Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Westwood, Poulter, Monty, Manassero doubtful for French Open

FROM THE SCOTSMAN WEBSITE
By MARVIN COLLINS
LEE Westwood, Ian Poulter, Colin Montgomerie and Matteo Manassero may be forced out of the French Open which tees off today.
It was initially feared Westwood might have a blood clot in his leg when the world No 3 withdrew from the pre-tournament pro-am yesterday because of a swelling around the right calf and ankle.
"The doctor (in Paris) has decided there is no DVT (deep vein thrombosis) or blood clot," said Westwood's representative Stuart Cage. "The problem seems to be a reaction to the heat. Lee is going to have an anti-inflammatory dressing put on the muscle and if he rests up tonight then hopefully the swelling will go down and he will be able to play (in the first round) tomorrow.
"He is certainly going to go to the course in the morning and will make a decision then," added Cage.
World No 8 Poulter also withdrew from the pro-am because of an infected insect bite that caused a swelling in his groin. The Briton said he would pull out of the tournament if the swelling did not go down.
Italian teenager Manassero was also doubtful after being struck on the left hand by a ball while practising on Tuesday. The 17-year-old, playing one of his seven invitations as he tries to win a European Tour card for next season, is in pain and unable to flex the hand properly.
Montgomerie was another pro-am withdrawal due to a calf tear and a damaged Achilles. Europe's Ryder Cup captain is being injected with painkillers.
Ross McGowan, in fifth place on the Ryder Cup table, has already pulled out of the French Open because of a swollen right wrist.
McGowan, who retired during last week's BMW International Open in Munich, will also miss next week's Scottish Open in a bid to get fit for the Open at St Andrews which starts on 15 July.
Meanwhile, Jose Maria Olazabal returns to action for one week only, admitting that his battle with rheumatism has to put a question mark over him becoming Europe's next Ryder Cup captain.
The French Open at Le Golf National is Olazabal's first event since last October and it is also likely to be his last for a few months.
"I'm giving it a try this week, but it's definitely the rest of the summer off," said the 44-year-old, whose problems go back to the mid-1990s when he could not play for 18 months and feared his future would be in a wheelchair. "I feel better, but still have pain in my shoulders," he said.
"It's just a game of wait and see, but it feels like a slow process - it feels like the finishing line is near, but you never get to it."
Olazabal is favourite to succeed Montgomerie following October's match at Celtic Manor, but part of the reason for appointing Montgomerie was that he is still a Tour regular.
"Sure I want it," said Olazabal, "but the decision is not mine and a couple of things have to come into place.

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No, he's not going to be Donald Trump's Director of Golf at Balmedie!

