Canter gets the call for England's European men's team

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE ENGLISH GOLF UNION
Laurie Canter (Saltford, Somerset), with a string of successes this year including victory in the South African Amateur Championship, has been named in the England team for the European Men’s Team Championships at Österåkers Golf Club in Sweden on 6th – 10th July.
The 20 year old joins Tommy Fleetwood (Formby Hall, Lancashire), Billy Hemstock (Teignmouth, Devon), Tom Lewis (Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire), Matt Nixon (Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire), and Chris Paisley (Stocksfield, Northumberland), all of whom played against France in May, in a strong side that will attempt to regain the title last won in 2005.
Canter’s call-up follows an impressive run of success that saw him win the South African title in East London early this year followed by further wins in the Hampshire Hog and West of England Stroke Play. He has also finished runner-up in the Hampshire Salver and joint fourth in the Duncan Putter (picture © Tom Ward).
Fleetwood, 19, finished top scorer with three points from four in the international with France and reached the last 16 of last week’s Amateur Championship, going out to county colleague Nixon. He then returned to France to qualify for the French Open on the European Tour. Earlier this year, the Lancastrian finished runner-up in the New South Wales Amateur, the Spanish Amateur and the Scottish Champion of Champions, having won the Scottish Open Stroke Play last year. A member of last year’s Walker Cup team, he was capped for the first time in the 2008 Home Internationals following a runner-up spot in the Amateur Championship.
Hemstock, 26, the current Devon Champion, has also been enjoying a successful time over the past two years including runner-up in the Duncan Putter and the Irish Open Amateur in 2008 and second last year when representing the EGU in the Chiberta Grand Prix in France. He made his England debut in the French match last month. Also in 2009, he finished third in the Tillman Trophy, the Finnish Amateur and the European Amateur and he reached the last 16 of the English Amateur. Over the winter, Hemstock represented the EGU in the Simon Bolivar Cup in Venezuela and in the Jones Cup in America.

Lewis, 19, also made his full England debut against France having topped the Titleist Footjoy EGU Boys Order of Merit last year, which followed a successful season in which he won the English Boys and British Boys titles. He also helped England win the Boys Home Internationals and was a member of the winning Jacques Leglise team against the Continent of Europe. This year he has won the Berkhamsted Trophy, finished second in the Welsh Open Stroke Play, third in the Selborne Salver and Hampshire Salver and reached the last 16 of the Amateur Championship before losing to eventual champion Jin Jeong of South Korea.

After beating Fleetwood, Nixon, 21, reached the Amateur Championship semi-finals before going out to James Byrne of Scotland. British Boys Champion in 2006, Nixon made his England debut in the Boys Home Internationals the following year, reached the quarter finals of the English Amateur in 2008 and helped Lancashire win the English County title. Last year, he finished third in the West of England Stroke Play, fourth in the Brabazon Trophy and made his debut as a full cap in the Home Internationals, losing only one game in four. In 2010, he has finished third in the Lytham Trophy and the Selborne Salver.
Paisley, 24, graduated from the University of Tennessee last year, when he also made his England debut in the Home Internationals and was selected for the Walker Cup. He was also a member of England’s winning European Nations Cup in Spain earlier this year along with Fleetwood and Lewis, and was a semi-finalist in last week’s Amateur Championship, losing to eventual winner Jin Joeng. In 2008, he won the Czech Amateur Championship, finished runner-up in the Tillman Trophy, the English Amateur Championship and the South of England Open Stroke Play Championship and also played for GB&I in the 2008 St Andrews Trophy.
England has won the European Team title on nine occasions, the most recent being the 2005 triumph at Hillside, while they were finalists last year, losing to Scotland in the final at Conwy.

