Sunday, April 11, 2010

RECORD-SETTING PERFORMANCE BY KILMACOLM BANKER

Matthew Clark wins

'Craigmillar' by five

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Beaten in a play-off by Gavin Dear last year, Kilmacolm's Matthew Clark made no mistake in the 2010 Craigmillar Park Open but the 28-year-old banker left himself with a lot of ground to make up.
Six strokes off the pace at the start of play on Sunday, it was astonishing that Clark was not only able to overhaul everyone ahead of him - but also to finish FIVE strokes clear.
There is something about Craigmillar Park which brings out his best, certainly over the last two opens. If we accept that Martin Dempster of The Scotsman is good at maths, then worth repeating his story line that Clark is a combined 39 under par for the 2009 and 2010 Craigmillar Park Opens. That's some scoring!
Perhaps it's really the air in Edinburgh that gets Matthew's juices flowing - he won the 2007 Scottish mid-amateur championship at Duddingston.
His 72-hole aggregate of 20-under-par 260 on Sunday was a tournament record low for four rounds.
Never considered a contender for Scottish international honours in the past - winners of the Scottish mid-amateur title never are - this could be Clark's year for a first cap with so many holes in the Scotland line-up to be plugged with the departure of Gavin Dear, Wallace Booth, Paul O'Hara and others to the pro ranks.
Incidentally, what a difference seven days made for Matthew Clark. He had a No Return in the final round of the Champion of Champions' tournament at Leven the previous weekend after disappointing rounds of 74, 76 and 77. Perhaps Matthew is a better player at parkland courses than he is at links venues? We shall see as the domestic circuit unfolds.
There was some exceptionally low scoring in this year's Craigmillar Park Open. Clark's scores were 66, 68, 62 and 64 over the quirky, par-70 lay-out.
Runner-up Greg Paterson (St Andrews New) also had an eight-under 62, which helped him to lead at halfway with a 128 aggregate. Paterson's four rounds were 66, 62, 67 and 70.
Ross "Mr Consistent" Kellett (Colville Park) finished third on 267 with scores of 66, 68, 68 and 65 for 267.
Scottish boys' and men's match-play champion David Law (Hazlehead) finished joint fourth on 268, his best performance since he broke a knuckle on his left hand when he was the victim of an unprovoked assault on an Aberdeen city centre street back in November.
Former Scottish youths champion Scott Borrowman (Dollar) was lying joint second at halfway after a pair of five-under-par 65s for 130 on Saturday. Somebody turned Scott's switch to "off" on Sunday ... he required 151 shots for the third and fourth rounds of 74 and 77.
To be fair to Scott, for a player of his quality to slump so much suggests that he injured himself in some way early in the third round. It would be interesting to hear if this was the case.
Players had to score one-under-par 139 or better for the first 36 holes to qualify for the last two rounds. The "failures" included such big names as former Scottish champion Glenn Campbell (Blairgowrie) on 141, former British boys title-winner Jordan Findlay (Fraserburgh), also on 141, last year's Leven Gold Medal winner Philip McLean (Peterhead) on 143 and Steven McEwan (Caprington) on 146,

