Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Here's a Golftext scoreboard that can be hired out, complete with an operating team, to anyone who is organising a golf tournament and wants to inject a touch of professionalism to the event.

English company offering big, professional-

style scoreboards for tournament organisers

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
A North-east of England company is hoping to get organisers of Scottish golf tournaments - clubs and/or districts, even business or society outings - interested in hiring a big, professional-style scoreboard complete with score operators.
The Craigmillar Park Open, held at the Edinburgh city venue at the weekend, had such a scoreboard for the first time and, it has to be said, it gave the 72-hole tournament that "extra something."
Bryan Ross is the man behind the enterprising scheme. This is what he has to say in the company brochure:
"I would like to introduce you to Golftext, a company specialising in professional tournament leaderboards and on course signage, now available for daily hire throughout the UK, Portugal and Spain.
"We recognise that all golf days are special and we believe that events should have a special visual presentation, which is crucial to creating the right impression and tournament arena.
"Golftext can now offer you the 'Professional Experience' that will guarantee to raise your tournament profile, ensuring a successful day for you and your guests.
"Whether you're a golf organiser, golf club, small or national company we have the package to suit your event and budget. Your package can also be self funding, this is possible through business sponsorship, which in addition can generate further funds for your event.
"Our dedicated and experienced team of staff will arrange, install, operate your chosen package and liaise with your key personnel during the event.
"I'm sure you'll find on of our standard packages to suit your needs or, take a look at our "extras" and "leaderboard" pages to build your own tournament package.
North of the Border, Bryan's company are hoping to get a toehold in the South-east of Scotland - that's why the Craigmillar Park Open was chosen as a trail-blazer - but they eventually hope to gain business from tournament organisers right across the Central Belt and even up into Fife, Angus, Perth, the North-east and Highlands.
More details available on http://www.golftext.net/ or by E-mailing Bryan Ross at bryan@golftext.net

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Alan Lockhart (69) wins at Fairmont, St Andrews

The Midland Golfers Alliance held the Grant’s Promotions pro-am at Fairmont, St Andrews in cold, windy and misty conditions, the last meeting of the 2008/9 season.
Ladybank assistant pro Alan Lockhart followed up his win in last week’s championship with a superb two-under-par 69.
Edzell pro Alistair Webster led his team of Keith Bruce (Edzell) (2), Ian Milne (Edzell) (13) and Sandy Aitken (Ladybank) (9) to victory in the team competition with a score of 132.
LEADING SCRATCH
69 A Lockhart (Ladybank) ap.
71 B MacKay (Loch Lomond) ap, J Stevenson (Braehead) p, L Mann (Carnoustie Links) p.
72 A J Webster (Edzell) p.
74 D McKay (Wellsgreen) p.
75 M Pirie (Pitlochry) p, R Stewart (Tulliallan), T Melville (Alyth) p.
76 E Walker (Burntisland) ap, J Craig (Carnoustie).
LEADING TEAMS
132 A J Webster (Edzell) (p), K Bruce (Edzell) (2), I Milne (Edzell) (13), A Aitken (Ladybank) (9).
134 A Lockhart (Ladybank) ap, S Cargill (Arbroath) (1), E Rae (Arbroath) (3), C Brunton (Monifieth) (5).
135 R Lamont (Bathgate) (9), I Watson (St Andrews) (14), A Mitchell (King James VI),D McGregor (St Andrews) (14) (better inward half).

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David lays down the Law again

