North of Scotland open amateur stroke-play championship

Kevin McAlpine leads by two from

Philip McLean at Lossiemouth

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Kevin McAlpine (Alyth), former winner of both the Scottish men's amateur match-play AND stroke-play championships, is bang in contention for his first victory since his serious knee operation during the winter.
Kevin, pictured right, shot rounds of 69 and 68 for an aggregate of 137 - the combined CSS was 146 (2x73) - to lead the North of Scotland open amateur stroke-play championship for the David Blair Trophy by two shots over the Moray Golf Club Old Course today.
Kevin, who won the David Blair Trophy at Nairn Dunbar in 2006, has a two-shot lead over his nearest challenger, Philip McLean, the Peterhead 22-year-old who won the Leven Gold Medal two weeks ago and last Sunday lost out to Kris Nicol (Fraserburgh) in a play-off for the North-east District Open.
Philip had rounds of 71 and 68 today for 139.
Last year's Scottish boys' stroke-play champion Mark Bookless (Sandyhills) is lying third at the halfway stage on 140 with rounds of 71 and 69.
Lowest round of the day was a 67 by Graham Robertson (Silverknowes) in the second round.
Graham, who had a 75 in his first round, is sharing fourth place on 142 with Dean Yeats (Nigg Bay), a former Scottish boys' championship beaten finalist, Kevin Matheson (Royal Dornoch) and Gordon Yates (Hilton Park).
Defending champion Kris Nicol had a disappointing second-round 77 after a first-round 72 and, 12 shots off the pace on 149, he has a mountain to climb over Sunday's final 36 holes. Fraser Fotheringham (Nairn), whom Nicol beat in a play-off for the North of Scotland title at Nairn 12 months ago, is on 143 after scores of 73 and 70.
Richard Graham (Hayston) was first-round pacemaker with a 68 but dropped out of the lead with an 81 for 149.
QUALIFIERS
+43 players with totals of 150 qualified to play Sunday's
final 36 holes
Par 142 (2x710 CSS 73 73
137 Kevin McAlpine (Alyth) 69 68.
139 Philip McLean (Peterhead) 71 68.
140 Mark Bookless (Sandyhills) 71 69.
142 Graham Robertson (Silverknowes) 75 67, Dean Yeats (Nigg Bay) 74 68, Kevin Matheson (Royal Dornoch) 72 70, Gordon Yates (Hilton Park) 69 73.
143 Fraser Fotheringham (Nairn) 73 70, Danny Edwards (Elgin) 72 71, Michael Main (Thornton) 72 71, Chris Robb (Inchmarlo) 71 72.
144 Michael Daily (Erskine) 70 74.
145 Alex Main (Thornton) 74 71, Bobby Rushford (Grangemouth) 74 71, Calum Stewart (Brora) 72 73, Scott Little (Moray) 71 74, Daniel Somerville (St Andrews) 70 75.
146 Ross Bell (Downfield) 75 71, Peter Spearman-Burn (NZ) 75 71, Graham Murray (Cullen) 75 71.
147 Malcolm MacLeman (Moray) 77 70, Christopher Forman (Peterhead) 76 71, Scott Borrowman (Dollar) 75 72, Gregor Stewart (Murcar Links) 73 74.
148 Mark Hillson (Craigielaw) 76 72, Robert Sheils (Moray) 74 74, Alexander Culverwell (Dunbar) 74 74, Michael Watson (Elgin) 73 75.
149 Robert McKerron (Forres) 75 74, Adam Dunton (McDonald Ellon) 75 74, Gary Thmson (Moray) 75 74, Sam Binning (Ranfurly Castle) 75 74, Kevin Thomson (Moray) 74 75, Lyle McAlpine (Invergrdon) 74 75, Craig Watson (East Renfrewshire) 74 75, Kris Nicol (Fraserburgh) 72 77, Richard Graham (Hayston) 68 81.
150 Darren Gould (Ladybank) 79 71, Allan Cameron (Inverness) 76 74, Ewan Forbes (Inverness) 75 75, Ian Angus (Duff House Royal) 75 75, Mike MacDonald (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) 74 76, John Duff (Newmachar) 73 77.
MISSED THE CUT
151 Steven Robertson (Sandyhills) 78 73, Colin Thomson (East Renfrewshire) 77 74, Ryan Bain (Strathlene) 75 76.
152 Euan Polson (Inverness) 82 70, Nick Robson (Meldrum House) 79 73, Jeff Wright (Forres) 79 73, Simon Lockhart (Bathgate) 78 74, John Mitchell (Fraserburgh) 77 75, John Forbes (Inverness) 77 75, Ben Sloan (Cathkin Braes) 77 75, John Godward (McDonald Ellon) 77 75.
153 Chris Gaitens (Fortrose & Rosemarkie) 81 72, Grant Minnes (Hayston) 78 75, Derek Ramsay (Elgin) 78 75.
154 Ian Redford (Silverknowes) 81 73, Justin Duff (Fraserburgh) 79 75, Gordon Stevenson (Whitecraigs) 70 84.
155 Stewart McCulloch (McDonald Ellon) 82 75, Michael Buchan (Cruden Bay)78 77, Barry McDermott (Leven GS) 75 80.
156 Conor O'Neil (Glasgow) 82 74, George Finlay (Ballumbie Castle) 79 77, Kevin Thomas-Duncan (McDonald Ellon) 77 79.
157 Neil McWilliam (Garmouth & Kingston) 83 74, Billy Main (Murcar Links) 78 769.
158 Andrew Hepburn (Fraserburgh) 78 80.
161 Steven Younger (Hirsel) 82 79. 162 Torquil McInroy (North Berwick) 81 81.
163 Jordan Findlay (Fraserburgh) 81 82, Michael Gray (Lanark) 80 83.
NRs Paul Betty (Hayston) 77 NR, Mathew Clark (Kilmacolm) 78 NR.

Tartan Tour Scoreboard
DRUMPELLIER PRO-AM
Drumpellier Golf Club
FINAL PRO SCORES
Par 71
64 Ian Taylor (Drumpellier) £1,469.86.
65 Lindsay Mann (Carnoustie), Steven Taylor (Bothwell Castle) £1,028.52 each.
67 Mark King (Kingsfield), Stephen Gray (Hayston) £595.16 each.
68 Hamish Kemp (Bishopbriggs), Fraser Mann (Musselburgh), David Orr (East Renfrewshire). Jason McCreadie (Buichanan Castle) £356.43 each.
69 Lee Harper (Archerfield Links), Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs) £234.98 each.
70 Ross Neill (Drumpellier), Alan Lockhart (Ladybank), Edward Thomson (Senit Associates), Graeme Lornie (Paul Lawrie Foundation), Craig Ronald (Carluke), Jonathan Lomas (unatt) £168.99 each.
71 Craig Matheson (Falkirk Tryst), Euan Cameron (Hamilton), Paul Wardell (Whitekirk), Andrew Oldcorn (Kings Acre), Scott Henderson (Kings Links) £85.37 each.
72 Mark Kerr (Marriott Dalmahoy), Greig Hutcheon (Banchory) £59.14 each.
73 Fraser McLaughlan (Bothwell Castle), Callum Nicoll (Prestwick), Andrew Marshall (Houston GR) £59.14 each.
74 Mark Loftus (Cowglen), Chris Kelly (Cawder), Gordon Law (Uphall) £59.14 each.
75 Stewart Savage (Dalmuir), Ian Graham (Crow Wood), Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills), Christopher Tierney (Airdrie), Christopher Russell (RAW Golf Course Design), Scott Morrison (Acushnet Europe Ltd) £59.14 each.
76 Craig Lee (unatt) £59.14.
77 Kennethy Monaghan (Bothwell Castle) £59.14.
79 Anthony Mackrell (Playsport Golf) £59.14.
NRs Paul Brookes (Pitreavie), Scott Catlin (Greenburn) £29.57 each.
WINNING TEAM
56 (15 under par) Mark Loftus (Cowglen) & Malcolm McLean Team: Malcolm McLean (handicap 9), Robert Crawford (4), Ron Hill (14)..

