Scottish boys' championship Scoreboard
Balgownie Links, Royal Aberdeen Golf Club
FIRST ROUND RESULTS
Liam Johnston (Dumfries & Co) bt Martin Scott (Hamilton) at 20th.
James Monaghan (Bishopbriggs) bt Jamie Arthur (Milnathort) 1 hole.
Calum McLean (Cowglen) bt Callum Cromar (Lumphanan) 2 holes.
Ross Jack (Dumfries & Galloway) bt Greig Stewart (Crieff) 4 and 2.
Graeme Reid (Newbattle) bt John Innes (Kirkcudbright) 5 and 4.
David Law (Hazlehead) bt Stuart Houston (Kirkhill) 5 and 3.
Jamie McIntosh (Broomieknowe) bt Rudi Taylor (Fraserburgh) 4 and 3.
Ryan Campbell (Grangemouth) bt Andrew Hutchison (Kinross) 6 and 5.

Neil Beattie (St Andrews) bt Kevin Logan (Clydebank & Dist) 4 and 3.
Kyle Godsman (Hopeman) bt Nick Conroy (Caird Park) 7 and 5.
Niall Webster (Broomieknowe) bt Greg Dunsmore (Saline) 3 and 2
Scott Wearing (Bishopbriggs) bt David Slack (Gourock) 5 and 3.
Craig Howie (Peebles) bt Craig Anderson (Sandyhills) 3 and 1.
Josh Renwick (Uphall) bt Lewis Reid (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) 3 and 1.
Simon Taylor (Germany) bt Scott Gibson (Southerness) 2 holes.
Allan Easton (Strathmore) bt Anthony O'Donnell (Greenock Whinhill) 4 and 3.

Sam Mailer (Auchterarder) bt Jared Williams (Kilmacolm) 5 and 4.
Ewen Donaldson (Craigielaw) bt Ross Melvin (East Renfrewshire) 4 and 3.
Jamie Thomson (Cawder) bt Calum Gallagher (Greenock) 7 and 6.
Scott Wightman (Powfoot) bt Euan Paterson (Bruntsfield Links) at 19th.
Peter Renwick (Invergordon) bt Patrick Sandison (Blairgowrie) 2 holes.
Glenn Ramsay bt Christopher Butler (Irvine Ravenspark) 6 and 5.
Philip Lemon (Peterhead) bt Jonathan Belford (King James VI) 2 and 1.
Danny Edwards (Elgin) bt Darral Murray (Murcar Links) 3 and 1.

Ian Redford (St Andrews New) bt David Aitken (Williamwood) 4 and 3.
Nicholas MacAndrew (Cullen) bt Ross Proctor (Forres) 1 hole.
Cameron Moore (Glenbervie) bt Scott Thistleton (Hilton Park) 2 holes.
Scott Costello (Kirkhill) bt Richard Mackenzie-Smith (Ratho Park) 2 and 1.
Matthew Reid (Downfield) bt Matthew Roger (Fraserburgh) 8 and 7.
Ross Buchan (Inverallochy) bt Neil Cameron (Renfrew) 1 hole.
Tom Blennerhassett (Marriott Dalmahoy) bt Colin Baird (Bothwell Castle) 2 and 1.
Ryan Higgins (East Renfrewshire) bt Barry Strain (Cathkin Braes) 4 and 3.

Chris Robb (Inchmarlo) bt Neil McGregor (Bridge of Allan) 6 and 5.
Euan McIntosh (McDonald Ellon) bt Gary Chalmers (Dollar) 5 and 4.
Ryan Bain (Strathlene) bt Nicky Clenaghan (Mount Ellen) 4 and 3.
Ali Begg (Muir of Ord) bt Jordyn Rhind (Uphall) at 20th.
Cameron West (Scotscraig) bt C ameron Bouwer (Broomieknowe) 5 and 3.
Zac Clark (Royal Aberdeen) bt Stuart McPherson (Burntisland) 2 and 1.
Lewis Jackson (West Hove) bt Ross Munro (Monifieth) 7 and 5.
Ewan Scott (St Andrews) bt Alexander Wiseman (Fraserburgh) 2 holes.

