Duddingston duo storm to Belhaven Captains' and Secretaries' title


FROM THE SCOTTISH GOLF UNION WEBSITE
Duddingston club captain Gavin Clark and secretary Duncan Ireland stormed to a superb ten-under 63 to edge out Downfield and win the Belhaven Best Captains' and Secretaries' Championship at Murrayshall, near Perth today.
The Duddingston pairing’s sensational inward half of 29, seven-under par, gave them the title after they finished tied alongside Downfield’s Sam Marshall and David Hart, who were three-under par for their back nine.
Two birdies on the front nine gave Duddingston a steady start and a birdie three from Clark at the tenth put them at three-under par on a day of low scoring in the Perthshire countryside. Their round came alive with another Clark birdie on the thirteenth, sparking an amazing run of five birdies and a net eagle on the last six holes.
“It was one of those days where I holed everything,” said a delighted captain Clark. “I must have sunk six putts of more than thirty feet so it’s been a great day. We both played very well and it’s nice to play in this event for the first time and take home the trophy.”
“Belhaven are fantastic supporters of Duddingston Golf Club and we’d like to thank them for their sponsorship at club level and with the SGU. We also had great fun playing with Yvonne and Peter from Nairn who encouraged us all the way and commiserations to the team from Downfield who also had a superb round.” continued Clark.
Downfield’s round began with a superb birdie at the first from Hart, the club’s greens convenor, followed by an eagle from club captain Marshall at the second hole.
Four more birdies followed on the front nine as they reached the turn in seven-under par 30, although a bogey at the tenth halted their progress. The two and four handicappers picked up shots at the 11th, 13th, 15th and 17th before Marshall almost holed his third shot at the par five seventeenth which would have handed them victory.
“We just ran out of birdies after getting off to such a great start,” admitted Marshall. “Hats off to Duddingtson who must have played really well and although we’re disappointed not to win, it’s good to come second in such a big event.”
Airdrie’s captain-and-secretary combination of Jim Robertson and Robert Marshall fired an excellent 64, nine-under par, to finish in third spot, while Vale of Leven’s Drew Checkley and Gary Smith were a shot further back in fourth place, just missing out on the prizes.
Shelagh Bryce, Director of Customer Services for Belhaven, said:
“This is our eleventh year of sponsorship with the SGU and we’re delighted that the Captains and Secretaries Championship has grown into such a great event since we launched it back in 2006. Murrayshall have been superb hosts with the course in great condition, coupled with excellent facilities, and we’d like to congratulate all the clubs who reached today’s Grand Final.”
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
63 Duddingston, Downfield.
64 Airdrie
65 Vale of Leven.
66 Cardrona, North Berwick, Baberton.
67 Turriff, Irvine Ravenspark.
68 Drumpellier, Edzell, Inverallohcy, Piperdam Osprey, Linn Park.

For the SGU's official final scoreboard

CLICK HERE

Archerfield the right springboard

to Celtic Manor and Ryder Cup

By LEWINE MAIR

Darren Clarke, one of Colin Montgomerie’s vice-captains at next week’s Ryder Cup, said that he would be reporting back to his captain that Lee

Westwood and Rory McIlroy were in the right place at the right time.

Both were among the celebrities playing in the Sir Ian Botham and Darren Clarke Celebrity Invitational at Archerfield – an event which

was set to raise £200,000 for the pair’s favourite charities.

Clarke said that two days at Archerfield were precisely what he would prescribe for anyone ahead of a major tournament, regardless of whether it was an Open championship or an inland event such the Ryder Cup. “To get turf as good as this is just perfect,” said this winner of two World Golf Championship events.

Westwood, who is revelling in being back to full fitness, explained

that the feedback he was getting from hitting shots from the links

grass was precisely what he needed. “In my case,” he said, “it’s

telling me that I’m striking the ball well. Because the ground is firm,

you have to sweep the ball away and that helps you to retain your

height throughout the swing.”

McIlroy meantime, mentioned that he had been on the practice ground as

early as seven o’clock. “There was complete silence and there wasn’t a

soul in sight,” said McIlroy, whose thoughts had inevitably strayed to

how different things would be in a week’s time.

Like Westwood, McIlroy said that his game was shaping well – and that he owed a lot of that to the facilities at Archerfield. “There aren’t too many other courses around the world with practice areas in this

class,” he said.

