Aberdeen link with US v Europe two years from now

Tom Bendelow course
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at Medinah to host the
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Ryder Cup 2012 match

Medinah Country Club, the site of many memorable moments spanning 60 years of Major Championship golf, will host The 39th Ryder Cup from September 25-30, 2012, marking the Illinois debut of golf's most compelling event.
Located some 35 minutes from downtown Chicago, Medinah Country Club has hosted three US Opens (1949, 1975 and 1990) and two US PGA Championships (1999, 2006); while also the site of the 1988 US Senior Open and three Western Opens [now BMW Championship] (1939, '62, '66).
As part of its 2012 preparations, Medinah is nearing completion of a $1.5 million greens renovation project on Course No. 3, led by renowned course architect Rees Jones. The project included a dramatic redesign of the 15th hole.
The 15th now offers players with a great risk-reward opportunity with a driveable par 4 by reducing its length by 100 yards and adding a two-acre lake that borders the right side of the fairway and green. The new forward tee allows Number 15 to be set up as short at 280 yards. The original tee area of 392 yards from the championship tees will be preserved to provide the club with flexibility in course set-up.
Jones, who has overseen all architectural design aspects of Medinah's three golf courses since 2000, moved the 15th green to the left (south), which made way for the creation of a new back tee for Medinah's famed 16th hole. The tree-lined par 4 now measures 15 yards longer – playing approximately 470 yards from the championship tees.
The major greens renovation took place on 11 of Course No. 3's original 18 greens and its main putting green, which was rebuilt to USGA specifications. Course No. 3's other six greens were re-grassed and the 15th green rebuilt.
This year, Medinah's famed No. 3 Course is ranked 20th by Golf Digest among "America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses." All three of Medinah's 18-hole courses were designed by Aberdonian Tom Bendelow, pictured above, in 1928 and completed two years apart.
Medinah County Club is expected to reopen the No. 3 Course on June 19, 2010.
The Ryder Cup, among the last great professional sporting events where winning, and not prize money, is its own reward, spans 37 competitions over 81 years. The competition was born in 1927, when enterprising English seed merchant Samuel Ryder commissioned the casting of a gold chalice that bears his name.
The US Team defeated Great Britain, 9½ to 2½, in the inaugural matches in Worcester, Mass. Since then, The Ryder Cup has expanded to involve the finest players of Europe. Except for a span (1939-45) during World War II and following the September 11, 2001 attacks upon America, The Ryder Cup has been held biennially with the US and Europe alternating as host.

Rheumatism will KO Olazabal from Masters

The manager for two-time Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal says the Spaniard will pull out of the Masters next month because he is suffering again from rheumatism.
Sergio Gomez told the Press Association on Wednesday that Olazabal has pain in his shoulder, forearms and hands and is unable to swing properly. He said Olazabal cannot practise for much more than an hour and that traditional medicine is not working.
Olazabal won the Masters in 1994 and 1999. The only year he missed was in 1996, when he sat out the entire season after being diagnosed with rheumatoid polyarthritis.
The 44-year-old Spaniard, inducted last year into the World Golf Hall of Fame, has not played a tournament since he finished 14th in the Castello Masters in Spain last October.

Hendry 70 ... but only joint 32nd on America's eGolf Pro Tour

Twice past winner of the Scottish youths champion, Elgin-born Joel Hendry shot a two-under-par round of 70 on the opening day of the eGolf Professional Tour at the Cabarrus Country Club, Concord in North Carolina.
Despite that, the Scot was only tied for 32nd place in a huge field of around 200.
Chris Epperson is setting the pace with a 65, ahead of fellow Americans Chase Carroll, Joe Daley and Dustin Bray on 66.

