SCOTS TAKE COUNT AT SUNNINGDALE

Carnoustie's Colin Sinclair and Kris Harper won their first-round tie in the Sunningdale foursomes today. They beat B Monks and C Rodgers of Royal Mid-Surrey by one hole before losing by 4 and 3 in the afternoon second round to C Griffiths (Wentworth) and C Bull (Sunningdale).
Banchory's Fergus Bisset and his partner, D Ford of Royal North Devon, lost by 3 and 2 to former tennis ace Tim Henman and T Crawley, both Sunningdale members, in the first round.

Elliot Saltman one off the pace in Spain

FROM THE SPANISH Hi5 PRO TOUR WEBSITE
Michael Collins, representing Ireland, was the only player to beat par today in demanding conditions over the signature Nicklaus course situated in Murcia, Spain.
Michael , a last minute entry , played a solid round of 71 consisting of 3 birdies , two bogeys and 13 pars to set the pace in the Hi5 Pro Tour Condado de Alhama open.
Close on his heels, just one shot behind are Scotland's Elliot Saltman, whose younger brother Lloyd won last week's event, and Fredrik Hammarberg of Sweden.
Leading the Seniors section with a score of 73 ( +1 ) is England's Gary Wolstenholme who turned pro late in his career after establishing a stellar amateur CV.
FIRST ROUND SCORES
Par 72
71 Michael Collins (Ireland).
72 Elliot Saltman (Scotland), Fredrik Hammarberg (Sweden).
73 Gary Wolstenholme (England), Patrick O'Neil (Denmark) (amateur).
74 Alex Belt (England), John Green (England), James Housby (England), Martyn Haymer (England), James Johnson (England).
75 Andreas Hogberg (Sweden), Ruaidhri McGee (Ireland), Brad Clapp (Canada).
76 Gary King (England).
77 Felix Fihn (Sweden), Zack Saltman (Scotland), Pablo Del Grosso (Spain), Stefan Mar Stefansson (Iceland), Miguel Angel Martin (Spain).
78 Bjorn Pettersson (Sweden), Lasse Sonne Nielsen (Denmark) (amateur), Richard Carter (England) (amateur), Stephen Shields (England).
79 Dominik Weissar (Germany), Ronan Collins (Ireland), Ignacio Sanchez Palencio (Spain).
80 Ryan Street (Canada), Daniel Sandberg (Sweden).
81 Chris Linstead, Robert Svensson (Sweden).
83 Joacim Hultman (Sweden).
85 Edward Barry-Walsh (England).
86 Stuart Hemming (England).
87 Alex Moron (England).
89 Roy Van der Loop (Netherlands).

Tiger Woods comeback in

Masters confirmed

Tiger Woods is to make his comeback in the Masters tournament at Augusta National, Georgia from April 8 to 11:
He issued the following statement today:
"The Masters is where I won my first major and I view this tournament with great respect. After a long and necessary time away from the game, I feel like I'm ready to start my season at Augusta.
"The major championships have always been a special focus in my career and, as a professional, I think Augusta is where I need to be, even though it's been a while since I last played.
"I have undergone almost two months of in-patient therapy and I am continuing my treatment. Although I'm returning to competition, I still have a lot of work to do in my personal life.
"When I finally got into a position to think about competitive golf again, it became apparent to me that the Masters would be the earliest I could play. I called both Joe Lewis and Arnold Palmer and expressed my regrets for not attending the Tavistock Cup and the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
"I again want to thank them both for their support and their understanding. Those are fantastic tournaments and I look forward to competing in them again.
"I would also like to thank the Augusta National members and staff for their support. I have deep appreciation for everything that they do to create a wonderful event for the benefit of the game."

Kintore and Westhill not fielding teams in Aberdeen

and District Junior Pennant League this season

The Aberdeen & District Junior Pennant Golf League, sponsored by Kings Links Golf Centre, will not have teams from Kintore or Westhill competing in the new season but Inverallochy are playing.
The previous match-day format of six ties featuring 12 boys (or girls) competing in four-ball, better-ball pairs off scratch is being changed to threee scratch matches and three handicap matches.
League secretary Gordon Murray, vice-president of the Scottish Golf Union, explains:"The change is to stop younger team members getting thrashed in a scratch game.
"The first three pairs will play off scratch and the next three play off handicap with the lower handicap players giving strokes accordingly to players with higher handicaps."
Teams in the League's Section B will have one fewer game due to Kintore's withdrawal.
The sectional ties begin on Sunday, April 11. The section winners will contest the semi-finals at neutral venues on Sunday June 13. The final will be played over Newmachar Swailend on Sunday, June 20.
SECTION A - Auchmill, Banchory, Deeside, Murcar Links, Northern, Peterhead, Royal Aberdeen.
SECTION B - Bon Accord, Cruden Bay, Hazlehead, Kemnay, Newburgh, Nigg Bay.
SECTION C - Alford, Craibstone, Inverallochy, Newmachar, Oldmeldrum, Peterculter, Stonehaven.
SECTION D - Aboyne, Caledonian, Inchmarlo, Inverurie, McDonald Ellon, Portlethen

'It is not as important as some people say'

Walker Cup won't stop

Kellett turning pro

FROM THE SCOTSMAN SPORT.COM WEBSITE
By Martin Dempster
Ross Kellett, Scotland's highest-ranked amateur, has revealed he won't be hanging around to play in next year's Walker Cup at Royal Aberdeen because he feels such an honour counts for little in the professional game.
The 22-year-old from Colville Park, Motherwell (pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency), one of four Scots named in the Great Britain & Ireland squad for this season's St Andrews Trophy match against the Continent of Europe, is gearing up instead for a switch to the paid ranks later in the year.
He will enter the European Tour Qualifying School and will definitely turn professional before the start of next season if, at the very least, he can secure a Challenge Tour card.
"I have spoken to Gavin (Dear] and Wallace (Booth] about the Walker Cup and they said they don't feel it is the be-all and end-all," said Kellett, who chalked up three runner-up finishes in top amateur events around the globe last year and is currently the world No 49 amateur.
"Although it is nice to represent Great Britain & Ireland against America, you shouldn't stay amateur just for that because, once you turn professional, no-one is saying you are super or can definitely beat them because you played in the Walker Cup. They probably wouldn't care so I don't think it is as important as some people say."

In recent years, Pablo Martin, Danny Lee and Shane Lowry have all won European Tour events while still amateurs, the latter lifting the Irish Open title in a play-off at Co Louth last season. The week before, Kellett had played with Lowry in the Irish Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship and the Scot believes he could just as easily enjoy such a life-changing experience.
"You can only take inspiration from those guys winning," added Kellett, who is joining forces with David Law, Philip McLean and James White in the European Nations Cup, formerly the Sherry Cup, which gets underway at Copa Real Golf Club in Sotogrande tomorrow.
"I spoke to Shane on the Sunday of the Irish Stroke Play last year and asked him when he was going to the Brabazon Trophy the following week. He said he wasn't going there as he was playing in the Irish Open and, lo and behold, he's the champion the following week.
"While these sort of wins aren't common, it shows that amateurs can achieve life-changing successes and, if people I am used to playing against in the amateur ranks can do it, then I can, too."
*The full article above appears in The Scotsman newspaper today.