Aberdeen-born

Michael Sim now

ranked 94th

in the world


FROM THE US PGA TOUR WEBSITE
In late March, US Nationwide Tour player Michael Sim was 229th in the Official World Golf Rankings. But thanks to his dominance in his last three starts -- two wins and a play-off loss -- the 24-year-old Sim has done something no full-time Nationwide player has ever achieved.
Sim now is 94th in the world. While no official records are available, Dave Lancer, the PGA Tour's Director of Information, who began working at the TOUR before the inception of the Nationwide Tour two decades ago, said it is the first time a full-time Nationwide pro has been ranked inside the top 100.
And had it not been for the play-off loss at the Athens Regional Foundation Classic, the young Australian, who was born in Aberdeen and emigrated Down Under when he was seven, would have earned a three-win promotion to the PGA TOUR.
As it is, Sim can still become the fastest Nationwide Tour player to earn a promotion in a single year. Jason Gore was the quickest when he won three times in his first 11 starts in 2005. Sim's next Nationwide Tour start this season will be his eighth.
Sims' story of the last four years is one of great highs and lows.
In 2005, the young man who owns a textbook golf swing was the No. 1 amateur in the world. In 2006, he won on the Nationwide Tour, which helped propel him to the PGA TOUR, but a stress fracture in his spine derailed his PGA TOUR career the next two years.
Playing through the injury in 2007, he managed 17 PGA TOUR starts, making nine cuts and earnings of $399,900 (ranking 162nd on the money list). In 2008, he played in just seven TOUR events and was sidelined most of the summer and fall.
Signs of encouraging play came, however, in October 2008 when Sim produced ties for seventh and 18th in the final two PGA TOUR events of the year.
His comeback has continued in dramatic fashion. In November, Sim shared the 54-hole lead with Robert Allenby at the Australian Masters, only to fall back on Sunday to 11th. In February he had a strong finish (tie for seventh) in the European Tour/PGA Tour of Australasia's Johnnie Walker Classic.
Since March 1, Sim has finished third and fourth in Australia and New Zealand, respectively, won the Stonebrae Classic in California and lost in a play-off to Patrick Sheehan in Athens, Georgia. His only blemish during this stretch was a missed cut at the Michael Hill New Zealand Open in mid-March.
Sim's dominating stats
• In his 30 rounds this year (eight starts, including the Johnnie Walker Classic), Sim is a cumulative 78 under par.
• Of those 30 rounds, 19 have been in the 60s, which includes a 62, a 63 and a pair of 64s
• He is 54 under in his last three starts and has not shot over par in any of the 12 rounds
• His $367,417 in earnings is $211,136 ahead of No. 2, Garth Mulroy; the largest one-week difference between No. 1 and No. 2 was Troy Matteson's $138,430 lead over Jason Gore at the end of the 2005 season
• His year-to-date earnings already rank 16th in Tour history for a single season (Matteson holds the record for most money won in one year -- $495,009 in 2005); he is averaging $52,488 per start, well ahead of Brendan Jones' mark of $36,589 in his eight starts in 2004
• Of the Nationwide Tour's 10 stat categories, he is in the top five in all but three (Driving Distance, Eagles and Sand Save Percentage); he leads in four -- Scoring Average, All-Around Ranking, Total Driving and Putting Average

McEwan, Campbell improve

world rankings with

'Brabazon' performances

Steven McEwan's joint fourth place finish and Glen Campbell's share of 11th place at the weekend's Brabazon Trophy saw them improved their standings in today's updated R&A World Amateur Golf Rankings.

McEwan, pictured right by Cal Carson Golf Agency, has gone up by 29 places to No 101 while Campbell has made one of the biggest leaps, up 59 places to No 247. The winner, Irishman Niall Kearney, jumped 47 places to No 64.

The other "big" Irish weekend winner, Irish Open champion Shane Lowry, improved by 10 places to No 6.
The world's top 10 (code explanation: if a player has improved by one position from last week, he will have +1 after his points score, if a player has gone down one position, he will have -1 after his points score; if there is no + or -, then he will be in exactly the same position as last week).


TOP TEN

1 Scott Arnold (Australia) 1347.50.
2 Morgan Hoffman (United States) 1196.83.
3 Rickie Fowler (United States) 1182.89.
4 Nick Taylor (Canada) 1169.44 (+1).
5 Nicol Van Wyk (South Africa) 1168.75 (-1).
6 Shane Lowry (Ireland) 1157.14 (+10).
7 Stephan Gross (Germany) 1155.38.
8 Jorge Campillo (Spain) 1137.33 (-2).
9 Matt Hill (Canada) 1122.41 (+4).
10 Billy Horschel (United States) 1116.98.
Selected positions:

12 Sam Hutsby (England) 1106.25 (-3).
23 Chris Paisley (England) 988.71 (+1).
27 Todd Allcock (England) 975.00 (-5).
29 Gavin Dear (Scotland) 970.67 (-4).

