Inverness Fairways Target Golf Leagues

By Neil D Hampton
Golf & Marketing Director, Loch Ness Golf Course
Web: www.golflochness.com
WEEK EIGHT SUMMARY
The top of the table got tighter on Monday night and it looks like it could go all the way to the final game. BM Trucks top scored with 58 as they beat the Parahandies and retook second place on the better shots scored record but Orion remain in pole position and favourites for the title as they are still two points ahead after their win over the Royal Swingers.
At the other end of the table Sainties still haven’t got off the mark, this week falling to the Specialists who now find themselves in fourth place. The Happy Gilmour’s continued their good form with a win over the Neverwillbees and join them on six points just two behind the Specialists.
The crunch game next week is BM Trucks against Orion with an Orion win almost guaranteeing them the league title but a win for the Trucks will bring them and the Parahandies into the reckoning for the final game.
RESULTS
Orion 57 – 32 Royal Swingers
Sainties 22 – 7 Specialists
Parahandies 43 – 58 BM Trucks
Happy Gilmour’s 24 – 18 The Neverwillbees.

TUESDAY LEAGUE SUMMARY
In the Tuesday League, King Kenyon’s Klan have one hand on the league title and a guaranteed place in the top team playoffs are seeing off the Muirton Marvels.
It was close game with just one ball separating the teams but this result drops the Marvels down to fourth place and they will have their work cut out to get into the play-offs now that the Luckless Leadbetters seem to have their form back.
The Leadbetters were the night’s top scorers with 53 which was easily more than enough to take the points from a very lacklustre Fairhurst Fore. The Leadbetters join Fairhurst on 10 points but their much better shots scored record could prove crucial.
At the other end of the table the wooden spoon will be a dog fight between the Mad Drivers and Fairways after both suffered defeats to the Coastguards and Senior Moments respectively. Fairways are on the bottom with just 2 points but the Mad Drivers only have 4 points so there battle on the last day of the season in a fortnights time will give them a lot to play for.
RESULTS
Fairhurst Fore 15 – 53 Luckless Leadbetters
Mad Drivers 9 – 34 Coastguards
Senior Moments 36 – 16 Fairways
Muirton Marvels 35 – 42 King Kenyon’s Klan.

HOW THEY STAND

MONDAY TABLE
1 Orion 14pt
2 BM Trucks 12
3 Parahandies 12
4 Specialists 8
5 Royal Swingers 6
6 Neverwillbees 6
7 Happy Gilmour's 6
8 The Sainties 0

TUESDAY TABLE
1 King Kenyon's Klan 14pt
2 Luckless Leadbetters 10
3 Fairhurst Fore 10
4 Muirton Marvels 8
5 Senior Moments 8
6 Coastguards 8
7 Mad Drivers 4
8 Fairways 2

Lady professionals' Scottish events looking for your help

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
If you don't switch over regularly to our sister website, http://www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk/, you might not know that the new XLtec Pro Tour, founded by Alan Tait, the director of golf at Marriott Dalmahoy Hotel, starts next Thursday and Friday (March 25-26) at Whitekirk Golf Club near North Berwick.
You might not know either that each of the six, two-day 36-hole events will have a section for women/girl professionals. They will be playing for the sum of their own £50 competition entry fees ... unless you or your company would like to donate £200 to one of the prize pots.
You can E-mail Colin@scottishgolfview.com to find out how to go about it.
The six XLtec Pro Tour events are:
March 25-26: Whitekirk.
April 28-29: Hilton Park.
May 25-26: Dalmahoy.
July 28-29: Westerwood.
September 28-29: Spey Valley, Aviemore.
October 6-7: Dundonald Links.

Forsyth's back woes subside

-

in time for Moroccan tilt

FROM THE SCOTSMAN SPORT.COM WEBSITE
By MARTIN DEMPSTER
Two weeks after being forced to halt a journey to Malaysia due to a back injury, Alastair Forsyth is among seven Scots teeing off in today's first round of the Hassan Trophy in Morocco.
The two-time European Tour winner, pictured right, got as far as Dubai on his way to the Far East before the pain became so unbearable that he turned around and jumped on the first flight back home.

A week ago Forsyth was still being troubled by the problem but, thanks to Gerry Docherty, the physio at Dunfermline Athletic Football Club, he's been able to join David Drysdale, Stephen Gallacher, Gary Orr, Richie Ramsay, Marc Warren and Peter Whiteford in this week's field at Royal Dar Es Salam.

"The fact I'm playing this week is all thanks to Gerry, who I was referred to by Stephen Gallacher, who has fought back problems for years," said Forsyth.

"Gerry thought that just one session would be enough but it needed a few more. It was painful but he knows what he is doing so I'm grateful to him. I hit some balls last Friday and decided to play this week. I'm a bit stiff but the back is feeling good. I didn't think I would be back playing anywhere near this time, so I'm delighted."

Ramsay and Warren are both making their returns this week after spending time working on their games in America recently. Ramsay, the South African Open champion, has been practising at the Golf Club of Georgia since he tied for 14th in India, while Warren has been back at his home in Florida since playing in the three events on the Middle East Swing.

This is the first time the tournament in Rabat has been part of the European Tour schedule, but the course has hosted the Moroccan Open, the last winner of which was Ian Poulter in 2001.

On the US PGA Tour, Justin Rose is trying to book his place at the Masters in this week's Transitions Championship at Palm Harbor on Florida's west coast. Rose stands 59th in the world, with the leading 50 on Monday week qualifying for the opening major of the season.

World Match Play champion Poulter, also part of the Innisbrook field, is one of Rose's closest friends in golf – as well as his Ryder Cup partner two years ago – and said:

"It would be good to see him get back into the top 50 and into The Masters. I know that's why he has been playing a busy schedule and he's obviously playing well. His place in the world rankings is not reflective of the type of player he is."

Rose is mightily relieved to see his hard work paying dividends at last. The 29-year-old has yet to win in over 150 US Tour starts, but has earned well in excess of $10million and said: "I've played good enough golf to win out here. I've been close a few times. Sometimes winning just gets in the way without you trying too hard – it's felt like it's been a bit of a battle. If I can maintain the direction I'm going I certainly believe it will happen."

+The full article above appears in The Scotsman newspaper.

Aberdeen link with US v Europe two years from now

Tom Bendelow course
-
at Medinah to host the
-
Ryder Cup 2012 match

Medinah Country Club, the site of many memorable moments spanning 60 years of Major Championship golf, will host The 39th Ryder Cup from September 25-30, 2012, marking the Illinois debut of golf's most compelling event.
Located some 35 minutes from downtown Chicago, Medinah Country Club has hosted three US Opens (1949, 1975 and 1990) and two US PGA Championships (1999, 2006); while also the site of the 1988 US Senior Open and three Western Opens [now BMW Championship] (1939, '62, '66).
As part of its 2012 preparations, Medinah is nearing completion of a $1.5 million greens renovation project on Course No. 3, led by renowned course architect Rees Jones. The project included a dramatic redesign of the 15th hole.
The 15th now offers players with a great risk-reward opportunity with a driveable par 4 by reducing its length by 100 yards and adding a two-acre lake that borders the right side of the fairway and green. The new forward tee allows Number 15 to be set up as short at 280 yards. The original tee area of 392 yards from the championship tees will be preserved to provide the club with flexibility in course set-up.
Jones, who has overseen all architectural design aspects of Medinah's three golf courses since 2000, moved the 15th green to the left (south), which made way for the creation of a new back tee for Medinah's famed 16th hole. The tree-lined par 4 now measures 15 yards longer – playing approximately 470 yards from the championship tees.
The major greens renovation took place on 11 of Course No. 3's original 18 greens and its main putting green, which was rebuilt to USGA specifications. Course No. 3's other six greens were re-grassed and the 15th green rebuilt.
This year, Medinah's famed No. 3 Course is ranked 20th by Golf Digest among "America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses." All three of Medinah's 18-hole courses were designed by Aberdonian Tom Bendelow, pictured above, in 1928 and completed two years apart.
Medinah County Club is expected to reopen the No. 3 Course on June 19, 2010.
The Ryder Cup, among the last great professional sporting events where winning, and not prize money, is its own reward, spans 37 competitions over 81 years. The competition was born in 1927, when enterprising English seed merchant Samuel Ryder commissioned the casting of a gold chalice that bears his name.
The US Team defeated Great Britain, 9½ to 2½, in the inaugural matches in Worcester, Mass. Since then, The Ryder Cup has expanded to involve the finest players of Europe. Except for a span (1939-45) during World War II and following the September 11, 2001 attacks upon America, The Ryder Cup has been held biennially with the US and Europe alternating as host.

Rheumatism will KO Olazabal from Masters

The manager for two-time Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal says the Spaniard will pull out of the Masters next month because he is suffering again from rheumatism.
Sergio Gomez told the Press Association on Wednesday that Olazabal has pain in his shoulder, forearms and hands and is unable to swing properly. He said Olazabal cannot practise for much more than an hour and that traditional medicine is not working.
Olazabal won the Masters in 1994 and 1999. The only year he missed was in 1996, when he sat out the entire season after being diagnosed with rheumatoid polyarthritis.
The 44-year-old Spaniard, inducted last year into the World Golf Hall of Fame, has not played a tournament since he finished 14th in the Castello Masters in Spain last October.

Hendry 70 ... but only joint 32nd on America's eGolf Pro Tour

Twice past winner of the Scottish youths champion, Elgin-born Joel Hendry shot a two-under-par round of 70 on the opening day of the eGolf Professional Tour at the Cabarrus Country Club, Concord in North Carolina.
Despite that, the Scot was only tied for 32nd place in a huge field of around 200.
Chris Epperson is setting the pace with a 65, ahead of fellow Americans Chase Carroll, Joe Daley and Dustin Bray on 66.

