Corey Pavin names his four Ryder Cup assistants

By Helen Ross, PGATOUR.COM Chief of Correspondents
A former Ryder Cup captain and another player many believe will serve in that capacity in the not-too-distant future are among four assistants announced today by US Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin.
Pavin chose Tom Lehman, who captained the 2006 American team at the K Club, six-time Ryder Cup player Davis Love III, Jeff Sluman and Paul Goydos as his four assistants for the matches in September at Celtic Manor, Wales.
Pavin served as one of Lehman's assistants in 2006. The Americans suffered an 18 ½-9 ½ defeat that year but will head to Wales with the Cup in hand after snapping a three-match losing streak at Valhalla, Kentucky in 2008.
Love is one of the United States' most experienced international players. He has a 9-12-5 record overall in the Ryder Cup that includes a 3-1-2 record in singles. Love has also played in six Presidents Cups.
Sluman, who won the 1988 PGA, never played in the Ryder Cup. He has served as an assistant captain in three Presidents Cups, though.
Goydos has never played in a Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup but is a veteran well-liked by his peers.
Pavin will announce his four Captains' team picks on September 7, the Tuesday after the Deutsche Bank Championship.
European captain Colin Montgomerie has yet to announce his vice captains.

Phil Mickelson taking Ping Eye2 wedge out of his bag

FROM THE GOLFWEEK.COM WEBSITE
Phil Mickelson now says he won’t be using again the Ping Eye2 wedge that led a fellow player to accuse him of “cheating.”
The left-handed World No 2 says he has made his point about a rules problem he wants to see fixed.
Mickelson said he accepted an apology from Scott McCarron, who last week said it was “cheating” for Mickelson or any other player to use a club with square grooves that only is allowed under a legal settlement from 20 years ago.
Mickelson said he hopes players continue using the Ping wedge to keep focus on what he called a ridiculous rule.
Meanwhile, US PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem says he is working with Ping officials on a solution.

Tom Watson tells Tiger to "show some humility to public'

CBSSports.com wire reports
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- Tom Watson says Tiger Woods needs to "show some humility to the public" when he returns to golf after sorting out his personal life.
Watson also said today that Woods should clean up his on-course behaviour in order to be considered among the true greats of the game.
Woods is on an indefinite break since his car accident November 27 that fuelled sordid tales of extra-marital affairs.
"I'll let the cat out of the bag," Watson said ahead of the Dubai Desert Classic. "Tiger has to take ownership of what he has done. He must get his personal life in order. I think that's what he's trying to do. And when he comes back he has to show some humility to the public.
"(If it were me) I would come out and I would do an interview with somebody and say, 'You know what? I screwed up. And I admit it. I am going to try to change. I am trying to change. I want my wife and family back."
The 60-year-old Watson, one of golf's elder statesmen, also criticised Woods -- a 14-time major winner -- for bad language and other on-course behaviour.
"I feel that he has not carried the same stature that other great players that have come along like Jack [Nicklaus], Arnold [Palmer], Byron Nelson, Ben Hogan, in the sense that there was language and club throwing on the golf course," said Watson, a play-off loser to Stewart Cink at last year's Open at Turnberry (Woods missed the cut).
"You can grant that of a young person that has not been out here for a while. But I think he needs to clean up his act and show the respect for the game that other people before him have shown."
Despite beginning his year with victories in Hawaii in the Champions Skins and the senior's Mitsubishi Electric Championship, Watson played down his chances of winning the annual Desert Classic on the European Tour.
After playing in the pro-am, Watson said he was impressed with the condition of the Emirates course but had trouble keeping his drives on the narrow fairways.
"The rough is very tough," he said. "It is very tough to get the ball on the green from the rough. You have probably only got a one-in-seven or one-in-eight chance to get the green if you drive into the rough."
The field also includes England's Lee Westwood and Sweden's Henrik Stenson, who will be among the favorites for Sunday's $416,600 prize.
After problems with his club specifications at last week's Qatar Masters, Westwood tested four drivers on the practice range in hopes of regaining the form that helped him win last year's Race to Dubai.
Stenson, the Desert Classic winner in 2007, had more than half a dozen drivers at his side in practice. He spent most of 2009 using a 3-wood off the tee after losing confidence in his driver.
Jock MacVicar writes (in the Scottish Daily Express):
Tom Watson also said that if he were the US PGA Tour commissioner he would also get rid of the broomhandle putter.
"That's not a stroke," he insisted. "I'd also reduce the size of the driver head and reduce by 10 per cent, the distance the golf ball goes."

