Thursday, July 23, 2009

Tartan Tour Scoreboard
DE VERE DE LUXE PRO-AM
The Carrick at Loch Lomond
TEAM PRO SCORES ONLY
Par 142
131 Fraser McLaughlan (Bothwell Castle).
132 Chris Kelly (Cawder).
134 Kenneth Monaghan (Bothwell Castle).
135 Stephen Gray (Hayston)
136 Christopher Russell (RAW Golf Course Design), Colin Gillies (Perry Golf).
137 Adam Hunter (Mearns Castle Golf Academy), Jonny Sharp (The Carrick at Cameron House), Campbell Elliott (Haggs Castle).
138 David Orr (East Renfrewshire).
144 Jacky Montgomery (Dunbar), Colin White (The Carrick at Cameron House), Brian Dunbar (Glencorse), Dean Robertson (Mearns Castle).

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European Senior Tour Scoreboard
SENIOR OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP
presented by MasterCard
Sunningdale Golf Club, Berkshire
FIRST ROUND
Par 70
64 Fred Funk
66 Des Smyth (Irl), Loren Roberts, Christopher Williams (Rsa), Jay Haas
67 Sam Torrance (Sco), Tom Watson, Tom Kite, Jerry Bruner, Greg Norman (Aus)
68 Denis Watson (Zim), Tony Johnstone (Zim), Philip Blackmar, Gordon J Brand (Eng), Scott Simpson, Ian Woosnam (Wal), Olin Browne, Gordon Brand Jnr (Sco), Curt Byrum, Sandy Lyle (Sco), Denis O'sullivan (Irl)
69 Joey Sindelar, Russ Cochran, Jeff Sluman, Bertus Smit (Rsa), Mark O'Meara, Andrew Murray (Eng), Mark McNulty (Irl), Larry Mize, David Eger
70 Andy Bean, Sir Nick Faldo (Eng), Fulton Allem (Rsa), Wayne Grady (Aus), Don Pooley, Sir Bob Charles (Nzl), Bob Cameron (Eng), Eduardo Romero (Arg), Glenn Ralph (Eng), Gary Koch, David Merriman (Aus), Manuel Pinero (Spa), Mark James (Eng), Tom Lehman, Robert L Thompson, Michael Allen, David J Russell (Eng), Bruce Vaughan, Graham Marsh (Aus), Doug Johnson, Angel Fernandez (Chi)
71 Christy O'Connor Jnr (Irl), Mike Donald, Philippe Dugeny (Fra), Joe Ozaki (Jpn), Mike Goodes, Ronnie Black, Bill McColl (Sco), Pete Oakley, Katsuyoshi Tomori (Jpn), Stewart Ginn (Aus), Peter Fowler (Aus), Giuseppe Cali (Jpn), Delroy Cambridge (Jam), Noel Ratcliffe (Aus), Chris Starkjohann, Mark Wiebe, Ross Drummond (Sco), Ikuo Shirahama (Jpn), Paul Simson (USA), Tony Allen (Eng)
72 David Ogrin, Juan Quiros (Spa), Wes Burton, Mike Reid, Morris Hatalsky, Bob Gilder, Lonnie Nielsen, Mike Cunning, Kirk Hanefeld, Bernhard Langer (Ger), Marc Farry (Fra), Tony Charnley (Eng), Bobby Lincoln (Rsa), Jay Don Blake, Nick Job (Eng), Peter Mitchell (Eng), Kevin Spurgeon (Eng), John Cook, Simon Owen (Aus), Bob Larratt (Eng), John Morse, Yoshi Mizumaki (Jpn), Peter Dahlberg (Swe), Mark Balen (USA)
73 Luis Carbonetti (Arg), Tom Purtzer, Torsten Giedeon (Ger), Ben Crenshaw, Angel Franco (Par), Eamonn Darcy (Irl), Tim Simpson, Bobby Wadkins, Jose Maria Canizares (Spa)
74 Gary Hallberg, Peter O'Hagan (Irl), Gene Jones, Simon Wood (Eng), Craig Stadler, Roger Chapman (Eng), Carl Mason (Eng), Bill Longmuir (Sco), James Mason, Denis Durnian (Gbr), Costantino Rocca (Jpn), Stephen Bennett (Eng), Jim Rhodes (Eng), John Bland (Rsa), Mike Harwood (Aus), Tim Planchin (Fra)
75 Graham Gunn (Can), Randy Haag, Brady Exber, Alastair Webster (Sco), Shinji Ikeuchi (Jpn), Jerry Pate, Carl Baker (USA)
76 Bob Boyd, Domingo Hospital (Spa), Niall Lavin (Irl), Jose Rivero (Spa), Frank Kiddie (Eng), John C Davies (Eng)
77 Jeff Hawkes (Rsa), Richard Masters (Eng), John Chillas (Sco), Jimmy Heggarty (NIrl)
78 Joel S Hirsch, Isao Aoki (Jpn), Terry Gale (Aus)
79 Gary Player (Rsa), Ralph McLean (Sco)
80 Antonio Garrido (Spa), Tom McKnight

