Lothians Championship tees off at Royal Burgess
Senior Hogg's hunger for golfing limelight reignited by win
FROM THE EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS
By MARTIN DEMPSTER
Alan Hogg, who is hoping to do "some damage" on the seniors' circuit this year, turned back the clock at Royal Burgess on a night when experience proved decisive in the first round of the Lothians Championship.
The 50-year old, who reached the semi-finals more than 20 years ago, produced a solid display to progress to the last 16, where he'll be joined by 44-year old John Yuille of the host club.Up against Marriott Dalmahoy's Dougie Hunter, Hogg was two up at the turn and went on to win 3 and 2, admitting a short missed putt from his opponent at the 12th had proved pivotal.
"I've got a taste for it again and aim to do a bit damage in the seniors this year," said Hogg, who played at Ratho Park when he lost to Stuart Smith in the semi-final but is now a member at Dundas Parks.
He now faces Pumpherston's Paul Drake, who crushed Merchants' Brian Erskine 6 and 5, the biggest win of the night despite feeling his driving had been "horrendous."
Drake, who lost to Kenny Mail in the quarter-finals at Dalmahoy in 2006, was four up at the turn before holing his approach at the 11th for an eagle2.
"I got away with some bad drives and managed to recover," said the 36-year old, who was pleased to make three sand saves on the night.
Making a rare appearance in the event, Yuille used his experience to good effect to beat Turnhouse's Scott Young, one of the three players who tied at the top of the leaderboard in Saturday's qualifying.
Two up after two, Yuille, whose dad, George, was the long-serving pro at the Barnton club until retiring a few years ago, was around level par for the 14 holes played as he won 5 and 4.
"There's no pressure on me and you certainly get a lot of confidence from playing on your own course," said Yuille, the Lothians Champion of Champions winner six years ago.
The financial advisor now meets Kingsknowe's Allyn Dick, who marked his debut in the event with a 4 and 2 win over Simon Lockhart of Bathgate.
While Dick, a former Lanarkshire county champion when Shotts was his home club, was two up after seven, he reckoned it could easily have been the other way around.
"I was fortunate that Simon didn't take his chances over the opening stretch but from the eighth onwards I hit it well," said Dick.
Haddington's Keith Nicholson, the defending champion, recovered from losing the first to a par to beat Ed Shannly of Linlithgow 3 and 1. After winning both the 11th and 12th, Nicholson got up and down for a half at the 13th before sinking a 20ft birdie putt to take the 14th.
"While I won't have played here nearly as often as some of those who play team matches in Edinburgh, I'm hoping this event can bring out the best in me again," said the four-time champion.
Nicholson's next opponent could prove a tough nut to crack as Martin Stein, who beat Carrickvale's David Ewen, is a former semi-finalist and hits the ball a long way. The Craigielaw player won the opening five holes against Ewen and held off a brave fightback from his gritty opponent on the back nine to win 3 and 2.
With former winner Steven Armstrong failing to qualify and Young making an early exit, Olly McCrone is left to fly the Turnhouse flag after he beat Niddry Castle's Hugh Fraser 4 and 2.
McCrone, 38, birdied the 16th to go dormie three and he now faces Malcolm Campbell, who reaped the reward of the work he's been doing with namesake Stuart, the Swanston New pro, as he beat Bathgate's Ryan Boyle 4 and 3.
"Stuart has re-built my swing over the last five months and I've also been reading some golf psychology books," said the 25-year old, who works in the bar at this club.
RESULTS
FIRST ROUND
M Stein (Craigielaw) bt D Ewen (Carrickvale) 3 and 2.
K Nicholson (Haddington) bt E Shannly (Linlithgow) 3 and 1.
O McCrone (Turnhouse) bt H Fraser (Niddry Castle) 4 and 2.
M Campbell (Swanston New) bt R Boyle (Bathgate) 4 and 3.
J Yuille (Royal Burgess) bt S Young (Turnhouse) 5 and 4.
A Dick (Kingsknowe) bt S Lockhart (Bathgate) 4 and 2.
P Drake (Pumpherston) bt B Erskine (Merchants) 6 and 5.
A Hogg (Dundas Parks) bt D Hunter (Marriott Dalmahoy) 3 and 2.
+The above article appears in the Edinburgh Evening News newspaper today.