Oh, brother! Elliot following in Lloyd
-


Saltman's footsteps in Spain



FROM THE SPANISH Hi5 PRO TOUR WEBSITE
Elliot Saltman leads the Hi5 Pro Tour Condado Open after day 2 with the field playing once again in blustery wind conditions.
The Scotsman takes a one-shot lead into the final round over day 1 leader, Ireland's Michael Collins.
Aegon-sponsored Elliot, pictured right, is looking to keep the Condado title in the family following last week's win by one of his younger brothers, Lloyd on the Nicklaus signature course in Murcia.
His lead was cemented with a run of four birdies scored between the 11th and 16th hole today.
Leading the seniors section is England's Stephen Shields after shooting a superb low round of the day 67. Stephen's 67 included two eagles, made on the par-5 fourth and 13th holes. He takes a four-shot lead into the final round over Englands Gary Wolstenholme .
SECOND ROUND SCOREBOARD
Par 144 (2x72)
145 Elliot Saltman (Scotland) 72 73.
146 Michael Collins (Ireland) 71 75.
147 Fredrik Hammarberg (Sweden) 72 75.
148 Felix Fihn (Sweden) 77 71, Pablo del Grosso (Spain) 77 71, Brad Clapp (Canada) 75 73, James Housby (England) 74 74.
150 Martyn Hamer (England) 74 76.
151 Ignacio Sanchez Palencia (Spain) 79 72.
152 James Johnson (England) 74 78.
Selected score:
156 Zack Saltman (Scotland) 77 81.
SENIORS SECTION
145 Stephen Shields (England) 78 67.
149 Gary Wolstenholme (England) 73 76.

EUROPEAN NATIONS CUP SCOREBOARD
MEN AMATEURS - Real Club Sotogrande, Spain
FIRST ROUND TOTALS
(Three from four scores to count)
207 ENGLAND
FLEETWOOD, TOMMY N/C
HAINES, MATT 69
PAISLEY, CHRIS 68
LEWIS, TOM 70

215 GERMANY
KIEFFER, MAXIMILIAN 71
KNAPPE, ALEXANDER 71
JOHN, ALLEN N/C
HANSEN, JOACHIM 73

215 DENMARK
BRANDT 77
LOKKE, DANIEL 67
BJERREGAARD, LUCAS 71
HARTOE, ANDREAS N/C
216 AUSTRIA
NEMECZ, LUCAS 70
MAYRHAUSER, MORITZ N/C
GOGER, ROBIN 72
NEMECZ, TOBIAS 74
217 SPAIN
SARASTI BERNARAS, JUAN FRANCISCO 72
PIGEM XAMMAR, CARLOS 75
CUARTERO BLANCO, EMILIO N/C
HORTAL OCHOA, ANTONIO 70
217 WALES
FARR, OLIVER 72
FRAZER, JAMES 72
PUGH, RHYS 73
VICKERY, JOE N/C

218 SCOTLAND
KELLET, ROSS 72
WHITE, JAMES 75
McLEAN, PHILIP N/C
LAW, DAVID 71

219 FINLAND
SAMOOJA, KALLE 75
PULKKANEEN, TAPIO 70
SATAMA, HENRI 74
VEIJALAINEN, MIRO N/C
220 ITALY
BERTASIO, NINO 70
QUINTARELLI, NICCOLO N/C
MANASSERO, MATTEO 75
MOTTA, LEONARDO 75
221 FRANCE
SORDET, CLEMENT N/C
LOPEZ LAZARO, JOHANN 73
WATTEL, ROMAIN 76
LEVY, ALEXANDER 72
222 IRELAND
CUTLER, PAUL 73
DUNBAR, ALAN N/C
MURRAY, PAT 73
LERNIHAN, DARA 76
225 HOLLAND
KRAAIJ, MICHAEL 76
KIND, ROBIN 72
BOSHART, DYLAN N/C
HUIZING, DAAN 77
225 SWEDEN
CARLSSON, NICLAS 75
KOKOCINSKI, ROBIN N/C
FLATAU, VICTOR 76
LAGERGREN, JOAKIM 74
226 BELGIUM
DETRY, THOMAS 76
RICHELLE, JULIEN N/C
MIVIS, CHRISTOPHER 75
PIETERS, THOMAS 75
229 NORWAY
BERTHEUSSEN, ELIAS 77
RAMSNES, OLE N/C
OLSEN, AKSEL 76
LUNDROSEN, MAGNUS 76
232 PORTUGAL
JOIA, JOSE MARIA 77
GASPAR, MIGUEL N/C
SILVA, TOMAS 79
RODRIGUES, TIAGO 76
240 SLOVENIA
VIDMAR, JAKA N/C
STANIC, MARTIN 73
ZIGA, AVSEC 84
GREGORINCIC, GRECA 83
240 CZECH REPUBLIC
ONDREJ, LIESER 82
KORDA, JIRI N/C
POSPISIL, MICHAL 79
PROCHAZKA, DAVID 79
+Switch over to our sister website, www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk to see the women's scores at the same venue.

It ain't half hot, Mum! Scots swelter in South Africa

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY ROSS DUNCAN OF SCOTTISH GOLF UNION
Scotland trailed a strong South African side 8½ - 3½ at the close of play on day one of the Test Match at Leopard’s Creek Country Club before thunder and lightning halted play with two matches remaining on the course.
Youngster Jack McDonald, the reigning Scottish Boys Stroke Play Champion, was the star of the Scots side on the opening day, claiming a half point alongside Scott Gibson in the morning foursomes before comfortably winning his singles match 4&2.
Mark Bookless and Gordon Yates were Scotland’s other winning duo in the morning with a 2&1 victory over their opponents, with the pairings of Paul Shields/Kris Nicol and Glenn Campbell/Steven McEwan both losing by a 4&3 margin.
Former national champion Glenn Campbell was the only other victor for the visitors in the afternoon singles with Gordon Yates one up with two to play in the closing match. 17-year-old Gibson lost by one hole in his match, the same margin of defeat as Paul Shields, as the Scots closed the day trailing by five.
National junior coach Spencer Henderson, who is out with the squad, reflected on the opening day’s performance:
“We’re obviously disappointed to be trailing in the match but it’s been a fantastic experience for the players, particularly the young lads who have performed very well. The course is superb but it’s much hotter than we’re used to (36 degrees) so it’s taking time to get used to.
“With our four leading amateurs playing in the Nations Cup, the South African training camp has given us the opportunity to develop some of our up and coming players, who are competing against a very strong host side in the peak of their season.”
“It was great to see Jack (McDonald) and Scott (Gibson) performing so well on their senior debut and the experience of guys like Glenn is really helping them. We’re looking forward to another great day tomorrow, with an early start because of the weather, and hopefully the team will make up some ground.” he added.
Day One – Results
Morning Foursomes
J McDonald & S Gibson halves match.
P Shields & K Nicol Lost 4&3
M Bookless & G Yates Won 2&1
G Campbell & S McEwan Lost 4&3
Morning Singles
G Paterson Lost 1 Hole
Afternoon Singles
J McDonald Won 4&2
S Gibson Lost 1 Hole
G Paterson Lost 4&3
K Nicol Lost 4&3
P Shields Lost 1 hole
S McEwan Lost 5&4
G Campbell Won 4&3
M Bookless 1 down thru 16
G Yates 1 up thru 16
Latest Score:
South Africa 8.5 – 3.5 Scotland

+Ross Duncan is not being parochial by only naming the Scottish players - the South African website did not list the names of the home players!

North-east Alliance title in doubt until mid-evening

CORMACK CHAMPION AFTER

SCORECARD HITCH

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Inchmarlo tour professional Paul Cormack, one of the last men to finish in a field of 85, was confirmed as winner of the North-east Golfers' Alliance championship more than two hours after he returned his second-round card at Cruden Bay today.
Cormack's two-under-par 68, coupled with last week's one-under-par 67 in the first round at Duff House Royal for a total of 135 gave him the title and earned him the Uniroyal Quaich by the resounding margin of eight strokes.
But they don't present the trophies until next week's foursomes at Murcar Links so there was no need for Paul to hang around the Cruden Bay clubhouse after he had finished.
However, during Alliance secretary Ron Menzie's thorough scrunity of all the scorecards at the end of the day, he noticed that Cormack's inward half total had been entered by his marker as 35 while the figures entered per hole added up to 34.
The 26-year-old player, pictured above by Cal Carson Golf Agency, who spends much of his time playing on satellite tours in the United States, had left Cruden Bay for his Banchory home before the secretary could check out the discrepancy.
It was after 7.30pm before Ron Menzies was able to get hole of Cormack by phone and- fortunately - the player was able to confirm that the figures he had signed for at each hole were correct. And that's all that matters, the totals for halves are irrelevant if the the score per hole is correct.
Had it been the other way round, the player would have been disqualified, almost an astonishing repeat of last week's events at Duff House Royal where Phllip McLean, the leader, was disqualified long after he had left the course.
It was a double-eagle performance by Cormack who had a 3 at the long sixth and a 2 at the par-4 14th. He also birdied the second, fourth, and 12th - and also had five bogeys in halves of 34 (two under par) and 34 home (level).
"There was a fair mix of the good and the bad in that round," said Paul. "I'm glad it all worked out in the end."
For the record, Cormack's figures today were:
OUT: 5-3-4-2-4-3-4-4-5--34. IN; 5-4-2-6-2-3-4-4-4--34.
Joint second overall on a bright, sunny day but with a veering wind, eventually behind the players down the 17th and 18th, made conditions tricky, were Newburgh professional Ian Bratton who came home in 40 with six bogeys for a 76 and 143, a total matched 21-year-old Kevin Duncan (McDonald Ellon), who has played on the US college circuit, a 69 at Banff and a 74 today, which made him the winner of the J K Hall Quaich as the leading amateur.
Kevin Duncan's figures today:
OUT: 4-4-4-2-5-5-5--3-5--37. IN: 5-3-4-5-6-3-3-4-4--37.
Mike Jenkins (Duff House Royal), joint eighth overall with a scratch total of 148, won the Veterans' Cup.
Scotland international Laura Murray (Alford), the only female in the field, won
the Chapper's Pot with the lowest Class 1 net 36-hole aggregate of 138 with a pair of net 69s off her Alliance handicap (she plays off the men's tees) of four.
Her birdie 4 at the last followed one of the longest drives by anyone at the 18th.
Laura's figures were:
OUT: 4-4-5-4-6-5-4-3-4--39. IN: 4-2-5-5-4-3-4-4-3--34.
Alister Petrie (Oldmeldrum), who plays off 10, won the Major's Pot for the best Class 2 aggregate of 140.
No award for Fergus Bisset but the golf writer from Banchory deserved one for his loyalty to the North-east Alliance. Fergus played in the Sunningdale foursomes on Tuesday - and the Alliance championship today! He finished joint 12th in the scratch aggregates on 149 and qualified to play in the pro-am foursomes for the Evening Express Shield at Murcar Links next Thursday (draws for both scratch and handicap competitions can be seen below today's collated scores.
+Cruden Bay's "extra short hole" - it was played as the 12th - out at the far end of the course and played towards the North Sea, was well received by all the players I spoke to. It was the first time it had been played in a competition outwith Cruden Bay members.
+The general opinion was that, depending on the strength and direction of the wind, it could be a great, testing hole.
+The hole has been created so that it can be brought into play when another hole is having work done on it. Great idea, the envy of most golf clubs and their head greenkeepers!

