Defending champions Scotland fail to make title flight

FROM THE SCOTSMAN SPORT WEBSITE
By NICK RODGER
Scotland's amateurs lost their grip on the European men's team championship title in Sweden yesterday after a calamitous final round of qualifying at the Osterakers club.
Scott Knowles' side, who were sharing third at the start of the day, had been in a good position to seal a top-eight finish required to progress to the championship flight of match-play, but they slithered out of the leading places with a crippling 22-over 382.
The defending champions, who finished with a 21-over team aggregate of 741 and shared ninth, will now contest the second division of match-play over the next three days and can only finish as high as ninth.
On a testing closing day of qualifying, an 81 from Kris Nicol and a 77 by Greg Paterson, the two early starters, did little for Scottish morale, but James Byrne briefly eased concerns with a tidy three-under 69 which was illuminated by an eagle on the first hole.
By the time Ross Kellett had trudged in with a 78, however, the Scots were in a perilous position and when Michael Stewart also returned a 78, the holders found themselves in a desperate scrap for a top-eight spot with Sweden.
Henrik Norlander, the world No 11 and Sweden's last man on the course, posted a one-under 71 to hoist the hosts into the qualifying zone and Scotland's title hopes disintegrated when Peterhead's Philip McLean could only muster an 80.
Italy and Denmark topped the standings on 721 with nine-time winners England finishing third on 723 and Wales taking fifth on 729.
There was better news at the European women's championship at La Manga in Spain, where a level-par 73 from national champion Kelsey MacDonald and a solid 74 from St Rule Trophy winner Laura Murray helped Scotland into the top flight. They finished in sixth place with a 757 after a final day total of 378 and will now square up to England in the quarter-finals today.
In the European boys' team championship at the Klassis resort in Turkey, Scotland's under-18s finished a lowly 15th.
In the girls' event at Aalborg in Denmark, the Scots closed with a 235, but also finished down in 15th place on a 475 and will compete in the second tier.

QUALIFYING SCORES IN SWEDEN
+1 DENMARK, ITALY
+3 ENGLAND (Laurie Canter 72, Tom Lewis 74, Eddie Pepperell 74, Tommy Fleetood 74, Chris Paisley 75, Billy Hemstock 77).
+7 SPAIN.
+9 WALES (Oliver Farr 70, James Frazer 72, Alastair Jones 73, Ben Westgate 75, Rhys Pugh 77, Rhys Enoch 78).
+11 FINLAND.
+15 GERMANY
+20 SWEDEN
================
+21 FRANCE, SCOTLAND (J Byrne 69, G Paterson 77, R Kellett 78, M Stewart 78, P McLean 80, K Nicol 81), PORTUGAL.
+24 NORWAY
+28 NETHERLANDS.
+31 BELGIUM.
+37 IRELAND (P Cutler 75, A Dunbar 75, C Curley 77, P Murray 77, P Dunne 79, D Lernihan 79).
+37 SWITZERLAND.
=================
+45 AUSTRIA
+50 ICELAND
+79 SLOVENIA
+92 POLAND

Under-18 Scots fail to make top flight in Turkey

EUROPEAN BOYS' TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
Klassis GC, Istanbul, Turkey

QUALIFYING TOTALS
706 AUSTRIA 357 349
712 ENGLAND 351 361 (Chris Lloyd 64 72, Nick Newbold 73 67, Liam Harper 71 73, Paul Lockwood 69 76, James Burnett 74 73, Greg Eason 75 81).
714 FRANCE 356 358.
715 NETHERLANDS 363 352
721 DENMARK 356 365, NORWAY 364 357
722 ITALY 358 364
724 BELGIUM 359 365
===================
727 SPAIN 368 359
733 GERMANY 366 367
737 IRELAND 369 368 (Jeff Hopkins 70 73, Chris Selfridge 72 74, Dermot McElroy 70 77, Stephen Barry 785 73, Liam Harnett 82 71, Kieran Lynch 90 87).
739 PORTUGAL 375 364
740 FINLAND 377 363
741 SWITZERLAND 375 366
744 SCOTLAND 378 366 (Scott Gibson 74 68, Grant Forrest 73 72, Jack McDonald 78 73, Simon Fairburn 75 76, Liam Johnston 78 77, Paul McPhee 80 82).
745 CZECH REPUBLIC.377 368
==================
754 WALES 368 382 (David Boote 72 73, Zachary Galliford 74 72, Oliver Mottram 79 76, Luke Jackson 72 83, Oliver Baker 70 86, Craig Melding 79 79.
752 TURKEY 384 368
754 SWEDEN 386 368
784 SLOVENIA 396 388