Oh, brother! Elliot following in Lloyd
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Saltman's footsteps in Spain



FROM THE SPANISH Hi5 PRO TOUR WEBSITE
Elliot Saltman leads the Hi5 Pro Tour Condado Open after day 2 with the field playing once again in blustery wind conditions.
The Scotsman takes a one-shot lead into the final round over day 1 leader, Ireland's Michael Collins.
Aegon-sponsored Elliot, pictured right, is looking to keep the Condado title in the family following last week's win by one of his younger brothers, Lloyd on the Nicklaus signature course in Murcia.
His lead was cemented with a run of four birdies scored between the 11th and 16th hole today.
Leading the seniors section is England's Stephen Shields after shooting a superb low round of the day 67. Stephen's 67 included two eagles, made on the par-5 fourth and 13th holes. He takes a four-shot lead into the final round over Englands Gary Wolstenholme .
SECOND ROUND SCOREBOARD
Par 144 (2x72)
145 Elliot Saltman (Scotland) 72 73.
146 Michael Collins (Ireland) 71 75.
147 Fredrik Hammarberg (Sweden) 72 75.
148 Felix Fihn (Sweden) 77 71, Pablo del Grosso (Spain) 77 71, Brad Clapp (Canada) 75 73, James Housby (England) 74 74.
150 Martyn Hamer (England) 74 76.
151 Ignacio Sanchez Palencia (Spain) 79 72.
152 James Johnson (England) 74 78.
Selected score:
156 Zack Saltman (Scotland) 77 81.
SENIORS SECTION
145 Stephen Shields (England) 78 67.
149 Gary Wolstenholme (England) 73 76.

EUROPEAN NATIONS CUP SCOREBOARD
MEN AMATEURS - Real Club Sotogrande, Spain
FIRST ROUND TOTALS
(Three from four scores to count)
207 ENGLAND
FLEETWOOD, TOMMY N/C
HAINES, MATT 69
PAISLEY, CHRIS 68
LEWIS, TOM 70

215 GERMANY
KIEFFER, MAXIMILIAN 71
KNAPPE, ALEXANDER 71
JOHN, ALLEN N/C
HANSEN, JOACHIM 73

215 DENMARK
BRANDT 77
LOKKE, DANIEL 67
BJERREGAARD, LUCAS 71
HARTOE, ANDREAS N/C
216 AUSTRIA
NEMECZ, LUCAS 70
MAYRHAUSER, MORITZ N/C
GOGER, ROBIN 72
NEMECZ, TOBIAS 74
217 SPAIN
SARASTI BERNARAS, JUAN FRANCISCO 72
PIGEM XAMMAR, CARLOS 75
CUARTERO BLANCO, EMILIO N/C
HORTAL OCHOA, ANTONIO 70
217 WALES
FARR, OLIVER 72
FRAZER, JAMES 72
PUGH, RHYS 73
VICKERY, JOE N/C

218 SCOTLAND
KELLET, ROSS 72
WHITE, JAMES 75
McLEAN, PHILIP N/C
LAW, DAVID 71

219 FINLAND
SAMOOJA, KALLE 75
PULKKANEEN, TAPIO 70
SATAMA, HENRI 74
VEIJALAINEN, MIRO N/C
220 ITALY
BERTASIO, NINO 70
QUINTARELLI, NICCOLO N/C
MANASSERO, MATTEO 75
MOTTA, LEONARDO 75
221 FRANCE
SORDET, CLEMENT N/C
LOPEZ LAZARO, JOHANN 73
WATTEL, ROMAIN 76
LEVY, ALEXANDER 72
222 IRELAND
CUTLER, PAUL 73
DUNBAR, ALAN N/C
MURRAY, PAT 73
LERNIHAN, DARA 76
225 HOLLAND
KRAAIJ, MICHAEL 76
KIND, ROBIN 72
BOSHART, DYLAN N/C
HUIZING, DAAN 77
225 SWEDEN
CARLSSON, NICLAS 75
KOKOCINSKI, ROBIN N/C
FLATAU, VICTOR 76
LAGERGREN, JOAKIM 74
226 BELGIUM
DETRY, THOMAS 76
RICHELLE, JULIEN N/C
MIVIS, CHRISTOPHER 75
PIETERS, THOMAS 75
229 NORWAY
BERTHEUSSEN, ELIAS 77
RAMSNES, OLE N/C
OLSEN, AKSEL 76
LUNDROSEN, MAGNUS 76
232 PORTUGAL
JOIA, JOSE MARIA 77
GASPAR, MIGUEL N/C
SILVA, TOMAS 79
RODRIGUES, TIAGO 76
240 SLOVENIA
VIDMAR, JAKA N/C
STANIC, MARTIN 73
ZIGA, AVSEC 84
GREGORINCIC, GRECA 83
240 CZECH REPUBLIC
ONDREJ, LIESER 82
KORDA, JIRI N/C
POSPISIL, MICHAL 79
PROCHAZKA, DAVID 79
+Switch over to our sister website, www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk to see the women's scores at the same venue.

