PGA EuroPr0 Tour provisional

schedule issued for 2009

The provisional schedule for the 2009 PGA EuroPro Tour has been released, with three new courses added to the this year’s list of events.
Following the conclusion of Qualifying School at the beginning of April, the Tour kicks off with a return to Collingtree Park in Northampton at the beginning of May. Players north of the border will welcome a return to Scotland at Fairmont St. Andrews in October, one of three new courses announced so far along with Marriott Tudor Park in Kent and Wychwood Park in Crewe, who both host the Tour in August.
There will be 16 events on this year’s Tour including Qualifying School and it concludes with the Tour Championship at the end of October. The remaining events of the Tour will be announced in the run up to Q School, which begins at four courses on 31 March. Information on how to register for Q School can be accessed at http://www.europrotour.com/
THE 2009 PGA EUROPRO TOUR SCHEDULE
31 March-2 April – Qualifying School first stage at Forest Pines (Lincolnshire), Mentmore (Bedfordshire), Stoke by Nayland (Essex) and Cumberwell Park (Wiltshire)
6-9 April – Qualifying School final round at Frilford Heath (Oxford)
4-8 May – Collingtree Park, Northamptonshire
11-15 May – TBC
1-6 June – TBC
8-12 June – TBC
15-19 June – Bovey Castle, Devon
24 June – Open Qualifying
13-17 July – The Players Club, Bristol
28-31 July – TBC
3-7 August – Tudor Park, Maidstone
9-13 August – Wychwood Park, Cheshire
17-21 August – TBC
26-28 August – Five Lakes, Essex
31 August-4 September – TBC
7-11 September – European Tour Qualifying School
14-18 September – European Tour Qualifying School
21-25 September – TBC
5-9 October – Fairmont St Andrews
26-30 October – Tour Championship

Off and running at the Fairways

Target Golf Leagues, Inverness

By NEIL D HAMPTON
Here we go again – another 10 weeks of excitement at the driving range in the Fairways Target Golf Leagues, Inverness.
The Spring Target Golf Leagues started on Monday night this week with a familiar look to the results. Winter League winners the Neverwillbees got off to a winning start against perennial underachievers BM Trucks although there was more to the game than just the five-shot difference in the scoreline as the Trucks had 14 scoring balls to the Neverwillbees' 12.
But luck just wasn’t with the Trucks and the Neverwillbees had hit the higher scoring targets. The Specialists started their usual Spring campaign but it wasn’t with a win as Trilight had the night's highest score and took the points and the top of the table position.
Monday night's most eagerly-awaited match up didn’t quite produce the fireworks that we expected as Fairways, moving from a Tuesday night, just didn’t get going. Although they scored 43, it was the lowest tally of all six teams.
The Juniors took advantage and their 66 safely secured the points and immediate bragging rights.
Results:
BM Trucks 53 – 58 The Neverwillbees.
Fairways 43 – 66 Loch Ness Juniors.
Specialists 45 – 67 Trilight.

On Tuesday night there was also a sense of déjà vu as the Luckless Leadbetters once again are at the head of affairs. The Leadbetters saw off the Muirton Marvels who can count themselves unlucky not to get something out of the game as their score would have beaten most of the other teams.
Tag Team have tried a change of name to Darren’s Dazzlers and immediately found a change in fortune, scoring twice as many as their opposition, the Coastguards.
Raigmore, like the Specialists on Mondays, are just Spring League golfers but unlike the Specialists, Raigmore made a winning start over the Fairhust Fore with the night's second highest total.
The final match had the lowest score but it was Patsy’s Pets who took the points as the Sainties were missing in action supporting their team in the Scottish Cup football.
The Tuesday League will follow the football example and have a split at the end of the season with the top four playing each other one more time as will the bottom four. This should make the run-in for the title, play-off places and even the wooden spoon quite dramatic (hopefully!).
Results:
Patsy’s Pets 16– 0 The Sainties.
Luckless Leadbetters 59 – 43 Muirton Marvels.
Coastguards 23 – 47 Darren’s Dazzlers.
Fairhurst 14 – 51 Raigmore Motel.