While keeping half an eye on the Ryder Cup duo, Sir Ian Botham was not

about to give the pair any kid glove treatment because of the impending

pressures.

Though the cricketer does not mind entertaining the thought of nerves

kicking in on the day, he maintains that pressure does not come into it

for sportsmen in Westwood’s and McIlroy’s class.

“They’re the elite of the elite… It’s not about pressure. Both of them want to be in the ultimate spot at the ultimate time because that’s what every top sportsman wants.

“Lee and Rory are fired up and ready for the match. They can’t wait to be in the thick of things.

“All my cricketing days, if there was a six to be made off two deliveries, I wanted to be the man doing the batting.

“If anyone who’s playing in a Test match or, for that matter, a Ryder Cup, doesn’t relish that kind of a scenario, he needs to get out and go and sell the programmes.”

+Pictures by courtesy of Andy Forman: Lee Westwood at the top, Darren Clarke middle, Sir Ian Botham at the bottom.

I needed to get back to

Europe, says Rory McIlroy


FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE
Rory McIlroy admits that his latest stint in America took its toll on him and he needed to get back to Europe.
The 21 year-old Northern Irish player makes his Ryder Cup debut at Celtic Manor next week and, having finished third in the last two majors, is seen as a key man in Colin Montgomerie’s plans.
“I was not my normal self in America the last couple of weeks,” said McIlroy, who might well lead things off for Europe alongside his compatriot and close friend Graeme McDowell.
“I needed to refresh my mind and I definitely feel I will be going into the Ryder Cup in a better frame.”
It was McIlroy’s original hope that he would be playing this week in Atlanta in the final leg of the FedEx Cup play-offs.
But after finishes of 56th, 37th and 37th in the first three events of the series he failed to be among the 30 qualifiers for the Tour Championship, and now views that as a blessing in disguise.
The world No 8 had played six of the previous seven weeks and added: “I’m definitely going to look at my schedule.
“It’s been great having the last week at home. That’s when I get my best work done and I’m very happy with how it all went.
“Now I’m concentrating on getting my game in the best shape possible. If I can do that it’s half the battle.
“Obviously it’s my first experience (of a Ryder Cup) and one I’m going to try to enjoy.”
McIlroy’s enthusiasm for the match was called into question when he described it as “an exhibition” last year.
But although he still puts success in majors and even world championships higher on his career wish list, he is still “up for the cup”.
Winner of four points out of five for Britain and Ireland against Continental Europe in the Vivendi Trophy last September, he said: “I sort of forgot how good it (match-play) was. We won and it was great to share the win with 11 other guys.
“Next week is going to be fantastic. It’s definitely not an exhibition, it’s a great spectacle. I said exhibition last year when I was not focused on a team event.”
Three of his victories at the Vivendi Trophy came with McDowell as his partner and all of them were achieved going out first.
Meanwhile, Masters champion Phil Mickelson has decided not to play the two-day Grand Slam of Golf in Bermuda next month and this season’s three other major winners will instead by joined by Ernie Els.
With Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell having lifted the US Open, Els’s fellow South African Louis Oosthuizen the Open and German Martin Kaymer the US PGA it means that no American will be taking part in the four-man event for the first time since 1994.
A statement from the PGA of America said that Mickelson, the world No 2 “will not be able to compete due to his diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis. Mickelson elected to rest and spend time with his family for a month after a busy late season schedule that includes the Ryder Cup”.

Masters' TV coverage to start an hour earlier

AUGUSTA, Georgia (AP) -- The Masters is adding an extra hour of television coverage next year.
Augusta National chairman Billy Payne said today that ESPN's weekday coverage will start at 3 pm (local time), which is an hour earlier than usual. The coverage ends at 7:30 pm (local time) on Thursday and Friday.
Payne also said that British-based Sky Sports will join the BBC as a live broadcaster next year.
The Masters will be held April 7-10. Despite the additional hour of coverage on the weekdays, it remains the major championship with the most limited live TV coverage.