Lloyd Saltman's pain in Spain:

Slump from 64 to 77

Lloyd Saltman, at one time one of the world's leading amateurs, continues to struggle as a professional.
After leading the field with a first-round, seven-under-par 64 in the Spanish Hi5 Pro Tour's Valle d'Este Open in the Murcia province, south-east Spain, the Archerfield pro, pictured right by Cal Carson Golf Agency, required 13 shots more for his second circuit - a six-over-par 77 for a two-round tally of 141.
The biggest blots on his scorecard were a double bogey 5 at the short second and a quadruple bogey 8 at the par-4 15th.
That drops him down the leaderboard to joint fifth with older brother Elliot who has had steadier rounds of 70 and 71.
The third Saltman sibling, young Zack, is just about last in the field of 40-odd with rounds of 87 and 75 for 162.
Englishman Alex Belt and Matthew Cryer lead the field with 36-hole tallies of 133 and 135 respectively. Belt's rounds have been 67 and 66, Cryer 67 and 68.
In the women's event Rhian Wyn Thomas leads the field of three by 11 shots with scores of 73 and 71 for 144.
Caroline Martens (Norway) is on 155 (75-80) and Sabina Imboden (Switzerland) is on 168 with a pair 84s.
MEN'S SCOREBOARD
par 142 (2x71)
133 Alex Belt (Eng) 67 66.
135 Matthew Cryer (Eng) 67 678,
136 Roberto Lantsoght (Spa) 70 66.
140 Miguel Angel Martin (Spa) 71 69.
141 Elliot Saltman (Sco) 70 71, Lloyd Saltman (Sco) 64 77, Simon Ferouz (Fra) 73 68, Christian Aronsen (Nor) 70 71.
142 Manuel Quiros (Spa) 67 75.
Selected scores:
144 James Busby (Eng) 74 70, Sam Haywood (Eng) 73 71, Matthew Evans (Eng) 71 73.
146 Kevin Harper (Eng) 75 71, James Housby (Eng) 77 69.
148 Rob Harris (Eng) 75 73.
149 Gary King (Eng) 73 76, Richard Carter (Eng) (am) 74 75.
153 Jonathan Smart (Eng) 79 74, Stephen Shields (Eng) 77 76.
154 John Green (Eng) 79 75.
161 Trevor Wissen (Eng 83 78.
162 Zack Saltman (Sco) 87 75.
164 Edward Barry-Walsh (Eng) 81 83.
WOMEN
144 Rhian Wyn Thomas (Wal) 73 71.
155 Caroline Martens (Nor) 75 80.
168 Sabina Imboden (Swi) 84 84.

North-east Alliance report and scores

Kris Nicol back in 29 for

a 62 at frosty Edzell

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Fraserburgh greenkeeper Kris Nicol is used to working on a golf course in all sorts of conditions - so, perhaps no surprise, that in very frosty conditions for today's North-east Alliance at Edzell Golf Club, the +3 handicapper headed a field of 61 brave souls with an excellent score, even over a shorteneded winter course, of seven-under-par 62.

Nicol reached the turn in two-under-par 35 with birdies at the first, fifth and eighth and one shot dropped, a bogey at the sixth.

Everyone, well, almost everyone, seemed to find the inward nine a lot easier and Nicol was no exception. He went into over-drive with only 29 shots required, made up of eight 3s (six of them birdies and two of them pars) and a bogey 5 at the 13th.