David Patrick wins at Gullane

with a six-birdie round of 63

By KEITH LITTLE
Edinburgh & East of Scotland Alliance secretary
Exactly 100 Alliance members enjoyed a sunny, cold and frosty day at Gullane No 3 golf course. Our thanks go to Alison MacLeod for looking after us on the golf front and John, Alison Greer and their staff for the catering.
Overall winner of the John Glen Trophy was David Patrick (Elie) with a great five under par round of 63
David had six birdies (4th, 7th, 8th, 14th, 17th and 18th). His only dropped shot of the day was at the long 10th hole.
In second place in the scratch section, one shot behind David, was Andrew Oldcorn (King's Acre) with a 64. Andrew also had six birdies (5th, 8th, 11th, 12th, 16th and 17th) but dropped shots at the 13th and 14th holes.
Seven other players shot fine one under par scores of 67.
In the handicap section Hinton Bootland (Duddingston) and Justin White (Harrison) shared the honours with net 64s. In third equal place were Kenny Bisset (Prestonfield) and Scott Walker (Leven) with net 65.
Graeme Johnstone (Glenbervie) and Grant Skinner (Glencorse) shared fifth place, one further shot behind.
Next meeting is at Craigielaw Golf Club on January 21 when we will be playing for the Berwickshire Trophy.

GULLANE PRIZE LIST
SCRATCH
1st (£100) David Patrick (Elie) 63.
2nd (£80) Andrew Oldcorn (King's Acre) 64.
3rd equal (£17 each) Graham Brown (Dalmahoy), Stuart Callan (Bathgate), Neil Fenwick (Dunbar), Colin Fraser (Peebles), Scott Grieve (Turnhouse), Stevie Lamb (Broomieknowe), Terry Mathieson (King's Acre) 67.

HANDICAP
1st equal (£90 voucher each) Hinton Bootland (Duddingston) & Justin White (Harrison) 64.
3rd equal (£50 voucher each) Kenny Bisset (Prestonfield) & Scott Watson (Leven) 65.
5th equal (£10 voucher each) Graeme D Johnston (Glenbervie), Grant Skinner (Glencorse) 66.

TRAINEE PROFESSIONAL
1st equal (£10 each) Ryan Buckley (Craigielaw) & Ross Neil (Drumpellier).

SENIOR
1st equal (£4 each) Harvey Butterworth (Tantallon), Jimmy Rankeillor (Baberton), Graham Ross (Tantallon), John Wardrop (Niddry Castle), David Whyte (Merchants) 67.

Celtic Pro Tour extends membership offer

The Celtic Pro Tour is extending its offer of cut-price membership to the end of January.
The Welsh-based development tour, which enters its fourth season this year, has cut membership prices from £175 to £99, as a way of supporting young professional golfers during this financially pressured time.
The offer was due to end on December 31, but has been extended by a month.
Tour director, Rhydian Thomas said: "The difficult economic situation is affecting professional golfers as much as anyone.
“By extending our reduced membership offer, we are showing them our support, and hopefully the guys will be able to afford to enter and win money on their own locally-based professional tour.”
Entry fees to the tour’s 36-hole events have also been reduced from £149 to £100.
Golfers wanting to join the tour are asked to send cheques, made payable to Celtic Golf Tours Ltd to the following address: Ein Cartref, Adare Terrace, Treorchy, RCT, South Wales, CF42 6EN.
The 2009 Celtic Pro Tour will include eight events across Wales with an extra event in Ireland. Venues confirmed so far are: Marriott St Pierre, Southerndown, Gower, St Mary’s and Garnant Park, with negotiations ongoing with three more. Details of these will be announced in the next few weeks, with the official schedule including dates following that.
The Celtic Pro Tour has proven to be an excellent testing ground for aspiring tour professionals, with European Tour professionals Stuart Manley and Kyron Sullivan, Asian Tour pro Craig Smith and former double winning Welsh Open Young PGA professional champion Adam Constable, event winners in recent seasons.
This year’s X Factor contestant, former pro golfer James Williams has also won money on the Tour, which also accommodates amateur golfers with a scratch handicap or better (£50 entry fee per 36-hole event and no membership required) and lady professionals.
(ends)
Further information:
Rhydian Thomas
07861 686568
info@celticpro.co.uk
www.celticpro.com

Local knowledge pays off

for Philip McLean at

windless Peterhead

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Colin@scottishgolfview.com

Paul Lawrie protégé Philip McLean, a +3 full-time amateur, was always going to be difficult to beat in a North-east Alliance competition over his home course, Peterhead.And so it proved today when McLean left a field of 85 trailing with a two-under-par score of 67 in unusually benign, windless conditions at the Buchan links.

