Scot well placed at halfway stage of Stage 2 Q School in Florida

OPPORTUNITY KNOX FOR RUSSELL
By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Former Scotland youth cap Russell Knox, from Inverness but based at Jacksonville Beach, Florida since his four years as a student at Jacksonville University, is in joint 13th position in a field of 74 at the halfway stage of the US PGA Tour Qualifying School Stage 2 event at Southern Hills Plantation Club, Brooksville, Florida - one of six such competitions this week across America.
The top 19 and ties at each venue will go forward to the Final Q School over six rounds at Orange County National Golf Centre near Orlando, Florida from December 1 to 6.
Knox, pictured, a prolific money-winner on the US satellite circuit, the NGA Hooters Tour but making a third attempt to win playing rights on the US PGA Tour, has had rounds of 68 and 72 for a four-under-par tally of 140 - seven shots behind the leader by two, Scott Brown from South Carolina, with rounds of 65 and 68 for 133.
The Scot looked like being much closer to Brown with two rounds to go when he stood three under par for the day today with birdies at the first, second, long fifth and 10th, and only one bogey, at the ninth. But Knox slipped back to a level par 72 with bogeys at the 11th, 15th and 16th.
England's John Morgan is sharing 35th place on 143 after scores of 72 and 71.
A winner on the US Tour, Swedish-born Daniel Chopra's prospects are bleak in joint 62nd place with 75 and 72 for 147.

Roger's a lodger at joint fourth place at US Seniors Q School

England's Roger Chapman is doing rather well at the US Champions' Tour Q School at TPC Eagle Trace, Coral Springs in Florida.
Roger, in joint fourth place overnight,  has shot rounds of 70, 67 and 70 for a 54-hole tally of 207 and, with one round to go, is seven shots behind the leader by three, American Keith Clearwater (68-69-63).
Welshman Mark Mouland is in joint 18th position along with England's Barry Lane on 212. Mouland has scored 69, 74 and 69, Lane 61, 69 and 72.
Another Englishman, Paul Curry, is not doing so well.


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Jose Mourinho ambassador for

Portugal's 2018 Ryder Cup bid

FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE
Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has agreed to become the ambassador for Portugal's bid to host the Ryder Cup in 2018 - even though they are in competition with with the city of Madrid as a venue.
"I always play to win and I know everyone connected to the 2018 Portuguese Ryder Cup bid is exactly the same," said the former Chelsea manager.
Mourinho does not play golf, but has spoken about what staging the match at the Tom Fazio-designed Herdade da Comporta would do for his country.
"Comporta is a region I have cherished and known since an early age, due to its proximity to my home town of Setubal.
"It is one of Europe's best-kept secrets, with its tranquil beaches and clear blue sea, with rice paddies as far as the eye can see and overwhelming natural beauty.
"Organising the Ryder Cup will allow Portugal to show its best to the world, something we should all work towards, to establish our country as a high-quality tourism destination.
"To always win and to take Portugal's name to the four corners of the world, that's the challenge I set myself each day and that's the goal Comporta is committed to."
A decision will be taken next spring on whether to take the match back to Spain - Valderrama played host in 1997 under Seve Ballesteros' captaincy - or whether to go to Portugal, France, Germany or Holland.
The 2012 contest is in Chicago and the 2014 match at Gleneagles.

... meanwhile nine want to host 2015 Solheim Cup

FROM THE LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Nine parties have expressed their desire to host The 2015 Solheim Cup when the event takes place in Europe.
Six of the candidates have publicly announced their intentions to host the biannual transatlantic women’s match play tournament.

They are: Prosper Golf Resort in Celadna, Czech Republic; Gut Kaden Golf und Land Club, Hamburg, Germany; Sport and Spa Resort, Scharmützelsee, Sporting Club Berlin, Germany; La Manga Club, Murcia, Spain; and Q Hotels Forest Pines Resort, North Lincolnshire.
Additionally, there is a bid by Costa Del Sol in Spain, which would allow the Ladies European Tour to select the most suitable venue in the region, as well as three other bids by interested parties who wish at this stage to remain anonymous.
The bid deadline was October 29 with the venue decision expected in 2011. Previous European home matches have been played in Scotland (Dalmahoy and Loch Lomond), Wales (St. Pierre) and Sweden (Barseback and Halmstad). Killeen Castle, located near Dublin, plays host next September 23 – 25.
In 2013 the United States venue is Colorado Golf Club, near Denver.

