Neil Fenwick wins £700 first prize at Shotts

Young Pros' event

Dunbar's Neil Fenwick won the £700 first prize in the Shotts Young Professionals' Order of Merit pro-am.
He had rounds of 63, 67 and 73 for a seven-under-par total of 203.
Fenwick finished three strokes ahead of runner-up Graham Fox (East Kilbride) who had rounds of 71, 68 and 67 for four-under 206 and the £500 second prize.
David Patrick (Elie) earned £425 for third place on 208 with scores of 69, 69 and 70.

TO READ ALL THE SCORES, CLICK HERE

Kevin Francis wins EGU Gold Medal

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE ENGLISH GOLF UNION
Kevin Francis from Cheshire completed three wins in a row when he carried off the London Pride EGU Gold Medal in the sunshine at Woodhall Spa.
The 45 year old services manager from the Helsby club followed up his opening 36 Stableford points with a brilliant 38 for a winning 74.
That left him four points ahead of runner-up, John Coughlan from Wentworth and five clear of Artisans member Roy Leggett from Sundridge Park.
Francis was naturally delighted with his success, especially as he had won two qualifying events to make it to the final over the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa.
“I’m shell-shocked,” said Francis. “This win means everything to me particularly as I’ve won all three events I’ve entered.
“When you are leading, you expect someone to pip you at the end but, fortunately, it didn’t happen. My club captain told me to go and win it for the club so he’ll be pleased.”
Francis admitted he didn’t go out with any particular strategy. “I just went out to get the points and if anyone beat me then so be it,” he added.
“I only scored 16 points going out but I found a swing on the tenth tee. From then on I couldn’t do anything wrong. I had one bad tee shot, on the 17th, when I just topped my drive.”
Coughlan, a 22 year old student at Bournemouth University, added 37 points off a handicap of four and at one stage looked like being the winner.
But he rued a bad drive on the 17th when he found his ball in an unplayable lie and it all added up to a double-bogey 6.
Leggett, a 43 year old painter and decorator from Charlton in South London, came home with 21 points for a total of 40, the best of the tournament.
“I had a chip-in eagle 3 at the 14th and lipped out for a birdie at 16 but I’ve had a brilliant time,” he said after finishing third.
“I only scored 29 yesterday because I found too many bunkers. But I hit the ball solidly all day today.”


For further information please contact:
Lynne Fraser, EGU Marketing and PR Manager
Email: lfraser@englishgolfunion.org

Midland Alliance tees off on Thursday at Thornton

The Midland Alliance season starts at Thornton Golf Club  on Thursday (August 19).
Other early-season fixtures are:
August 26 - Ballumbie Castle.
September 2 - Muckhart.
September 8 Forfar.
September 14 - Alloa.
September 16 - Pitlochry.

Pavin impressed by Dustin Johnson's attitude

FROM THE SCOTSMAN.COM WEBSITE
American Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin has praised the way Dustin Johnson handled the two-shot penalty which cost him a chance of a first major title.
And Pavin believes Johnson could be all the stronger for it when it comes to his Ryder Cup debut at Celtic Manor in October.

The 26-year-old was one ahead with one to play in the US PGA Championship on Sunday when his club touched sand in what was deemed a  bunker before he hit his second shot.

After bogeying the hole and falling – he thought – into a play-off, Johnson was told he was being penalised and as a result dropped to fifth.

The debate is still going on about the harshness of the punihment for what Johnson did in "a piece of dirt" where the crowd had been walking, but the one saving grace was that he still climbed into an automatic qualifying spot for the match against Europe.

Pavin, still not saying that he will definitely include World No 1 Tiger Woods amongst his four picks on September 12, said today: "Obviously it was an unfortunate incident that happened. The ruling was what the ruling was – I think it was the proper ruling.

"The one thing that I will remember from this more than anything is the way Dustin handled himself. He was very mature – I couldn't imagine a player handling it any better than he did."

Johnson also blew the US Open with a closing 82, but when asked if Johnson's morale would need a boost when the team gathers, Pavin replied: "I don't think there's anything that needs to be raised.