in weather-hit McEvoy Trophy

New Scottish boys' match-play champion David Law (Hazlehead) has carried on his fine form at Balgownie on the first day of the Peter McEvoy Trophy for Under-18 year olds at Copt Heath Golf Club, Solihull in the English Midlands.
The start of play was delayed for sometime due to a thunderstorm.
Eventually 27 holes were completed towards the scheduled four rounds.
David Law, who won't be 18 until May 4, demonstrated that his stroke-play ability is on a par with his match-play prowess. He led after 18 holes with a five-under-par 67 and maintained that lead at the end of another nine holes which he covered in 35 for an end-of-the-day total of 10
The Aberdonian, pictured in action at Copt Heath by courtesy of Tom Ward Photography, leads by one shot from Tom Lewis (Welwyn Garden City) who earned a trip to Brazil last week in the first of the Nick Faldo Series regional qualifiers.
Law's great North-east rival, Kincardine O'Neil-based Chris Robb (Inchmarlo) is in joint 21st position with 71 and 38 for 109.
Scott Gibson (Southerness) had scores of 72 and 38 for 110, which earned him a share of 32nd place.
Paul Shields (Kirkhill), beaten finalist in the last two Scottish boys' match-play championship finals, is sharing 39th place on 111 with scores of 74 and 37.
Aberdeen's Jack Scott (Deeside) had scores of 79 and 34 for 113 and a share of 54th place.
A total of 73 players took part.
PETER McEVOY SCOREBOARD
AFTER 27 HOLES
Par 108 (72-36)
1st Law David Hazlehead 67 35 102
2nd Lewis Tom Welwyn Garden City 68 35 103
3rd Dunne Paul Greystones 70 34 104
3rd Smith Max Newbury Racecourse 69 35 104
5th Campbell Scott Hallowes 74 31 105
5th Berry Tom Wentworth 71 34 105
5th Pickard Richard Mere 69 36 105
5th McGee Garth Malone 68 37 105
9th Harston Rhodri Felixstowe Ferry 75 32 107
9th White Joshua Chipstead 74 33 107
9th Ibbertson Tom Coventry Hearsall 72 35 107
9th Carson Adam Long Ashton 71 36 107
9th Herbert Ben Clacton on Sea 71 36 107
9th Stow Ben Rushmore 69 38 107
15th Nugent Christopher Fulford Heath 73 35 108
15th Godwin Jordan The London 73 35 108
15th Whitson Reeve Mourne 73 35 108
15th Robertshawe Samuel Army 72 36 108
15th Dickson Ross Crews Hill 72 36 108
15th Downing Billy Truro 71 37 108
21st Fitzgerald Scott Southport & Ainsdale 75 34 109
21st Newton Mitchell Notts 75 34 109
21st Casey Harry Enfield 75 34 109
21st Hall Alastair Bungay & Waveney 74 35 109
21st Chapman Matthew Wentworth 74 35 109
21st Dobson Hugo Fynn Valley 74 35 109
21st Stirling Anthony Formby 74 35 109
21st Hatton Tyrell Harleyford 73 36 109
21st Holmes Kit Hunstanton 73 36 109
21st Carr Oliver Heswall 73 36 109
21st Robb Chris Inchmarlo 71 38 109
32nd Webber James Three Rivers 75 35 110
32nd Boys Tom Royal Liverpool 75 35 110
32nd Lloyd Chris Kendelshire 75 35 110
32nd Sheridan-Mills Freddie Walsall 74 36 110
32nd Bell Jonathan Royal Blackheath 73 37 110
32nd Brockington James Henley 73 37 110
32nd Gibson Scott Southerness 72 38 110
39th Evans Josh Mere 75 36 111
39th Galbraith Adam Haywards Heath 75 36 111
39th Connor Sam Sandiway 74 37 111
39th Jones Steven Canons Brook 74 37 111
39th Shields Paul Kirkhill 74 37 111
39th Bolton Sandy Magnolia Park 73 38 111
39th Turner Matthew Emirates 71 40 111
46th Eason Greg Kirby Muxloe 77 35 112
46th Gowers Rob Brokenhurst Manor 77 35 112
46th Desmond Levi Belton Woods 76 36 112
46th Jessamine Thomas Woodbury Park 76 36 112
46th Moseley Matthew Camarthen 76 36 112
46th Burnett James Sleaford 75 37 112
46th Keddie Danny Belton Park 75 37 112
46th Crookall-Nixon Sebastian Workington 75 37 112
54th Scott Jack Deeside 79 34 113
54th Stuart Thomas St Annes Old Links 77 36 113
54th Payne Greg Chobham 76 37 113
54th Pugh Rhys Vale of Glamorgan 76 37 113
54th Bramall Luke Hillsborough 76 37 113
54th Howard Michael Royal Birkdale 75 38 113
60th Cook Ellis Burnham & Berrow 78 36 114
60th Beisser Jay Rochford 100 77 37 114
60th Sharpe Oscar Minchinhampton 77 37 114
60th Twedell Matthew Blackwell 76 38 114
64th McLister Ross Cardiff 78 37 115
64th White Lewis Northampton 76 39 115
64th Ginn Anthony Sudbury 76 39 115
64th Johnson Gareth Howley Hall 74 41 115
68th Tite Oliver Witney Lakes 79 37 116
68th Harper Joseph Cobtree Manor 77 39 116
68th Byrne Daniel Dartford 76 40 116
71st Milne Andy Thorpe Hall 78 39 117
72nd Gavins Dan Wheatley 79 39 118
73rd Harrison Jake Grassmoor 81 38 119
73rd Ward Nick Redbourn 76 43 119