You can have a look at Kris's scorecard below.

Golf magazine writer Fergus Bisset (Banchory) was runner-up with a 64. He came home in 30 with the highlight an eagle 2 at the 12th.
Third-placed Brian Nicolson (Auchmill) had two eagle 2s - at the third and eighth - as well as four bogeys in an outward 35 on his way to a 65.
Leading scores (par 69)
SCRATCH
62 Kris Nicol (Fraserburgh).
64 Fergus Bisset (Banchory).
65 Brian Nicolson (Auchmill).
66 Stewart Pert (Huntly).
69 Jordan Findlay (Fraserburgh), Martin Foser (Cruden Bay).
70 George Paterson (Northern), Adam Dunton (McDonald Ellon).
71 Ian Bratton (Newburgh).
72 David Naylor (Banchory), Kevin Duncan (McDonald Ellon), Mar Lawrie (Kemnay), Jim Murray (Banchory).
73 Brian Harper (Newburgh), Harry Roulston (Stonehaven), Bill Urquhart (Murcar Links).
HANDICAP
Class 1 - F Bisset (Banchory) (2) 62; B Nicolson (Auchmill) (2) 63; S Pert (Huntly) (2), M Foster (Cruden Bay) (5), J Murray (Banchory) (8) 64; K Nicol (Fraserburgh) (+3) 65.
Class 2 - S Kennedy (Craibstone) (13), M Rogers (Kemnay) (15) 63; A Petrie (Oldmeldrum) (10) 64; D Townsley (Peterculter) (15), I Grant (Huntly) (18) 66; D Wood (Newburgh) (13) 68.

EDZELL WINTER SCORECARD

OUT: 4-4-4-4-4-3-4-4-4--35. IN: 4-4-4-4-3-4-4-3-4--34.

KRIS NICOL 62

OUT: 3-4-4-4-3-4-4-3-4--33. IN: 3-3-3-5-3-3-3-3-3-- 29.

FERGUS BISSET 64

OUT: 3-5-4-4-4-3-3-4-4--34. IN: 4-4-2-4-3-3-3-3-4--30.

BRIAN NICOLSON 65

OUT: 5-5-2-4-4-4-5-2-4--35. IN: 4-3-3-4-2-3-4-3-4--30.

STEWART PERT 66

OUT: 4-5-4-4-4-3-4-4-4--36. IN: 3-4-4-3-3-3-4-2-4--30

East Lothian Winter League

Gullane, Haddington move in opposite directions

FROM THE EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS
By MARTIN DEMPSTER
Haddington resumed their campaign in the East Lothian Winter League following a seven-week break enforced by snow and ice but were caught cold by visitors Gullane at the weekend.
In a close encounter at the top of the order, Duncan Low and Scott Walker came out on top for the visitors against Steven Lamb and Law Hardie.
With an advantage established in the lower order matches, that result tipped the scales in Gullane's favour and, in the end, the Haddington skipper Andrew Doctor's emphatic win, in the company of Keith Nicholson, proved to be the only one for the hosts.
That result saw Gullane move into a share of the lead in a league they last won 29 years ago, and sent their hosts into a relegation scrap with Royal Musselburgh, Dunbar, Tantallon and Craigielaw – four teams that have, between them, claimed the league title in 18 of the last 19 years.
Meanwhile, leaders Longniddry slipped up for the first time this season on the road at Royal Musselburgh. After eight straight wins, Chris Wood and Michael Bacigalupo tasted defeat for the first time this term at the hands of the experienced pairing of Ian Gordon and Cammy Boyd and that was enough to secure victory for Royal.
That result didn't alter the league position of either team, but the title race suddenly seems wide open and, with three, perhaps four teams to be relegated this term, there's plenty still to play for at either end of the table.
As usual, the Dunbar v Craigielaw clash was a tense affair. In recent years these teams have gone head to head for the title more often than not, but this time it was a battle for survival. With three out of five matches going the distance, there was really nothing to pick between the sides but, in the end, it was a triumph for experience over youth, with John Archibald and Gary Queen securing the vital point for the hosts on the final green.
In Division 2, both North Berwick and Winterfield bade farewell to their promotion hopes after suffering home defeats at the hands of Glen and Whitekirk respectively. However, the wins were significant for both visiting sides, who will now slug it out for one guaranteed promotion spot over the next five weeks.
Musselburgh Old kept their slender promotion hopes alive with a hard-earned win at home to lowly Thorntree.