PETER SMITH COMING HOME FROM NEW ZEALAND  

IN AUTUMN FOR GOOD

. . . AND HE’S OPEN TO OFFERS

A COLIN FARQUHARSON "EXCLUSIVE" STORY
One of the North-east’s leading golf personalities of the 1980s and 90s, Peter Smith is coming from New Zealand to spend his senior years among his ain folk.
Born at Udny Station 50 years ago the son of a Highland League footballer, Peter Smith, was Murcar Golf Club professional from 1983 to 1986 and won the Northern Open at Murcar in 1992 with an aggregate of 264 which still stands as a record for the tournament.
He qualified from Challenge Tour to play on the European Tour from 1990 to 1994 and then was Newmachar’s director of golf from 1996 until 2000, the year he and his wife Carol emigrated to New Zealand.
Down there, Smith won the New Zealand club professionals’ championship in 2003 and one other event around that time.
In 2006, he was head-hunted by Hilversum Golf Club to become its head professional but his family never really settled in the Netherlands and he returned to New Zealand.
The last couple of years, Smith played various satellite tours on the Continent to prepare himself for last year’s European Seniors Tour School on the Algarve.
“I started badly but was playing well by he end of the tournament. I just gave myself too much ground to make up and there are not a lot of qualifying spots on the Seniors Tour available.” he recalled earlier this week on a flying visit to Aberdeen and was my guest for tea and scones at the Kippie Lodge Club (pictured above) on the western outskirts of the city.
  “But I came over recently and qualified to play in the PGA Seniors Championship at Slaley Hall last weekend. I played with guys like Sam Torrance, Barry Lane, Sandy Lyle and Andy Oldcorn and I thought I  was a little bit unlucky to finishwith a triple bogey and a double bogey which pushed me well down the final placings from seven at time to 37th.
“But it has whetted my appetite to have another go at the Seniors Tour School later this year. The friendly atmosphere at a Seniors Tour event was great. Sam, Barry, Sandy and Andy could not have been nicer. I knew them 20-30 years ago but, compared to them, I'm just a rookie as a senior golfer.
"That did not make the slightest bit of difference. They were as chatty on and off the golf course as if I played with them every week. The atmosphere was in direct contrast to what it's like at the Seniors Tour Qualifying School, must of it caused by nerves, just like at the younger guys' Q School. But having now experienced a Seniors tournament as a player, I am determined to make the grade at the second attempt.
"Why are we coming back to the North-east for good after 10 years in foreign parts? The answer is that Carol and I are simply homesick. I want to spend my senior years back in the North-east which has a great golfing scene and great golf courses. People who live here don't really appreciate what they've got. You've got to be like me and travel round to the other side of the world to realise that the North-east in general and Aberdeen in particular is a very nice place to live."
Smith laughs at the suggestion that he is coming back to the North-east to be Director of Golf at Trump International but he does admit that he is looking to get involved in some way in the North-east golf scene on his return.
“Even if make it to the Seniors Tour, it really is a part-time circuit, with not nearly so many events as the European Tour. So there is scope to play on the over-50s tour and have a fulfilling job at the same time here in the North-east,” he says.
“I'm not blowing my own trumpet but I  feel I have an awful lot of golf experience – I was manager of a golf resort for two years in New Zealand, for instance – that could be of use to someone, some club or business when I get back here to stay. I am open to offers."
Peter Smith knows he is coming home at a bad time, when Britain is still struggling to come out of a recession but he's a self starter, intelligent and articulate. If he has to, he will start his own golf-orientated business.

