A grand performance by Lockhart, Walker

Ladybank's Alan Lockhart and Thailand-based Kenny Walker (Castle Park) each pocketed £1,030.65 after sharing first place on the two-under-par 68 mark in today's £8,000 Stena Line Stranraer Pro-am.
There was a field of 40 professionals.
Lockhart and Walker finished a shot ahead of Ian Graham (Crow Wood) and James McKinnon (Irvine) who each won £601.21.
SCOREBOARD
Par 70
68 Alan Lockhart (Ladybank), Kenny Walker (Castle Park) £1,030.65 each.
69 Ian Graham (Crow Wood), James McKinnon (Irvine) £601.21 each.
70 Tom Buchanan (Duddingston), Edward Thomson (Senit Associates), John McTear (Mar Hall Hotel), Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs), Mark King (Kingsfield) £304.66 each.
71 Stephen Gray (Hayston), Andrew Marshall (Houston GR), Christopher Russell (RAW Golf Course Design) £175.44 each.
72 Colin Gillies (Perry Golf), Andrew Oldcorn (Kings Acre) £143.26 each.
73 Jonathan Lomas (unatt), Euan Cameron (Hamilton), Derek Watters (Gourock), Lee Harper (Archerfield Links) £108.73 each.
75 Steven Taylor (Bothwell Castle) £80.39.
76 Alastair MacKenzie (Duddingston), Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills) £61.23 each.
77 Anthony Mackrell (Est Kilbride), James Erskine (Portpatrick Dunskey), Chris McCalman (unatt), Owen Leslie (Prestonfield) £53.76 each.
78 John Ruth (Gary Mitchelll Golf), Nick Walton (Glasgow) £57.76 each.
79 James Mooney (unatt) £53.76.
80 Fraser McLaughlan (Bothwell Castle), Ross Murdoch (Dumfries & Galloway), Sean O'Donnell (Balbirnie Park) £56.76 each.
83 James Clive (Carrick) £57.76.
86 Graeme Stewart (Gleddoch), Paul Wilson (World of Golf) £53.76 each.
87 Christopher Robinson (Dumfries & Galloway) £53.76.
Retired Stephen McNally (Scottish Inst of Sport) £53.76.
Disqualified Graham Fox (East Kilbride), Colin Farr (Whitehead), David MacMullen(Aberdour), Scott Henderson (Kings Links), Stuart Williamson (Kirkhill) £53.76 each.

United States name strong team for PGA

Cup match at Carrick on Loch Lomond

Mike Small will spearhead a strong-looking American team to defend the PGA Cup against Great Britain & Ireland in Scotland later in the summer.
The University of Illinois coach will be joined in the 10-man US team by fellow members of the victorious 2007 side, Ryan Benzel and Lee Rinker, who will be attempting to retain the Llandudno Trophy at The Carrick on Loch Lomond from September 18-20.
Small earned his third successive appearance for his country with his second US PGA Professional National Championship title at the Twin Warriors Golf Club in New Mexico on Friday.
Benzel, meanwhile, who fought back from three down with three to play in a titantic tussle with Paul Wesselingh two years ago at Reynolds Plantation, Georgia, summed up the signifcance of the contest by calling his PGA Cup appearance the "highlight of his career" even though he made the cut at the 2007 US PGA Championship at Southern Hills.
"Something about having a red, white and blue golf bag and knowing you're playing for your country just puts it above all else," says Benzel
The US team, captained by Brian Whitcomb - the Honorary President of The PGA of America - also includes 2008 PGA Professional National Champion Scott Hebert, who makes his first PGA Cup appearance, and 1995 National Champion Steve Schneiter.
Hebert, the PGA head professional at Grand Traverse Resort in Michigan, clinched a berth by his victory a year ago, and Schneiter, a PGA assistant professional Schneiter's Pebblebrook Links in Utah, earned his second-career berth by finishing tied for second in the National Championship.
They will be joined by Mark Sheftic (Merion Golf Club, Pennsylvania), Sonny Skinner (River Pointe Golf Club, Georgia), Kyle Flinton (Quail Creek Golf and Country Club, Oklahoma), Eric Lippert (Del Monte Golf Course, California), and Craig Thomas (Metropolis Country Club, New York).
"When I look at the 10 players we have on this team, one couldn't ask for more," said Whitcomb. "We have a good mix of youth, veterans with major championship experience and two great Champions [Hebert and Small].
"We have six rookies, but I think back to the six rookies that competed on the 2008 Ryder Cup Team, and we all know how they performed. I think our young players will do very well. One of the 'rookies' is Craig Thomas, but that is misleading. He has always been around the lead, is a great player for many years and though he has yet to play in a PGA Cup, I believe that he will be a leader.
"I look forward to (meeting) the team that Great Britain & Ireland will bring. [Captain] Gary Alliss, a true professional, is someone I very much respect and he will again be leading a very talented group of players. It's going to be a great event and I will do my best to uphold the tradition of serving as Captain."