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Aberdeen-born player top ranked on No 2 US Tour


Michael Sim's career is back on track

after a victory on Nationwide Tour

FROM THE US PGA TOUR WEBSITE
Just over a week since his victory at the Stonebrae Classic, Michael Sim arrives in Athens, Georgia as the top-ranked player on the current Nationwide Tour money list.
Sim earned his US PGA Tour card in his rookie season on the Nationwide Tour in 2006 by finishing 19th on the money list. Despite a stress fracture to his spine that hampered his debut and ability to maintain status on the US PGA Tour, he managed two top 10s in 2007 and 2008 with combined earnings of $669,764.
With three top-10 finishes in his first five starts of the 2009 Nationwide Tour season, the 24-year-old Aberdeen-born Australian is at the top of his game and eager to compete again this week. He sat down with Nationwide Tour Media Official Kin Lo to talk about his week and his goals.
PGATOUR.COM: Let's start at the beginning -- you were born in the country where golf was born and moved to Perth, Australia, at a young age. Where and when did you first start playing?
MICHAEL SIM: I was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, but my dad had a job opportunity in Australia. I also think he was interested in a change of lifestyle -- never really talked too much about it. So we moved to Perth, Western Australia when I was six. Didn't play golf in Scotland but took up the game shortly after we moved. I also played basketball as a kid, but knew I wasn't too good ... so decided to focus on golf. My game really improved when I was about 14, and I went from around a five-handicap to scratch in a year. From then on, I knew I wanted to be a pro (Editor's note: Sim became the world's top-ranked amateur before he turned pro).
PGATOUR.COM
: Did you ever think about playing professionally on the Australasian or Asian Tours?
MICHAEL SIM: I did, and actually went to Q-school for both. But in 2006, I got a sponsor exemption to the Jacob's Creek Open Championship in Australia on the Nationwide Tour and finished second in a play-off. That allowed me to play the rest of the season on the Nationwide Tour. The US PGA Tour is the best in the world, and I knew that's where I wanted to be.
PGATOUR.COM: What's it like playing on the Nationwide Tour?
MICHAEL SIM: I'll tell you what, the players out here are really, really good. You have the best young players in the world as well as the veterans looking to make the next step in their careers. I love it out here. My goal is to finish at the top of the money list and get back to the US PGA Tour.
PGATOUR.COM: Did you know you're at the top of the Nationwide Tour statistics off the tee this year, ranking third in both distance and driving accuracy?
MICHAEL SIM: Hadn't seen that stat, but I really do love hitting my driver -- probably my favourite club in my bag. If I have the opportunity, I'll hit it. But there are a bunch of players on Tour that hit it long. I think keeping it in the fairway is much more important.
PGATOUR.COM: You obviously spend a lot of time on the golf course between tournament rounds and practice. What are some of your interests off the course?
MICHAEL SIM: Let's see. I'm a big fan of the Melbourne Kangaroos in the Australian Football League (rugby). I live in Phoenix now and really like the Suns and the NBA. I'm also into PlayStation -- favorite games are Pro Evolution Soccer, NBA Live and Call of Duty. And cars ... I really like cars.
PGATOUR.COM: Cars? What kind of car do you drive?
MICHAEL SIM: I drive a 2007 BMW M5. Bought it used a while back and absolutely love it.
PGATOUR.COM: OK, back to golf. What's your favourite course?
MICHAEL SIM: It's got to be Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania. My manager is a member there and takes me out to play when I'm in town. It's always in such great condition and a real test. It's tough for anyone to make par around that course. It really never gives you a breather.
PGATOUR.COM: Do you ever think about what you would be doing if you weren't a professional golfer?
MICHAEL SIM: Not much, because it's been my focus for so long. My dad is an accountant and always wanted me to go into the profession, so maybe that would be it. But knowing how much I love fast cars, I might want to be a cop.