Cameron Nelson (Nairn) bt Frazer Hogg (Dundas Parks) 1 hole.
Jamie Reid (Cruden Bay) bt John Scott (Easty Renfrewshire) 4 and 3.
Christopher Lamb (Newmachar) bt Cameron Marr (Musselburgh) at 21st.
Michael Manson (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) bt Stuart Wylie (Mount Ellen) 4 and 3.
Grant Dowie (Alloa) bt Stewart Watt (Old Ranfurly) 7 and 5.
Steven Smith (Deeside) bt Gavin Foubister (Cardross) 2 holes.
Kevin Moran (Dulatur) bt Greg Nicoll (Bonnybridge) 6 and 5.
Lewis Morgan (Kemnay) bt Ryan Beattie (Hawick) 6 and 4.

Alexander McGregor (Greeenock) bt Evan Robertson (Inchmarlo) 2 and 1.
Simon Fairburn (Galashiels) bt Ross Storrier (Downfield) 4 and 3.
Alan Welsh (Torrance House) bt Calum Paterson (Hilton Park) 4 and 3.
James Steven (Kirkhill) bt Dale Wright (Alness) 5 and 4.
Fraser Grant (Ralston) bt Andrew Simpson (Royal Montrose) 1 hole.
David Wilson (Troon Welbeck) bt Jamie Savage (Cawder) 5 and 3.
Blair Pelling (Prestonfield) bt Tom Dingwall (Nairn Dunbar) 5 and 4.
Peter Ramsay (Elgin) bt Jack Presly (Banchory) 1 hole.

Mark Murphy (Cawder) bt Scott Speakman (Craigielaw) 1 hole.
Ben Lindsay (Blairgowrie) bt James White (St Andrews New) 1 hole.
Arran McHardy (Prestonfield) bt Freddie Brown (Nairn Dunbar) 4 and 3.
Daniel Young (Craigie Hill) bt Fraser Clarke (Westhill) 4 and 3.
Gavin Hay (Grantown on Spey) bt Fraser Thain (West Linton) 6 and 4.
Joshua Jamieson (St Andrews New) bt Ross Pert (Royal Montrose) at 24th.
Daniel McConnachie (Dumfries & Co) bt Connar Cook (Caird Park) 5 and 3.
Jamie Lynch (Falkirk) bt Ryan Hislop (The Pines) 3 and 2.

Paul McPhee (King James VI) bt Matthew O'Neill (Cathcart Castle) 4 and 3.
John Drummond (Strathlene) bt James Reilly (Craigielaw) bt East Kilbride) 4 and 2.
Greg Smail (Craigielaw) bt John Douglas (Thornton) 6 and 5.
Andrew Smith (Ponteland) bt Ritchie Manson (Braemar) 5 and 4.
Matthew McWilliam (McDonald Ellon) bt Kieran Murphy (Kirkhill) 6 and 5.
Robbie Gauld (Cruden Bay) bt Fergus Smith (Paisley) 6 and 5.
Craig Chalmers (Murcar Links) bt Conor Scott (Duddingston) 2 holes.
Daniel Muir (Cochrane Castle) bt Simon Taylor (Glenbervie) 6 and 4.

Donald Brown (Murrayfield) bt Ian Anderson (Colville Park) 2 and 1.

Luckless Leadbetters unbeatable in play-off

By NEIL HAMPTON
Fairways Target Golf Leagues' Top Team play-off lived up to its billing as the scores were right up with the best of the season.
Loch Ness Juniors , the hot favourites, scored an excellent 66 but it was the Luckless Leadbetters who stole the show with their best score of the season, knocking in 97and taking the title.
Trilight and Raigmore Motel didn't find their scoring boots but with the Leadbetters in that kind of form all they could do was stand back and applaud.
Luckless Leadbetters 97, Loch Ness Juniors 66, Trilight 22, Raigmore Motel 18.