Mark Bookless (67) sharing 11th place

with one round to go in Chiberta GP

England's Billy Hemstock and Mark Bookless (Sandyhills), last year's Scottish boys' stroke-play champion, have moved into the leading 15 of the Chiberta Grand Prix tournament at Biarritz in southwest France with one round to go in the 72-hole event.
Hemstock had a six-under-par 64 today for a running total of five-under 205 and a share of seventh place behind the French leader, Romain Schneider who had a 69 for nine-under-par 201 and a two-shot lead from two other French players. Schneider, by the way, has a +3 handicap.
Bookless had a 67 for 206 and is sharing 11th place.
Fraserburgh's Kriss Nicol scored a 73 for 215 and is lying joint 33rd.
Greg Paterson (St Andrews New), who had scored pair of 70s, was disqualified. There is no indication of the tournament website why he was disqualified. In some events, "disqualified" some times means they did not turn up for their tee time. Disqualified also covers a multitude of infringements of the rules, including a mistake on a scored so there is no point in speculating when we are so far away from the tournament and have no direct link with the organisers.
THIRD-ROUND TOTALS
Par 210 (3x70)
Players from France unless stated
201 Romain Schneider 71 61 69.
203 Clement Batut 70 67 66, Antoine Schwartz 66 69 68.
204 Clement Lemaire 67 71 66, J Pierre Verselin 69 67 68, Amboise Fourquet 66 67 71.
Selected scores:
205 Billy Hemstock (England) 68 73 64 (jt 7th).
206 Mark Bookless (Scotland) 66 73 67 (jt 11th).
213 Liam O'Neil (England) 69 69 75 (jt 28th).
215 Kris Nicol (Scotland) 72 70 73 (jt 33rd).
217 Adam Keogh (England) 70 74 73 (jt 43rd).
Disqualified Greg Paterson (Scotland) 70 70 disq.

SGU 72-hole ORDER OF MERIT EVENT

LOCAL HERO GRUNWELL LEADS BY THREE IN

SUTHERLAND CHALICE AT DUMFRIES

Powfoot's Michael Grunwell is shaping to be the "Local Hero" of this year's Sutherland Chalice golf tournament, this weekend's Scottish Golf Union 72-hole Order of Merit event at Dumfries & Galloway Golf Club.
The uncapped Grunwell has upstaged the "hot shots" by jumping into a three-stroke halfway lead with rounds of 68 and 64 for an excellent 36-hole tally of eight-under-par 132, 10 under the combined CSS of twice 71.
Grunwell's great second score which kicked him clear of the field included seven birdies and a single bogey.
Leading the pursuit on 135 are Colin Thomson from East Renfrewshire and Colville Park's Paul O'Hara, winner of the Edward Trophy Order of Merit event at Glasgow Gailes in April and a member of the European title-winning Scotland team in Wales the week before last.
Both Thomson and O'Hara shot 69 and 66 to be five under par at the end of the first day.
Matching Grunwell's 64 as the best score of the day was Banchory's James Byrne, winner of the Tennant Trophy and East of Scotland Open in successive weekends and the leader of the SGU Order of Merit table.
Byrne's 6-8 start to his first round 72 meant he shed five shots to par over the first two holes. Fast forward to the second round and the Arizona State University student birdied the first four holes and he is on the 136 mark alongside former British amateur champion Craig Watson (East Renfrewshire) and Mathew Clark (Kilmacolm), who lost a Craigmillar Park Open play-off to Gavin Dear, and Kevin McAlpine (Alyth), the former Scottish amateur stroke and match-play champion who has only recently returned to golf after having a knee cruciate ligament operation in February.
Ross Kellett (Colville Park), like O'Hara a member of the winning Scotland team in the European championship, withdrew after returning a first-round 74.
A total of 41 players with total of 144 or better qualified for Sunday's last two rounds.

SECOND ROUND TOTALS
Par 140 (2x70). CSS 71 71
132 M Grunwell (Powfoot) 68 64.
135 C Thomson (East Renfrewshire) 69 66, P O'Hara (Colville Park) 69 66.
136 J Byrne (Banchory) 72 64, C Watson (East Renfrewshire) 69 67, M Clark (Kilmacolm) 68 68, K McAlpine (Alyth) 66 70.
137 S Crichton (Aberdour) 72 65, M Daily (Erskine) 71 66, D Addison (Kilmarnock Barassie) 70 67, P Ferrier (Baberton) 68 69.
138 J White (Lundin) 68 70, R Crowe (Westerhope) 68 70.
139 S Pinckney (Arizona State University) 72 67, S McEwan (Caprington) 69 70, S Rennie (Drumpellier) 69 70, A Dick (Kingsknowe) 69 70, G Campbell (Blairgowrie) 68 71.
140 G Stevenson (Whitecraigs) 72 68, R Graham (Hayston) 72 69, P Latimer (St Andrews New) 71 69, S Binning (Ranfurly Castle) 70 70, C Hamilton (NZ) 70 70, M Main (Thornton) 69 71, G Yates (Hilton Park).
141 L Kirton (Newmachar) 71 70, S Maxwell (Windyhill) 71 70, G Robertson (Glenbervie) 71 70, M Smyth (Royal Troon) 69 72.
142 L Johnston (Dumfries & Co) 73 69, N Hamilton (Dumfries & Galloway) 72 70.
143 F McKenna (Balmore) 76 67, W Bremner (Edzell) 74 69, B Sloan (Cathkin Braes) 74 69, C Harkins (Ayr Belleisle) 73 70, J Ross (Royal Burgess) 72 71, M McNae (Dumfries & Galloway) 72 71, S Gibson (Southerness) 72 71, G Campbell (Clober) 69 74.
144 B Rushford (Grangemouth) 74 70, C Riddick (Southerness) 70 74.
MISSED THE CUT
145 J Ferrier (Dumfries & Galloway) 71 74, F Fotheringham (Nairn) 76 69, P McLean (Peterhead) 69 76, R Bell (Downfield) 76 69, S Keane (Cathkin Braes) 70 75.
146 C Simpson (Bruntsfield) 74 72, F Moore (Glenbervie) 73 73.
147 M Pennycott (Whiting Bay) 76 71, I Winstanley (Formby) 71 76, J Henry (Clydebank) 77 70, M Gray (Lanark) 75 72.
148 C Peddie (Kirkintilloch) 77 71, K McClung (Wigtownshire Co) 71 77, S Borrowman (Dollar) 73 75.
149 A Cappi (Carnoustie) 76 73, C Trahan (Murcar Linkis) 76 73, S Lockhart (Bathgate) 71 78, J Sloan (Doon Valley) 71 78, A Wallace (Glenbervie) 74 75.
150 J Neilson (Dunbar) 74 76, B Irving (Dumfries & Co) 77 73, R Jzck (Dumfries & Galloway) 77 73.
151 D Willacy (Powfoot) 75 76, J Shanks (Irvine Bogside) 77 74.
153 C Corbett (Dumfries & Galloway) 76 77, A Abercrombie (Oklahoma) 76 77.
154 G Robertson (Irvine Ravenspark) 75 78, S Mann (Carnoustie) 73 81, J Hendrick (Pollok) 74 80.
158 A Weir (Motnrose Mercantile) 78 80, S Younger (Hirsel) 80 78.
No show: J Barrett (Muckhart).
NRs: A Main (Thornton) 71 NR, C Baird (Bothwell Castle NR 73, S Neilson (Dunbar) NR 75, I Thomson (Powfoot) 76 NR.
Withdrew: R Kellett (Colville Park) 74 WD, S Robertson (Sandyhills) 74 WD, C Gray (West Kilbride) 79 WD, J Findlay (Fraserburgh) 85 WD.