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Slattery (67) leads from start to finish

in SAS Masters at Malmo

FROM THE AOL GOLF NEWS SERVICE
Henrik Stenson's hopes of donating the first prize of nearly £143,000 to his own charitable Foundation took a blow when he began the SAS Masters in Malmo with only a level par 73.
At 7,665 yards, Barseback, Stenson's home course, is the longest in European Tour history. The world number seven thought that would be in his favour, but he trails England's Lee Slattery by six - and was relieved it was not by far more.
"I played like a pig and got away with murder," said Stenson. "I didn't play well at all, but the little Seve and Houdini in me was out there."
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The Ryder Cup star was again wearing a green ribbon in his cap in support of an Iranian friend, as he did at The Open last week.
"It's a symbol for democracy in Iran and I felt it was an important gesture."
Slattery, ranked 497 places below Stenson, holds a one-stroke lead over Argentina's Ricardo Gonzalez.
Without a top 20 finish since he was fourth at the KLM Open in Holland last August, Slattery was first man to tee off at 7.30am and birdied the first four holes.
The last of those was a chip in and he did it again only two holes later before making a 10-footer on the long ninth to turn in a brilliant six under 30.
An hour-long suspension in play because of the threat of lightning took the wind out of the 30-year-old's sails, but after bogeying the long 12th on his return he got up and down from a greenside bunker at the 558-yard 16th and parred the last two for a six under 67 that kept him at the top of the leaderboard all day.
ALL THE FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 73. 7,665 yards
67 Lee Slattery
68 Ricardo Gonzalez (Arg)
69 Tano Goya (Arg), Klas Eriksson (Swe), Pablo Martin (Spa), Pablo Larrazabal (Spa)
70 Brett Rumford (Aus), Richie Ramsay, Martin Erlandsson (Swe), Branden Grace (Rsa), Oskar Henningsson (Swe)
71 Steve Webster, Gary Murphy, Alexander Noren (Swe), Magnus A Carlsson (Swe), Alejandro Canizares (Spa), Marcel Siem (Ger), Jamie Donaldson, Danny Willett
72 Soren Kjeldsen (Den), Jeppe Huldahl (Den), Christian Nilsson (Swe), Gareth Maybin, Maarten Lafeber (Ned), Pelle Edberg (Swe), Chinnarat Phadungsil (Tha), Marcus Higley, Niclas Fasth (Swe), Anders Sjostrand (Swe), Wade Ormsby (Aus), Sam Little, Michael Hoey, Marcus Fraser (Aus)
73 Mikael Lundberg (Swe), Jonathan Caldwell, Damien McGrane, James Driscoll (USA), Peter Lawrie, Will MacKenzie (USA), Callum Macaulay, Joel Sjoholm (Swe), Robert Rock, Andrew Oldcorn, Henrik Stenson (Swe), Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (Fra), Mattias Eliasson (Swe), Paul Waring, Francois Delamontagne (Fra), Peter Gustafsson (Swe), David Lynn, Jacob Olesen (Den), Ignacio Garrido (Spa), Jean-Francois Lucquin (Fra), Ross McGowan, Jyoti Randhawa (Ind)
74 Joakim Haeggman (Swe), James Kingston (Rsa), Robert Dinwiddie, Jean Van de Velde (Fra), Birgir Hafthorsson (Ice), Johan Wahlqvist (Swe), Johan Edfors (Swe), Peter Hanson (Swe), Wil Besseling (Ned), Alessandro Tadini (Ita), Antti Ahokas (Fin), Santiago Luna (Spa), Rafael Cabrera Bello (Spa), Bernd Wiesberger (Aut), Jesper Parnevik (Swe), Richard Bland, Jarmo Sandelin (Swe), Scott Drummond, Simon Khan, Marc Cayeux (Zim), Richard S Johnson (Swe), Christopher Doak, Peter O'Malley (Aus), Fredrik Andersson Hed (Swe)
75 Christian Cevaer (Fra), Nathan T Smith (USA), Stuart Davis, Ake Nilsson (Rsa), Mikko Ilonen (Fin), Per Barth (Swe), Simon Dyson, Joakim Rask (Swe), Eirik Tage Johansen (Nor), Matthew Millar (Aus), Taco Remkes (Ned), Phillip Archer, Barry Lane
76 John Mellor, Thomas Aiken (Rsa), Patrik Sjoland (Swe), Per-Ulrik Johansson (Swe), Kenneth Ferrie, Mads Vibe-Hastrup (Den), Steven O'Hara, John E Morgan, Wilhelm Schauman (Swe), Bradley Dredge, Michael Lorenzo-Vera (Fra), Hennie Otto (Rsa), David Horsey, Andrew Coltart, Kane Webber (USA), Seve Benson, Raphael Jacquelin (Fra), David Dixon, Inder Van Weerelt (Ned)
77 Robert Jan Derksen (Ned), Robert Carlsson (Swe), Alvaro Velasco (Spa), Kyle Stanley (USA), Ben Mason, Daniel Vancsik (Arg), Marco Ruiz (Par), Iain Pyman, Marc Warren, Chapchai Nirat (Tha)
78 Michael Campbell (Nzl), Benn Barham, Alfredo Garcia-Heredia (Spa), Stuart Manley, Peter Hedblom (Swe), Anthony Snobeck (Fra), Jose Manuel Lara (Spa), Gary Lockerbie, Niklas Bruzelius (Swe), Rolf Muntz (Ned), Pontus Gad (Swe), Anders Larsson (Swe), Fabrizio Zanotti (Par), Michael Jonzon (Swe), Miles Tunnicliff
79 Ulrich Van Den Berg (Rsa), Anton Haig (Rsa), David Frost (Rsa), Oliver Fisher, Andrew McLardy (Rsa), Simon Wakefield, Alexandre Rocha (Bra), Felipe Aguilar (Chi), Andre Bossert (Swi), Michael Curtain (Aus), Nils Floren (Swe)
80 Mattias Nordqvist (Swe), Kalle Brink (Swe), Carlos Franco (Par), Carlos Rodiles (Spa)
81 Shiv Shankar Prasad Chowrasia (Ind)
82 Carlos Del Moral (Spa), Roope Kakko (Fin)
83 Magnus Bruhn (Swe)
85 Bjorn Akesson (Swe)
DQ: Magnus Bruhn (Swe)

