Paul Lawrie pulls out of Hong Kong Open and flies home

Paul Lawrie has withdrawn from the Hong Kong Open without hitting a single shot, even in practice.
The 40-year-old Aberdonian injured in back at the start of the week in lifting the considerable weight of his tour golf bag off the scales at an airport in transit.
This is what Paul has to say on his website:

Wednesday 11th November
Although my back is a little better today it is still unfortunately not good enough to play. It was very stiff this morning, I tried to swing in the room every hour to check to make sure before pulling out but I feel it at impact. I fly home tonight getting into Aberdeen early tomorrow morning.

... Paul's Dubai World Championship hopes dashed

FROM THE SCOTSMAN WEBSITE
By NICK RODGER AND ANDREW MULLEN
Paul Lawrie's hopes of a place in the Dubai World Championship were dashed tonight after the Scot was forced to withdraw from the UBS Hong Kong Open with a back injury.
The 1999 Open champion had travelled to the Far East in a last-ditch effort to force his way up from 82nd on the Race to Dubai rankings and into a top-60 finish needed to qualify for this month's season-ending shoot-out.
But a niggling back problem, which caused Lawrie to pull out of the pre-tournament Pro-Am, has not improved, and the former Ryder Cup player is on his way home to Aberdeen.
He said: "My back is a little better, but it's still not good enough to play. I tried to swing in the room every hour to make sure before pulling out, but I was feeling it at impact."
Rory McIlroy is one of the headline acts in Hong Kong and the world No 17 is the centre of attention after confirming that he will take out a full US PGA Tour card next season. After much speculation, McIlroy will join Ian Poulter, Padraig Harrington and Paul Casey in splitting their schedules either side of the Atlantic.
The 20-year-old Ryder Cup contender said the move was designed to help improve his world ranking and ensure he puts himself up against the world's best on a regular basis in order to be better prepared for the majors and World Golf Championship events.
Poulter reckons McIlroy now faces the most testing 12 months of his young career.
"Rory has got himself into a position where he is 17 in the world; he has quickly put himself on the big stage," said Poulter, who joined the US PGA Tour in 2005.
"If he wants to play on the US Tour, then great. He is going to play in tournaments which have better fields than the ones he is in now. If he wants to take his card up it is going to be hard work. I have done it for the last few years – it is very tiring – but you can keep your status in Europe and on the US Tour and finish high up on both lists.
"I would expect him to finish high up on both orders of merit on both sides. The opportunity is there and you can't blame him for giving it a go."
McIlroy played 11 events on the US Tour last season, including all four majors and all three World Golf Championship events, and only needs to play four more to fulfil his new obligation.
"I'm not saying this to big up myself, but you can see from my efforts in the majors and the World Golf Championships this year that I like to play in those fields because I just seem to be up for them, and they offer a bigger challenge," said McIlroy.
"I am just in a privileged position where I play wherever I want, and, besides, I earned enough money in US Tour events to get my card so I have taken out membership."
Lee Westwood, another Race to Dubai contender, Oliver Wilson, Simon Dyson and Poulter are all in the Hong Kong field. Scott Drummond, the 2005 Volvo PGA Championship winner, must claim at least seventh to retain his Tour card, with his five-year exemption set to run out.

Cameron House (left) and (right) a view of the 15th hole on the Carrick on Loch Lomond course.

Cameron House named best golf resort hotel in Scotland

NEWS RELEASE

The spectacular 5-star Cameron House hotel on the banks of Loch Lomond received national recognition as the best resort hotel in Scotland at Golf Tourism Scotland’s Gold Standard Awards ceremony.

The ceremony brought together Scotland’s leading representatives from the travel, hospitality and golf service sectors, recognising the leading providers from across Scotland. In a category that included a future Ryder Cup venue, this years’ Open Championship venue and 5-star resorts in St Andrews, the ‘Home of Golf’, it was the uncompromised guest services, opulent furnishings and spectacular location that made Cameron House on Loch Lomond Scotland’s best resort hotel.
Ross Whitfield, Director of Golf and Estates at Cameron House Resort, Loch Lomond, commented:

“It is an honour to have won this prestigious award and is testament to the hard work and dedicated team of staff that we have at Cameron House. The facilities are second to none and it is great to know that Golf Tourism Scotland have recognised the continued improvements that we have made to the luxury hotel.

