Irish pair lead Spanish senior doubles

Leading scores at the end of the first round of the Spanish senior amateur doubles championship at Costa Ballena, Cadiz:
67 Hugh B Smyth & Maurice Kelly (Ireland).
71 Bob Backstedt & Per Hildebrand (Sweden).
72 Norman Cameron (England) & Tom McEvoy (Ireland.
73 Terence Brown (England) & Glynn Rees (Wales); Stuart Pond (England) & Donald McCart (Scotland).
Selected scores:
74 Robin Paton (Scotland) & Stephen Hickey (England) (jt 6th.
75 Alan Ferguson (Scotland) & John Hindshaw (England) (jt 10th).
76 Bill Methven & Les Fowler (Scotland); Gord Lord (Eng) & Bob Edgar (Sco) (jt 15th).
77 Ian Mason (England) & Iain Stewart (Scotland) (jt 25th).
52 pairs are taking part.

Fairways Target Golf Leagues Week 4 Report

By Neil D. Hampton
Golf & Marketing Director
Loch Ness Golf Course
Web: www.golflochness.com

MONDAY NIGHT LEAGUE
Monday night went with form but the favourites were overshadowed for a change. Loch Ness Juniors won their game against the Specialists, as expected, and kept their unbeaten run intact but their score was not the highest of the night.
That honour was saved for Trilight who scored well in every target and had nearly twice the total of the Juniors, amassing 71 in their win over the hapless BM Trucks, who yet again found the lowest scoring target and hit all their balls into it!
The most exciting game of the session was that of Fairways and The Neverwillbees. The home team have been struggling to field a team each week and this time could only get two players on the park.
Meanwhile, the Neverwillbees, after a poor run of form, had the Wilson father and son combo back in action. This, however was not enough to see off the valiant pair from Fairways who sneaked home by just one shot!
These results leave the Juniors now four points clear at the top as we approach midway and the other five teams are separated by just two points, meaning that it is still wide open.
Results:
Specialists 32 – 46 Loch Ness Juniors.
BM Trucks 29 – 71 Trilight.
Fairways 39 – 38 The Neverwillbees.

TUESDAY NIGHT LEAGUE
Tuesday night saw the first shock of the season as the Luckless Leadbetters tasted their first league defeat since the first game of the Spring 2008 season, an incredible run of 19 games without loss.
The team who handed out this record-shattering defeat were last week's lowest scorers, Raigmore Motel. The other party in the low-scoring episode from last week, the Coastguards, also got back to winning ways as they beat the Muirton Marvels.
The week's top scorers were the Sainties with 62, exactly twice as many as their opposition Darren’s Dazzlers.
Finally, Fairhurst Fore kept their tight grip on the foot of the table, allowing Patsy’s Pets to take the points.
These results now give us three teams tied at the top on six points, closely followed by three teams on four points.
Results:
Darren’s Dazzlers 31 – 62 The Sainties.
Muirton Marvels 32 – 42 Coastguards.
Patsy’s Pets 16 – 31 Fairhurst.
Raigmore Motel 50 – 36 Luckless Leadbetters.

HOW THEY STAND
(Matches played-points won)
1 Loch Ness Juniors 4-8.
2 Trilight 4-4.
3 Specialists 4-4.
4 Fairways 4-4.
5 The Neverwillbees 4-2
6 BM Trucks 4-2

1 Luckless Leadbetters 4-6.
2 Patsy's Pets 4-6.
3 Coastguards 4-6
4 Darren's Dazzlers 4-5
5 Raigmore Motel 4-4
6 The Sainties 4-4.
7 Muirton Marvels 4-2.
8 Fairhurst Fore 4-0

Chris Lloyd action image by courtesy of Tom Ward Photography

Texas trip for Chris Lloyd to HP

Boys' Championship

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY ENGLISH GOLF UNION
Chris Lloyd, one of the most talented young golfers in England, will represent the English Golf Union (EGU) in the HP Boys Championship at Carlton Woods in Texas on 14th - 16th February. The 17-year-old from Bristol will compete in an international field of 78 players over 54 holes of stroke play over the Fazio-designed Championship Course.
Lloyd has enjoyed a steady rise on the national scene since winning the Gloucestershire under-15 title in 2004. He finished tied third in the weather-curtailed Reid Trophy at Gosforth in 2006 and has been an Under-16 International for the past two years.
In 2007, the Kendleshire golfer won the South-west Under-16 boys' championship, tied first in the North of England Under-16 Championship and won the Hazards Salver for the best score by an Under-16 when finishing runner-up in the Carris Trophy at Saunton.
Last year, Lloyd completed his maiden overseas success when winning the Ernie Els World Junior title in South Africa. He also won the North of England Under-16 title outright and finished runner-up in the Gloucestershire Championship. He was also a member of the winning England team in the Honda Junior Championship in Japan and finished fifth in the European Young Masters in France.
A member of the England Under 18 Squad for 2009, Lloyd will join leading juniors from Argentina, Australia, Japan, Mexico and South Africa as well as the top American juniors in the sunshine of Texas.