Kevin McAlpine leads Sutherland Chalice

field by two at Dumfries & Galloway

Alyth's Kevin McAlpine, a former winner of both the Scottish amateur match-play and stroke-play titles, continues to get fitter and better every week following a cruciate ligament knee operation in February which kept him out of golf until only two or three weeks ago.
In today's first round of the Sutherland Chalice, sponsored by the Royal Bank of Scotland, at Dumfries & Galloway Golf Club, this weekend's Scottish Golf Union Order of Merit 72-holer, Kevin set the pace with a four-under-par 66 (five under the CSS) which contained only two 4s!
He went two shots clear of Michael Grunwell (Powfoot), Paul Ferrier (Baberton), Mathew Clark (Kilmacolm), Ross Crowe (Westerhope), Glenn Campbell (Blairgowrie) and James White (Lundin).
Banchory's James Byrne, winner of the Tennant Cup and the East of Scotland Open in successive weeks, had a disastrous start in which he dropped five shots to par over the first two holes. He finished with a two-over-par 72.
FIRST ROUND SCOREBOARD
Par 70. CSS 71
66 K McAlpine (Alyth).
68 M Grunwell (Powfoot), P Ferrier (Baberton), M Clark (Kilmacolm), R Crowe (Westerhope), G Campbell (Blairgowrie), J White (Lundin).
69 F Campbell (Clober), M Smyth (Royal Troon), A Dick (Kingsknowe), P O'Hara (Colville Park), S Rennie (Drumpellier), S McEwan (Caprington), C Thomson (East Renfrewshire), G Yates (Hilton Park), M Main (Thornton), P McLean Peterhead), C Watson (East Renfresire).
70 C Hamilton (NZ), D Addison (Kilmarnock Barassie), S Keane (Cathkin Braes), S Binning (Ranfurly Castle), C Riddick (Southerness).
71 M Daily (Erskine), K McClung (Wigtownshire Co), G Robertson (Glenbervie), P Latimer (St Andrews New), S Lockhart (Bathgate), S Maxwell (Windyhill), L Kirton (Newamchar), J Sloan (Doon Valley), A Main (Thornton), I Winstanley (Formby), J Ferrier (Dumfries & Galloway).
72 S Crichton (Abeerdour), R Graham (Hayston), S Pinckney (Arizona State University), J Byrne (Banchroy), S Gibson (Southerness), G Stevenson (Whitecraigs), M McNae (Dumfries & GHalloway), J Ross (Royal Burgess).

Sandy Jones awarded honorary degree

at Birmingham University

PGA chief executive Scots-born Sandy Jones has been awarded an honorary degree by Birmingham University in recognition of his services to golf.
The degree comes almost four decades after he left Coatbridge High School with nine O' and three A'levels and then turned down the offers of places at Glasgow and Strathclyde Universities.
Jones received the honour today at the same time as the latest crop of the University's Applied Golf Management Studies undergraduates - many of whom will go onto become PGA professionals.
Also celebrating were PGA Academy duo David Colclough and Jonathan Wright who were awarded Masters Degrees.
"I was mindful of the financial sacrifices my parents would have to make if I spent another three years in full-time education and decided to earn a living," explained Jones.
"To be awarded a degree now is great honour, especially as its for my work in golf and from Birmingham University, which has close links with the PGA."
Instead of going to university, Jones opted to train as a structural engineer and also became a member of the nearby Mount Ellen Golf Club, a membership he maintains to this day, albeit in an honorary capacity.
It was his work there as a committee member, which began during his twenties, that helped him make a rapid ascent of the golfing ladder; a rise that saw him appointed president of the Lanarkshire Golf Association in 1978 at the age of 32, the youngest ever to hold such a position in Scotland.
His burgeoning reputation for excellence off the course as well as on it (thanks to a handicap of two) was matched by his progress at work, especially in the brave new world of computers as a systems analyst.
All of which made him perfect to assume the role of The Professional Golfers' Association's Scottish region secretary in 1980. The region was one of the seven in Great Britain and Ireland under the auspices of the PGA.
Fast forward 11 years and Jones was given responsibility for all seven of them as chief executive, a job that includes looking after the business interests and training of The Association's 7,500-plus professionals who coach the sport, as well as playing a large part in the running of one of the world's biggest sporting events, The Ryder Cup.
His influence and responsibilities did not stop there, however. In 1994 Jones was appointed chairman of The PGA of Europe, the organisation that comprises the PGAs of 30 European countries.