"We continually look to improve our facilities and guest services, and look forward to further establishing our position as one of the best golf resorts in Scotland in the future.”
The luxury Cameron House hotel recently underwent a multi-million pound refurbishment which has enhanced the enviable reputation of one of the UK’s premier high-end hotels. The 5-star hotel coupled with a roof-top spa, state-of-the-art fitness suite and championship golf course, The Carrick on Loch Lomond, combine to create one of Scotland’s finest golf resorts in a stunning setting.
Designed by renowned Canadian golf course architect Doug Carrick and opened in 2007, the championship lay-out meanders between the lowland banks of the loch and the undulating highland heath; all of which offer stunning views and a stern test to players of all abilities. Despite its relatively short history, The Carrick has already hosted some of the world’s best players, having been home to the Ladies' Scottish Open on the Ladies European Tour in 2007 and 2008, and this year saw the return of the PGA Cup Match to Scotland.

Edinburgh & East of Scotland Alliance at Cardrona

Haddington's Neil Bain wins Michael Allan Memorial Trophy

By KEITH LIDDLE
secretary.eesga@btinternet.com
Fog delayed the start of today's Edinburgh and East of Scotland Golfers Alliance competition at Cardrona by 35 minutes, but 93 Alliance members managed to complete their rounds.
Winner of the Michael Allan Memorial Trophy was Neil Bain (Haddington) with a net 67 off five of a handicap.
There was a three-way tie in the scratch section with four-under-par scores of 68 by Neil Fenwick (Dunbar), Alan Reid (West Lothian) and Ryan Buckley (Craigielaw).
Fenwick had five birdies (the 3rd, 6th, 12th, 14th and 18th). His only dropped shot of the day came at the 199yd par-3 fifth hole.
Reid was out in one over par 37, dropping shots at the 1st, 7th and 8th but birdied the 3rd and 6th. Alan came back in five under par 31, with birdies at the 12th, 13th, 14th, 17th and 18th. Buckley had birdies at the 3rd, 6th, 12th, 13th and 16th, with only one dropped shot at the 211 yard par 3, 11th.
In the handicap section, Neil Bain's level par round was made up of five birdies - at the 1st, 4th, 6th, 12th and 14th. He dropped shots at the 3rd, 9th, 10th and had a double bogey at the 16th.
Sharing second place were Glenbervie members Richard Johnston (71 - 2 = 69) and Derek Fish (70 - 1 = 69).
Richard, out in the first match of the day, birdied the 2nd, 6th and 12th. He dropped shots at the 7th and 17th. Derek Fish was five under par after 13 holes, with six consecutive 3s from the eighth, which included two birdies and an eagle. Dropped shots at the 14th, 16th and 17th took a bit of the shine off what was a fine round.
Around 12 people turned up looking for a game, but unfortunately were unable to play due to time constraints and the delayed start.
The next East Alliance is on November 25 at Dalmahoy (West Course). Dalmahoy is always a popular venue. Please turn up early to register for play.