KEVIN WINS CAPTAINS' CUP
The Captains' Cup was a much tighter affair with three players breaking the 20-shot barrier. Jamie Gordon couldn't help the Luckless Leadbetters sweep the board as his 22 was only good enough for third place, barely one shot behind Jamie Treasurer who picked up the Loch Ness Juniors' second runners up prize of the evening.
It was Kevin Dick who restored some pride to the beleaguered Fairways team by scoring 28 and winning his first ever Captains' Cup!
Kevin Dick (Fairways) 28, Jamie Treasurer (Loch Ness Juniors) 23, Jamie Gordon (Luckless Leadbetters) 22, Chris MacRae (Coastguards) 19, Robert France (Raigmore Motel) 17, Billy MacMillan (Trilight) 15, Peter Nairn (BM Trucks) 5, John Cormack (Specialists) 0, David Mitchell (Sainties) 0, Alistair Simpson (Patsy's Pets) 0.

Midland Golfers Alliance
Grant’s Promotions Pro Am
Fairmont Hotel, St Andrews (Kittocks Course)

TEE TIMES FOR WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15
8.30 A. Lockhart S. Cargill E. Rae C. Brunton
8.38 M. Pirie D. Cameron D. Spaven A. McKay
8.46 L. Mann I. Butchart J. Brown I. Wilson
8.54 B. McKay R. Taylor M. Niven N. Dickie
9.02 R. Walker M. Fraser K. Fraser S. Herd
9.10 C. Mackie B. Liddle D. Roberts A. Landsburgh
9.18 R. Taylor D. Ritchie E. Starritt A. MacDairmid
9.26 S. Rettie J. Black N. Henderson J. Rankin
9.34 A. Webster K. Bruce I. Milne A. Aitken
9.42 T. Melville R. Redpath R. Beatt G. Pendrich
9.58 D. Mitchell W. Miller P. Rhind G. Paton
10.06 R. Stewart R. Barton H. Hunter H. Hunter
10.22 D. McKay W. Smith A. Douglas R. Farquhar
10.30 G. Milne G. Mitchell D. Anderson T. Watson
10.38 G. Jenkins S. Miller G. Gillespie R. Balde
10.46 P. Brookes J. Barnet J. Rennie G. Atkinson
10.54 H. Salmond J. Irwin G. Wilkie D. Black
11.02 Burntisland A
11.10 C. Nugent B. Black R. De Rose T. McKenna
11.18 G. Tough R. Lamont I. Watson A. Mitchell
11.26 S. O’Donnell M. Scobbie P. Callander D. Fordyce
11.34 K. Salmoni H. Grant H. Cowborough R. Sinclair
11.42 L. Vannet F. McKay J. Milne J. Milne
11.58 T. Scanlan L. Irving A. Cameron W. Farquharson
12.06 L. Terras J. Law D. Huchtison J. Meddicks
12.14 J. Muirden G. White C. Wallace
12.22 D. Adams J. Cree A. Herd J. Ward
12.30 R. Reagan A. McEwan J. Muir J. Brown
12.38 B. Smith I. McMurray I. Mitchell J. McCormack
12.46 M. Watkin S. Knight T. Edmiston
12.54 M. Brown G. Cant R. McDonald R. Wallace
1.02 A. Piatkowski J. Breen W. Herron E. Sherry
1.10 Fairmont A

Ross Bell wins at Arbroath with a 69

The Midland Golfers Alliance results from the second meeting of the week at Arbroath Links.
Downfield's +2 amateur Ross Bell led the way with a one-under-par score 69.
There was a three-way tie on 69 for the handicap prize between Steven Cargill (Arbroath) (1), John Gray (Ladybank) (9) and Dick Robertson (Brechin) (4).
LEADING SCRATCH
69 R Bell (Downfield).
70 S Cargill (Arbroath).
71 K McNicoll (Carnoustie).
72 T McLevy (Blairgowrie)
73 R Robertson (Brechin), L Sutherland (Ballumbie Castle) p.
74 K Bruce (Edzell).
75 R Taylor (Crieff).
76, E. Rae (Arbroath) (2)
LEADING HANDICAP
69 S Cargill (Arbroath) (1), J Gray (Ladybank) (9), R Robertson (Brechin) (4)
71 K Bruce (Edzell) (3), R Taylor (Crieff) (4), R Bell (Downfield) (+2)
72 R Wallace (Milnathort) (10).
H Cowborough (Muckhart) (6).
73 D Wilson (Monifieth) (4), T McLevy (Blairgowrie) (+1)
R Farquahar (Carnoustie) (8).
74, E. Rae (Arbroath) (2).
D. Fordyce (Dunochil) (12).
G. Aitkinson (Dunfermline) (14).