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Jason Palmer wins South of England Open Amateur

FROM THE IRISH TIMES WEBSITE
A disappointing final round at Walton Heath cost Dubliner Niall Kearney the chance of winning the South of England Open Amateur Championship today.
The 24-year-old Irish international was in contention throughout the event, having started today’s final 36-holes just one shot off the lead and two shots heading into the final round.
However this afternoon the Royal Dublin golfer struggled to get his putter going and mishit several shots before slumping to a three-over par 75, his worst round of the three days.
The plus-four handicapper finished with a 72-hole aggregate of four-under 284 for a share of sixth place, five shots behind new champion, Jason Palmer, who was the 2008 Midlands Amateur winner and former Italian Open champion.
Palmer had led on day one with a New Course record 63 but then fell back before finishing strongly. He finished one shot ahead of last year’s Carris Trophy winner, young Stiggy Hodgson (Sunningdale) with halfway leader Simon Crockett third.
Although disappointed at not winning Kearney will have done his chances of Walker Cup selection no harm.
Baltray’s Simon Ward finished joint 26th on 292 total with Portstewart’s Paul Cutler on 298.

++Apologies for not being able to give the final total of Keir McNicoll (Carnoustie), the only Scot to survive the halfway cut. We've been relying on the Walton Heath website for scores but it obviously "crashed" after the third round because no scores have gone up on it for the fourth and final round. New technology is great when it works ....

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Lewis beats Lloyd in Carris Trophy play-off

FROM THE ENGLISH GOLF UNION WEBSITE
Tom Lewis battled through a five-hole playoff at Moor Park against his England boys team-mate Chris Lloyd to be crowned English Under-18 Champion as winner of the Carris Trophy at Moor Park, Hertfordshire.
In almost continuous rain, a par 4 at the 17th, the fifth play-off hole after the previous four had been halved in par figures. It was the second successive year that a five-hole playoff was required and it was a relieved Lewis, who virtually had to win the title twice over after holding a secure lead with a few holes to play, who collected the trophy.
“I hit a few bad shots at the wrong time at the end of my round but I wasn’t feeling nervous,” said Lewis. “We both had chances to win in the playoff but Chris made a mistake which proved decisive. This win means a lot because I targeted it all year. This is one of the biggest championships and to win it in my last year as a junior is superb. I’m pleased I came through and I felt I have won it twice today.”
For Lloyd it was a repeat of two years ago when he finished runner-up to Matt Haines at Saunton. “I’m disappointed to finish second again but I’m happy to have made the playoff after playing badly this week,” he said.
"It proves I can compete at this level but I have scrambled this week. After I birdied three in a row from the eighth I felt I had a chance but when I had back-to-back double bogeys I felt out of it again until Tom started dropping shots.”
Lewis had the title wrapped up when he held a four stroke lead with four to play. But those shots disappeared with a double bogey-par-bogey-bogey finish which added up to a 73. Lloyd meanwhile had posted a 71 to set the target at 282, ten under par, but must have thought his chance had gone until Lewis’ ragged finish brought him back into the action.
The pair halved the first four play-off holes over the first, 17th, 18th and first hole again in par figures but the end came at the second visit to the par four 17th when Lloyd hit his approach too long.
Faced with a 45 foot putt, he charged the first attempt ten feet past and missed the return after Lewis had secured another par four, which proved enough. Adam Carson, who shot 68 and 72 on the final day, finished a shot out of the playoff in third place on 283, but Scott Campbell, who led by two going into the final round, crashed to a 78 for joint fourth on 285.
The Hazards Salver for the best score by an under 16 player from Great Britain and Ireland was won by Nathan Kimsey from Woodhall Spa with 296, four over par, while Max Smith collected the Malcolm Reid Salver for the best aggregate from the McEvoy and Carris Trophies with 531 (243 and 288) by a shot from Lewis.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
282 Chris Lloyd (The Kendleshire) 69 72 70 71, Tom Lewis (Welwyn Garden City) 68 70 71 73 Lewis won play-off at fifth extra hole).
283 Adam Carson (Long Ashton) 72 71 68 72.
285 Thomas Pieters (Belgium) 71 71 73 70, Scott Campbell (Hallowes) 69 69 69 78.