He had two shots to spare from Hazlehead shop professional Colin Nelson who was bidding to win three competitions in a row.

McLean, pictured right by Cal Carson Golf Agency, who played recently in two South American events at the SGU's expense, had only one bogey on his card – at the eighth – and he turned in one-over-par 35 before reducing the inward half to 32 shots, three under par, with birdies at the 11th, 15th and 18th.

Nelson had a little bit of everything in his 69, collecting four birdies but running up a double bogey 5 at the short 16th and dropping single shots at the fifth and eighth in an outward 35.

Leading scores (par 69)

SCRATCH

67 P McLean (Peterhead).

69 C Nelson (Mackenzie Club).

70 G H Paterson (Northern).

71 A Campbell (Deeside), D Law (Hazlehead), D Garrett (Turriff).

72 B Nicolson (Auchmill), R Pirie (Caledonian), R Fitzpatrick (Inchmarlo), H Dougal (Peterhead), M Jenkins (Duff House Royal).

73 S Davidson (Banchory), L Taylor (Auchmill).

74 B Ritchie (Inverallochy).

75 S Murray (Newburgh), S Finnie (Caledonian), F Bisset (Banchory), S Cooper (Banchory), C Law (Hazlehead).

76 S Scott (Auchmill), S Chalmers (Banchory).

77 J Borthwick (Craibstone), C Buchanan (Hazlehead), L Prouse (Hazlehead), H Roulston (Stonehaven), M Lawrie (Kemnay).

78 C Cassie (Nigg Bay), B Harper (Newburgh), P Morrison (Oldmeldrum), J H Hamilton (Murcar Links), J Scott (Peterculter), M Booth (Kemnay), J Murray (Banchory), J Short (Peterculter), J Mooney (unatt), A Nelson (Banchory).

79 B Brooks (Meldrum House), D Philip (Newburgh), M Holley (Braemar), L Roger (Royal Aberdeen), C Selby (Kemnay), B McPherson (Northern).

80 J Roberts (Cruden Bay).
HANDICAP

Class 1 – J Borthwick (Craibstone) (8), C Buchanan (Hazlehead) (8), R Pirie (Caledonian) (3), S Cooper (Banchory) (6), L Taylor (Auchmill) (4) 69; B Nicolson (Auchmill) (2), C Cassie (Nigg Bay) (8), G H Paterson (Northern) (scr), P McLean (Peterhead) (+3), D Garrett (Turriff) (1) 70.

Class 2 – J Scott (Peterculter) (12), M Booth (Kemnay) (12), J Short (Peterculter) (12) 66; B Lumsden (Northern) (14) 67; R Brown (Craibstone) (14) 69; M Ord (Royal Aberdeen) (12) 70; I Strachan (Royal Aberdeen) (12), R Lumsden (Northern) (2) 71.

PETERHEAD WINTER SCORECARD (yellow tees). Par 69.

OUT: 4-3-4-4-4-3-4-4-4--34. IN: 3-4-4-4-4-4-3-4-5--35

PHILIP McLEAN 67 (-2)

OUT: 4-3-4-4-4-3-4-5-4--35. IN: 3-3-4-4-4-3-3-4-4--32.

COLIN NELSON 69 (level par)

OUT: 4-3-4-3-5-3-4-5-4--35. IN: 3-4-3-4-4-4-5-3-4--34.

GEORGE PATERSON 70 (+1)

OUT: 4-3-4-3-4-3-4-4-5--34. IN: 3-4-6-4-4-4-3-4-4--36.

DAVID LAW 71 (+2)

OUT: 4-3-3-4-4-3-4-5-4--34. IN: 4-4-4-5-5-4-2-4-5--37.

ANDREW CAMPBELL 71 (+2)

OUT: 4-3-4-4-5--3-5-5-4--37. IN: 3-4-4-4-4-4-3-3-5--34.