This week's meeting:

Thursday, April 9
JTC Kitchens Midland Golfer’s Alliance Championship
Pitlochry Golf Club

Keir McNicoll beats pros at windy Monifieth

The Midland Golfers Alliance's Dennis Redford (Powakaddy) team competition at Monifieth was played in a gale-force wind.
Showing the professionals the way with a superb three-under-par 68 was Carnoustie's +6 amateur, Keir McNicoll.
The handicap prize went to John Law (Glenearn). Playing off 14, he won by five shots with a net score of 67.
Best team of the day was led by Downfield professional Kenny Hutton - Ross Bell, who plays off +2 at Downfield, and Hugh Hunter, a 10-handicapper at Alloa with a net score of 61.
LEADING SCRATCH
68 K McNicoll (Carnoustie).
70 K Hutton (Downfield) p.
71 M Brown (Monifieth), C Mathieson (Falkirk Tryst) ap.
72 C Knowles (Murrayshall) ap.
73 S Cargill (Arbroath), R Stewart (Tulliallan).
74 L Mann (Carnoustie Links) p.
75 G McLeod (Monifieth) p, A Lockhart (Ladybank) ap, B Mason (Callaway) p, R Bell (Downfield).
76 E Rae (Arbroath), C Donnelly (Balbirnie Park) p, S O'Donnell (Balbirnie Park) ap.
LEADING HANDICAP
67 J Law (Glenearn)
72 S Cargill (Arbroath), R Stewart (Tulliallan), G Cant (Monifieth)
73 M Brown (Monifieth), W Miller (Monifieth) (11), I McMurray (Downfield) (10), D Vicary (Craigiehill) (10), I Jacob (Monifieth) (4).
74 E Rae (Arbroath) (2), J Rankin (Scotscraig) (8), A Aitken (Ladybank) (9), I Mitchell (Downfield) (9), I Wilson (Craigiehill, 6)
LEADING TEAMS
61 K Hutton (Downfield) p, R Bell (Downfield) (+2), H Hunter (Alloa) (10).
63 R Stewart (Tulliallan) (1), W Hyde (Dollar) (14), J Law (Glenearn) (14).
64 W Miller (Monifieth) (11), D Mitchell (Panmure) (4), G Paton (Dalhousie) (9) (better last six holes).
64 J Meikle (Panmure) (12), G Smith (Monifieth) (11) , L Mann (Carnoustie) p.

Jim Farmer

appointed PGA

captain today

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY PGA
Jim Farmer joined a select group of Scottish golfers, including the legendary James Braid, when he was appointed PGA captain today.
The St Andrews golfer becomes the latest in a long line of illustrious pros to have filled the prestigious role in the Association’s 108-year history.Braid – a member of the legendary Great Triumverate was the first PGA captain in 1901 – while Open Champion Sandy Herd, Ryder Cup captain George Duncan and seven time Scottish PGA Champion Eric Brown also held the role.
The 60 year old Farmer succeeded Parnell Reilly (Bradley Park) during the Association’s annual general meeting at The Belfry and is the first Scot to fill the position in 20 years since John Stirling.
“Glancing down the list of past captains is like reading a history of the game, from the Great Triumverate through to the likes of John Jacobs, Dave Thomas and Beverly Lewis,” said Farmer.
“It’s a tremendous honour to have my name added to the list and I look forward to representing the Association and its members over the next two years.”
The two-year ambassadorial role will see Farmer represent the PGA and its 7,500 members both at home and abroad including this week’s US Masters.The honorary professional at St Andrews, who as a teenager had a promising football career with Hearts ended by a knee injury, has excelled in all areas of golf as a player, coach and retailer.
His playing career included six Open Championship appearances – the first at St Andrews in 1970 when his wife Denise became the first woman to caddy in an Open – and also victories in the Lytham Trophy, the 1979 Northern Open at Nairn and the 1983 PGA Club Professional Championship at Heaton Park.
Farmer also represented Great Britain & Ireland in four PGA Cups – appearing on the losing side just once – and returned to captain GB&I to success against America at The K Club in 2005 to end a run of 21 years without a win.
He was born in St Andrews and began his golf career as an assistant at Ladybank, later becoming head professional at Drumpellier and Duddingston and would juggle club pro duties while competing.
Outside of the playing arena, Farmer established himself as a successful Scottish national coach, chaired the Scottish Regional Committee and has been a member of the PGA executive committee and PGA Board.
In recent years, Farmer has gathered a number of awards in recognition of his contribution to golf including: PGA Master Professional status, the PGAs of Europe Five Star Professional award and his ceremonial role as the honorary professional at St Andrews.
“I’ve been lucky in the last five or six years to have received a number of honours and the PGA captaincy caps the lot,” he added.
PGA chief executive and fellow-Scot Sandy Jones said: “Jim Farmer has been a leading member of the Association, particularly in Scotland, for more than three decades. He has established a fine reputation as a player, coach and retailer and I’m sure he will bring his experience forward to the benefit of the Association during his term as captain over the next two years.”
Eddie Bullock, who is attached to Sussex’s West Cowdray Park, was appointed as captain-elect.
+Courtesy image above of Jim Farmer at St Andrews was taken by Andy Forman.