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Image of Jack McDonald with the Scottish boys' open stroke-play championship trophy and the Under-16s trophy, by courtesy of Campbell T Savage.

Jack McDonald, only 16, takes Scottish boys'

stroke-play title home to Ayrshire

FROM THE SCOTTISH GOLF UNION WEBSITE
Jack McDonald from Kilmarnock Barassie claimed the Firstpoint USA Scottish boys' open stroke-play championship following an exciting final round at Ladybank Golf Club this evening.
The SGU Academy player, coached by Adam Hunter, had led the field over the opening two rounds and after losing his advantage over the third round, went on to claim his first national title.
At 16 years of age, Jack also claims the George McDonald Memorial Bowl for the leading U16 player in the field. The double was last achieved by Murray Urquhart 21 years ago and before him Lee Vannet, making McDonald only the third player to have won both trophies.
McDonald carded rounds of 69 and 70 before his third round of 76 saw him slip off the pace, enabling Scott Gibson from Southerness to head the field going into the final round.
McDonald, the grandson of former Walker Cup player Gordon Cosh, dented Gibson’s two shot margin at the very first hole of their final outing and from there on both players were fairly evenly matched until after the turn.
From there, it was McDonald who was to head home with a form that again saw him dominate his nearest rivals finishing with a level par 71 and a four round aggregate of 286 (2 over).
Commenting after his final round over the Fife course which is an Open qualifying venue for next year, McDonald said, “It feels great to win the Scottish Boys Stroke Play. I didn’t putt well this morning which saw me slip back but I stuck to my game plan and knew the birdies would drop eventually.
“I used my driver everywhere today as I was hitting it well and straight and my only real mishap was a bogey at the 14th and just didn’t get up and down.”
However McDonald recovered well to birdie the next three holes which included holing two twenty foot putts at the 16th and 17th. A final par at the last saw him 4 shots clear of the field to claim his biggest win of his career.
He added, “I have been playing well this year which is really down to the SGU Academy as it really has made a difference and my handicap has dropped from 3 to plus 1 this year. Hard work over the winter has made everything in my game click.”
Scott Gibson, after taking control of the penultimate round, lost momentum over the final few holes and had to settle for a share of second place. Joining Gibson on an aggregate of 290 was Graeme Duncan (Shotts) - who was awarded the silver medal based on a better final 36 holes (144) – and Colin Baird from Bothwell Castle. Both Gibson and Baird received bronze medals.
David Law (Hazlehead), the Scottish boys' match-play champion, never really got a title double bid going over the three days. He finished on a disappointing 303 - 17 shots behind the winner.
FINAL TOTALS
Par 284 (4x71) CSS 73 73 73 73
286 Jack McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie) 69 70 76 71.
290 Graeme Duncan (Shotts) 72 74 73 71, Colin Baird (Bothwell Castle) 71 71 75 73, Scott Gibson (Southerness) 74 68 71 77.
291 Sandy Bolton (Magnolia Park) 75 72 72 72.
293 Stuart Boyle (Harburn) 75 71 74 73, Ian Redford (St Andrews New) 73 71 75 74.
294 Jack Scott (Deeside) 74 73 77 70, Elliot Wilson (Berwick) 69 75 75 75, David Gallagher (Glasgow) 72 71 74 77.
295 Nigel Colbeck (Moor Allerton) 73 78 72 72, Tom Blennerhassett (Marriot Dalmahoy) 72 74 72 77, Paul McPhee (King James VI) 73 70 77 75.
297 Thomas Rowland (Prudhoe) 75 69 76 77.
298 Gavin Hay (Grantown on Spey) 75 74 74 75, Eamon Bradley (Mount Ellen) 73 76 74 75, Ewan Scott (St Andrews) 72 76 76 74, Kyle Godsman (Hopeman) 73 74 77 74, Jordyn Rhind (Uphall) 75 72 73 78, Chris Moore (West Essex) 76 71 75 76.
299 John Fernandes (Enfield) 73 74 76 76.
300 Gary Anderson (Flaxby Park) 78 72 75 75, Nicholas Smits (Australia) 74 75 74 77, Nicholas MacAndrew (Cullen) 73 76 80 71, Laurie Potter (Minchinhampton) 75 72 75 78.
301 Andrew McLachlan (Bonnyton) 74 76 80 71, Alan Welsh (Torrance House) 76 74 74 77, Jake Hogg (Germany) 77 73 77 74, Paul Shields (Kirkhill) 75 73 74 79.
303 David Law (Hazlehead) 73 76 78 76, Sam Crenan (Royal Jersey) 76 73 78 76, Samuel Echikson (Belgium) 75 73 81 74.
304 Blair Pelling (Prestonfield) 74 76 80 74, Mitchell Farrer (Ifield) 76 73 79 76, Jordon Williams (Castle Douglas) 75 74 77 78.
306 Lawrence Allan (Alva) 73 72 84 77.
308 Ross Gillan (Torrance House) 72 769 75 82, Gordon Munro (Fraserburgh) 75 75 77 81.
309 Ross Storrier (Downfield) 80 71 75 83, Marc Smith (Troon Welbeck) 74 73 82 80.
316 Matthias Kaufmann (Austria) 75 76 81 84.