Graham Burroughs and Robert Hubbard win

play-off climax to PGA Super 60s' event

FROM THE PROFESSIONAL GOLFERS ASSOCIATION WEBSITE
Long-serving Boyce Hill (near Southend) professional Graham Burroughs capped his 35th year at the Essex club by claiming the PGA Super 60s title with the assistance of amateur partner Robert Hubbard.
A year after finishing second, Burroughs made a step up the top of the podium - but only after two extra holes of a sudden death play-off against former Teignmouth professional Peter Ward and his partner Ian Turner after both pairs tied at 11-under-par at Worcestershire's famed Blackwell Golf Club.
Ward ensured their would be the need for a play-off after sinking a tricky four-four putt at the last to card a second round six-under-par 64, one shot shy off the best of the week 63 by Burroughs and Hubbard, who began the day two shots behind the leaders.
After regrouping, both professionals parred the first play-hole, the par four first, before Burroughs claimed victory at the par three second, tapping in for par after his birdie effort lipped out having landed his tee shot just five feet from the pin.
It capped an impressive day for Burroughs and Hubbard, both former school friends, and went part way towards the disappointment of being second 12 months earlier.
"Nothing can really make up for last year but it really is such a nice thing to win," said Burroughs.
"Robert played well and it was a shame for the others to lose, but I am very pleased to have won.
"We dovetailed really well, I had a few birdies and Robert used his shots well. The last hole was the one that saved our bacon as I hit my second shot in the bunker but got it up and down, which helped.
"It was then an anxious wait and we were hoping there wouldn't be a play-off then Peter sunk his putt to draw level, so it was a very nice when we eventually won."
It was a unique experience for 61-year-old Hubbard, who savoured his two day in the heat of battle with the professionals.
"Graham played great and held it together making that par to win, which was great and I just feel elated," he said.
"Playing with the pros at this level you see how they play and so when you do something nice and come in when you can, it's fantastic.
"I've thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience as I've never been involved in anything like this before."
As for the vanquished Ward, who added a 64 to the opening day 65 with Turner, he attempted to take the positives out of the play-off defeat.
"I'm disappointed but I went round in 66 and played really good to be in my first play-off for a good few years," he said.
"I had a feeling when I was the 18th the putt would get us in the play-off and it was good to see it go in.
"Despite losing, this has been a good week. I haven't played an awful lot as I've been in France for the past five years so I really enjoyed the competition. This was the first opportunity I've had to play in it as I was in France last year when I became eligible."
Royal Guernsey's Norman Wood and amateur Steve Wild compiled a second round 65 to claim third place at seven-under-par 133, with 2007 champions Iain Clark and partner Colin Day fourth at five-under-par.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 140 (2x70)
129 Graham Burroughs (Boyce Hill) & amateur Robert Hubbard 66 63 (£1,250 to pro).
129 (btn at 2nd hole of play-off) Peter Ward (unatt) & amateur Ian Turner 65 64 (£1,000 to pro).
133 Norman D Wood (Royal Guernsey) & amateur Steve Wild 68 65 (£800 to pro).
135 Iain Clark (unatt) & amateur Colin Day 66 69 (£650 t0 pro).

St Andrews brings best out of Bob Cameron: leader

in Cleveland/Srixon Scottish Senior Open

By STEVE TODD, European Seniors Tour Press Officer
Bob Cameron is targeting more success in the Home of Golf when he takes a one-stroke lead into the final round of the Cleveland Golf/Srixon Scottish Senior Open after a flawless 68 over the Torrance course at Fairmont St Andrews.
The Englishman won the PGA Club Professionals Championship over The Duke’s Course at St Andrews in 2000 and he is praying the golfing gods are on his side again as he attempts to win a third European Senior Tour title – his first since his two victories in France and Italy in 2004.
Cameron posted four birdies and no bogeys to finish on seven under par 137, one shot clear of fellow overnight leader Luis Carbonetti of Argentina and Englishman Glenn Ralph, who signed for the low round of the day 67.
“I’ve always wanted to win in the UK and this would be an appropriate one to win as I won the Club Pros Championship over the Duke’s Course at St Andrews,” said the 56 year old Cameron . “Maybe there’s an omen there.
“I feel proud to be leading a tournament like this. It has been a while since I won and you get to the stage where you do wonder whether you can compete anymore but you look at Tom Watson in The Open approaching 60 and think if he can do it the rest of us can.
“It was a shaky finish – I had a couple of up and downs on the last couple of holes – but I’m in a position of confidence for tomorrow. I’m not doing anything spectacular but just keeping the ball in play. There are plenty of guys breathing down my neck though.
“I’ve been getting in contention a lot since my wins but it is the classic thing of getting the job done. It’s easier said than done though.
“Tomorrow is another chance though. Anytime you are out in the last group you’ve got a chance. Something else in the 60s might be good enough, especially with how the weather is looking.”
While Cameron’s groundwork came in the first ten holes of his round, compatriot Ralph came to life on the back nine to play himself into contention for his maiden Senior Tour title, with his best finish coming in the 2007 Scandinavian Senior Open just before a broken ankle ruled him out of action for 14 months.
“It all clicked into place after I made the turn,” he said. “I played well before that but didn’t get rewarded – I was just plodding along with pars then birdied ten, 11 and 12 and holed a lot of putts on the way back.
“I’m hitting the ball well but it depends on the weather. On a day like today again you’d need a 68 or 69 and I feel capable of that. I’m feeling confident and want that win. I’ve played well this year – I’ve come back stronger after the injury.”
Carl Mason , the all time leading Senior Tour money winner, is two strokes off the pace following a 68 which included five birdies on the front nine. He is tied in fourth place with Scotland’s Ross Drummond, the 2007 runner up, who signed for a steady round of 70.
Former Ryder Cup Ian Woosnam is six shots off the pace – the same margin he overturned in the final round of the Irish Seniors Open in association with Fáilte Ireland and AIB Bank in June – following a level par 72.
Sam Torrance, who designed the Fairmont St Andrews course which re-opened recently after being revamped, recovered from a back injury which caused him agony during the first round but was disappointed with his six over par 78 which leaves him well off the pace on nine over par.
“I saw a physio yesterday and it was extraordinary – within 10 minutes I could touch my toes. It was like I never had a problem,” said the 2002 Ryder Cup Captain. “So there’s no excuses for today! I didn’t play well and putted terribly. I had four three putts on the front nine.
“I birdied the first and thought ‘oh we’re off’ then three putted the second and progressively got worse. I was disappointed –I didn’t play well enough.”
SCROLL DOWN TO READ ALL THE SCORES