Harrington coasts home - but will history repeat?

Padraig Harrington coasted to a third successive Irish PGA title today in what he hopes proves a lucky omen yet again.
For the past two years the Dubliner has gone on from the European Club to The Open and won that as well, but the big difference this time is that he has missed his last five halfway cuts on the European and American tours.
One behind after the first round, Harrington took over at the top with a second round 70 and finished up a seven-stroke winner over the 2005 British amateur champion Brian McElhinney who also won the European amateur title at Nairn before he turned pro.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 284 (4x71)
283 Padraig Harrington (unatt) 68 70 73 72 (£4,000).
290 Brian McElhinney (Team Ireland 70 76 72 72 (£2,800).
291 Richard Noel Kilpatrick (Banbridge) 70 70 77 74 (£900).
292 Brendan McGovern (Headfort) 72 71 77 72, Simon Thornton (Royal Co Down) 75 67 73 67 (£1,200 each).
294 Mark Staunton (foreireland.com) 76 73 73 72 (£700).
296 Gavin Lunny (Naas) 70 73 74 79 (£650).
297 John Kelly (St Margaret's) 75 71 72 79 (£625).
298 Cian McNamara (unatt) 75 78 72 73 (£600).

THE BARCLAYS SCOTTISH OPEN

Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, to name

but one Spaniard - leader of the pack

FROM THE AOL GOLF NEWS SERVICE
Sick on Thursday, better on Friday, flying on Saturday - this has been some week for Lee Westwood.
And next week might be even more memorable. Perhaps only Tiger Woods will go into The Open at Turnberry with more confidence.
Doubtful before the start of the Barclays Scottish Open and wishing after two holes he had pulled out - "I was stupid to play," he said - Westwood added a third-round 64 today to his second round 66.
And he admitted afterwards that thoughts of the European Tour's first-ever 59 entered his mind when he birdied nine of the first 12 holes and had two more clear chances coming straight up.
"I was just unfortunate," said the Ryder Cup star, who last Sunday was in a play-off for the French Open after a superb closing 65.
"I had to wait on the 13th tee and on the next and those sort of things just break your rhythm occasionally."
A chest infection that kept him awake all night had been the reason he came so close to withdrawing.
"It just goes to show I'm a man who needs his sleep. It just felt like somebody's else head on my shoulders - I was dizzy and I couldn't focus.
"It felt almost like I was hung over, if any of you have ever been hung over." To a group of journalists that raised a laugh.
"I was given anti-biotics, slept for three hours after I played Friday and then for another 12 hours."
But the man Westwood and the rest have to catch over Sunday's final 18 holes is the Spaniard with the name that is the bane of scoreboard operators all over Europe - Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, so much so that the "F" word is often abbreviated to save spae.
Fernandez-Castaño produced a seven-under-par 64 today for a 54-hole tally of 14-under-par 199 over the par-71 track. He described it as "the best round of my life."
But much though he wants to win the €579,340 first prize, there is something he wants more - his dog Petra to be found on the Costa del Sol.
The three year old shar pei has been lost since Thursday night after being frightened by fireworks outside his mother-in-law's home in Marbella.
Asked if he would rather take his fifth European Tour title or be told the dog had been found the 28 year old said: "Believe it or not, I am going to say find the dog - anything to see my wife happy."
He is prepared to offer a reward, but hastened to add: "Not tomorrow's cheque, that's for sure."
The Spaniard's closest rivals are Friday night leader Retief Goosen from South Africaand Germany's Martin Kaymer.
About to become a father for the first time in eight weeks' time, Gonzalo, from Madrid, "only" equalled the lowest round of his European Tour career.
But the British Masters champion stated: "That's the best ever - I've never struck the ball like that. Unfortunately my putting was not as good, but after a 64 I am not going to complain.
"It's funny. On the range I couldn't hit a shot. I hooked one five iron 80 yards left of my target."
On the course, though, he started with three birdies, converted another chance on the driveable ninth and posted three more birdies coming home.
Kaymer is looking for back-to-back wins following his Open de France ALSTOM play-off success over Lee Westwood last Sunday - and he did not drop a stroke either in a 66.
Goosen had been two in front of Adam Scott overnight, but after a smooth start bogeyed the tenth and 13th.
A 69 was still better than the Australian managed, however. Scott, watched again by tennis star Ana Ivanovic, mixed five birdies with five bogeys and a double bogey at the 415 yard 12th.
Welshman Jamie Donaldson moved up to joint fourth with Dane Søren Kjeldsen on 11 under, three behind, after a 65 - and is in position to claim the one Open Championship spot on offer.
Donaldson's only top ten finish this season was a fourth in Portugal over two months ago, but the 33 year old has stayed positive waiting for the next chance to come along.
"What are you going to do - sulk like a baby or get on with it?" the former amateur star told himself. Donaldson partnered Luke Donald and Paul Casey to help Britain and Ireland to second place in the 2000 world amateur team championship (the Eisenhower Trophy).
While they became instant stars on turning professional, Donaldson had serious back problems and lost his European Tour card three years ago before regaining it through the Challenge Tour circuit.
"There's loads at stake, but I'm trying not to think about anything. One shot at a time, stay in the present."
Glasgow's Martin Laird, who has made his pro career in the United States where he spent four years at college, is still riding high on his "Homecoming."