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Colin Christy leads seniors by two

with a 69 at Hamilton

Kilmacolm's Colin Christy headed a big field by two strokes with a very good round of two-under-par 69 in the West of Scotland seniors' open amateur stroke-play championship at Hamilton Golf Club today.
His nearest challengers are Gordon MacDonald (Callander), captain of the Scottish Seniors Golfing Society and instigator of the domestic circuit for the over-55s, and David J Miller (Kilmarnock Barassie).
Ian Brotherston (Dumfries & Co), winner of last week's South of Scotland seniors' tournament, is in a group of six bracketed in joint fourth place on the 72 mark.

LEADING SCORES
First round
Par 71 CSS 72
69 Colin Christy (Kilmacolm).
71 Gordon MacDonald (Callander), David J Miller (Kilmarnock Barassie).
72 David Gardner (Broomieknowe), Ian Brotherston (Dumfries & Co), Graham Brown (Royal Liverpool), William Brown (Strathaven), Ronald MacLean (Hamilton), Sandy Pirie (Hazlehead).
73 John A Fraser (Royal Burgess), Gordon Thomson (Bearsden), David Imrie (Thornton), Glyn Rees (Fleetwood), Derek Murphy (Kinross).
74 James Kinloch (Cardross).

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Change back to V-shaped grooves in

irons will favour stroke-makers

FROM THE TIMESONLINE WEBSITE
By JOHN HOPKINS, named Internet Golf Writer of the Year
Changes in the shape and size of the grooves on irons is not a subject guaranteed to cause a buzz at the bar. It is a bit arcane for most golfers. In the world of the pros, however, the change from U-shaped grooves that have been in place for some time back to V-shaped grooves next year is threatening to turn professional golf on its head.
Who says so? Any number of leading players.
Tom Watson touched on the subject a little at Turnberry, forecasting that many of the younger players who have only played with U grooves are going to find the effect V grooves have on shots to be different.
At the Senior Open, Tom Lehman and Greg Norman both emphasised what an improvement in the game the new grooves are likely to be.
"Stroke makers will be back" is the message. Big-hitting without thought will no longer be an advantage because if a ball ends in the rough it will be harder to control the escape shot.
"Andy North said to Tom [Watson] and I when we were playing last week: You two should be out there playing every tournament at the start of next year because it will take from three to six months for these kids to figure out how to play with these new clubs," Norman said.
"V groove clubs will definitely show the difference between a shot-maker and an average power player becasue now you have to think about the shots you're going to hit. Now you've got to think about how hard you've got to hit the ball out of the semi-rough.
"Even at Turnberry, even round here (Sunningdale), the ball will go 30 or 40 yards further than these guys think it will. They will have to make adjustments.
"I know that if I was them I would be playing the last part of the year with the new grooves for 2010, no question, because they are going to make a dramatic change to the game and a great one, too. It is a positive move."
The significance of the grooves is this. When playing out of the rough a player is liable to get grass or water between his ball and the face of his club. Because this limits the purchase his irons have on the ball, this causes fliers when the ball travels 10 or 20 yards further than expected. V grooves cannot prevent this risk; U grooves, being wider than V grooves and differently shaped, can.
Norman said he had heard that Tiger Woods was already practising with clubs with the new grooves. "He's obviously trying to get a jump on it. If I was in Tiger's shoes, or if I was one of the leading players, I would be doing that now. It depends on who is willing to accept it [the changes] and make the adjustments fast enough to do it.
"Every great player has that ability. It's just a matter of getting on it straightaway. They are all great shot-makers. It is just that shot-making now is going to go to another level. now."