FINAL TOTALS
Par 280 (4x72)
260 Matthew Clark (Kilmacolm) 66 68 62 64.
265 Greg Paterson (St Andrews New) 66 62 67 70.
267 Ross Kellett (Colville Park) 66 68 68 65.
268 Jack Senior (Heysham) 72 65 66 65, Gordon Yates (Hilton Park) 69 66 67 66, Graeme Robertson (Glenbervie) 64 69 69 66, David Law (Hazlehead) 69 62 69 68.
269 Steven Rennie (Drumpellier) 63 68 68 70, Kris Nicol (Fraserburgh) 63 67 68 71.
270 Roger Roper (Wike Ridge, Leeds) 74 64 66 66.
271 Robert Gill (Craigmillar Park) 71 67 63 70, William Bremner (Edzell) 68 69 66 68, Fraser McKenna (Balmore) 67 69 65 70, Liam McGowan (St Andrews New) 66 69 71 65, James Whitelaw (Mouse Valley, USA) 68 65 66 72, Paul Shields (Kirkhill) 64 66 69 72.
272 Tom Caldwell (Silverknowes) 64 72 66 70.
275 Stephen Neilson (Craigmillar Park) 69 68 71 67, Mark Hillson (Craigielaw) 67 66 70 72, Tom Blennerhassett (Marriott Dalmahoy) 68 63 72 72.
276 Ross Bell (Downfield) 70 64 75 67.
277 Scott McGrenaghan (Cochrane Castle) 68 69 71 69.
278 Sean McGarvey (Glencorse) 72 64 74 68, Paul Betty (Hayston) 67 68 70 73.
279 David Booth (Rotherham) 68 70 72 69, Andrew Lynch (Glenbervie) 68 69 69 73, Paul Gault (Westerwood) 67 65 75 72.
280 Keith Hamilton (Ayr Belleisle) 67 71 74 68.
281 Craig Watson (East Renfrewshire) 68 69 71 73, Scott Borrowman (Dollar) 65 65 74 77.
285 Sam Binning (Ranfurly Castle) 71 67 76 71, Mark Bookless (Sandyhills) 68 69 76 72.
Retired: Alexander Culverwell (Dunbar) 67 71 76 ret.
MISSED THE CUT (138 or better qualified).
139 Ross Crowe (Westerhope) 71 68, Sean Heads (Hexham) 67 72, Michael Daily (Erskine) 74 65, Andrew Wallace (Glenbervie) 65 74, Ben Sloan (Cathkin Braes) 70 69, Jamie Mackay (Kilmarnock Barassie) 67 72.
140 Scott Larkin (Banchory) 75 65, Euan Brown (Kilmarnock Barassie) 72 68, Mike Howard (Royal Birkdale) 69 71, Graham Davidson (Winterfield) 71 69.
141 Glenn Campbell (Blairgowrie) 69 72, Jordan Findlay (Fraserburgh) 72 69, Myles Cunningham (Craigielaw) 71 70, Kit Holmes (Hunstanton) 74 67.
142 Duncan Martin (Longniddry) 71 71, Fraser Moore (Glenbervie) 74 68, Kevin Duncan (McDonald Ellon) 72 70, Graeme Mitchell (Braemar) 74 68.
143 Michael Main (Thornton) 71 72, Allyn Dick (Kingsknowe) 69 74, Philip McLean (Peterhead) 71 72, Michael Wilson (West Lothian) 73 70, Bobby Rushford (Grangemouth) 73 70, Michael Buchan (Cruden Bay) 73 70, David Addison (Kilmarnock Barassie) 70 73, Anthony Bews (Murcar Links) 69 74.
144 Alex Robertson (Craigmillar Park) 70 74, James Hendrick (Pollock) 74 70.
145 Colin Baird (Bothwell Castle) 72 73.
146 Keith Reilly (Silverknowes) 76 70, Steven Armstrong (Turnhouse) 72 74, Steven McEwan (Caprington) 71 75.
147 Chris Lawton (Falkirk Tryst) 73 74, Daniel Sommerville (St Andrews) 78 69.
149 Aaron Howard (Glenearn) 76 73, Darren Hulston (Dollar) 76 73.
150 Scott Knowles (Kingsknowe) 74 76.
151 Neil McKinnon (Murcar Links) 71 80.
152 Derrick Williams (Duddingston) 79 73, John Duff (Newmachar) 78 74, James Barrett (Muckhart) 74 78.
No Returns: Stuart Smith (Duddingston) 69 NR, Colin Thomson (East Renfrewshire) 77 NR.








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Oliver Farr leads by four in Duncan Putter at Southerndown

FROM THE DUNCAN PUTTER TOURNAMENT WEBSITE
Oliver Farr (Ludlow) produced two superb rounds of golf at Southerndown on Saturday to leave himself four shots ahead of the field on 133 (7 under par).

With the weather seemingly set fair, Sunday holds the prospect of a thrilling competition for this year's Duncan Putter.

The field will be without one of last year's winners, Sam Matton, whose disppointing form meant that he has missed the cut. Fellow 2009 winner, Ben Westgate, has a mountain to climb if he is to make up 14 shots on the lead.

Nigel Edwards looks the best Welsh prospect, but Luke Thomas and Rhys Pugh are not out of the running.



