hands.
“I fought hard all day and I had my chances, but it wasn’t an ideal situation for me,” said Mussani of Burlington, Ontario, who carded a one-over-par 73 and tied for third with Song Yi Choi (69) of Seoul, Korea at 211 (-5).
Mussani ended up with a front-row seat to the best head-to-head match between two players all season. Larsson led by a shot after four holes, then Martin led by one after six holes, then Larsson and Martin were tied after seven holes, and the nip-and-tuck continued all the way to the 18th green.
Two shots ahead of any player in the field, Martin and Larsson were all square after 12 holes. It appeared that Martin might have committed a costly error on the par-five 14th hole when the Californian went for the green in two and landed in a bunker. But Martin pulled out her trusty 58-degree wedge and chipped – not taking any sand -- to four feet for birdie on top of Larsson’s own birdie.
“I just kept going and Caroline and I just kept making birdies,” said Martin.
Again, on the 16th hole, the two players landed their approach shots in nearly identical spots on the green. Martin putted first and burned the edge of the hole, giving Larsson a good view of the line and a chance to birdie with two holes to play. But Larsson missed the chance and the two moved to the 17th hole, still all square.
This time, with a gallery following in near-darkness, Martin and Larsson took their swings on the par-three 17th hole. Larsson missed the green to the back right and nearly chipped in for birdie, settling for par. Martin landed on the left fringe, putted from off the green and then rammed in a 12-foot par-saving putt to stay tied with Larsson as they headed to the 18th tee.
“It really did feel like match play and I was trying to make birdies to beat Mo,” said Larsson, a former member of the Swedish National Team. “At the same time, we were both trying to finish before dark.”
Still bruised from her Saturday IV treatment, Martin said she “had a clear target in mind” on the 18th tee. Her drive landed in perfect position, while Larsson’s drive sailed into a right fairway bunker. The Swede used a 7-wood out of the bunker and landed on the back of the green, 50 feet from the hole. Two putts later, she had a par and could only watch. Martin’s approach from 119 yards with a knock-down 9-iron landed within 1½ feet from the hole.
As they walked down the 18th fairway, Mussani, who won her first Tour title last season, smiled and asked the Californian if she was “in a good place?” Martin responded that she was in a “happy place.” And Martin stroked in her final birdie putt, squeezing out the last hint of daylight to win. Standing greenside was her grandfather and mother, the attorney with the Thursday prediction and Martin’s UCLA college pal, Gina Umeck.
“I feel it too,” said Umeck, of Redlands, Calif., as she pounded on her former teammate with glee.
Martin’s win moved her from 31st place on the money list to fifth, and converted her from a second-year, wannabe-winner to the sixth season champion in as many events. And between her second and final rounds, Martin received a text message from another former Bruin teammate, Charlotte Mayorkas.
Mayorkas, who earned her 2007 LPGA Tour card by finishing second on the Duramed FUTURES Tour’s 2006 money list, sent a message to Martin that said, “Don’t step on that plane until you have the trophy.”
Good advice, Charlotte. Your old teammate was listening.
For scores and more information, visit www.duramedfuturestour.com.
Weather: Mostly cloudy, changing to mostly sunny with a high temperature of 73 degrees with wind around 22 mph and gusts up to 31 mph.

KOREAN WINS LPGA TOUR PLAY-OFF

Korea's Mi Hyun Kim beat American veteran Juli Inkster in a sudden death play-off to win the LPGA's SemGroup Championship at Cedar Ridge Country Club, Broken Arrow in Oklahoma.
The Korean had scores of 71, 68 and 71 to Jul's scores of 71, 70 and 69. The difference between winning and finishing second was substantial. Mi Hyun Kim collected $210,000, Juli Inkster $127,000.
Catriona Matthew and Laura Davies tied for 55th place on 220. Catriona scored 75, 71 and 74; Laura 74, 73 and 73. They both earned $3,832.
Janice Moodie scored 76, 70 and 76 to fill joint 68th place on 222. She won $2,863.
Mhairi McKay missed the 36-hole cut with a pair of 76s for 152.