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WALES CHALLENGE TOUR REPORT

Greig Hutcheon in contention but

says he's at crossroads of career



FROM SCOTT CROCKETT, Chief Press Officer, European Tour
Greig Hutcheon might have spent last winter refurbishing drill bits in a factory but the Scot showed he also possessed the tools to succeed on the golf course when he grabbed the early lead in the SWALEC Wales Challenge.
The 36 year old Aberdonian, pictured right by Cal Carson Golf Agency, carded an excellent three under par 69 on the demanding National Course at The Vale Hotel Golf and Spa Resort on the outskirts of Cardiff to take a one shot lead over Germany’s Richard Treis, the duo the only two players from 78 morning starters to break par.
Hutcheon took the decision to work at the Redback Drilling Tools factory in Aberdeen to save money for his wedding in March but, with the ceremony now behind him, has turned his attention back to golf in an attempt to work his way back to the top echelons of the game.
“I think I am good enough to play on The European Tour and I do feel I have the game to have won on The European Tour,” he said. “I am fairly long and my short game is competent enough to be able to compete there so hopefully this is the start of a decent couple of weeks for me.
“One good week can turn it all around here on the Challenge Tour but, to be honest, I feel like I’m at the crossroads now. I have made a lot of cuts this year but have finished between 40th and 60th and when you do that, you end up losing money.
“I am going to play this week and next week in the Scottish Hydro Challenge (at Spey Valley, Aviemore) but if I don’t do well enough I think I will just have to concentrate on playing the Tartan Tour for the rest of the year.”
Certainly if the former Scottish professional champion can repeat the form he showed on the back nine of the National Course – playing to its full 7,266yd due to heavy pre-tournament rain and strong winds – then he might be sticking around the Challenge Tour circuit for a few months yet.
To the turn in level par 36, Hutcheon turned on the style heading for home with birdies at the 10th, 12th, 15th and 16th holes, the latter on the demanding 495yd 16th particularly noteworthy as, after his drive, he found the middle of the green with a three wood approach and holed from 15ft for his 3.
He dropped a shot at the last after missing the green but the Scot admitted he hoped that would be the only bit of misfortune he encountered this week. “That was a shame,” he said. “But it was the only real downside of the day. I will keep battling on because I love the game.”
Treis, who began his first round at the tenth, reached the ‘turn’ in 34 and although his progress was halted slightly by a double bogey 6 at the sixth hole, he finished in style with a birdie 3 at the 423yd ninth.
LATER NEWS: The English duo Matthew Cort and John Parry staged their own version of ‘The Late, Late Show’ to grab a share of the first round lead.
Out virtually last in the day on opposite sides of the demanding Cardiff course, the pair arrived together to sign their scorecards at 8.20pm and did so for respective four under par 68s to take a one shot lead over their fellow countryman Alex Belt and Aberdeen’s Greig Hutcheon who both opened with 69s.
FIRST ROUND SCOREBOARD
Par 72
68 M Cort (Eng), J Parry (Eng)
69 A Belt (Eng), G Hutcheon (Sco)
70 A Högberg (Swe) , R Treis (Ger), M Mills (Eng) ,
71 C Smith (Wal), D Nouailhac (Fra), S Surry (Eng) ,
72 R McEvoy (Eng), A Butterfield (Eng), P Whiteford (Sco) , S Robinson (Eng) , S Bebb (Wal) , G Shaw (Nir), J Campillo (Esp) , C Gane (Eng) ,
73 J McLeary (Sco) , J Morrison (Eng) , A Grenier (Fra) , D Marmion (Eng) , O Floren (Swe) , S Walker (Eng) , P Kaensche (Nor) , N Colsaerts (Bel) , R Karlberg (Swe) , K Jorgensen (Den) , O Farr (am) (Wal)
74 C Brazillier (Fra) , P Del Grosso (Arg) , J Quesne (Fra) , C Lee (Sco) , M Zions (Aus) , S Webster (Eng) , J Doherty (Sco) , N Meitinger (Ger) , J Grillon (Fra) , J Abbate (Arg) , F Praegant (Aut) , C Moriarty (Irl) , M McGeady (Irl) , A Bernadet (Fra) , G Houston (Wal) , A Tampion (Aus) , R Coles (Eng)
75 R Saxton (Ned) , G Murray (Sco) , J McCreadie (Sco) , G Clark (Eng) , B Pettersson (Swe) , M Haastrup (Den) , S Jeppesen (Swe) , S Dodd (Wal) , T Ferreira (RSA) , A Gee (Eng) , J Granberg (Fin) , D Küpper (Ger) , J Little (Eng) , G Woodman (Eng) , J Frazer (am) (Wal) ,
76 R Steiner (Aut) , A Constable (Wal) , G Molteni (Ita) , M Wiegele (Aut) , J Lima (Por) , Z Scotland (Eng) , F Colombo (Ita) , C Carranza (Arg) , S Juul (Den) , P Drost (Den) , N Lemke (Swe)
77 L Gagli (Ita) , V Riu (Fra) , A Summers (Aus) , B Miarka (Ger) , A Mellor (Eng) , T Whitehouse (Eng) , N Fox (Irl) , D Denison (Eng) , P Bocian (Swe) , R Russell (Sco) , T Dykes (Wal) , R Davies (Wal) , P Golding (Eng) , M Rominger (Sui) , M Laskey (Wal) , A Runcie (am) (Wal)
78 J Colomo (Esp) , C Russo (Fra) , C Mills (Wal) , T Haylock (Eng) , R Santos (Por) , M Crespi (Ita) , J Guerrier (Fra) , A Kaleka (Fra) , M Delpodio (Ita) , E Molinari (Ita) , L James (Eng) , J Larsen (Nor) , A McArthur (Sco) , B Etchart (Esp) , A Murray (Irl) , J Bjerhag (Swe) , L Kennedy (Eng) , D Wardrop (Eng) , L Westerberg (Swe) , S Thornton (Irl) , S Jamieson (Sco) , L Bond (Wal) , D Brooks (Eng) , L Rooke (Wal) ,
79 A Hansen (Den) , M Kramer (Ger) , R Steele (Eng) , J Heath (Eng) , J Ruth (Eng) , R Dinsdale (Wal) , N Turner (Irl) , G Paddison (Nzl) , D Griffiths (Eng) , O David (Fra) , T Cruz (Por) , L Saltman (Sco) , G Davies (Eng) , D Sandberg (Swe) , T Sundström (Fin) , R Harris (Eng)
80 K Sullivan (Wal) , A Willey (Eng) , L Thompson (Eng) , P Price (Wal) , J Sköld (Swe) , J Boerdonk (Ned) , B Evans (Eng) , R Thomas (Wal) , J Vickery (am) (Wal) ,
81 M Griffiths (Wal) , E Ramsay (Sco) , M Pilkington (Wal) , E Saltman (Sco) , T Laitto (Fin) ,
82 S Grant (Irl) , J Billot (Fra) , G Woolgar (Eng) , A Bruschi (Ita) , R Hooper (am) (Wal) ,
83 F Fritsch (Ger) , N Harris (Eng) , D Froreich (Ger) ,
85 T Jones (Eng) , H Thethy (Ken) , V Thorne (am) (Wal) ,
86 R Charania (Ken) , L Richard (Bel)