Hedblom's 196 54-hole total in KLM Open

is lowest of season on European Tour

FROM THE AOL GOLF NEWS SERVICE
Sweden's Peter Hedblom achieved the lowest 54-hole total - 196 (14 under par over a par-70 track) - of the European Tour season today and will take a two-stroke lead into the final round of the KLM Open in the Netherlands.
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Joint halfway leader with defending champion Darren Clarke, the 39-year-old, without a single top-20 finish all year, added a superb six-under-par 64 to his two opening 66s.
That was too hot for Clarke to handle and even though a 67 was no disaster, the Ulsterman dropped to third place - one behind Dubliner Peter Lawrie.
Hedblom has won only two of more than 350 Tour events in his career and after missing his last three halfway cuts took himself off to a near-deserted island in his home country to forget about the game for a while.
It seems to have done the trick. Needing to climb 40 places from his current 155th position on the money list to keep his card, he now has a first prize of nearly £260,000 and a two-year exemption in his sights.
THIRD ROUND TOTALS
Par 210 (3x70)
196 Peter Hedblom (Swe) 66 66 64 198 Peter Lawrie 65 68 65
199 Darren Clarke 65 67 67
200 Jamie Donaldson 66 68 66, Kenneth Ferrie 66 67 67, Terry Pilkadaris (Aus) 69 65 66, Sam Little 70 67 63
201 Marcus Higley 71 63 67, Alessandro Tadini (Ita) 68 67 66, Markus Brier (Aut) 67 69 65, Barry Lane 68 68 65
202 Damien McGrane 67 67 68, Alexander Noren (Swe) 72 66 64, Oskar Henningsson (Swe) 67 66 69, Simon Dyson 67 67 68, Bradley Dredge 66 67 69
203 Christian Cevaer (Fra) 70 66 67, Richie Ramsay 69 68 66, Paul Lawrie 66 68 69, Alejandro Canizares (Spa) 72 63 68, Fabrizio Zanotti (Par) 74 64 65, Marcus Fraser (Aus) 69 69 65
204 Carlos Del Moral (Spa) 67 67 70, Garry Houston 67 70 67, Gareth Maybin 67 68 69, David Lynn 68 68 68, Eirik Tage Johansen (Nor) 70 64 70, Niclas Fasth (Swe) 69 68 67, Ignacio Garrido (Spa) 66 69 69, Wade Ormsby (Aus) 66 67 71, Paul McGinley 64 70 70
205 Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (Fra) 71 67 67, Michael Lorenzo-Vera (Fra) 68 71 66, Shane Lowry 66 68 71, Sion Bebb 71 67 67, Richard Green (Aus) 69 67 69
206 Robert Jan Derksen (Ned) 70 66 70, Felipe Aguilar (Chi) 68 71 67, Andrew Coltart 68 69 69, Phillip Price 66 72 68, Klas Eriksson (Swe) 67 68 71
207 Chris Wood 71 68 68, David Horsey 73 66 68, Mark Brown (Nzl) 68 71 68, Simon Khan 68 71 68
208 Ricardo Gonzalez (Arg) 70 68 70, Mikael Lundberg (Swe) 70 69 69, Gary Orr 64 73 71, Shiv Kapur (Ind) 71 68 69, Benn Barham 71 68 69, Simon Wakefield 69 68 71, Ross McGowan 70 67 71
209 David Drysdale 72 65 72, Emanuele Canonica (Ita) 70 67 72, Guido Van Der Valk (Ned) 71 67 71, Miles Tunnicliff 70 69 70
210 Ulrich Van Den Berg (Rsa) 69 68 73, Callum Macaulay 66 73 71, Jorge Campillo (Spa) 65 71 74, Martin Erlandsson (Swe) 70 67 73, Mark Foster 69 68 73, Peter O'Malley (Aus) 69 70 71
211 Rafael Echenique (Arg) 69 69 73
212 Michael Jonzon (Swe) 69 69 74, Graeme Storm 71 67 74
214 Jeppe Huldahl (Den) 69 69 76
216 Phillip Archer 74 64 78
219 David Dixon 72 66 81

Cleveland Golf/Srixon Scottish Senior Open Scoreboard
FAIRMONT ST ANDREWS, TORRANCE COURSE
SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 144 (2x72)
137 B Cameron (Eng) 69 68
138 L Carbonetti (Arg) 69 69, G Ralph (Eng) 71 67
139 C Mason (Eng) 71 68, R Drummond (Sco) 69 70
140 R Chapman (Eng) 71 69, G Brand Jnr (Sco) 71 69, D Johnson (USA) 71 69, P Senior (Aus) 70 70
141 T Johnstone (Zim) 71 70
143 I Woosnam (Wal) 71 72, S Owen (Nzl) 73 70
144 P Mitchell (Eng) 73 71, A Murray (Eng) 72 72, T Giedeon (Ger) 73 71, D Durnian (Eng) 72 72
145 B Longmuir (Sco) 72 73, G Cali (Ita) 74 71,
146 B McColl (Sco) 74 72, S Bennett (Eng) 74 72, B Lincoln (RSA) 74 72, J Rivero (Esp) 73 73, G Ryall (Eng) 71 75, S Ginn (Aus) 76 70,
147 M Miller (Sco) 77 70, N Ratcliffe (Aus) 73 74, B Charles (Nzl) 76 71, G Brand (Eng) 75 72, E Rodriguez (Esp) 73 74, M Harwood (Aus) 74 73, H Carbonetti (Arg) 73 74, D Merriman (Aus) 73 74,
148 D Smyth (Irl) 72 76, C Williams (RSA) 74 74, A Franco (Par) 73 75, G Towne (USA) 73 75, D Hospital (Esp) 75 73, I Mosey (Eng) 77 71,
149 D Cambridge (Jam) 77 72, B Boyd (USA) 71 78, E Darcy (Irl) 74 75, P Allan (Eng) 72 77,
150 J Bland (RSA) 76 74, G Encina (Chi) 76 74, P Oakley (USA) 73 77, T Gale (Aus) 74 76, M Farry (Fra) 76 74, N Job (Eng) 74 76,
151 J Hall (Eng) 76 75,
152 M Cunning (USA) 75 77, A Barrera (Arg) 75 77, M Clayton (Aus) 77 75, J Chillas (Sco) 74 78, J Bruner (USA) 77 75, M Williams (Zim) 76 76,
153 S Torrance (Sco) 75 78, E Polland (Nir) 81 72, K Spurgeon (Eng) 81 72, M Piñero (Esp) 75 78,
154 G Hopkins (USA) 78 76, B Smit (RSA) 73 81, A Garrido (Esp) 77 77, D Russell (Eng) 80 74,
155 V Garcia (Esp) 80 75, D O'Sullivan (Irl) 78 77, J Heggarty (Nir) 74 81,
156 D Good (Aus) 80 76,
157 J Rhodes (Eng) 78 79,
158 M Bembridge (Eng) 81 77,
159 A Fernandez (Chi) 77 82,
160 J Hawkes (RSA) 79 81,
170 R Hopkins (USA) 86 84,

Image of Victor Dubuisson with the trophy and Ross Kellett on the right is from the championship website.

Dubuisson pips Kellett for the title

after two-stroke swing at the 17th

FROM THE EUROPEAN MEN'S AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP WEBSITE
Frenchman Victor Dubuisson, 19, started the final round at Chantilly three strokes behind the leading Scottish pair of James Byrne and Ross Kellett.
But, with a final round of five-under-par 66 for a seven-under-par total of 277, Dubuisson won the tournament, two years after another Frenchman, Benjamin Hebert, was the winner in Germany. France's young Clement Sordet finished joint third with the same total (280) as the Englishman Billy Hemstock.

Kellett, the long-time leader or joint leader, finished second, beaten by a shot, with a closing round of 70 for 278.
The final word was written on the last two holes of the last day - birdie for Victor Dubuisson, bogey for Ross Kellett, par for both on the last hole.
"I will wait a little before turning pro, to enjoy playing the Open Championship on the Old Course, St Andrews next summer," said Dubuisson.
"I came here with a great motivation : a win to play the Open, a top five finish to get directly in the PQ2 (European Tour School Qualifying.
"I am so happy to have won the European amateur title before turning pro !"
The final race for gold started on the first holes, Ross Kellett making a very good start with birdie on the second, while James Byrne made a bogey on hole 4. James never succeeded in making a comeback.
Playing just behind them, Victor Dubuisson birdied the fifth and sixth. After nine holes, Victor Dubuisson,with a bag of four birdies, had joined Kellett in the lead at six-under-par.From this point, it was a two-horse race for the title between Kellett and Dubuisson.
With a birdie on the ninth, Ross Kellett regained his leadership at seven-under-par.
No more birdies for Victor Dubuisson on the following four, one more for Ross Kellett on the 12th, to see him go two strokes clear at eight under par
A bogey on the 14th put the Scot back to seven under par, one ahead of Dubuisson with another Frenchaman, Clement Sordet another stroke behind in third place, followed by two Englishmen.
Bogeys at the 17th for Kellett and 16-year-old Sordet
Then came the decisive two-shot swing in Dubuisson's favour at the 17th where he had a birdie and Kellet a bogey. .
Dubuisson came into the tournament as No 6 in the European rankings and No 14 in the R&A WAGR.