It ain't half hot, Mum! Scots swelter in South Africa

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY ROSS DUNCAN OF SCOTTISH GOLF UNION
Scotland trailed a strong South African side 8½ - 3½ at the close of play on day one of the Test Match at Leopard’s Creek Country Club before thunder and lightning halted play with two matches remaining on the course.
Youngster Jack McDonald, the reigning Scottish Boys Stroke Play Champion, was the star of the Scots side on the opening day, claiming a half point alongside Scott Gibson in the morning foursomes before comfortably winning his singles match 4&2.
Mark Bookless and Gordon Yates were Scotland’s other winning duo in the morning with a 2&1 victory over their opponents, with the pairings of Paul Shields/Kris Nicol and Glenn Campbell/Steven McEwan both losing by a 4&3 margin.
Former national champion Glenn Campbell was the only other victor for the visitors in the afternoon singles with Gordon Yates one up with two to play in the closing match. 17-year-old Gibson lost by one hole in his match, the same margin of defeat as Paul Shields, as the Scots closed the day trailing by five.
National junior coach Spencer Henderson, who is out with the squad, reflected on the opening day’s performance:
“We’re obviously disappointed to be trailing in the match but it’s been a fantastic experience for the players, particularly the young lads who have performed very well. The course is superb but it’s much hotter than we’re used to (36 degrees) so it’s taking time to get used to.
“With our four leading amateurs playing in the Nations Cup, the South African training camp has given us the opportunity to develop some of our up and coming players, who are competing against a very strong host side in the peak of their season.”
“It was great to see Jack (McDonald) and Scott (Gibson) performing so well on their senior debut and the experience of guys like Glenn is really helping them. We’re looking forward to another great day tomorrow, with an early start because of the weather, and hopefully the team will make up some ground.” he added.
Day One – Results
Morning Foursomes
J McDonald & S Gibson halves match.
P Shields & K Nicol Lost 4&3
M Bookless & G Yates Won 2&1
G Campbell & S McEwan Lost 4&3
Morning Singles
G Paterson Lost 1 Hole
Afternoon Singles
J McDonald Won 4&2
S Gibson Lost 1 Hole
G Paterson Lost 4&3
K Nicol Lost 4&3
P Shields Lost 1 hole
S McEwan Lost 5&4
G Campbell Won 4&3
M Bookless 1 down thru 16
G Yates 1 up thru 16
Latest Score:
South Africa 8.5 – 3.5 Scotland

+Ross Duncan is not being parochial by only naming the Scottish players - the South African website did not list the names of the home players!