Amateurs make their presence

felt in Northern Open 

FROM THE SCOTSMAN.COM WEBSITE
By MARTIN DEMPSTER
Take away the tops bearing Scottish Golf Union logos and it was difficult to tell the professionals and amateurs apart on the opening day of the Aberdeen Asset Management Northern Open.
Eight players shot four-under-par 66s to share the lead at Meldrum House and two of them, Ross Kellett (pictured) and Greg Paterson, are among the amateurs who've been handed invites this week.
With David Law, last year's double Scottish champion, just a shot off the pace, Scott Larkin and James White also having broken par on the first lap and Michael Stewart and Kris Nicol lying close to the top 20, the Tartan Tour professionals look as though they've got a fight on their hands in an event that has an exciting feel to it.
"We pros will really need to be on the top of our game this week because the full-time amateurs probably play more golf than us and I fully expect one of them to come close to winning this week," said Greig Hutcheon, another of those setting the early pace in the 72-hole event along with Jason McCreadie, Graeme Brown, Chris Doak, Chris Kelly and Kenny Hutton.

Hutcheon, a two-time Tartan Tour No 1 who has three Challenge Tour titles to his name, certainly doesn't play nearly as much these days as the leading amateurs. With a wife and young son to support, the 37-year-old from Banchory is working for an Aberdeen company involved in the oil industry and was in early yesterday morning to paint a drilling tool before turning his thoughts to golf.

"It's a small business that's owned by one of my friends and I look after the tool maintenance," he said after transforming his score by coming home in 30, five-under. "I need a bit financial security and I just can't afford to be playing on the Challenge Tour when I've got a little kiddie. I still enjoy my golf and it would be a shame to have to give it up."

Kellett, who is off to Argentina with Stewart and James Byrne in a few weeks' time to defend Scotland's world amateur title and warmed up for this event by winning the Eisenhower Invitational at Blairgowrie a fortnight ago, had two eagles on his card - holing from 45 feet at the fifth and then, at the 16th, from half that distance.
"These pros are good - a lot of them have played on either the European Tour or Challenge Tour - but I don't see any reason why one of us amateurs can't do well this week," said the Colville Park player.
Considering this is his first taste of such an environment, Fifer Paterson also had reason to feel happy with his day's work, as did Law even though he came off the course knowing he'd let an opportunity to be out in front on his own slip away over the closing stretch.
After starting with three straight birdies, the Hazlehead 19-year-old was six-under with four holes to play but dropped a shot at the 15th before running up a double-bogey 5 at the last, where the damage was caused by his tee shot catching the water between him and the green.
He still beat both his playing partners - David Orr, last year's Scottish PGA champion, signing for a 68 and Craig Lee, the defending champion here, a 70 that included three penalty shots in the last three holes.
McCreadie (2004, 2006) and Doak (2005, 2008) have both won this event twice before and are off to solid starts again, as are Kelly, a prolific winner on the Scottish circuit, and Hutton, the club professional at Downfield.
Taking up where he left off when retaining the Scottish Young Professionals' title at West Lothian last week, David Patrick is also just a shot off the pace and so, too, are Paul McKechnie, a former EuroPro Tour No 1, and Tartan Tour stalwart Robert Arnott.
Larkin, who won the Leven Gold Medal this year, and White, a former Scottish boys' match-play champion, both signed for 68s, two fewer than Stewart, the Scottish amateur champion, and Nicol, who came within a shot of making the cut in the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles at the end of last month.

