Amateurs make their presence
felt in Northern Open
FROM THE SCOTSMAN.COM WEBSITE
By MARTIN DEMPSTER
Take away the tops bearing Scottish Golf Union logos and it was difficult to tell the professionals and amateurs apart on the opening day of the Aberdeen Asset Management Northern Open.
Eight players shot four-under-par 66s to share the lead at Meldrum House and two of them, Ross Kellett (pictured) and Greg Paterson, are among the amateurs who've been handed invites this week.
With David Law, last year's double Scottish champion, just a shot off the pace, Scott Larkin and James White also having broken par on the first lap and Michael Stewart and Kris Nicol lying close to the top 20, the Tartan Tour professionals look as though they've got a fight on their hands in an event that has an exciting feel to it.
"We pros will really need to be on the top of our game this week because the full-time amateurs probably play more golf than us and I fully expect one of them to come close to winning this week," said Greig Hutcheon, another of those setting the early pace in the 72-hole event along with Jason McCreadie, Graeme Brown, Chris Doak, Chris Kelly and Kenny Hutton.
Hutcheon, a two-time Tartan Tour No 1 who has three Challenge Tour titles to his name, certainly doesn't play nearly as much these days as the leading amateurs. With a wife and young son to support, the 37-year-old from Banchory is working for an Aberdeen company involved in the oil industry and was in early yesterday morning to paint a drilling tool before turning his thoughts to golf.
"It's a small business that's owned by one of my friends and I look after the tool maintenance," he said after transforming his score by coming home in 30, five-under. "I need a bit financial security and I just can't afford to be playing on the Challenge Tour when I've got a little kiddie. I still enjoy my golf and it would be a shame to have to give it up."
Kellett, who is off to Argentina with Stewart and James Byrne in a few weeks' time to defend Scotland's world amateur title and warmed up for this event by winning the Eisenhower Invitational at Blairgowrie a fortnight ago, had two eagles on his card - holing from 45 feet at the fifth and then, at the 16th, from half that distance.
"These pros are good - a lot of them have played on either the European Tour or Challenge Tour - but I don't see any reason why one of us amateurs can't do well this week," said the Colville Park player.
Considering this is his first taste of such an environment, Fifer Paterson also had reason to feel happy with his day's work, as did Law even though he came off the course knowing he'd let an opportunity to be out in front on his own slip away over the closing stretch.
After starting with three straight birdies, the Hazlehead 19-year-old was six-under with four holes to play but dropped a shot at the 15th before running up a double-bogey 5 at the last, where the damage was caused by his tee shot catching the water between him and the green.
He still beat both his playing partners - David Orr, last year's Scottish PGA champion, signing for a 68 and Craig Lee, the defending champion here, a 70 that included three penalty shots in the last three holes.
McCreadie (2004, 2006) and Doak (2005, 2008) have both won this event twice before and are off to solid starts again, as are Kelly, a prolific winner on the Scottish circuit, and Hutton, the club professional at Downfield.
Taking up where he left off when retaining the Scottish Young Professionals' title at West Lothian last week, David Patrick is also just a shot off the pace and so, too, are Paul McKechnie, a former EuroPro Tour No 1, and Tartan Tour stalwart Robert Arnott.
Larkin, who won the Leven Gold Medal this year, and White, a former Scottish boys' match-play champion, both signed for 68s, two fewer than Stewart, the Scottish amateur champion, and Nicol, who came within a shot of making the cut in the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles at the end of last month.
SCOREBOARD AT MELDRUM HOUSE
FIRST ROUND
Par 70.
66 Ross Kellett (Colville Park) (am), Jason McCreadie (Buchanan Castle), Greg Paterson (St Andrews New) (am), Graeme Brown (Montrose), Chris Doak (unatt), Greig Hutcheon (Banchory), Chris Kelly (Cawder), Kenneth Hutton (Downfield).
67 David Law (Hazlehead) (am), David Patrick (Elie), Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs Golf Range), Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills).
68 David Orr (Eastwood), Scott Larkin (Royal Aberdeen) (am), Alan Lockhart (Ladybank), Colin Gillies (Braid Hills), James White (Lundin) (am), Fraser Mann (unatt).