49 Wallace Booth (Scotland) 927.27 (-4).

53 Tom Sherreard (England) 913.46 (-2).
56 Luke Goddard (England) 907.50 (-13).
61 Tommy Fleetwood (England) 900.00 (+4).
64 Niall Kearney (Ireland) 895.12 (+47).
69 Dale Whitnell (England) 887.50 (+9).
92 Ross Kellett (Scotland) 855.71 (-1).

96 Matthew Nixon (England) 851.06 (+22).
100 Matt Haines (England) 846.55 (-6).
101 Steven McEwan (Scotland) 846.25 (+29).

106 Charles Ford (England) 834.55 (-5).
107 Stiggy Hodgson (England) 834.04 (+17).
116 Seamus Power (Ireland) 829.41 (-32).
143 Rhys Enoch (Wales) 795.71 (-9).
144 Paul Cutler (Ireland) 795.24 (-35).
Other Scots:
170 Michael Stewart 778.69 (+2).
247 Glenn Campbell 724.53 (+59).
295 Keir McNicoll 698.57 (-17).
302 Mark Hillson 691.67 (-38).
314 Paul O'Hara 685.00 (-21).
325 James Byrne 676.27 (-59).
358 James White 654.10 (-3).
389 Craig Watson 637.50 (-7)
391 Lewis Kirton 635.00 (-5).
410 Gordon Yates 626.25 (-5).
428 David Law 614.29 (-13).
442 Scott Borrowman 606.25 (-43).

445 Philip McLean 605.00 (-14).

"LETTER TO THE EDITOR"

From Bill Hogg.

I refer to Scottishgolfview.com's recent report in the obituary section and wish to convey my own recollections on the late Finlay Morris whom I recall died in a car crash on the way home from a tournament in Mere, Cheshire around 1970.
Finlay was a member of the 1962 Scottish boys' team which I captained in the annual match against England, held that year at Royal Mid-Surrey, when we were both also members of a British boys team in a match against the Rest of Europe, both matches played in advance of the British boys' championship at the above venue.
While Finlay did not win the British boys' title that year (won by the equally talented Peter Townsend who went on to be both a Walker and Ryder Cup player), Finlay’s abilities prevailed the following year when he won both the Scottish and British boys championships and then went on to became one of, if not, the youngest at that time to be capped for Scotland for the Home Internationals before turning professional.
I clearly recall Finlay standing out almost as a man amongst the rest of us boys, both in terms of his physique and technique and his ball striking seemed in a different class from his contemporaries.
I think I am right in saying that his father was steward at Cawder Golf Club and Finlay made full use of being based in such a ideal location for an up and coming golfer, especially in those days when even the most talented of players had to a large extent to learn the game on their own the hard way without the benefits which subsequent generations enjoy of intensive coaching and training.
Finlay developed a natural, very orthodox swing which I seem to remember used to remind me of Peter Alliss, then one of our best professionals and an example for any inspiring young player. Not only was his golf of the highest standard but he was of an extremely likeable and easy-going disposition and it was indeed very sad that he died at such a young age and in such tragic circumstances.
My memory of his fairly short career in the professional ranks is now somewhat hazy but I seem to recall that his prodigious early talents as a champion boy golfer were not really followed up by much success after he turned ‘pro' but maybe I am being unfair in that regard and happy to stand corrected by others who were closer to him at that time.
Suffice to say that he was a magnificent player of wonderful natural ability and a great loss to the game and it is only fitting that the memory of such a fine young man be kept alive in recognition of a unique talent for the game of golf.

W B Hogg
18 May 2009

Scottish seniors' championship at Panmure

David Lane cuts Ian Hutcheon

first round lead from six to three

Monifieth maestro Ian Hutcheon is hot on the trail of a fourth Scottish seniors' amateur championship.
Having won the over-55s title in 2003, 2004 and 2007, Hutcheon finished the first day three shots clear of the field in the first round of the 54-hole championship at the Panmure course, near Carnoustie. Ian (pictured right by Cal Carson Golf Agency) bogeyed the long second and the seventh but compensated with birdies at the short fifth, sixth and eighth as he turned on one-under-par 34.
Coming home he had birdies at the 16th and 17th and pars at the rest for 33 back.