Fraser Mann gains top status on

Senior Tour but Peter

Smith misses out

By STEVE TODD
European Senior Tour Press Officer
American Tim Thelen fired a superb closing round 65 to lead the 16 graduates who gained cards for the 2011 European Senior Tour on a nerve-filled final day at Qualifying School Final Stage.
Thelen finished on nine under par 275 for the 72 hole Qualifying School, an impressive five strokes clear of Irish amateur Pat Errity and Swede Peter Dahlberg.
The 49 year old, who will become eligible to join the Senior Tour when he turns 50 next June, started the final day two strokes behind St Andrews-born Gordon Manson but produced a superb front nine to put daylight between himself and the rest of the field.
He reached the turn at Pestana Golf Resort’s Vale da Pinta in just 29 shots after birdies on the second, seventh and ninth and an eagle on the par four eighth, when he holed his eight iron second shot from 149 yards.
Further birdies on the tenth and 12th followed before he three putted the 14th for his only bogey of the day.
By that time he had already opened up a seemingly unassailable advantage at the top of the leaderboard and the man from Texas came home with four consecutive pars to secure his card for 2011.
Thelen, who had led the qualifiers from First Stage at Gramacho, gains full playing rights along with Errity, Dahlberg, Chilean Angel Fernandez, Scotland’s Fraser Mann and Spaniard Manuel Moreno.
Mann, pictured above, went back to the Q School to improve the status he achieved last year - and the former Ballater and Musselburgh professional from Carnoustie succeeded. The door is now wide open for Fraser, a former Northern Open champion, to play in every event on the over-50s circuit next year.
“It means everything to me to secure my card and get on the Senior Tour,” said Thelen. “It is what I came over to achieve and it went so well these last two weeks.
“I found something on the range last night and this morning. I think I’d started overturning on the backswing so I stopped that.
“I got off to a great start today and then after the run I had from seven to ten I just tried to coast it in and get back to the clubhouse. It was my wife Lucinda’s birthday yesterday so this is a nice present for her.”
PGA Club professional Thelen, who was a former Houston college friend of  Colin Montgomerie, was inspired to join the Senior Tour by another friend, compatriot Bob Boyd who has been a member since 2005.
“Bob has really enjoyed himself on the Senior Tour over the past five years and I wanted to give a go myself,” he said. “I spoke to him after First Stage and he said that I was good enough to get through Final Stage and it’s great to have done that. Hopefully I can come over here after my birthday in June then retain my card and play on the Senior Tour for as long as I can.”
Also celebrating was Irishman Pat Errity, who will turn professional before he joins the Senior Tour in March when he celebrates his 50 birthday.
Errity carded a flawless five under par 66 to finish in second place, following a final round card play-off.
“”I’m delighted to get my card as it has been a target of mine for a few years now,” said Errity. “I hit the ball out of bounds on the eighth hole but then holed from 140 yards with my next shot. The crowd thought it was an eagle! That kept my round going and I played well after that.”
With neither Thelen nor Errity turning 50 until the New Year, Dahlberg assumes the mantle of leading qualifier until then, improving on last year when he could only secure an alternate card in 18th place.
Dahlberg, who recorded two Top 20 finishes on the Senior Tour in 2010 in Mauritius and the Czech Republic, signed for a final round 68 and believes his full playing rights will help him produce even better results in 2011.
“From the beginning I knew I had it in me and I just stayed calm,” said the 56 year old. “It’s such an ordeal – it’s not like a normal tournament so I’m pleased with the way I handled it.
“I actually missed a short putt for birdie on the first and then my ball was stuck up a tree on the second but I said to myself ‘move forward’ and I did it.”
While the leading six players gain full cards for 72 player events in 2011, a further ten players secured alternate cards in category nine.
In order, they were: American Jeb Stuart, South African Steve Van Vuuren, Australian Graham Banister, Austria-based Scot Gordon Manson, American Joe Stansberry, Englishman Brian Evans, French pair Jean Pierre Sallat and François Illouz, Scotland’s Terry Burgoyne and Northern Ireland’s Jimmy Heggarty.
Manson will rue a last-round 75 - his worst of the week - that saw him plummet out of a coveted top-six finish to gain "second-class" membership of the Senior Tour next year. 
Aberdeen-based former Northern Open champion Peter Smith actually had the same three-round total (287) as Heggarty and Englishman Cipa. Heggarty's final round of 68 earned him the last place ahead of Cipa (69) and Smith (71).