SCOREBOARD AT MELDRUM HOUSE

FIRST ROUND
Par 70.
66 Ross Kellett (Colville Park) (am), Jason McCreadie (Buchanan Castle), Greg Paterson (St Andrews New) (am), Graeme Brown (Montrose), Chris Doak (unatt), Greig Hutcheon (Banchory), Chris Kelly (Cawder), Kenneth Hutton (Downfield).
67 David Law (Hazlehead) (am), David Patrick (Elie), Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs Golf Range), Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills).
68 David Orr (Eastwood), Scott Larkin (Royal Aberdeen) (am), Alan Lockhart (Ladybank), Colin Gillies (Braid Hills), James White (Lundin) (am), Fraser Mann (unatt).
69 Graeme Lornie (Paul Lawrie Foundation), Craig Gordon (Edinburgh Golf Centre), Graham Fox (East Kilbride), James McKinnon (Irvine), Stephen Gray (Hayston), Lee Harper (Archerfield Links), Ian Taylor (Drumpellier).
70 Paul Wytrazek (Burntisland), Lee Vannett (Carnoustie Golf Links), Craig Lee (Aspire Golf Centre), Steven Duncan (Balbirnie Park), Mark King (Kingsfield Golf Centre), Lindsay Mann (Carnoustie), Kris Nicol (Fraserburgh) (am), Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) (am), Alan E Reid (West Lothian), Peter Smith (unatt), Christopher Robinson (Dumfries and Galloway).
71 Jordan Findlay (Fraserburgh) (am), Ross Cameron (McDonald Ellon), Stuart Pardoe (unatt), Nick Robson (Meldrum House) (am), Mark Loftus (Adam Hunter Golf), Craig Matheson (Falkirk Tryst), Paul Brookes (Pitreavie), Mark Kerr (Marriott Dalmahoy), Alastair Webster (Edzell), Scott Henry (Carrick on Loch Lomond), Andrew Fullen (Largs), David Blackadder (Kingsbanrs), James McGhee (Turnhouse), Greg Paxton (Ralston).
72  Sean O'Donnell (Balbirnie Park), Andrew Crerar (Panmure), Mark Finlayson (Edwell), Ewan Davie (Dunblane New), Gordon Law (Uphall), Wallace Booth (Comrie), Alan Stuart (Aspire Golf Centre), Euan Cameron (Hamilton), Gareth Wright (West Linton)), Michael Rae (Alyth).
73 Malcolm Isaacs (Nairn Dunbar), Andrew Cooper (Newmachar), Colin Brodie (Meldrum House) (am), Jonny Sharp (The Carrick at Cameron House), Campbell Elliott (Haggs Castle), Scott Herald (Mearns Castle), Iain Colquhoun (Dundonald Links), Scott Grieve (Turnhouse), Samuel Cairns (Colville Park), Steven Taylor (Bothwell Castle), Patrick Lovie (P1 Corporate), Scott Henderson (Kings Links), Mark Bruce (Gullane), Garry Harvey (Kinross)..
74 Michael Patterson (Kilmacolm), John Robertson (Glasgow), Gary Forbes (Murcar Links), David Ross (Royal Aberdeen), Ross Dixon (Renaissance Club), Martin Shaw (Kilmarnock Barassie), Owen Leslie (Craigentinny), Craig Ronald (Carluke), Stewart Savage (Dalmuir), David Fleming (Prestwick).
75 Alastair Thomson (Douglas Park), Stewart Winter (Callander), Neil Fenwick (Dunbar), Shaun Clark (Elie), Stuart Kerr (Strathaven), Philip McLean (Peterhead) (am).
76 Ian Bratton (Newburgh on Ythan), Alan Mackay (Pumpherston), Christopher Russell (RAW Golf Course Design), Michael Sweenie (Turnberry).
77 Colin Nelson (Mackenzie's Golf Shop), Ronnie McDonald (Inchmarlo Golf Centre), Iain Donaldson (Meldrum House), Jamie Stevenson (Braehead), Sandy Aird junior (McDonald Ellon), Neil Colquhoun (Merchants of Edinburgh).
78 Neil Murray (Cruden Bay). 
79 Gavin Abson (Carrick on Loch Lomond), Colin Clark (Mackenzie's Golf Shop).
80 Greig McSporran (Kinross).
82 Bob Satterley (Inveururie).