Ward and Fueg Lead the Way at Scottish Under-16s

FROM THE SCOTTISH GOLF UNION WEBSITE
Nick Ward and Remo Fueg lead the way after round two of the Loretto School Scottish Boys Under 16 Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship in blustery conditions at Auchterarder.
Ward, a former Scottish U14’s champion produced a fine performance in testing conditions as he followed his opening 69 with a one-under par 68. Joint leader Fueg who has travelled from Switzerland for the Championship played the back nine in thirty shots to card the round of the day, a two under par 67.
England U16 international Ward who is playing in the Junior Open at St Andrews next week finished his round with a bogey four but will move confidently into tomorrow’s final round having only dropped four shots in his opening thirty-six holes.
Current Scottish U14’s champion Bradley Neil (Blairgowrie) who is defending his U14’s title at the same course on Friday is still on course for an unprecedented National title double. His second round 74 which included three double-bogeys keeps Neil in contention just two shots behind alongside Boston West’s Patrick Kelly on one over par.
St Andrews’ Ewan Scott, one of the favourites going into this week’s championship who is also playing at next week's Junior Open, is also well placed at two-over par. The Scottish U16’s internationalist will however be ruing a poor back nine today which included two double bogey 5s at two of the final three holes, Scott had incredibly been three-under par for his second round through six holes after four straight birdies. Peebles' Craig Howie is another well placed Scot after an impressive 68.
First round leader Haydn Porteous had a frustrating day, the South African plus-three handicapper who started his round with a quadruple-bogey eight finished with an 81 to leave him with a mountain to climb, ten shots back from top spot.
It was a memorable day for North Warwickshire's Daanyal Spalding depite missing the cut, Spalding scored a hole-in-one with a magnificent six at the 205-yard wind-assisted 14th.
The Championship has proven to be a launch pad to success for a number of past winners including European Tour stars Peter Whiteford and George Murray. Thursday’s final day is set to be an exciting one with seven players within four shots of the lead all desperate to etch their name next to some top golfing names on the prestigious trophy.
Forty-seven players made the cut which was made at +12.
SCOREBOARD
Par: 138 (2x69) SSS: 69, CSS: Round 1 = 69 (No change), Round 2 = 70 (+1)