Hemstock, who finished with a 69, and Sordet, a 68, finished joint third on 280.

James Byrne was placed joint seventh on 273 with British amateur champion Matteo Manassero from (Italy). Byrne finished with a 75, Manassero a 68.
FINAL TOTALS
Par 284 (4x71)
277 V Dubuisson (France) 65 75 71 66.
278 R Kellett (Scotland) 67 66 75 70.
280 B Hemstock (England ) 72 69 70 69, C Sordet (Franc) 69 70 73 68.
281 M Nixon (England) 73 69 68 71.

282 A Runcie (Wales) 67 71 74 70.

283 M Manassero (Italy) 71 72 72 68, J Byrne (Scotland) 69 69 70 75.

284 J Abbott (England) 71 69 74 70, C Paisley (England) 69 74 71 70.

Selected scores:

288 Wallace Booth (Scotland) 76 71 67 74 (jt 25th).

291 Glenn Campbell (Scotland) 72 74 72 73.

294 Paul O'Hara (Scotland) 74 72 74 74.

England fancy their chance of toppling

Scotland in next week's internationals

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY ENGLISH GOLF UNION
England will seek to regain the Raymond Trophy when the Home Internationals get underway at Hillside Golf Club, Southport, next week (Wednesday to Friday, August 26 to 28).
But with seven Walker Cup players in their line-up, they will be targeted by the three other nations. In fact, all ten Walker Cup men who will face the amateurs of the United States at Merion next month, will be in action at Hillside when Ireland will defend the trophy they won at Muirfield last year.
England include four new caps - Stiggy Hodgson (Sunningdale, Surrey), Matthew Nixon (Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire), Chris Paisley (Stocksfield, Northumberland) and James Robinson (Southport & Ainsdale, Lancashire) – in an otherwise experienced side containing seven of the side that finished third last year.
Overall, the England record this year is spectacular. Having beaten Spain and Australia and won the European Nations Cup, the only slight blemish came in the final of the European men’s team Championships at Conwy in Wales when they lost to Scotland.
So England captain Colin Edwards will be looking to extend that record. “We have had a really good year with our teams and some great individual performances. But winning back the title won’t be easy,” he said. “I’m really excited about the week. We have four new faces and to have seven Walker Cup players in our side is unbelievable. “That means the expectations are higher than before so meeting us will be everyone’s big game. We play Scotland on the first day and having lost to them in the European final adds that extra edge. But this time there are ten players in action rather than six.”
Scotland come to Hillside as World and European Champions and their team contains two Walker Cup players in Gavin Dear and Wallace Booth, while Niall Kearney, winner of the Brabazon Trophy at Moortown in May, is in the Irish line-up.
Admission is free to the event. For those unable to attend, scoring, championship commentary and news updates are available on the Home Internationals website, www.homeinternationals.org.
Teams:
ENGLAND
Jamie Abbott (Fynn Valley) Tommy Fleetwood (Formby Hall) Luke Goddard (Hendon) Matt Haines (Rochester & Cobham) Stiggy Hodgson (Sunningdale) Sam Hutsby (Liphook) Farren Keenan (Sunningdale) Matthew Nixon (Ashton-under-Lyne) Chris Paisley (Stocksfield) James Robinson (Southport & Ainsdale) Dale Whitnell (Five Lakes)
IRELAND
Robert Cannon (Laytown & Bettystown) Cian Curley (Newlands) Paul Cutler (Portstewart) Connor Doran (Banbridge) Alan Dunbar (Rathmore) Niall Kearney (Royal Dublin) Dara Lernihan (Castle) Pat Murray (Limerick) Kelan McDonagh (Athlone) Paul O’Kane (Moyola Park) Simon Ward (Co Louth)
SCOTLAND
Glenn Campbell (Blairgowrie) Steven McEwan (Caprington) Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) Ross Kellett (Colville Park) Gavin Dear (Murrayshall) Keir McNicoll (Carnoustie) James Byrne (Banchory) Paul O’Hara (Colville Park) David Law (Hazlehead) Wallace Booth (Comrie) James White (Lundin).
WALES
Nigel Edwards (Whitchurch) Rhys Enoch (Truro) Oliver Farr (Ludlow) James Frazer (Pennard) Richard Hooper (Neath) Alistair Jones (Radyr) Rhys Pugh (Vale of Glamorgan) Adam Runcie (Abergele) Luke Thomas (Vale of Glamorgan) Joe Vickery (Newport) Ben Westgate (Trevose) -

England field two new caps in Under-16

match against Spain at Heswall

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY ENGLISH GOLF UNION
England will field two new caps – Oliver Carr (Heswall, Cheshire) and Max Orrin (North Foreland, Kent) in their four-strong team to face Spain in the annual Under 16 international at Heswall on August 25.
The two other members of the team will be Sebastian Crookall-Nixon (Workington, Cumbria) and Harry Casey (Enfield, Middlesex).
Carr, 16, a former Cheshire junior champion, played in the winning Nations Cup team in the McGregor Trophy at Radcliffe-on-Trent and represented the English Golf Union in the recent Harder German Junior Masters, finishing tied 14th.
Orrin, 15, from Kent, was prominent in the McGregor Trophy, being joint leader at halfway and finishing just a shot out of the five-man play-off. He has shown consistent results this year including victory in the South of England boys' championship, runner-up in the Douglas Johns Trophy, fifth in the Kent Youths and sixth place in the English Under-16 Schools Championship. Crookall-Nixon, 15, has been English Under-16 Champion for the past two years, retaining the title in the five-man playoff at Radcliffe-on-Trent and was a member of the winning Nations Cup team. He made his international debut in last year’s Under 16 match against Spain and also played against Scotland and Ireland.
He also earned his first boys cap in this month’s boys' home internationals at Hankley Common, winning three of his five matches. Casey, 16, won his first Under 16 cap against Spain last year, is the current Middlesex Under 16 Champion and a former winner of the Douglas Johns Trophy. He also represented the EGU in the Harder German Junior Masters and was a member of the Nations Cup team that finished joint runners-up in the McGregor Trophy.