"If anything, I'll probably have to calm him down for The Ryder Cup. I think what I've watched in Dustin this year, to have what happened to him at the US Open, is very hard as a player.

"But you can just see how much he's learned from there, from the British Open (Johnson fell off the leaderboard by going out of bounds at the last) to the PGA Championship.

"It's important as a golfer to grow and to learn how to handle pressure. I've seen a tremendous amount of growth in him this year in that regard.

"He's a young guy and he's learning very quickly. I like to see that."
On Woods, who failed to make the top eight, Pavin commented when asked the pros and cons of selecting him: "He's the No. 1 player in the world – that's a pretty good pro.

"Obviously I'm considering him highly, no doubt about it. He's playing better. I think we have all seen that and he wants to play, he wants to be a part of the team.

"But it's going to be my judgment whether I pick him or not.
"I don't think there's any cons."

Along with Woods and, dependent on somebody not dominating the next three weeks, Pavin is expected to add Anthony Kim – providing he is fit enough following his thumb surgery – as well as last year's Open champion Stewart Cink and former Masters winner Zach Johnson, third on Sunday.

Turnhouse win Edinburgh inter-club title again

FROM THE EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS WEBSITE
By MARTIN DEMPSTER
Turnhouse won the Edinburgh Inter-Club Tournament for the second time in five years by beating Bruntsfield Links by two holes in the final at Prestonfield.
In the double foursome event, the top Turnhouse pairing of Steven Armstrong and David Marshall finished all square with Keith MacKenzie and Charlie Simpson.
And, in an equally tight match at the back, Graham Robertson and Doug Imrie beat Ally Ritchie and Kevin Cattanach by two holes.
Two up with three to play, Armstrong and Marshall lost both the 16th and 17th following a couple of bad breaks before halving the last in par-4s.
That meant Bruntsfield were still in with a chance of forcing extra holes when Ritchie and Cattanach arrived at the last tee one down to their opponents.
But that ended in a concession to Turnhouse after a catalogue of errors around the green.
Earlier, Turnhouse had beaten Lothianburn 9 and 7 in the semi-finals, while Bruntsfield had progressed with a 5 and 3 success over Mortonhall.
Armstrong and Imrie were also in the side that lifted the title in 2006 at Lothianburn, while the former also won the event with Ratho Park.
Marshall, meanwhile, was appearing in his fourth final in a row. The previous ones were all with Dalmahoy and, like Imrie, this was his second success in the event after also being a winner in 2007.
For Robertson, it was his first triumph. His home club is Silverknowes and earlier this year he was part of their winning team in the Dispatch Trophy.
But he was included in the Turnhouse team after claiming the club championship this year.
"After winning our first three matches by big margins, myself and Davie didn't play as well in the final," said Armstrong, a former Lothians champion.
"But we are obviously delighted to have won this title again for the club."

TARTAN TOUR SCOREBOARD
SANDYHILLS PRO-AM
SUNDAY, AUGUST 15
LEADING PRO TOTALS
Par 70
65 David Orr (Eastwood) £1,455.
66 Stephen Gray (Hayston), Alan Lockhart (Ladybank) £1,024.15 each.
67 Neil Colquhoun (Merchants of Edinburgh), Mark King (Kingsfield), Greg Paxton (Ralston) £544.17 each. 
68 Craig Matheson (Falkirk Tryst), Scott Henderson (Kings Links), Graeme Lornie (Paul Lawrie Foundation), Craig Gordon (Edinburgh Golf Centre),  Christopher Russell (RAW Golf Course Design) £284.07 each.
69 Fraser Mann (unatt), Steven Duncan (Balbirnie Park), Lee Vannet (Carnoustie Golf Links), Jason McCreadie (Buchanan Castle), Sean O'Donnell (Balbirnie Park) £172.16 each. 
70 Michael Rae (Alyth) £129.12
71 James McKinnon (Irvine), Andrew Fullen (Largs), James McGhee (Turnhouse), Andrew Marshall (Houston Golf Range), Brian Leishman (Gleneagles Hotel), Mark Kerr (Marriott Dalmahoy), Steven Taylor (Bothwell Castle), Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills), Alan Tait (Marriott Dalmahoy) £40.64 each.
72 Matthew Laugtland (Future Starz in Golf), Euan Cameron (Hamilton), Ian Graham (Crow Wood),
Craig Ronald (Carluke), Jonathan Lomas (unatt) £10.75 each. 
73 Stephen Forbes (Deaconsbank), Greig Hutcheon (Banchory), Jonny Sharp (The Carrick at Cameron House) £10.74 each. 
74 Derek McIntosh (Elderslie), Lindsay Mann (Carnoustie) £10.75 each.