137 WARD, Nick (Redbourn) 69 68, FÜEG, Remo (Switzerland) 70 67.
139 NEIL, Bradley (Blairgowrie) 65 74, KELLY, Patrick (Boston West) 69 70.
140 SCOTT, Ewan (St Andrews) 67 73.
141 GAULD, Robert (Cruden Bay) 71 70, HOWIE, Craig (Peebles) 73 68
143 ALLAN, Lawrence (Alva) 71 72, BLANEY, Anthony (Liberton) 69 74 
144 BOWDEN, Euan (Glen) 72 72, BRYDON, Ross (Merchants of Edinburgh) 71 73, CHALMERS, Craig (Lenzie) 72 72.
145 MCDOUGALL, Alasdair (Elderslie) 68 77, HENDRY, Daniel (United Arab Emirates) 72 73, WILSON, David (Troon Welbeck) 73 72, ALDRED, William (Mid Herts) 72 73.
146 HILL, Calum (Muckhart 69 77, FARRELL, Cameron (Cardross) 74 72, FLANNERY, Daniel (Peebles) 73 73. IFF, Mike (Switzerland) 73 73, STEWART, Greig (Crieff) 70 76, PARMAR, Jevann (Leicestershire) 71 75, PORTEOUS, Haydn (South Africa) 65 81, BEMBERG, Louis (Switzerland) 70 76,
SCOTT, Jake (Strathlene) 76 70.
147 SINGH BRAR, Jack (Bramshaw) 72 75, WALKER, Euan Kilmarnock (Barassie) 76 71, CHANT, Connor Betchworth Park 69 78, MARCHBANK, Greig (Dumfries and Galloway) 70 77, MACINTYRE, Robert (Glencruitten) 75 72.
148 GEORGE, Lewis (Delamere Forest) 71 77, BROWN, Daniel (Bedale) 75 73, CARRICK, Angus (Douglas Park) 78 70, BURNS, George Williamwood 73 75, KINSLEY, Benjamin St Andrews 75 73,
NILSSON, Anton (Sweden) 74 74, LAMB, Christopher (Newmachar) 73 75.
149 BLAIR, Stuart (Royal Musselburgh) 77 72, HOLT, James (Wilpshire) 73 76
150 CARNEGIE, Blair Dunblane New) 73 77, FERNANDEZCANO, Miguel (Mexico) 72 78, JOHNSTON, Fraser (Longniddry) 74 76, STOKOE, Ben (Betchworth Park) 73 77, WHANNEL, Scott (Newton Stewart) 72 78, CARRELL, Andrew (Peterculter)74 76, ANDERSON, Craig (Sandyhills) 76 74,
STEVEN, James (Kirkhill) 73 77.
MISSED THE CUT
151 SORG, Stephan (Switzerland) 76 75, KERR, Willem (Craigmillar Park) 75 76, LAMB, Joseph (Wilpshire) 76 75, FERGUSON, Ewen (Bearsden) 77 74, FREIBURGHAUS, Jeremy (Switzerland) 75 76, VINCE, Christopher (Ipswich) 72 79
152 MUTCH, Lewis (Duff House Royal) 73 79, BOUZABIA, Sami Preston 76 76, JOHNSON, Robert (Helensburgh) 77 75, RAFIQUE, Humza (Cookridge Hall) 75 77, SHAW, Jordan (Kingussie) 73 79, WADDELL, Steven (Carlyon Bay) 78 74, KILOH, Sam (Portlethen) 77 75 +14
153 REILLY, Paul (Lochwinnoch)75 78, MCCLUSKEY, Jack Ayr Belleisle 77 76, GORRIE, Callum (Kilmarnock Barassie) 79 74, CRAGGS, Ben Glenbervie 77 76, SPALDING, Daanyal (North Warwickshire) 79 74, HILL, Calum (Tantallon) 76 77, DAVREN, Fraser (Williamwood) 74 79.
154 BURGESS, Andrew Nairn 80 74, YOUNG, Steven Auchterarder 78 76 +16