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Scottish senior men's amateur stroke-play championship
Pollok Golf Club.
FIRST-ROUND SCORES
Par 71
T1 KING, Geoff (65+) West Essex 70 -1
T1 MACDONALD, Scott (65+) Dunfermline 70 -1
T1 TAYLOR, Ian Royal Burgess 70 -1
T1 DONKERSLEY, Adrian Gerrards Cross 70 -1
T1 MILLAR, Dave Berwick-upon-Tweed 70 -1
T6 GORDON, Lindsay Turnhouse 71 Par
T6 KINLOCH, James Cardross 71 Par
T6 MARKS, Jonathan (65+) Woodbridge 71 Par
T6 JESSUP, Dave Rochester and Cobham Park 71 Par
T6 BALDWIN, John (65+) Sunningdale 71 Par
T6 FULLER, Gordon Ralston 71 Par
T6 CHRISTY, Colin Kilmacolm 71 Par
T13 STRACEY, Andrew Littlestone 72 +1
T13 HALCROW, Colin Windyhill 72 +1
T13 JERMINE, John (65+) Sunningdale 72 +1
T13 MILLER, Derek Murrayfield 72 +1
T13 HUTCHEON, Ian (65+) Monifieth 72 +1
T13 SLATER, Philip Sandiway 72 +1
T13 TEMPLE, Martyn (65+) United States 72 +1
T13 STAFFORD, Tony Dun Ochil 72 +1
T21 EDGAR, Bob Blackpool North Shore 73 +2
T21 GRIFFITHS, Basil Llanymynech 73 +2
T21 CAMERON, Norman Porters Park 73 +2
T21 BROWN, Terence Stand 73 +2
T21 MCLELLAN, Ron Turnberry 73 +2
T21 MITCHELL, Billy Effingham 73 +2
T21 SMETHURST, Roy (65+) Crewe 73 +2
T21 JOHNSTON, John Lanark 73 +2
T21 THOMSON, Gordon Bearsden 73 +2
T30 LYNCH, Sean (65+) Minchinhampton 74 +3
T30 PAULEY, Ray Woodhall Spa 74 +3
T30 SMITH, David (65+) Stirling 74 +3
T30 CRELLIN, Paul Prenton 74 +3
T30 STEWART, Iain Curragh 74 +3
T30 POND, Stuart Worksop 74 +3
T30 LIRONI, Mark (65+) Cathkin Braes 74 +3
T30 JAMIESON, Peter Cathkin Braes 74 +3
T38 GROUNDS, Aidan Falkirk Tryst 75 +4
T38 GRAY, Richard Cowglen 75 +4
T38 KIRWAN, Joe Bramhall 75 +4
T38 ERSKINE, William Kilsyth Lennox 75 +4
T38 ARNOLD, Douglas Copthorne 75 +4
T38 LANE, David (65+) Goring and Streatley 75 +4
T38 DOODSON, David (65+) Temple 75 +4
T38 LAIRD, Andrew (65+) Deeside 75 +4
T38 MCDONALD, John Cowglen 75 +4
T38 DOUGLAS, Marshall (65+) Thornhill 75 +4
T38 PATERSON, George Northern 75 +4
T38 WIGLEY, Michael Royal North Devon 75 +4
T38 ELDER, Allan Kirkcaldy 75 +4
PROJECT CUT MARK AFTER ROUND 2
T51 CAMPBELL, Ian Kinross 76 +5
T51 JOHNSTON, James Northumberland 76 +5
T51 GRIEVE, Brian (65+) King James VI 76 +5
T51 FIDDES, Alistair Deeside 76 +5
T51 FRASER, John Royal Burgess 76 +5
T51 BRADY, Scott Burntisland 76 +5
T51 PAYNE, George Prestbury 76 +5
T51 REES, Glyn Fleetwood 76 +5
T51 MACBRYDE, Glen Stone 76 +5
T51 RUSSELL, Kenneth Wigtown and Bladnoch 76 +5
T51 WATT, Jim Edzell 76 +5
T51 SMALE, Sam Royal St George's 76 +5
T51 MILLER, David Kilmarnock (Barassie) 76 +5
T51 BOOBIS, Gerry Ravelston 76 +5
T51 MACDONALD, Gordon Callander 76 +5
T66 RUSSELL, John United States 77 +6
T66 HALL, Duncan Whitecraigs 77 +6
T66 GORRIE, William Glasgow 77 +6
T66 MASON, Ian Royal Cinque Ports 77 +6
T66 DICKSON, Ian Lundin 77 +6
T66 MACLEAN, Ronald Hamilton 77 +6
T66 BREWER, Ashley Denham 77 +6
T66 THOMSON, Kenneth Bramall Park 77 +6
T66 JOHNSTON, John W Royal Aberdeen 77 +6
T75 MACNAUGHT, Alan Colchester 78 +7
T75 WRIGHT, Alastair Goring and Streatley 78 +7
T75 WHYMARK, Stephen Woodbridge 78 +7
T75 GILL, Robert Gerrards Cross 78 +7
T75 MCCART, Donald Sherwood Forest 78 +7
T75 MACDONALD, Robert Bruntsfield Links 78 +7
T75 TAYLOR, Alastair Turnhouse 78 +7
T75 CUMMING, Ian Eastwood 78 +7
T75 AMAN, Jalil Grangemouth 78 +7
T75 QUINN, Sandy (65+) Stirling 78 +7
T75 MACINTYRE, Bill Harpenden 78 +7
T75 WALKER, Robert Crewe 78 +7
T87 WALLACE, William (65+) Strathaven 79 +8
T87 BROWN, William Strathaven 79 +8
T87 LINDSAY, Donald Windyhill 79 +8
T87 MILLAR, David (65+) St Andrews New 79 +8
T87 RITCHIE, Alex Bothwell Castle 79 +8
T87 WILSON, James Frilford Heath 79 +8
T87 MARTIN, Denis Newbiggin 79 +8
T87 CAMPBELL, Andrew Kinross 79 +8
T87 BAX, Peter Mid-Herts 79 +8
T87 STEWART, Robert Tulliallan 79 +8
T87 MCNALLY, Thomas Williamwood 79 +8
T87 PATON, James Kirkintilloch 79 +8
T99 MCINTYRE, John (65+) Lundin 80 +9
T99 LANG, John Bruntsfield Links 80 +9
T99 GRAHAM, Gordon Irvine 80 +9
T99 KINNIBURGH, Hugh Lanark 80 +9
T99 MORTON, Wilson Dunbar 80 +9
T99 BROADFOOT, John Turnberry 80 +9
T99 HUMBLE, Bob Kilspindie 80 +9
T99 BANNERMAN, Stewart (65+) Glasgow 80 +9
T99 FRANKLIN, Geoffrey Beaconsfield 80 +9
T99 MURPHY, Derek Kinross 80 +9
T109 MCQUADE, Denis Glenbervie 81 +10
T109 BRODIE, Andrew Glasgow 81 +10
T109 STEEL, Graham (65+) Moor Park 81 +10
T109 CAMERON, Allan Gourock 81 +10
T109 FRY, Graham Westgate and Birchington 81 +10
T109 CARSON, Tom Lockerbie 81 +10
T115 BOYD, Peter Fereneze 82 +11
T115 JORDAN, Robert United States 82 +11
T115 BENNETT, Trevor (65+) Great Barr 82 +11
T115 JENKINS, Michael Duff House Royal 82 +11
T119 KINLOCH, Peter Cardross 83 +12
T119 ADDIS, Philip Parkstone 83 +12
T121 GILCHRIST, Tom Western Gailes 85 +14
T121 ELLIS, Stephen Innellan 85 +14
123 CHRISTIE, Brian Wilton 86 +15
124 NELSON, David (65+) Aboyne 87 +16
125 STEWART, Charles (65+) Moray 88 +17
DQ FORBES, Duncan (65+) Sonning DQ
DQ NAIRN, Robbie Lochmaben DQ
WD RODAKS, George Moffat WD
WD MOIR, Colin (65+) Worksop WD
WD TOMISSON, Patrick Nairn WD
+SCOREBOARD FROM THE SGU WEBSITE