For much of the day, after "Hutch" finished, he led by six shots
His nearest challengers among the morning rounds were Andrew Wight (Glencorse) and Anglo-Scot Donald McCart (Sherwood Forest) on 73.
Wight had no birdies in an outward 39 which contained bogeys at the third, fifth, seventh and night.
He got in among the birdies at last, at the 12th and long 14th, but dropped a fifth shot of the day at the 15th.
McCart had a similar card - no birdies on the way out, which was not as costly as Wight's because Donald bogeyd only the long second and the sixth. After the turn he birdied the 10th and short 11th but had a weak finish with bogeys at the 14th, 16th and 17th.

But later in the day, two-time former champion, England's David Lane (Goring & Streatley) cut Ian Hutcheon's lead to three with a par-matching round of 70. Lane birdied the eight to turn in 14 but dropped shots at the 12th and short 15th before getting back to par with a birdie at the 16th.

Robert Gill (Gerrards Cross) boosted the number of players on 73 to three later in the day.
Defending champion Robert Stewart, victor in a play-off at Elgin 12 months ago, has a lot of ground to make up after an opening 77.
FIRST-ROUND SCOREBOARD
Par 70
67 Ian Hutcheon (Monifieth).

70 David Lane (Goring & Streatley).
73 Andrew Wight (Glencorse), Donald McCart (Sherwood Forest), Robert Gill (Gerrards Cross)..
74 Glyn Hughes (Church Stretton), Glyn Rees (Fleetwood), Keith MacBryde (Stone), Stephen Baker (Woodside), John Black (Scotscraig).
75 Adam Grounds (Falkirk Tryst), Tim Hartnett (St Andrews), Francis Clark (Royal Aberdeen), Sandy Pirie (Hazlehead), Philip Slater (Sandiway), Colin Halcrow (Windyhill), Andrew Campbell (Kinross), George Payne (Prestbury), Jim Watt (Edzell).
76 Martyn Temple (US), Robert Vallis (Bermuda), Hugh Kinniburgh (Lanark), George Paterson (Northern), Robert Redpath (Scotscraig), John Anderson (Scotscraig), Ralph Cowe (Kelso), Derek Sim (Panmure), Tony Patterson (Sunningdale), Gordon MacDonald (Callander).
77 Stephen Rhorer (US), Ronald Maclean (Hamilton), Basil Griffiths (Lianymynech), John Russell (US), Robert Stewart (Tulliallan), David Downie (Kirriemuir), John Baldwin (Sunningdale), Alan Fergusson (Drumpellier), William Brown (Strathaven), Adrian Donkersley (Gerrards Cross), Patrick Tomisson (Nairn), James Kinloch (Cardross), Norman Swenson (US), Stephen Ellis (Heritage), Bill McIntyre (Harpenden).
78 Lindsay Gordon (Turnhouse), John Johnston (Royal Aberdeen), James Innes (Elgin), David Doodson (Temple), Scott Brady (Burntisland), Robert Jack (Liberton), Paul Crellin (Prenton), J Scott Macdonald (Dunfermline), James Paton (Kirkintilloch), Jalil Aman (Grangemouth), Hugh McEwan (Portmarnock), Graham McGee (Erskine), Dave Jessup (Rochester & Cobham Park), John Fraser (Royal Burgess), Michael Jenkins (Duff House Royal), Colin Christy (Kilmacolm).
79 Alistair Fiddes (Deeside), Brian Grieve (King James VI), Colin Moir (Worksop), Robert Wallace (Crosland Heath), Andrew Wilson (Clober), Peter Saggers (Nairn), Richard Campbell (Kinross), Andrew Laird (Deeside).
80 John Broadfoot (Turnberry), Iain MacDonald (Bruntsfield Links), Ian Mason (Royal Cinque Ports), Derek Murphy (Kinross), Rich Tolly (US), Sam McGuinness (Royal Portrush), Ronald Grant (Caledonian), Jonathan Hubbard (Sunningdale), George Rodaks (Moffat), John Sim (Duff House Royal), Tony Stafford (Dun Ochil), Alexander Ritchie (Bothwell Castle), Ian Stuart (Royal Montrose), Gordon Thomson (Bearsden), David Millar (St Andrews New), Philip Addis (Parkstone), Paul Evans (Newport).
81 Henry Anderson (Glenbervie).