MARTIN LAIRD SEVENTH ON NATIONWIDE
MONEY TABLE AFTER JT 27th FINISH

Martin Laird from Glasgow, a former Scottish youths champion, is lying seventh with earnings of $116,698 in the US Nationwide Tour this season.
Laird, a tournament winner a couple of weeks ago, shot rounds of 66, 67, 72 and 67 for an eight-under-par total of 272 in the latest event, the Fort Smith Classic at Hardscrabble Country Club in Arkansas - but finished only joint 27th.
That's how high the standard of scoring is on America's No 2 pro tour.
Irishman Keith Nolan finished on the same 272 mark with scores of 72, 61, 70 and 69.
The Fort Smith Classic was won by American Jay Williamson with a 16-under-par total of 264 for the par-70 circuit. Jay shot 69, 66, 66 and 63.

NOT A HAPPY DAY FOR SCOTS AS NIKKI
GARRETT WINS TENERIFE LADIES OPEN
Australian Nikki Garrett won the Tenerife Ladies Open by two shots from England’s Trish Johnson and Spain’s Tania Elosegui.
Nikki had a final round of 72 for 287 – two ahead of the joint runners-up.
The three Scots in the field did not have a happy final day.
Kathryn Imrie closed with a 77 for 299 after running up a double bogey 6 at the 15th.
Clare Queen finished on 297 with a 78. She bogeyed five of her last six holes.
Lynn Kenny finished at the bottom of the heap on 311 with a nightmare round of 84 which include a quadruple bogey 8 at the first and a triple bogey 8 at the long fifth. She had started at the 10th and was out in 40.
FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72)
287 Nikki Garrett (Aus) 69 75 71 72
289 Trish Johnson (Eng) 71 70 77 71, Tania Elosegui (Spa) 71 75 71 72
290 Ana Larraneta (Spa) 72 73 71 74, Becky Brewerton (Wal) 71 71 73 75
291 Stefania Croce (Ita) 73 71 77 70, Ana B Sanchez (Spa) 67 73 76 75
292 Titiya Plucksataporn (Tha) 69 76 72 75, Sophie Sandolo (Ita) 70 77 68 77
293 Paula Marti (Spa) 75 70 76 72
294 Rebecca Hudson (Eng) 71 76 74 73, Eleanor Pilgrim (Wal) 74 73 73 74, Amanda Moltke-Leth (Den) 72 75 73 74, Karen-Margrethe Juul (Den) 72 74 74 74, Martina Eberl (Ger) 70 72 76 76
295 Danielle Masters (Eng) 71 71 79 74, Nicole Gergely (Aut) 73 73 74 75, Lotta Wahlin (Swe) 71 75 73 76, Lisa Jean (Aus) 71 71 75 78, Gwladys Nocera (Fra) 71 76 70 78, Sophie Walker (Eng) 71 73 72 79
296 Karen Lunn (Aus) 71 73 76 76, Kirsty Taylor (Eng) 73 74 72 77, Cecilia Ekelundh (Swe) 68 77 74 77
297 Federica Piovano (Ita) 68 76 78 75, Joanne Mills (Aus) 69 74 76 78, Clare Queen (Sco) 75 69 75 78
298 Stephanie Arricau (Fra) 75 74 74 75, Nienke Nijenhuis (Ned) 72 72 75 79
299 Lisa Hall (Eng) 70 79 72 78, Kathryn Imrie (Sco) 72 76 74 77, Rebecca Coakley (Irl) 73 75 75 76, Virginie Auffret (Fra) 71 73 74 81
300 Sofia Renell (Swe) 69 73 79 79, Jenni Kuosa (Fin)72 73 76 79, Laurette Maritz (Rsa) 73 73 78 76, Ludivine Kreutz (Fra) 71 74 79 76, Mette Buus (Den) 72 75 78 75, Lara Tadiotto (Bel) 78 70 77 75, Kirsty S Taylor (Eng) 74 75 78 73
301 Diana Luna (Ita) 72 73 75 81, Lynn Brooky (Nzl) 73 72 77 79, Bettina Hauert (Ger) 74 70 80 77, Ursula Wikstrom (Fin)76 72 77 76, Kiran Matharu (Eng) 71 72 82 76
302 Helena Alterby (Swe) 72 75 75 80, Laura Cabanillas (Spa) 75 72 77 78, Ellen Smets (Bel) 69 74 81 78, Frederique Seeholzer (SWI) 75 72 79 76, Riikka Hakkarainen (Fin)73 76 78 75
303 Anna Rossi (Ita) 77 71 77 78
304 Margherita Rigon (Ita) 76 71 73 84
307 Rikke Rasmussen (Den) 72 74 78 83, Fame More (Eng) 76 73 78 80, Lisa Holm Sorensen (Den) 75 73 81 78
308 Natascha Fink (Aut) 77 72 80 79
310 Carmen Alonso (Spa) 75 74 85 76.
311 Lynn Kenny (Sco) 76 72 79 84