North-east Alliance title in doubt until mid-evening

CORMACK CHAMPION AFTER

SCORECARD HITCH

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Inchmarlo tour professional Paul Cormack, one of the last men to finish in a field of 85, was confirmed as winner of the North-east Golfers' Alliance championship more than two hours after he returned his second-round card at Cruden Bay today.
Cormack's two-under-par 68, coupled with last week's one-under-par 67 in the first round at Duff House Royal for a total of 135 gave him the title and earned him the Uniroyal Quaich by the resounding margin of eight strokes.
But they don't present the trophies until next week's foursomes at Murcar Links so there was no need for Paul to hang around the Cruden Bay clubhouse after he had finished.
However, during Alliance secretary Ron Menzie's thorough scrunity of all the scorecards at the end of the day, he noticed that Cormack's inward half total had been entered by his marker as 35 while the figures entered per hole added up to 34.
The 26-year-old player, pictured above by Cal Carson Golf Agency, who spends much of his time playing on satellite tours in the United States, had left Cruden Bay for his Banchory home before the secretary could check out the discrepancy.
It was after 7.30pm before Ron Menzies was able to get hole of Cormack by phone and- fortunately - the player was able to confirm that the figures he had signed for at each hole were correct. And that's all that matters, the totals for halves are irrelevant if the the score per hole is correct.
Had it been the other way round, the player would have been disqualified, almost an astonishing repeat of last week's events at Duff House Royal where Phllip McLean, the leader, was disqualified long after he had left the course.
It was a double-eagle performance by Cormack who had a 3 at the long sixth and a 2 at the par-4 14th. He also birdied the second, fourth, and 12th - and also had five bogeys in halves of 34 (two under par) and 34 home (level).
"There was a fair mix of the good and the bad in that round," said Paul. "I'm glad it all worked out in the end."
For the record, Cormack's figures today were:
OUT: 5-3-4-2-4-3-4-4-5--34. IN; 5-4-2-6-2-3-4-4-4--34.
Joint second overall on a bright, sunny day but with a veering wind, eventually behind the players down the 17th and 18th, made conditions tricky, were Newburgh professional Ian Bratton who came home in 40 with six bogeys for a 76 and 143, a total matched 21-year-old Kevin Duncan (McDonald Ellon), who has played on the US college circuit, a 69 at Banff and a 74 today, which made him the winner of the J K Hall Quaich as the leading amateur.
Kevin Duncan's figures today:
OUT: 4-4-4-2-5-5-5--3-5--37. IN: 5-3-4-5-6-3-3-4-4--37.
Mike Jenkins (Duff House Royal), joint eighth overall with a scratch total of 148, won the Veterans' Cup.
Scotland international Laura Murray (Alford), the only female in the field, won
the Chapper's Pot with the lowest Class 1 net 36-hole aggregate of 138 with a pair of net 69s off her Alliance handicap (she plays off the men's tees) of four.
Her birdie 4 at the last followed one of the longest drives by anyone at the 18th.
Laura's figures were:
OUT: 4-4-5-4-6-5-4-3-4--39. IN: 4-2-5-5-4-3-4-4-3--34.
Alister Petrie (Oldmeldrum), who plays off 10, won the Major's Pot for the best Class 2 aggregate of 140.
No award for Fergus Bisset but the golf writer from Banchory deserved one for his loyalty to the North-east Alliance. Fergus played in the Sunningdale foursomes on Tuesday - and the Alliance championship today! He finished joint 12th in the scratch aggregates on 149 and qualified to play in the pro-am foursomes for the Evening Express Shield at Murcar Links next Thursday (draws for both scratch and handicap competitions can be seen below today's collated scores.
+Cruden Bay's "extra short hole" - it was played as the 12th - out at the far end of the course and played towards the North Sea, was well received by all the players I spoke to. It was the first time it had been played in a competition outwith Cruden Bay members.
+The general opinion was that, depending on the strength and direction of the wind, it could be a great, testing hole.
+The hole has been created so that it can be brought into play when another hole is having work done on it. Great idea, the envy of most golf clubs and their head greenkeepers!