US NATIONWIDE TOUR REPORT

Michael Sim sharing lead at

halfway in Christmas in

October Classic

A double bogey at the 17th cost Paul Claxton the outright lead after two rounds of the US Nationwide Tour's Christmas in October Classic at Overland Park, Kansas. But the 41 year old from Georgia is still a happy man to be figuring in a triple trie with Aberdeen-born Australian Michael Sim (second-round 67), pictured above, and Tom Gillis (68) from Michigan at 10-under-par 132 at the Nicklaus Golf Club at LionsGate.
Steve Wheatcroft (67) is one behind and Joe Daley (66) two shots off the pace.
Claxton, a veteran of 306 career starts on the Nationwide Tour, remained upbeat late in the day despite his 5 at the par-3 eighth hole.
"I hit a bad shot and then I hit a poor bunker shot that didn't get out of the bunker," he said. "When you play golf long enough, stuff like that happens. I'm going to try and put it behind me and think about the good things that happened."
Five birdies on his outward half had got Claxton to 13 under, three better than Sim, who posted his score early in the day. Two bogeys and a lone birdie, coupled with the double, brought Claxton back to the pack. The biggest issue of the day was the wind, which kicked up and remained steady around 20 mph.
"There are no trees and there's nothing to block out there," said Claxton. "It's hammering on you all day. It seemed like a lot of crosswinds today. You're always in between clubs. It's hard to really dial it in because you're guessing a lot and we don't like to guess."
Aberdonian Sim, the Nationwide Tour's leading money-winner this season, needs only one more win to gain automatic and immediate promotion to the US Tour, instead of waiting for the end-of-season move back among the "big boys."
Michael birdied four of his first six holes Friday morning to reach double digits but could do no better than even par the rest of the way, finishing off his day with a bogey on the final hole. It's the second straight day that the 24-year-old stumbled on his closing hole.
"I hit a good drive and a good second shot and the wind just didn't bring it back," said Sim of the 442-yard ninth hole. "I missed it on the wrong side of the flag."
That's about the only thing Sim has done wrong of late. The former No. 1-ranked amateur in the world has won twice and has been a dominant force this year. He tied for 51st at last week's PGA Championship and is only two good days away from win No. 3 and a place among the elite.
"I've been in this position before and I know what it feels like so I'm just going to get it out of back of my mind and just play golf the last two rounds," said Sim, who shared the 54-hole lead at the Cox Classic in Omaha four weeks ago. "I got too distracted in Omaha and thought about it too much. I'm in a position now where I can do it but I've got to try and keep the distractions to a minimum."
A total of 68 players made the 36-hole cut, which came at 1-under 141.
Amateur Harry Higgs, who should be starting his senior year at nearby Blue Valley North High School this week, won't be around for the weekend after rounds of 69-84.
The 17-year-old got into trouble on his fourth hole of the day, the par-4 13th where he took a quadruple-bogey 8. Higgs could not find his tee shot in the heavy weeds and accepted a ride back to the tee to hit another shot.
The lost ball cost him two strokes and he incurred another two-stroke penalty for the cart ride. Higgs, who has already committed to playing golf for Southern Methodist University from August 2010, also had four double bogeys Friday and only one birdie.

Peter Thomson takes Tiger


Woods to task for attitude

FROM THE TELEGRAPH.CO.UK WEBSITE
By MARK REASON
The great Australian golfer Peter Thomson, winner of five Open Championships from 1954-1965, turns 80 today and has lost none of his old pepper.
The 'Melbourne Tiger' tweaked the tail of the modern day Tiger and a couple of other big beasts when he talked to the Telegraph Sport from his Melbourne offices this week.
Thomson, pictured right, is a quite remarkable man. He still plays three rounds of golf a week off a handicap of five and works in the offices of his course design company, Thomson Perrett & Lobb, for five days out of seven. He has impeccable manners and he demands the same standards of others.
Tiger Woods has not been measuring up lately. Thomson said:
"Woods is the major professional in his sport. No one else is so intense and leaves so little to chance. He'll win most of the events he plays in until he gets sick of it.
"He will probably win five Opens in his career before he stops, but he's up against an increasing number of young people who are matching him. He will find it harder and harder.
"I will add one other thing. I wish he'd smile more. He injures his image by being morose and petulant. There is also very little consideration for the fellow he is playing with. He could show more humility."
Woods very rarely bothers with what people say about him, but when as significant a figure as Thomson feels the need to say something, Tiger may take heed. Earl Woods might have pulled Tiger up in the past for some of his behaviour this year, but there are now too many sycophants around him.
The last round of the US PGA championship mattered more than usual because Thomson did so much to foster Asian golf. In 1960 Thomson played some exhibition matches in Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia. He was so impressed by the local fervour that he encouraged a number of Asian countries to set up their own Opens and persuaded some of the top players to take part
He said of Y E Yang's victory: "I was thrilled to see him win and full marks for the strength of character and steely nerve. We do now expect a rush in Asian golf, like my dream all those years ago.
"China will now come into the picture; there is a boom in course-building and there are 600 currently planned over there. We have six on the ground and six in the pipeline. The outcome of it all will be 100 top Chinese golfers."
Thomson acknowledged that golf's bid for inclusion in the Olympics would further boost golf's funding by the Asian countries, but described it as "a doubtful motive". He regards the Open as "golf's Olympics".
Thomson is a man of the world. The first truly global golfer, he stood for the Australian parliament and still writes for various magazines and newspapers. He will celebrate the day at home with his four children and 11 grandchildren.
Paying tribute to Thomson, Jack Nicklaus said: "I crawled on my hands and knees up the back of one tee (at the 1957 US Open) to watch Peter Thomson and Roberto De Vicenzo tee off. At that age, when you watched the swings of great players, you could not help but go out the next day or so and emulate them. I know I did."
Peter Alliss said: "I first saw him (Thomson) on June 16, 1951, playing in the Penfold Festival of Britain tournament. I can't believe Peter is 80. He always played with a jaunty spirit, which I found most attractive. I don't think the Americans ever really admitted what a great player he was.
"I particularly was delighted when he went over as a Senior, setting all sorts of records, winning nine events in a season and then casually washing his hands of it, saying, 'Well, that's it, you can see I can play a bit!' I don't think he ever bothered to return, which I thought was typical of Peter Thomson.
Always his own man, Thomson is puzzled by the modern obsession with swing coaches. He said: "Golf's a game of scoring. An hour spent playing six holes is 100 times more valuable than 50 practice balls.
"To get to the top you have to be totally self-reliant. If you need to ring someone up on the phone and say: '⃜I can't hit my wedges', you won't solve the problem.
"It's absurd that the world's greatest golfer is taking lessons. A pro should puzzle it out for himself. The young players need to find another system."
Thomson may just have solved Britain's absence of majors. Throw out the coaches and start thinking for yourselves, lads.
Happy birthday, Mr Thomson. Four-score years of talking sense and getting on with stuff. Must be an Aussie.

European Tour Scoreboard
KLM OPEN
LATEST THIRD-ROUND TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)
200 Sam Little 70 67 63 201 Markus Brier (Aut) 67 69 65
202 Alexander Noren (Swe) 72 66 64
203 Richie Ramsay 69 68 66, Fabrizio Zanotti (Par) 74 64 65, Marcus Fraser (Aus) 69 69 65
204 Garry Houston 67 70 67, Niclas Fasth (Swe) 69 68 67, David Lynn 68 68 68
205 Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (Fra) 71 67 67, Michael Lorenzo-Vera (Fra) 68 71 66, Sion Bebb 71 67 67
206 Felipe Aguilar (Chi) 68 71 67, Andrew Coltart 68 69 69, Phillip Price 66 72 68
207 Chris Wood 71 68 68, David Horsey 73 66 68, Mark Brown (Nzl) 68 71 68, Simon Khan 68 71 68
208 Ricardo Gonzalez (Arg) 70 68 70, Mikael Lundberg (Swe) 70 69 69, Gary Orr 64 73 71, Shiv Kapur (Ind) 71 68 69, Benn Barham 71 68 69, Simon Wakefield 69 68 71, Ross McGowan 70 67 71
209 David Drysdale 72 65 72, Emanuele Canonica (Ita) 70 67 72, Guido Van Der Valk (Ned) 71 67 71, Miles Tunnicliff 70 69 70
210 Ulrich Van Den Berg (Rsa) 69 68 73, Callum Macaulay 66 73 71, Jorge Campillo (Spa) 65 71 74, Martin Erlandsson (Swe) 70 67 73, Mark Foster 69 68 73, Peter O'Malley (Aus) 69 70 71
211 Rafael Echenique (Arg) 69 69 73
212 Michael Jonzon (Swe) 69 69 74, Graeme Storm 71 67 74
214 Jeppe Huldahl (Den) 69 69 76
216 Phillip Archer 74 64 78
219 David Dixon 72 66 81