DOUGHERTY LETS WINNING CHANCE SLIP
IN ITALIAN OPEN FINAL ROUND
England's Nick Dougherty let another victory chance slip through his hands with a poorish final round inward half to finish joint third in the weather-shortened, 54-hole Telecom Italian Open at Castello di Tolcinasco, Milna.
Victory went in the end to Spain's Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano who beat the Austrian, Markus Brier, at the second hole of a sudden death play-off after they had tied on 16-under-par 200, Gonzala after a final round 65 and Markus with a 68.
In contrast, Dougherty closed with a 70 for 201.
FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4 x 72). Players from GB&I unless stated
200 Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (Spa) 67 68 65, Markus Brier (Aut) 63 69 68 (Fernandez-Castano won play-off at second extra hole. Fernandez-Castano wins £193,163, Brier £128,770)
201 Fredrik Andersson Hed (Swe) 69 68 64, Francesco Molinari (Ita) 67 69 65, Henrik Nystrom (Swe) 67 68 66, Nick Dougherty 67 64 70 (£55,052 each).
202 Raphael Jacquelin (Fra) 66 71 65, Marcus Fraser 68 66 68, Alexandre Rocha (Bra) 70 64 68
203 Simon Khan 68 69 66, Birgir Hafthorsson (Ice) 67 67 69, James Heath 65 69 69
204 Mark Foster 72 68 64, Pelle Edberg (Swe) 70 69 65, Oliver Fisher 69 69 66, Phillip Archer 69 68 67, Oliver Wilson 68 68 68, Maarten Lafeber (Net) 69 66 69, Martin Kaymer (Ger) 69 65 70
205 Gary Lockerbie 73 65 67, Garry Houston 66 70 69, Alastair Forsyth 68 67 70, Alvaro Quiros (Spa) 65 67 73, Joakim Backstrom (Swe) 62 70 73
206 Ian Garbutt 68 71 67, Mark Pilkington 71 68 67, Peter Lawrie 68 70 68, Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) 69 65 72
207 Anthony Wall 68 72 67, Soren Hansen (Den) 69 70 68, Edoardo Molinari (Ita) 70 69 68, Kyron Sullivan 70 67 70, Brett Rumford (Aus) 66 71 70, Charl Schwartzel (SAf) 67 69 71, Nicolas Colsaerts (Bel) 66 67 74
208 David Drysdale 70 70 68, Gareth Davies 69 71 68, Emanuele Canonica (Ita) 70 69 69, David Park 71 68 69, Sven Struver (Ger) 68 70 70, Gregory Havret (Fra) 67 71 70, Tom Lehman (US) 70 68 70, Steven O'Hara 69 68 71, Kenneth Ferrie 68 69 71, Carlos Rodiles (Spa) 67 67 74
209 Jyoti Randhawa (Ind) 71 69 69, Sam Little 71 69 69, Benn Barham 69 70 70, Gary Murphy 71 68 70, Richard Finch 66 73 70, Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (Fra) 72 67 70, Bradley Dredge 71 68 70, Paul Broadhurst 68 70 71, Martin Erlandsson (Swe) 71 66 72
210 Andrew Tampion (Aus) 68 72 70, Anders Hansen (Den) 66 74 70, Rafael Cabrera Bello (Spa) 71 69 70, Robert Rock 71 68 71
211 Alessio Bruschi (Ita) 72 68 71, Steven Jeppesen (Swe) 74 66 71, Gregory Bourdy (Fra) 73 67 71, Duffy Waldorf (US) 67 72 72, Steve Jones (US) 70 69 72
212 Michele Reale (Ita) 71 68 73, Cesar Monasterio (Arg) 69 70 73, Steve Alker (NZ) 70 69 73, Juan Parron (Spa) 67 71 74.
213 Jose Manuel Carriles (Spa) 70 70 73.
216 Jean-Francois Remesy (Fra) 70 68 78.