69 Graeme Lornie (Paul Lawrie Foundation), Craig Gordon (Edinburgh Golf Centre), Graham Fox (East Kilbride), James McKinnon (Irvine), Stephen Gray (Hayston), Lee Harper (Archerfield Links), Ian Taylor (Drumpellier).
70 Paul Wytrazek (Burntisland), Lee Vannett (Carnoustie Golf Links), Craig Lee (Aspire Golf Centre), Steven Duncan (Balbirnie Park), Mark King (Kingsfield Golf Centre), Lindsay Mann (Carnoustie), Kris Nicol (Fraserburgh) (am), Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) (am), Alan E Reid (West Lothian), Peter Smith (unatt), Christopher Robinson (Dumfries and Galloway).
71 Jordan Findlay (Fraserburgh) (am), Ross Cameron (McDonald Ellon), Stuart Pardoe (unatt), Nick Robson (Meldrum House) (am), Mark Loftus (Adam Hunter Golf), Craig Matheson (Falkirk Tryst), Paul Brookes (Pitreavie), Mark Kerr (Marriott Dalmahoy), Alastair Webster (Edzell), Scott Henry (Carrick on Loch Lomond), Andrew Fullen (Largs), David Blackadder (Kingsbanrs), James McGhee (Turnhouse), Greg Paxton (Ralston).
72 Sean O'Donnell (Balbirnie Park), Andrew Crerar (Panmure), Mark Finlayson (Edwell), Ewan Davie (Dunblane New), Gordon Law (Uphall), Wallace Booth (Comrie), Alan Stuart (Aspire Golf Centre), Euan Cameron (Hamilton), Gareth Wright (West Linton)), Michael Rae (Alyth).
73 Malcolm Isaacs (Nairn Dunbar), Andrew Cooper (Newmachar), Colin Brodie (Meldrum House) (am), Jonny Sharp (The Carrick at Cameron House), Campbell Elliott (Haggs Castle), Scott Herald (Mearns Castle), Iain Colquhoun (Dundonald Links), Scott Grieve (Turnhouse), Samuel Cairns (Colville Park), Steven Taylor (Bothwell Castle), Patrick Lovie (P1 Corporate), Scott Henderson (Kings Links), Mark Bruce (Gullane), Garry Harvey (Kinross)..
74 Michael Patterson (Kilmacolm), John Robertson (Glasgow), Gary Forbes (Murcar Links), David Ross (Royal Aberdeen), Ross Dixon (Renaissance Club), Martin Shaw (Kilmarnock Barassie), Owen Leslie (Craigentinny), Craig Ronald (Carluke), Stewart Savage (Dalmuir), David Fleming (Prestwick).
75 Alastair Thomson (Douglas Park), Stewart Winter (Callander), Neil Fenwick (Dunbar), Shaun Clark (Elie), Stuart Kerr (Strathaven), Philip McLean (Peterhead) (am).
76 Ian Bratton (Newburgh on Ythan), Alan Mackay (Pumpherston), Christopher Russell (RAW Golf Course Design), Michael Sweenie (Turnberry).
77 Colin Nelson (Mackenzie's Golf Shop), Ronnie McDonald (Inchmarlo Golf Centre), Iain Donaldson (Meldrum House), Jamie Stevenson (Braehead), Sandy Aird junior (McDonald Ellon), Neil Colquhoun (Merchants of Edinburgh).
78 Neil Murray (Cruden Bay).
79 Gavin Abson (Carrick on Loch Lomond), Colin Clark (Mackenzie's Golf Shop).
80 Greig McSporran (Kinross).
82 Bob Satterley (Inveururie).
WEDNESDAY'S SECOND-ROUND TEE TIMES
7:54 Mark King
Scott Larkin
Mark Kerr
8:03 Alastair Webster
Robert Arnott
Alan Lockhart
8:12 Jason McCreadie
Greg Paterson
Lindsay Mann
8:21 Colin Gillies
Graham Fox
Kris Nicol
8:30 Gordon Law
James McKinnon
Graeme Brown
8:39 Stephen Gray
Philip McLean
Samuel Cairns
8:48 Steven Taylor
Wallace Booth
Chris Doak
9:02 Greig Hutcheon
Michael Stewart
Lee Harper
9:11 Scott Henry
Paul McKechnie
Craig Ronald
9:20 Alan E Reid
Christopher Russell
Alan Stuart
9:29 Euan Cameron
Ian Taylor
Stewart Savage.