Reinier Saxton signs up with IMG

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY IMG
Reinier Saxton has signed with the global sports management company, IMG.
Reinier, 21 years old, turned professional in June following a glittering amateur career which included becoming only the second Dutch player in 113 years to win the coveted 2008 British Amateur Championship title and this year, underlined his star potential by winning the 2009 Spanish Men’s Amateur Golf Championship as well as making the cut in the Memorial tournament on the US PGA Tour out performing many of the world’s best players.
Guy Kinnings, IMG’s Director of Golf, whose team represents the world's best golfers in cluding Tiger Woods, Paul Casey, Sergio Garcia, Padraig Harrington, Retief Goosen, Colin Montgomerie and Michelle Wie, said; “Reinier has had an excellent amateur career and is a very exciting prospect. We are delighted that he has selected IMG to manage him around the world and look forward to being part of his team as embarks on this exciting stage of his career.”
Reinier, whose father is one of the founders of the successful Dutch golf company, Made in Scotland, explained, “I am thrilled to have turned professional and am really looking forward to the years ahead. Of course, this week I am especially excited about playing in the KLM Open and I am very grateful for the special invite I have been given to play in my national Open. I selected IMG as my management company because I want to be able to concentrate on my golf while they look after my affairs off the course.
"Their stable of players includes many of my golfing idols and I am looking forward to benefiting from all their experience in golf around the world.”

PGA EuroPro Tour Report

Four Scots finish in top 10

at Formby Hall Classic

By ANTHONY LEAVER
Tom Haylock has moved into second spot in the 2009 PGA EuroPro Tour Order of Merit after securing his second title of the year in the Formby Hall Classic at Formby Hall Golf Resort & Spa in Liverpool.
Haylock (Ground Construction Ltd) began the day five shots off the lead at one under par but set about climbing the Leaderboard with seven birdies in his final round – five in six holes from the ninth – and clinched the title by one stroke from James Freeman at five under despite a double bogey at 17.
“I wasn’t really thinking about it at the start of the day,” said Haylock, who climbs from tenth in the Order of Merit to sit one place behind money list leader Scott Jamieson. “I knew it was going to be windy throughout but I can’t say I was looking for anything other than one or two under and top ten really.”
The Hertfordshire man was one under for the day after the eighth hole when his remarkable birdie run began, although his six at the par-four 17th almost prevented him from adding this title to his first of the year claimed at Stoke by Nayland at the beginning of July.
“I just started holing putts at the start of the back nine,” said the 22 year-old. “I looked at the scoreboard at 15 and knew I was on top and if I could pick one more up in the last few holes I’d be in great shape. Then came the double bogey at 17 and the last is a tough hole too so I thought ‘here we go’, but thankfully in the end it was enough.”
With the end of the Tour drawing closer, the £10,000 first prize at Formby Hall was much coveted in the chase for a top five spot and a Challenge Tour card, something that the champion is very aware of.
“I’m in a great position of course but there’s still work to be done. The Tour Championship is worth £20,000 to whoever wins so that’s two tournaments effectively, but a top five place is in my hands now,” said Haylock, a 33/1 shot for the tournament with official bookmakers Sky Bet.
Freeman (Worksop) carded a three under round of 69 to take second spot after opening rounds of 73 and 70, but ultimately he will regret a bogey at the last which prevented a play-off with Haylock – and he wasn’t the only player who came close to winning on a topsy-turvy final day.
Jack Doherty (North Gailes) returns home to Scotland regretting the last four holes of his round, where two double bogeys and a bogey undid his earlier good work. Doherty roared out of the traps with five birdies and an eagle in his first seven holes to move to seven under for the tournament, and was eight under after another birdie at 14. But those five dropped shots from that point saw him card 70 and meant he had ended in a four-way tie for third, and drops one place to fourth in the money list.
Doherty’s burst put overnight leader Tim Dykes (Wrexham GC) under real pressure when he went out in the last pairing with Elliot Saltman (Aegon) – Dykes was six under going into the final round with Saltman one stroke behind him, but both men endured frustrating days.
Dykes was level at the turn before picking up a birdie at the tenth but a double bogey on the next hole followed by bogeys at 13, 15 and 16 ended his chances of victory, the Welshman carding a final round 75 to finish three under.
Ricky Lee (Tyneside GC) is another man whose strong claims for victory were ruined by the tough final holes, eventually joining Dykes and Doherty in third place despite moving into a commanding position through the front nine. Lee went through the turn at five under for the day – seven under for the tournament – but failed to register another birdie and bogeyed the 12th hole before a miserable run of three bogeys in the last three holes left him with a final round of 71. South African Michiel Bothma also returned a 71 to end on three under for the tournament.
Saltman was the 2/1 favourite overnight with Sky Bet despite being one stroke behind, but he gave himself too much to do after starting with bogeys on the first two holes. The Scotsman moved to one under after the tenth but matched Dykes’ double bogey at 11 and followed that with a bogey at 12 and another double at 15 to card a final round of 75 after setting the course record with a opening round of 65 – finishing two under for the tournament and dropping one place to fifth on the Order of Merit.
Paul Dwyer (Clitheroe) began the day at two over par, but a fine round of 68 saw him join Saltman at two under along with Neil Walker (Rotherham GC), Mark Kerr (Golf Fit Ltd/Bathgate GC) and Scott Henry (Cardross GC).
The PGA EuroPro Tour moves to Five Lakes Hotel, Golf, Country Club & Spa for the Brooks Brothers 2009 Classic in Essex, beginning Wednesday August 26.
To view the full Leaderboard from the tournament, click here: http://europro.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/europro9/event/europro98/contest/1/leaderboard.htm
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
1 Tom Haylock 70, 73, 68 211 -5 £10,000
2 James Freeman 73, 70, 69 212 -4 £5,000
=3 Jack Doherty 72, 71, 70 213 -3 £1,700
=3 Michiel Bothma 72, 70, 71 213 -3 £1,700
=3 Ricky Lee 70, 72, 71 213 -3 £1,700
=3 Tim Dykes 67, 71, 75 213 -3 £1,700
=7 Paul Dwyer 72, 74, 68 214 -2 £860
=7 Neil Walker 70, 74, 70 214 -2 £860
=7 Mark Kerr 69, 74, 71 214 -2 £860
=7 Scott Henry 69, 72, 73 214 -2 £860
=7 Elliot Saltman 65, 74, 75 214 -2 £860

Other Scots' scores:

12 Lloyd Saltman 75, 68, 72 215 -1 £700
=16 Scott Jamieson 72, 72, 73 217 +1 £446.25
=20 Lee Harper 73, 69, 76 218 +2 £355
=39 John Gallagher 74, 73, 75 222 +6 £250
47 Andrew Oldcorn 68, 78, 79 225 +9 £215
50 Shaun McAllister 70, 74, 85 229 +13 £200