FINAL TOTALS
Par 284 (4x71)

Top six gained full Senior Tour playing rights for 2011
275 T Thelen (US) 67 71 72 65,
280 P Errity (Ireland) (am) 69 71 74 66, P Dahlberg (Sweden) 67 72 73 68
282 F Mann (Scotland) 72 71 70 69, A Fernandez (Chile) 71 72 69 70, M Moreno (Spain) 70 70 72 70.
Next 10 players gained entry to a limited number of events.
283 J Stuart (US) 71 70 72 70, S Van Vuuren (S Africa) 68 68 76 71, G Banister (Australia) 68 69 74 72, G Manson (Sco) 67 72 69 75,
284 J Stansberry (US) 72 69 72 71,
285 B Evans (England) 73 70 74 68, J Sallat (France) 72 71 72 70, F Illouz (France) (am) 71 70 73 71,
286 T Burgoyne (Sco) 70 70 75 71,
287 J Heggarty (Nir) 72 72 75 68 (best last round of three players on 287)

FAILED TO QUALIFY
287  S Cipa (Eng) 72 71 75 69, P Smith (Sco) 69 71 76 71,
288 M Guzman (Arg) 73 74 72 69,
289 T Planchin (Fra) 72 69 73 75,
290 H Francis (Eng) 70 71 74 75, J Hoskison (Eng) 74 70 72 74, M Thomas (USA) 70 70 74 76, M Miller (Sco) 73 73 71 73, A Mackenzie (Sco) 69 74 76 71,
291 N Clarke (S Africa) 71 77 73 70, A Barrera (Argentina) 71 71 78 71, P Dugeny (France) 72 73 74 72, J Davila (Spain) 75 68 74 74,
292 N Mitchell (Eng) 74 70 75 73, M Lord (Eng) 72 73 75 72, M Kierstenson (Eng) 71 74 76 71, D Narveson (USA) 73 72 73 74, D Talbot (Can) 73 72 71 76,
293 D Gavrilovic (Eng) 71 70 77 75, S Bennett (Eng) 74 75 72 72,
294 R Masters (Eng) 73 72 77 72, J Murphy (am) (Eng) 74 75 73 72,
295 A Macdonald (Eng) 75 73 74 73, S East (am) (Eng) 74 71 74 76,
296 I Dougan (Sco) 73 68 78 77, M Deboub (Eng) 73 71 77 75,
297 V Garcia (Esp) 70 77 75 75, F Regard (Fra) 72 72 78 75, M Gallagher (Eng) 70 73 72 82,
301 D Blakeman (Eng) 71 75 76 79, G Krause (Eng) 75 68 79 79,
** M Briggs (Eng) 69 72 77 DQ,

