Gunn and Jamieson trail on Gateway Tour

Jimmy Gunn from Dornoch and Glasgow's Scott Jamieson had 36-hole totals of 145 and 148 respectively in the Gateway Tour's Winter Series Championship at Encanterra Country Club, Arizona.
Phenomenal scoring by the leader Chris Kamin who followed up a 69 with a 12-under-par 60 for a 15-under-par tally of 129 and a five-stroke lead after 36 holes.
Gunn shot 73 and 72 for 145, Jamieson 75 and 73 for 148.
There is a field of 82 players.

Knox in the hunt with a first-round 68

Inverness exile Russell Knox shot a four-under-par 68 which saw him end the first day in a share of third place at this week's NGA Hooters Tour event, the Amelia Island Plantation Classic over the Oak Marsh course at Amelia Island, Florida.
Russell birdied the third, short seventh, 13th, 15th and short 16th, dropping only one shot to par, at the long ninth.
LEADING FIRST-ROUND SCORES
Par 72. 6580yd
Players from US unless stated
65 Nick Rousey.
67 B J Pitzen.
68 Russell Knox (Scotland), Will Klaxton, Ted Potter, Ramon Bescara (Spain), Ryan Blaum, Ryan Carter, Thomas Hagler.
Selected score:
72 David Skinns (England) (jt 41st).

Celtic Manor Resort launch new country

membership scheme at £4,000 a head

PRESS RELEASE
The Celtic Manor Resort has launched a new country membership offer for its prestigious Twenty Ten Club, encouraging golfers from all over the United Kingdom to become a real part of next year’s Ryder Cup.
With the majority of the club’s existing membership coming from Celtic Manor’s immediate surroundings in South Wales, the country membership offers an opportunity for those from further afield to join one of the most prestigious new golf clubs in Britain.
Restricted to golfers whose primary residence is outside of a 75-mile radius of The Celtic Manor Resort, country membership brings all of the same fantastic benefits as full membership but with a saving of £1,000 on both the joining fee and the annual subscription.
Not only will country members enjoy full playing privileges on the spectacular Twenty Ten Course, the first in history to be purpose built for the Ryder Cup, they will also receive a season ticket to the big match between Europe and America in 2010 as well as the opportunity to purchase another one, both tickets including hospitality places in a members’ pavilion.
Before the much-anticipated showdown takes place, country members will have the chance to familiarise themselves with a stunning golf course which is bound to create high drama during the fevered atmosphere of The Ryder Cup.
With water hazards on half of its holes, some driveable par-4s and reachable-in-two par 5s, The Twenty Ten contains a host of risk and reward dilemmas which golfers will never tire of playing. Two more championship courses – Roman Road and The Montgomerie – also form part of the membership package as well as use of the Forum Health Club with its state-of-the-art gymnasium and 20-metre swimming pool within the Resort Hotel.
For new country members, all this comes at a cost of just £2,000 joining fee, payable over two years interest free, and a £2,000 annual subscription.
Facilities at the five-star Celtic Manor Resort also include a luxury spa and children’s creche, as well as tennis courts, shooting, fishing, mountain biking and walking trails plus a choice of outstanding restaurants.
Conveniently situated on the M4 just two hours from London, the Resort is readily accessible to people travelling from most parts of the UK.