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BLAIRGOWRIE'S STEWART REEKIE SCORES

FIRST TARTAN TOUR WIN AT DUFF HOUSE ROYAL

Blairgowrie’s Stewart Reekie scored his first Tartan Tour victory today in the Duff House Royal Golf Club Centenary pro-am.
Reekie shot a seven-under-par 61 at the Banff venue with a bogey-free card packed with birdies – the first, fourth, fifth and ninth to be out in 30 (four under par) and the 12th, 15thj and 18th to be home in 31 (three under).
He earned £1,178, his biggest cash prize as a professional.
The Perthshire man was chased home by two Aberdonians: Graeme Lornie (Paul Lawrie Foundation) with a 62 and Scott Henderson (Kings Links) with a 64.
Lornie earned £942 for birdies at the fourth, seventh, 10th, 12th, 14th, 16th and 18th in halves of 32 and 30. His only bogey came at the short 13th.
Henderson birdied the third, fourth, sixth, 13th and 15th in halves of 32. His only bogey was at the ninth. His payslip was for £706.
Two teams totalled the low mark of net 19-under-par 117: B J Services (UK) Ltd, with David Patrick (Elie) as their pro won with the better net inward half: 61 to 64. The winning amateur trio were Neil Farquharson (9), Dave Madden (18) and Alan Aitken (18).
The losers on the countback were Huntly Motors’ Graham Green (5), Jacqueline Green (19) and Don Garrett (3). Lindsday Mann (Carnoustie) was their pro.

PRO TOTALS
Par 68
61 Stuart Reekie (Blairgowrie) £1,178.
62 Graeme Lornie (Paul Lawrie Foundation) £942.
64 Scott Henderson (Kings Links) £706.
65 Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills), Chris Kelly (Cawder), Craig Matheson (Falkirk Tryst) £435 each.
66 James McGhee (Turnhouse), Greig Hutcheon (Banchory), Chris Doak (unatt), Colin Gillies (Braid Hills) £247 each.
67 Mark Finlayson(Edzell), Steven Duncan (Balbirnie Park) £170 each.
68 Andrew Crerar (Panmure), Lindsay Mann (Carnoustie), Stephen Gray (Hayston) £141 each.
69 Michael Rae (Alyth), David Patrick (Elie), Steven Taylor (Bothwell Castle), Craig Ronald (Carluke) £100 each.
70 Craig Knowles (Panmure), Gary Lochhead (Kings Links), Alan Lockhart (Ladybank) £359 each.
71 Duncan Williamson (Kirkhill), Mark King (Kingsfield), Sean O’Donnell (Balbirnie Park), Paul Brookes (Pitreavie) £53 each.
72 Andrew Cooper (Newmachar), Kenny Walker (Castle Park), Graham Fox (East Kilbride), Nathan Keast (Duff House Royal), David Park (Wishaw) £53 each.
73 Sandy Aird junior (McDonald Ellon) £53.,
74 Gary Holland (Duff House Royal), Lee Vannet (Carnoustie GL), Euan Cameron (Hamilton), Donald McKay (Wellsgreen) £53 each.
75 Steven Chalmers (Banchory) £53.
77 Iain Buchan (Craibstone) £53
78 James Calam (unatt) £53.
79 Alan Fleming (North Highland College), Iain Donaldson (Meldrum House) £53 each.
NR Bob Strachan (Pine Lodge) £53.