MC T28
SAVAGE, Jamie Cawder 73 81 +16

MC T96
KIRKWOOD, Cameron Bearsden 79 75 +16

MC T85
COLES, Conor St George's Hill 78 77 +17

MC T43
SCHOFIELD, Thomas Barbados 74 81 +17

MC T28
MURRAY, Ben Portlethen 73 82 +17

MC T63
FOLEY, Gary Ralston 76 79 +17

MC T75
MARTIN, Maxwell Copt Heath 77 78 +17

MC T85
LAUDER, Fraser Paisley 78 77 +17

MC T43
BEVERIDGE, Callum Troon Welbeck 74 82 +18

MC T63
SYME, Connor Dumfries & County 76 80 +18

MC T14
HERMESTON, Jack City of Newcastle 71 85 +18

MC T52
DOUGLAS, John Thornton 75 81 +18

MC T63
MERCKX, Tangi Belgium 76 80 +18

MC T52
SANDISON, Fergus Blairgowrie 75 81 +18

MC T85
MCARTHUR, Neil Bishopbriggs 78 79 +19

MC T107
WAUGH, Euan Whitecraigs 81 76 +19

MC T63
WILSON, James Balmore 76 81 +19

MC T75
HUTTON, Taylor Foxhills 77 80 +19

MC T96
SIMPSON, Scott Murrayfield 79 78 +19

MC T63
CAMPBELL, Lewis Baberton 76 81 +19

MC T85
ROGER, Gavin Clober 78 80 +20

MC T43
ORAM, Craig Nairn Dunbar 74 84 +20

MC T110
WHITTET, Jamie Muir of Ord 82 76 +20

MC T96
DE BONO, Andrea Italy 79 79 +20

MC T43
MCSHERRY, Ross Royal Troon 74 84 +20

MC T75
CAMERON, Stuart Renfrew 77 81 +20

MC T110
FUCHS, Yannick Switzerland 82 77 +21

MC T85
COOK, Connar Caird Park 78 81 +21

MC T52
BAIN, Lewis Turnhouse 75 84 +21

MC T52
SANGSTER, Peter Thurso 75 85 +22

MC T75
SLACK, David Gourock 77 83 +22

MC T85
DHALLU, Navjosh Loretto 78 82 +22

MC T110
BOON, Jamie Forres 82 78 +22

MC T110
BURGESS, Brandon Dumfries & Galloway 82 78 +22

MC T85
GORDON, Ryan Alford 78 83 +23

MC T110
MCKAY, Calum Grange 82 79 +23

MC T96
FORRESTER, Greg Balbirnie Park 79 83 +24

MC T102
MILLAR, Ross Whitekirk 80 84 +26

MC T102
BROWN, Craig Fort William 80 84 +26

MC T85
BAIN, Craig Strathlene 78 86 +26

MC T107
LANE, Daniel Kenilworth 81 83 +26

MC 116
SPRIDDLE, Robbie Dunfermline 84 80 +26

MC T107
WILSON, Alexander Gullane 81 83 +26

MC T102
CALLADINE, Russell Dunaverty 80 87 +29

MC 115
ROBERTSON, Evan Inchmarlo 83 85 +30

MC T102
MCLEAN, Duncan Gullane 80 89 +31

MC 117
MCLAREN, Stuart Bruntsfield Links 89 84 +35

MC 118
GADSBY, Sean Crieff 90 83 +35

MC 119
THOMSON, Max Bruntsfield Links 95 85 +42

WD T28
LOCH, Andrew Pumpherston 73 73 WD

RTD RTD
HORSTING, Patrick Royal St George's RTD

Angus match-play championship at Monifieth

Semi-finals - S Harrod beat D Lawrence 5 and 4;  I Hutcheon plays G Bell on Sunday, July 11