LARKIN, INJURED AT CRUDEN BAY, OUT FOR

FOR REST OF SEASON

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Banchory's Scott Larkin, who plays out of Royal Aberdeen, injured his left wrist on Sunday towards the end of the third round of North-east District open at Cruden Bay and won't be able to play golf for several weeks.
He will miss the last two events in the Scottish Golf Union Order of Merit circuit - the North of Scotland open amateur stroke-play at Inverness this coming weekend and the South-East District Open at Mortonhall GC, Edinburgh on August 28-29.

Larkin, beaten in a play-off for the Cameron Corbett Vase at Haggs Castle and winner of the Standard Life Leven Gold Medal, was lying sixth in the Order of Merit table.

Larkin was also a member of the North-east District squad who won the new format of the Scottish area team championship at Kinross in mid-May. As a student at the College of Charleston, South Carolina, he spent four years on the American college golf circuit until May last year and then came to the fore as the leading prizewinner in the North-east Alliance's 2009-2010 season.
He had qualified for the last two rounds at Cruden Bay with Saturday scores of 76 and 73.

"I was forced to withdraw from the NE District Open on Sunday after hurting my left wrist while playing the 17th at Cruden Bay. I chose to withdraw and seek medical attention," said Larkin.
" I went to A and E at ARI later Sunday and had my wrist examined and X- rayed. I have damaged the tendons and a piece of bone looks as if it may have fractured. I am waiting for a phone call from a specialist in regards to the fracture.
"So my golf season has come to an abrupt end and I will be unable to play in the final two SGU Order of Merit events."
Larkin's golfing comeback will be on the 2010-2011 North-east Alliance circuit which  starts in mid-September. Fit and well again, he should be a contender for the Scottish Alliance championship at Murcar Links and Newburgh from October 5 to 7.

HUGH HUNTER'S CLACKMANNAN COUNTY NEWS

LOCAL BOYS MISS OUT AT THE BRITISH

Over the Kilmarnock Barassie and Dundonald courses in Ayrshire, the three local hopefuls could not find a golf game to master either the difficult conditions or the high-class field of 252 boys, and take them to the final stages of the competition.
There was a one-hour rain delay on the first day, and strengthening winds in the afternoons made golf shots very difficult to judge, reflected in the competition scratch scores which went up to 75 and 76.
Best of the locals was Alloa’s John Salmond. He looked to be heading for a good score of 76 on the first day but dropped six shots over the last three holes on the Dundonald Course. Lawrence Allan (Alva) struggled to a 77 over the Barassie course, finding putting on the links greens a bit on the difficult side. Dollar’s Gary Chalmers finished badly in his first round and disappointingly scratched from the event on Day 2.
Both John’s aggregate of 163 and Lawrence with 164 were a number of shots behind the Qualifying score of 154 to make the top 64 and the Match Play stages--- only five Scots out of 40 made it to the last 64. All part of the learning process.

BETTER FOR BOB AT WALTON HEATH

In the Seniors Open Amateur Championship at Walton Heath last week, Tulliallan’s Bob Stewart turned in quite a good performance--- one of his better results this year—always nice to do it in a top class event. Starting with a two over par 74 put Bob at 22nd equal place and with two further rounds of 76 and 77 he held on to that place to be near the top of the Scots contingent with his aggregate of 227. Considering half the field above Bob were Americans, his performance was very good and must put him in the frame for the upcoming Scottish team selections.