FROM THE GOLFWEEK WEBSITE
By Julie Williams
SOUTH BEND, Indiana – It isn’t often that a player like Emily Tubert enters a USGA final and can be considered the underdog.
After all, the dark-haired, easy-talking Tubert stands at 5-foot-11 and boasts a 270-yard driving average. Still, when Tubert took to the first tee on a drizzly Saturday morning at the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links, she had far less championship golf experience in her corner than her opponent, Lisa McCloskey. In fact, Tubert, barely 18, had far less golf experience, period. The Burbank, California native has only been playing the game for five years, but as the week progressed, she grew more and more confidence with each passing match.
It was a shaky start for Tubert at the beginning of a long Saturday, as she struggled to find the fairway with her booming drives and was unable to convert out of thick, wet rough.
“I got off to a really rocky start,” Tubert said. “I didn’t think I was that nevous, but you know, seeing how my shots ended up, there were definitely some nerves there.”
McCloskey struggled early, too, but took a two-hole lead at the fifth hole after a tap-in birdie at the par-3 fourth and a par at the fifth. It was the biggest lead McCloskey, a former Pepperdine standout who will transfer to USC for her junior season, would take all day, and it lasted just one hole.
Tubert, an Arkansas commit, started a seven-hole charge with a birdie at No. 6, where she chipped in from just off the front of the green. Two more pars followed, before a string of four birdies at Nos. 9-12. It’s the longest string of birdies Tubert has made in championship conditions during her short career.
Once she got to five up after the 12th hole, Tubert continued to apply pressure. After playing it safe at the par-5 10th and 17th holes during the first four days of the championship, Tubert successfully hit both greens in two during her quarterfinal and semifinal match. She went for both holes in two during the final, after well-struck drives left her with the green light.
McCloskey, who averages 240 yards off the tee, lost both holes to the junior power player, and knew there was little she could do about it.
“She’s definitely the longest player I’ve played with,” McCloskey said. “... She’s just like in-her-own-league long. At the par 5s, that’s where it kind of gets to you.”
Tubert finished the first 18 holes with a four-hole lead, and McCloskey never was able to get back in the match. She would claw to within three down twice during the final 18, but couldn’t make enough birdies to stop Tubert.
“I was happy with how I came back,” she said. “I was 6 down at one point, so I mean, at least bring it back down to three, that’s a little better.”
One of the biggest holes for McCloskey was at No. 15, when she dropped a 15-footer for birdie to extend the match another hole. Knowing Tubert was still dormie, McCloskey figured she would have to birdie out to have a chance at the title, and that was with another trip to the 17th looming. After both players hit the green at the par-4 16th, McCloskey conceded Tubert’s 2-footer, a gift Tubert didn’t expect.
“With all the pressure, I thought she’d make me putt it,” Tubert said after the round, a bit wide-eyed. “It was nice of her, giving it to me."
Despite her length from the tee, Tubert has struggled to believe that she can compete with the calibre of player she encountered at last week’s WAPL. When she showed up for her first USGA championship four years ago, the U.S. Girls’ Junior, she was awed by the experience, right down to getting her own locker for the tournament. Last week, she took it all in stride, enjoying the company of her dad and caddie, Marcelo, as they logged a total of 154 holes at soggy South Bend.
Tubert spent the week chatting with the volunteers and officials, and joking about the many errant drives that were perhaps the only flaw in her final match.
Speaking with wisdom beyond her years, Tubert acknowledged that her confidence is at a high right now, but that it could ebb down the road.
“I was looking at some of the names on the trophy, and there are some big names on there,” she said. “So for my name to join them is awesome.”
The WAPL win ranks at the top of Tubert’s list of accomplishments on the golf course, and those include a maiden AJGA win in May. Now in her third consecutive week on the road after graduating from high school May 27, Tubert will try to channel some of her success into a high finish at the AJGA’s Rolex Tournament of Champions this week.
Marcelo, who works as an actor in Burbank, has been with his daughter every step of the way, which worked out to a lot of steps during the week-long WAPL.
“There was no way I wasn’t going to do it,” Marcelo, 58, said of his role as caddie. “I’ve never walked this far in my life. I’ve never carried clubs! I don’t know how she does it.”
Marcelo usually doesn’t offer swing advice, but the intangibles meant much more to Tubert during a week in uncharted waters. When Tubert won on the 16th, Marcelo had tears in his eyes as he raised his arms in the air, took off his ballcap – the one with an Arkansas logo, no less – and walked right off the green with the flag still in his hand. It was his first experience as a caddie, and though his nerves peaked during the morning, it was an experience neither will soon forget.
“It was so great to have him standing there with me for support,” Tubert said. “He’s not really going to be able to help me with shot selection or reading putts, but that’s exactly what I needed this week was somebody to talk to, and somebody I felt comfortable with.”
As for McCloskey, well, she had a small posse in her corner at the Warren Course, as well. Future USC teammate Lizette Salas and former Pepperdine teammate Jessica Wallace both popped in and out of the gallery Saturday as McCloskey continued to battle for her first USGA major title.
Even though McCloskey said her ball-striking got progressively worse as the week wore on, she stepped up her short game, making several crucial up-and-downs during the final.
“It could have ended a little better, but I thought coming in to today if I would have shot even, I thought that would have been maybe good enough, but Emily just played really well, didn’t make any mistakes really,” McCloskey said.
It seems Tubert just shed her underdog status.
Results from the finals of the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links, played June 26 at the Warren Golf Course at Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind.:
FINAL
Emily Tubert def. Lisa McCloskey, 3 and 2
SEMI-FINALS
Emily Tubert def. Sara Grantham at 19th
Lisa McCloskey def. Ellen Mueller, 3 and 2
QUARTER-FINALS
Sara Grantham def. Cydney Clanton, 1 up
Emily Tubert def. Victoria Sungmin Park, 19 holes
Ellen Mueller def. Martina Gavier, 2 and 1
Lisa McCloskey def. Brianna Do, 1 up
ROUND OF THE LAST 16
Cydney Clanton def. Ariya Jutanugarn, 1 up
Sara Grantham def. Allie White, 1 up
Victoria Sungmin Park def. Kimberly Kim, 2 and 1
Emily Tubert def. Annie Park, 4 and 3
Martina Gavier ef. Caroline Powers, 21 holes
Ellen Mueller def. Joy Trotter, 3 and 2
Lisa McCloskey def. Rachel Rohanna, 6 and 5
Brianna Do def. Stephanie Kono, 3 and 2
ROUND OF THE LAST 32
Ariya Jutanugarn def. Karen Chung, 3 and 1
Cydney Clanton def. Kelli Oride, 5 and 3
Allie White def. Bonnie Hu, 1 hole.
Sara Grantham def. Janine Fellows, 1 up
Victoria Sungmin Park def. Mercedes Germino, 19 holes
Kimberly Kim def. Gyeol Park, 4 and 3
Emily Tubert def. Anna Kim, 4 and 3
Annie Park def. Tiffany Lim, 1 up
Martina Gavier def. Becca Huffer, 20 holes
Caroline Powers def. Alice Kim, 3 and 1
Ellen Mueller def. Nicole Zhang, 2 and 1
Joy Trotter def. Victoria Fallgren, 5 and 4.
Lisa McCloskey def. Lizette Salas, 4 and 2
Rachel Rohanna def. Lakareber Abe, 4 and 3
Brianna Do def. Kelly Fuchik, 3 and 2
Stephanie Kono def. Candace Schepperle, 23 holes
Sara Grantham def. Kristi Cardwell, 5 and 4

First US Nationwide Tour win for Jamie Lovemark

LEON, Mexico – Jamie Lovemark won the Mexico Open Bicentenary on Sunday for his first Nationwide Tour victory, beating B.J. Staten with a 3-foot eagle putt on the first hole of a play-off at El Bosque Country Club.
Lovemark, the 22-year-old former Southern California star who won the 2007 NCAA title, closed with a 4-under 68 to match Staten (69) at 12-under 276, then hit a 6-iron from 235 yards to set up his winning eagle on the 567-yard 18th hole.
“It was definitely the best shot I’ve hit in a really long time,” Lovemark said. “My caddie and I figured the ball would go 12 percent farther due to elevation and another 8 percent because of adrenaline. ... I think it was half luck, half skill.”
Staten’s second shot came up short in the hazard and he scrambled for par.
Lovemark had an eagle, four birdies and two bogeys in regulation Sunday after opening with rounds of 65, 71 and 72.
“This is a great course where you can make a lot of birdies but you have to stay patient out here,” Lovemark said. “I knew it was going to be tough out here today but I had to try really hard to not let any bad thoughts come into my head.”
Lovemark earned $108,000 to jump from 10th to second on the money list with $247,351. The final top 25 will earn 2011 PGA Tour cards.
“I haven’t won since 2007, so I can’t tell you how special it is for me to win out here,” Lovemark said. “I’ve knocked on the door a few times this year and to seal the deal feels so good.”
Mexico’s Efren Serna Junior. (69) was a stroke out of the playoff, and countryman Jose Rodriguez (68) was fourth at 10 under. Frank Lickliter II (67), Hunter Haas (67) and Colt Knost (68) followed at 9 under.

RENFREWSHIRE COUNTY NEWS

    Renfrewshire boys championship finalist, Alex Ferguson (left) and Andy MacLaughlan.