Fairways Target Golf Leagues Week 2 report, results

By Neil D. Hampton
Golf & Marketing Director, Loch Ness Golf Course
Web: www.golflochness.com
The Monday teams were treated to benign, if slightly chilly conditions and almost all the players took advantage with all but one of the teams putting in good scores. BM Trucks were the nights best performers with a high score of 79 and the Neverwillbees will have mixed emotions having played so much better then their efforts in the week 1 but a total of 46 was not enough to beat the Trucks.
Similarly the Parahandies also got into their stride as they beat the top team of the previous week, the Royal Swingers. It was another good scoring match and the Swingers deemed it a good performance in just their second week, despite the loss.
The same goes for the Happy Gilmour’s whose total of 39 was very respectable but the wily old dogs in the Specialists team (a change in personnel from week 1) managed to record 10 more and take the two points.
In the final game both teams bettered their scores from last week but it was Orion who took the win with a total of 50 as the Sainties could only add 2 to their meagre total from last week and scored just 15. These results leave BM Trucks, Orion and Parahandies tied at the top with two wins out of two and the Neverwillbees, Happy Gilmour’s and Sainties still to get off the mark

MONDAY RESULTS
Happy Gilmours 39 – 49 Specialists
The Neverwillbees 46 – 79 BM Trucks
Orion 50 – 15 Sainties
Parahandies 48 – 37 Royal Swingers.

The Tuesday teams were also fortunate with the weather although the ground conditions were a bit firmer making it a little harder to stop the balls in the targets which meant the more experienced teams came through.
The big result of the night was the Muirton Marvels putting one over the Luckless Leadbetters. The Marvels top scored with an excellent 65 and the Leadbetters had no answer to this fire power, scoring less than half of the Marvels total.
The Senior Moments thrived in the bouncy conditions and they had the second highest score of 45, comfortably taking the points from the Mad Drivers who were slipping all over the place. King Kenyon’s Klan also got a grip in the conditions and their total of 38 was more than enough to maroon the Coastguards.
The easiest run of the night was for Fairhurst who, despite just scoring 15, got the two points as Fairways failed again to send out a team. The Muirton Marvels and King Kenyon’s Klan are the only unbeaten teams with two wins out of two and with the Mad Drivers and Fairways at the opposite end of the scale.

TUESDAY RESULTS
Coastguards 11 – 38 King Kenyon’s Klan
Senior Moments 45 – 17 Mad Drivers
Fairhurst 15 – 0 Fairways
Luckless Leadbetters 30 – 65 Muirton Marvels.



Played
Won
Drawn
Lost
For
Against
Diff
Points
1
BM Trucks
2
2
0
0
123
68
55
4
2
Orion
2
2
0
0
80
28
52
4
3
Parahandies
2
2
0
0
68
45
23
4
4
Royal Swingers
2
1
0
1
87
66
21
2
5
Specialists
2
1
0
1
71
83
-12
2
6
Neverwillbees
2
0
0
2
54
99
-45
0
7
Happy Gilmours
2
0
0
2
52
79
-27
0
8
The Sainties
2
0
0
2
33
100
-67
0



Played
Won
Drawn
Lost
For
Against
Diff
Points
1
Muirton Marvels
2
2
0
0
116
71
45
4
2
King Kenyon's Klan
2
2
0
0
87
55
32
4
3
Senior Moments
2
1
0
1
89
66
23
2
4
Luckless Leadbetters
2
1
0
1
72
83
-11
2
5
Fairhurst Fore
2
1
0
1
56
51
5
2
6
Coastguards
2
1
0
1
33
38
-5
2
7
Mad Drivers
2
0
0
2
35
87
-52
0
8
Fairways
2
0
0
2
0
37
-37
0