European Tour Scoreboard
THE BARCLAYS SCOTTISH OPEN
Loch Lomond Golf Club
THIRD ROUND
Par 213 (3x71)
199 Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (Spa) 65 70 64
200 Retief Goosen (Rsa) 68 63 69, Martin Kaymer (Ger) 69 65 66
202 Soren Kjeldsen (Den) 67 68 67, Jamie Donaldson 69 68 65
203 Marcus Fraser (Aus) 68 66 69, Lee Westwood 73 66 64
204 Brian Gay (USA) 70 69 65, Martin Laird 65 70 69
205 Ernie Els (Rsa) 69 69 67, Geoff Ogilvy (Aus) 69 70 66, Raphael Jacquelin (Fra) 67 72 66
206 Nick Watney (USA) 67 68 71, Rodney Pampling (Aus) 68 71 67, Adam Scott (Aus) 66 67 73, Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) 69 70 67, Darren Clarke 69 69 68, Richard Sterne (Rsa) 70 69 67
207 Ross Fisher 69 67 71, Jean-Francois Lucquin (Fra) 70 71 66, Mads Vibe-Hastrup (Den) 69 67 71, David Lynn 70 72 65
208 Francesco Molinari (Ita) 67 73 68, Steve Webster 71 70 67, James Kingston (Rsa) 69 72 67, Soren Hansen (Den) 67 68 73, Angel Cabrera (Arg) 69 70 69, Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) 69 70 69, Anthony Wall 70 69 69, Paul Lawrie 68 72 68, Mark Foster 68 68 72
209 Gary Orr 70 68 71, Oliver Wilson 74 65 70, Louis Oosthuizen (Rsa) 70 69 70, Kenneth Ferrie 67 68 74, Jose-Maria Olazabal (Spa) 71 69 69, Richard Green (Aus) 64 72 73, Ian Poulter 69 72 68, Camilo Villegas (Col) 69 67 73, Chris Doak 72 68 69, Peter O'Malley (Aus) 74 66 69, Gregory Havret (Fra) 67 70 72
210 Brett Rumford (Aus) 68 69 73, Stuart Appleby (Aus) 70 68 72, Thomas Levet (Fra) 70 71 69
211 Thomas Aiken (Rsa) 69 66 76, Jason McCreadie 70 67 74, Colin Montgomerie 73 69 69, Seve Benson 70 72 69, Rory McIlroy 68 71 72, Shane Lowry 69 71 71, Markus Brier (Aut) 69 69 73, Gregory Bourdy (Fra) 72 70 69, Paul McGinley 65 71 75
212 Damien McGrane 71 68 73, David Drysdale 67 73 72, John Bickerton 72 69 71, Pablo Martin (Spa) 69 72 71, Graeme Storm 65 76 71
213 Graeme McDowell 70 72 71, Boo Weekley (USA) 71 70 72, Scott Drummond 70 71 72, Andrew McLardy (Rsa) 68 72 73, Oliver Fisher 73 68 72
214 Lee Slattery 71 70 73, Miles Tunnicliff 70 72 72, Sam Little 70 72 72, Ross McGowan 67 72 75
215 Gary Lockerbie 69 73 73, Alexander Noren (Swe) 70 71 74, Alejandro Canizares (Spa) 70 69 76
216 Alvaro Velasco (Spa) 71 70 75, Nick Dougherty 71 71 74, Scott Strange (Aus) 70 72 74, Paul Broadhurst 71 71 74
217 Michael Lorenzo-Vera (Fra) 70 72 75, Shiv Shankar Prasad Chowrasia (Ind) 73 69 75

Fife Golf Association Men's Match-play Scoreboard

FIRST ROUND
C Martin bt I McDonald 4 and 3.
R Wallace bt G Wilson 1 hole.
S Michie bt D Fotheringham at 21st.
B Erskine w.o. J Anderson scr.
G Fotheringham bt G Ballantyne 3 and 1.
G Page bt J McColl 2 and 1.
D Gould bt C Steffen 2 and 1.
A Moir bt G Sharp at 21st.
QUARTER-FINALS
Martin bt Wallace 1 hole.
Michie bt Erskine 2 and 1.
Page bt G Fotheringham 1 hole.
A Moir bt D Gould 1 hole.
SUNDAY'S SEMI-FINALS
Martin v Michie at 9am.
Page v Moir at 9.15am.

FIFE YOUTHS CHAMPIONSHIP
SEMI-FINALS
Scott Crichton bt Euan Crawford 3 and 2.
David Mitchell bt Josh Anderson at 24th.
FINAL
Mitchell bt Crichton at 22nd.