Andy MacLaughlan is Renfrewshire boys' county champion

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE RENFREWSHIRE GOLF UNION
By DON BREMNER
Kilmacolm Golf Club was, once again, the venue for the final stages of the Freedman Trophy – the Renfrewshire Golf Union Boys’ Match Play Championship.
In excellent conditions, the first semi-final was between Paul Reilly of Lochwinnoch and Andy MacLaughlan of Bonnyton, a regular member of the SGU Academy squad. Andy’s experience showed through and he recorded a comfortable 3 and 2 win.
The second semi-final was a hard-fought affair with Paisley’s Alex Ferguson eventually making his way to the final at the 21st hole, having just survived a talented challenge from Greg Paterson - Ranfurly Castle.
In the final, Andy stamped his authority early in the game, winning the first three holes. However, Alex fought back to be only one down at the turn. Andy moved up a gear at that stage and two birdies saw him restore his three hole advantage and an eventual 4 and 3 victory.

Tartan Tour Scoreboard

WILLIE TORRANCE YOUNG PROS' CHARITY 36-HOLE PRO-AM

(August 25 and 26)

QUALIFYING ROUND TODAY

Dundonald Links
QUALIFIERS
Par 72
71 Ross Dixon (Renaissance Club »»
72 Alistair Brown (Whitecraigs »»
74 Paul Wilson (World of Golf »»
75 Stuart Williamson (West Kilbride »»
75 Ross MacLeod (Greaves Sport »»
75 Heather MacRae (Gullane) (pictured right by Cal Carson Golf Agency) 
75 Malcolm Murray (Bearsden »»
75 Alan Martin (Dukes Course »»
76 Adam Rolfe (Royal Troon »»
76 David Addison (Kilmarnock Barassie »»
76 Stuart McEwing (Montrose »»
76 Ian Rowlands (West Linton »»
76 Christopher McMaster (Panmure »»
76 Oliver Morton  (Callander »»
76 Brian Gibson (Carrick at Cameron House »»
77 Michael Mackenzie (Forfar »»
77 Russell McIntyre (Prestonfield »»
77 Ryan Buckley (Craigielaw »»
78 Ewan Grimes (Cardross »»
78 Craig Knowles (Panmure »»
78 Graham Mackay (Prestonfield »»
78 Scott Spence (Lundin Golf Club »»
79 Alan Gibson (Troon Municipal »»
79 William Fairfull-Smith (Cowglen »»
79 Jack Bailey (Balbirnie Park »»
79 Alan Mackay (Pumpherston »»
79 Christopher Boyle (Lanark »»
80 Nicky Sinclair (Prestwick »»
80 Paul Gallacher (Dalmuir »»
80 Grant Smith (Gleneagles Hotel »»
81 Sam McLaren (Crieff »»
DID NOT QUALIFY
81 Cameron Tortolano (Stirling »»
81 Michael Patterson (Kilmacolm »»
81 Duncan Bain (Aberdour »»
82  Adam Aitken (Downfield »»
82  Luke Geoghegan (Carrick at Cameron House »»
82 Calum Lawson (Blairgowrie »»
84  Lewis Burnett (Mearns Castle »»
84  David Snodgrass (Hilton Park »»
84 Shaun Clark (Elie 
85 Katie Thomson (Kings Links »»
86 Jonathan Holmes (Buchanan Castle »»
86  Luke Barbour (Cruden Bay »»
92 Graeme Fisher (Glasgow »»
DSQ Andrew McHardy (Noah's Ark Golf Centre »»
DSQ John Gorman (Callander »»
DSQ David Knapp (laysport Golf »»

OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP LOCAL FINAL QUALIFYING

 Big-name players chase Open spots at four Fife venues tomorrow

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE RandA
The 2005 US Open champion, Michael Campbell, will tee-off at Kingsbarns Links tomorrow (Tuesday)  in an attempt to secure his 16th Open Championship appearance, at Local Final Qualifying (LFQ).
LFQ gets underway tomorrow at four courses in Fife: the Torrance Course at Fairmont St Andrews, Kingsbarns Links, Scotscraig Golf Club and Ladybank Golf Club. Three 150th Anniversary Open Championship places are available at each venue.
New Zealand’s Campbell, an eight-time European Tour winner, is the highest-profile of 288 players, who will play 36-holes in one day to determine the 12 who will progress to The Open. Campbell, 41, has a strong record at St Andrews, having tied for third place in 1995 and tied for fifth place in 2005, the last time that golf’s oldest Major was held on the Old Course.
At Scotscraig, eight-time European Tour winner Eduardo Romero of Argentina will go in search of his 18th Open appearance, the 55-year-old having made his most recent appearance at Royal Troon in 2004. The 2002 Scottish Open Champion’s best result at The Open also came at Troon, in 1997, when he finished tied-seventh.
Joining Romero at Scotscraig is 1999 Ryder Cup player Jarmo Sandelin. The Swede, who was the 1995 Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year, last contested the Championship a decade ago at the Millennium Open, where he finished tied for 31st place.
A strong Scottish contingent take their places, led by brothers Elliot and Lloyd Saltman, who successfully progressed through LFQ last year before going on to play in the 138th Open Championship at Turnberry. Elliot Saltman will attempt to qualify at Ladybank, while his younger brother will tee-off at Scotscraig. Lloyd Saltman, 24, has fond memories of St Andrews, having earned the Silver Medal for the leading amateur in 2005 after finishing tied-15th.
Three-time Tour winner Andrew Oldcorn will be looking for his 17th Open appearance, at Fairmont St Andrews. The 50-year-old Scot has taken part in 16 Opens to date, with a best result of tied-28th coming at Royal St Georges in 2003.
At Kingsbarns, James Byrne, runner-up at this year’s Amateur Championship, will be looking to secure the Open debut that he so narrowly missed out on at Muirfield little over a week ago. The 21-year-old from Banchory Golf Club, who studies at Arizona State University, is currently ranked 12th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking.
Other notable Scots in the field include Challenge Tour player Callum Macaulay, Colville Park’s Ross Kellett, and 2009 Scottish Amateur and Scottish Boys Amateur champion David Law.
=================================================================
LFQ gets underway tomorrow at four venues in Fife. 72 players will contest three Open berths at each venue.
The draws for each venue can be found in the qualifying section of http://www.opengolf.com/. Live scores and stories will appear on the website throughout the day.

 Ailsa Summers ... Carnoustie's rising star (image by Cal Carson Golf Agency).