Last week's news ... but worth catching up on

Great Scott! Jamieson doing well in

PGA EuroPr0 Tour qualifying

The first stage of qualifying school for the 2009 PGA EuroPro Tour was completed on Friday morning at Forest Pines, North Lincolnshire, after a play-off for the final spots was required at the weather-hit venue.
Fog disrupted the second day’s play at Forest Pines for two hours on Thursday morning, but it didn’t affect Scott Jamieson’s concentration as the Scot from Glasgow eased to a two shot victory to go into the final stage at Frilford Heath full of confidence.
““Winning here helps but I will just treat it like any other tournament,” said the 25 year-old, who carded rounds of 70 and 72. “The cloud never really lifted even after the delay so I knew that under par rounds were always going to be good enough.”
Jamieson finished ahead of fellow Scot Ross Cameron (Saltire Energy) and Joe Senior (Heysham) who recorded 144 over 36 holes. A play-off between nine players was needed to settle the final four places of the 56 available for the final stage available at the venue.
Cameron shot a four under 69 in Wednesday’s opening round to lead Jamieson, Senior and James Hepworth (Ilkley GC) by one stroke. Fog hit the second round though forcing a two hour delay from 8.34am – just after Hepworth had teed off. He dropped off the pace and shot 77 to finish one over for the qualifier, while Cameron also stuttered in his second round, with back to back bogeys at the 16th and 17th contributing to a round of 75. Senior was in trouble after a four over front nine saw him drop to one over, but he recovered well with three birdies down the back to join Cameron in second spot.
Winner Jamieson was due to tee off just before 10am so he was largely unaffected by the fog delay and after his steady opening round he knew what he needed to do.
Two dropped shots among nine pars saw him at one under after the first 12 holes, but a burst of birdies at 13, 14 and 15 put Scott in control of proceedings and his 72 was enough to scoop first place and the £300 winner’s cheque.
Jamieson has just returned from The Gateway Tour in the US and feels that stood him in good stead for the challenge at Frilford Heath. “I’ve been playing consistently through January and February which has to help when you come into events like this,” said Jamieson. “It was a lot colder over here of course!”
The Glasgow man was based in West Palm Beach, Florida, finishing tied second at the Saint Lucia River Club at the beginning of February and followed that with two more top ten finishes before swapping the Florida sun for the fog at Forest Pines.
At Stoke by Nayland in Essex, a hole-in-one in the first round for Paul O’Hanlon (Curragh) was the difference as rounds of 67 and 69 saw him win by two shots at eight under from amateur Gary King (Tyrells Wood GC).
O’Hanlon opened with four birdies in his second round on Thursday and while he stuttered with a double bogey at the tenth and dropped shots at 14 and 18, three further birdies down the back nine saw him home. King enjoyed a topsy-turvy final round after a solid two under par on Wednesday – with nine birdies, four bogeys and a double bogey in his 68 taking him to 138 for the tournament, three shots ahead of Matthew Southgate (Thorpe Hall) in third spot at three under with five players sharing fourth at level par (144) – 46 players in total qualifying from the venue, which hosts the tour again at the end of June.
There was an international flavour at Mentmore in Buckinghamshire, where Spaniard Ismael Castillo recorded two rounds of 68 to edge out Scotsman Scott Herald (Mearns Castle Golf Academy) by one stroke.
Rochester and Cobham’s Michael Bush finished in third spot at six under (138) with another Spaniard and overnight leader Carlos Balmaseda sharing fourth place with Robert Watkins (Crews Hill GC). Mentmore advanced 58 players to the final stage with five Spanish golfers making it through at the Leighton Buzzard course.
The final venue of the quartet was Cumberwell Park in Wiltshire with 30 qualifying spots available. Steve Surry (Cumberwell Park) and Paul Reed (Bristol & Clifton GC) shared first place at six under. Surry was four shots behind Reed after the first round, with Reed firing five birdies in his 66 and Surry carding a one under par 70. But the latter used local knowledge to full advantage at the end of his second round, plundering three birdies in the last three holes to shoot 66 – Reed recording a second round 70 to match Surry. Martin Sell finished one stroke behind in third spot (137) with Roy Holland (Long Ashdon) shooting two rounds of 69 to finish in fourth spot.
The final stage of qualifying school takes place at Frilford Heath from Tuesday to Thursday this week.
Full scoreboards from the first stage are available at www.europrotour.com.