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CRAIG LEE PICKS UP SCENT OF

ANOTHER BIG CHEQUE ….

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Seven shots is a lot of ground to make up in one round but Craig Lee is sure to have a crack at the leaders over Thursday's final round of this week’s PGA EuroPro Tour event, the Stoke-by-Nayland Championship at the Suffolk venue near Colchester.
The Aspire Golf Centre tour pro, pictured right, winner of the £10,000 first prize at Bovey Castle a few weeks back, followed up his opening 71 with a six-under-par 66 for 137 to be joint 11th, seven behind the two-stroke leader on 130, Irishman Brendan McCarroll (67-63).
Lee birdied the third, fifth, eighth, ninth, 1oth, 11th and 14th, dropping just one shot, at the 12th.
Young Shaun McAllister (Craigielaw) has played the first two rounds well for a pair of two-under-par 70s – now, from joint 16th place, he has to finish on a high, which he has not really done yet on the tour.
McAllister had birdies at the first, second, fifth,1 4th and 19th, dropping shots at the eighth, 11th and 17th.
Other Scots qualifiers for the last round charge were Kevin McAlpine (67 for 141), Paul Doherty (75 for 141), Jason McCreadie (70 for 143), Steven Mackie (72 for 144), John Henry (2 for 144).
The top 50 players and ties qualified with aggregates of 145 or better.
Newmachar’s Martin Lawrence missed out by one with a75 for 146, the same total as nother Scot, Colin Goudie, who slumped from 68 to 78.
Zack Saltman (Aegon) is still missing more cuts than he makes. He failed in this one with a 72 for 147, the same total as Ellon’s Ross Cameron (76) and Carnoustiie’s Keir McNicoll (71).
LEADING SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 144 (2x72)
130 Brendan McCarroll (Ire) 67 63.
132 Gary Wolstenholme (Eng) 69 63.
133 Jamie Moul (Eng) 64 69.
134 Daniel Perrett (Eng) 67 67.
135 James Freeman (Eng) 68 67.
Scottish scores:
137 Craig Lee 71 66 (jt 11th).
140 Shaun McAllister 70 70 (jt 16th).
141 Paul Doherty 66 75, Kevin McAlpine 74 67.
143 Jason McCreadie 73 70 (jt 29th).
144 Steven Mackie 72 72, John Henry 72 72 (jt 39th).
MISSED THE CUT (145 or better)
146 Martin Lawrence 71 75, Colin Goudie 68 78.
147 Zack Saltman 75 72, Ross Cameron (Saltire Energy) 71 76, Keir McNicoll 76 71.

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Star-studded field for English men's mid-am at Sherwood Forest

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE ENGLISH GOLF UNION
Eight former champions plus the current title-holder will be in the 132-strong field for the English Men’s Mid Amateur Championship for the Logan Trophy at Sherwood Forest Golf Club from Friday to Sunday (July 2 to 4).
John Longcake from Cumbria won the title over his home course at Silloth-on-Solway last year for the third time, becoming the fourth triple winner of the Logan Trophy since its inception in 1988.
Longcake (picture © Tom Ward), champion first in 2003 and for the past two years, is expected to be challenging again but this year’s entry is particularly strong notwithstanding the other former title holders, Robert Godley (Hillside, Lancashire), Charlie Banks (Stanton-on-the-Wolds, Nottinghamshire), Stephen East (Moortown, Yorkshire), Barry Downing (Hallamshire, Yorkshire), Steve Sansome (Kilworth Springs, Leicestershire), Nigel Chesters (Hawkstone Park, Shropshire & Herefordshire), Paul Griffiths (Sandwell Park, Staffordshire) and Martin Young (Brokenhurst Manor, Hampshire).
Two men in form are Mark Wharton (John O’Gaunt, Bedfordshire) and Jamie Miller (Fulford, Yorkshire). Both were involved in a four-way playoff recently for the European Mid-Amateur Championship in France but missed out to Frenchman Francois Illouz. Illouz won’t be at Sherwood Forest as he is an official of the French Golf Federation and is involved with the conflicting French Open.
However, Wharton and Miller will hope to go one better but there are other likely contenders such as former England internationals John Kemp (John O’Gaunt, Bedfordshire), James Crampton (Spalding, Lincolnshire), Roger Roper (Wike Ridge, Yorkshire) and Andrew Carman (Coventry, Warwickshire).
Kemp lost out narrowly to Longcake at Shifnal two years ago, while Crampton, an England cap in 2005 and SSS and Handicapping Manager with the English Golf Union, is the newly crowned Lincolnshire Champion. Roper, an England cap back in the Eighties, could also feature, while Carman, an international in 1979 and 1980 and a former chairman of England selectors, is now a seniors international who has finished third and ninth in the last two English Seniors Championships.
The Logan Trophy is open to players over 35 years of age, is played over 54 holes with a cut after 36, the leading 45 players and ties going through to the final round.
Play starts at 7.30 on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, admission is free. For those unable to attend, live scoring and news updates are available on the Championships section of EGU website www.englishgolfunion.org.