LEADING SCORES
Par 72
SCRATCH
68 Ryan Buckley (Craigielaw) traineee professional, Neil Fenwick (Dunbar) tp, Alan Reid (West Lothian) p.
69 David Patrick (Elie) tp.
70 Mark Chaplin (Deer Park) am, Derek Fish (Glenbervie) am, Terry Mathieson (King's Acre) tp, Andrew Oldcorn (King's Acre) p.
71 Scott Grieve (Turnhouse) p, Richard Johnston (Glenbervie) am, Mike Thomson (Torwoodlee) am.
72 Neil Bain (Haddington) am, Scott Catlin (Greenburn) p.
73 Hugh Fraser (Niddry Castle) am, Kenneth Glen (Royal Musselburgh) am, Michael McAllan (Murrayfield) p.
74 Scott Knowles (Kingsknowe) am, Kenneth Reid (West Lothian) am, Stuart Smith (Duddingston) (am), Thomas Wilson (Glenbervie) am.
75 David Graham (Lochend)( am, Stevie Lamb (Broomieknowe) tp, Andrew Marshall (Houston GR) p.
HANDICAP
67 Neil Bain (Haddington) (5).
69 Derek Fish (Glenbervie) (1), Richard Johnston (Glenbervie) (2).
70 Mark Chaplin (Deer Park) (scr), David Graham (Lochend) (5).
71 John Denham (Torwoodlee) (6), Ian Jeavons (Dunbar) (6), Ian Wyse (Falkirk Tryst) (11).
72 Keith Cowie (Newburgh) (10), Steven Doyle (Gifford) (4), Hugh Fraser (Niddry Castle) (1), Peter Jeffrey (Duddingston) (13), Scott Knowles (Kingskhowe) (2), Colin Rae (Pumpherston) (8), Kenneth Reid (West Lothian) (2), Jim Scott (Swanston New) (8), Peter Sewell (West Linton) (6), Mike Thomson (Torwoodlee) (+1), Thomas Wilson (Glenbervie) (2), George Wither (Lothianburn) (scr).
73 David Jeffrey (Whitekirk) (8) s, David McKean (Cardrona) (8) s.

PGAs of Europe international team championship Day 2

SCOTLAND JUST INSIDE TOP TEN IN SPAIN Scotland are lying joint ninth in a field of 24 countries after two rounds of the PGAs of Europe international team golf championship at Roda Golf Club, Murcia in south-east Spain. Colin Gillies had a three-under-par 69, five shots better than his opening effort, while Robert Arnott repeated his opening 72. Mark King, 80 on the first day, had another non-counting effort, a 77, in the best two from three daily scores format. The Scots are on level par 288, nine shots behind leaders England who have a two-shot advantage over Wales at the top of the leaderboard. Wales turned up the heat in the Spanish sunshine to cut England's first-round lead. Jason Powell led the way for Wales by firing a four-under par 68 while team-mates Andrew Barnett and James Lee both finished under par, carding rounds of 70 and 71 respectively. England's Paul Simpson, who had opened with a six-under-par 66, carded a 71, the same as team-mate Jeremy Robinson for a 142 round-two total. Wales's achievement in reducing England's daunting advantage will have encouraged France and Holland, who share third place on 285, as well as Switzerland and Finland, a shot further back in joint-fifth. SECOND-ROUND TOTALS Par 288 (4x72, two from three individual scores to count daily). 279 England 137 142 (P Simpson 71, J Robinson 71, non-counting: P Wesselingh 76). 281 Wales 143 138 (J Powell 68, A Barnett 70; non-counting J Lee 71). 285 France, Holland. 286 Finland, Switzerland. 287 Austria, Ireland 144. 288 Scotland 147 141 (C Gillies 69, R Arnott 72; non-counting M King 77), Belgium. 289 United Arab Emirates. 291 Italy, Sweden. 292 Spain. 295 Denmark. 298 Czech Republic, Slovenia. 299 South Africa. 300 Croatia, Germany. 303 Poland. 305 Norway. 313 Luxembourg. 315 Slovakia.

North-east Alliance returns with a bang to Deeside venue

Adam Lindsay (above) and Adam Dunton (on the right). Both images, and the one below of hole-in-one man Jim Scott, by Cal Carson Golf Agency. Click to enlarge if you really want to!

Adam Lindsay is local hero

with brilliant 62 at Banchory

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Twice a winner on the American college circuit, Adam Lindsay, 23, playing over his home course, unofficially equalled his own Banchory amateur record with a brilliant round of seven-under-par 62 to head a field of 107 in today's North-east Golfers' Alliance tournament.