2010 NORTH-EAST ALLIANCE CHAMPIONSHIP TOTALS
(first score at Duff House Royal, second score at Cruden Bay).
Par 138 (68 at DHR, 70 at Cruden Bay)
135 Paul Cormack (Inchmarlo) 67 68.
143 Kevin Duncan (McDonald Ellon) 69 74, Ian Bratton (Newburgh) 67 76.
144 Anthony Bews (Murcar Links) 70 74, Scott Larkin (Banchory) 72 72.
145 Stewart Finnie (Caledonian) 72 73.
146 Laura Murray (Alford) 73 73.
148 Justin Duff (Fraserburgh) 73 75, Ryan Fitzpatrick (Inchmarlo) 77 71, Craig Carnegie (Kemnay) 72 76, Mike Jenkins (Duff House Royal) 71 77.
149 Kyle Nelson (Murcar Links) 71 78, Fergus Bisset (Banchory) 72 77.
150 Duncan Clark (Duff House Royal) 72 78.
151 John Mitchell (Fraserburgh) 79 72, Jim Emslie (Royal Aberdeen) 74 77.
152 Adam Dunton (McDonald Ellon) 79 73, Richard Hyland (Craibstone) 73 79.
154 Paul McIntosh (Newburgh) 76 78, James Mooney (Kingsliffe) 79 75.
155 Stewart Pert (Huntly) 77 78.
158 David Wilson (Duff House Royal) 78 80.
159 Andrew Campbell (Deeside) 84 75.
160 Alister Petrie (Oldmeldrum) 80 80, Martin Forster (Cruden Bay) 78 82.
161 David Corkey (Royal Aberdeen) 75 86.
162 Mark Lawrie (Kemnay) 74 84.
165 Norman Stewart (Northern) 83 82.
166 Brian Harper (Newburgh) 80 86, Hamish McNaughton (Cruden Bay) 83 83, Nigel Parker (Murcar Links) 80 86.
167 Charles Cassie (Nigg Bay) 80 87, Dave MacKay (Newmachar) 81 86, Neil Chisholm (Kemnay) 80 87.
168 Mike Booth (Kemnay) 81 87.

HANDICAP
Class 1
138 Laura Murray (Alford) (4) 69 69.
140 C Carnegie (Kemnay) (4) 68 72.
143 K Duncan (McDonald Ellon) (scr) 69 74.
145 J Emslie (Royal Aberdeen) (3) 71 74, K Nelson (Murcar Links) (2) 69 76, F Bisset (Banchory) (2) 70 75.
146 P McIntosh (Newburgh) (4) 72 74, M Jenkins (Duff House Royal) (1) 70 76; D Wilson (Duff House Royal) (6) 72 74.
147 S Finnie (Caledonian) (+1) 73 74.
Class 2
140 A Petrie (Oldmeldrum) (10) 70 70.
141 N Stewart (Northern) (12) 71 70.
144 H McNaughton (Cruden Bay) (11) 72 72.
146 D Randall (Banchory) (15) 75 71.
148 M Booth (Kemnay (10) 71 77, N Parker (Murcar Links) (9) 71 77.
149 N Chisholm (Kemnay) (9) 71 78.

FOURSOMES DRAWS
Draws for the North-east Alliance pro-am foursomes at Murcar Links next Thursday and Friday are:
SCRATCH (Evening Express Shield).
10 min intervals
9.30: J Mooney (Kingsliffe) & K Nelson (Murcar Links) v D Naylor (Banchory) & A Bews (Murcar Links).
9.40 P Lovie (P1 Corporate) & D Clark (Duff House Royal) v R Hyland (Craibstone) & S Larkin (Banchory).
9.50 S Chalmers (Bnchory) & K Duncan (McDonald Ellon) v P Cormack (Inchmarlo) & M Jenkins (Duff House Royal.
10.0 I Bratton (Newburgh) & F Bisset (Banchory) v R Fitzpatrick (Inchmarlo) & F Bisset (Banchory) v R Fitzpatrick (Inchmarlo) & C Carnegie (Kemnay).
+Second round on Thursday afternoon.

HANDICAP (Press and Journal Trophy)
10.10 J Emslie (Royal Aberdeen) & A Petrie (Oldmeldrum) v D Wilson (Duff House Royal ) & H McNaughton (Cruden Bay).
10.20 D Corkey (Royal Aberdeen) & B Lumsden (Northern) v M Forster (Cruden Bay) & N Parker (Murcar Links).
10.30 B Harper (Newburgh) & M Booth (Kemnay) v M Lawrie (Kemnay) & N Stewart (Northern).
10.40 P McIntosh (Newburgh) & D Randall (Banchory) v A Dunton (McDonald Ellon) & N Chisholm (Kemnay).

+Second round on Thursday afternoon; Finals on Friday morning.

SCOTS TAKE COUNT AT SUNNINGDALE

Carnoustie's Colin Sinclair and Kris Harper won their first-round tie in the Sunningdale foursomes today. They beat B Monks and C Rodgers of Royal Mid-Surrey by one hole before losing by 4 and 3 in the afternoon second round to C Griffiths (Wentworth) and C Bull (Sunningdale).
Banchory's Fergus Bisset and his partner, D Ford of Royal North Devon, lost by 3 and 2 to former tennis ace Tim Henman and T Crawley, both Sunningdale members, in the first round.

Elliot Saltman one off the pace in Spain

FROM THE SPANISH Hi5 PRO TOUR WEBSITE
Michael Collins, representing Ireland, was the only player to beat par today in demanding conditions over the signature Nicklaus course situated in Murcia, Spain.
Michael , a last minute entry , played a solid round of 71 consisting of 3 birdies , two bogeys and 13 pars to set the pace in the Hi5 Pro Tour Condado de Alhama open.
Close on his heels, just one shot behind are Scotland's Elliot Saltman, whose younger brother Lloyd won last week's event, and Fredrik Hammarberg of Sweden.
Leading the Seniors section with a score of 73 ( +1 ) is England's Gary Wolstenholme who turned pro late in his career after establishing a stellar amateur CV.
FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 72
71 Michael Collins (Ireland).
72 Elliot Saltman (Scotland), Fredrik Hammarberg (Sweden).
73 Gary Wolstenholme (England), Patrick O'Neil (Denmark) (amateur).
74 Alex Belt (England), John Green (England), James Housby (England), Martyn Haymer (England), James Johnson (England).
75 Andreas Hogberg (Sweden), Ruaidhri McGee (Ireland), Brad Clapp (Canada).
76 Gary King (England).
77 Felix Fihn (Sweden), Zack Saltman (Scotland), Pablo Del Grosso (Spain), Stefan Mar Stefansson (Iceland), Miguel Angel Martin (Spain).
78 Bjorn Pettersson (Sweden), Lasse Sonne Nielsen (Denmark) (amateur), Richard Carter (England) (amateur), Stephen Shields (England).
79 Dominik Weissar (Germany), Ronan Collins (Ireland), Ignacio Sanchez Palencio (Spain).
80 Ryan Street (Canada), Daniel Sandberg (Sweden).
81 Chris Linstead, Robert Svensson (Sweden).
83 Joacim Hultman (Sweden).
85 Edward Barry-Walsh (England).
86 Stuart Hemming (England).
87 Alex Moron (England).
89 Roy Van der Loop (Netherlands).

Tiger Woods comeback in

Masters confirmed

Tiger Woods is to make his comeback in the Masters tournament at Augusta National, Georgia from April 8 to 11:
He issued the following statement today:
"The Masters is where I won my first major and I view this tournament with great respect. After a long and necessary time away from the game, I feel like I'm ready to start my season at Augusta.
"The major championships have always been a special focus in my career and, as a professional, I think Augusta is where I need to be, even though it's been a while since I last played.
"I have undergone almost two months of in-patient therapy and I am continuing my treatment. Although I'm returning to competition, I still have a lot of work to do in my personal life.
"When I finally got into a position to think about competitive golf again, it became apparent to me that the Masters would be the earliest I could play. I called both Joe Lewis and Arnold Palmer and expressed my regrets for not attending the Tavistock Cup and the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
"I again want to thank them both for their support and their understanding. Those are fantastic tournaments and I look forward to competing in them again.
"I would also like to thank the Augusta National members and staff for their support. I have deep appreciation for everything that they do to create a wonderful event for the benefit of the game."