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Peter McEvoy Trophy tournament start delayed

A thunderstorm delayed the start of play in the Peter McEvoy Trophy under-18 boys' tournament at Copt Heath Golf Club, Solihull today.
There are four Scots in the field - new national champion David Law (Hazlehead), Paul Shields (Kirkhill), Chris Robb (Inchmarlo) and Jack Scott (Deeside).

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Is Cabrera the least-talented two-time

major winner of modern era?

FROM THE CBS SPORTS.COM WEBSITE
CBSSports.com senior writer Steve Elling and Charlotte Observer columnist and golf writer Ron Green junior take a lookback at the Masters.

1. OK, the huzzahs and cheers at Augusta National have finally faded. Is Angel Cabrera the least-talented two-time major winner of the modern era?
Steve Elling: Let's put this victory in perspective. Since playing in the Masters last year, Cabrera had one top 10 finish, and it was a T9 in a weenie event called the Africa Open. In the two weeks before the Masters, he missed the cut at Bay Hill and Houston.
Long known as one of the globe's most talented players as far as his complete arsenal of shots, he has never been a hard worker, which is probably why he has only three European Tour wins despite 14 years as a member.
Andy North won three times, including two majors, but was dogged by injuries and multiple surgeries.
No need to belabour the self-destructive career of John Daly, another two-time major winner with a scant résumé elsewhere.
Cabrera might not lead the list of craziest two-time Major winners, but he's in the discussion.
Ron Green, junior: I can't say he is the least talented two-time major winner in the modern era. I'm not sure who is, but I don't think it's Cabrera. From our perspective, we just don't know much about him. He is an enigma to us.
Obviously, Cabrera has enormous power and will. Before the final round at Augusta, I thought he was the least likely of the three players at the top to crack under the pressure. He might not play well but he doesn't seem to scare. He stared down Tiger and Jim Furyk at Oakmont, dealt with Tiger and Phil again at the Masters and then, when he should have been done on the back nine -- three down with six to play -- he found a way to win.
Cabrera has developed a talent for winning majors.
2 You guys were both out there when Tiger Woods made that killer double bogey to start the third round, and though he eventually got within a shot of the lead after his rally on Sunday, what was your estimation of his play last week?
Steve Elling
: I was both underwhelmed by his play and shocked he was able to spackle together enough of a swing Sunday to make a run at the title. I wandered around with Woods for nine holes in his first two rounds, and it's hard to pick any part of his game that was clicking. More surprising than his rally was the fact he didn't maim anybody with one of his wayward tee shots. Particularly troubling were the number of pulls and hooks off the tee because the left side isn't supposed to be in play when he's swinging properly. He hit three scorching hooks that I recall off the top of my head.
Tiger has a lot of cleaning up to do before he makes his next start, presumably in Charlotte, where he won in 2007, in two weeks.
Ron Green, junior: I think Tiger told us all we needed to know about his play at Augusta when he called it "terrible" and said he nearly won the Masters with a "Band-Aid swing." It's not what I expected to see.
After his win at Bay Hill, it seemed things were back to normal but he hit it wide left more often than I do. He never looked comfortable during the Masters. The past few years in this tournament he hasn't made enough putts to win, but this time his ball-striking wavered.
I'm not enough of a swing theorist to know if he has gotten too flat but I know he's no different from the rest of us in one sense -- if he's not sure where it's going, that's not a good thing.
3. What did you think of Cabrera's decision to go for the green on the first playoff hole, and the resulting carom into the fairway, despite being badly blocked by trees?
Steve Elling:
With his foes in the fairway, I guess he had to give it a rip. But in a decade of covering golf as a primary beat, I have never seen a luckier shot at a more crucial time at a major.
He basically closed his eyes, swung a four-iron as hard as he could and hoped the ball scooted up somewhere near the green. Instead, off a tree and into the fairway? Recall an hour earlier, Woods attempted a similar shot, and the ball went the opposite direction into the 10th fairway. Cabrera was unbelievably lucky. By all rights, Kenny Perry wins the Masters with his up-and-down par on the first play-off hole. Granted, Cabrera took advantage by getting up and down for par, and I'm disappointed old-guy Perry couldn't finish it off.
It has to be the golf's greatest lightning bolt of good fortune in decades. It was Cabrera's defining moment.
Ron Green, junior: When Cabrera was asked after the round if he was worried about where the ball went after it hit the tree, he said he was nervous for only a second. That's not what his face said. He didn't know where the ball went and, were it not for pure luck, it could have caromed all the way to Aiken, South Carolina 20 miles away.
I can't imagine Tiger Woods doing the same thing in the same spot. Maybe he would have, but I doubt it (Tiger hit a tree earlier on the same hole but understood his chance of winning had essentially disappeared).
Asked how big the hole was that he tried to play through, Cabrera made a circle with his arms. He missed the circle and caught the break of a lifetime. That's part of golf, too.