Bryant leads from Funk in US

Senior Tour major event

Defending champion Fred Funk trails leader Brad Bryant by one stroke after 36 holes of the JeldWen Tradition seniors pro tournament at Crosswater Golf Club, Sunriver in Oregon.
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Related Links
Leaderboard: Scores
Round 3 tee times
See Bryant's card
Video: Jones birdies the 18th
Round 2 notebook
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Bryant's even-par 72 gave him a 10-under 134 aggregate in the fourth of five majors on the United Stated Champions Tour this year.
Funk shot 67 to reach 9-under through two rounds, while Loren Roberts, John Cook and Larry Mize were in a group another shot back entering the third round.
Bryant built a big lead with a first-round 62 that matched the tournament record
Bryant's two-birdie, two-bogey second round was just enough to hold the lead entering the weekend. His best finish this year was fourth at the Dick's Sporting Goods Open in June.
He has four overall Tour victories, his last at the Senior U.S. Open in 2007.
Funk was coming off a victory at the U.S. Senior Open, where he became the first player in a USGA championship to finish 20-under-par. A week earlier, he lost in a three-way playoff at the Senior British Open.
Funk has finished in the top-10 in the previous three Champions Tour majors this season and leads the Charles Schwab Cup points standings.
Roberts won the Tradition in 2005 and has won twice on the Tour this year, including the Senior British Open. The eight-time winner on the PGA TOUR recovered after a double-bogey on the par-4 eighth hole to shoot 71 on Friday.
"It's an attitude thing, it's a confidence thing," Roberts said. "If you have confidence in your game, you can get over it."
Tom Watson wasn't so lucky. After two bogeys and a double bogey on the front nine, he fell off the leaderboard and finished with a 74 to put him 3-under entering the weekend.
He nonetheless had one of the biggest galleries on the 7,533-yard course built in the shadow of Mount Bachelor. Watson has said this week that he's encountered many well-wishers in the past month, after losing in a play-off to Stewart Cink at the Open at Turnberry.
Watson won the Tradition in 2003.
Cook, who has struggled on the Champions Tour since winning last year's AT&T Championship, shot a 67, as did Mize, who just joined the Tour last year.
"No bogeys for me, and that's always a good thing," Cook said.

US PGA Tour Scoreboard
WYNDHAM CHAMPIONSHIP
Sedgefield Country Club, Greensboro, North Carolina
SECOND ROUND SCORES (incomplete)
Round 2 was not completed on Friday evening because of darkness. Play was scheduled to resume at 7.45am local time Saturday.
Par 140 (2x70)
129 Chris Riley 66 63
131 Bill Haas 62 69, Sergio Garcia (Spa) 67 64, Chez Reavie 64 67
132 Kevin Stadler 69 63, Marc Leishman (Aus) 67 65, Boo Weekley 65 67, Johnson Wagner 66 66, Fred Couples 66 66
133 Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) 69 64, John Senden (Aus) 69 64, Kevin Streelman 65 68, Alex Cejka (Ger) 67 66, Michael Allen 68 65, J J Henry 69 64, Justin Rose (Eng) 65 68, Ken Duke 66 67, Glen Day 69 64, Brandt Snedeker 64 69
134 Patrick Sheehan 67 67, Rodney Pampling (Aus) 69 65, Joe Ogilvie 67 67, Lucas Glover 66 68, Rich Beem 67 67, Fernando Mechereffe 69 65, Matt Weibring 68 66
135 Brian Davis (Eng) 70 65, Scott McCarron 66 69, Tim Herron 68 67, Robert Garrigus 68 67, Nick O'Hern (Aus) 69 66, Matt Bettencourt 69 66, Mark Wilson 70 65, Charles Howell III 68 67, Steve Marino 67 68, Martin Laird (Sco) 67 68, Bo Van Pelt 66 69, Carl Pettersson (Swe) 70 65
136 Kent Jones 68 68, Kris Blanks 74 62, Darron Stiles 70 66, Kevin Sutherland 71 65, Matthew Jones (Aus) 67 69, Brad Faxon 68 68, Daniel Chopra (Swe) 67 69, Fredrik Jacobson (Swe) 68 68, Bryce Molder 68 68, Rocco Mediate 67 69, Jonathan Byrd 66 70
137 Vaughn Taylor 67 70, Jeff Quinney 70 67, Steve Lowery 69 68, David Toms 69 68, Cliff Kresge 68 69, Jeff Klauk 69 68, Justin Thomas 65 72, Jimmy Walker 70 67, Corey Pavin 69 68, Jay Williamson 67 70, D.J. Trahan 67 70
138 Charley Hoffman 68 70, Billy Mayfair 69 69, Davis Love III 71 67, J.P. Hayes 70 68, Todd Hamilton 67 71, Harrison Frazar 71 67, James Driscoll 70 68, Greg Owen (Eng) 68 70, Richard S Johnson (Swe) 68 70, Brett Quigley 69 69, David Mathis 70 68, Bob Heintz 70 68, Troy Matteson 68 70, Tommy Gainey 72 66
139 Michael Bradley 71 68, Charles Warren 67 72, Chris Stroud 72 67, Kirk Triplett 69 70, Parker McLachlin 68 71, Heath Slocum 73 66, Ricky Barnes 70 69, Joe Durant 69 70, Ryan Blaum 67 72, Troy Kelly 69 70, Tyler Aldridge 71 68
140 Peter Tomasulo 72 68, Chris DiMarco 69 71, Lee Janzen 69 71, Ted Purdy 71 69, Bubba Watson 71 69, Scott Piercy 73 67, Peter Lonard (Aus) 68 72, Steve Elkington (Aus) 65 75, Brian Vranesh 70 70, Arjun Atwal (Ind) 73 67
141 Adam Scott (Aus) 66 75, Jason Dufner 68 73, Tag Ridings 68 73, Mathias Gronberg (Swe) 72 69, James Nitties (Aus) 73 68, Will MacKenzie 70 71, K J Choi (Kor) 67 74, Roland Thatcher 73 68
142 Brendon De Jonge 71 71, Derek Fathauer 69 73, Brendon Todd 69 73, Marc Turnesa 70 72, Rick Price 73 69, Brian Bateman 71 71
143 Billy Andrade 73 70, Spencer Levin 70 73, Webb Simpson 72 71, Stuart Appleby (Aus) 71 72
144 George McNeill 74 70, Mark Calcavecchia 70 74, David Robinson 71 73, David Duval 74 70
145 Nicholas Thompson 74 71
146 Simon Mcgreal 75 71, Frank Lickliter II 73 73
147 Steve Allan (Aus) 72 75
148 Jason Gore 78 70
149 Eric Axley 75 74
WD: James Oh 69, Dean Wilson 71, Steve Flesch 72, Jonathan Kaye 75

SCOTS IN FRONT: Ross Kellett (left) and James Byrne (images by Cal Carson Golf Agency).

Byrne and Kellett lead European field

into last round at Chantilly

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

These are heady days for Scottish amateur golf - Arizona State University student James Byrne from Banchory and Motherwell's Ross Kellett of Colville Park Golf Club share the lead with one round to go in the European men's amateur individual championship at Chantilly Golf Club, France.

They are on the five-under-par 208 mark.

Byrne made up five shots on Kellett with a third-round 70 after earlier rounds of 69 and 69. Kellett had set a cracking pace with scores of 67 and 66 but went off the boil with a third-round 75. However, Ross is still sharing the pole position ahead of the pack of challengers, led by Germany's Max Keiffer on 209 with Matthew Nixon, the Lancashire lad who won the British boys championship at Royal Aberdeen two or three years ago, in fourth place on 210.

To qualify for the final round, players has to shoot seven over par 220 or better. Sixty players did but there were some surprise big names among those who didn't, notably Walker Cup Scot Gavin Dear from Scone nor England star Luke Goddard.

Murrayshall man Dear was well over the limit mark with deteriorating rounds of 73, 77 and 80 for 230. Michael Stewart from Troon Welbeck will also be an absentee from Saturday's action. He scored 77, 75 and 81 for 233.

Steven McEwan (Caprington) was another "failure) on 227 with scores of 75, 75 and 77. Carnoustie's Keir McNicoll missed out by an agonising one shot with scores of 73, 76 and 72 for 221.