Lindsay's effort was achieved off individual winter mats for fairway shots - which some people find more difficult than playing off the deck - but it was still one of the finest displays on the midweek winter circuit for many a long year.
With one chip-in (at the fourth) and only 26 putts (12 at first nine holes) in all, scratch man Adam, who graduated in May after four years at Iowa Wesleyan University, birdied the first (5ft putt), fourth (chip in from 30ft), seventh (seven-iron, 7ft putt), eighth (12ft putt), 10^th (drove into rough, got down in two from 100yds), 15^th (drive and three-iron, pitch and putt), 16^th (10ft putt) and 17^th (30ft putt) n halves of 30 (three under par) and 32 (four under par).
It wasn't quite the perfect round – Lindsay had a bogey 5 at the fifth where he drove into the trees and came out into a bunker.
"I holed just about everything and was able to equal the 62 I had under "normal" conditions after I came home in May from the States," said Adam, son of Eric Lindsay, a very good district golfer in his day.
Adam Lindsay wants to pursue a career in golf but not as you would expect - with a view to becoming a European Tour-class pro.
No, Adam wants to become a qualified greenkeeper rather than as a club pro. "I don't fancy serving in a club pro's shop. I plan to go to Elmwood College, Cupar for training as a greenkeeper. At the moment I'm a part-timer waiter in the Banchory clubhouse," said the strapping six-footer who would be interested in any joining any club's greenkeeping staff to gain first-hand experience.
"I haven't made up my mind whether to be a part-time or full-time student at Elmwood. Going part-time takes twice as long to complete the course.£
Lindsay won by five shots by Adam Dunton (McDonald Ellon), one of the last to finish in the huge field. He played the last few holes in near-darkness so a 67, under these circumstances, was a fine effort.
After birdieing the first and fifth, Dunton reached the turn in two-under 31 and moved to three-under the card with a 2 at the short 12th.
"I was still three under on the 14th tee but a mist suddenly came down - or maybe it was up from the wet ground - but, anyway, it got increasingly dark from then on. I ran up a double bogey 6 at the 14th but was able to play the last four holes in one-under-par with a birdie 3 at the 17th," said Dunton.
The moral of this story is that Dunton should seek an earlier tee time for next Wednesday's Alliance competition at Newmachar, by which time there will be even less daylight to get round the big fields the NE Alliance is pulling in these days.
Much the same applies to Dunton's clubmate Kevin Duncan who also came out of the near-darkness after 4.30pm with a highly-creditable 68 to tie for third place with former Aberdeen Links champion Barry Brooks (Meldrum House), Kris Nicol (Fraserburgh) and Inchmarlo attached professional Paul Cormack.

Jim Scott (Peterculter), pictured above, had a hole in one with a No 8 iron at the third hole (125yd). "The ball pitched about a foot or two beyond the hole and spun back into the cup," said joyful Jim who was achieving his second hole in one, 25 years after the first, at Royal Dornoch.

His playing partners at Banchory were Scottish seniors match-play champion George Paterson (Northern) and Gordon Gray (Newmachar). Jim Scott was a low-handicap man some years ago before he drifted away from golf for one reason or another. Now a senior, and playing off 10, Jim's net 68 earned him a triple tie for first place in Class 2 handicap.

Banchory was in very good condition for its return to the North-east Alliance circuit after an absence of several years. The welcome was warm and the catering in the clubhouse - "The Florence Food Factory" - was first-class.
Everyone of the 107 competitors enjoyed themselves, even Newburgh-on-Ythan club pro Ian Bratton who twice forgot to play off his mat - and reported the fact to secretary Ron Menzies who had no option but to impose a four-stroke penalty (two for each offence) under the local rule. And so Ian's 70 became a 74.

LEADING SCRATCH

Par 69

62 A Lindsay (Banchory).

67 A Dunton (McDonald Ellon)

68 B Brooks (Meldrum House), P Cormack (Inchmarlo) p, K Nicol (Fraserburgh), K Duncan (McDonald Ellon).

69 S Finnie (Caledonian), R Pirie (Caledonian), B Nicolson (Auchmill), G Taylor (Hazlehead).
70 D Leighton (Northern), P Lovie (P1 Incorporate) p.