Cayeux, Ahlers and Kavanagh qualify

for Open Championship at Turnberry

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY R&A
Durban, South Africa: Marc Cayeux shot a second-round 68 at Royal Durban Golf Club to win International Final Qualifying – Africa. The Zimbabwean ensured his place in the starting field when the Open Championship returns to Turnberry in July.
Cayeux arrived at Royal Durban in good form, having narrowly missed out on retaining his Nashua Masters title on Sunday and he carried on that form, shooting 69 in his first round and producing four birdies and just two bogeys for a 68 in the second. His two-round total of 137 was enough to top the leaderboard.
“I feel pretty honoured to be playing in the Open, and at the age of 31 I feel I’ve done well, so I’m happy,” said Cayeux. “I want to play well, soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the experience.”
England’s Jeremy Kavanagh waited until the final hole to seal his place at Turnberry. To avoid a play-off for third, Kavanagh, who led overnight, needed to make par at the last to qualify along with South Africa’s Jaco Ahlers and Cayeux. The Englishman held his nerve to capture the last place on offer in the world’s oldest championship.
“I feel a bit shocked and the feeling has not sunk in yet, but I’ve got mixed emotions and don’t know whether to laugh or cry,” said an emotional Kavanagh. “I’ve got to give credit to my family who backed me all the way, and I’m really looking forward to playing in the Open and doing something special there.”
Ahlers finished his round with five birdies, shooting the lowest score of the tournament with a flawless round of five under-par 65 to secure his entry into The Open.
“I can’t wait to go to Turnberry, I don’t have a clue of what to expect, but I’m excited to play on a Scottish links course,” said the Pretoria pro.
Attention now turns to IFQ – Australia taking place next Tuesday at Kingston Heath, Melbourne.
The Open Championship will be played at Turnberry from 16-19 July, 2009.

FINAL TOTALS
Players from South Africa unless stated
Par 140 (2 x 70)
137 Marc Cayeux (Zim) 69 68
138 Jaco Ahlers 73 65, Jeremy Kavanagh (Eng) 67 71
139 Doug McGuigan 70 69, Tyrone Ferreira 69 70, Christiaan Basson 70 69
140 Adilson da Silva (Bra) 67 73, Tyrone van Aswegen 69 71, Warren Abery 73 67, Alan Michell 71 69, Bradford Vaughan 70 70
141 Darren Fichardt 68 73, Henk Alberts 69 72, Dion Fourie 71 70
142 Albert Pistorius 71 71
143 Neil Schietekat 72 71, Tyrone Mordt 72 71
144 Justin Walters (Eng) 74 70, TC Charamba (Zim) 71 73, Desvonde Botes 70 74
145 Shaun Norris 74 71, Louis Moolman 74 71, Martin Maritz 73 72, Ryan Tipping 74 71
146 Merrick Bremner 78 68, Brett Liddle 74 72
147 Vaughn Groenewald 73 74, Alex Haindl 77 70
149 Oliver Bekker 72 77, Josh Cunliffe 75 74, Omar Sandys 79 70
151 Jeff Inglis (Eng) 73 78
152 Jake Roos 81 71
153 David Hewan 78 75, Divan van den Heever 71 82
155 Ross Wellington 78 77
Retired: Jaco Van Zyl 75, Mark Murless 78, Brandon Pieters, Trevor Fisher jun 77.