Kintore and Westhill not fielding teams in Aberdeen

and District Junior Pennant League this season

The Aberdeen & District Junior Pennant Golf League, sponsored by Kings Links Golf Centre, will not have teams from Kintore or Westhill competing in the new season but Inverallochy are playing.
The previous match-day format of six ties featuring 12 boys (or girls) competing in four-ball, better-ball pairs off scratch is being changed to threee scratch matches and three handicap matches.
League secretary Gordon Murray, vice-president of the Scottish Golf Union, explains:"The change is to stop younger team members getting thrashed in a scratch game.
"The first three pairs will play off scratch and the next three play off handicap with the lower handicap players giving strokes accordingly to players with higher handicaps."
Teams in the League's Section B will have one fewer game due to Kintore's withdrawal.
The sectional ties begin on Sunday, April 11. The section winners will contest the semi-finals at neutral venues on Sunday June 13. The final will be played over Newmachar Swailend on Sunday, June 20.
SECTION A - Auchmill, Banchory, Deeside, Murcar Links, Northern, Peterhead, Royal Aberdeen.
SECTION B - Bon Accord, Cruden Bay, Hazlehead, Kemnay, Newburgh, Nigg Bay.
SECTION C - Alford, Craibstone, Inverallochy, Newmachar, Oldmeldrum, Peterculter, Stonehaven.
SECTION D - Aboyne, Caledonian, Inchmarlo, Inverurie, McDonald Ellon, Portlethen

'It is not as important as some people say'

Walker Cup won't stop

Kellett turning pro

FROM THE SCOTSMAN SPORT.COM WEBSITE
By Martin Dempster
Ross Kellett, Scotland's highest-ranked amateur, has revealed he won't be hanging around to play in next year's Walker Cup at Royal Aberdeen because he feels such an honour counts for little in the professional game.
The 22-year-old from Colville Park, Motherwell (pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency), one of four Scots named in the Great Britain & Ireland squad for this season's St Andrews Trophy match against the Continent of Europe, is gearing up instead for a switch to the paid ranks later in the year.
He will enter the European Tour Qualifying School and will definitely turn professional before the start of next season if, at the very least, he can secure a Challenge Tour card.
"I have spoken to Gavin (Dear] and Wallace (Booth] about the Walker Cup and they said they don't feel it is the be-all and end-all," said Kellett, who chalked up three runner-up finishes in top amateur events around the globe last year and is currently the world No 49 amateur.
"Although it is nice to represent Great Britain & Ireland against America, you shouldn't stay amateur just for that because, once you turn professional, no-one is saying you are super or can definitely beat them because you played in the Walker Cup. They probably wouldn't care so I don't think it is as important as some people say."

In recent years, Pablo Martin, Danny Lee and Shane Lowry have all won European Tour events while still amateurs, the latter lifting the Irish Open title in a play-off at Co Louth last season. The week before, Kellett had played with Lowry in the Irish Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship and the Scot believes he could just as easily enjoy such a life-changing experience.
"You can only take inspiration from those guys winning," added Kellett, who is joining forces with David Law, Philip McLean and James White in the European Nations Cup, formerly the Sherry Cup, which gets underway at Copa Real Golf Club in Sotogrande tomorrow.
"I spoke to Shane on the Sunday of the Irish Stroke Play last year and asked him when he was going to the Brabazon Trophy the following week. He said he wasn't going there as he was playing in the Irish Open and, lo and behold, he's the champion the following week.
"While these sort of wins aren't common, it shows that amateurs can achieve life-changing successes and, if people I am used to playing against in the amateur ranks can do it, then I can, too."
*The full article above appears in The Scotsman newspaper today.

No, US Tour commissioner doesn't know when Tiger's coming back

FROM THE AOL GOLF NEWS SERVICE
The Tiger Woods waiting and guessing game goes on - just when it looked as if a date for his comeback was going to be announced.
Excitement mounted when US PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem called a teleconference today, but it was purely to announce a new tournament sponsorship deal.
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More News
McIlroy out of top 10
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Woods has been pictured practising and there has been mounting speculation that he could return to action in the unofficial Tavistock Cup next Monday and Tuesday, the Arnold Palmer Invitational later the same week or The Masters at August 8-11. But Finchem was unable to shed any light on any of that and there was no announcement on the world number one's website either.
"We have the general information that Tiger is preparing to play and there's been a lot of speculation about when he might come back out," said Finchem.
"Tiger's indicated to us that he will give us reasonable notice because we know we've got some preparation to do.
"But I don't have a specific date when he's going to come back and I can only assume, though, that all this speculation about late March and early April, if he is going to start back then, we will know soon. Beyond that I can't help you."

Nationwide Tour graduate Lamely wins Puerto Rico Open

US PGA Tour newcomer Derek Lamely won the weather-prolonged Puerto Rico Open which finished on the fifth day today over a the rain-softened Trump International Golf Club course tropical course at Rio Grande.
Lamely won with a 19-under-par total of 269, managing to outlast Kris Blanks (271) at a palm-fringed 7,526yd course which was deluged by rain early in the competition.
Lamely earned promotion to the tour by finishing fourth on the 2009 Nationwide Tour money list, earned $630,000 along with PGA Tour playing privileges through 2012.
Lamely had to watch his competitors for more than two hours to see if he'd be overtaken or forced into a sudden-death play-off.
FINAL TOTALS
(USA unless stated, par 288: 4x72):
269 Derek Lamely 69 71 63 66
271 Kris Blanks 65 70 67 69
272 Brendon De Jonge 69 68 67 68, James Nitties (Aus) 68 66 69 69, Steve Wheatcroft 68 67 67 70, Kevin Streelman 67 68 64 73
273 Bryce Molder 71 71 65 66, Woody Austin 69 68 66 70, Steve Elkington (Aus) 68 70 66 69
274 Bill Lunde 68 72 68 66, Chad Collins 69 65 68 72
275 Jeff Maggert 69 67 69 70, Paul Stankowski 66 70 68 71, Nicholas Thompson 68 69 69 69
276 Jeff Overton 66 70 67 73, Michael Bradley 71 67 68 70
277 Jeff Klauk 72 68 68 69, Kirk Triplett 69 69 66 73, Kevin Stadler 72 67 65 73, Henrik Bjornstad (Nor) 70 68 70 69, Marco Dawson 70 71 68 68, Skip Kendall 65 70 70 72, Cameron Tringale 69 69 69 70
278 Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) 70 70 68 70, Graham Delaet (Can) 67 69 69 73, Tom Pernice Jnr. 71 67 72 68, John Daly 69 73 66 70, Mark Calcavecchia 68 73 68 69, Guy Boros 71 67 69 71, Boo Weekley 74 68 69 67, Jimmy Walker 73 69 67 69, Jhonattan Vegas 69 67 68 74
279 Spencer Levin 69 69 69 72, Aron Price (Aus) 72 65 70 72, Martin Flores 71 70 68 70, Carl Pettersson (Swe) 72 67 69 71, Michael Connell 71 69 69 70
280 Kent Jones 68 74 68 70, J J Henry 70 69 68 73, Robert Garrigus 68 70 71 71, Kevin Johnson 70 66 71 73
281 Jeff Quinney 72 69 71 69, Craig Barlow 71 65 72 73, Johnson Wagner 70 69 69 73
282 Jonathan Kaye 73 69 67 73, Omar Uresti 70 72 71 69, Phil Tataurangi (Nzl) 72 69 71 70, Peter Gustafsson (Swe) 67 73 69 73, Manuel Villegas (Col) 72 69 72 69, Shaun Micheel 73 69 68 72, Chez Reavie 70 71 66 75, Daniel Barbetti (Arg) 68 72 69 73, Rich Barcelo 70 72 68 72
283 Jarrod Lyle (Aus) 69 70 73 71, Jeff Gove 72 68 69 74, Steve Flesch 72 66 72 73, Matt Bettencourt 67 72 71 73
284 Richard S Johnson (Swe) 70 72 71 71, Billy Mayfair 69 73 71 71, Mathias Gronberg (Swe) 69 71 73 71
285 Chris Stroud 76 66 73 70, Erik Compton 72 69 70 74, Chris DiMarco 68 72 72 73, Roger Tambellini 70 71 68 76
286 Jay Williamson 70 68 74 74, Jerod Turner 71 70 73 72
287 Cameron Percy (Aus) 69 72 70 76
288 Brent Delahoussaye 69 73 73 73, John Merrick 71 70 74 73
292 Steve Lowery 71 70 76 75

Paul Lawrie Foundation leading trophy-winners in 2009

Paul Lawrie Foundation's leading trophy winners in 2009 with their prizes at last night's junior conveners' evening at The Marcliffe at Pitfodels Hotel. Left to right: Alex Wiseman (Order of Merit winner), Ryan Bain (boys' match-play champion again) and Louise McGillivray (girls' match-play champion, with, of course the man himself, writes Colin Farquharson.
I forgot to take my camera but I am sure that Paul will not mind me having "lifted" the above picture from his website!
Sad news that Murray Carnie is having to stand down as the Paul Lawrie Foundation Manager due to pressure of work - he is a P.E. teacher.
Murray has put in a power of work over the past three or four years and his successor, Iain, Powell, has a hard act to follow.
We'll be telling you more about Iain when the Media Release comes out. This is, in fact, a bit of a scoop for Scottishgolfview.com!

Next to playing in Ryder Cup, Paul would love to be one of Monty's lieutentants

Paul Lawrie conducted a Question-and-Answer session with the junior conveners and other guests. The 1999 Open champion has become quite polished in this routine - and that's a fact.
He expressed the opinion that Colin Montgomerie will be a "phenomenal" Ryder Cup team captain, having played in three Seve Trophy matches under Colin's captaincy, so Paul knows what he's talking about.
And Lawrie thinks that the European line-up is also shaping up to be a very powerful force.
Paul, who played in the 1999 Ryder Cup match at Brookline, Massachusetts after winning the Open at Carnoustie, would love to earn a place in Monty's team for the Celtic Manor Summit Meeting but, failing that, he would like to be one of Colin's lieutenants. Fingers crossed for you, Paul.
Paul responded to one question from the floor about just how good a player Tiger Woods is.
"I've played with him three or four times in tournaments, so I have seen him in action at close quarters .... even at 60 per cent of his powers, Tiger is good enough to beat anyone in any tournament .... he can play some shots that are not within my range, such as a three-iron out of a bunker, which carried a tall tree between him and the green, magnificent shot!"