EWAN AND AILSA TO BE SCOTLAND'S


REPRESENTATIVES IN R and A JUNIOR OPEN

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Ewan Scott (St Andrews) and Ailsa Summers (Carnoustie Ladies) have been selected by the Scottish Golf Union and the Scottish Ladies Golfing Association respectively to be Scotland's representatives in the R&A Junior Open at Lundin Golf Club, Fife during the week of the Open over the Old Course, St Andrews.
The three-day stroke-play tournament for boys and girls under the age of 16 features the stars of tomorrow, nominated by national associations around the world. It will run from Monday to Wednesday, July 12 to 14.
Scott has only recently turned 15 years of age and is arguably Scotland's leading boy golfer in that age group. He captained the Scotland Under-16s in the boys' quadrangular series in Holland earlier this year.
His biggest achievement todate has been to win the English Under-14s boys' open championship - the first Scot to do so. He reached the fifth round (last 16) of the Scottish boys' championship at West Kilbride in early April this year. He is currently 11th in the SGU Boys' Order of Merit which takes in lads up to the age of 18.

Ailsa Summers had her 16th birthday on January 19 this year. She is the rising female golf star in Angus and probably Scotland too. She is the current Angus girls' and women's county champion and this past weekend was the leading light in the Angus women's team who won the North Division title at Blairgowrie and with it a place in the Scottish county finals at Bothwell Castle in September.

At the Scottish women's championship at Craigielaw in May, Ailsa won the SLGA's Clark Rosebowl event for those who just missed out on qualifying for the championship.

Ailsa's mother Mary (maiden name Mackie) was a Scottish girl international and reached the final of the British girls championship at Edzell in 1982. Ailsa is following in her mum's footsteps as Angus county champion, Mary having won the title on at least six occasions.

Other representatives in the RandA Junior Open include:

ENGLAND - Nick Taylor (Redbourn) and Emily Taylor (Royal Lytham).
WALES - Otto Mand (Dewston) and Jessica Jones (Wrexham).
IRELAND - Alex Gleeson. No girl nominated.
UNITED STATES - David Lee and Karen Chung.
CANADA - Kevin Kwon and Alix Kong.
AUSTRALIA - Anthony Murdaca and Emily McLennan

Kaymer wants to hear the skirl of the pipes again!

By SARAH GWYNN

European Tour Press Officer
Germany's Martin Kaymer is a young man more than used to achieving golfing firsts and the talented German will attempt yet another when he defends his title in The Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond next week.
When Kaymer took the title on the Bonnie Banks 12 months ago at the age of 24 years and 196 days, he not only became the youngest player in history to win The Barclays Scottish Open, he also became the first player since Ian Woosnam in 1990 to win the two events prior to The Open Championship having triumphed in the Open de France Alstom the week before he arrived at Loch Lomond.
Now, on his return to Loch Lomond, Kaymer will attempt to become the first player to win the prestigious title two years in a row.
Ernie Els has won twice at Loch Lomond – in 2000 and 2003 – and Ian Woosnam took the title on three occasions when it was staged at The Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire and Carnoustie in the 1980s and 1990s. However, neither the South African nor the Welshman won in successive seasons.
“To win back to back felt really great and I will do everything I can to win The Barclays Scottish Open again,” said Kaymer, who has added to his European Tour title haul already this year with victory in the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship in January. “I was in good form and played very solidly last year. I made no big mistakes and my short game was good too – hopefully it will be the same again this year.
“To win in Scotland, the home of golf, was very special to me. I really enjoyed it, especially the last two days. Those two days were amazing, the field was good and the spectators really supported all the players – it was unbelievable.”
Kaymer’s golden two week spell last July netted him €1,246,000 in prize money alone, took him over the €4 million mark in European Tour earnings from just 70 events, and provided the platform for his eventual third place finish in the inaugural Race to Dubai.
However, there was one further aspect of the week at Loch Lomond that the German is keen to hear once again and that is the distinctive sound of the bagpipes which traditionally heralds the winner down from the castle ruins behind the 18th green to the presentation ceremony.
“I remember after making the last putt the bagpipes suddenly started to play,” he said. “I loved that and having the piper lead me down to the green made it even more special. The sound of the bagpipes is the memory that comes into my head whenever I think of the Scottish Open.”
Golf fans keen eager to catch a glimpse of Kaymer’s title defence against an international galaxy of golfing stars in The Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond can purchase discounted tickets at: www.barclaysscottishopen.co.uk