FROM THE EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS
By MARTIN DEMPSTER
Alan Hogg, who is hoping to do "some damage" on the seniors' circuit this year, turned back the clock at Royal Burgess on a night when experience proved decisive in the first round of the Lothians Championship.
The 50-year old, who reached the semi-finals more than 20 years ago, produced a solid display to progress to the last 16, where he'll be joined by 44-year old John Yuille of the host club.Up against Marriott Dalmahoy's Dougie Hunter, Hogg was two up at the turn and went on to win 3 and 2, admitting a short missed putt from his opponent at the 12th had proved pivotal.
"I've got a taste for it again and aim to do a bit damage in the seniors this year," said Hogg, who played at Ratho Park when he lost to Stuart Smith in the semi-final but is now a member at Dundas Parks.
He now faces Pumpherston's Paul Drake, who crushed Merchants' Brian Erskine 6 and 5, the biggest win of the night despite feeling his driving had been "horrendous."
Drake, who lost to Kenny Mail in the quarter-finals at Dalmahoy in 2006, was four up at the turn before holing his approach at the 11th for an eagle2.
"I got away with some bad drives and managed to recover," said the 36-year old, who was pleased to make three sand saves on the night.
Making a rare appearance in the event, Yuille used his experience to good effect to beat Turnhouse's Scott Young, one of the three players who tied at the top of the leaderboard in Saturday's qualifying.
Two up after two, Yuille, whose dad, George, was the long-serving pro at the Barnton club until retiring a few years ago, was around level par for the 14 holes played as he won 5 and 4.
"There's no pressure on me and you certainly get a lot of confidence from playing on your own course," said Yuille, the Lothians Champion of Champions winner six years ago.
The financial advisor now meets Kingsknowe's Allyn Dick, who marked his debut in the event with a 4 and 2 win over Simon Lockhart of Bathgate.
While Dick, a former Lanarkshire county champion when Shotts was his home club, was two up after seven, he reckoned it could easily have been the other way around.
"I was fortunate that Simon didn't take his chances over the opening stretch but from the eighth onwards I hit it well," said Dick.
Haddington's Keith Nicholson, the defending champion, recovered from losing the first to a par to beat Ed Shannly of Linlithgow 3 and 1. After winning both the 11th and 12th, Nicholson got up and down for a half at the 13th before sinking a 20ft birdie putt to take the 14th.
"While I won't have played here nearly as often as some of those who play team matches in Edinburgh, I'm hoping this event can bring out the best in me again," said the four-time champion.
Nicholson's next opponent could prove a tough nut to crack as Martin Stein, who beat Carrickvale's David Ewen, is a former semi-finalist and hits the ball a long way. The Craigielaw player won the opening five holes against Ewen and held off a brave fightback from his gritty opponent on the back nine to win 3 and 2.
With former winner Steven Armstrong failing to qualify and Young making an early exit, Olly McCrone is left to fly the Turnhouse flag after he beat Niddry Castle's Hugh Fraser 4 and 2.
McCrone, 38, birdied the 16th to go dormie three and he now faces Malcolm Campbell, who reaped the reward of the work he's been doing with namesake Stuart, the Swanston New pro, as he beat Bathgate's Ryan Boyle 4 and 3.
"Stuart has re-built my swing over the last five months and I've also been reading some golf psychology books," said the 25-year old, who works in the bar at this club.
RESULTS
FIRST ROUND
M Stein (Craigielaw) bt D Ewen (Carrickvale) 3 and 2.
K Nicholson (Haddington) bt E Shannly (Linlithgow) 3 and 1.
O McCrone (Turnhouse) bt H Fraser (Niddry Castle) 4 and 2.
M Campbell (Swanston New) bt R Boyle (Bathgate) 4 and 3.
J Yuille (Royal Burgess) bt S Young (Turnhouse) 5 and 4.
A Dick (Kingsknowe) bt S Lockhart (Bathgate) 4 and 2.
P Drake (Pumpherston) bt B Erskine (Merchants) 6 and 5.
A Hogg (Dundas Parks) bt D Hunter (Marriott Dalmahoy) 3 and 2.
+The above article appears in the Edinburgh Evening News newspaper today.
Labels: Amateur Men
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Tuesday, May 04, 2010
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