Barry Hume wins West Alliance at Prestwick St Nicholas

A total of 65 amateurs and 22 professionals contested yesterday's West of Scotland Alliance competition at Prestwick St Nicholas Golf Club.
Conditions started poorly with snow covering half the country and many players phoning to see if the event was on. However, the micro-climate in Prestwick only managed a trickle of rain which later cleared to lovely sunshine.
The course, in brilliant condition and the favourable weather, helped to produce some fantastic golf.
Stewart Savage, starting in the second group of the day, took an early lead on 66 which included four birdies and two bogeys. Stevie Gray equalled that score later in the day with three birdies.
However, Barry Hume, in the second last group of the day, took advantage of the later favourable conditions and carded a bogey-free, five-birdie round of 64.
New member this year, Jonathan D'Aguillar carded a nett 64 playing off 11 to win the handicap prize. Billy Campbell (5) and Andrew Kent (4) tied for the second place position on 66.
Seniors prize went to another new member, John Mansfield (15), with a net 70.
PRIZEWINNERS
Scratch
64 Barry Hume (Haggs Castle) p (£110).
66 Stephen Gray (pro) (Hayston) p, Stewart Savage (Dalmuir) p (£70 each).
68 Robert Jenkins (Crow Wood) (£40 voucher).
Handicap
(prize vouchers)
64 Jonathan D'Aguillar (Glasgow G) (11) (£80).
66 Billy Campbell (Loudon Gowf Club) (5), Andrew Kent (Troon Wellbeck) (4) (£42.50 each).
69 John Carrell (Torrance House) (12), Gordon Cree (Troon Wellbeck) (3) (£12.50 each).

Senior Prizes
Vouchers
70 John Mansfield (Troon Merchants) (15) (£30).
71 Hugh Smith (Cathkin Braes) (8) (£20).

Top handicap winner Jonathan D'Aguillar also took the sweep money, with Billy Campbell and a visitor on the day James Halpin sharing second place with a net 66.
Only three amateurs on the day managed to share out the 2s' sweep money

Midland Alliance at Arbroath frosted off this week

Tomorrow's Midland Golfers Alliance competition at Arbroath has been cancelled due to the frosty conditions. The William Hill team competition will be moved to next week's meeting at Carnoustie Buddon (Thursday, February 11 - check in at Caledonia G C, tee reserved from 8.30 - 12.30).

McCarron apologises for calling Mickelson a cheat

FROM THE STUFF.CO.NZ WEBSITE
Scott McCarron has apologised to fellow American golfer Phil Mickelson for implying that the world number two had cheated by using a 20-year-old Ping-Eye 2 wedge at last week's San Diego Open.
The pair had a 10min conversation after PGA Tour players met commissioner Tim Finchem at Riviera Country Club yesterday to discuss the lingering debate over the legality of square grooves.
Under United States Golf Association (USGA) rules implemented on January 1, square or U-grooves have been outlawed but the Ping-Eye 2 wedge is deemed legal because of a lawsuit won by its manufacturer over the USGA in 1990.
"I would like to apologise to Phil Mickelson for the comments that I made," McCarron said in the build-up to this week's Northern Trust Open.
"We had a very nice conversation ... and we both realise that we are on the same page on this issue. We think it's an issue that clearly needs to be resolved.
"This issue should have been solved by January 1st and unfortunately there is a lot of legal haggling that has to go on ... before we can actually do something about the rule."
The new rules relating to clubface grooves were implemented after research found modern configurations could allow players to generate almost as much spin with irons from the rough as from the fairway.
All clubs, with the exception of drivers and putters, have been affected by the change, which limits groove volume and groove-edge sharpness, effectively replacing U-grooves with V-grooves.
McCarron told the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper last week that use of the square-grooved Ping wedge amounted to cheating and he was appalled Mickelson and others had put the club in play.
Yesterday, however, McCarron criticised the USGA and the US PGA Tour for not anticipating the Ping groove problem well before January 1.
"I don't think they believed many players would be using a 20-year-old wedge but if you've got a wedge that actually puts more spin on it, then guys are going to use it," he said.
"They have every right to be able to use it. It is legal. I would just like to see everybody play the same clubs. At the moment, we can't.
"There are many guys out here on tour who are under contract and who can't play those (Ping wedges). They don't have an option to play them."
McCarron, a veteran of 16 years on the US PGA Tour and a member of the circuit's player advisory council, expected the rule to be changed "within 90 to 120 days".
He added: "If we're going to start this process, I think it will take somewhere around that period of time. There are a few options and commissioner Finchem will discuss them tomorrow."
Finchem had initially been scheduled to hold a news conference after the meeting with the players but that has been pushed back to today.