Relieved David J Russell finally lands maiden win

By STEVE TODD
European Seniors Tour Press Officer
A relieved David J Russell, who has finished runner up nine times on the European Senior Tour, survived an almighty scare around the turn to finally land his maiden title in The De Vere Collection PGA Seniors Championship on Sunday.
Russell, who started the final round with a four stroke lead, looked to be cruising to victory after three birdies and just the single bogey in his opening seven holes to open up a six shot cushion but his advantage suddenly evaporated in the space of three incredible holes.
The Englishman ‘hit an iceberg’ on the Hunting Course at De Vere Slaley Hall when he triple bogeyed the eighth hole, followed by a double bogey on ninth when he was forced to take a penalty shot after his wayward approach landing in greenkeeper’s cuttings.
His title challenge then appeared in treacherous waters when he bogeyed the tenth hole to drop six shots in three holes and fall one stroke behind Angel Franco.
Remarkably though, Russell’s challenge did not sink and he steadied the ship with back-to-back birdies on the 11th and 12th to move back into the lead when Franco dropped a shot on the 13th hole.
The 56 year old bogeyed the 15th and then received a huge slice of luck when he rattled the pin on the last but he managed to hold on to sign for a final round 75 and finish on five under par 283, two strokes clear of Paraguay’s Franco, Senior Tour debutant Barry Lane and South African Chris Williams.
“That was the most traumatic day I’ve ever had on a golf course,” admitted Russell. “It was incredible. You go out, when you are leading a tournament, to do the best you can and I got off to a lovely start and holed some good putts early on to get to ten under par.
“All I needed to do then was be sensible so, of course, I lost my ball on the eighth and made a triple bogey and had a terrible second shot on the ninth and ended up in cuttings for a double bogey and suddenly I’d handed the tournament to somebody else.
“It was incredible really. You try to keep going and be positive and luckily I managed to just about stumble over the line.”
Russell’s nine second place finishes – including behind Sam Torrance in The 2005 De Vere Collection PGA Seniors Championship – is a Senior Tour record and, after three years in the relative wilderness since the last of those runner up places, he conceded that he was relieved to finally get the monkey off his back.
“I must admit I was looking at the leaderboard to see what second place would be and at one stage I would have taken it I think, when I dropped those six shots,” said Russell. “It was amazing and surreal to go through an experience like that and still come out on top at the end. It shows how well I must have played, most of the time.”
Russell, who won two times on The European Tour and was a Vice Captain under Ian Woosnam in The 2006 Ryder Cup, said the victory – achieved on his 113th Senior Tour appearance – was possibly the highlight of his professional career.
“Winning on the regular Tour is obviously a massive thing, and my first win was huge in terms of my career, but the Senior Tour is a wonderful opportunity for us to stay competitive and this is right up there as it’s a wonderful tournament,” he said. “It’s the oldest Senior event and it’s great to have my name on the trophy with so many fantastic players.”
Franco and Williams, who posted rounds of 71 and 69 respectively, has to settle for a share of second place for the second consecutive year after the pair also shared the runner up spot to Carl Mason 12 months ago.
They were joined by Englishman Lane, the five-time European Tour winner who turned 50 on Monday was making his European Senior Tour debut at De Vere Slaley Hall. Lane also finished on three under par after posting a final round 69 that included a superb eagle on the 15th hole.
He said: “I played really nicely all week and made some silly mistakes in the first couple of rounds and I did that today, starting with a double bogey and then you’re out the tournament. I just carried on though, trying to hit some nice shots and I made a couple of birdies then drove it to a foot on the par four 15th for eagle.
“All in all then it’s been a great week. I’ve really enjoyed coming to play on the Senior Tour and seeing all the guys again.”
Former Ryder Cup player Gordon Brand Jnr, who fired a final round 71, was the only other player under par in fifth place, two strokes further adrift. Former Masters champions Sandy Lyle and Ian Woosnam finished in a share of 12th place on four over par.
FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72)
283 D Russell (Eng) 71 67 70 75,
285 B Lane (Eng) 73 71 72 69, A Franco (Par) 72 68 74 71, C Williams (RSA) 71 69 72 73,
287 G Brand Jnr (Sco) 71 76 69 71,
288 D Smyth (Irl) 71 71 72 74, A Oldcorn (Sco) 74 72 74 68,
289 R Drummond (Sco) 72 69 73 75,
290 S Cipa (Eng) 73 74 72 71, C Mason (Eng) 73 72 75 70,
291 B Smit (RSA) 74 71 71 75,
292 J Harrison (Eng) 73 71 75 73, J Bruner (USA) 73 74 70 75, G Ryall (Eng) 74 74 73 71, S Lyle (Sco) 74 72 74 72, I Woosnam (Wal) 73 70 73 76, D Cambridge (Jam) 70 73 78 71, B Cameron (Eng) 75 73 74 70,
293 N Job (Eng) 73 71 76 73, D Merriman (Aus) 74 74 73 72, M Harwood (Aus) 72 71 71 79, P Fowler (Aus) 79 70 75 69, L Carbonetti (Arg) 70 73 71 79,
294 M Belsham (Eng) 77 70 75 72,
295 T Allen (Eng) 74 75 73 73, P Mitchell (Eng) 74 75 74 72, K Tomori (Jpn) 71 74 73 77, T Johnstone (Zim) 74 75 72 74,
296 S Torrance (Sco) 72 71 77 76, G Banister (Aus) 71 76 75 74, J Stuart (USA) 72 73 81 70, J Quiros (Esp) 75 75 74 72, N Ratcliffe (Aus) 72 75 74 75,
297 B Ruangkit (Tha) 79 71 73 74, G Brand (Eng) 80 70 74 73, S Owen (Nzl) 71 74 76 76, A Fernandez (Chi) 80 70 74 73,
298 P Smith (Sco) 73 70 76 79, E Rodriguez (Esp) 73 73 77 75,
299 S Van Vuuren (RSA) 73 76 73 77, P O'Hagan (Irl) 75 75 74 75, D O'Sullivan (Irl) 78 72 73 76, B Boyd (USA) 73 77 75 74,
300 A Webster (Sco) 72 75 79 74, H Carbonetti (Arg) 79 71 77 73, M Williams (Zim) 78 72 76 74, G Ralph (Eng) 70 74 78 78,
301 P Oakley (USA) 77 72 75 77, A Sowa (Arg) 76 74 76 75, J Benda (USA) 82 68 77 74, S Bennett (Eng) 72 77 74 78
302 D Johnson (USA) 75 74 81 72,
303 F Mann (Sco) 75 75 72 81, P Allan (Eng) 73 73 79 78, S Wood (Eng) 71 75 85 72, M Lord (Eng) 77 72 75 79,
304 K Spurgeon (Eng) 76 74 77 77, J Rhodes (Eng) 77 73 78 76, R Masters (Eng) 75 74 76 79, D Padgett (Eng) 77 73 77 77
307 A Murray (Eng) 76 72 77 82,

Place in Open field caps Stephen

Gallacher's comeback

FROM THE EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS WEBSITE
By MARTIN DEMPSTER
Bathgates's Stephen Gallacher today revealed he'd endured an agonising wait before finally learning he had secured a spot in the forthcoming Open at St Andrews
The 35-year-old drowned his sorrows after fearing he'd been pipped for an exemption spot by David Horsey after the Englishman's win in the BMW International Open in Munich.
But, just before boarding a plane to fly back to Edinburgh, Gallacher got a call to say his place in the world's oldest major was secure.
"I didn't think I was in (the Open) so I had a few pints," he told the Evening News. "But then I got a phone call to say I had secured one of the spots, which is fantastic."
Gallacher's success in qualifying from a current form order of merit on the European Tour means he'll be returning to the scene of his biggest victory – the 2004 Dunhill Links Championship.
The former Walker Cup player's last Open appearance was also at St Andrews five years ago and he'll head for the Old Course as Scottish golf's form player.
In his last 13 events, Gallacher has missed the cut just once and, not surprisingly, he's delighted with the way he has performed since returning to the European Tour after missing the second half of last season through illness.
"Even without this, I think what I've done this year merits an A plus and to be looking forward to playing in The Open at St Andrews has capped it off," admitted the former Scottish amateur champion.
"I've been trying to tick off a few goals as I've been going along and hopefully I'll be able to book a place in the Dubai World Championship and perhaps even a place in the top 20 in Europe before the season is finished."
In addition to The Open, Gallacher also has next week's Barclays Scottish Open to look forward to and he should get into this week's French Open, another of the big-money events, as well.
"I was hoping to finish in the top ten (in Munich] to get into the French Open but I'm first reserve and have got a chance as I believe there are a few guys injured."
Gallacher's success means at least six Scots will be at St Andrews, the Lothians player joining former Open winners Sandy Lyle and Paul Lawrie as well as Colin Montgomerie, Andrew Coltart and Martin Laird in the Old Course field.
A number of other Lothians players are among those aiming to add to that tally when they line up tomorrow at four courses near St Andrews in the Local Final Qualifying.
Lloyd Saltman is back at Scotscraig, where he passed the same test in 2005 before winning the Silver Medal for leading amateur and he'll be joined there by fellow Scots Steven Duncan, Ross Kellett, Chris Doak, Barry Hume and Ross Bell.
Among those heading for Ladybank are Lothians quintet Elliot Saltman, Jamie McLeary, Mark Kerr, John Gallagher and Alan Reid, the latter having come through Regional qualifying at Goswick.
Joining them there are former British boys' champion Jordan Findlay, Michael Stewart, Greig Hutcheon, Sam Cairns, David Law and Callum Macaulay.
Paul Ferrier and Craig Gordon are in the field at Kingsbarns, as are Stephen Gray, Eric Ramsay and Craig Mathieson, while the field at Fairmont St Andrews includes Andrew Oldcorn, Lee Harper and Steven O'Hara.