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James Morrison leads by three in Madeira Islands Open

FROM THE AOL GOLF NEWS SERVICE
James Morrison has opened up a three-shot lead at the Madeira Islands Open after Saturday's round of 66 put him at 18 under for the tournament.
The 25-year-old got off to a slow start, a birdie on the third was cancelled out by a bogey on the sixth.
But six birdies on the back nine, including two to finish, moved him clear at the top.
George Murray, the former Scottish amateur champion from Anstruther, is currently second at 15 under following a round of 68.
Oliver Fisher, who carded a disappointing round of 72 on Friday, undid much of that damage with a superb 65 that lifted him to 12 under.
Fisher is one stroke clear of Simon Thornton, who signed for a round of 71 as he dropped back.
LEADING THIRD ROUND TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)
198 J Morrison 67 65 66.
201 G Murray 66 67 68.
204 O Fisher 67 72 65.
205 S Thornton 68 66 71.
207 G Clark

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Grant Forrest is 2010 Scottish boys' champion

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY SCOTTISH GOLF UNION
Report by Ross Duncan
Craigielaw’s Grant Forrest is the 2010 Scottish Boys Champion after claiming an impressive 3&2 victory over Scotland team-mate Ian Redford in Saturday's 36-hole final at West Kilbride.
Forrest, who won the firstpointusa.com Scottish Boys U16s Championship last year at Largs, continued his love affair with the Ayrshire coast by collecting Scottish golf’s flagship junior event. The East Lothian star becomes only the second player to achieve the national U16s and Scottish Boys Championship double, more than 20 years after Colin Fraser’s feat in 1987-88.
“I’m thrilled to win,” said 16-year-old Forrest. “It’s been a long, hard week, playing nine rounds of golf and it’s still sinking in. I hadn’t really been thinking about the double but it’s a nice achievement to have. I had great support from the Craigielaw members who were out in force today, as well as my family”.
“We actually stayed in the same hotel in Largs that we used when I won last year so that brought back some good memories last night. My goal at the start of the week was to win and when I reached the quarter-finals I knew I had a really good chance. It’s great to be the Scottish Boys Champion.” he added.
The match was evenly balanced for most of the morning, with Redford seizing the initiative early on by going up at the fourth, but his lead lasted only until the eighth, when a bogey brought the match back to all square. A birdie at the 11th put Forrest in the lead and the consecutive birdies on 13 and 14 – a repeat of his semi-final yesterday – gave him a two-hole lead at the halfway stage.

Redford could not get his putter going in the afternoon, missing several chances and Forrest’s superb iron play kept the match in his favour. He went three up at the 23rd with a par and despite losing the 28th after he pulled his tee-shot out of bounds, bounced back to take the 31st and 33rd holes, sandwiched by a Redford birdie three at the 32nd. A half in pars at the 34th was good enough to give Forrest the win, another national championship for the Craigielaw club.
A disappointed Redford said:
“My putting and my iron play let me down today as I drove the ball great. The ball just would not drop in the hole for me. I managed to hole a couple of good ones at the end of the morning round which I thought would get me going, but it wasn’t to be the case.”
“I can take a lot of positives from the week however. It’s the best I’ve played in match play and I’ve improved year on year every time I’ve played the Boys Championship. Grant played the better golf on the day. He’s a great lad and an excellent golfer.”
Scottish Golf Union Events Manager Euan Mordaunt paid tribute to the host club:
“West Kilbride Golf Club have been superb hosts this week. The course stood up fantastically well despite all the rain and was in excellent condition. We would like to thank all the staff and members for looking after us and looking forward to returning for the next Championship.”

Click here for hole-by-hole scores from Saturday's final.

http://www.golfbox.dk/livescoring/scorecardmatchplay.asp?tour={416E0EA5-1EC8-463B-A837-E4CE41DD00B7}&guid={41E73B08-5848-4607-B0C7-5972484CD736}&clubOnly=1&color=1&lang=1033

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Westwood leads by one from Mickelson with a round to go

By Rob Hodgetts BBC Sport at Augusta

==Lee Westwood leads Phil Mickelson by one shot going into the final day after an enthralling third round of the Masters at Augusta.
The Englishman fired a 69 to finish 12 under and stay clear of the charging American who thrilled the cheering galleries with back-to-back eagles.
Tiger Woods and KJ Choi are tied third at eight under with 50-year-old Fred Couples one shot further back.
Ian Poulter, who shared the second-round lead with countryman Westwood, carded a two-over 74 to slip back to six under.
Americans Ricky Barnes and Hunter Mahan are also at six under with compatriot Anthony Kim and US PGA champion YE Yang of South Korea one stroke adrift to round out the top 10.
Westwood, chasing a first major title, picked up shots at the first, fourth, eighth and 10th to reach 12 under and hold a four-shot lead over Poulter.
But Mickelson, the 2004 and 2006 champion, sparked a sensational 30-minute spell in which he hit eagles at the par-five 13th and par-four 14th - only the third time this has been done in Masters history. He followed up with a birdie on the 15th to get 12 under.