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Golfing students holding an auction

at Fairways, Inverness on April 24

By NEIL HAMPTON
The students studying for a golf management degree at Dornoch are running an auction as part of their course.
The money raised will help fund their golf team in events and competitions against other universities and colleges and they have managed to gather quite and impressive array of items for the auction as well as a few extras that will be put into a raffle.
The auction will be held at Fairways Driving Range, Castle Heather in Inverness on Friday, April 24 with viewing from 6.30pm and the first lot under the hammer at 7.30pm.
Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend to help raise funds for the golf team.
As well as the auction and raffle there will be a Spot the Golf Ball competition to win a bottle of Balblair Malt Whisky and a prize draw towin lessons with the resident professionals at Loch Ness Golf Club or Dornoch College.
To help smooth the way, a glass of wine and some nibbles will be provided to all who attend and hopefully we can help the students raise the profile of the college as well as helping them to compete against their fellow students while promoting the best of golf in the Highlands.
I look forward to seeing you there.
Auction and Raffle Items.
1. Book by author Ed McCosh: "How to improve your golf game (and your life)"
2. Signed Darren Clarke Flag
3. 2009 Scotland Football Team Framed Print
4. Bottle of Scottish Parliament Whisky
5. Framed Augusta Print
6. Bottle of R&A Whisky
7. Titleist Custom Fitting Session at Kingsacre Golf Academy
8. Signed 2007-09 Ross County FC Shirt
9. Four-ball round at Loch Ness.
10. Four-ball round at Brora
11. Signed Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC Shirt
12. Four-ball at Spey Valley
13. Signed Rangers FC Shirt
14. Four-ball at Craigielaw
15. Four-ball at Fairmont St Andrews
16. Four-ball at The Carrick at Loch Lomond

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Harrington looks forward

to a ‘classic’ at The

3 Irish Open

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY EUROPEAN TOUR
Three-time Major Champion Padraig Harrington today confirmed that he will challenge for The 3 Irish Open – the event he describes as his personal ‘Fifth Major’- over the classic links of County Louth, Baltray, from May 14-17.
The 37-year-old Dubliner, pictured above, is thrilled to be seeking his second 3 Irish Open title in three years over a course which he believes can serve the double purpose of helping him repeat his achievement of 2007 when he followed up his victory in his home national championship by winning The Open at Carnoustie.
This time around, Harrington will arrive at Baltray with his thoughts turning to a third successive Open title at Turnberry in July, and he believes that the classic links lay-out of County Louth Golf Club, or Baltray as it is more affectionately known, will provide the perfect launch pad to his preparations for his second defence of the Claret Jug.
“I think that with this year’s event being on a classic links course like Baltray, it could instil a lot of confidence and assist when looking ahead to Turnberry and going there to try and defend The Open again,” said Harrington.