DON GARRETT 71 (+2)

OUT: 4-3-3-4-5-3-4-4-4--34. IN: 4-4-5--4-3-3-3-4-5--37

Scot Bain drops down to 10th place in Thailand

Triple tie for lead in Asian Tour

Final Qualifying School

Rayong, January 14: England’s John Parry, South African George Coetzee and Australia’s Jason Norris took charge in the second round at the Final Stage of the Asian Tour’s Qualifying School presented by Sports Authority of Thailand today.
Parry, who is playing in his first ever Qualifying School in Asia, improved with a four-under-par 68 at Rayong Green Valley Country Club while Coetzee and Norris recorded a 70 and 68 respectively for matching total of 140s.
Korea’s Kang Min-woong rose to a tie for fourth spot after a solid 68 at the Rayong Green Valley Country Club and was tied alongside Japan’s Daisuke Maruyama and Korea’s Son Joon-eob who recorded similar 69s for a 141 total.
First round leader Ross Bain of Scotland slipped to a tie for 19th place after a 76 today. A total of 12 players had previously returned to complete their opening rounds early today morning. After a 45 minute delay due to a bush fire on Tuesday, the first round was later suspended due to darkness and resumed play at 7am today morning.
Battling the windy conditions in the second round, Parry stood firm firing a strong 68.
“I played better than the first day with a bit more control to my game. I thought of giving it a shot on the Asian Tour and I’m enjoying it so far this week.
“I hope to finish in the top-40, the higher the better. I am not thinking how the others are performing but just focus on my own game,” said the 22-year-old Parry, who was the World Amateur number seven in 2007.
South Africa’s Coetzee and Australia’s Norris were equally pleased with their rounds of 70 and 68 respectively as they rose to the top of the field alongside Parry.
“It’s been good for me. I’m happy with where I am at the moment and I’m looking forward to the remaining rounds,” said Coetzee, who won three professional titles on the local circuit coupled with six amateur wins.
With an eagle, four birdies against two bogeys, Min-woong, 29, is enjoying the ride in his third attempt at the Asian Tour’s Qualifying School.
“I am very happy with my performance in the last two days. I was unable to make the top-40 mark in my first two attempts but hopefully this week will be different. I’m striking it well and steady on the greens so it’s shaping up to be a good week,” said Min-woong, with two amateur wins on the home circuit.
After a 69 at St Andrews 2000, Korea’s Kang Sung-hoon rose up to joint seventh spot for a 142 total.
“I had some chances on the back nine and I did quite good under the windy and tough conditions today. I would like to have an Asian Tour card and I think this is the best place to be right now. The experience is important for me.
“I am pleased with my performance and I hope to continue my momentum and hopefully finish strongly this week,” said Sung-hoon.
Local favourite Kiradech Aphibarnrat, who is a two-time World Junior Champion, nailed an eagle, four birdies against three bogeys and a double bogey for a 72 at St Andrews 2000.
“I would love to join the Asian Tour as I have many friends on board and I heard that it’s a great place to test my skills against some of the region’s best. I’m heading in the right direction and I hope to keep it steady,” said Kiradech, who won the South East Asian Games individual and team gold medals in 2007.
Indonesia’s number one golfer Rory Hie, 20, endured a challenging week when he posted a 74 for a 150 total to lie in joint 93rd place.
“It’s been tough. I wasn’t hitting the ball well yesterday but today it was slightly better. I hope things will turnaround for me tomorrow,” said Hie, with one amateur win in United States.
A total of 120 players made the cut today with 36-hole totals of 152 or better. They will now battle to make it into the top-80 and ties in the fourth round on Friday. Only the top-40 and ties from the fifth and final round on Saturday will gain playing rights for the 2009 season.
SCOREBOARD
Par 144 (2 x 72)
140 John Parry (Eng) 72 68, George Coetzee (SAf) 70 70, Jason Norris (Aus) 72 69.
141 Daisuke Maruyama (Jap) 72 69, Son Joon-Eob (SKo) 72 69.
Selected scores:
142 Matthew Griffin (Aus) 70 72 (jt 7th).
143 Ally Mellor (Eng) 70 73 (jt 14th).
144 Mitch Tasker (Aus) 70 74, Chris Roake (Eng) 70 74, Tim Stewart (Aus) 74 70, Michael Light (Aus) 70 74, Ross Bain (Sco) 68 76 (jt 19th).
145 Mark Mouland (Wal) 73 72, Paul Grannell (Eng) 73 72 (jt 26th).
147 Steven Tiley (Eng) 73 74 (jt 50th).
148 Simon Dunn (Sco) 71 71, Steve Parry (Eng) 76 72 (jt 66th).
149 Andrew Marshall (Eng) 74 75 , Yasin Ali (Eng) 70 79 (jt 80th).
MISSED THE CUT
152 Matthew King (Eng) 71 81.
155 James Hepworth (Eng) 77 78.
+All the scores are available on:
: http://www.asiantour.com/