Lawrie and Monty were partners four times in 1999 Ryder Cup match

+Paul Lawrie and Colin Montgomerie were paired together four times by skipper Mark James in the 1999 Ryder Cup match which the Americans won by a single point: 14 1/2-13 1/2.
Lawrie and Montgomrie beat David Duval and Phil Mickelson 3 and 2 in the lead-off foursomes on the first morning. In the afternoon, they again were first off the tee and got a halved match with Davis Love and Justin Leonard in the four-balls.
On the second day, Colin and Paul lost to Hal Sutton and Jeff Maggert by one hole in the morning foursomes but beat Steve Pate and Tiger Woods, no less, by 2 and 1 in the afternoon four-balls.
In the final set of singles on the Sunday, Lawrie completed what was a great Ryder Cup personally by performing the anchor role and beating Jeff Maggert 4 and 3.

Stephen Clark aims to be on

European Tour next year

Former United States college circuit player Stephen Clark is in Turkey this week for the TGI pro-am, having turned professional recently.

Stephen, born February 12, 1985, comes from Glasgow and was a student at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

"I had a pretty succesful time there, winning three times on the college circuit and achieving several top 10 finishes," recalls Clark.

He became the first player in the school's history to become Conference Player of the Year and the first golfer in the school's history to be named Athlete of the Year for the university, an award which normally is won by a basketball of (American) footb all player.

"I turned pro recently and had my first top 10 finish at the Major Golf Pro-am at Archerfield. I will be playing on the 2010 EuroPro Tour with the goal of getting on the European Tour for 2011.

"Another big target for 2010 is to qualify for the Open at St Andrews. I have recently become attached to The Carrick on Loch Lomond as a playing professional. I have been up there practising the last couple of weeks and feel that the world class facilities there will help me develop as a player.

"During the winter I have been working with Simon Payne with my long game and since joining the team at the Carrick I have been working with their new Head of Instruction, Spencer Edwards who has a wealth of knowledge and experience teaching players on the European Tour."

+When Stephen turned pro he had an amateur handicap of +4 (When Nick Faldo and Padraig Harrington turned pro, they both were +2!).

+Stephen played for Scotland at boys and youths level and was in Scotland men's squads.

+He was four times Ralston Golf Club junior champion and four times Glasgow boys' champion.

NORTH GOLF ALLIANCE REPORT

Liam pips Calum on card countback at Brora

By ROBIN WILSON
Two local teenagers, Liam MacDonald-Macleod (19) and Calum Stewart (17), left the Alliance's leading player, Tain's Munro Ferries, in the shade when playing their home course in Sunday's North Golf Alliance fixture at Brora.
Each local protege returned a gross card of one-over-par 70 and with a one-under-par inward half of 33, MacDonald, pictured by Robin Wilson, pegged back Stewart's outward lead of two strokes to make it into first place, adding his name to the list of scratch winners after a handicap win at Royal Dornoch last November.

Scottish junior cap Stewart matched his rival's outward 35 shots over the next nine holes but it was at the 13th and 14th holes where MacDonald made up ground with back-to-back birdies to win the card play-off.
Tain's left-hander Ferries finished with the fourth best score of the day, a 73, which matched his two earlier scores of 73 at both Royal Dornoch and Tain. After adding a 66 at Tarbat the previous week and an opening season 70 at Durness, the +2 handicapper, now with a four scores' total of 282, has built up a six-shot aggregate lead over Thurso's Bryan Ronald whose 77 at Brora did not improve his situation.

Ferries' lead should be a sufficient to guarantee retention of the Scratch Quaich with two fixtures remaining.
Reducing his previous net aggregate total of 283 by 10 shots to 273 with a superb handicap- winning score of 64 at Brora, Seann Sutherland (Bonar-Bridge/Ardgay) is on track to retain the Mackintosh Salver. He has gone ahead of Ronald's net 276 total by three with remaining fixtures left to play this weekend at Golspie on Saturday, followed by Reay on Sunday.

Tain's Andrew Watt occupies third net place with 277, Watt unable to improve on any of his counting scores at Brora. Missing a chance to get into the mix was Durness's Billy MacBain who unfortunately along with playing partners Alister Corbet and John Morrison disqualified themselves after discovering they had played from a wrong tee.
Sutherland has had two strokes taken from his handicap (8 to 6) for the final two events but he won't grumble too much after his gross 72 (38-34) for a net 64 was six ahead of the next best score in Class 1.

This came from former Alliance secretary Robin Wilson (Brora) who has been out of the prize lists for the whole of last season and all of the current while his handicap was rising to seven. But he got back into the scene with a closing birdie 2 for a gross 77, net 70, and second place. The local member finished two ahead of Tain pair, Steve Holmes and Alec Gunn.
The overnight rain and strong wind that had even blown out several of the flag poles from the greens had abated by morning but Brora's winter tee positions toughens several holes and this was reflected with no player in the Class 2 section getting close to the net par.

Three net 72s were separated into order by inward half counts and it was local Peter Etheridge, who came home in net 34, who got first place ahead of Jim Johnstone (Thurso) and Tain's Ali Melville.
As mentioned above, the final fixture is at Reay on Sunday but Golspie are giving three hours of their members' times on Saturday morning - 8.30 to 11.30am - to get all ten fixtures completed. RESULTS
Scratch

70 L MacDonald-Macleod (Brora) 37-33, C Stewart (Brora) 35-35.

72 S R S Sutherland (Bonar-Bridge/Ardgay) 38-34.

73 M Ferries (Tain) 38-35.

74 J Sangster (Thurso) 37-37.

75 B Ferries (Tain) 39-36.

76 S Holmes (Tain) 40-36).

Handicap

Class 1 – S R S Sutherland (BBA) (8) 64; R J Wilson (Brora) (7) 70; S Holmes (Tain) (4) (bih), A Gunn (Tain) (6) 72.

Class 2 – P Etheridge (Brora) (12) (bih), J Johnstone) (Thurso) (16), A Melville (Tain) (11) 72; D A Matheson (Brora) (15) 75.

Tartan Tour Scoreboard
WINTER SERIES (Four-ball, better-ball)
DUNDONALD LINKS
Par 72
65 Graeme Brown (Montrose) & Chris Kelly (Cawder); Mark Loftus (Cowglen) & Simon Payne (Adam Hunter Golf).
68 Kenneth Monaghan (Bothwell Castle) & Christopher Russell (RAW Golf Design).
69 Iain Colquhoun (Dundonald Links) & Christopher Currie (Caldwell); Tom Eckford (Ranfurly Castle) & Stuart Kerr (Strathaven).
70 Paul Brookes (Pitreavie) & Jamie Stevenson (Braehead); Ricky Gray (Torrance House) & Stephen Gray (Hayston); Scott Henderson (Kings Links) & Greig Hutcheon (Banchory).
72 Richard Hall & Michael Sweenie (Westin Turnberry) & Billy Marchank (Crieff) & Alan White (Lanark); Gary McFarlane (Clober) & Neil Colquhoun (Merchants of Edinburgh).
73 Gregor Abel & David Herd (Alloa) & Craig Everett (Esporta Dougalston) & Stewart Savage (Dalmuir); Brian Gibson (Carrick at Cameron House) & Colin White (unatt); Guy Redford & David Ross Nicol (Dundonald Links).
74 Kenneth Kelly (Baberton) & Steve Kelly (Tulliallan); Alistair Brown (Whitecraigs) & Scott Herald (Whitecraigs); Robert Collinson & Bobby Wallace (Bearsden Golf Range).
75 Sean O'Donnell (Balbirnie Park) & Graeme Lornie (Paul Lawrie Foundation); James McKinnon (Irvine) & Duncan Williamson (Kirkhill).
76 Derek Watters (Gourock) & Euan Cameron (Hamilton); Daniel Welsh (Port Royal Driving Range) & Derek McIntosh (Elderslie); Peter Kerr (Hayston) & James Clive (Carrick).
78 Robert Irvine (Douglas Park) & Ross Neill (Drumpellier); Andrew Fullen (Largs) & James Smallwood (Fereneze); Graeme Stewart (Gleddoch) & Stuart Williamson (unattached);
80 Anthony Mackrell & Richard Mannering (Playsport Golf); Keith Baxter (Buchanan Castle) & Alastair McLean (Duddingston).
84 David Snodgrass (Hilton Park) & Paul Wilson (World of Golf); Craig Knowles & Christopher McMaster (Panmure).

US Tour chief calls conference - to make

Tiger comeback announcement?

US PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem has called a news conference for this evening, a day after hinting he knows when Tiger Woods will return to golf.
The tour gave no details of what Finchem will talk about in the conference, which is set for 18.30 GMT.
However, on Sunday Finchem said he expected Woods to announce his comeback date "pretty soon."
The world number one is taking an extended break from the game after admitting cheating on his wife, Elin.
In an apology for his conduct which was televised worldwide last month, Woods again said he did not know how long he would be away from the sport.
But the New York Post, citing two unnamed "sources in the golf community", said on Thursday that the 34-year-old was preparing for a possible return at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill in Orlando on 25 March.
Another suggestion is that Woods will return to action at The Masters at Augusta on 5-11 April.
On Sunday Finchem said: "I'm as excited as everybody else to see him back I hope this spring, but my sense is we'll know pretty soon.
"Everybody's done looking back at the circumstances that resulted in him stepping away from the game and [are] now focused on when he's going to play golf - I think that's good."
Woods has been working with his coach Hank Haney, further fuelling expectations of a return before or for the Masters.
"If he wasn't going to play for six months, why would Hank be there?" said Australian pro Roger Allenby, a Florida neighbour of Woods.
"I look at that as maybe he's getting ready."
The Bay Hill tournament is run by Woods' management company, International Management Group, but tournament director Scott Wellington said he has not heard from the player's agent, Mark Steinberg.
"At this point, we still don't know," he said. "Tiger has until next Friday to commit."
Woods has won at Bay Hill six times, from 2000 to 2003 and again in 2008 and 2009, and it is the only PGA Tour event he has never missed since turning professional.
Meanwhile, Augusta National, the home of the Masters, the first major of the year, is famed for its watertight security, which means it would be next to impossible for the paparazzi to gain access to the course.
Speculation has also centred on the Tavistock Cup, a made-for-TV exhibition team event between PGA talent from rival Florida clubs Isleworth and Lake Nona.
Golfer Mark O'Meara, a friend and neighbour of Woods, fanned that flame this week when he told the Golf Channel that he "wouldn't be surprised" to see Woods play the 22-23 March competition.

