Superb 66 by Graham Fox at

Barassie makes him leading

WaterAid qualifier

Graham Fox (East Kilbride) produced a stunning, bogey-free card of six-under-par 66 over the never-easy Kilmarnock Barassie course to head the qualifiers for the Scottish WaterAid Pro-am two-day competition over the same course on May 6 and 7.
Fox birdied the first, eighth, 13th, 14th, 16th and 18th in halves of 34 and 32.
Andrew Oldcorne (Kings Acre), with a 69, was the only other player in the big field to break 70 for the 6,852yd par-72 course.
Former British amateur champion Gordon Sherry, pictured above by Cal Carson Golf Agency, made a welcome return to the competitive scene, finishing joint 20th on the 75 mark after a round which included a double-bogey 6 at the fifth and a birdie at the seventh before bogeys at the 12th and 14th dropped him to three over par.
Not all of those who returned 75s qualified for the main event. Sherry was one of those who survived a card play-off; so too was former Northern Open champion Murray Urquhart and past Scottish PGA title-holder Mark Loftus.
QUALIFIERS
Par 72
66 Graham Fox (East Kilbride)
69 Andrew Oldcorn (Kings Acre).
70 Greg Paxton (Ralston), Jonathan Lomas (unatt).
71 Stuart Morrison (Tain).
72 Ross Cameron (McDonald Ellon), Greig McSporran (Kinross), Mark Barnard (Inchmarlo), David Patrick (Elie), Scott Henderson (Kings Links), Garry Forrester (St Andrews Golf School).
73 Gareth Wright (West Linton), Gavin Cook (Prestonfield), Steven Duncan (Balbirnie Park), Ken Campbell (Machrihanish).
74 James McKinnon (Irvine), Hamish Kemp (Bishopbriggs Golf Range), Jamie Stevenson (Braehead), Anthony Mackrell (East Kilbride).
75 Scott Herald (Mearns Castle), Alan E Reid (West Lothian), Steven Taylor (Bothwell Castle), Mark Loftus (Cowglen), Gordon Sherry (Kilmarnock Barassie), Lee Vannet (Carnoustie Golf Links), Stewart Savage (Dalmuir), Ian Taylor (Drumpellier), Murray Urquhart (Spey Valley).
NON-QUALIFIERS (eliminated in card play-off):
75 Kenneth Monaghan (Bothwell Castle), Paul Wardell (Whitekirk), Jonny Sharp (The Carrick at Cameron House), Iain Hanna (Strathclyde Park).

R&A give Turnberry a new set of teeth

for the Open championship

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY R&A
In advance of the 2009 Open Championship from July 16 to 19, Turnberry’s Ailsa Course has undergone a number of adjustments designed to ensure that, as one of Britain’s finest links, it continues to challenge modern professionals.
The most extensive changes are on the 10th, 16th and 17th holes, though most have been enhanced in some way.
“Today’s professionals are bigger, stronger, fitter, have more technology at their command, and it’s very important that we keep our great links courses relevant to the modern-day professional,” explained the R&A’s Chief Executive, Peter Dawson.
“We’ve been doing that at every Open venue, with Turnberry having had a considerable number of changes since the 1994 Open Championship.”
The 10th has been redesigned to bring the coastline into play and now requires at least a 200-yard carry over the rocks from a tee perched on an outcrop by the lighthouse. The fairway has been moved closer to the beach to tempt longer players to cut off more of the corner, and three new fairway bunkers force a decision to be made between safer tee-shot with a longer approach or a riskier, braver and more aggressive drive.
Significant changes have also taken place at the 16th and 17th. The shape of the 16th has been radically altered and it now dog-legs right from a re-positioned tee around newly-created dunes and hollows.
Some 45 yards have been added along with a new bunker on the left of the fairway. The bunker, which used to guard the left side of the old fairway, now protects the right edge of the new one.
The realignment of the 16th has allowed a new back tee to be constructed on the 17th, extending the hole by 61 yards. A newly-constructed approach bunker, along with another to the front and left of the putting surface, adds difficulty to the second shot.
Including those on the 10th and 16th, a total of 23 bunkers have been added on holes 1, 3, 5, 8, 14 and 18, with two removed at the 3rd and 14th, making players think more about their course management strategy.
Though many Open Championship courses have upwards of 120 bunkers, Turnberry still only has 65, testament to the natural test that the landscape provides.
New tees have also been introduced at holes 3, 5, 7, 8, 14, and 18, extending the course to 7204 yards, 247 yards or 3.5% longer than when The Open was last played at Turnberry in 1994.
The Open Championship takes place from 16-19 July 2009.
Tickets are still available through www.opengolf.com or +44 (0) 1334 460010.