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FIRSTPOINTUSA.COM Scottish boys' open stroke-play

Scott Gibson from Southerness takes two-shot

lead with one round to go at Ladybank

FROM THE SCOTTISH GOLF UNION WEBSITE
Sixteen year old Scott Gibson returned a solid level par third round performance this morning at the Firstpoint USA Scottish boys' open stroke play championship, to become the new clubhouse leader at the Ladybank Golf Club, Fife venue.
Gibson a plus one handicapper from Southerness, eased past Jack McDonald, the round one and two leader, to head the field by two shots going into the final round this afternoon.
Coached by Brian Gemmell, Gibson had four birdies in his penultimate round which helped him to reel in McDonald’s three-stroke leading margin, and the Scotland U18 squad member hopes to keep his game on track this afternoon to claim his first national title.
However, McDonald, twice a winner on this season’s Junior Tour, who tied for the day one lead then went it alone last night after returning a second sub par round to dominate the field, is still very much in the hunt. His third round 76, caused in part by a difficult back nine, has set the scene for a tight and exciting final round this afternoon.
David Gallagher (Glasgow) who yesterday distinguished his second round with a hole in one at the eighth is tied for third place along with Colin Baird, on four over par for the tournament, whilst Tom Blennerhassett is one shot behind that pair in fifth place.
Four players are tied for 6th place who are 6 shots off the lead, comprising Graeme Duncan (Shotts), Boys cap Sandy Bolton, former U16 Champ Ian Redford and Berwick’s Elliot Wilson - who had shared the round one lead.
Elsewhere, Scottish boys' match-play champion David Law (Hazlehead), is unable to make a challenge for the double and is currently residing in the lower reaches of the leaderboard, after failing to make his mark in the earlier rounds of the tournament.
LEADING THIRD-ROUND TOTALS
Par 213 (3x71) CSS 73 73 73
213 Scott Gibson (Southerness) 74 68 71.
215 Jack McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie) 69 70 76.
217 David Gallagher (Glasgow) 72 71 74, Colin Baird (Bothwell Castle) 71 17 74.
218 Tom Blennerhassett (Marriott Dalmahoy) 72 74 72.
219 Sandy Bolton (Magnolia Park) 75 72 72, Graeme Duncan (Shotts) 72 74 73, Ian Redford (St Andrews New) 73 71 75, Elliot Wilson (Berwick) 69 75 75.
220 Jordyn Rhind (Uphall) 75 72 73, Stuart Boyle (Harburn) 75 71 74, Thomas Rowland (Prudhoe) 75 69 76, Paul McPhee (King James VI) 73 70 77.
222 Laurie Potter (Minchinhampton) 75 72 75, Chris Moore (West Essex) 76 71 75, Eamon Bradley (Mount Ellen) 73 76 74.
Selected scores:
228 Paul Shields (Kirkhill) 75 73 74.
231 David Law (Hazlehead) 73 76 78, Nicholas MacAndrew (Cullen) 73 76 80, Andrew McLachlan (Bonnyton) 74 76 80.

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England's eight quarter-finalists from last year