Another brilliant performance by Craigielaw 21-year-old

SALTMAN MAKES ALL THE

RUNNING TO WIN LYTHAM

TROPHY BY THREE SHOTS

Walker Cup man Lloyd Saltman, still only 21, added another great victory to an already impressive amateur golfing CV when he won the prestigious Lytham Trophy by three shots at Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club today.
Saltman, pictured right, led from start to finish to add this win to his early-season Scottish double triumph in the Champion of Champions at Leven and then the Craigmillar Park Open in Edinburgh.
Lloyd put together rounds of 65, 67, 74 and 73 for a total of 279 against a CSS of 74, 75, 75 and 77. That he could not break 70 over this tough Open championship course in today’s gale-force winds were to be expected but he held his game together to finish three strokes ahead of Welsh Walker Cup veteran Nigel Edwards and the brilliant teenager Rory McIlroy from Holywood, Belfast.
The next best Scot after Saltman was Scott Henry (Cardross) in 16th position on 293. He was followed by Banchory teenager James Byrne who slipped back to a share of 19th position on 295 with Richie Ramsay (Royal Aberdeen).

ALL THE FINAL TOTALS
279 L Saltman (Craigielaw) 65 67 74 73.
282 N Edwards (Whitchurch, Cardiff) 69 71 71 71, R McIlroy (Holywood, Belfast) 67 68 73 74.
285 B Parker (Gut Waldhof) 70 69 72 74.
286 B Grace (George GC) 69 73 70 74.
287 D Whitenell (Five Lakes) 70 73 72 72, M Cryer (Coventry) 71 72 69 75.
288 A Kaleka (Golf Marcilly) 72 70 74 72, K Kromer (Gutenhof) 72 69 72 75, G Wolstenholme (Kilworth Springs) 69 70 73 76.
289 A Johnston (North Middlesex 71 75 72 71.
292 M Baldwin (Royal Birkdale) 745 72 74 72, G Boyd (Cherwell Edge) 73 72 73 74, L Matthews (Southerndown) 71 73 72 76, L Goddard (Hendon) 73 69 71 79.
293 S Henry (Cardross) 74 72 73 74.
294 J Parry (Harrogate) 73 73 75 73, J Moul (Stoke by Nayland) 75 70 75 74.
295 E Dubois (Bordeaux-Lac) 70 76 73 73, J Byrne (Banchroy) 73 70 77 75, R Ramsay (Royal Aberdeen) 70 74 75 76, V Dubuisson (St Nom la Bretche) 73 73 73 76, J Abbott (Fynn Valley) 70 72 75 78.
296 K Le Sager (Ormesson) 68 77 76 75.
287 P Waring (Bromborough) 69 71 81 76.
298 S Uzzel (Hornsea) 72 74 77 75, S Hutsby (Liphook) 71 74 77 76, S McEwan (Caprington) 71 74 75 78.
300 V Guillame (St Cyprien) 75 71 79 75, T Lawson (Ellesborough) 70 76 78 76, S Einhaus (Germany) 69 75 75 81.
303 G Campbell (Blairgowrie) 69 77 78 79, F Schulte (Germany) 74 72 68 68, R Kind (Haagsche) 71 73 79 80.
304 M Kramer (Germany) 71 75 84 74, M Nixon (Ashton under Lyne) 70 73 82 79, N Chaudhuri (Leicestershire) 72 74 79 79.
306 G Dear (Murrayshall) 73 73 82 78, L Campbell (Rochester & Cobham Park).

LOUISE SCORES FIRST WIN ON 18TH BIRTHDAY AT ALLOA

Louise MacGregor (Falkirk), the top qualifier for the match-play stages of the Stirling & Clackmannan women’s county golf championship at Alloa Golf Club, celebrated her 18th birthday by beating Rose Graham (Stirling) by 6 and 4 in the first round this evening.
Former Curtis Cup player and past Scottish champion Alison Davidson (Stirling), the No 2 seed, also cleared her first hurdle by beating Elizabeth Graham (Glenbervie) 4 and 3.