LOCAL CLUBS MISS OUT AS WELL

In the Belhaven Best qualifier held at Stirling for the Scottish Club Handicap event, none of the three local Clubs entered made it to the top ten and a place in the Grand Final to be held over the Duke’s course at St Andrews. Best of the local Clubs was Braehead finishing in 18th position with a par score from the team of Andy Cunningham and David Brown. Tulliallan (Thomas McInroy, Brian Allardyce) were a good bit further back with a three over par score and the Dollar team (David Hawkes, William Hamilton ) a bit behind that.

GOLFING BRIEFS

Alloa’s Graeme Rennie seems to be the only local loyal supporter of the Eden Tournament. The event had strong Scottish support from top players in the past, but now there is a large entry from outwith Scotland. Graeme started well on the New course with a 76, but fell back over the Eden course and his aggregate of 158 was outside the qualifying score for the Match Play stages.

In the North-east District 72-hole event, counting for the Scottish Golf Union Order of Merit, Scott Borrowman (Dollar) finished with and aggregate of 303 ( 77,69,78,79) a bit behind the winning score of 281.

First Monty, now Bjorn ... Ryder Cup in

news for wrong reasons

FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE
By MARK REASON
The Ryder Cup is turning into an episode of Home and Away. Thomas Bjorn, Europe’s vice captain and chairman of the players’ tournament committee, is reported to have fathered a daughter with an Australian air-stewardess. Bjorn has been married since 1998 and has three children by that marriage.
The five-year affair ended in December last year when Dagmara Leniartek, 33, informed Bjorn that she was pregnant with his baby, according to reports in the Danish media. Bjorn denied he was the father but the Danish media reported that DNA tests proved otherwise.
It may of course be a brilliant and selfless ruse to distract attention from Europe’s captain Colin Montgomerie, who was reported also to have had an affair earlier this year. Montgomerie has been subject to further snickering this week after more rumours about his private life circulated in the days before the US PGA Championship.
In the unlikely event that Montgomerie decided to resign, Bjorn has been discussed as a possible replacement. That would seem impossible now. Bjorn could no longer be seen as a safe pair of hands and he is not the most popular man in Wales after criticising Ian Woosnam in the lead-up to the 2006 Ryder Cup.
After Woosnam omitted the Dane from his team four years ago, Bjorn accused Woosnam of "not having leadership qualities” and called his captaincy “the most pathetic I have ever seen.” Some Welsh golf fans have never forgiven Bjorn that slight.
The IMG website describes Bjorn as “a great ambassador for his country and European golf.” Six months ago Montgomerie’s captaincy seemed blessed. His only problem seemed to be deciding on his three captain’s picks. Europeans were winning all over the world and Monty was bursting with anticipation. Now every day seems to bring a new problem.
On Sunday Ian Poulter withdrew from the US PGA Championship due to illness. Poulter said he was “gutted” and it was the first time he had been forced to withdraw with illness. He posted on Twitter: “Flying back home to Orlando this morning, my bed is awaiting my arrival. I can’t get back quick enough.”
After Monty finished last in the full field when the cut was made on Saturday morning, Poulter was placed last of those who qualified after the delayed completion of the third round. He had been due to play with Jeff Overton, a member of America’s Ryder Cup team, who bounced through the front nine in just over an hour, a picture of health.
Scandal and illness besets Montgomerie’s team. As Poulter flew home to his bed in Florida, Lee Westwood recuperates from his injuries in Portugal. There may be no one left standing in October.
Montgomerie, who flew home on Saturday afternoon, also has concerns about the form of his players. Six of his potential team missed the cut at Whistling Straits and a seventh did not make it to the fourth round. One day soon the sun will rise again.

US PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

Martin Kayrmer beats Bubba Watson in play-off

FROM THE AOL GOLF NEWS SERVICE
Germany's Martin Kaymer is the United States PGA champion after a three-hole play-off with American Bubba Watson.
But the real drama was the two-shot penalty handed to Watson's compatriot Dustin Johnson for grounding his club on sand at the last.
Johnson was one ahead at the time, but bogeyed. He thought that was enough to be in the play-off, but was then demoted to fifth.
As Johnson was left to reflect on another his disappointment, Kaymer and Watson went at it alone after both finished on the 11-under-par total of 277, one ahead of Rory McIlroy and Zach Johnson.
Watson struck first by pitching to two feet at the 10th, but Kaymer responded with a 15-foot putt on the short 17th.