Hugh Hunter's Clackmannan county news

IT'S ALL GO FOR THE 2010 GOLF SEASON

With lengthening days and better weather, the local golf season will be underway in a week or two when golf clubs stage their usual opening events.
New members will be especially welcome at the six golf clubs in Clackmannan county (Alloa, Alva, Braehead, Dollar, Tillicoultry and Tulliallan).
Anyone interested in joining a club should contact a local golf club secretary or golf club member whether they are a new starter to the game or a former player returning to the game.
There is considerable fun and pleasure to be gained on the local golf courses, playing socially or competitively.

COUNTY GOLF FIXTURES 2010

At the annual general meeting held in November, the small group of golf enthusiasts set up Clackmannan's county golf arrangements for 2010. Bill Abernethy (Braehead) takes over the Presidency for 2010 with George Kay appointed as Vice President. Tommy Johnson continues in the crucial role of Secretary and Treasurer, and John Gullen was re appointed team Captain. Tillicoultry’s Sam Kinnaird was appointed Junior Convenor, and Kenneth Ellacott continues as the county delegate to the Scottish Golf Union.
The Clackmannan county team are in action right at the start of the season with the usual Provan Salver matches against the other Midlands areas of Angus (March 28), Fife (April 4) and Perth & Kinross (April 18).
On the competition side, the Spring meeting (Division 1 at Tulliallan; Division 2 at Alloa) is on Saturday, April 24 followed by the boys' championship on Sunday, April 25. Entry forms for these events will be posted in local clubs shortly.
The Clackmannan county dinner has been rescheduled for Friday, April 9 where presentations will be made. Details are on club notice boards, with tickets available in the golf clubs.

FAST START FOR LAWRENCE IN 2010

Junior golfer Lawrence Allan (Alva) has made a quick start to the 2010 season. In the four events of the winter series for the best Scottish Under-16 golfers, Lawrence finished in the top 10 three times out of four, and over the four events, he finished a highly creditable third in the Under-16s' Order of Merit.
Indeed, had he been one shot better at the last event held at Forrester Park near Dunfermline, he would have been in the runner-up spot. As a result of this fine performance, he has been selected for the Under-16s Quadrangular match in April.
The team of eight boys representing Scotland will take on teams from Ireland, Wales and the Netherlands over the Rijk van Nunspeet course to the east of Amsterdam from April 13 to 15.
Lawrence played well at the Under-16s International held last year at Arbroath, and with his current handicap of 1.7, he will be hoping for some good results in 2010 boys' events.
Lawrence will be joined by Dollar’s Gary Chalmers in the Scottish boys' championship, to be held at West Kilbride from April 5 to 10. Gary plays his first match at 12.29 on the Monday while Lawrence has to wait till 11.57 on the Tuesday.

HOPE FOR CALLUM IN 2010
Tulliallan’s Callum Macaulay is finding the professional game difficult. After missing cuts in early season events, he bounced back in true Macaulay fashion with a second place finish in the Hi5 tournament in Spain. He is in the field for the Kenya Open a Challenge Tour event, and will be hopeful for another good performance.
His aim is of course to return to the main European tour, and with the experience he is building up this should be achievable during 2010. Best of luck!

MIDLAND ALLIANCE

Clackmannan county golfers continue to make their presence felt in Midland Alliance events held weekly during the winter. This winter has been a real headache for the organisers with cancellations and rescheduling.
Recent good results have been 1st equal handicap from Alloa’s Chris Westland and Hugh Hunter with net 68’s at Arbroath and at Burntisland last week, Senior Internationalist Bob Stewart (Tulliallan) gave the younger golfers ( including several professionals) something to think about with a well compiled 71.
Bob leads the voucher list, with Alloa’s Michael Niven also in the top ten.

World Cup to be held every two years on

Hainan Island, southern China

The Omega Mission Hills World Cup will return to the international golfing calendar in 2011 as a biennial event – staged in every odd year – with a record prize fund of US$7,500,000 at a brand new venue in the Mission Hills Resort on Hainan Island in Southern China from November 24-27 next year.
This was announced today by the International Federation of PGA Tours, the International Golf Association, Omega and Mission Hills.
The re-positioning of the Omega Mission Hills World Cup, which has been played at Mission Hills Shenzhen, China, between 2007 and 2009, as a biennial event follows last year’s decision by the International Olympic Committee to re-introduce golf to the Olympic movement from 2016.
By playing the event in alternate years from 2011, the World Cup is aligned with many of the major sports in the Olympic movement, such as the World Athletics Championships, which are contested biennially and are not in any potential conflict with the summer and winter Olympic Games.
However, the Olympic golf tournament will be staged as an individual competition, whereas the Omega Mission Hills World Cup remains the only team event in the men’s professional game where players can proudly represent their own countries, thus maintaining its status as the oldest international team event in professional golf.
In 2011, the Omega Mission Hills World Cup will be among the richest events in world golf, with prize money for the 28 team competition increasing from US$5,500,000 in 2009 to a record US$7,500,000 when the event makes its debut at the newly opened Mission Hills Resort Hainan.
Next year’s winning team will earn US$2,400,000 - US$1,200,000 to each player - which is $350,000 more than last year’s winners. The new prize fund elevates the 2011 Omega Mission Hills World Cup right up alongside the Major Championships and the World Golf Championships.
The format for the contest will remain unchanged, with two series of foursomes and two series of fourballs on alternative days, which has the capacity to create huge swings in fortune and adding to the drama and excitement of the event.
The Omega Mission Hills World Cup will be hosted on the Blackstone course, a spectacular, 350-acre lay-out that weaves through a striking landscape of mature trees, expansive wetlands, ancient town ruins and ever-present lava rock.
The 7,777-yard Blackstone features a myriad of risk / reward opportunities throughout the back nine. The course is set in front of the 525-room 5-star resort complex and the 238,000 square-feet clubhouse, making it ideal for hosting the world’s foremost golf tournaments.
Stephen Urquhart, President of Omega, said: “In addition to finding a coherent strategy in relation to the Olympics, one of the main reasons for making the World Cup of Golf a biennial event is that it should give all the Federations involved a better opportunity to send their best teams to represent their country. We are confident that we can make important inroads in our primary objective which is to re-establish the World Cup of Golf in its rightful position.”

Puerto Rico Open splashes

over into Monday

FROM THE PGATOUR.COM WEBSITE
Chad Collins is getting used to surging the top of the Puerto Rico Open leaderboard with his strong short game just before darkness suspends play in the rain-delayed competition which will now finish on Monday.
Just before the horn suspended third-round play on Sunday, Collins birdied the par-5 fifth hole as night descended over Trump International Golf Club-Puerto Rico. With the clutch shot, he claimed a share of the lead at 12 under with Kevin Streelman, who also made a last-minute birdie on the par-4 seventh hole.
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RELATED LINKS
Leaderboard: Round 3
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"Just late in the day, and I guess I'm pretty loose," Collins said after staying atop the leaderboard for the second straight day on the scenic par-72 course framed by the Atlantic and the tropical El Yunque rain forest.
On Saturday, Collins eagled the par-5 second hole to top the leaderboard at 9 under before second-round play was suspended. The former Methodist College player's strong putting and bunker play are giving him his best position after any round on TOUR.
Collins finished second on the Nationwide Tour money list in 2009, a year after his rookie season on the US PGA Tour.
Derek Lamely, 7 under for 13 holes in the round, was a stroke back at 11 under with Steve Wheatcroft and Kris Blanks. Wheatcroft played six holes in the third round, and Blanks completed seven.
Lamely, No. 4 on the 2009 Nationwide Tour money list, seemed easy to overlook in the Puerto Rico Open until he vaulted up the leaderboard with his Saturday scoring assault. He strung together strong shots from tee to green.
"I've got greens like this at home. So for whatever reason, I feel like my lines are good. My speed is pretty good here. Just a good fit," said Lamely, who tied for 13th last year in the Puerto Rico event.
Lamely credited his Saturday surge with getting more rest lately than he had been.
"My brain's working a little better. I just think I just jot so beat up there for a little while, just traveling all the time," he said.
His strategy on Monday? "Make a lot of birdies," Lamely said.
Monday TV -- Puerto Rico Open
The Puerto Rico Open got off to a soggy start Thursday, with only 18 players able to tee off that day because of drenching rain. It was the first suspension of play in the history of the young tournament, now in its third year. The weather woes continued Friday.
The tropical course began to dry out Saturday under a day of strong Caribbean sunshine. But because of previous days' soggy conditions, players were allowed to use preferred lies in the fairways. The maintenance crew worked through the night with squeegees and pumps to sop up the water.
A few players voiced surprise that the course wasn't soggier than it was, after the deluge leading up to the tournament and the first two day of competition.
"It's actually surprising how much drier it is. It's still very wet out there, but it's getting to the point where we don't need to take it 15 yards to get out of casual water," said Australia's James Nitties, who was in a 6-way tie for sixth place at 10 under.
It also helped that the cut came at 2-under 142, with 70 players moving on to the third round. Among those headed home were Greg Kraft, who won the first Puerto Rico Open in 2008 with a 14-under finish, and the highest-ranked player, South Africa's Rory Sabbatini, No. 55.
Last year's Puerto Rico Open champ, Michael Bradley, was still in the hunt. He shot 3 under for the day and was tied 12th place at 9 under.
The competition, which was scheduled to end Sunday, will stretch into Monday due to the rain delays. The winner will earn $630,000.
THIRD ROUND TOTALS TO COME