WEDNESDAY'S SECOND-ROUND TEE TIMES
7:54 Mark King
Scott Larkin
Mark Kerr
8:03 Alastair Webster
Robert Arnott
Alan Lockhart
8:12 Jason McCreadie
Greg Paterson
Lindsay Mann
8:21 Colin Gillies
Graham Fox
Kris Nicol
8:30 Gordon Law
James McKinnon
Graeme Brown
8:39 Stephen Gray
Philip McLean
Samuel Cairns
8:48 Steven Taylor
Wallace Booth
Chris Doak
9:02 Greig Hutcheon
Michael Stewart
Lee Harper
9:11 Scott Henry
Paul McKechnie
Craig Ronald
9:20 Alan E Reid
Christopher Russell
Alan Stuart
9:29 Euan Cameron
Ian Taylor
Stewart Savage.
9:38 Patrick Lovie
Andrew Fullen
David Blackadder
9:47 Chris Kelly
James White
Gareth Wright
9:56 Neil Colquhoun
James McGhee
Kenneth Hutton
10:05 Peter Smith
Fraser Mann
Scott Henderson
10:19 Michael Rae
David Fleming
Colin Clark
10:28 Christopher Robinson
Mark Bruce
Rob Satterley
10:37 Garry Harvey
Greg Paxton
Michael Sweenie
10:46 Paul Wytrazek
Malcolm Isaacs
Michael Patterson
10:55 Greig McSporran
Ian Bratton
Andrew Cooper
11:04 Colin Nelson
Ronnie McDonald
Neil Murray 
11:13 Gavin Abson 
John Robertson 
Alastair Thomson 
11:22 Iain Donaldson 
Gary Forbes 
Stewart Winter
11:36 Graeme Lornie 
Jordan Findlay 
Neil Fenwick
11:45 Colin Brodie 
David Ross 
Sean O'Donnell 
11:54 Ross Cameron
Lee Vannet
Shaun Clark
12:03 David Law
Craig Lee
David Orr 
12:12 Alan Mackay
Jonny Sharp
Stuart Pardoe 
12:21 Campbell Elliott
Nick Robson 
Mark Loftus 
12:30 David Patrick 
Ross Kellet 
Craig Matheson 
12:39 Ross Dixon
Paul Brookes
Scott Herald
12:53 Andrew Crerar
Iain Colquhoun
Stuart Kerr 
13:02 Martin Shaw 
Mark Finlayson
Owen Leslie
13:11 Steven Duncan
Jamie Stevenson
Craig Gordon
13:20 Scott Grieve
Sandy Aird junior
Ewan Davie

Top table guests and officials at the Midland Golfers' Alliance Diamond Jubilee Dinner. Back row (left to right): Barrie Liddle (secretary, Scotscraig Golf Club), Bob Redpath, (past captain, Scotscraig GC), George Cant (Midland Golfers’ Alliance), Gavin Smith (hon. vice-president, Midland Golfers’ Alliance), Lee Sutherland (treasurer, Midland Golfers’ Alliance).
Front row: Eddie Sherry (secretary, Midland Golfers’ Alliance), Ian McMurray (guest speaker), Hugh Hunter (guest speaker, past president of Scottish Golf Union), Gordon Landsburgh (vice-captain, Scotscraig GC)
Midland Alliance Diamond Jubilee dinner at birthplace:

Scotscraig GC

This year the Midland Golfers’ Alliance celebrates its diamond jubilee. To mark the occasion they returned to where it all began 60 years ago - Scotscraig Golf Club in Fife. Seventy-two members competed in a shotgun team competition and a dinner was held afterwards
Leading team scores
69 G Finlay (Ballumbie Castle) (+1), S Harrod (Ballumbie Castle) (2), J McCormack (Kirriemuir) (6), C Marr (Glenrothes) (13).
73 J  Black (Scotscraig) (4), A Landsburgh (Panmure) (8), T Watson (Blairgowrie) (11), A Mitchell (The Duke's) (12).
75 K Egan (Downfield) (5), I Wilson (Craigie Hill) (8), L Kinnear (Carnoustie) (13), A Aitken (Ladybank) (11).