This evening's results:
First round – L MacGregor (Falkirk) bt R Graham (Stirling) 6 and 4, C Capocci (Bridge of Allan) bt E Sneddon (Tillicoultry) 3 and 1, S Mitchell (Dunbracken Ladies) bt L Thacker (Braehead) 3 and 2, M Tough (Falkirk) bt S McLean (Falkirk Tryst) 3 and 2, E Allison (Stirling) bt S Copland (Falkirk Tryst) 6 and 5, L Allan (Falkirk Tryst) bt L Fleming (Glenbervie) 3 and 2, T Chillas (Stirling) bt Dr S Hartley (Braehead) 5 and 4, A Davidson (Stirling) bt E Goodwin (Glenbervie) 4 and 3.

PHILLIPA THWARTS JUDITH BID FOR EIGHTH BORDERS COUNTY TITLE

Judith Anderson’s bid to win the Borders women’s county golf championship for a record eighth time was foiled in the final today (Sunday) by Phillipa Costello (Hirsel).
Judith, the No 2 seed from the Hawick club, was beaten on the last green, by two holes, by No 4 seed Phillipa.
Costello bt top qualifier Sharon Lees by two holes in the first semi-final while Judith Anderson beat Gillian Oliver (St Boswell) 6 and 5 in the other tie.

Details:

Semi-finals – Phillipa Costello (Hirsel) bt Sharon Lees (Kelso) 2 holes, Judith Anderson (Hawick) bt Gillian Oliver (St Boswell) 6 and 5.
Final – Costello bt Anderson 2 holes.

LYNNE REGAINS ANGUS TITLE AT PANMURE BARRY

Angus prizewinners with their President

L to R: Mary Faulkner, Ailsa Summers, Nancy Duncan (President),
Lynne Fotheringham, Fiona Gilbert

Lynne Fotheringham from Grange Golf Club, Monifieth won the Angus women’s county golf championship for the second time in three years on a horrendously windy day for the semi-finals and final at Panmure Barry today (Sunday).
Lynne, playing in her third final in four years, previously won the championship at Arbroath in 2004.
In a very closely fought final, Fotheringham beat Carnoustie’s Fiona Gilbert by 2 and 1 in a wind so strong that it made a difference of four or five clubs playing into it.
Lynne had earlier won her semi-final by 6 and 5 over the leading qualifier for the match-play stages, Heather Anderson from Downfield. Fiona edged out Scottish veterans’ champion Kathleen Sutherland (Royal Montrose) by 2 and 1.
Fotheringham had the upperhand in the first half of the final but let things slip a little by three-putting the short 11th were Fiona was able to square the match.
The turning point came at the par-5 14th when, after a 300yd-plus drive, Fiona took four from the4 edge of the green, giving a one-hole advantage back to Lynne.
After halving in pars at the 16th, Lynnt took the 17t5h for the match with a great up and down from 10 yards short of the green.
In the handicap match-play final, 13-year-old Ailsa Summers from Panmure Barry, playing off 18, triumphed over 14-handicapper Mary Faulkner (Royal Montrose) by 5 and 4.

ANGUS WOMEN’S CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP
Panmure Barry.
Semi-finals – Lynne Fotheringham (Grange) bt Heather Anderson (Downfield) 6 and 5, Fiona Gilbert (Carnoustie) bt Kathleen Sutherland (Royal Montrose) 2 and 1.
Final – Fotheringham bt Gilbert 2 and 1.
HANDICAP
Semi-finals – Ailsa Summers (Panmure Barry) (18) bt Fiona Blair (Monifieth) (5) 8 and 6, Mary Faulkner (Royal Montrose) (14) bt Anne Hutcheson (Panmure Barry) (17) 5 and 4.

MOFFAT MEMBERS SCORE AT HOME

Moffat Golf Club, the hosts for the LGU Medal South Area Final competition today (Sunday) provided the winners of both the Silver and Bronze Divisions on a day of wind and rain..
The four qualifiers, who included the Moffat ladies’ captain, Bernice Williams, go forward to the Grand Final at Crieff Golf Club on Sunday, June 3.
Qualifiers (SS 68, CSS 71:
Silver – Bernice Williams (Moffat) (18) 71; Frances Frlconer (Melrose) (7) 77.
Bronze – Linda Jack (Moffat) (19) 75; Christine Duncan (Melrose) (22) 79 (better inward half).