Summary of Changes to the Ailsa Course
1st Hole: Two new fairway bunkers.
2nd Hole: Greenside bunker cut closer to the putting surface.
3rd Hole: New back tee; two new bunkers; bunker to left of green turned into hollow.
4th Hole: No changes.
5th Hole: New back tee; two new fairway bunkers.
6th Hole: No changes.
7th Hole: Tee extended; crater cut into the approach; run-off area created to left of green.
8th Hole: New back tee, two new fairway bunkers; hollows created to left of green.
9th Hole: No changes.
10th Hole: New back tee; three new fairway bunkers; fairway cut closer to coast.
11th Hole: Minor alterations to greenside bunkers.
12th Hole: New fairway bunker; left greenside bunker edged in.
13th Hole: New ridge create on right side of fairway; new fairway bunker.
14th Hole: Two new fairway bunkers; one fairway bunker removed; humps and hollows created; Kintyre course tee used.
15th Hole: No changes.
16th Hole: New tee; fairway rerouted; new fairway bunker.
17th Hole: New tee; two new approach bunkers, new greenside bunker.
18th Hole: New tee added; new fairway bunker; new approach bunker; new greenside bunker

Aussie Scott Arnold is new No 1

in World Amateur Rankings

Australian Scott Arnold is the new No 1 in the R&A World Amateur Golf Rankings following the decision of Danny Lee (New Zealand) to turn professional.
The highest ranked British or Irish amateur is Sam Hutsby of England in the No 7 spot.
Craigmillar Park Open winner Gavin Dear (Murrayshall) from Scone is the highest ranked Scot. Even though he has not played competitively since his Edinburgh 72-hole open success, Gavin has dropped from No 33 last week to No 38 this week. Explanation? Five or six players have earned WAGR points in tournaments around the world and jumped ahead of the Scot.
Wallace Booth (Comrie) in No 62 position is the only other Scot in the top 100.
AMATEUR RANKINGS
1 Scott Arnold (Aus) 1242.50.
2 Rickie Fowler (US) 1183.33.
3 Jorge Campillo (Spa) 1182.43.
4 Morgan Hoffman (USA) 1173.21.
5 Stephan Gross (Ger) 1144.62.
Selected rankings:
7 Sam Hutsby (Eng) 1122.22.
15 Shane Lowry (Ire) 1027.12
22 Chris Paisley (Eng) 979.03.
38 Gavin Dear (Sco) 947.37.
41 Luke Goddard (Eng)( 936.84
46 Tom Sherreard (Eng) 911.54.
47 Tom Adcock (Eng) 907.50.
55 Niall Kearney (Ire) 897.56.
62 Wallace Booth (Sco) 883.78.
64 Matt Haines (Eng) 879.03.
83 Seamus Power (Ire) 856.86.
91 Simon Ward (Ire) 839.02.
92 Charles Ford (Eng)( 837.25.
94 Tommy Fleetwood (Eng) 836.36.
107 Steven McEwan (Sco) 820.00.
108 Rhys Enoch (Wal) 820.00
111 Dale Whitnell (Eng) 818.75.
132 Steven Uzzell (Eng) 797.78.
145 Paul Cutler (Ire) 790.00.
147 Ross Kellett (Sco) 789.71.
166 Matthew Nixon (Eng) 776.74.
175 Jamie Abbott (Eng) 766.10.
176 Jake Amos (Eng) 763.64.
189 Paul O'Hara (Sco) 751.72.
193 Stiggy Hodgson (Eng) 747.50.
196 Ben Rickett (Eng) 745.00