71 G Gordon (unatt) p, G Mitchell jun (Braemar), J Duncan (Newburgh), P McLean (Peterhead).

72 G Mitchell (Braemar), G H Paterson (Northern) s, S Larkin (Banchory), A K Pirie (Hazlehead) s.

73 A Campbell (Deeside), C Cassie (Nigg Bay), J M Hamilton (Murcar Links) s, F G Gray (Newmachar) s, C Trahan (Murcar Links), D Nelson (Aboyne) s.

74 C Nelson (Mackenzie Club) p, I Bratton (Newburgh) p, T Spencer (Inchmarlo), I D Smith (Hazlehead) s, C Carnegie (Kemnay), K Beveridge (Aboyne) ap.

75 D Clark (Duff House Royal, S Mackie (Kemnay), D Corkey (Murcar Links), M Jenkins (Duff House Royal), S Pert (Huntly).

76 A J Smith (Turriff), P McIntosh (Bon Accord), D McKay (Caledonian) s, R Lamb (Newmachar), C Stephen (Meldrum House), L Fowler (Royal Aberdeen), J Forbes (Aboyne).

77 D Wilson (Duff House Royal), C Law (Hazlehead), G Leslie (Hazlehead).

78 J Dalgarno (Hazlehead), H Roulston (Stonehaven), D MacKay (Newmachar), J Scott (Peterculter), G Munro (Fraserburgh), Laura Murray (Alford).

79 C Robb (Inchmarlo)

80 B Harper (Newburgh), L Roger (Royal Aberdeen), J Borthwick (Craibstone), R Hyland (Craibstone), D Bisset (Banchory) s.

HANDICAP

Class 1 – A Lindsay (Banchory) (scr) 62; D Leighton (Northern) (6) 64; R Pirie (Caledonian) (3, J Duncan (Newburgh) (5), J M Hamilton (Murcar Links) (7) s 66; B Nicolson (Auchmill (2), G Mitchell (Braemar) (5), B Nicolson (Auchmill) (2), F G Gray (Newmachar) (6) s, I D Smith (Hazlehead) (7) s 67; D Nelson (Aboyne) (5) s, K Duncan (McDonald Ellon) (scr) 68; B Brooks (Meldrum House) (+1), I Fowler (Royal Aberdeen) (7), A Dunton (McDonald Ellon) +2) 69; S Finnie (Caledonian) (+1), D McKay (Caledonian) (6) s, S Mackie (Kemnay) (5), G Taylor (Hazlehead) (+1), C Carnegie (Kemnay) (4), A K Pirie (Hazlehead) (2) 70.

Class 2 – J Scott (Peterculter) (10) s, S Kennedy (Craibstone) (13), G Kelly (Peterculter) (14) 68; H McNaughton (Cruden Bay) (11) J Wilson (Deeside) (11) s, M Booth (Kemnay) (12), J Jessiman (Oldmeldrum) (15) s, D Randall (Banchory) (15) s 70; L Roger (Royal Aberdeen) (9) s, D Bisset (Banchory) (9) s, R Alison (Deeside) (15) s 71; W Forbes (Murcar Links) (13) s, M Ord (Royal Aberdeen) (12) s 72; P Anderson (Deeside) (10), S Davidson (Northern) (13), B Lumsden (Northern) (14), I Strachan (Royal Aberdeen) (12) s, S Higgins (Royal Aberdeen) (11) s, C Brindley (Banchory) (10) 73; M F R Rogers (Kemnay) (15) s74; D Wood (Newburgh) (13) s, K Minty (Turriff) (9) s, C Sinclair (Aboyne) (14) 75.

