Fraser Mann leaving Musselburgh

post after 17 years to concentrate

on new SeniorsTour career


FROM THE EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS WEBSITE
By MARTIN DEMPSTER
Carnoustie-born Fraser Mann, the professional at Musselburgh Golf Club for nearly 17 years, is leaving the post at the end of March to concentrate on his new career on golf's European Senior Tour.
The former Scottish PGA and Northern Open champion secured his card for the over-50s circuit in Portugal last month and feels it would be problematic trying to combine both roles."It was a very difficult decision but, in fairness to both myself and the club, I felt I had to step down," said Mann, who succeeded Tom Stangoe at the Monktonhall club.
"I don't think there has really been anyone over the years who have been able to be a good club pro and a good tour player at the same time."
On his first visit to the Senior Tour Qualifying School, Mann tied for fifth, earning a card that will see him play most of the events on the 2010 schedule.
As he doesn't turn 50 until February, he was ineligible for the opening event in Mauritius recently but will be ready and raring to go when the season starts in earnest in the spring.
"Because I've got such a great exemption, I feel that I need to give this chance 110 per cent," he added. "After securing my card, I talked things over with my wife and life is too short to miss out on an opportunity like this.

"I finish at Musselburgh at the end of March and this gives me time to prepare properly. My first event is in the first week in March and I'll probably go out to Spain for two or three weeks to practise, working on my short game in particular.
"Looking further ahead, I may even look at getting a base abroad as there is no way you can do any serious work on your game in Scotland at this time of the year. I must admit I was a bit envious when the event was on in Mauritius recently but there could be as many as 20 events on the Seniors schedule next year and the chances are that I'll get into all of them.
"I also still have a full exemption on the Tartan Tour so I'll be playing in some of the events on that to fill in the gaps on the Seniors circuit."
While the Musselburgh members will be disappointed to see Mann move on, he has been overwhelmed by the congratulations he's received since his Tour School success.
"I've heard nothing but positive comments from the members while a whole host of people came up to me to offer their congratulations when I was through at the PGA Scottish Region annual lunch in Glasgow last week," he said.
"I spoke to Paul Lawrie there and he was asking me what it had felt like being back at the Tour School."
As Musselburgh go through the process of finding a successor, Mann believes the person they pick will land one of the best jobs in the country.
"I feel that we've built up a good business at the club and I have always taken pride in the fact that we have one of the best shops in Edinburgh," he added."I'll be very sorry to leave here because I've had great fun for nearly 17 years and the club have helped me loads over the years.
"We've done a power of work with juniors at the club and hopefully that will continue long after I'm gone."
Peter Millar, the club's admin secretary, said: "We will be sad to see Fraser go but, at the same time, we are pleased for him as this is a big opportunity and we certainly wish him well."

Byrne must wait a week for Dixie Amateur placing

to work its way into R&A World Amateur Rankings

This week's R&A World Amateur Golf Rankings updating does not include the Dixie Amateur which finished on Monday (US time).
That means that Banchory's James Byrne, who finished joint eighth in a quality field, will have to wait until the Week 52 revision before he widens the gap between himself and Ross Kellett (Colville Park), the only other Scot in the world's top 100 amateurs.
Byrne goes down one place to No 40 this week with Kellett No 41, having also gone down one place.
Kellett finished three strokes behind Byrne in joint 28th place in the Dixie Amateur.
To find the third Scot in the world amateur rankings one has to go down to 164th position and former Scottish amateur champion Glenn Campbell (Blairgowrie) who has gone up seven places, as has the next Scot, Mark Hillson (Craigielaw) in 171st position.
The top 10 remains unchanged with France's Victor Dubuisson and Italian wonder teenager Matteo Manassero giving Europe a 1-2 ahead of two Canadians and six Americans who make up the top 10.
England has five players in the top 22 - Stiggy Hodgson (No 13), Matt Haines (No 15), Tommy Fleetwood (No 19), Chris Paisley (No 21) and Darren Renwick (No 22).

Scots ranked in the top 500 are:
40 James Byrne (Banchory) (-1).
41 Ross Kellett (Colville Park) (-1).
164 Glenn Campbell (Blairgowrie) (+7).
171 Mark Hillson (Craigielaw) (+7).
202 Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) (+6).
229 James White (Lundin) (+5).
274 David Law (Hazlehead) (+5).
385 Steven McEwan (Caprington) (+4).
424 Philip McLean (Peterhead) (+6).

Richie Ramsay's sights set on Ryder Cup place

FROM THE SCOTSMAN WEBSITE
By Martin Dempster
Richie Ramsay is aiming to use the confidence he's gained from making a breakthrough on the European Tour to launch a serious challenge for a place in Colin Montgomerie's Ryder Cup side in Wales next October.
The Aberdonian has leaped to 19th in the European points list after his weekend win in the South African Open and says the fact Montgomerie will be captaining the side at the Celtic Manor Resort will give him an extra incentive over the coming weeks and months.
As an amateur, Ramsay enjoyed the opportunity of playing team golf for Scotland, as well as Great Britain & Ireland, and had his Ryder Cup appetite whetted when he went over to The K Club three years ago with some of his fellow players.
"I went to watch the guys win in Ireland and the atmosphere and everything about the event was just unbelievable," he said. "It (the Ryder Cup] is something had my eye on long, long term. It's not something that is probably in the immediate future but, if I can play just one Ryder Cup, it would be an honour.
"If it was under (the captaincy of) a Scotsman, it would mean more to me and playing for Monty would be a fantastic experience. Playing well when I return to the golf course for the Middle East swing next month is going to be a massive challenge because the fields are very strong but the new-found confidence I have from winning in South Africa can only make things easier on the golf course for me."
Asked what he felt he'd need to do to give Montgomerie a Scottish presence in the team, Ramsay added: "I would say you have to be consistent but, of all teams I've played in (as an amateur] when you look around it is normally full of winners. I'm sure that to play in the pressure of a Ryder Cup and in front of big crowds you have to be used to being in there challenging down the stretch on a Sunday, so winning big tournaments and doing well in the majors is what's required to be in with a shout of being in that team."

Any comments? You can E-mail them to Colin@scottishgolfview.com