Lee Sutherland
PGA Professional
Ballumbie Castle Golf Club

England county finals for feast of

top-class play

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE ENGLISH GOLF UNION
With five internationals and a host of tournament winners on view, the English Men's County Championship final being staged at Hunstanton Golf Club in Norfolk from Friday to Monday (September 24 to 26) should provide a feast of top class golf.
The four regional winning counties, Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Channel Islands, Lancashire, Somerset and Worcestershire, will lock horns over the testing north Norfolk links in one of the English Golf Union’s flagship events.
Lancashire, the northern champions, has the greatest pedigree in the championship. They have won the title nine times, the most recent two years ago, and have two internationals, Matthew Nixon and Jack Senior in their team.
Nixon, a semi-finalist in the 2010 Amateur Championship, has been an England regular since making his debut in last year’s Home Internationals, while Senior was capped for the first time in this year’s contest when both played a role in England’s victory at Ashburnham. Senior also won the South of England Stroke Play Championship.
Lancashire also field their county champion in Sean Towndrow, while Mark Young is the current leader of the North West Order of Merit.
Hampshire, IoW and CI have one victory in the County Championship, in 1996, when they won at Woodhall Spa. They also have a powerful line-up including Brabazon Trophy winner Darren Wright and former Mid-Amateur champion Martin Young.
They can also call upon Neil Raymond, who has claimed several top ten finishes this year including victory in the Parman Cup, runner-up in the Czech Amateur and fourth in the South of England Stroke Play. Their squad also includes the experienced Ryan Henley and Gavin O’Neill from the Channel Islands, runner-up in their county championship.
Somerset, yet to win the County Championship, have England international Laurie Canter, winner of the South African Amateur and West of England Stroke Play in their line-up along with teenager Ashley Mansell, another enjoying a successful season.
The 19 year old won the Somerset County Championship, the county foursomes and the West of England Match Play, while he is also the Clevedon club champion. They also include Craig Adams, who helped steer Farrington to third place in the recent English Champion Club Tournament.
Worcestershire has won the English County Championship three times but all in the 1930s. However, they can bridge a 70-year gap at Hunstanton with the likes of Welsh international Chris Nugent, who has claimed two course records in recent weeks. They also include county champion Jonathan Hems.
The Finals are contested on a round robin basis, each match consisting of three foursomes and six singles. In the first round of matches on 24th September, Hampshire, IoW & CI play Lancashire while Somerset meet Worcestershire.
Full details, scores and news for the English County Championships are available on the EGU website, www.englishgolfunion.org.
Teams:
Hampshire, IoW and C I
Jordan Ainley (Brokenhurst Manor)
Ryan Henley (Stoneham)
Gavin O’Neill (Royal Jersey)
Neil Raymond (Corhampton)
Jonathan Watt (Brokenhurst Manor)
Darren Wright (Rowlands Castle)
Martin Young (Brokenhurst Manor)
Lancashire
John Carroll (Huyton and Prescot)
Ciaran Doherty (Bury)
Jon Hurst (Shaw Hill)
Matthew Nixon (Ashton-under-Lyne)
Jack Senior (Heysham)
Sean Towndrow (Southport and Ainsdale)
Mark Young (Longridge)

Somerset
Craig Adams (Farrington)
Laurie Canter (Saltford)
Luke Collins (Mendip Spring)
Charlie Cossins (Bath)
David Gregory (Burnham and Berrow)
Ashley Mansell (Clevedon)
Phil White (Wells)
Worcestershire
Chris Bromley (Redditch)
Paul Garey (King’s Norton)
Chris Heeley (Moseley)
Jon Hems (King’s Norton)
Steven Lane (The Worcestershire)
Chris Nugent (Fulford Heath)
Richard Sadler (Moseley)

Martin Dempster

It's a tastier Northern Open with

leading amateurs in the field


FROM TODAY'S THE SCOTSMAN NEWSPAPER
By Martin Dempster
The presence of amateurs in the Northern Open field is nothing new. The Bookless Cup, for the leading non-professional, has been claimed by some decent players over the years, including George Murray, who is set to become a European Tour card holder next season.
However, this week's Aberdeen Asset Management-sponsored event, which tees off today at Meldrum House, Oldmeldrum outside Aberdeen, should certainly provide a template for similar tournaments going forward as we start to see tangible signs of a healthier relationship between the Scottish Golf Union and the PGA Scottish Region.
Instead of throwing mud at each other - one side, admittedly, has been more guilty in regards to that - these two organisations appear, on the surface at least, to finally be seeing eye to eye on matters and the decision by the PGA Scottish Region to hand out nine invites to some of the country's leading amateurs for one of its showpiece events should certainly be applauded.
Michael Stewart, the Scottish champion, is one of the players to benefit and so, too, are fellow SGU squad members Ross Kellett, David Law, Philip McLean, Kris Nicol, Greg Paterson and James White. Jordan Findlay, the runner-up to Stewart in the SGU's flagship event this year, and Scott Larkin, an Aberdonian who finished in the top 10 on the Scottish Order of Merit, have been given the two other SGU spots, while also in the field are a couple of Meldrum House members, Colin Brodie and Nick Robson.
With Wallace Booth and Scott Henry, two of the country's aspiring young Tour professionals, having been added to the mix as well, thanks to invites handed out by the event's new sponsor, Aberdeen Asset Management, the composition of this week's field is, with all due respect to the regular Tartan Tour parishioners, a lot tastier looking than it could have been.