Elliot Saltman falls short in Challenge Tour title bid as Alvaro

 Velasco surges to 65

FROM THE SCOTSMAN WEBSITE
By Martin Dempster and Nick Rodger
Elliot Saltman's bid for a first Challenge Tour victory fell agonisingly short as he was pipped by Spaniard Alvaro Velasco in the Fred Olsen Challenge de España.
Five shots clear at the halfway stage and two in front going into the final round, Saltman got off to a promising start as he picked up two birdies in the opening three holes.
However, costly dropped shots at the fifth and eighth saw him overtaken by Velasco, who went on to card a closing round of 65 to become the first home winner of the event in 11 years.
The Spaniard finished on 18-under par 266, two strokes clear of Saltman, who signed for a final-round 69 in second place.
That smashed the Scot's best Challenge Tour finish – tied 21st in the 2008 Reale Challenge de Espana and the 2009 SWALEC Wales Challenge
"I played very well for three days and if someone had told me at the start of the week I'd finish second I would not have believed it," said the Archerfield Links player who earned 16,500 Euros for his performance (Velasco's cash prize was 24,000 Euros).
"I'm pleased for Alvaro, he played great, but this week I proved my golf is good enough to contend and my mental side is also working well."
George Murray, winner of the Scottish Hydro Challenge in Aviemore a fortnight ago, cemented his position in the order of merit by tying for fifth on 12-under after a closing 68. Callum Macaulay (69) and Lloyd Saltman (67) tied for 11th on 10-under after strong finishes.
FINAL TOTALS
Par 284 (4x72)
Prize money in Euros
266 A Velasco (Esp) 70 63 68 65 (24,000).
268 E Saltman (Sco) 63 64 72 69 (16,500).
269 F De Vries (Ned) 70 68 64 67 (10,500).
271 M Laskey (Wal) 66 68 69 68 (9,000).
272 J Moul (Eng) 68 68 69 67, J Little (Eng) 66 66 69 71, G Murray (Sco) 69 65 70 68 (6,100 each).
273 J Legarrea (Esp) 67 70 68 68, B Evans (Eng) 68 71 67 67, C Moriarty (Irl) 65 73 71 64 (3,700 each).
274 D Denison (Eng) 67 70 69 68, C Macaulay (Sco) 70 67 68 69, D Ulrich (Sui) 72 66 67 69, A Bernadet (Fra) 68 66 70 70, A Salto (Esp) 66 71 67 70, O David (Fra) 67 69 69 69, J Sjöholm (Swe) 68 68 66 72 (2,550 each).
275 A Tadini (Ita) 66 70 68 71, L Saltman (Sco) 70 68 70 67, M Baldwin (Eng) 69 71 68 67, M Quiros (Esp) 71 66 66 72, J Campillo (Esp) 68 70 66 71, H Bacher (Aut) 70 68 68 69, P Oriol (Esp) 68 69 69 69 (1,614 each).
276 A Garcia-Heredia (Esp) 68 70 66 72, S Tiley (Eng) 68 70 67 71, R Kind (Ned) 71 69 66 70, C Smith (Wal) 69 68 70 69 (1,335 each).
277 A Johnston (Eng) 70 68 71 68, I Urquizu (Esp) 69 70 69 69, G Watremez (Bel) 73 68 67 69, N Bollini (US) 67 67 73 70, R Thuillier (Fra) 68 71 70 68, P Relecom (Bel) 72 69 68 68 (1,185 each).
278 A Willey (Eng) 70 69 70 69, T Remkes (Ned) 71 68 69 70, J Cunliffe (RSA) 72 67 70 69, M Bliss (Can) 68 70 69 71, T Whitehouse (Eng) 71 68 70 69, C Baker (USA) 68 70 68 72 (1,005 each.
279 M Higley (Eng) 71 70 68 70, G Woodman (Eng) 73 67 71 68, S Arnold (Aus) 67 73 72 67, S Manley (Wal) 70 70 70 69, A Ahokas (Fin) 73 68 68 70, M Cobo (Esp) 69 68 69 73 (825each)
280 G Houston (Wal) 71 68 68 73, A Bruschi (Ita) 69 72 67 72, S Walker (Eng) 68 67 74 71 (690 each).
281 Z Scotland (Eng) 69 71 70 71, M Rominger (Sui) 71 68 70 72, R Quiros (Esp) 71 68 68 74, A Snobeck (Fra) 70 69 69 73 (596 each).
282 J Garcia (Esp) 68 68 73 73, F Cabrera (Arg) 71 66 76 69 (548 each).
283 A Gutierrez (Esp) 71 70 67 75, J Adarraga Gomez (Esp) 69 69 72 73, P Dwyer (Eng) 70 70 72 71 (510 each).
284 J McLean (Aus) 68 73 69 74, S Surry (Eng) 68 71 74 71, X Guzman (Esp) 69 72 68 75 (465 each).
285 G Davies (Eng) 67 74 66 78 (435)
286 S Buhl (Ger) 71 70 72 73, A Wagner (Arg) 73 68 69 76 (412 each).
287 A Maestroni (Ita) 69 71 74 73, L Matthews (Wal) 68 70 72 77 (382 each).
290 D Brooks (Eng) 72 69 71 78 (360).
** J Garcia Pinto (Esp) 66 68 68 DQ,