9:38 Patrick Lovie
Andrew Fullen
David Blackadder
9:47 Chris Kelly
James White
Gareth Wright
9:56 Neil Colquhoun
James McGhee
Kenneth Hutton
10:05 Peter Smith
Fraser Mann
Scott Henderson
10:19 Michael Rae
David Fleming
Colin Clark
10:28 Christopher Robinson
Mark Bruce
Rob Satterley
10:37 Garry Harvey
Greg Paxton
Michael Sweenie
10:46 Paul Wytrazek
Malcolm Isaacs
Michael Patterson
10:55 Greig McSporran
Ian Bratton
Andrew Cooper
11:04 Colin Nelson
Ronnie McDonald
Neil Murray
11:13 Gavin Abson
John Robertson
Alastair Thomson
11:22 Iain Donaldson
Gary Forbes
Stewart Winter
11:36 Graeme Lornie
Jordan Findlay
Neil Fenwick
11:45 Colin Brodie
David Ross
Sean O'Donnell
11:54 Ross Cameron
Lee Vannet
Shaun Clark
12:03 David Law
Craig Lee
David Orr
12:12 Alan Mackay
Jonny Sharp
Stuart Pardoe
12:21 Campbell Elliott
Nick Robson
Mark Loftus
12:30 David Patrick
Ross Kellet
Craig Matheson
12:39 Ross Dixon
Paul Brookes
Scott Herald
12:53 Andrew Crerar
Iain Colquhoun
Stuart Kerr
13:02 Martin Shaw
Mark Finlayson
Owen Leslie
13:11 Steven Duncan
Jamie Stevenson
Craig Gordon
13:20 Scott Grieve
Sandy Aird junior
Ewan Davie
felt in Northern Open
FROM THE SCOTSMAN.COM WEBSITE
By MARTIN DEMPSTER
Take away the tops bearing Scottish Golf Union logos and it was difficult to tell the professionals and amateurs apart on the opening day of the Aberdeen Asset Management Northern Open.
Eight players shot four-under-par 66s to share the lead at Meldrum House and two of them, Ross Kellett (pictured) and Greg Paterson, are among the amateurs who've been handed invites this week.
With David Law, last year's double Scottish champion, just a shot off the pace, Scott Larkin and James White also having broken par on the first lap and Michael Stewart and Kris Nicol lying close to the top 20, the Tartan Tour professionals look as though they've got a fight on their hands in an event that has an exciting feel to it.
"We pros will really need to be on the top of our game this week because the full-time amateurs probably play more golf than us and I fully expect one of them to come close to winning this week," said Greig Hutcheon, another of those setting the early pace in the 72-hole event along with Jason McCreadie, Graeme Brown, Chris Doak, Chris Kelly and Kenny Hutton.
Hutcheon, a two-time Tartan Tour No 1 who has three Challenge Tour titles to his name, certainly doesn't play nearly as much these days as the leading amateurs. With a wife and young son to support, the 37-year-old from Banchory is working for an Aberdeen company involved in the oil industry and was in early yesterday morning to paint a drilling tool before turning his thoughts to golf.
"It's a small business that's owned by one of my friends and I look after the tool maintenance," he said after transforming his score by coming home in 30, five-under. "I need a bit financial security and I just can't afford to be playing on the Challenge Tour when I've got a little kiddie. I still enjoy my golf and it would be a shame to have to give it up."
Kellett, who is off to Argentina with Stewart and James Byrne in a few weeks' time to defend Scotland's world amateur title and warmed up for this event by winning the Eisenhower Invitational at Blairgowrie a fortnight ago, had two eagles on his card - holing from 45 feet at the fifth and then, at the 16th, from half that distance.
"These pros are good - a lot of them have played on either the European Tour or Challenge Tour - but I don't see any reason why one of us amateurs can't do well this week," said the Colville Park player.