HUGH HUNTER'S CLACKMANNANSHIRE NEWS

EVEN MORE MACAULAY MAGIC

He just keeps churning out the scores and piling up the Euros.

For the third week in a row Callum Macaulay made the cut in a European Tour event and moved further up the field with good third and fourth rounds. The latest was in the Portuguese Open where he made the cut comfortably with one under par rounds of 70 twice.

A one-over-par 72 in the third round kept him steady and he finished with a Macaulay flourish and his best round of 68 to put him at three under par for the tournament, which earned him a share of 12th place, four shots behind the winner and almost 18,000 Euros prize money.

Callum's prize money to date is well over 100,000 Euros and he is well on his way to retaining his tour card for next year.
Callum is now 404th in the world pro rankings and in the Race to Dubai he lies in 67th place, the third best Scot and 22 places ahead of Colin Montgomerie, both having played six events.

The top 60 get an invite to the Dubai World Championships with a multi million dollar prize fund, so the competition will be very keen over the next few months.
With these good performances and hopefully more to come, Callum must be confident of some invites to the bigger European Tour events, giving him chances of moving up the rankings.

CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS

Last year the event was curtailed because of snow, but this year there were no such problems for the Scottish Champion of Champions tournament at Leven Links.

Dollar’s Scott Borrowman qualified by virtue of his win in the 2008 Clackmannan County Championship. He opened with two over par rounds of 73 on the first day, leaving him in the middle of the field.

However, Scott found form on the last two rounds with sub-par Sunday scores of 68 and 70, giving him a total of level par 284 for the 72 holes. He finished sixth equal place among the top Scottish players, and five shots behind the winner Glenn Campbell (Blairgowrie) who beat Philip McLean of Peterhead at the second hole of a sudden-death play-off.

Scott’s current world amateur ranking is 410, so with a few more results like last weekend, he should move swiftly up.

COUNTY JUST FAIL AT TULLIALLAN

In the second match of the Provan Salver, the Clackmannan county team went down 5-3 at Tulliallan against a strong Angus side. Steven Horne fought back over the inward nine to turn a two-hole deficit around into a win, and good performances from Scott Moffat and John Maxwell kept the scoreline reasonably respectable.
This coming weekend the Clackmannan team are in action at Braehead in the local derby match against Stirlingshire. Playing for the County will be R Benvie, M Rust (Braehead), J Aitken, S Moffat, D Milloy (Alloa) D Hulston (Dollar) J Maxwell, I Munro (Tulliallan)

GOLF AWARENESS WEEK

Starting on Monday, April 13 there is a national initiative to try to recruit more members for Scottish golf clubs.

Many clubs will be holding Open days including some in the Wee County.
Anyone thinking of joining a local golf club should make contact to find out what arrangements have been made.

HUGH HUNTER