The decisive moment came when Watson then struck his second into the water when they returned to the 18th.

He did hit the flag with a chip, but could do no better than a double-bogey 6 and 25-year-old Kaymer, having laid up from the rough, won with a bogey 5.

Kaymer's victory makes it two European wins in the last three majors following Graeme McDowell's US Open triumph.

Northern Ireland's McIlroy was joint leader with four to go, but bogeyed the 15th and missed a 15-foot birdie putt on the last and so ended up joint third - just as he did in the event last year and at The Open last month.
FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72)
277 Martin Kaymer (Ger) 72 68 67 70, Bubba Watson 68 71 70 68 (Kaymer won after three-hole play-off)
278 Rory McIlroy (NIrl) 71 68 67 72, Zach Johnson 69 70 69 70
279 Jason Dufner 73 66 69 71, Steve Elkington (Aus) 71 70 67 71, Dustin Johnson 71 68 67 73
280 Camilo Villegas (Col) 71 71 70 68, Wen-chong Liang (Chn) 72 71 64 73
281 Matt Kuchar 67 69 73 72, Jason Day (Aus) 69 72 66 74
282 Phil Mickelson 73 69 73 67, Paul Casey (Eng) 72 71 70 69, Bryce Molder 72 67 70 73, Simon Dyson (Eng) 71 71 68 72
283 D.A. Points 70 72 70 71, Robert Karlsson (Swe) 71 71 71 70
284 Nick Watney 69 68 66 81, Steve Stricker 72 72 68 72, Stephen Gallacher (Sco) 71 69 72 72, Charl Schwartzel (Rsa) 73 69 72 70, Ernie Els (Rsa) 68 74 69 73, Stewart Cink 77 68 66 73
285 J.B. Holmes 72 66 77 70, Jim Furyk 70 68 70 77, Carl Pettersson (Swe) 71 70 71 73, Simon Khan (Eng) 69 70 71 75
286 Seung-yul Noh (Kor) 68 71 72 75, Tiger Woods 71 70 72 73, David Horsey (Eng) 72 71 69 74, Bo Van Pelt 73 67 72 74, Troy Matteson 72 72 70 72
287 Francesco Molinari (Ita) 68 73 71 75, Ryan Palmer 71 68 75 73, David Toms 74 71 67 75, Heath Slocum 73 72 68 74, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (Spa) 70 73 73 71, Edoardo Molinari (Ita) 71 72 70 74
288 Brian Davis (Eng) 71 72 69 76, Adam Scott (Aus) 72 73 71 72, Hunter Mahan 74 71 68 75, Justin Leonard 73 69 73 73, Ben Crane 73 68 73 74, Vijay Singh (Fij) 73 66 73 76, K J Choi (Kor) 74 69 71 74, Tim Clark (Rsa) 72 71 70 75, Brandt Snedeker 75 70 67 76
289 Brendon De Jonge 74 66 74 75, Marc Leishman (Aus) 71 73 72 73, Shaun Micheel 73 69 76 71, Martin Laird (Sco) 70 74 72 73, Darren Clarke (NIrl) 74 70 72 73, Kyung-Tae Kim (Kor) 70 72 71 76, Charles Howell III 69 74 72 74
290 Retief Goosen (Rsa) 76 68 74 72, Davis Love III 73 72 72 73, Tom Lehman 74 70 73 73
291 Peter Hanson (Swe) 71 71 71 78, Kevin Na 74 71 71 75, Gregory Bourdy (Fra) 70 70 75 76, Rickie Fowler 73 71 70 77
292 Chad Campbell 70 70 78 74, Rhys Davies (Wal) 71 71 75 75, Fredrik Andersson Hed (Swe) 74 71 74 73
293 Brian Gay 72 70 71 80, Ryan Moore 69 76 72 76
294 D.J. Trahan 72 73 74 75
295 Rob Labritz 73 71 74 77, Stuart Appleby (Aus) 72 73 73 77
297 Ross McGowan (Eng) 73 72 71 81
298 Jeff Overton 74 71 74 79
WD: 221 Ian Poulter (Gbr) 72 72 77