Els ends two years without

a victory -- and it's a South

African 1-2 at Doral

FROM THE PGA.COM WEBSITE
Ernie Els showed his South African protege what it takes to win a World Golf Championship. Just as important was that he showed himself how to win again, too.
Ending the longest drought of his 20-year career, Els played the final 23 holes on the Blue Monster at Doral Golf Resort, Miami, without a bogey and closed with a 6-under 66 today to win the CA Championship by four shots over 25-year-old Charl Schwartzel.
It was far closer than the margin suggested.
Schwartzel, in his first time on a world stage, refused to let Els get away from him. Els was clinging to a one-shot lead as he stood over a 25-foot par putt on the 14th hole, and the Big Easy was relieved to see it fall on the final turn.
Schwartzel, a houseguest of Els the last two weeks, caught a bad break on the 15th hole when his ball plugged in a front bunker, and he knocked that into a back bunker on his way to a crucial bogey. He missed short putts on the next two holes and closed with a 70.
That allowed Els a strange sensation, walking up to the 18th green with his cap in hand, waving to the gallery, unable to contain a smile that showed equal parts relief and satisfaction.
"I'm 40 years old. I've had a tough run," Els said. "Whew! The hairs are standing up. It's just great."
Els last won two years ago at the Honda Classic, which he won while warming up on the range for a possible play-off. He became only the fifth player with multiple victories in the World Golf Championships, joining Tiger Woods, Darren Clarke, Geoff Ogilvy and Phil Mickelson.
It was his 61st victory worldwide, and 17th on the PGA Tour, and moved Els to No. 8 in the world ranking.
"My game was in good shape," said Els, who finished at 18-under 270. "I just wanted to prove to myself for once. Charl came at me all day. I had to come up with the goods."
It was a strong effort by Schwartzel, who has considered Els a hero since he first started playing golf. Despite two bogeys on the final four holes, he was the only player to give Els a run. And he was poised to take him down until his tee shot left him little hope in the sand.
"I plugged and that was a killer," Schwartzel said. "For me, it's been the biggest stage I've had. This is a good day for me."
Padraig Harrington fell out of the with three straight bogeys on the back nine, closing with a 72 to tie for third at 11-under 277 along with Matt Kuchar (68) and Martin Kaymer of Germany, who had a 69 and moved up to No. 7 in the world.
Alistair Presnell of Australia matched the best round of the day with a 64 and tied for sixth. Defending champion Phil Mickelson, who was never in the mix, shot a 68 and tied for 14th.
Els could not have imagined being in the final group at Doral with Schwartzel, and to see the two South Africans standing on the first tee under warm sunshine, it was easy to see what the Big Easy meant.
To think that Schwartzel was 2 when his father and Els won a club tournament together, or that he was among the gangly teens who traveled with the Ernie Els & Fancourt Foundation junior team. More recently, Els invited the Schwartzel to stay in his south Florida home while Schwartzel was passing time between two WGC events.
And they stayed together for so much of the final round, trading birdies and keeping their names atop the leaderboard.
Els made birdie from the bunker on the opening hole. Schwartzel answered with a 25-foot birdie on the second. Els followed with two straight birdies, the most impressive on the 223-yard fourth with a shot into 8 feet despite a vicious right-to-left wind. Schwartzel fell three shots behind with a bogey from the bunker on No. 5, only to birdie his next three holes.
No one else joined the chase.
Harrington played bogey-free for 12 holes, but he had only two birdies. Robert Allenby pulled within a shot with an opening birdie, then went 10 holes before making another one. Kaymer went out in 33, then failed to make birdie on the par 5s on the back nine.
It became a South African duel in Miami, and Schwartzel gave Els about all he could handle until the end. After his bogey on the 15th, he left a 10-foot birdie putt short on the 16th, then drove into the palm trees on the 17th and took bogey.
Els suddenly has good vibes as he begins his road to the Masters, the one major that has haunted him throughout his career. His victory was worth $1.4 million, and moved him past Colin Montgomerie and atop the European Tour career money list with about $33.6 million.
SCROLL DOWN TO READ ALL THE FINAL TOTALS

Coming soon ... Details of the inaugural Morocco Golf Festival

Watch this space later this week for details of the Morocco Golf Festival.
Based at Marrakech, it will offer the chance to play five top courses in the area.
It's an amateur golf week with competitions for senior men, senior women, men, women, Under-16 boys and girls & Under-18 boys and girls.
It will be held from October 9 to 16 and the Tournament Director will be the man who started the successful Hacienda del Alamo Women's/Girls' Festival in Spain - yes, Colin Farquharson.

Stewart Wilson wins North Scottish Alliance at Muir of Ord

By ALAN COWIE
Secretary, North Scottish Golfers' Alliance
Stewart Wilson (Inverness) won the penultimate North Scottish Golfers' Alliance fixture as the Alliance played Muir of Ord for the first time. Halves of 36 and 31 gave him a one under 67 and a one stroke victory from Graham Mackenzie of Hopeman.

LEADING SCRATCH
67 S Wilson (Inverness).
68 G Mackenzie (Hopeman).
69 C Campbell (Nairn Dunbar) p.
71 G. Burnett (Nairn), K Thomson (Moray), N. McWilliam (Elgin)
72 G Mellis (Muir of Ord), J D Forbes (Inverness)
73 G. Hay (Grantown), I. Macaulay (Elgin)
74 J. Wright (Forres)
75 M.L. Macleman (Moray), A. Henry (Inverness);
76 W. Weatherall (Muir of Ord), S. Aird (Forres) p, A. Cameron (Inverness), R Harrower (Boat of Garten) p.
77 A.W. Mair (Moray), S. Mitchell (Moray), J.C. Milne (Moray), D. Joel (Inverness)
78 R. Stewart (Nairn Dunbar), S. Chisholm (Nairn), J.A. Grant (Grantown).
79 B.A. Watson (Nairn Dunbar), W Hutchison (Inverness).
80 V. Tilman (Muir of Ord), W R Duncan (Moray), J. Treasurer (Inverness), D. Hector (Elgin), D.R. Mackellar (Grantown), K. Williamson (Torvean)
HANDICAP
Class 1 (eight and under).
63 G. Mackenzie (Hopeman) (5)
68 I. Macaulay (Elgin) (5)
70 G. Mellis (Muir of Ord) (2), A. Henry (Inverness) (5), W. Weatherall (Muir of Ord) (6)
Class 2 (nine to 14)
69 J. Kennedy (Moray) (13)
71 E.P. Lamsdell (Forres) (14)
72 L. Duncan (Elgin) (9)
73 A. Boxx (Boat of Garten) (10), I. Turner (Boat of Garten) (14), W.B. Johnston (Moray) (9)

The Aggregate competitions were decided on Saturday in the penultimate fixture of this winter's North Scottish Golfers' Alliance. Results:

Scratch Section
K M Cameron Trophy (First three apart from A Cameron win prizes).
337 C Campbell (Nairn Dunbar) 69 68 65 67 69.
343 B Fotheringham (Forres) 70 69 69 69 66, A Cameron (Inverness) 68 69 66 70 70.
346 K Thomson (Moray) 70 69 69 68 70.
349 J S D Campbell (Grantown) 74 63 73 67 72.
351 M L Macleman (Moray) 71 69 69 74 68, N McWilliam (Elgin) 66 70 71 73 71.

Handicap
Section One (eight and under).
(Playing for the Burnett Trophy, first three win prizes).
343 A Cameron (Inverness) 68 69 66 70 70.
345 S Johnston (Elgin) 72 67 65 69 72.
347 S Wilson (Inverness) 69 71 71 71 65, J C Milne (Moray) 72 66 71 71 67, J A Grant (Grantown) 69 66 71 71 70.
348 K Williamson (Torvean) 71 67 62 74 74.
350 G Hay (Grantown) 68,69,69,72,72.
351 R Stewart (Nairn Dunbar) 70,70,68,71,72.
352 A Cowie (Moray) 64,73,73,69,73.
353 S. Chisholm (Nairn) 72,68,70,71,72.
354 D. Hector (Elgin) 67,66,66,77,78, A.W Mair (Moray) 70 70 74 71 69, A Henry (Inverness) 73 72 70 68 71.

Section Two (nine to 14)
(Playing for the Bill McQueen Trophy. First three win prizes).

350 C. Small (Nairn) 69 69 74 64 74.
352 L. Duncan (Elgin) 69,69,72,73,69.
R.G. Macpherson (Moray) 68,69,70,71,74.
355 L. Macbean (Boat of Garten) 72,71,71,74,67.
358 D. Macleod (Loch Ness) 72,62,79,74,71.
360 A. Grigor (Boat of Garten) 75,73,71,71,70.
361 W.B. Johnston (Moray) 73,74,68,73,73.
362 A.A. Lees (Moray) 72,73,71,76,70.
363 A. Boxx (Boat of Garten) 69,74,73,73,74.