Rory McIlroy misses Scottish Open to prepare at St Andrews

FROM THE TELEGRAPH.CO.UK WEBSITE

By MARK REASON
A coachload of American tourists pulled in by the side of the bonnie banks. Lucas Glover was in his trackie and looking puzzled. Fred Funk was sniffing the air and waiting in line to check in. John Daly wandered about in his jeans and Razorbacks cap and slipped a cigarette out of the packet.
They looked most interested in finding a McDonald’s, but then someone told them a golf tournament was about to break out.
The Scottish Open at Loch Lomond has always felt a bit like a waiting room for the real thing. It is a top tournament over a great golf course, but Phil Mickelson and nine other Americans would not be here unless they were getting ready to play the Open next week. The players’ lounge was piled high with luggage, most of which seemed to belong to Daly. Maybe he has a concession at St Andrews next week.
But while the Americans were dominating the immediate landscape, the conversation was strangely dominated by someone who is not even here. No, I don’t mean Tiger Woods, but the mop-haired one from Holywood – Rory McIlroy (pictured above).
Graeme McDowell, the winner of last month’s US Open, sounded convinced that McIlroy would be right up there at St Andrews. He said: “The reaction to me winning spurs guys on. Take Rory as an example, I’ve never seen a guy so excited about next week.
“I played with him the weekend after I won at Pebble [Beach], at Royal County Down, and he told me he pulled out of this week. I inspired him and he wanted to get ready for St Andrews. He wanted to get ready for next week and now believes he can win majors. Quickly.”
McDowell and Colin Montgomerie both traced the start of it all back to Padraig Harrington. When the Irishman began to win majors, the other top European players really began to believe in the possibilities.
McDowell said: “There are guys running around here who think they are more talented than Padraig as far as ball-striking and tee-to-green go. It goes to show what a strong mind and short game can achieve.”
Montgomerie said: “I think Padraig started this European roll running. The Europeans have decided if he can do it, I can do it. I’ve never seen people practise so hard physically, mentally, on every aspect of their games.”
But if it all comes down to Harrington, then why are so many Open aspirants munching round Loch Lomond over the next four days? Lovely scenery, but Harrington gets ready by playing links golf just as Woods always did before he had issues over access to his children.
As Woods’s jet was halfway across the Atlantic on its way back to Florida, he may well have passed Mickelson coming in the opposite direction. The ‘Philharmonic’ has sponsorship issues so he always plays at Loch Lomond, but he sounded unusually cheerful about his chances at next week’s Open. Maybe he figures that as Woods heads one way, he heads the other.
Mickelson said: “I think I should be able to contend. I’ve had my most consistent success at St Andrews and it’s where I’ve been up on the leaderboard at some point all three times during the week. I feel it’s a very playable golf course.
“I feel like you don’t have to strike it perfectly. I feel like you have enough room off the tee and options on every hole. One of the things that gives a player a great advantage, and I’ve seen it in the three Opens I’ve played – Tiger has won two and John Daly the third – is that length is a factor.
“One of the things I’ve been working on in my preparation for St Andrews is trying to swing the club head faster because I feel like the driver is going to be a key club there. I will be swinging much harder at the ball than I normally would. I look at the young guys today – McIlroy, [Ryo] Ishikawa, Rickie Fowler hits the ball hard. I think these guys have so much club head speed that it’s a necessity now.”
When Mickelson was asked if he had always dreamed of winning in Scotland, he immediately started talking about the Open. There was no mention of Loch Lomond or the Scottish Open. But then, judging from the performance of past Scottish Open winners such as McDowell and Gregory Havret, Loch Lomond is rather better preparation for the US Open than St Andrews.

Aberdeen Pennant League results

DEESIDE 2, NEWMACHAR 4
Played at Deeside GC
Newmachar names first
Chris Simpson and Mark McKechnie beat A A T Campbell and R Evert 1 hole.
George Wood and John Duff lost to D Halliday and AG Ross 3 and 2.
Paul Henderson and Richard Barr halved with T D Rennie and A B Hutchinson
Mike Dickie and Mike Barclay beat S Cruickshank and M Suttie 5 and 3
George Mitchell and Brian Ritchie beat G Rennie and D H E Kerr 1 hole.
Iain Wallace and Bryan Robson halved with J Broadley and M Willet
Results from last nights match as follows;

ROYAL ABERDEEN 5, AUCHMILL 1
Royal Aberdeen names first

M Halliday and A Reith beat J Nicholson and S Scott 1 hole.

S.J. Buchan and E.S. Laird lost to B Nicholson and  J Barclay 3 and 2

D.F. Macandrew and  W.D. Barclay beat Craig McQueen and Colin McQueen 4 and 3

I.G. Middleton and M.W. Black beat G McLaggan and P Benson 3 and 2

F Clark junior and  C Shaw beat L Taylor and R Pratt 3 and 1

W.M. Park & D.W. Macandrew beat A Allan & S Mackie 4&3



Rgds,



Graeme

E-mail from David Morrans

Scroll down a bit to read Martin Dempster's article that the Open's £60 a day admission charge (not including car parking) for adult spectators represents good value - and the response from Scottishgolfview.com readers.

This is a subject I am passionate about. I know it’s a great day out, but this year
they (the R and A) have gone too far, especially when we all face or are already dealing with
austerity (unless you are a banker of course).
Whilst I could afford it, I am visiting in-laws in Ireland later in July and bought a five-day season
ticket for the whole family (two adults, two kids) for £60 for the IRISH Open, which puts things in perspective.
I hope crowds are down at St Andrews, and the R and A get the message.