Considering this is his first taste of such an environment, Fifer Paterson also had reason to feel happy with his day's work, as did Law even though he came off the course knowing he'd let an opportunity to be out in front on his own slip away over the closing stretch.
After starting with three straight birdies, the Hazlehead 19-year-old was six-under with four holes to play but dropped a shot at the 15th before running up a double-bogey 5 at the last, where the damage was caused by his tee shot catching the water between him and the green.
He still beat both his playing partners - David Orr, last year's Scottish PGA champion, signing for a 68 and Craig Lee, the defending champion here, a 70 that included three penalty shots in the last three holes.
McCreadie (2004, 2006) and Doak (2005, 2008) have both won this event twice before and are off to solid starts again, as are Kelly, a prolific winner on the Scottish circuit, and Hutton, the club professional at Downfield.
Taking up where he left off when retaining the Scottish Young Professionals' title at West Lothian last week, David Patrick is also just a shot off the pace and so, too, are Paul McKechnie, a former EuroPro Tour No 1, and Tartan Tour stalwart Robert Arnott.
Larkin, who won the Leven Gold Medal this year, and White, a former Scottish boys' match-play champion, both signed for 68s, two fewer than Stewart, the Scottish amateur champion, and Nicol, who came within a shot of making the cut in the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles at the end of last month.
SCOREBOARD AT MELDRUM HOUSE
FIRST ROUND
Par 70.
66 Ross Kellett (Colville Park) (am), Jason McCreadie (Buchanan Castle), Greg Paterson (St Andrews New) (am), Graeme Brown (Montrose), Chris Doak (unatt), Greig Hutcheon (Banchory), Chris Kelly (Cawder), Kenneth Hutton (Downfield).
67 David Law (Hazlehead) (am), David Patrick (Elie), Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs Golf Range), Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills).
68 David Orr (Eastwood), Scott Larkin (Royal Aberdeen) (am), Alan Lockhart (Ladybank), Colin Gillies (Braid Hills), James White (Lundin) (am), Fraser Mann (unatt).
69 Graeme Lornie (Paul Lawrie Foundation), Craig Gordon (Edinburgh Golf Centre), Graham Fox (East Kilbride), James McKinnon (Irvine), Stephen Gray (Hayston), Lee Harper (Archerfield Links), Ian Taylor (Drumpellier).
70 Paul Wytrazek (Burntisland), Lee Vannett (Carnoustie Golf Links), Craig Lee (Aspire Golf Centre), Steven Duncan (Balbirnie Park), Mark King (Kingsfield Golf Centre), Lindsay Mann (Carnoustie), Kris Nicol (Fraserburgh) (am), Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) (am), Alan E Reid (West Lothian), Peter Smith (unatt), Christopher Robinson (Dumfries and Galloway).
71 Jordan Findlay (Fraserburgh) (am), Ross Cameron (McDonald Ellon), Stuart Pardoe (unatt), Nick Robson (Meldrum House) (am), Mark Loftus (Adam Hunter Golf), Craig Matheson (Falkirk Tryst), Paul Brookes (Pitreavie), Mark Kerr (Marriott Dalmahoy), Alastair Webster (Edzell), Scott Henry (Carrick on Loch Lomond), Andrew Fullen (Largs), David Blackadder (Kingsbanrs), James McGhee (Turnhouse), Greg Paxton (Ralston).
72 Sean O'Donnell (Balbirnie Park), Andrew Crerar (Panmure), Mark Finlayson (Edwell), Ewan Davie (Dunblane New), Gordon Law (Uphall), Wallace Booth (Comrie), Alan Stuart (Aspire Golf Centre), Euan Cameron (Hamilton), Gareth Wright (West Linton)), Michael Rae (Alyth).
73 Malcolm Isaacs (Nairn Dunbar), Andrew Cooper (Newmachar), Colin Brodie (Meldrum House) (am), Jonny Sharp (The Carrick at Cameron House), Campbell Elliott (Haggs Castle), Scott Herald (Mearns Castle), Iain Colquhoun (Dundonald Links), Scott Grieve (Turnhouse), Samuel Cairns (Colville Park), Steven Taylor (Bothwell Castle), Patrick Lovie (P1 Corporate), Scott Henderson (Kings Links), Mark Bruce (Gullane), Garry Harvey (Kinross)..