EUROPEAN CHALLENGE TOUR

McArthur's putter cold as he finishes

third day five behind leader Kaleka

From: Press Officer Roddy Williams
Scot Andrew McArthur was left to rue another bad day with the putter as he finished the third round of the European Challenge Tour's ALLIANZ EurOpen de Lyon five strokes adrift of the leaders.
McArthur, pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency, posted a one under par 70 to lie at eight under 205 and has plenty of work to do to catch the leading pair of Frenchman Alexandre Kaleka and Dane Anders Schmidt Hansen on Sunday at Golf du Gouverneur in Monthieux.
Kaleka, who has led from the start on his professional debut, shot a 70 while Hansen drew level at 13 under par 200 with a 69.
“I have just holed nothing for the past two days,” said McArthur. “I gave myself chances but the putts have not dropped, although the most disappointing thing was the double bogey at the end of the second round. I was trying to give myself a chance at birdie and ended up with a double. But tomorrow I have to just keep firing at the pins and hopefully make a few putts.”
Peter Whiteford, the only other Scot to survive the halfway cut in Lyon, shot a one under par 70 to finish on four under par 209.
French amateur international star Kaleka, who only turned professional on Monday, can expect plenty of home support as he attempts to win on his Challenge Tour debut while Hansen is hoping for a win to catapult him towards The European Tour. England’s Marcus Higley their closest challenger at nine under par 204.
The pressure of leading since day one looked to finally be taking its toll on 22 year old Kaleka as he dropped three strokes in his opening six holes, but he dug deep and hit back with five birdies in his next eight holes to post a 70 and draw level with Hansen.
Hansen made the perfect start by birdieing his first two holes to put the pressure firmly on the inexperienced Kaleka but could not press on from there and finished with a two under par 69 to match Kaleka’s 13 under total.
“I struggled in the first few holes,” said Kaleka. “I hit bad shots and didn’t have my head on my shoulders. But then I hit two or three good shots and I was still in contention. It will be an exciting day tomorrow. We will see what position we are in after the first nine as it may become match play after that. It’s been a great week and hope it will continue.”
Hansen, a good friend of Celtic Manor Wales Open winner Jeppe Huldahl, hopes to draw inspiration from Huldahl’s win last month. He said: “I have played so many practice rounds with Jeppe, know his game so well, and to see him win on The European Tour gives you the belief that you can also do it.
“I got off to the perfect start with two good putts but couldn’t hole any after that,” he said. “I was playing good golf and had some chances but couldn’t take them. Alex was impressive with how he came back after his start. He is a good player.”
THIRD-ROUND LEADERS
Par 213 (3x71)
200 A Hansen (Den) 64 67 69, A Kaleka (Fra) 63 67 70
204 M Higley (Eng) 71 68 65
205 T Carolan (Aus) 65 70 70, F Calmels (Fra) 68 68 69, A McArthur (Sco) 63 72 70
206 C Günther (Ger) 67 69 70, C Russo (Fra) 69 69 68, A Willey (Eng) 70 69 67, A Butterfield (Eng) 72 69 65, G Houston (Wal) 66 73 67, V Dubuisson (am) (Fra) 67 70 69
207 C Brazillier (Fra) 69 67 71, J Parry (Eng) 69 68 70, A Grenier (Fra) 65 71 71, C Rodiles (Esp) 70 65 72, S Bebb (Wal) 70 70 67, P Golding (Eng) 67 68 72, F Praegant (Aut) 67 68 72
208 J Quesne (Fra) 71 66 71, B Mason (Eng) 66 70 72, R Karlberg (Swe) 71 68 69, J Arruti (Esp) 68 69 71, P Rowe (Eng) 71 68 69, J Grillon (Fra) 67 73 68
209 S Davis (Eng) 69 73 67, P Whiteford (Sco) 71 68 70, J Guerrier (Fra) 73 68 68, R Santos (Por) 67 75 67, R Muntz (Ned) 67 70 72, A Gee (Eng) 67 72 70, J Heath (Eng) 69 71 69

210 C Suneson (Esp) 70 71 69, G Paddison (Nzl) 66 73 71, R McEvoy (Eng) 69 70 71, M Villegas (Col) 70 66 74, M Zions (Aus) 70 70 70
211 A Högberg (Swe) 71 70 70, L Bond (Wal) 70 66 75, E Molinari (Ita) 68 71 72, A Wagner (Arg) 71 71 69, A Snobeck (Fra) 66 72 73, J Bjerhag (Swe) 71 68 72, B Lecuona (Fra) 68 68 75, J Lima (Por) 68 67 76, B Hebert (Fra) 68 70 73, R Coles (Eng) 72 65 74, J Lando-Casanova (am) (Fra) 71 70 70
212 S Manley (Wal) 67 71 74, J Billot (Fra) 73 69 70, C Moriarty (Irl) 71 71 70, D Küpper (Ger) 74 66 72, S Juul (Den) 70 70 72, P Niederdrenk (Ger) 75 66 71, R Thuillier (Fra) 71 70 71, D Nouailhac (Fra) 69 69 74
213 N Fox (Irl) 77 65 71, J Sjöholm (Swe) 72 70 71, B Pettersson (Swe) 73 69 71,
214 M Mills (Eng) 72 68 74, F Cupillard (Fra) 72 70 72, R Steele (Eng) 70 71 73, A Bernadet (Fra) 69 73 72, D Griffiths (Eng) 70 70 74
215 M Cort (Eng) 70 71 74, L Gagli (Ita) 70 71 74, Z Scotland (Eng) 69 70 76, S Luna (Esp) 73 69 73, L Westerberg (Swe) 71 70 74, M McGeady (Irl) 65 77 73
216 N Meitinger (Ger) 69 73 74, A Zanini (Ita) 67 74 75
217 B Miarka (Ger) 70 71 76
219 L James (Eng) 71 71 77

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE R&A

Withdrawn Competitors
The following competitors have withdrawn from The Open Championship.