David Morrans

E-mail from Brian Ewen

The one thing that has shocked me about the price of attending this years Open Championship, is the entrance fee for practice days .
Does £15 on the Sunday to £40 for Wednesday really reflect good value ?
The R and A tell us that Wednesday's four-hole challenge by past champions is a celebration of golf, yet with an increase of £15 from past Open Wednesdays , it now looks more like an excuse to gouge more money out of the golf fans.
And don't forget, these inflated prices don't guarantee you a look at the Number One Golfer in the World, as he gets the privilege of teeing off when the course is still closed, so as not to get bothered by the paying golf fan.
Personally, I think paying £60 for a competition day is expensive, but at least you can plan your day, and you have an idea of who you can see .
Not so on practice days !

Brian Ewen

Old Course green-ness surprises Laird after Lundin Links

FROM THE SPORT.SCOTSMAN.COM WEBSITE
By MARTIN DEMPSTER
Martin Laird, one of the six Scots in the field for next week's Open Championship, has revealed he was surprised to see St Andrews looking so green during a practice round at the weekend after playing at nearby Lundin Links beforehand and encountering the bounciest course he'd ever come across.
The US-based player, who is also in this week's Loch Lomond line-up for the £3 million Barclays Scottish Open, arrived home last Tuesday and wasted no time acquainting himself again with links golf, starting with a bounce game close to the family home in Upper Largo with his dad, Charles, and two of his friends.
"It was fun to get (back] on a links course," said Laird, who secured his second Open appearance - he missed the cut at Turnberry 12 months ago - through an International Final Qualifier at Gleneagles Country Club in Texas, where he shot a second-round 63 to claim one of the spots.
"Lundin Links was playing firm and fast - in fact, it was probably the bumpiest course I've ever seen. My chipping was shocking because I couldn't believe how short you had to land it."
Based on that experience, the 27-year-old was expecting something similar when he headed up to St Andrews on Saturday for a practice round but, due to it having been watered a lot in recent weeks, discovered the Old Course was nowhere near as bouncy. "I went there wondering if it would be the same," he added.
"It was still bouncy and firm, but it wasn't nearly as fiery as Lundin Links was. However, if it doesn't rain too much I'm sure they will have it nice and firm by the time next Thursday comes around for The Open."
By then, Laird, who became the first Scot to win on the US PGA Tour for 20 years when he triumphed in the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas last October, is hoping he knows the Old Course well enough to give a good account of himself and, with that in mind, he employed the services of a local caddie in his practice round last weekend to get some good tips.
"That was only the sixth round I've played there and it is definitely a course you need to play a lot to get the lines," he said.
"I went with a caddie who's worked at St Andrews since 1976. He's caddied in three or four Opens and I took him around with my regular caddie to really give us some advice and tell us where to go and where not to go. That was a big help."
After finishing fourth in the season-opening SBS Championship in Hawaii, Laird admits his game had gone off the boil for a bit but is confident it is now starting to simmer again at the perfect time.
"I finished tenth at the Colonial a few weeks ago and my game is coming around at the right time because I have these two big events and then a great stretch when I go back to the States," he said.
"It's a dream for me to come back and play here at Loch Lomond and then St Andrews in The Open next week. To win either of those events would be as good as it gets. In fact, just to play next week at the Old Course is as good as it gets for me. As I was growing up I'm sure I probably hit a putt at one time imagining it was to win The Open at St Andrews. I remember as a kid watching The Open there in 2000 and hoping that one day I would have the chance to play there myself."
After opening with a 65 in the Barclays Scottish Open last year, Laird eventually finished in a tie for tenth and, by the sounds of things, has almost been counting the days until he'd be back at Loch Lomond. "Last year was probably the most fun I've had in a golf tournament. It was great playing in front of a home crowd and I've been looking forward to coming back since then," he admitted.
"In America, there are very few places I'll go where I'll hear people say, 'Come on Martin, make a few birdies'. Here I've got people cheering for me. In the final round last year I wasn't playing very well on the front nine but, walking up No 8, I heard a few people willing me on and saying, 'Come on Martin, keep it up'. That was nice to hear and I went on to play well on the back nine."
The Arizona-based player, who is "pleasantly surprised" at the condition of the Loch Lomond greens, added: "I'm taking a lot of confidence from how I played here last year. I love the course. It sets up great for me so I'm hoping for a good week."