GUNN WITHDRAWS AFTER ONE ROUND IN ARIZONA

Jimmy Gunn from Dornoch finished the first round in joint 55th place in a field of 101 at this week's Gateway Tour event at Anthem Golf & Country Club, Ironwood in Arizona.
Gunn had an up and down round of two-over-par 74 with birdies at the first, third, sixth, 13th and 18th but also a double bogey at the short fourth and bogeys at the second, fifth, 12th, 14th and short 17th in halves of 37.
Welshman Chris Cole had a 75.
Two Americans, Eric Meierdierks and Josh Persons share the lead on six-under 66.
+There is no NGA Hooters Tour event until the third week of February, which gives Russell Knox from Inverness a rest.

LATER NEWS: Jimmy Gunn withdrew from the tournament before the second round. No explanation was available.

Paul O'Hara off on the Road to Morocco

FROM THE SCOTSMAN WEBSITE
By MARTIN DEMPSTER
Paul O'Hara, who joined Steven, his older brother, in the professional ranks after topping the Scottish Order of Merit last season, will start his 2010 campaign on the EPD Tour, one of the third-tier circuits in European golf.
The 23-year-old, who just missed out on a Walker Cup spot last year after losing in the final of the Scottish Amateur Championship for the third time in six years, has targeted the German-run Tour on the advice of his new manager, former Scottish international Euan McIntosh.
O'Hara missed out on the opening four events, which are currently being played in Turkey, but he is definitely playing in the three tournaments straight afterwards in Morocco.
"While I played in the Tour School qualifying as a professional, these will be my first tournaments (in the paid ranks] and I can't wait to get going," said O'Hara, who has spent more time in the gym over the past few weeks than he has on a golf course due to the weather.
"The top five on the order of merit at the end of the season get on to the Challenge Tour and that's my target, while I will also be going to the (European] Tour School at the end of the year."
After losing his European Tour card at the end of the 2008 season, Craig Lee played on the EPD Tour last year, winning two events in Turkey on the way to finishing 13th on the order of merit.