Scottish Junior Tour Select beat

Irish visitors at St Andrews

A Mathon Scottish Junior Golf Tour Select beat a team of Irish youngsters 4 1/2-1 1/2 in a doubles match over the Strathtyrum course, St Andrews in very windy conditions.
Stephen Hood, the professional at Cairndhu Golf Club, Co Antrim, is making plans for a return match at Larne during the summer.
Results (Scottish names first):
James Wilson (Hilton Park) and Jamie Savage (Cawder) bt Stephen Watts and Neil McKinstry 4 and 3.
Innes Ferguson (Drumpellier) and Ben Kinsley (St Andrews) bt Callum Auld and Ethan Boal 7 and 5.
Bob McIntyre (Glencruitten) and Willem Kerr (Craigielaw) halved with Ian Winsby and Matthew Kane.
George Burns (Williamwood) and Fraser Davren (Williamwood) bt Richard Swann and Matthew Weir 3 and 2.
Ross McSherry (Royal Troon) and Alasdair McDougall (Elderslie) bt Andrew Beatty and Niall McGoldrick 5 and 4.
Calum McKay (Monifieth) and Euan Walker (Barassie) lost to Michael Abram and Ryan Long 1 hole.
The following day, both teams took part in a stroke-play competition over Strathtyrum in still very windy weather.
Leading Scores
Over 13 years - 1 Matthew Kane (Northern Ireland) 69; Euan Bowden (Troon) 71; Calum Husenne (Haggs Castle) 72; 4 Jamie Savage (Cawder) 75; 5 David Slack (Gourock) 76.
Under 13 years - 1 Ben Kinsley (St Andrews) 72; 2 George Burns (Williamwood) 77; 3 (equal) Bob McIntyre (Glencruitten), Innes Ferguson (Drumpellier) 78; 5 James Wilson (Hilton Park) 79.
Under 12 years (nine holes at Balgove) - 1 Keith Bowman (St Andrews) 32; 2 (equal) Campbell Mathieson (Troon), Aiden Husenne (Haggs Castle), Michael Rankin (Hilton Park), Graeme Winney (Dunfermline) 35.

Two weeks left to buy discounted season

tickets for Open championship at Turnberry

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE R&A
Spectators who don't want to miss a shot at Turnberry have under two weeks remaining in which to purchase season tickets for the Open championship at the discounted price of £200.
A small number of composite and reserved grandstand tickets are also available, offering Open championship spectators unrivalled views of the world’s best golfers at one of The Open’s most iconic venues.
“This year’s Championship promises to be particularly special as we return to Turnberry after 15 years,” commented David Hill, The R&A’s Director of Championships. “We continue to make The Open Championship affordable to our spectators and there is particularly good value to those attending for the full week.”
This year’s Championship promises to provide huge interest with Padraig Harrington looking to become first winner of three consecutive Open Championships since Peter Thomson in 1956 and the return of Tiger Woods after an enforced absence last year.
Under-16’s will be admitted free of charge when accompanied by an adult. A day ticket for one of the four Championship days (16-19 July 2009) costs £55.
Ticket enquiries should be directed through www.opengolf.com or +44 (0) 1334 460010.

Strongest field for Scottish seniors'

event at Glasgow Gailes

By KEITH HOWIE
Entries for the Scottish Seniors Golfing Society's two-day stroke competition at Glasgow Gailes on May 14-15 closed with 140 received. This led to implementation of a ballot, taking numbers back to our maximum field of 120. Colin
As our constitution dictates that no more than 20% of competitors may be under the age of 55, this factor also required a ballot adjustment. Cut-off point was handicap 7.5
On the positive side we have assembled our strongest field yet and there will be intense competition for the gold medal and the coveted order of merit points which go with it.
After Gailes, the show moves on to Stirling. We have already 90 entries. Prospective competitors should remember that closing date is four weeks before the competition with cut-off at 5pm on the Wednesday evening.
Entries are invited for the newly-added Autumn Open at Haddington. Details and entry forms can be found on the Society's website http://www.scottishseniorsgolf.com/