74 Michael Patterson (Kilmacolm), John Robertson (Glasgow), Gary Forbes (Murcar Links), David Ross (Royal Aberdeen), Ross Dixon (Renaissance Club), Martin Shaw (Kilmarnock Barassie), Owen Leslie (Craigentinny), Craig Ronald (Carluke), Stewart Savage (Dalmuir), David Fleming (Prestwick).
75 Alastair Thomson (Douglas Park), Stewart Winter (Callander), Neil Fenwick (Dunbar), Shaun Clark (Elie), Stuart Kerr (Strathaven), Philip McLean (Peterhead) (am).
76 Ian Bratton (Newburgh on Ythan), Alan Mackay (Pumpherston), Christopher Russell (RAW Golf Course Design), Michael Sweenie (Turnberry).
77 Colin Nelson (Mackenzie's Golf Shop), Ronnie McDonald (Inchmarlo Golf Centre), Iain Donaldson (Meldrum House), Jamie Stevenson (Braehead), Sandy Aird junior (McDonald Ellon), Neil Colquhoun (Merchants of Edinburgh).
78 Neil Murray (Cruden Bay).
79 Gavin Abson (Carrick on Loch Lomond), Colin Clark (Mackenzie's Golf Shop).
80 Greig McSporran (Kinross).
82 Bob Satterley (Inveururie).
WEDNESDAY'S SECOND-ROUND TEE TIMES
7:54 Mark King
Scott Larkin
Mark Kerr
8:03 Alastair Webster
Robert Arnott
Alan Lockhart
8:12 Jason McCreadie
Greg Paterson
Lindsay Mann
8:21 Colin Gillies
Graham Fox
Kris Nicol
8:30 Gordon Law
James McKinnon
Graeme Brown
8:39 Stephen Gray
Philip McLean
Samuel Cairns
8:48 Steven Taylor
Wallace Booth
Chris Doak
9:02 Greig Hutcheon
Michael Stewart
Lee Harper
9:11 Scott Henry
Paul McKechnie
Craig Ronald
9:20 Alan E Reid
Christopher Russell
Alan Stuart
9:29 Euan Cameron
Ian Taylor
Stewart Savage.
9:38 Patrick Lovie
Andrew Fullen
David Blackadder
9:47 Chris Kelly
James White
Gareth Wright
9:56 Neil Colquhoun
James McGhee
Kenneth Hutton
10:05 Peter Smith
Fraser Mann
Scott Henderson
10:19 Michael Rae
David Fleming
Colin Clark
10:28 Christopher Robinson
Mark Bruce
Rob Satterley
10:37 Garry Harvey
Greg Paxton
Michael Sweenie
10:46 Paul Wytrazek
Malcolm Isaacs
Michael Patterson
10:55 Greig McSporran
Ian Bratton
Andrew Cooper
11:04 Colin Nelson
Ronnie McDonald
Neil Murray
11:13 Gavin Abson
John Robertson
Alastair Thomson
11:22 Iain Donaldson
Gary Forbes
Stewart Winter
11:36 Graeme Lornie
Jordan Findlay
Neil Fenwick
11:45 Colin Brodie
David Ross
Sean O'Donnell
11:54 Ross Cameron
Lee Vannet
Shaun Clark
12:03 David Law
Craig Lee
David Orr
12:12 Alan Mackay
Jonny Sharp
Stuart Pardoe
12:21 Campbell Elliott
Nick Robson
Mark Loftus
12:30 David Patrick
Ross Kellet
Craig Matheson
12:39 Ross Dixon
Paul Brookes
Scott Herald
12:53 Andrew Crerar
Iain Colquhoun
Stuart Kerr
13:02 Martin Shaw
Mark Finlayson
Owen Leslie
13:11 Steven Duncan
Jamie Stevenson
Craig Gordon
13:20 Scott Grieve
Sandy Aird junior
Ewan Davie
Labels: PRO GOLF
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Tuesday, September 21, 2010
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