“Playing The Irish Open on a links course will, in a way, naturally start my preparations for The Open because so many of the conditions will be similar.
“Baltray certainly is one of the most exciting links courses in the country and I expect the tournament there to be a great success. I would put the fifth as one of the best holes in the world. It’s a superb par-3 at just 175 yards, not a beast of a hole but a great golf hole.
“The seventh is another great par-3 and both are as good as you will get anywhere. I know the golf course well and I have a lot of memories - I can remember some tough days out there in East of Ireland Championships.”
Harrington believes that his 2007 Irish Open victory, when he ended a 25 year wait for a home winner, played a huge part in him winning his first Open Championship.
“You couldn't underestimate how important winning The Irish Open was in terms of going onto win The Open at Carnoustie,” he said. “It told me that I could go and win a tournament under a lot of focus, pressure and distractions, which gives you a huge amount of self-confidence when you can come through something like that.
“The Irish Open obviously brings a lot of distractions, as many things are going on that week and you just have to accept it. It's not a week to spend a lot of time hitting shots on the range and trying to find your game. You just have to turn up and play with what you've got, doing the best you can.”
While the game’s four Major Championships are Harrington’s driving focus for the season, he places a huge amount of importance on The 3 Irish Open.
He said: “I think if you asked any golfer what the most important tournaments on the calendar were for them, they would all reply that the four Majors are above all others, but then, after that, I would think that every player has a desire to win their national open.
“It’s certainly a very big deal for an Irishman to win a national title in front of his home crowd. Our country really supports its sportsmen and women with unbelievable passion and I think that kind of support has helped so many Irish sports stars to achieve great success.
“I am very pleased to hear that 3 are sponsoring The Irish Open, I always look forward to playing my national open and hope I can repeat my success of two years ago.”
Robert Finnegan, Chief Executive of 3, said: "We are honoured and delighted to have Padraig Harrington playing in The 3 Irish Open. As a three-time Major winner Padraig is aiming to win his third Open Championship in a row this summer, and that is a sure sign that 3 really is golf's lucky number. We hope everyone gets behind Padraig at The 3 Irish open to demonstrate the huge support that exists up and down the country for our most decorated golfing hero."
Martin Cullen TD, Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism said: “Padraig Harrington, the first European to win back-to-back Major Championships is a sportsman who has honed his talent to achieve true greatness. I am delighted this gifted and celebrated Irish golfer will participate in this year’s 3 Irish Open at Baltray. The links at Baltray which are among the best-rated in the world, combined with the support provided by the new title sponsor 3, will make The 3 Irish Open one of the most impressive and exciting events on The European Tour.”
Fans have the chance to make significant savings at The 3 Irish Open by taking advantage of advance ticket offers.
Season tickets to see Harrington and many of the world’s best players in action for four days over the classic links lay-out at Baltray, County Louth, are available at a 30 per cent discount if purchased before midnight on Sunday, May 10; while advance Daily Ticket purchases carry a 25 per cent discount on the Gate price.
Junior fans, under the age of 16, who are accompanied by a paying adult, will be granted free access to the tournament throughout the week.
To take advantage of these outstanding advance ticket offers, please visit: http://www.europeantourtickets.com/ or call the following numbers:
Republic of Ireland Customers call: 1 890 252 698
Customers outside of the Republic of Ireland call: +44 (0) 800 023 2557
The 3 Irish Open Ticket Prices are as follows:
Adult Daily Gate €20 Adult Advance €15
Adult Season Gate €50 Adult Season Advance €35
Senior Daily Gate €15 Senior Daily Advance €10
Senior Season Gate €35 Senior Season Advance €25
Juniors U-16 Free if accompanied by a paying adult.

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