Watch Mickleson's back-to-back eagles
When Westwood dropped a shot at the short 12th, Mickelson was the outright leader before handing a shot back on 17 to finish 11 under.
"I haven't played this well in a long time and I feel like my game's as good as it's been," said Mickelson. "I love this tournament more than any other. I love Sunday being in contention. And I'm excited."
Westwood grabbed a shot back with a birdie at 15 and held on to his one-stroke advantage going into the final round.
"I'm delighted," he said. "I played really well out there. All aspects of my game were solid. I'm amazed how calm and collected I was out there. I know it's a position I wanted to be in, so I'm looking forward to it."
His playing partner Poulter admitted he will need to shoot a low number on Sunday to have any hopes of winning the title.
"I'm a few shots adrift of where I wanted to be and I'm not overly happy right now," he said. "But I have a chance. This course can give up eagles quite easily and I have to go out and try to do that."
Woods, playing in the penultimate group with Choi, had an up and down front nine but hit four birdies in the last six holes, marred by a bogey on the 17th.
"I was fighting it all day," he said. "I really struggled with the pace of the greens and I was fighting my swing.
"It was a tough day. I just wanted to put myself back in contention and I did that. At one point I was seven back and to fight back to only being four behind is a pretty big accomplishment. But we have a long way to go."
=Couples contributed to the excitement generated by Mickelson as he birdied the 14th and eagled the 15th before a bogey at the last dropped him to eight under.
"I love this place," said the 1992 winner. "I have a shot at it if I can shoot a crazy score. We'll see what happens."
Two-time winner Tom Watson, 60, carded a one-over 73 to end two under alongside 2008 winner Trevor Immelman.
"I was disappointed with the way I played today," said Watson, who won the Masters in 1977 and 1981.
"With no wind and perfect conditions a 73 is not a very good score. I didn't strike the ball very well.
"But it's still always a pleasure to walk around Augusta when the azaleas are popping and there was the most beautiful bluebird on 17 I ever saw."
Defending champion Angel Cabrera, who made the cut with no room to spare, carded a three-under 69 to finish level par, while 16-year-old Italian amateur Matteo Manassero ended four over in a group with world number two Steve Stricker and Sergio Garcia of Spain.
THIRD ROUND TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)

Westwood Eng 67 69 68 204
Mickelson US 67 71 67 205
Choi Kor 67 71 70 208
Woods US 68 70 70 208
Couples US 66 75 68 209
Barnes US 68 70 72 210
Mahan US 71 71 68 210
Poulter Eng 68 68 74 210
Kim US 68 70 73 211
Yang Kor 67 72 72 211
Haas US 72 70 71 213
Kelly US 72 74 67 213
Marino US 71 73 69 213
Immelman SA 69 73 72 214
Watson US 67 74 73 214
O'Hair US 72 71 72 215
Ogilvy Aus 74 72 69 215
Perry US 72 71 72 215
Slocum US 72 73 70 215
Toms US 69 75 71 215
Watney US 68 76 71 215
Cabrera Arg 73 74 69 216
Flesch US 75 71 70 216
Kjeldsen Den 70 71 75 216
Scott Aus 69 75 72 216
Kuchar US 70 73 74 217
Schwartzel SA 69 76 72 217
Villegas Col 74 72 71 217
Glover US 76 71 71 218
Moore US 72 73 73 218
Els SA 71 73 75 219
Ikeda Jpn 70 77 72 219
Jimenez Spa 72 75 72 219
Johnson US 71 72 76 219
Molinari Ita 70 74 75 219
Verplank US 73 73 73 219
Weir Can 71 72 76 219
Crane US 71 75 74 220
Garcia Spa 74 70 76 220
Johnson US 70 74 76 220
Karlsson Swe 71 72 77 220
Manassero Ita 71 76 73 220
Stricker US 73 73 74 220
Goosen SA 74 71 76 221
Dufner US 75 72 75 222
Allenby Aus 72 75 77 224
Campbell US 79 68 80 227
Green Aus 72 75 80 227

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