2010 NORTH-EAST ALLIANCE CHAMPIONSHIP TOTALS
(first score at Duff House Royal, second score at Cruden Bay).
Par 138 (68 at DHR, 70 at Cruden Bay)
135 Paul Cormack (Inchmarlo) 67 68.
143 Kevin Duncan (McDonald Ellon) 69 74, Ian Bratton (Newburgh) 67 76.
144 Anthony Bews (Murcar Links) 70 74, Scott Larkin (Banchory) 72 72.
145 Stewart Finnie (Caledonian) 72 73.
146 Laura Murray (Alford) 73 73.
148 Justin Duff (Fraserburgh) 73 75, Ryan Fitzpatrick (Inchmarlo) 77 71, Craig Carnegie (Kemnay) 72 76, Mike Jenkins (Duff House Royal) 71 77.
149 Kyle Nelson (Murcar Links) 71 78, Fergus Bisset (Banchory) 72 77.
150 Duncan Clark (Duff House Royal) 72 78.
151 John Mitchell (Fraserburgh) 79 72, Jim Emslie (Royal Aberdeen) 74 77.
152 Adam Dunton (McDonald Ellon) 79 73, Richard Hyland (Craibstone) 73 79.
154 Paul McIntosh (Newburgh) 76 78, James Mooney (Kingsliffe) 79 75.
155 Stewart Pert (Huntly) 77 78.
158 David Wilson (Duff House Royal) 78 80.
159 Andrew Campbell (Deeside) 84 75.
160 Alister Petrie (Oldmeldrum) 80 80, Martin Forster (Cruden Bay) 78 82.
161 David Corkey (Royal Aberdeen) 75 86.
162 Mark Lawrie (Kemnay) 74 84.
165 Norman Stewart (Northern) 83 82.
166 Brian Harper (Newburgh) 80 86, Hamish McNaughton (Cruden Bay) 83 83, Nigel Parker (Murcar Links) 80 86.
167 Charles Cassie (Nigg Bay) 80 87, Dave MacKay (Newmachar) 81 86, Neil Chisholm (Kemnay) 80 87.
168 Mike Booth (Kemnay) 81 87.

HANDICAP
Class 1
138 Laura Murray (Alford) (4) 69 69.
140 C Carnegie (Kemnay) (4) 68 72.
143 K Duncan (McDonald Ellon) (scr) 69 74.
145 J Emslie (Royal Aberdeen) (3) 71 74, K Nelson (Murcar Links) (2) 69 76, F Bisset (Banchory) (2) 70 75.
146 P McIntosh (Newburgh) (4) 72 74, M Jenkins (Duff House Royal) (1) 70 76; D Wilson (Duff House Royal) (6) 72 74.
147 S Finnie (Caledonian) (+1) 73 74.
Class 2
140 A Petrie (Oldmeldrum) (10) 70 70.
141 N Stewart (Northern) (12) 71 70.
144 H McNaughton (Cruden Bay) (11) 72 72.
146 D Randall (Banchory) (15) 75 71.
148 M Booth (Kemnay (10) 71 77, N Parker (Murcar Links) (9) 71 77.
149 N Chisholm (Kemnay) (9) 71 78.

FOURSOMES DRAWS
Draws for the North-east Alliance pro-am foursomes at Murcar Links next Thursday and Friday are:
SCRATCH (Evening Express Shield).
10 min intervals
9.30: J Mooney (Kingsliffe) & K Nelson (Murcar Links) v D Naylor (Banchory) & A Bews (Murcar Links).
9.40 P Lovie (P1 Corporate) & D Clark (Duff House Royal) v R Hyland (Craibstone) & S Larkin (Banchory).
9.50 S Chalmers (Bnchory) & K Duncan (McDonald Ellon) v P Cormack (Inchmarlo) & M Jenkins (Duff House Royal.
10.0 I Bratton (Newburgh) & F Bisset (Banchory) v R Fitzpatrick (Inchmarlo) & F Bisset (Banchory) v R Fitzpatrick (Inchmarlo) & C Carnegie (Kemnay).
+Second round on Thursday afternoon.

HANDICAP (Press and Journal Trophy)
10.10 J Emslie (Royal Aberdeen) & A Petrie (Oldmeldrum) v D Wilson (Duff House Royal ) & H McNaughton (Cruden Bay).
10.20 D Corkey (Royal Aberdeen) & B Lumsden (Northern) v M Forster (Cruden Bay) & N Parker (Murcar Links).
10.30 B Harper (Newburgh) & M Booth (Kemnay) v M Lawrie (Kemnay) & N Stewart (Northern).
10.40 P McIntosh (Newburgh) & D Randall (Banchory) v A Dunton (McDonald Ellon) & N Chisholm (Kemnay).

+Second round on Thursday afternoon; Finals on Friday morning.