Lothians man has four bogeys in final round

LLOYD SALTMAN FINISHES 2ND IN SPAIN

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Difficult to be critical of a man who finishes 14 under par in a three-round tournament and had six birdies in his final round - but Lloyd Saltman finished second instead of scoring his second victory on the Spanish Hi5 Pro Tour today.
It was the bogey man that eventually beat the Lothians man. He had only one bogey over his first 36 holes - but he had four of them when the chips were down over the last 18.Lloyd, pictured, in fact, bogeyed the last hole and finished runner-up, beaten by a single shot, in the Murcia Sun Series' event, the 30,000 Euros Al Torreal Open.
Saltman started the final round level with Portugal's Tiago Cruz who forged clear of the Scot with a bogey-free outward half of 33 to Saltman's 35.
Lloyd's last round bogesy came at the third, fifth, seventh and 18th. He did birdie the first, second, sixth, ninth, 11th, 12th and 16th to keep on his rival's tail.
The pressure also got to leader Cruz who bogeyed the 16th and 18th to open the door for Lloyd who would have forced a play-off had he been able to par the last hole.
Cruz finished with scores of 65, 68 and 68 for 15-under-par 201 over the par-72 lay-out to collect the 5,000 Euros first prize.
Saltman shot 67, 66 and 69 for 202 and earned 2,850 Euros.
Eric Ramsay from Carnoustie collected 1,353 Euros for a fifth place finish, scoring 70, 71 and 69 for six-under 210. His outward half of 32 was one of the lowest of the tournament. His only bogey on the final day came at the 18th but he would be reflecting on a first-round double bogey 6 that eventually cost him fourth place and a bigger pay check.
Elliot Saltman finished joint 17th on 215 with an up-and-down performance, scoring 73, 68 and 74. He had a double bogey 7 at ninth in 38 to the turn in the final round.
Former Scottish boys match-play champion Paul Doherty and Keir McNicoll (Carnoustie) tied for 31st place on 220, with identical rounds of 75, 69 and 76.
Paul's older brother Jack also had a poor last round of 76 after earlier scores of 75 and 70. Jack shared 27th place on 221.
Zack Saltman, the youngest of the three brothers in the field, had the worst last round of all - an 81(42-39) which included one triple bogey and two doubles. He did also shoot three birdies but finished 42nd of the 43 last day qualifiers on 12-over-par 228. His earlier rounds were 75 and 72.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)
201 T Cruz (Por) 65 68 69 (5,000 Euros).
202 L Saltman (Sco) 67 66 69 (2,850 Euros).
205 R Santos (Por) 69 68 68 (1,650 Euros).
209 B Miarka (Ger) 71 66 72 (1,495 Euros).
210 E Ramsay (Sco) 70 71 69 (1,353 Euros).
211 T Pollari (Fin) 68 73 70.
212 F Fritsch (Ger) 72 73 67, M Ford (Eng) 72 66 74, K Sullivan (Wal) 67 70 75.
Selected totals
213 J Busby (Eng) 75 70 68, R McGee (Ire) 67 76 70 (jt 10th).
214 M A Martin Spa) 70 75 69, J Smith (Eng) 74 66 74.
215 S Wiffin (Eng) 80 66 69, J Ruth (Eng) 70 74 71, E Saltman (Sco) 73 68 74 (jt 17th).
217 G King (Eng) 71 72 74.
220 Y Ali (Eng) 79 66 75, P Doherty (Sco) 75 69 76, K McNicoll (Sco) 75 69 76 (jt 31st).
221 Jack Doherty (Sco) 75 70 76 (jt 27th).
228 Zack Saltman (Sco) 75 72 81 (42nd).