Both Booth and Henry know from experience the value to be gained from amateurs getting an opportunity to test themselves against Scotland's leading home-based professionals.
Three years ago, they were in the SGU side that beat Bernard Gallacher's Tartan Tour team in the Bunkered Matchplay Challenge at The Carrick, where Henry holed the winning putt in a play-off against Paul McKechnie after earlier beating the two-time Scottish PGA champion, Colin Gillies, in the final match of the day to force the sudden death shoot-out.
It hurt the professionals to lose that event and it's a great pity that it fell by the wayside after just two stagings as the concept of bringing the two set of players together every second year in a Ryder Cup-style contest certainly seemed to appeal to all those involved.
Personally, I see much more benefit in the talented Stewart, for example, guaging his game against the likes of Craig Lee, the defending Northern Open champion, 2008 winner Chris Doak and other leading Tartan Tour players such as Chris Kelly, Greig Hutcheon, David Orr and Jason McCreadie than reading too much into how he gets on in next year's Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond, where a place for the Scottish champion is now the norm.
While Shane Lowry (Irish Open), Danny Lee (Johnnie Walker Classic) and Pablo Martin (Portuguese Open) all won as amateurs in recent seasons, more often than not these players are out of their depth in European Tour events, which is why an exercise like the one this week can be much more beneficial in the long run for those with aspirations of reaching the promised land.
Lee and Doak are both good examples of players who showed they were good enough to get on to the European Tour but couldn't stay there. And, in Hutcheon, one of his playing partners in the opening two rounds at Meldrum House, Stewart will see someone at close-quarters who won three times on the Challenge Tour but just hasn't quite been able to make the step up to the next level.
The amateurs, of course, will be playing purely for experience and pride this week. Yet, if recent events on the Challenge Tour are anything to go by, it should come as no real surprise if one of them were to win. Andreas Harto, a Danish amateur, triumphed in the Tour Championship in Germany and, a couple of events later, Romain Wattel, the young Frenchman who claimed the Scottish Stroke Play title at Glasgow Gailes earlier in the year, emulated him in Strasbourg.
"Obviously seeing some of the guys winning this year is a big eye-opener as we have played with them before and beaten them," noted Stewart heading into his first appearance in a professional event.
"However, these [Tartan Tour] guys are playing well on a consistent basis, which is something that is hard to achieve. It's a very strong field, so if you want to win you will have to be at the top of your game. But, if one of the top amateurs here this week plays well, then they have a great chance of winning, including myself."
Even before the opening tee shot is struck at Meldrum House, there can surely be no doubt that we not only want to see more of these 'mixed' events but, just as important, they can help enormously in the effort about to be made to improve Scotland's success rate when it comes to players making the transition from amateur to professional.


********


IN a week's time Colin Montgomerie will be the Scottish sporting personality in the spotlight as he prepares to lead his European team into battle in the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor, where it can only be hoped that a golf event is going to be the only thing on his plate in the final countdown to such an important occasion in his life.
Before then, however, Martin Laird deserves the support of his nation when he flies the Saltire in the Tour Championship, the final event of the money-spinning FedEx Cup series, in Atlanta, where the action gets underway on Thursday.
Over the past couple of years Scottish golfers have been conspicuous by their absence in most of the big events and, sadly, for the second Ryder Cup running there won't be one facing up to the Americans in a playing capacity in Wales at the end of next week.
Yet, it's a measure of how well Laird is doing on the US PGA Tour that he's among the 30 players still left standing in the FedEx Cup while the likes of Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Padraig Harrington, Stewart Cink and Vijay Singh, amongst many other big guns, have all seen their races come to an end.
The Scot has already won just over £1 million this season, having come close to that mark a year ago, when he won on the circuit for the first time. And, if he wins at East Lake on Sunday, he could be £7.3 million richer - £875,000 being the first prize with a further £6.5 million going to the overall winner of the series.
Laird has certainly taken his place at the top table in world golf and, with Stephen Gallacher also looking as though he can start kicking on and Richie Ramsay set to step up his bid to build on last year's South African Open success by having a winter base in America, it will disappointing if, in two years' time, we're heading into another Ryder Cup without a Scot in the European team ranks.