HAILSTORM WIPES OUT WEST WOMEN’S SECOND ROUND, LESLEY WINS TITLE

A freak hailstorm in the midst of gale-force winds forced the cancellation of the second round of the scheduled 36-hole West of Scotland women’s amateur stroke-play championship at Drumpellier Golf Club today (Sunday).
Ayrshire county champion Lesley Hendry was declared the winner with a first-round 77,five over the standard scratch but a good score in such awful May weather.
Lesley had a stroke to spare from Elaine Cuthill (Lanark) with Liz Keohone (Loudoun) and Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle), the new Lanarkshire women’s champion both on the 79 mark.
Lanarkshire (Elaine Cuthill, Pamela Pretswell and Susan Wood) won the team event with ease with a total of 238.
Kirsten Scott (Windyhill) won the handicap prize with a net 73 off 13, despite incurring a two-stroke penalty for inadvertently starting at the wrong hole.

WEST OF SCOTLAND WOMEN’S AMATEUR STROKE-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
Drumpellier GC. Second round cancelled because of bad weather.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS (CSS 72).
77 Lesley Hendry (Routenburn).
78 Elaine Cuthill (Lanark).
79 Liz Keohone (Loudoun), Pamela Pretswell (Bothwell Castle).
81 Susan Wood (Drumpellier), Alex Glennie (Kilmarnock Barassie).
83 Judy Galbraith (Cowal), Sara Harman (Williamwood), Lesley Williamson (Kilmarnock Barassie), Ruth Rankin (Lanark), Audrey Thompson (Loudoun).
84 Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm), Jennifer Mack (Haggs Castle), May Hughes (Lanark).
HANDICAP – Kirsten Scott (Windyhill) (13) 73.

THIRD TIME LUCKY FOR MICHELE THOMSON
IN ABERDEENSHIRE COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP

It was third time lucky for 19-year-old Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon) in the Aberdeenshire women’s county golf championship over the Hawkshill course at Newmachar Golf Club today.
She beat 18-year-old scratch player Laura Murray (Alford), the leading qualifier, by 4 and 2 in a final played in high winds.
Michele, who quit Jacksonville State University, Alabama at the Christmas break after six months, has already won the North of Scotland women’s championship two years in a row but she had not got past the semi-final stages in her two previous attempts to win the Aberdeenshire title.
Michele, the No 3 seed, birdied the fourth and eighth on her way to a three-hole lead at the turn.
Robert Gordon’s University student Laura, winner of the Scottish schoolgirls title in 2005, won back the 12th but lost the 13th and they also exchanged the 14th and 15th holes before Michele clinched the title with a third birdie at the 16th.
One of the performances of the championship was that of another RGU student, Sara Thomson, Murcar Links. A seven-handicap player, Sara qualified in the No 2 position and reach the semi-finals before losing to the eventual champion.
Sara, better known as a hockey player, opted to play in the county championship instead of turning out in a Scottish District Hockey Cup final. After this showing, Sara will perhaps concentrate more on golf!
Match-play results:
First round – L Murray (Alford) bt C Neish (Kintore) 3 and 2, M Millership (Deeside) bt J Harrison (Cruden Bay) 1 hole, L McLardy (Murcar Links) bt F Hay (Deeside) 3 and 2, S Wood (Aberdeen Ladies) bt L Terry (Cruden Bay) 3 and 2, M Thomson (McDonald Ellon) bt D McKinnon (McDonald Ellon) 6 and 5, J Murray (Cruden Bay) bt G Melvin (Hazlehead) 2 and 1, C Wilson (Murcar Links) bt D Pocock (Murcar Links) 2 and 1, S Thomson (Murcar Links) bt S Leslie (Westhill) 2 holes.
Quarter-finals – L Murray bt Millership 4 and 3, Wood bt McLardy at 21st, M Thomson bt J Murray 8 and 6, S Thomson bt Wilson at 19th.
Semi-finals – L Murray bt Wood 6 and 5, M Thomson bt S Thomson 3 and 1.
Final – M Thomson bt L Murray 4 and 2.