Boys' international quadrangular match

Scots boys lose 3-2 to Italy

on a wet day in Sardinia

Scotland made a losing start - beaten 3-2 by hosts Italy - to the defence of the title in the boys' international quadrangular golf competition which also features France and Sweden at Is Molas Golf Club, Sardinia.
Sweden beat France 4-1 in the other Day 1 match.
Rain delayed the start of the opening day's play to the extent that only one instead of three morning foursomes ties were played followed by four singles instead of the usual six.
A thunderstorm halted play after the Scots had played only three holes in the foursomes.
It was stop-start golf again in the afternoon as the rain periodically swept the Italian island.
In the only foursomes, Paul McPhee and Jack Scott lost by 2 and 1 to Luca Saccarello and Emanuele Sesia.
Scots team captain David Law, pictured above by Cal Carson Golf Agency, played solidly at the top of the singles order to level the contest overall at 1-1 with a 3 and 2 victory over Corrado De Stefani.
Italy hit back to regain the lead at 3-1 with wins by Andrea Bolognesi (4 and 3 over Andrew McLachlan) and Luca Gobbi (one up on Scott Gibson who had been three down with three to play).
Paul Shields gained Scotland's second point of the day by beating Filippo Bergamaschi 2 and 1.
Results:
ITALY 3, SCOTLAND 2
Foursomes: L Saccarello, E Sesia bt P McPhee, J Scott 2 and 1 (1-0).
Singles: C De Stefani lost to D Law 3 and 2; A Bolognesi bt A McLachlan 4 and 3; L Gobbi bt S Gibson 1 hole; F Bergamaschi lost to P Shields 2 and 1 (2-2).
SWEDEN 4, FRANCE 1
Foursomes: 1/2-1/2
Singles: 3 1/2-1/2.

ends

Padraig Harrison with the Open championship trophy and PGA captain Parnell Reilly with the Ryle Memorial medal.

Harrington gets another medal with

a Royal Dornoch Golf Club link

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY PROFESSIONAL GOLFERS ASSOCIATION

Open Champion Padraig Harrington was presented with his second Ryle Memorial Medal this week – in recognition of his win at Royal Birkdale last July.

The medal, which was presented to the Irishman in a private ceremony in Dublin by PGA captain Parnell Reilly, has been awarded since 1920 to the winner of the Open if he is a member of the PGA.

It is only the second time the Ryle Memorial Medal has been awarded since the new Millennium, with Harrington the recipient both times. As a two-time winner he joins a distinguished group of multiple winners of the medal including Nick Faldo, Seve Ballesteros, Gary Player, Peter Thomson, Bobby Locke and Henry Cotton.

On receiving the award Harrington said: “It was a great honour to receive the Ryle Memorial Medal once but to get it twice is an incredible achievement. To be in the same company of some of golf’s greatest players is something I am truly in awe of.”

The medal was given to the PGA by the Ryle family in memory of their father Arthur, a golfing enthusiast and past captain of the Royal Dornoch Golf Club, who had been killed on active service in World War I in 1915.

On giving Harrington the medal, Reilly said: “Padraig’s tremendous performance over Royal Birkdale’s closing holes last July made for some very special viewing for so many golf fans around the world both there and on television and it certainly confirmed Padraig’s presence as one of golf’s greatest players in the modern era.

“Having also had the privilege and pleasure of meeting him on a number of occasions over the past couple of years I would also like to pay tribute to him for being a great ambassador for the sport.

“Two years ago my first duty as PGA captain was to present John Jacobs with honorary Master Professional status and it’s fitting that my last duty as captain is another presentation to a giant of the modern era in Padraig.”