Selected scores:
82 Kerry Scott (Copthorne), Stuart Pond (Worksop), Keith Bruce (Edzell).
83 James Wilson (Frilford Heath), Bryce Milne (Elgin).
84 Larry White (US), Ray Pauley (Woodhall Spa), William Erskine (Kilsyth Lennox), David Smith (Stirling), Wilson Morton (Dunbar), David Wilson (Duff House Royal).
85 William Wallace (Strathaven), Ian Cumming (Eastwood), Allan Elder (Kirkcaldy), Joseph Hackler (US), James Cecchini (US), Euan Kerr (Panmure).
86 Lee Bushby (Strathmore).
87 James Campbell (Panmure).
93 Albert Milne (Duff House Royal), David Nelson (Aboyne).

R&A chance format and dates for future

Open Local Final Qualifying

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE R&A
From 2010, Open Championship Local Final Qualifying (LFQ) will incorporate a change of format and will be repositioned in an attempt to alleviate a congested golfing calendar and make it more convenient for players.
For next year’s Open at St Andrews, LFQ will be staged one week earlier than it has been in the past, taking place two weeks before the start of The Open and giving qualifying players more time to prepare for golf’s oldest championship.
Four venues will be used for LFQ rather than three. Each will host a field of 72 competitors who will now play 36 holes in one day.
The three previously announced LFQ venues for each year will remain, however, one course has been added for each of 2010, 2011 and 2012.
Open Championship 2010 at St Andrews – Scotscraig has been added to the Torrance course at Fairmont St Andrews, Ladybank and Kingsbarns Links.
Open Championship 2011 at Royal St George’s – Rye has been added to Prince’s, Royal Cinque Ports and Littlestone.
Open Championship 2012 at Royal Lytham & St Annes – The West Lancashire has been added to Hillside, Southport & Ainsdale and St Annes Old Links.
This year’s LFQ events will be held on Monday 6 and Tuesday 7 July, as previously announced, at Glasgow – Gailes Links, Western Gailes and Kilmarnock (Barassie). 36 holes will be played over the two days with 96 players competing for four Open berths at each of the three venues.
This year’s Open Championship will be held at Turnberry from the 16-19 July.

Bad back KOs Hugh Stuart from

Northern Counties Cup this week

By ROBIN WILSON
Murcar Links Golf Club have been forced into two team changes when they tee off in defence of the B.D. Fraser Northern Counties Cup Trophy at Inverness Golf Club on Wednesday.
Centenary Year club captain and former Walker Cup player Hugh Stuart ruled himself out of the four-man line-up after injuring his back when playing his home course two weeks ago and he is joined on the sidelines by Bill Fyfe.
Called in to join the remaining two team members from last years winning line up at Duff House Royal, are John Hamilton and septuagenarian David Hird.
As the holders, Murcar Links have received a bye into the second round where they await the winners of the Wednesday morning first round tie between Brora 2 and Elgin’s first team.
Inverness Golf Club who failed at their first attempt to lift the cup when the competition last visited the Highland Capital in 2003 includes three of the team who won the following year at Cruden Bay.
Fraser Urquhart, Bob McAdam and Jock Thomson are joined by Jim Elliot and on their home turf where they will have a big advantage over the other 23 teams in the draw and will be hoping to add the senior cup to the main cup which their under-55 team won last September in Tain.
Inverness’s 2003 semi-final defeat by Strathpeffer Spa allowed Brora go on and win the cup for the first time and Brora remain the only club to have won twice since the competition's inauguration in 2002.
Brora won for the second time on home turf three years later and their team remains the same since 2003, Jim Miller, Ronnie Sim, Ian Hamilton and Robin Wilson.But the double winners have a difficult opening day ahead of them having to play both the Nairn clubs.
Cruden Bay, last years runners up, field Bill Livingston, Mike Keddie, Jim Smith and Martin Foster and play the Elgin's second team in the first round.
DRAW
Wednesday
Round 1
AM – Brora 2 v Elgin 1. Elgin 2 V Cruden Bay 1. Inverness 2 V Strathpeffer. Nairn Dunbar 2 v Moray. Torvean v Fortrose & Rosemarkie 2. Inverness 1 v Forres. Brora 1 v Nairn Dunbar 1. Round 2
PM. Murcar Links v Brora 2 or Elgin 1. Tain v Elgin 2 or Cruden Bay 1. Ellon v Inverness 2 or Strathpeffer. Deeside v Nairn Dunbar 2 or Moray. Cruden Bay 2 v Torvean or Fortrose & Rosemarkie 2. Turriff v Inverness 1 or Forres. The Nairn v Brora 1 or Nairn Dunbar 1. Fortrose & Rosemarkie 1 v Royal Dornoch.