Two-shot victory in Welsh open amateur stroke-play

HEATHER MACRAE FOLLOWS IN FOOTSTEPS
OF CATRIONA, ANNE AND VIKKI

Dunblane’s Heather MacRae added her name to the list of Scottish winners of the Welsh women’s open amateur stroke-play golf championship at Newport Golf Club today (Sunday).
[Photo right Courtesy and Copyright Tom Ward]
Heather, 23, recaptured the form that won her the British stroke-play title at Nairn in 2005, with rounds of 70, 75 and 74 for a total of 219 – three shots ahead of runner-up Bronwyn Mullins-Lane (Harefield Place).
Two Manchester club players, Kelly Tidy and Rachel Connor, daughter of the Scots-born professional, finished third and fourth on 223 and 225 respectively.
Heather made all the running in the 54-hole event to follow in the footsteps of compatriot winners Catriona Lambert (1992), Anne Walker (1999) and Vikki Laing (2001-2002-2003).
Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) was the next best Scot this weekend with rounds of 79, 75 and 77 to share 13th place on 231.
Clare-Marie Carlton (Stirling University) was joint 23rd on 238 with scores of 80, 80 and 78.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3 x 72). CSS 75 75 75
219 Heather MacRae (Dunblane) 70 75 74.
222 Bronwyn Mullins-Lane (Harefield Place) 75 75 72.
223 Kelly Tidy (Manchester) 75 75 73.
225 Rachel Connor (Manchester) 76 75 74.
227 Sahra Hassan (Vale of Glamorgan) 75 74 78.
228 Holly Aitchison (Bedfordshire) 76 73 79, Liz Bennett (Brokenhurst Manor) 75 77 76.
229 Hannah Barwood (Knowle) 76 77 76, Tracey Boyes (Meon Valley) 75 78 76.
230 Tara Davies (Holyhead) 81 74 75, Jenny Pease (Braintree) 80 76 74, Danielle Montgomery (The Lambourne) 80 75 75.
231 Jenna Wilson (Strathaven) 79 75 77, Lydia Hall (Royal Portcawl) 80 73 78, Eleanor Givens (Blackwell Grange) 74 76 81.
Other Scottish scores:
238 Clare-Marie Carlton (Stirling Univ) 80 80 78 (jt 23rd).
245 Rachael Livingstone (Musselburgh Old) 80 82 83 (44th).
248 Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) 85 86 77 ( 45th).

CLAIRE TAKES MIDLOTHIAN TITLE FOR FIFTH TIME

Claire Hargan and Tracy Laughland
after the prizegiving at Newbattle

Claire Hargan (Mortonhall) won the Midlothian Championship for the fifth consecutive time at windswept Newbatte this afternoon, when she beat her club-mate Tracy Laughland by 7&6 in the final.
Claire started with a cast-iron par four and was quickly four up after a birdie at the second and pars at the next two. Tracy won the fifth but Claire won the honour back immediately with a birdie at the sixth, and pars at the next three saw the reigning champion out in one-under 35 and six up.
Tracy won the tenth after a rare putting lapse from Claire, but a par 3 at the eleventh and a bogey 5 at twelve were sufficient to give Claire the title once again.
In the morning semifinals, Tracy beat the top qualifier, Belinda Murphy (also Mortonhall) by 3&2 and Claire beat Claire Macdonald (Gullane Ladies) by 2&1.
The B Championship final for handicaps 13 and above was a ding-dong battle between thirteen-year-old Kate Macintosh (Broomieknowe) and Denise Turnbull (Uphall). All square after thirteen, Kate won the next three to take the title. In the morning semifinals, Kate beat another youngster, Gabrielle Macdonald from Prestonfield, on the eighteenth and Denise beat Helen Warnock (Harburn).

IT'S LAURA MURRAY v MICHELE THOMSON
FOR THE ABERDEENSHIRE CHAMPIONSHIP

Youngsters Laura Murray (Alford) and Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon) will meet in the final of the Aberdeenshire women's county championship over the windswept Newmachar Hawkshill course this afternoon.
Laura, the leading qualifier who became a scratch player earlier in the week, beat Sheena Wood (Aberdeen Ladies), a former Scotland cap and several times county champion, by 6 and 5 in the first semi-final this morning.
Michele, North of Scotland women's champion for the past two years, beat the No 2 qualifier, Sara Thomson (Murcar Links), by 3 and 1.
Laura was Scottish schoolgirls champion in 2005. Neither Laura or Michele has ever won the Aberdeenshire title. Laura lost in the final in 2005.
Results:
Semi-finals
Laura Murray (Alford) bt Sheena Wood (Aberdeen Ladies) 6 and 5.
Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon) bt Sara Thomson (Murcar Links) 3 and 1.