Hart, Dudley, USA 29.06.09 No replacement
Karlsson, Robert, Sweden 07.07.09 No replacement
Wilkinson, Tim, New Zealand 07.07.09 No replacement
Immelman, Trevor, South Africa 08.07.09 Replaced by Mathew Goggin (Australia)
Mickelson, Phil, USA 11.07.09 Replaced by Ben Crane (USA)

Reserves:
Steve Marino (USA) is now Reserve 1 and will be in attendance.
Rod Pampling (Australia) is Reserve 2.
Thomas Levet (France) is Reserve 3.
John Senden (Australia) is Reserve 4.

The Open Championship will take place next week from 16-19 July.

More from Gary McFarlane
Clober GC's PGA professional

(scroll down to find the messages about low scoring at different clubs):

Just when I thought we had one member in my midst who had shot 59, I find another.
Tom McKeown, who joined our course a couple of years ago, shot a 59 at Milngavie Golf Club, (right next door to us), which was nine-under-the-par of 68 for the course. A superb effort!

Gary McFarlane

Bean and Price share lead

in United States seniors' event

FROM THE GOLF.COM WEBSITE
Andy Bean and Nick Price each shot a seven-under-par 65 to share the first-round lead in the US Champions (Seniors) Tour's 3M Championship at Blaine, Minnesota.
It was the best opening round this year for both players.
Using a new driver that he first hit during Thursday's pro-am, Bean birdied five of six holes on the front side, and birdied three of his last four holes. He said he'd hit "a lot" of different drivers this year so far.
"I made nine birdies yesterday and eight today. I just put myself in very good position," he said. "It feels so solid. In the wind, you want to hit something that's very penetrating and I picked out my line and hit it pretty much every time. ... It feels like I'm hitting dead centre of the club every time. I cleared 300 (yards) a number of times."
Bean, who entered the tournament ranked fifth in tour scoring average at 69.74, has two second-place finishes this year. He believes this could be his breakthrough week now that he is finding success off the tee.
"It's a different attitude when you're driving well, and driving in the fairway," he said. "I'm a good iron player and I'm putting well. It's a good combination."
Price shot a 30 on the back nine, including four straight birdies.
He said he was just trying to keep pace with his playing partners, Bernhard Langer and Ben Crenshaw.
Langer parred the last seven holes and was one of four players at 5 under.
Crenshaw was tied for the lead heading to the final hole, but put two shots in the water en route to a triple bogey. He is one of four players at 4 under.
"It's strange that I'm the one that ended up with the best score after lagging behind the whole day," Price said. "That's golf."
After a frustrating 1 under on the front side, Price hooked his drive across a cart path on No. 10, missing a hazard by about 1 yard. Despite a limited backswing, his wedge shot landed within 2 feet of the cup.
"I'd been hitting the ball pretty well all day. To hit the one poor tee shot and walk off with birdie pumped me up a little bit," he said. "As soon as I broke the ice with that birdie it settled me a little bit and I got a little more aggressive with some of my swings."
After a par at No. 11, Price birdied Nos. 12, 13, 14 and 15 to get to 6 under, rimmed out a birdie putt on 16 and birdied the final hole.
Gene Jones, who finished fourth last year, had nine birdies in shooting a 66. He is one shot back.
Starting on the back side, Jones birdied four of his first six holes, and added birdies on his first three holes on the back side to get to 7 under. He double-bogeyed the par-3 eighth, and nearly holed out his approach on the final hole for eagle.
"I'd like everyday to be like this, except No. 8," Jones said.
Forty-five of the 79 players broke par on the fast and firm TPC Twin Cities.
"We're in for a lot of birdies if conditions stay this way," Jones said. "It'll be a birdie-fest for sure."
Defending champion R.W. Eaks was among a group of a dozen players that shot a 2-under 70. No champion has defended his title in the event's 17-year history.
SCROLL DOWN FOR SCOREBOARD