Bubba Watson's first US Tour win after Justin Rose collapse

FROM THE PGATOUR.COM WEBSITE
CROMWELL, Connecticut -- Bubba Watson rallied from six strokes behind to beat Scott Verplank on the second play-off hole with a par putt to earn his first US PGA Tour victory at the Travelers Championship.
Watson, Verplank and U.S. Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin needed extra holes after they all finished at 14-under par.
After sinking a 3-footer for par on the par-3 16th to win it, Watson hugged his wife, Angie, and began crying.
Verplank left his tee shot short of the green on the second playoff hole and missed an 8-foot par putt. Watson, who had a 48-footer for birdie, was able to steady his nerves enough to get it close.
Pavin was eliminated on the first playoff hole after hitting his tee shot just 219 yards and putting his approach into a bunker short of the 18th green. He chipped to within 3-feet, earning a standing ovation.
"The playoff was a little disappointing to me," he said. "I kind of popped up a three-wood there and left myself in a pretty precarious spot."
Justin Rose, who was coming off his first US PGA Tour win earlier this month at the Memorial, had a three-stroke lead coming into Sunday.
But the 29-year-old Englishman was 1-over par on the front nine, and collapsed on the back, shooting a 5-over 75.
"It was obviously my tournament to lose," Rose said. "I could have shot 1-over par today and won the golf tournament. It's disappointing. It wasn't overly difficult today."
Watson almost won on the first play-off hole, hitting a sand wedge on his approach within an inch of the cup from 128-yards out.
But Verplank sunk an 8-foot birdie putt to extend the playoff.
Verplank started the day in 13th place, eight strokes behind third-round leader Justin Rose, while Pavin and Watson were both six back.
He shot eagles on the 13th and 15th holes to move into contention. But a birdie shot on 17 lipped the cup.
"When I holed it on 15, I looked at the leaderboard, and I wasn't that far back. I needed to birdie one of the last couple holes," Verplank said.
The crowd began chanting "USA" after Pavin sank a 32-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole that broke sharply from left to right and put him into contention.
The 50-year-old said he wouldn't have put himself on the Ryder Cup team, even if he had won.
"Being captain is pretty tough, just to do that," he said. "Arnold Palmer was the last one to do that, and that was a different era, a different time. I wouldn't have played."
No player in the first three groups made it into the play-off.
Rose held the lead until he missed a 10-foot par putt on the 10th hole and moved into a three-way tie with playing partner Ben Curtis and Verplank.
He lost the lead after a bogey on the 12th hole, then hit his tee shot on 15 into the water on his way to another bogey.
Curtis, who bogeyed just two holes in the tournament coming into Sunday, hit his tee shot on 12 out of bounds to the left, and made double bogey from there. Both he and Rose bogeyed 16 to drop out of contention. Curtis finished with a 73.
Chris Riley began the day at 8-under par, but shot an eagle the par-4 14th hole from 155-yards, and was 5-under on the back nine. He finished a stroke behind the leaders at 13-under par.
"I bogeyed my first two holes and, I was like, 'Ho, hum. Here we go,'" he said. "I was in something like 45th place. What makes this course so great is you can make up ground."
Watson is the first U.S. player to win on the Tour in four weeks.
The last three were all Europeans. Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell won the big prize last week at the U.S. Open. The Memorial was Rose's first tour win, and fellow Englishman Lee Westwood won before that at the St. Jude Classic.

United States PGA Tour Scoreboard
TRAVELERS CHAMPIONSHIP
The TPC at River Highlands, Cromwell, Connecticut
FINAL TOTALS
Par 280 (4x70)
266 Bubba Watson 65 68 67 66 (Bubba Watson bt Scott Verplank and Corey Pavin at second play-off hole) Corey Pavin 65 66 69 66, Scott Verplank 67 69 66 64
267 Chris Riley 68 65 69 65
268 Ricky Barnes 69 67 64 68, Chad Campbell 67 70 65 66, Retief Goosen (Rsa) 68 69 64 67, Padraig Harrington (Irl) 64 71 69 64
269 Brendon De Jonge 70 63 67 69, Kris Blanks 68 67 67 67, Justin Rose (Eng) 64 62 68 75, Vaughn Taylor 67 65 67 70
270 Scott McCarron 68 66 66 70, Ben Curtis 65 68 64 73, Kevin Sutherland 65 65 71 69, Matthew Jones (Aus) 65 67 68 70, Vijay Singh (Fij) 65 66 73 66, Rickie Fowler 71 65 68 66, Ryan Moore 68 67 69 66, Nicholas Thompson 68 70 66 66
271 Charlie Wi (Kor) 64 67 71 69, Michael Sim (Aus) 68 67 67 69, Bill Lunde 68 63 69 71, Tim Petrovic 67 69 66 69, Cliff Kresge 70 64 71 66, Jason Bohn 66 69 67 69
272 Michael Letzig 68 69 65 70, Aaron Baddeley (Aus) 69 66 68 69, Charley Hoffman 70 67 71 64, Chris DiMarco 73 65 66 68, Ted Purdy 70 68 67 67, James Driscoll 70 68 69 65, Stuart Appleby (Aus) 70 67 66 69
273 Joe Durant 66 67 70 70, Mathew Goggin (Aus) 64 72 67 70, Paul Stankowski 71 66 67 69, John Merrick 69 69 71 64, Matthew Every 69 67 68 69, Bo Van Pelt 69 66 70 68, Carl Pettersson (Swe) 67 68 67 71, Shaun Micheel 72 65 65 71
274 J J Henry 71 67 64 72, Chris Stroud 69 66 68 71, David Toms 66 68 71 69, Jay Williamson 69 65 72 68, Kevin Streelman 73 64 68 69
275 Brian Stuard 67 69 70 69, J.P. Hayes 69 66 72 68, Stewart Cink 70 65 68 72, Steve Elkington (Aus) 66 67 73 69
276 Will MacKenzie 68 70 68 70, Rodney Pampling (Aus) 68 68 75 65, Joe Ogilvie 68 70 70 68, Boo Weekley 69 69 67 71, Brett Wetterich 71 67 68 70, Michael Connell 69 68 69 70
277 Aron Price (Aus) 65 69 69 74, Michael Bradley 67 69 72 69, Billy Mayfair 66 70 74 67, James Nitties (Aus) 69 68 74 66, Alex Prugh 71 65 70 71, Webb Simpson 67 69 74 67
278 Jerry Kelly 66 71 73 68
279 Jarrod Lyle (Aus) 71 67 71 70, Arjun Atwal (Ind) 71 67 69 72, Mark Brooks 68 68 74 69, Greg Chalmers (Aus) 66 66 73 74
280 Brad Adamonis 69 69 70 72, Robert Garrigus 73 65 70 72, Johnson Wagner 68 66 75 71, Graham Delaet (Can) 70 66 75 69
281 Mark Hensby (Aus) 67 71 71 72
282 Bryce Molder 68 70 72 72
283 Kenny Perry 69 68 73 73, Kevin Johnson 66 72 70 75, Skip Kendall 69 69 70 75
287 Tim Herron 66 67 71 83

Hugh Hunter's Clackmannan County News

Team captain Ian Ross (left) receives the Clackmannan county mixed foursomes trophy on behalf of the winning Alloa team from county president Bill Abernethy (right). Image by Hugh Hunter.