Backing up Byrne and Kellett in the last hurrah are Wallace Booth (Comrie) who shot one of the best third rounds, a 67, after opening with 76 and 71. Wallace is on 214. Paul O'Hara (Colville Park) made the cut with nothing to spare - 74, 72 and 74 for 220.

Former Scottish match-play champion Glenn Campbell (Blairgowrie) is also still in there pitching after rounds of 72, 74 and 72 for 218 and a share of 41st place.

SCOREBOARD

Par 216 (3x72)

208 James Byrne (Banchory) 69 69 70, Ross Kellett (Colville Park) 67 66 75.

209 Max Kieffer 67 74 68.

210 Matthew Nixon (England) 73 69 68.

211 Tapio Pulkkanen 71 72 68, Billy Hemstock (England) 72 69 70, Victor Dubuisson 65 71 71.

212 Clement Sordet 69 70 73, Adam Runcie (Wales) 67 71 74.

213 Olivier Serres 72 75 66, Andreas Hartoe 71 72 70, Mayel Oueldes Cheikh 72 69 72.

214 Wallace Booth (Comrie) 76 71 67, Alan Dunbar (Ireland) 67 78 69, Pontus Widegren 69 74 71, Chris Paisley (England) 69 74 71, Lucas Bjerregaard 72 70 72, Jamie Abbott (England) 71 69 74, Espen Kofstadt 66 73 75.

215 Farren Keenan (England) 72 72 71, Benedict Staben 75 69 71, Matteo Manassero 71 72 72, Mathieu Decottignes-Lafon 70 73 72, Ignacio Elvira 69 74 72, Sebastien Gros 71 71 73, Lukas Nemecz 72 70 73.

Selected scores:

216 Sam Hutsby (England) 70 72 75, Oliver Farr (Wales) 70 72 74 (jt 27th).

217 Alex Christie (England) 69 74 74 (jt 32nd).

218 Glenn Campbell (Blairgowrie) 72 74 72 (jt 41st).

220 Jonathan Gidney (England) 75 72 73, Andrew Cooley (England) 76 70 74, Paul O'Hara (Colville Park) 74 72 74, Sam Matton (England) 74 72 74 (jt 50th).

MISSED THE CUT (220 or better)

221 Keir McNicoll (Carnoustie) 73 76 72, Steven Brown (England) 77 72 72, Darren Wright (England) 70 75 76.

222 Rhys Enoch (Wales) 74 78 70, Dale Whitnell (England) 74 74 74.

223 James Robinson (England) 73 73 77, Matt Haines (England) 71 74 78.

224 Luke Goddard (England) 74 75 75.

227 Steven McEwan (Caprington) 75 75 77.

230 Gavin Dear (Murrayshall) 73 77 80.

233 Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) 77 75 81.

Torrance defies fierce back pain to stay

in touch at Scottish Senior Open

FROM THE SCOTSMAN WEBSITE
By JIM BLACK
Sam Torrance defied the odds in the first round of the Cleveland/Srixon Scottish Senior Open at the Fairmont St Andrews to shoot 75 despite being forced to play through the pain barrier for close on five hours.
Torrance confessed he had been on the point of withdrawing from the £225,000 tournament due to a crippling lower back injury, and later claimed he had experienced the worst pain of his life on a golf course in 40 years as a professional.
"I hit every drive one-handed and I was screaming every time I hit the ball," said Torrance. "It was a nightmare. That is the sorest I have ever felt on a golf course and I wouldn't have finished anywhere else."
But the 55-year-old former Ryder Cup-winning captain refused to succumb to his condition after being forced to take three pain-killing tablets prior to the first round on the course he helped redesign as part of a £17million revamp of the Fife resort.
Torrance simply gritted his teeth and carried on.
"I have had six physiotherapy treatments since I arrived here and while these will help in the long run, they don't do so immediately because you feel the reaction to the treatment," he said.
"I was very close to pulling out, but because it's here and it's the Scottish Open I did my best to try and get round."
Torrance said that he does not know how he sustained the mystery injury after revealing: "My lower back started stiffening up a couple of days ago and has got progressively worse. But I am not finished yet. If I can get the problem fixed by the morning, a 65 tomorrow would put me right back in it, but I have to be able to play to do that."
Ross Drummond of Paisley is joint leader following a three-under-par 69. He then insisted that it is high time he experienced the joy of winning after a clutch of second place finishes; two on the European Tour and three on the Seniors circuit.
The halfway leader in the recent US Senior Open said: "I have been knocking on the door for a while and it's time I opened it and walked in. This would be an ideal place to finally make the breakthrough at the Home of Golf."
Drummond birdied three of the last five holes to share the lead with Englishman Bob Cameron and Argentine Luis Carbonetti.
Cameron got off to a poor start when he hit a wayward drive and promptly dropped a shot, but he quickly rallied to birdie the third before claiming three more at nine, 13 and 14.
The 56-year-old from Plymouth, who is seeking his first victory for five years, said: "I have played quite well in the wind this season and came back strongly after my disappointing start."
Ian Woosnam, who appears to have overcome his foot problems after investing in a new pair of golf shoes, settled for a highly respectable 71 to claim a share of fifth place on the same mark as Fife-born former Ryder Cup player Gordon Brand Jnr, one shot behind Senior Tour debutant, the appropriately named Peter Senior of Australia.
Woosnam currently sits second in the order of merit behind Mark McNulty, whose absence from the event means that the little Welshman can overhaul him, provided to keeps the injured Torrance at bay.
Anglo-Scot Bill Longmuir, Scottish Senior Open champion in 2004, carded 72, while three-time Senior Tour winner John Chillas of Aberdeen had a 74.
*The full article above appears in The Scotsman newspaper today.

FIRST ROUND SCORES

Par 72

69 L Carbonetti (Arg) , R Drummond (Sco) , B Cameron (Eng) ,
70 P Senior (Aus) ,
71 C Mason (Eng) , G Ryall (Eng) , I Woosnam (Wal) , T Johnstone (Zim) , G Brand Jnr (Sco) , R Chapman (Eng) , B Boyd (USA) , D Johnson (USA) , G Ralph (Eng) ,
72 A Murray (Eng) , D Durnian (Eng) , D Smyth (Irl) , P Allan (Eng) , B Longmuir (Sco) ,
73 E Rodriguez (Esp) , B Smit (RSA) , D Merriman (Aus) , P Mitchell (Eng) , H Carbonetti (Arg) , A Franco (Par) , J Rivero (Esp) , G Towne (USA) , P Oakley (USA) , S Owen (Nzl) , N Ratcliffe (Aus) , T Giedeon (Ger) ,
74 C Williams (RSA) , B McColl (Sco) , M Harwood (Aus) , S Bennett (Eng) , E Darcy (Irl) , G Cali (Ita) , N Job (Eng) , B Lincoln (RSA) , T Gale (Aus) , J Heggarty (Nir) , J Chillas (Sco) ,
75 G Brand (Eng) , M Cunning (USA) , D Hospital (Esp) , A Barrera (Arg) , M Piñero (Esp) , S Torrance (Sco) ,
76 G Encina (Chi) , J Hall (Eng) , M Williams (Zim) , J Bland (RSA) , S Ginn (Aus) , M Farry (Fra) , B Charles (Nzl) ,
77 A Fernandez (Chi) , J Bruner (USA) , D Cambridge (Jam) , I Mosey (Eng) , A Garrido (Esp) , M Miller (Sco) , M Clayton (Aus) ,
78 J Rhodes (Eng) , D O'Sullivan (Irl) , G Hopkins (USA) ,
79 J Hawkes (RSA) ,
80 D Russell (Eng) , D Good (Aus) , V Garcia (Esp) ,
81 M Bembridge (Eng) , K Spurgeon (Eng) , E Polland (Nir) ,
86 R Hopkins (USA) ,