Lloyd Saltman leads by three in Spain

FROM THE SCOTSMAN WEBSITE
By NICK RODGER
Lloyd Saltman stormed into a three-stroke lead in round one of the Hi5 Pro Tour's Valle del Este Open in the Murcia region of south-east Spain yesterday.
The Archerfield pro, who is preparing for the European Challenge Tour season opener in Colombia later this month, fired a seven-under 64 to open up a commanding early advantage over Spain's Manuel Quiros and Englishmen Alex Belt and Matt Cryer.
Saltman, 24, reeled off seven birdies in a tidy round as the former Open silver medal winner took charge of the contest.
Saltman's older brother, Elliot, opened his challenge with a one-under 70 to share fifth but Zack, the youngest of the Scottish siblings, slumped to a bogey-ridden 87 and finished at the bottom of the standings.
SCOREBOARD
MEN (par 71)
64 Lloyd Saltman (Sco).
67 Alex Belt (Eng), Matthew Cryer (Eng), Manuel Quiros (Spa).
70 Christian Oransen (Nor), Robert Lantsoght (Spa), Robert Svensson (Swe), Elliot Saltman (Sco).
71 Stain Hanson (Nor), Matthew Evans (Eng), Miguel Angel Martin (Spa).
73 Simon Ferour (Fra), Jose Manuel Garzon (Spa), Sam Haywood (Eng), Gary King (Eng).
74 Ryan Street (Can), Richard Carter (Eng) (am), James Bush (Eng).]75 Bread Clapp (Can), Bob Harris (Eng), Kevin Harper (Eng).
76 Ivo Parega (Spa), Charles Goux (Swi).
Selected scores:
77 Stephen Shields (Eng), James Housby (Eng).
79 John Green (Eng), Jonathan Smart (Eng).
81 Edward Barry-Walsh (Eng).
83 Trevor Wissen (Eng).
87 Zack Saltman (Sco) (39th).
Disqualified - Daniel Hewitt (Eng).
WOMEN
73 Rhian Wyn Thomas (Wal).
75 Caroline Martens (Nor).
84 Sabina Imboden (Swi).

Higginbottom (16) beats Fleetwood (19)

in New South Wales final

FROM THE NEW SOUTH WALES GOLF ASSOCIATION WEBSITE
Sixteen-year-old Jake Higginbottom (The Australian Golf Club) has won the 2010 New South Wales Amateur Championship, played at The Royal Sydney Golf Club.
Current NSW Junior Champion, Higginbottom played strongly over the 36-hole final, defeating 19-year-old Englishman Tommy Fleeetwood (Formby Hall, Lancashire) by 3 and 2.
Both players were consistent early, with Higginbottom just one up after 18 holes. Some strong play in the next nine holes saw Higginbottom get out to five up, with nine holes remaining. Through these holes, Jake played 10 holes in six under par!
Despite being five down with just five holes to play, Fleetwood (winner of the Scottish open amateur stroke play championship at Murcar Linkis last year) continued to fight back, winning the next two holes.
However it was the youngster who held his composure with a chip in at the 34th hole to secure victory, completing a brilliant six days of golf.
Graeme Phillipson, NSW Golf Association General Manager – Golf Programs and Services was excited at the result. “It really is an incredible achievement for such a young golfer. It’s great to see some exciting young talent coming through the ranks of NSW Golf. Jake continues to go from strength to strength, and it’s exciting to see where he’ll be in the future”.
It has been a grueling Championship, kicking off at Newcastle and Muree Golf Clubs with over 260 players on 26-28 January, participants playing four rounds of 18 holes over the three days. The leading 32 players competed in the match play component at The Royal Sydney Golf Club from 1-3 February, with it eventually getting down to the final two – Higginbottom and Fleetwood.
At completion of play, they have both played 10 rounds over six days, which is indeed a test of skill, mental strength and endurance.
Higginbottom, pictured above with the trophy, by courtesy of the New South Wales Golf Association, will now receive entry into the 2010 British Amateur Championship (at Muirfield and North Berwick from June 14 to 19.

THE 'IS-HE-A-SCOT?' MICHAEL SIM DEBATE

Michael Sim, development as a golfer greatly assisted by Australian bodies.

Another E-mail from Michael Sim's father, George (in Australia)

Colin,
Michael is certainly proud of his Aberdeen roots as are the whole family. However, I think that your readers have to understand that Michael’s development as a golfer has been greatly assisted by The Graham Marsh Junior Golf Foundation in Western Australia as well as the Australian Golf Union and the Australian Institute of Sport, which he attended for two years in Melbourne after leaving school.

Michael also represented Australia at both junior and men's level. He represented Australia eight times as an amateur and was part of a three-man Eisenhower Trophy team with James Nitties and Jarrod Lyle.
Therefore, when he turned professional he was always going to represent Australia which I think is the correct decision.
George Sim