MIXED FOURSOMES TRIUMPH FOR ALLOA

The Alloa Mixed fours team notched up an emphatic win by seven shots in the 2010 County mixed Foursomes Championship. County President Bill Abernethy was delighted that all six Clubs participated---- helped by changing to a handicap format with three out of four scores counting. Star players of the day were Alloa Team Captain Ian Ross partnered by Joanne McIntosh with both the best scratch and net scores from the 24 couples.
The winning net scores were as follows Moira McRae/Scott Moffat 74; Tracey Anne Whitelaw/Andrew Whitelaw 69; Joanne McIntosh/Ian Ross 67 ;Hazel Hume/Robert Hume 74 ½
Best three scores 210
Home club Braehead finished runner up with 217 ½; Tillicoultry and Tulliallan on 220 ½ ; Alva 224; Dollar 235.
Team captain Ian Ross was pleased with the result “ It was good for Alloa Golf Club to add the Mixed Fours title to the County Fours title won last month by the Men’s team”

BOYS' LEAGUE HOTS UP

The 2010 County Boys' League is shaping up to give an exciting finish. Four teams (Alloa, Braehead, Alva, Tillicoultry) are tied on 4 points each with Alloa holding a slight lead on game difference although the other three teams have a game in hand. Praise must go to the Dollar boys who are competing in the League but with a much less experienced team than the others---- the true spirit of golf.

BOB STEWART--- BEST OF THE COUNTY SENIORS

Tulliallan’s Bob Stewart is keeping up with the senior elite in Scotland this season. In the Scottish Senior Golfing Society events, Bob finished in 5th position at Kinross with a 36 hole score of 153 (75,78). In the Central Scotland seniors at Glenbervie, Bob started badly with an 80 but showed true form in the second round with a 69--- the only sub 70 round of the tournament----lifting him to 9th equal position. A bit further back were Phil Dempsey 156 (78,78) and George Kay 158 (78,80).
In the Senior Order of Merit played over the par 71 Pollok Golf course there will be strong competition in the 134 strong field for both the 2010 title and places in the Seniors International team. This event is staged over three rounds with a cut after two leaving the top 40 to contest the title.

WEE COUNTY GOLFERS SPREAD WINGS

It is pleasing to note that local golfers are having a go at upcoming National events. Alloa’s Jamie Aitken and Scott Moffat will be joined by Dollar’s Darren Hulston in the Scottish Amateur Golf Championship at Gullane at the end of July. It's now almost two years since Callum Macaulay (Tulliallan) took the title at Carnoustie.
Alloa’s John Salmond and Dollar’s Gary Chalmers are going for the Scottish boys' stroke play title at Monifieth. Unfortunately, due to an international commitment, Alva’s Lawrence Allan misses the event. However, Lawrence is in the field for the Scottish Under 16’s at Auchterarder next week and the week after that the Alva course record holder is making a long journey to Princes golf course in Kent to compete in the English Under 16’s event.
Maybe he should be brushing up on his language skills---- he is drawn with a Swiss player at Auchterarder and a Spanish player at Princes!!

TILLICOULTRY LADIES SHOW THE WAY

Nice to have a good Ladies performance to report--- in the Scottish Ladies Club Foursomes tournament, Tillicoultry have progressed to the last sixteen from the original entry of over 70 Clubs. Represented by Eileen Perry, Morag Jamieson and Marjorie Crichton, from which a foursomes pair is selected, the Ladies progressed to the second round with a local win against Braehead followed by a good away win by 2/1 at Grangemouth. They now have another away tie against Strathmore to be completed by the 23rd July.

RETURN TO FORM BY CALLUM

Friends and supporters of Tulliallan’s Callum Macaulay will be delighted to see his golfing form returning. In a qualifying round for the French Open, Callum returned a 36 hole score of 63,68 to snatch a place. In his brilliant 63, his inward nine contained four pars, four birdies and an eagle for a score of 30. The French Federation website reports about Callum “… qualifie après 1 trou de play off contre Victor Riu” --- maybe a slight dent in the” Entente Cordial” between France and Scotland.
Callum can now look forward to the Open de France played at the French National Golf course--- a 7,300 yard layout with a 607 par 5 hole, a prize fund of three million euros and a top prize of half a million euros.
Last week, Callum took in a Challenge Tour event at Tecina Golf in the Canary Islands where he did well to finish in 11th position with a ten under par score of 274 (70,67,68,69).
Hopefully the confidence is returning. Best of luck Callum!

Family-friendly atmosphere at next

month's Senior Open Championship


NEWS RELEASE
As well as hosting some of the greatest legends in international golf, this year’s Senior Open Championship presented by MasterCard will be offering something for the entire family with a range of activities on offer for all ages.
Throughout the tournament, staged at Carnoustie’s Championship Course from 22 – 25 July, a range of activities will be on offer in the tented village area which will be open to all attending this year’s Senior Open Championship. These include a golf simulator, golf nets with advice and assistance from professional instructors, a merchandise pavilion and public catering facilities.
On Saturday 24 July, the tournament will also stage a special Family Fun Day in the village between 10am and 5pm where there will be a number of activities on offer including a family golf competition. More details of this can be found at: http://www.carnoustiecountry.com/
To add to the family focus at this year’s Senior Open Championship, sponsor Carnoustie Country will also host a ‘Junior Open - Take the Challenge’ tournament along with clubgolf Scotland, with hotly contested daily prizes for the lowest scoring boy and girl in chipping, putting and swing competitions. As part of the programme, last year’s Senior Open Champion Loren Roberts will be running a golf masterclass on Carnoustie’s driving range on Wednesday, 21 July aimed at young people who have had little or no involvement in the sport.
Roberts will then defend his title when he takes his place amongst a world class field that also includes Sir Nick Faldo, Bernhard Langer, United States Ryder Cup Captain Corey Pavin, Sam Torrance, Tom Watson and Ian Woosnam.
During the tournament, clubgolf will also be running lessons throughout the tournament from 22 to 25 July and bookings for these will be taken each day at the Carnoustie Country stand in the tented village. More information on the Junior Open can be found at www.clubgolfscotland-youth.co.uk or www.carnoustiecountry.com
Tickets are now on sale for this year’s Senior Open Championship, while hospitality packages at Carnoustie Hotel are also available. Spectators can buy tickets by visiting www.senioropengolf.com or by calling +44 (0) 800 023 2557, or on the gate. One day tickets are £25 and season tickets are £70.
Substantial savings can now be made both on day passes and season tickets for The 2010 Senior Open Championship, which are priced respectively at £16.50 and £60, with a further 10% discount available to MasterCard cardholders.