BANCHORY SCORECARD: Par 69 (white tees; 5,813yd)
OUT: 4-3-3-4-4-5-3-4-3--33. IN: 5-4-3-4-4-5-3-4-4--36

LEADING SCORECARDS

ADAM LINDSAY 62 (-7)
OUT: 3-3-3-3-5-5-2-3-3--30. IN: 4-4-3-4-4-4-2-3-4--32

ADAM DUNTON 67 (-2)
OUT: 3-3-3-4-3-5-3-4-3--32. IN: 5-4-2-4-6-5-3-3-4--36

PAUL CORMACK 68 (-1)
OUT: 4-3-4-5-3-4-3-4-3--33. IN: 4-4-3-4-4-4-3-5-4--35

KEVIN DUNCAN 68 (-1)
OUT: 4-4-2-4-3-4-4-4-3--32. IN: 5-4-5-4-3-5-3-4-3--36

KRIS NICOL 68 (-1)
OUT: 4-3-3-4-4-5-3-4-3--33. IN: 4-3-3-3-3-4-3-3-3--35

BARRY BROOKS 68 (-1)
OUT: 4-3-2-5-4-5-4-4-2--33. IN; 4-4-4-3-4-5-4-4-3--35

Seve accepts honorary membership of the Royal

and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE ROYAL AND ANCIENT GOLF CLUB OF ST ANDREWS
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews is pleased to announce that Severiano Ballesteros has accepted its invitation to become an Honorary Member.
Severiano Ballesteros first caught the attention of the golfing public when, as a 19-year-old, he finished in a tie for second place with Jack Nicklaus at the 1976 Open Championship, held at Royal Birkdale. He then went on to win five Major Championships between the years of 1979 and 1988, adding two Green Jackets to his haul of three Claret Jugs.
His three Open Championship victories came in 1979 and 1988 at Royal Lytham and St Annes, and in 1984 at St Andrews. His legendary fist pump, a reaction to holing the birdie putt on the final hole of the Old Course to claim his second Claret Jug, became famous the world over and is now used as a logo for his group of companies.
“I am greatly honoured to accept Honorary Membership of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews,” he said.

“I have had, perhaps, the outstanding moment of my career at St Andrews and the town will always retain a very special place close to my heart. I sincerely hope that I will be able to come back next year and be part of the 150th Anniversary of The Open Championship.”
Ballesteros competed for Europe in eight Ryder Cups and Captained the European team to victory at Valderrama in 1997. He was also instrumental in creating the biennial Seve Trophy match, now called ‘the Vivendi Trophy with Severiano Ballesteros’, between teams representing Great Britain and Ireland and Continental Europe. He was inducted to the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1999.
Earlier this year, Ballesteros launched the Seve Ballesteros Foundation, an organisation which aims to aid research into cancer, particularly brain tumours. Simultaneously, the Foundation also assists young, underprivileged golfers to develop their golfing careers.

Severiano Ballesteros joins an illustrious list of Honorary Members of the Club:
His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh KG, KT.

His Royal Highness The Duke of York KG, KCVO, ADC.

His Royal Highness The Duke of Kent KG, GCMG, GCVO.

The Hon. George Herbert Walker Bush GCB.

Peter Alliss

Tony Jacklin CBE.
John Jacobs OBE.

Kel Nagle

Jack Nicklaus

Arnold Palmer

Gary Player

Peter Thomson CBE, AO.

Lee Trevino

Roberto De Vicenzo

Tom Watson

Fairways Target Golf Leagues

By NEIL HAMPTON

MONDAY LEAGUE REPORT
With just one more game to go before the league splits we have three of the four teams who will be contesting the top half already decided leaving two teams fighting for the final spot. BM Trucks retained their unbeaten run with a convincing win over the Sainties which pushed them out of the top half.
The Sainties' form is alarmingly varied and with their final game against the Neverwillbees a “must win” they will have to find the best in each player. Profiting from the Sainties slip up was Orion who leapfrogged them with their win over the Neverwillbees.
Orion have had their two best scores in the last fortnight and could well do some damage after the split. The Parahandies dodged a bullet with a sloppy performance against 3 Men and a Caddy who couldn’t quite find the find the killer blow and lost out by just six shots. Loch Ness Juniors had the bye and were back to their usual scoring exploits.
These results leave BM Trucks still two points clear of the Parahandies who themselves are two points clear of the Juniors. At the other end of the table 3 Men and a Caddy are still three points adrift of the Neverwillbees.
Results:
Orion 49 – 23 The Neverwillbees
BM Trucks 46 – 11 The Sainties
Three Men and a Caddy 20 – 26 Parahandies
Loch Ness Juniors (Bye) 56.