there again for 2009 national championship


NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY ENGLISH GOLF UNION
All eight quarter finalists from last year’s event, including champion Todd Adcock, are in the field for the English amateur championship at Rye and Littlestone Golf Clubs from July 27 to August 1.
That is unusual these days when so many players turn professional at a young age. But it means the field for this year’s championship will contain the cream of English golf fighting for the prestigious title.
Adcock, 24, was the winner last year at Woodhall Spa when he beat Northumberland’s Chris Paisley 2 and 1 in the 36-hole final over the Hotchkin Course. Adcock has a 9am start at Rye in the opening qualifying round, while Paisley, 23, back from the University of Tennessee, also starts at Rye at 12.40pm.
Last year’s beaten semi-finalists, Tom Sherreard from Kent and Lincolnshire's Adam Keogh begin at different courses. Sherreard, who will celebrate his 22nd birthday during the championship, starts at 7.50am at Littlestone, while Keogh, 21, is off in the second game at Rye at 7.10am.
The Championship affords the opportunity for several players to impress the Walker Cup selectors, none more so that Dale Whitnell, current leader of the Titleist/Footjoy EGU Order of Merit.
The 20 year old from Essex is just off a victory in the Tillman Trophy, a triumph that follows victory in the Portuguese Amateur this year as well as third places in the Lytham Trophy and Scottish Open Amateur and fourth in the Irish Open Amateur and Brabazon Trophy.
Whitnell has an 11.40am start at Littlestone, just after another Walker Cup candidate, Charlie Ford from Leicestershire, who starts at 11am at the same venue. Luke Goddard, 20, from London, is another Walker Cup squad member and a quarter finalist last year, is a 9.30am starter at Littlestone alongside boy cap Tom Lewis.
West of England Stroke Play champion Darren Wright is a Littlestone starter at 11.10am. James Robinson, the Lytham Trophy winner from Wigan, is off at 8.10am at Littlestone, while Darren Renwick, Amateur Championship semi-finalist and runner-up to Whitnell in the Tillman Trophy, is a 7.10am starter at Littlestone.
Farren Keenan, from Surrey, who successfully defended the Berkshire Trophy last month, is off at 7.40am at Rye, followed 20 minutes later by fellow international Eddie Pepperell.
The field is not confined to the younger element. English Seniors champion Chris Reynolds, starts over his home course at Littlestone at 12.30 and is followed two games later by his seniors international team-mate Dave Jessup.
European Mid Amateur Champion Stephen East from Yorkshire is also competing, starting his quest at Littlestone at 2.40pm A total of 288 leading players will descend on Rye and Littlestone seeking to join a long and exclusive list of English champions.
The English Amateur adopted a change of format two years ago which has proved a winner with players and officials alike. Instead of straight match-play from the start, as had been the practice for many years, two rounds of stroke play qualifying, one at each course, will be staged over the opening two days.
From that, the leading 64 players and ties will go forward to the knockout stages over 18 holes at Rye. A total of 345 players filed entries with the cut-off coming at scratch, 65 players of that handicap getting in, the rest being balloted out to a reserve list.
The Championship starts at 7am on Monday, July 27 and culminates with the 36-hole final on Saturday, August 1.
Latest scores and news updates will be available on the EGU website www.englishgolfunion.org. -

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Lanarkshire county news from Willie Sharp

Lanarkshire boys' team for match against Dumbarton at Dougalston Golf Club on Sunday, July 26:

UNDER-18
Alan Welsh Torrance House
Graeme Duncan Shotts
Ian Anderson Colville Park
Jordan Gallagher Crow Wood

UNDER-16
Craig Ross Kirkhill
Eamon Bradley Mt Ellen
James Steven Kirkhill
Craig Forbes Carnwath

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Picture courtesy of Getty Images: David Pepper, left, Chairman of the R&A General Committee and Keith Hodgkinson, Chairman of the R&A Golf Development Committee, right, with PGA Chief Executive Sandy Jones.

R&A £500,000 boost to PGA's

training programmes

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE PGA
The Professional Golfers’ Association will expand and improve its acclaimed training programmes thanks to a grant of almost half-a-million pounds from The R&A, the sport’s governing body.
The R&A, which ploughs millions into promoting and growing the game worldwide, has given further evidence of its commitment to the game by supporting The PGA in its training of modern-day professionals.
The PGA has more than 7,500 members working in more than 60 countries and each year around 250 new graduates qualify through a three-year Foundation Degree in Professional Golf Studies.
Its training programmes include two successful degree courses, several further education opportunities including a director of golf option plus a continuous professional development scheme.
At the heart of its education and training programmes is a commitment to the latest advances in sports-science, technology, equipment, coaching techniques, business and marketing – all designed to equip the degree-educated young professionals with the skills to grow and promote the game in a range of roles across the golf industry.
The latest funding will also assist the PGA in nurturing a network of volunteer coaches across the UK and helping grow the game through schemes such as the England Golf Partnership, clubgolf Scotland, Golf Development Wales and Junior Golf Ireland.
“The continued support from the R&A is invaluable in helping the PGA training and education programme sustain its reputation as one of the most respected across the world,” said Dr Kyle Phillpots, PGA director of education and training.
“We’re indebted to the R&A for their support and backing which ensures our members are well qualified to assist the R&A in their ambitions to grow the game throughout the world.”
The R&A is golf's governing body and organiser of The Open Championship and through the Championship’s success is able to invest an annual surplus through The R&A Foundation into grass roots development projects around the world.

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Slattery birdies five of first six holes

in SAS Masters in Malmo

England's Lee Slattery made a spectacular start to the SAS Masters in Malmo today with birdies on the first four holes and then another at the 448 yard sixth.
On the longest course in European Tour history at 7,665 yards the 30 year old from Southport, only 136th on this season's Race to Dubai, jumped into a three stroke lead over Swede Niclas Fasth and Australian Brett Rumford.
World No 7 Henrik Stenson, the highest-ranked player in the field, was among the later starters, but former Ryder Cup star Jesper Parnevik set off with six straight pars on the back nine.
Fasth, a team-mate of Parnevik in the 2002 European side that won at The Belfry, birdied the 12th and 15th, while ex-Irish Open champion Rumford matched Slattery's birdies on the opening two holes.

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