Europe's Ryder Cup captain to be

named on Tuesday, January 27

The name of the next European Ryder Cup captain will be announced on Tuesday, January 27.
The 15-man European Tour tournament committee met for four hours in Abu Dhabi last night and narrowed the list of prospective candidates down to two or three.
Jose Maria Olazabal is still favourite to get the nod ahead of Sandy Lyle - but the Spaniard has to make up his mind over the next couple of weeks whether or not he wants the job for next year's Celtic Manor match or whether he would rather have a go at earning a team place as a player and possibly end up falling between two stools.
Seven of the tournament committee come from the British Isles:
Darren Clarke, Paul McGinley, Paul Lawrie, Colin Montgomerie, Richard Finch, Barry Lane and Mark Roe.
The rest come from continental Europe: Joakim Haeggman, Chris Hanell, Robert Karlsson, Henrik Stenson, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Raphael Jacquelin. Thomas Bjorn is the committee chairman.

Ernie Els heads all-star cast for

Ballantine's Championship

PRESS RELEASE
Three-time Major winner Ernie Els will spearhead a world-class field at the forthcoming Ballantine’s Championship in Korea.
The South African ace, pictured right, will be joined in the line-up for the €2.1 million showpiece by Henrik Stenson of Sweden and England’s Lee Westwood.
Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland will be back to defend his title while former Masters champion Fred Couples is also in the impressive field.
The Ballantine’s Championship will return to Pinx Golf Club – venue for last year’s inaugural tournament – on the picturesque holiday island of Jeju, from April 23-26, 2009.
“I’ve enjoyed my previous visits to Korea and I’m delighted to be returning to take part in the Ballantine’s Championship for the first time,” said Els, winner of the US Open in 1994 and 1997 and the British Open in 2002.
“Korea is at the forefront of the Asian golf boom and the fans there are extremely passionate and knowledgeable about the game, so I’m really looking forward to playing at Pinx Golf Club.
“I know the inaugural Ballantine’s Championship was an outstanding success and I’m excited to be involved in what promises to be another fantastic tournament.”
Els, currently 10th in the world rankings, has more than 50 victories worldwide to his name, including an astonishing seven World Match Play Championship titles.
He has twice finished top of the European Tour Order of Merit and has triumphed 16 times on the US PGA Tour.
Westwood, the world No 11, has an impressive 18 European Tour victories to his name and another solid campaign last year included finishing third at the US Open.
World No 12 Stenson is a six-time winner on the European Tour and ended the 2008 season in style when he partnered Robert Karlsson to victory for Sweden at the World Cup in China.
McDowell triumphed in dramatic fashion at Pinx last year, edging India’s Jeev Milkha Singh on the third extra hole.
The victory sparked a stellar season that yielded a second success at the Barclays Scottish Open and his Ryder Cup debut.
“Winning the 2008 Ballantine’s Championship was an unforgettable moment in my career and also the start of a brilliant year for me,” said McDowell.
“I have some wonderful memories of my week at Pinx Golf Club and I’m thrilled to be returning as defending champion.
“I know Ballantine’s and the organisers are putting together a world-class field and the Korean fans can be assured I’ll be doing my very best to mount a successful title defence.”
Superstar Couples – hugely popular in Korea – won the Masters in 1992, one of 15 career victories on the US PGA Tour, while he also has two European Tour successes.
The evergreen American had three top 10 finishes on the US PGA Tour last year.
“I’ve always had so much fun playing in Korea and I cannot wait to return there to play in the Ballantine’s Championship,” said Couples.
“I’ve heard great things about the tournament and Pinx Golf Club, so it promises to be an awesome week.”
Ballantine’s is title-sponsoring the tournament – which is co-sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours and Korea PGA – for a minimum of three years.
“We are very proud to be launching the 2009 Ballantine’s Championship knowing we will play host to such a high calibre field of international golfers,” said Christian Porta, Chairman and CEO of Chivas Brothers, which owns Ballantine’s.
“With the star players announced today, we have high hopes of a stylish and world class showcase in April, and are confident that this prestigious event will continue to build on the outstanding success of the inaugural tournament last year.”
The 2009 Ballantine’s Championship will have a full field of 156 players headed by the top 60 available players from the official world rankings.
In addition, the top 25 players from the Korea PGA, as determined by the Ballantine’s Points System, will be awarded places, giving home-grown golfers the opportunity to compete en masse alongside the game’s elite.
The remainder of the field will be split between the European and Asian Tours, plus eight sponsor invitations.