TUESDAY LEAGUE REPORT

The penultimate game in the Tuesday league before the split threw some expected and unexpected results which leaves six of the eight teams still in with a chance of making the top half next week. The nights biggest shock was the Luckless Leadbetters losing their unbeaten run and being relegated to second in the table.
The youngsters of King Kenyon’s Klan got their act together and compiled the nights highest total as the Leadbetters fell to their worst performance for over 3 season’s. This allowed Fairways, who had a comfortable win over the Mad Drivers to be alone at the top on 11 points, 2 ahead of the Leadbetters with King Kenyon’s Klan now just one point behind them.
The loss by the Mad Drivers has opened up the fight for the top four as they are joined on 6 points by the Senior Moments who easily saw off Fairhurst Fore and the Senior Moments who had a tight squeak against the Coastguards, winning by just 3 shots.
Next week the Senior Moments take on the Muirton Marvels and the King Kenyon face up to Fairways so it looks like the top four split may well have to go as far as the shots scored total to see who makes it in!
Results:
King Kenyon’s Klan 58 – 29 Luckless Leadbetters
Fairhurst Fore 16 – 39 Senior Moments
Mad Drivers 27 – 51 Fairways
Coastguards 25 – 28 Muirton Marvels.

HOW THEY STAND
MONDAY LEAGUE
1 BM Trucks 12pt
2 Parahandies 10pt
3 Loch Ness Juniors 8pt
4 Orion 7pt
5 The Sainties 6pt
6 Neverwillbees 4pt
7 Three Men and a Caddy 1pt

TUESDAY LEAGUE
1 Fairways 11pt
2 Luckless Leadbetters 9pt
3 King Kenyon's Klan 8pt
4 Muirton Marvels 6pt
5 Senior Moments 6pt
6 Mad Drivers 6pt
7 Coastguards 2
8 Fairhurst Fore 0pt

PGAs of Europe international team championship in Spain

Simpson’s Six Appeal Puts Wind In England’s Sails

but Scotland make slow start to be lying ninth

NEWS RELEASE FROM PGA
England’s Paul Simpson made light of the windy conditions to blow the opposition away in the first round of the PGAs of Europe International Team Championship at Roda, Spain.
Simpson, the head professional at West Berkshire Golf Club, fired a scorching six-under-par round of 66, as England closed on seven-under to establish a six-shot advantage at the head of the 24-strong field.
With each team comprising three players and the two best scores counting, the 38-year-old Simpson was aided and abetted by Kedleston Park’s Paul Wesselingh who posted a one-under-par 71. The third member of the trio, Twyford Golf’s Jeremy Robinson carded 76.
The highlight of Simpson’s round, which included six birdies and two bogeys, came at the par four 300-yard 6th.
“My drive landed 15 feet from the pin and I holed the putt for an eagle,” explained Simpson, whose game was neither hindered by the strong wind nor the lack of a practice round.
“There were some cross winds, which made things a bit tricky,” he added. “And I arrived late so I wasn’t able to have a practice round. Neither seems to have done me any harm.”
While Simpson thrived in the conditions, others foundered in the chase for the 6,000 Euros first prize.
Defending champions Ireland were indebted to John Kelly’s two-under-par to end the day in joint-second place alongside Belgium, Wales and the United Arab Emirates.
Gilles Monville proved the Belgians’ star performer by posting three-under-par, a total that was eclipsed by the UAE Simon Payne’s four-under, while James Lee (one-under) and Jason Powell (level) kept Wales in the hunt.
Scotland, multi-winners of the title in the 1990s, made an indifferent start to be lying ninth on three-over-par 147. Robert Arnott matched the par of 72 and Colin Gillies had a 75. Mark King had the non-counting round of 80.

FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 144 (2x72, best two from three scores to count daily)
137 ENGLAND (Paul Simpson 66, Paul Wesselingh 71, Jeremy Robinson 76).
143 IRELAND (John Kelly 70, Peter Martin 73, David Ryan 77), WALES (James Lee 71, Jason Powell 72, Andrew Barnett 73), UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (Simon Payne 68, Richard Sheridan 75, Stuart Fee 81), BELGIUM (Gilles Monville 69, Manoel Willems 74, Mathieu de Lille 77), (jt 2nd).
144 FINLAND (Sakari Aho 70, Jyry-Jussi Peltomaki 74, Jarkko Raski 78) (6th).
Selected score:
147 SCOTLAND (Robert Arnott 72, Colin Gillies 75, Mark King 80) (9th).

For all the scores, click on this line:

http://www.pgae.com/images/news/article%20photos/ITC%202009%20Scores.pdf

Rory McIlroy will join US Tour early next year

The European Tour will see less of Rory McIlroy from next year on when he will join the United States PGA Tour.

At the Hong Kong Open today, the 20-year-old rising star from Northern Ireland said that competing against stronger fields in America should make him a better golfer.
He is already No 17 in the world after turning pro only two years ago.

McIlroy made the cut in all four majors this year, tying for third at the US PGA Championship in August. As a US Tour member, he will have to play 15 times next year, although that includes the majors and World Golf Championships.
He's about to complete his second full season on the European Tour and goes into next week's climax of the Race to Dubai lying second in the money list behind Lee Westwood.
"I just feel that I will become a better golfer if I also play in America," he said. "I will be playing in world-class fields with more world ranking points on offer, and the only way for me to get better is to play alongside better players.
"And on paper at this moment there are 16 better players than me in the world."
McIlroy's first appearance on the 2010 US Tour will be at the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship in February, and he will stay in America until after the Masters before returning to Europe for the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth in May.

Meanwhile, Australian Adam Scott says he might give up his European Tour membership if officials decide next week to increase the minimum number of tournaments in which a member must play to retain membership.

Scott says he doesn’t blame Europe for trying to strengthen its membership requirements. He says it’s getting more difficult to play well on multiple tours.
He says there are too many good players on all tours to allow players to finish high on separate tours, such as what Ernie Els had done during his global travels.
Scott said: "It’s hard to spot someone like Jim Furyk six starts on the US Tour, or Lee Westwood 12 starts in Europe, and expect to compete against them."

Bit blowy at Cape Kidnappers in New Zealand

American Sean O'Hair and Camilo Villegas of Colombia share the lead through 15 holes of the Kiwi Challenge, which was halted when gusts reached 50 mph at Cape Kidnappers at Hawke's Bay, New Zealand today.
O'Hair and Villegas were at 2 under par, while Anthony Kim was 1 over and defending champion and fellow American Hunter Mahan was 3 over.
The tournament will now be completed on Thursday.
Villegas said the wind was so strong on the 10th that it blew O'Hair's cap into the ocean ... he did not go in after it!
The Kiwi Challenge is a 36-hole exhibition at Cape Kidnappers for players under 30.

Airport back injury threatens Paul

Lawrie's bid for Dubai place

FROM THE SCOTSMAN WEBSITE
Paul Lawrie’s late bid for a place in the Dubai World Championship later this month could be ruined by a back problem.
The former Open champion currently sits in 82nd spot on the European Tour’s Race to Dubai rankings and needs to break into the top 60 to secure a tee-time for the big-money climax to the season.
Lawrie, 40, has travelled to the Far East this week for the UBS Hong Kong Open in an effort to boost his position on the order of merit. But the Aberdonian is suffering from muscle spasms in his back and has already been forced to pull out of the pre-tournament pro-Am.
He said: “As I was lifting my clubs off the weighing scales at the airport check-in I felt a sharp pain in my lower back. I had a very uncomfortable flight to Hong Kong and my back was agony. I wasn’t sure about going to Hong Kong but I really want to play in Dubai and I have to give it a go.”