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EAST OF SCOTLAND WINNER PETER LATIMER NOW


SEVENTH TOP SCOT IN

RandA  WORLD RANKINGS

East of Scotland Open winner Peter Latimer from Markinch is one of the biggest movers in the updated R&A World Amateur Golf Rankings this week.
Latimer, 22, pictured right by Cal Carson Golf Agency, a winner on the US golf circuit more than once during his past four years at Guilford College, Greensboro, North Carolina, has shot up 142 places from last week to No 284.
He is seventh highest ranked Scot.
Fraserburgh’s Kris Nicol went up 62 places to 183rd and the only Scots ahead of him in the table are Banchory’s James Byrne in 17th place (down 12), Ross Kellett (Colville Park) 53rd (up 12) and Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) 162nd (up two).

RandA WORLD AMATER RANKINGS
1 Jim Jeong (SKo) no change.
2 Peter Uihlein (US) no change.
3 Russell Henley (US) no change.
4 Bud Cauley (US) +1.
5 Patrick Reed (US) -1
6 Andrea Pavan (Ita) no change
7 Nick Taylor (Can) +1.
8 Jonathan Randolph (US) -1.
9 Scott Langley (US) no change.
10 Romain Wattel (Fra) no change.
Leading English rankings:
14 Tommy Fleetwood -3.
20 Matthew Nixon -5.
Scots’ rankings:
17 James Byrne -5.
53 Ross Kellett +12.
162 Michael Stewart +2.
183 Kris Nicol +62.
197 Stuart Ballingall -6.
255 Jiames White -4.
284 Peter Latimner -142.
369 Philip McLean -66.
424 David Law -91.
463 Scott Crichton +31.
521 Greg Patgerson +47.
577 Glenn Campbell +9.
584 Gordon Yates -57.
635 Paul Shields +97+

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No place for battling Campbell, but still a true champion

FROM THE SCOTSMAN WEBSITE
By MARTIN DEMPSTER
Former  US Open winner Michael Campbell failed in his Open chmpionship qualifying bid to make it to St Andrews but the Kiwi left Fife yesterday with his head held high and, what's more, he showed all the hallmarks of a true champion.
Campbell has suffered such a slump in form recently that you almost feared it would be case of watching car-crash golf as the man tried to earn a place over the Old Course in two weeks.
On a glorious morning in Fife, you feared the worst for Campbell when he started with two bogeys but what followed thereafter was not nearly as bad as some of those in a small gallery might well have feared.
There's a chance that other players in Campbell's position at the moment might well act like spoilt kids and get angry with themselves at every opportunity.
But there was no sign of that whatsoever with the man who held off Tiger Woods down the stretch to claim that US Open success.
Campbell almost looked as though he was out playing a bounce game, though that certainly shouldn't be taken as him taking his predicament lightly.
He hit some stunning shots and, with all due respect to his playing partners, the Kiwi's ball-striking was a class apart. Campbell clearly looked to be enjoying himself and, after getting himself back to one-under by the turn in the morning, he set out on his back nine with a spring in his step.
He had good birdie chances at his tenth, 11th and 12th and, on another day, they all might have dropped. As he headed up the hill to the fourth tee, his caddie did his bit to keep him going by saying he didn't think anyone would be shooting the lights out. Little did he know that James Byrne was posting an eight-under 64 around that time. On hearing of that score after signing a 72 for himself, Campbell knew he needed to shoot the lights out in the afternoon but, as had been the case in the morning, his putter stayed cold.
A 77 for a total of 149 and a share of 36th wasn't what he was looking for on his trip to Fife but, hopefully, it won't be too long until this former major winner is back firing on all cylinders again.