Singh and Brown share

lead in Thailand Open

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY ASIAN TOUR

India’s Digvijay Singh and Australian Mitchell Brown fired seven-under-par 63s to share the first-round lead in the US$500,000 Singha Thailand Open today as golden oldie Boonchu Ruangkit stole the show.
The leading duo, who are searching for their maiden Asian Tour victory, lead by one stroke from Thailand’s Chapchai Nirat, Gaganjeet Bhullar of India and Australia’s Unho Park at the par-70 Laguna Phuket Golf Club.
Thailand’s 52-year-old Boonchu, a two-time winner of his home Open, rolled back the years to card a 65 and lie two back alongside compatriot Kwanchai Tannin, Korea’s Young Nam and Mo Joong-kyung, South African Keith Horne, Indian Himmat Rai, Australian Tim Stewart and Lu Wei-chih of Chinese Taipei.
Tournament favourite Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand, winner in Indonesia last week, shot a 69 while two-time US PGA Tour winner Daniel Chopra of Sweden returned a 67.
Singh opened his round with a superb chip-in eagle and ended the day in style with another eagle. “I was lucky to start with an eagle and finish with another one,” said the 37-year-old Indian.
“I missed quite a few putts on the back nine and finally on 18, I made eagle again. I thought the flag was a bit out of reach for me but I hit a rescue club from 255 yards that landed two feet of the pin.”
Along with his brother-in-law Jyoti Randhawa, Singh has been basking in the holiday atmosphere in Phuket but hopes a relaxed approach will lead to a breakthrough on the Asian Tour.
“I’m rushing off for scuba diving again this afternoon,” said Singh, who enjoyed his best year in 2008 when he finished 30th on the Order of Merit. “Jyoti and I went to Phi Phi island on Tuesday and we’re going further out this afternoon. This is like a vacation week and I’m expecting the very least from this week. Hopefully that helps.”
Brown, 23 also chipped in for eagle on the opening 315-yard par four hole and sank eight other birdies and three bogeys. It was a welcome change in fortune for the Australian as he had missed the cut in two events and was disqualified in another in his four starts this season.
“It’s good to play well as things have not been going well for me. It’s good to get a few breaks,” said Brown, who enjoyed six top-10s last season. “It’s one of those courses where if you don’t drive it on the fairway, you’ll be looking at dropping shots but if you can get it on, you can capitalise and get a few birdies.”
The evergreen Boonchu, winner of the Thailand Open in 1992 and 2004, let the young guns know he means business with an impressive round. The Thai legend may not hit the ball as long as the majority of the 156-player field but he weaved his magic on and around the greens to stake an early claim for a third title.
“I really want to lift the King’s Trophy again,” said Boonchu, back in Asia after two seasons on the Champions Tour in the United States. “The Thailand Open means a lot to me – it is in my heart.”
The highlight of Boonchu’s round was a tremendous eagle two at the first hole (his 10th of the day). He drove more than 290 yards over trees to the front edge of the green and holed a monster 26 foot putt.
“That gave me a good feeling and got my round going,” said Boonchu, who also had birdies at the 10th, 18th, fourth and eighth. “I chipped well and putted well with all my birdie putts within three feet.”
Big-hitting Chapchai ensured a strong Thai presence on the leaderboard at the Singha Thailand Open, which is making a return after a three-year lapse. He lived up to the proverbial saying “Beware the sick golfer”, overcoming a bout of food poisoning to return a bogey free card.
“I wanted to withdraw this morning as I’ve been ill since last night. But I hung in there and managed to put together a good round. Hopefully, I will be better tomorrow,” said Chapchai, who is a two-time winner in Asia.
The talented Bhullar hit 17 fairways en route to a seven-birdie round. Rated as one of the longest hitters on Tour, the Indian did not hold back with his driver although the Laguna Phuket course demands accuracy from off the tee.
“It’s a tough course as a lot of landing areas are only like 15 to 20 yards wide. But I’m hitting my driver really well and I feel confident with it,” said the 20-year-old, who finished 65th on the Order of Merit last season to earn his full card.

LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES

63: Digvijay Singh (Ind), Mitchell Brown (Aus)
64: Unho Park (Aus), Chapchai Nirat (Tha), Gaganjeet Bhullar (Ind)
65: Boonchu Ruangkit (Tha), Rhys Davies (Wal), Kwanchai Tannin (Tha), Lu Wei-chih (Tpe), Mo Joong-kyung (Kor), Tim Stewart (Aus), Keith Horne (Rsa), Young Nam (Kor), Himmat Rai (Ind)
For further information, visit http://www.asiantour.com/

Luke Donald withdraws from Honda Classic

Luke Donald has decided not to risk aggravating his wrist in this week's Honda Classic in Florida. Last Friday Donald conceded his third-round match with Ernie Els in the WGC-Accenture World Match Play because of severe discomfort in his left wrist, the one on which he had surgery last year.
After tests in New York, the English-born Ryder Cup player was informed the damage was limited to the scar tissue rather than the tendon - and he hoped he might be fit to return for the event he won three years ago. But he is now withdrawing as a precaution.
Rory McIlroy, Sergio Garcia, Justin Rose and Darren Clarke are in the field. Ernie Els defends the title he won by one from Donald last year.

Kirkcaldy Alliance competition frosted off

Today's Midlands Golfers' Alliance competition at Kirkcaldy was cancelled due to frost. The next meeting is on Wednesday, March 11 and is the Burntisland pro-am, sponsored by E Sherry.
Tee reserved from 8.30 am to 1.30pm.