Almost as bad as Murcar in 2005, says Peterhead player

McLean ties with Stephen for

honours at snowy Montrose

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Scotland youth cap Philip McLean (Peterhead), pictured right earlier today by Cal Carson Golf Agency, coped with the worst of the snow showers to share the honours with early starter Craig Stephen on two-under-par 66 at today’s North-east Golfers’ Alliance meeting at Montrose Links.
“The last time I played in weather like that was the Scottish boys' championship at Murcar Links in 2005 when play was suspended because our golf balls gathered the snow and became virtually like snow balls,” said Philip who recalls that it was the referee in his match who considered that the conditions were getting a bit farcical and his message back to base persuaded the SGU officials to call all the players in.
“It was a bit like that here at Montrose, certainly in the later stages. But you have to make the best of it and I had only one bogey, at the fifth, and three birdies, at the sixth, 14th and 15.”
In contrast, the early starters in a field of 54, had little or no snow to contend with and several hours of sunshine. Stephen made the most of these favourable conditions to have an eagle 3 at the 522yd 15th and birdies at the 10th and 13th. His two bogeys came at the 11th and 16rh. Both McLean and Stephen, despite their differing tee times, had halves of 33.
Former P&J Editor Harry Roulston, the Stonehaven club captain, finished third with his best ever scratch score of 67, thanks to birdies at the 14th and 15th and only one bogey, at the eighth in halves of 34 and 33. Harry, who has a handicap of four these days, had the best net score of 63 in Class 1 of the handicap returns. Incidentally, Harry was a Scottish tennis champion in his younger days when he was based in Edinburgh.
Ian Strachan (Royal Aberdeen), playing off 12, had the best net return in Class 2 - a 64. LEADING SCRATCH
Par 68
66 C Stephen (Meldrum House), P McLean (Peterhead).
67 H Roulston (Stonehaven).
68 R Cameron (McDonald Ellon).
69 S Finnie (Caledonian), C Law (Hazlehead).
70 J Nicolson (Auchmill), C Nelson (MacKenzie Club), B Nicolson (Auchmill).
71 D Law (Hazlehead).
73 D Clark (Duff House Royal), S Pert (Huntly).
74 A Campbell (Deeside), S Cooper (Banchory).
75 S Murray (Newburgh).
76 D McKay (Caledonian), I Strachan (Royal Aberdeen), D Wilson (Duff House Royal), C Brindley (Banchory), S Chalmers (Banchory), D Garrett (Turriff), A Innes (Murcar Links).
77 C Cassie (Nigg Bay).
78 D Bisset (Banchory).
79 J Murray (Banchory), N Parker (Murcar Links).
80 J Borthwick (Craibstone), J Scott (Peterculter), K Minty (Turriff), J Penny (Huntly).
81 W Forbes (Murcar Links).
84 J Roberts (Cruden Bay), R Brown (Craigstone).
85 D MacKay (Newmachar), M Brown (Craibstone).
86 F G Gray (Newmachar), D Lawrie (Inchmarlo).
87 S Kennedy (Craibstone).
LEADING HANDICAP
Class 1 – H Roulston (Stonehaven) (4) 63; C Law (Hazlehead) (3) 66; C Stephen (Meldrum House) (+1) 67; S Cooper (Banchory) (6), J Nicolson (Auchmill) (2), B Nicolson (Auchmill) (2) 68; C Cassie (Nigg Bay) (8), S Finnie (Caledonian) (scr), P McLean (Peterhead) (+3) 69; S Murray (Newburgh) (5) 70; S Pert (Huntly) (2) 71; J Borthwick (Craibstone) (8), J Murray (Banchory) (7), D Clark (Duff House Royal) (1), D Wilson (Duff House Royal) (4), A Innes (Murcar Links) (4) 72.
Class 2 – I Strachan (Royal Aberdeen) (12) 64; C Brindley (Banchory) (11) 65; M Brown (Craibstone) (18), J Penny (Huntly) (13) 67; J Scott (Peterculter) (11), W Forbes (Murcar Links) (12), D Bissett (Banchory) (9) 69; N Parker (Murcar Links) (9) 70; K Minty (Turriff) (9) 71; R Brown (Craibstone) (12), D Lawrie (Inchmarlo) (14) 72; S Kennedy (Craibstone) (12) 75.

MONTROSE LINKS WINTER SCORECARD: Par 68

OUT: 4-4-3-4-3-4-4-3-4--33. IN: 4-4-3-4-4-5-3-4-4--35

TOP CARDS TODAY

PHILIP McLEAN 66

OUT: 4-4-3-4-4-3-4-3-4--33. IN: 4-4-3-4-3-4-3-4-4--33.

CRAIG STEPHEN 66

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

HARRY ROULSTON 67

OUT: 4-4-3-4-3-4-4-4-4--34. IN: 4-4-3-4-3-4-3-4-4--33

ROSS CAMERON 68

OUT: 4-3-3-4-3-3-4-4-4-32. IN: 4-5-3-3-4-4-4-6-3--36

Weather permitting, next week's NE Alliance meeting is at Kintore.

Whatever happened to Zack Gould after he finished three

strokes ahead of Rory McIlroy at Kingsbarns in 2004?

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
FLASHBACK to Kingsbarns, Fife September 2004. Zack Gould from Wales has just won The Duke of York Young Champions' Trophy tournament with rounds of 67, 74 and 71 for a total of 212.
I was there and saw Prince Andrew give Gould a congratulory handshake as he came off the final green.
A 15-year-old youngster from Hollywood, near Belfast, Rory McIlroy has finished second with scores of 73, 68 and 74 for 215.
We all know how much Rory McIlroy has developed since then ... Walker Cup, then on to the European Tour and a breakthrough win in the Dubai Desert Classic on Sunday.
But what's happened to Zack Gould's career since then? The Vale of Glamorgan player was an outstanding prospect in 2004. He won the European Young Masters and played in the Junior Ryder Cup match of 2004. At 16 he reached the quarter-finals of the British boys' championship.
Not even Zack will know where he's gone wrong, if he has in fact "gone wrong."
You can't really compare horses with humans but there is a saying in horse-racing for horses that are brilliant as two-year-olds but are never as good the following year ... "they have not trained on."
In short, Zack Gould has not "trained on."