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Last Updated: 29 June 2010 11:40 PM
Source: The Scotsman
Location: Edinburgh
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Scots miss out on Open spots after play-off heartbreak

FROM THE SCOTSMAN WEBSITE
By MARTIN DEMPSTER
Scotland's representation in the Open Championship in two weeks stayed at six after three players - Lloyd Saltman, James Byrne and Callum Macaulay - all suffered heartbreak as they lost in play-offs in yesterday's Local Final Qualifying in Fife.
At the end of a dramatic day at Fairmont St Andrews, Ladybank, Kingsbarns and Scotscraig, there was joy for 12 players as they savoured clinching a place in the 150th anniversary of the world's oldest major but, sadly, there was disappointment for a sizeable Scottish contingent.
And no-one will be feeling the pain of missing out on the party on the Old Course more than Saltman, Byrne and Macaulay, who all came so close to securing their tickets, only to lose out in the cruelest of circumstances.
Returning to the course where he'd also qualified in 2005 before going on to win the Silver Medal as leading amateur, Saltman shared the lead after a four-under 66 in the morning at Scotscraig and, after seven holes of his afternoon round, the Archerfield Links player had improved to six-under.
However, he then ran up a double-bogey 6 at the 17th - his eighth - dropped two more shots at the third and seventh before shaving the hole at the ninth - his 18th - with an eagle putt, a 71 leaving him in a play-off with English duo Steven Tiley and Gary Clark as Paul Streeter, a 43-year-old from Lincoln, secured the top spot there on 135 (69, 66).
In the rough off the tee, Tiley failed to hit the green with his second at the first play-off hole, leaving Saltman, the last to hit in there, a real opportunity. He completely mis-hit his approach off a hard-baked lie, though, and came up 60 yards short. From there, the Scot hit his third to about 15 feet but was unable to save his par, leaving the two others to go through after they made 4s, Tiley having holed from further away than Saltman.
"To have come so close to getting back to St Andrews and miss out is a sore one," he said. "I thought I needed to make the eagle putt on the last but I'm pleased that I came here and gave myself a chance at least."
Byrne, the 21-year-old from Banchory who just missed out on a place at St Andrews when he lost in the final of the Amateur Championship to South Korea's Jin Jeong at Muirfield less than a fortnight ago, made the most of benign early morning conditions to card an eight-under 64 at Kingsbarns for a three-stroke lead at the halfway stage.
"It was like target golf in the morning and I could have shot 61 as I missed three putts inside eight feet," conceded the Arizona State student. "I had five eagle putts from close range and missed one from ten feet at the 16th to go to ten-under before bogeying the 17th.
As the wind stiffened around middway, though, it was a totally different course that Byrne stepped back out on to in the afternoon.
Starting at the tenth on this occasion, he was out in three-over before birdies at the third and fourth - his 12th and 13th - put him seven-under for the day.
However, an untimely shank then cost him a triple-bogey 7 at the fifth and the Scot had to dig deep to cover the last four holes in level-par, getting up and down from a bunker at the ninth - his closing hole - for a 76.
That left him three behind the top qualifier there, Irishman Colm Moriarty with rounds of 67 and 70, and the pain felt by that shank was magnified when Bryne missed from three feet for a birdie at the second hole of the play-off that would have taken him through along with Tom Whitehouse. Instead another amateur, Jamie Abbott, progressed with a birdie from ten feet at the next.
After rounds of 68 and 69 at Ladybank, Macaulay found himself in a four-man play-off for one spot with English duo Simon Edwards and Paul Wesselingh and Clodomiro Carranza from Argentina. Edwards went through after the Windermere man holed a five-footer for birdie on the first hole.
At the only venue that didn't require a play-off, Zane Scotland, who, at the age of 16, became the youngest player to qualify for an Open when he earned a place at Carnoustie in 1999, secured one of the spots at Fairmont St Andrews.
He shot 137, one behind English amateur Laurie Canter, with Dane Mark F Hastrup securing the other place there on 138.

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