Els and Schwartzel make it a South African 1-2

WORLD GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS - CA
FINAL TOTALS IN CLUBHOUSE (before end of play)
Blue Monster at Doral Golf Resort, Miami, Florida
Par 288 (4x72)
270 Ernie Els (South Africa) 68 66 70 66.
274 Charl Schwartzel (South Africa) 67 70 67 70.
277 Martin Kaymer (Ger) 70 72 66 69, Matt Kuchar 71 71 67 68, Padraig Harrington (Ireland) 70 68 67 72.
278 Bill Haas 71 66 70 71, Graeme McDowell (NIrl) 74 68 70 66, Alistair Presnell (Aus) 72 70 72 64, Paul Casey (Eng) 69 72 68 69, Alvaro Quiros (Spa) 72 69 69 68.
279 Vijay Singh (Fij) 68 71 70 70, John Senden (Aus) 69 70 71 69, Robert Allenby (Australia) 68 67 71 73.
280 Francesco Molinari (Ita) 69 71 72 68, Phil Mickelson 71 69 72 68
281 Steve Stricker 73 69 71 68, Camilo Villegas (Col) 72 68 70 71
282 J.B. Holmes 69 70 73 70, Sean O'Hair 71 71 74 66, Jason Dufner 73 69 75 65, Soren Hansen (Den) 69 69 71 73
283 Anthony Kim 71 73 71 68, Yuta Ikeda (Jpn) 71 68 74 70, Tim Clark (Rsa) 70 69 74 70, Heath Slocum 74 71 70 68
284 Peter Hanson (Swe) 74 66 74 70, Nick Watney 73 72 71 68, Mike Weir (Can) 73 66 75 70, Luke Donald (Eng) 70 75 69 70
285 Hunter Mahan 72 70 69 74, Brian Gay 74 69 74 68, Scott Verplank 76 72 69 68, Liang Wen Chong (Chn) 72 69 71 73, Lee Westwood (Eng) 74 68 74 69, Ross McGowan (Eng) 76 71 70 68, Y.E. Yang (Kor) 73 72 75 65
286 Ben Crane 74 73 69 70, Jim Furyk 70 76 69 71, Zach Johnson 76 70 71 69, Sergio Garcia (Spa) 74 72 71 69, Ian Poulter (Eng) 72 78 72 64, Stewart Cink 75 74 72 65, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (Spa) 72 68 71 75, Henrik Stenson (Swe) 71 72 71 72
287 Kenny Perry 73 74 68 72, Ross Fisher (Eng) 73 72 70 72, Anders Hansen (Den) 76 70 74 67, Ryan Palmer 79 68 72 68, Geoff Ogilvy (Aus) 72 71 75 69
288 Jerry Kelly 70 72 73 73, Kevin Na 78 70 70 70, Adam Scott (Aus) 74 69 71 74, David Toms 72 72 72 72, Angel Cabrera (Arg) 74 71 70 73, Simon Dyson (Eng) 72 73 73 70
290 Dustin Johnson 69 72 76 73, Retief Goosen (Rsa) 76 71 73 70, Lucas Glover 72 72 71 75, Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) 73 72 73 72
291 Soren Kjeldsen (Den) 74 78 73 66
292 Edoardo Molinari (Ita) 72 74 72 74
293 Robert Karlsson (Swe) 78 70 73 72
294 Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) 73 75 73 73, Marc Leishman (Aus) 78 73 71 72
295 Rory McIlroy (NIrl) 76 73 73 73, Steve Marino 75 71 77 72
296 Oliver Wilson (Eng) 78 74 77 67
300 Michael Sim (Aus) 75 74 77

Hooters Tour runner-up for second week in a row

DOUBLE BOGEY AT LAST

COSTS KNOX WIN IN US

A double-bogey 6 at the last hole saw Inverness exile Russell Knox finish runner-up today for the second week in a row on the NGA Hooters Tour golf circuit in the United States.
Knox, pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency, led the field into the final round of the 72-hole F&S Asset Management Group Classic at Amelia National Golf & Country club at Fernandina Beach, Florida but a final round of 74 for a 10-under-par total of 278 saw him pipped by one shot for the $30,000 first prize by American Michael Welsh from Massachusetts.
Knox, who had bogeyed the third and fifth, regained his overnight one-stroke lead with birdies at the long seventh and 14th but a 6 at the par-4 18th - "I chunked it into the water," he said later - cost him dearly.
He had earlier rounds of 70, 66 and 68. He shared second place with Todd Bailey from Alabama and Philip Pettitt from Tennessee. Each earned $11,967.
In the first two weeks of the NGA Hooters regular season, Knox has now earned $25,174.
He finished the 2009 season as the third leading money-winner on the US satellite circuit with $95,252 to his credit.
Recently, Knox, who stayed on at Jacksonville Beach, Florida after four successful years on the US college golf circuit as a student at Jacksonville University, won the eGolf Tour's Palmetto Hall Championship, giving him his biggest single cheque ($34,306) as a pro golfer. He has won once on the Hooters Tour and reckons he has been second at least 10 times now.
Barring Glasgow's Martin Laird and Aberdeen-born Michael Sim on the US PGA Tour, Knox can claim to be the most successful Scot in American pro golf. And, in many ways, the standard of golf at the top of the tree on the Hooters Tour is as competitive as it gets.
Normally the winner of an event shoots around the 20 under par mark for a 54-hole event. This weekend's 11-under-par for 72 holes was abnormally low, suggesting the weather in Florida was not all that great for golf.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72)
277 Michael Welsh (Massachusetts) 67 68 70 72 ($30,000).
278 Todd Bailey (Alabama) 71 67 73 67, Russell Knox (Scotland) 70 66 68 74, Philip Pettitt (Tennessee) 71 65 70 72 ($11,967 each).
281 Daniel Blades (Alabama) 69 71 70 71, Bruno Buccolo (Oklahoma) 69 69 71 72 ($7,275).

Italian Delpodio scores first pro win on Alps Tour

FROM THE ALPS TOUR WEBSITE
Matteo Delpodio won his maiden victory as professional (in the Alps Tour event in Spain). He eagled the last hole to grab the trophy by one stroke from Spain's Jordi Garcia Del Moral.
Jordi had a three-stroke advantage teeing off this morning. Delpodio started with a birdie but, two holes later, his friend Jordi regained the lead.
Garcia Del Moral still had a two-stroke margin after nine holes of the final round. At this time, the show was not in the leader group. A few holes ahead, another Spanish player was lighting fire on greens.
Carlos Del Moral, a European Tour player in 2009, claimed seven birdies on the front nine. He birdied every hole except the two par 3s. He said he “offered” the tournament on the 17th hole.
“This hole is tough. Long par 3 over the water, I was 4 metres short of the flag, good shot but many things crossed my mind and I was nervous and impatient since the 10th hole. I made four putts on the 17th... and let victory go...”
Meanwhile, nothing happened on leaders'side until this famous 17th hole. Garcia Del Moral still had a two-shot lead over Delpodio, but he missed the green and luck changed its mind.
Delpodio was still one stroke behind teeing off at the last hole. He drove perfectly and found the middle of the fairway. So did Jordi, 10 metres shorter, so he played first - and missed the green.
Then, Delpodio fired the most astonishing two-iron. His ball landed two metres from the flag.
Jordi Garcia Del Moral hit his chip a little too long, stopping in small rough. He stayed short on his fourth shot.
“It is golf, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, today I lost but I feel confident. I putt for birdie almost on every hole. On 17th I missed the green on the left, chipped long twice and dropped one shot," he said
Matteo holed his putt for a spectacular eagle.
“As I had said on the first day, it is a question of time. Being patient, agree to wait. Once you are OK with that, good things obviously are going to happen. Today, I stay patient. I had a little luck on the 17th because Jordi dropped one shot and when I hit the second shot on the 18th par 5, I was only thinking about the flag," said Delpodio.
"I had about 2 metres to hole to win but I never though missing it. When you hit such a good shot (2 iron) you can not miss the putt. The first win is difficult to get, but once it's done...”
Delpodio took the lead of the Alps Tour order of merit ahead of Englishman Lawrence Dodd and Scot Gavin Dear.

FINAL TOTALS
El Scorpion Golf Club, Spain
Par 213 (3x71)
202 Matteo DELPODIO (Italy) 66 69 67 (6,633.60 Euros).
203 Jordi GARCIA DEL MORAL (Spain) 68 64 71 (4,713.60).
205 Andrea PERRINO (Italy) 67 74 64, Carlos DEL MORAL (Spain) 70 70 65 (3,000.60 Euros each).
206 Christophe BRAZILLIER (France) 67 73 66 (2,040.00)
208 Xavier GUZMAN SADABA (Spain) 71 68 69, Steve LEWTON (England) 69 69 70 (1,550.40 Euros each).
209 Carlos BALMASEDA (Spain) 71 70 68, Santiago LUNA (Spain) 69 70 70, Borja ETCHART (Spain) 70 69 70 (1,145.60 Euros each).
210 Juan PARRON (Spain)) 72 70 68, Lawrence DODD (England) 69 72 69, Marco GUERISOLI (Italy) 71 69 70, Jorge CAMPILLO (Spain) 71 66 73 (930 Euros each).
211 Neil CHAUDHURI (England) 73 71 67, Bruno-Teva LECUONA (France) 72 70 69 *842.40 Euros each).
212 Jorge GARCIA FERNANDEZ (Spain) 74 68 70, Simone BRIZZOLARI (Italy) 71 71 70.
Olivier SERRES (France) 72 69 71, Gavin DEAR (Scotland) 71 70 71, Moises COBO (Spain) 69 72 71, Ivo GINER (Spain) 69 71 72, Steven HUME (Scotland) 69 70 73, Jesus LEGARREA (Spain) 71 66 75 (730.80 Euros each).
213 Par Vicente BLAZQUEZ (Spain) 71 71 71, Pedro ORIOL (Spain) 69 72 72, Jose Manuel LARA (Spain) 70 71 72, Jose Manuel OCEJO (Spain) 76 65 72, Alex LARRAZABAL (Spain) 71 70 72, Ivan LARA (Spain) 73 67 73, Jose ROMERO (Spain) 69 71 73, Emanuele CANONICA (Italy) 70 68 75 (589.80 Euros each).
214 Andrea SIGNOR (Italy) 73 71 70, Jason PALMER (England) 71 72 71, Sam ROBINSON (England) 72 70 72, Matthew CRYER (England) 72 70 72, Kim JOON (Italy) 70 70 74 (506.88 Euros each).
215 Jose Luis ADARRAGA (Spain) 72 70 73 (475.20).
216 Matjaz GOJCIC (Slovenia) 72 72 72, Ismael DEL CASTILLO (Spain) 70 73 73, Paolo TERRENI (Italy) 74 68 74, Daniel ALONSO (Spain) 74 68 74 (451.20 Euros each).
217 Javier COLOMO (Spain) 71 73 73 (427.20).
218 Michael MOSER (Austria) 73 71 74, Uli WEINHANDL (Austria) 73 71 74 (415.20 each).
219 Jose Miguel ROSILLO (Spain) 73 71 75, Damien PERRIER (FRA) 71 73 75, Pol BECH (ESP) 70 72 77, Farren KEENAN (England) 71 71 77 (400.80 Euros each).