KOREA'S KIM KYUNG-TAE WINS ASIAN
TOUR EVENT BY FIVE STROKES
Seoul, May 6: Asia heralded a new rising star when Korea's Kim Kyung-tae coasted to an emphatic five-stroke victory in the US$600,000 GS Caltex Maekyung Open today, just five months after turning professional.
The 20-year-old Kim trailed by one overnight but steamrolled past China's Liang Wen-chong with a final round of five-under-par 67 at Nam Seoul Country Club to secure his maiden Asian Tour victory in only his second start in the region.
With a winning total of 18-under-par 270, Kim, a double gold medal winner in the Asian Games in Doha last December before he turned professional, earned a cheque of US$129,032. It was his second victory in successive weeks following his triumph in a domestic event last weekend.
Liang, who had led since the first day, failed to keep up pace on the back nine as he settled for second place with a closing 73. Korean amateur Danny Lee Jin-myung, who is only 16 and lives in New Zealand, grabbed third place on 279 after closing with a 65 while another amateur, Kim Bi-o, veteran Choi Gwang-soo and Lee Seung-ho shared fourth place on 282.
Scottish exile Ross Bain collected $4,387 for a share of 39th place with scores of 69, 74, 74 and 74 for three-over-par 291.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Players from Korea unless stated.
270 Kim Kyung-tae 70-66-67-67
275 Liang Wen-chong (China) 64-71-67-73
279 Lee Jin-myung (am) 70-73-71-65
282 Kim Bi-o (am) 72-69-75-66, Lee Seong-Ho 72-71-71-68, Choi Gwang-soo 70-76-67-69
284 Yoo Jong-gu 68-73-74-69, Mitchell Brown (Aus) 66-73-74-71, Kang Kyung-nam 73-67-73-71, Richard Lee (NZ) 68-75-71-70, Anthony Kang (US) 75-69-68-72.
285 Kim Chang-yoon 76-70-71-68, Unho Park (Aus) 74-69-73-69, Choi Sang-ho 71-73-72-69, Hong Soon-sang 76-72-66-71
286 Craig Smith (Wal) 73-69-76-68, David Oh (US) 72-71-74-69, Jin Park 76-71-70-69, Bae Sang-moon 71-72-71-72, Choi Joon-woo 71-73-70-72, Lee Won-joon (AUS) 76-67-66-77
287 Mardan Mamat (Singapore) 70-73-75-69, Shin Yong-jin 70-69-74-74, Kim Jong-duk 75-70-68-74.
Other score:
291 Ross Bain (Sco) 69 74 74 74 (jt 39th).

TIGER'S BOGEY-BOGEY FINISHES LEAVES
SABBATINI THE ONE-SHOT LEADER
IN WACHOVIA CHAMPIONSHIP

So maybe the pressure does get to Tiger Woods now and again ... but in the Wachovia Championship?
The great man bogeyed the last two holes (and he had to hole a seven-footer at the last!) in the third round at Quail Hollow Country Club, Charlotte in North Carolina for a 68 and a 54-hole tally of 10-under-par 206, which puts him one shot behind the leader, Rory Sabbatini.
The South African, driving the ball around the 297yd mark and averaging 1.6putts per green, broke the course record with a bogey-free 64 for 11-under-par 205.
Sharing second place with Tiger are Vijay Singh (69) and Arron Oberholser (69).
One-time tournament leader Paddy Harrington is in free fall, currently in a share of 74th place.
The Irishman's rounds have been 66, 75 and 79 for a running or should that be a plummeting total of 220.
THIRD-ROUND LEADERS
Par 216 (3 x 72)
205 Rory Sabbatini (SAf) 70 71 64.
206 Tiger Woods (US) 70 68 68, Vijay Singh (Fiji) 67 71 69, Arron Oberholser (US) 69 69 69.
Other scores:
209 Phil Mickelson(US) 70 71 69 (7th).
212 Sergio Garcia (Spa) 71 71 70 (jt 14th).
214 Bernhard Langer (Ger) 70 73 71 (jt 26th).
219 Brian Davis (Eng) 72 75 72 (jt 63rd).
220 Padraig Harrington 66 75 79 (jt 74th).