United States Nationwide Tour Scoreboard
Ford Wayne Gretzky Classic Presented by Samsung
The Georgian Bay Club & Raven Golf Club
Lora Bay, Clarksburg, Ontario, Canada
SECOND ROUND TOTALS
Par 143 (1x72, 1x71).
130 Roger Tambellini 64 66
133 David Branshaw 67 66, Paul Claxton 67 66, Jason Enloe 64 69, Garth Mulroy 67 66, Kyle Reifers 61 72
134 Justin Bolli 66 68, John Ellis 69 65, JJ Killeen 65 69
135 Chris M. Anderson 67 68, Christopher Baryla 66 69, Todd Fischer 69 66, Martin Piller 68 67, Matthew Richardson 68 67, Brian Smock 66 69
136 Blake Adams 68 68, Michael Arnaud 67 69, Craig Barlow 67 69, Craig Bowden 65 71, D.J. Brigman 66 70, Josh Broadaway 67 69, Gary Christian 69 67, Chad Collins 68 68, Bubba Dickerson 67 69, Dennis Paulson 70 66, Byron Smith 70 66, Brian Stuard 68 68, Joseph Sykora 69 67
137 Ben Bates 68 69, John Kimbell 69 68, Derek Lamely 69 68, Brenden Pappas 65 72, Alex Prugh 70 67, Fran Quinn 68 69, Dustin Risdon 68 69, Michael Sims 68 69, Jhonattan Vegas 67 70, Dan Wax 67 70
138 Ryan Armour 67 71, Gavin Coles 70 68, Bret Guetz 68 70, David McKenzie 67 71, Jin Park 68 70, Cameron Percy 69 69, Dustin White 72 66
139 Andrew Buckle 70 69, Scott Gardiner 70 69, Troy Merritt 72 67, Jon Mills 70 69, Ron Whittaker 67 72
140 Bryan DeCorso 69 71, Graham Delaet 73 67, Todd Demsey 68 72, Matthew Every 72 68, Martin Flores 71 69, Steve Friesen 69 71, Brad Fritsch 70 70, Jeff Gallagher 68 72, Tom Gillis 70 70, Jeff Gove 68 72, Seung Su Han 70 70, Bob May 71 69, Mauricio Molina 67 73, Chris Nallen 67 73, Michael Putnam 70 70, Kyle Thompson 71 69, Tjaart Van Der Walt 71 69
MISSED THE CUT
141 Ian Leggatt 71 70, Grant Waite 72 69, Tripp Isenhour 73 68, Jim Carter 74 67, Chip Sullivan 69 72, John Riegger 71 70, Adam Short 73 68, Stuart Deane 72 69, Erick Justesen 70 71, Andrew Parr 71 70, Josh Teater 70 71, Chad Ginn 74 67
142 Paul Gow 74 68, Jason Caron 71 71, Hunter Haas 69 73, Phil Tataurangi 70 72, David Morland IV 71 71, Dong Yi 69 73, Ryan Cobb 72 70, Andrew Svoboda 69 73, Andrew Dresser 73 69, Ryan Hietala 73 69, Camilo Benedetti 70 72, Willie Wood 73 69, Mike Grob 69 73, Bob Sowards 73 69, Scott Parel 72 70, Tommy Tolles 72 70
143 Doug Labelle 68 75, Rafael Gomez 74 69, Kent Eger 73 70, Jim Herman 72 71, Patton Kizzire 69 74, Steven Alker 71 72, Justin Walters 71 72, Sal Spallone 71 72, Steven Bowditch 73 70, David Gossett 71 72, Keoke Cotner 68 75, Rich Barcelo 72 71
144 Jason Schultz 74 70, Jim Rutledge 73 71, Andrew Bonhomme 72 72, Fabian Gomez 70 74, Jason Knutzon 73 71, Andre Stolz 69 75, Tom Carter 69 75, Jeff Brehaut 69 75, Chris Tidland 71 73, Vance Veazey 69 75, Skip Kendall 72 72, Dave Schultz 71 73, Garrett Osborn 73 71, Major Manning 71 73, Robert Damron 75 69, Justin Hicks 75 69
145 Jim McGovern 70 75, Tee McCabe 74 71, Chris Kirk 77 68, Won Joon Lee 74 71, David Robinson 72 73, Keith Nolan 72 73, Steve Wheatcroft 73 72
146 David Hearn 74 72, Brad Golden 71 75, Brendan Steele 74 72, Brennan Webb 73 73, Joey Lamielle 77 69, B.J. Staten 74 72, Dustin Bray 75 71, Andrew Johnson 73 73, Kris Cox 74 72
147 Lee Williamson 78 69, Drew Laning 68 79
148 Zoran Zorkic 77 71, Len Mattiace 73 75, Kevin Johnson 72 76, Steven Taylor 73 75, Jonathan Fricke 75 73, Geoffrey Sisk 74 74
149 Scott Fawcett 80 69, Richard Lee 70 79, Scott Brown 73 76
150 Jeff Curl 73 77, Daniel Summerhays 81 69
151 Sonny Skinner 74 77, Derek Gillespie 71 80, Craig Kanada 76 75
152 Bob Burns 73 79
153 Daniel Licursi 75 78
155 Alex Aragon 73 82, Grant Fuhr 73 82
156 Jim Nelford 80 76

US Champions' Tour Scoreboard
3M Championship
TPC Twin Cities, Blaine, Minneapolis
FIRST ROUND
Par 72
65 Andy Bean, Nick Price (Zim)
66 Gene Jones
67 Bernhard Langer (Ger), Dan Forsman, Scott Hoch, Ronnie Black
68 Gary Hallberg, Fulton Allem (Rsa), Ben Crenshaw, Mike Goodes
69 Robert L Thompson, Bruce Fleisher, Joey Sindelar, Tom Kite
70 R.W. Eaks, Keith Fergus, Mike Hulbert, Fred Funk, Wayne Levi, Jerry Pate, David Edwards, Brad Bryant, John Morse, Fuzzy Zoeller, Mark McNulty (Irl), John Jacobs
71 Gil Morgan, Mike McCullough, Denis Watson (Zim), Morris Hatalsky, Lanny Wadkins, Lonnie Nielsen, Don Pooley, Mark O'Meara, Chip Beck, John Harris, Larry Mize, Mark James (Eng), John Cook, Bruce Vaughan, Graham Marsh (Aus), Dana Quigley, Olin Browne, Jay Haas
72 Phil Blackmar, Jeff Sluman, David Eger, Hale Irwin, Bob Gilder, Hal Sutton, Tom McKnight
73 Tom Jenkins, Mike Reid, Gary McCord, Leonard Thompson, Steve Thomas, Bruce Lietzke, Mark W Johnson, Jim Dent, Ron Streck, Tim Simpson, Bobby Wadkins
74 James Mason, Blaine McCallister
75 Tom Herzan, Peter Jacobsen, Tom Purtzer, Mark Wiebe, Jim Colbert, Scott Simpson, Larry Nelson, Mitch Adams, Dave Stockton
77 Bruce Summerhays, Dave Eichelberger
78 Jim Thorpe, Allen Doyle
79 Jay Sigel