Aussie Barnes (64) sets hot pace in

NZ PGA Championship

Australia's Kurt Barnes returned an eight-under-par first-round score of 64 to take the first-round lead in the New Zealand PGA Championship at Christchurch.
The big-hitting Barnes had an eagle, seven birdies and a bogey on the Bob Charles-designed Clearwater course. Australia's Ryan Hammond opened with a 65. Hammond birdied nine of the first 14 holes, including six in a row, but bogeyed 15 and 17.
Americans Jason Enloe and David Branshaw opened with 66s in the event sanctioned by the Australasian and Nationwide tours.
Americans Josh Teater, Major Manning, Scott Dunlap were three strokes back at 67 along with New Zealand's Gareth Paddison, Australians Alistair Presnell and Andre Stolz and Sweden's Jonas Blixt.
Presnell is coming off a victory last Sunday in the Moonah Classic at Melbourne.
Danny Lee, the New Zealand amateur star who won Johnnie Walker Classic two weeks ago but missed the cut in the Moonah Classic, opened with a 71.
The 18-year-old Lee, also the U.S. Amateur champion, plans to turn pro after the Masters. Born in South Korea, he moved to New Zealand at the age of eight with his family.
Barnes had a chance to tie the course record, but his 20-foot birdie try on the final hole slid past the cup. He rebounded after missing the cut last week in the Moonah Classic in Australia.
"I've been playing well the last few months but been running into trouble with the flat stick," Barnes said. "I changed putters after last week at Moonah, made a phone call to my old swing coach and got my short game on track.
"It was an eight-minute phone call that I probably should have made eight months ago ... He told me what he thought I needed to do to get back to the way I was putting and it certainly worked today."
Aberdeen-born Australian Michael Sim, who finished third in the Moonah Classic, had a one-under-par 71 but so low was the scoring in general that he will start the second round sharing 51st place.
Sim had birdies at the second, fifth, sixth, 12th and 16th but dropped shots at the eighth, 10th, 13th and 16th.
LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 72
Players from Australia unless stated
64 K Barnes.
65 R Hammond.
66 J Enloe (US), D Bradshaw (US).
67 A Presnell, J Blixt Swe), J Tester (US), M Manning (US), A Stolz, S Dunlap (US), G Paddison (NZ).
Selected score:
71 M Sim (Sco).

North Alliance Scores from Fortrose & Rosemarkie

Leading scores from the North of Scotland Golfers' Alliance competition at Fortrose & Rosemarkie (par 71):
SCRATCH
70 N McWilliam (Garmouth & Kingston).
71 R McKerron (Forres).
73 J S D Campbell (Grantown).
74 R A L Cameron (Inverness), M Macdonald (Fortrose & Rosemarkie), L Reid (Fortrose & Rosemarkie), D McIntosh, N D Hampton (Loch Ness).
75 K Taylor (Elgin), G Hay (Grantown).
76 M L Macleman (Moray), K Thomson (Moray), J R Ingram (Boat of Garten), B Main (Fortrose & Rosemarkie).
77 J A Grant (Grantown), C Campbell (Grantown) p.
78 D F Sharp (Boat of Garten), S Johnston (Elgin), K Donnelly (Nairn Dunbar), J A G Innes (Elgin), A Tait (Fortrose & Rosemarkie).
79 S Mackenzie (Fortrose & Rosemarkie), R Stewart (Grantown).
80 S Chisholm (Torvean), D Hexley (Inverness), D Hector (Elgin), I Johnstone (Inverness).
81 W R Duncan (Moray), B Inch (Elgin), J C Milne (Rothes), J Simpson (Forres).
HANDICAP
Class 1 (eight and under)
70 B Main (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) (6).
71 J R Ingram (Boat of Garten) (5).
72 L Reid (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) (2), A Tait (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) (6), D F Sharp (Boat of Garten) (6).
Class 2 (nine to 14)
70 C Small (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) (12).
71 E P Lamsdell (Forres) (14).
72 L Duncan (Elgin) (11).
74 B Murray (Boat of Garten) (10), G Knapp (Muir of Ord) (13).