ends

Kiwi Brown puts a polish on Hong Kong opener


NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE ASIAN TOUR
New Zealand’s Mark Brown produced the lowest round of his career with a sizzling eight-under-par 62 to lead the first round of the US$2.5 million UBS Hong Kong Open.
Brown, a two-time winner on the Asian Tour, was flawless at the Hong Kong Golf Club as he sank eight birdies to edge ahead of young Irish star Rory McIlroy and India ’s Jeev Milkha Singh, who carded matching 63s.
A further shot back was former Hong Kong Open champion Simon Dyson of England , who fired a hole-in-one at the 12th en route to a 64 to share fourth place with Dane Soren Hansen. Dyson earned US$10,000 worth of UBS shares.
Korea’s Young Nam, who faced a bleak future six years ago after being diagnosed with spinal meningitis, made full use of his sponsor’s invitation, returning a fine 65 to lie alongside US Open champion and Ryder Cup hero Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland, Rhys Davies of Wales, England’s Oliver Wilson and Damien McGrane of Ireland .
Brown was delighted to upstage the stars of the game at the UBS Hong Kong Open , which is jointly sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour.
 “A good day … it was kind of a bit of a surprise after my form over the last two months, but a good surprise,” said the Kiwi, who has missed eight cuts in his last 11 tournaments.
Wielding a hot putter, he reached eight under through 13 holes and admitted the thought of shooting the first ever 59 on both Tours flashed across his mind. “It kind of did. I birdied four to go eight‑under and the fifth hole, I hit a beautiful shot to five or six feet and thought if I can knock that in and get to nine‑under with four holes to play, it was a possibility. But I missed the putt and then didn't really give myself many makeable chances to finish off. So that went out the window pretty quickly,” he said.
Since winning back-to-back titles in Asia in 2008, which earned him playing rights in Europe , the 35-year-old fell off the radar just as quickly as he rose to fame. But hooking up with childhood friend Shane Kuiti, a coach based in neighbouring Shenzhen, as his caddie this week has brought about a fresh outlook in Brown’s game.
“I grew up with him at my home course in New Zealand . He sort of got me back to a few things that I used to do when I was young, swing‑wise, and we just worked on a few of those things at the start of the week and it seems to be working,” said Brown.
The 21-year-old McIlroy, who has finished runner-up in the last two editions of the UBS Hong Kong O pen , showed his intent of winning the title with an impressive round that include eight birdies against a lone bogey.
“The conditions were perfect for scoring early on. There was not a breath of wind and when the greens are that good in the morning, you can take advantage of it, and that's what I was able to do,” said McIlroy, who is sporting a blonde-coloured hairdo this week.
McIlroy’s only bogey came on the sixth hole, his 15th of the day through an errant drive which saw him hit his second shot left-handed. But he bounced back with two birdies over his last three holes. “You always feel as if you can do better. I really should have birdied the third hole, the par five. I let one go at six. But you can't have everything,” said McIlroy.
Singh, Asia ’s number one in 2006 and 2008, turned in one under but his game lit up with a superb inward 30. “The front nine is a tougher nine and I didn't hole many putts. And on the back nine, I made a lot of putts, hit the ball well and you know, shot six‑under and I will take a seven‑under on this golf course.”
It was a welcome return to form for the Indian star, who is an Asian Tour honorary member as his season was blighted by injuries which saw him struggle in America . “I'm feeling good, my shoulder is getting better but it's not 100 per cent. I've been getting a lot of work done with the physios,” he said.
Dyson, champion in Hong Kong in 2000 when he won the Asian Tour Order of Merit, sank his ace with a pitching wedge. It was his third career hole in one as a professional.
“I got off to a good start, parred 10 and missed the green on 11. I was only about six yards from the pin and managed to chip‑in. So that was a nice start and then it got even better at the next. Perfect yardage, no wind, perfect wedge, straight down the flag, pitched it to about a foot short and just rolled out and dropped in the hole,” said Dyson.
Title holder Gregory Bourdy launched his defence with a 66 for tied 12th place with amongst others, reigning Asian Tour number one Thongchai Jaidee and Thammanoon Srirot, both of Thailand and Korea ’s Mo Joong-kyung.
SCOTSWATCH. Aberdeen's Ritchie Ramsay was back in form after missing the cut in Singapore. Ramsay shot a four-under-par 66, one ahead of compatriot David Drysdale.
Stephen Gallacher and Paul Lawrie gave themselves something to build on, both returning 68s. Alastair Forsyth and Colin Montgomerie squeezed under par with 69 apiece.

FIRST-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 70
Players from Great Britain and Ireland unless stated
63 Jeev Milkha Singh (India), Rory McIlroy
64 Soren Hansen (Denmark), Simon Dyson
65 Damien McGrane, Graeme McDowell, Oliver Wilson, Rhys Davies, Kenneth Ferrie, Young Nam (S Korea)
66 Richie Ramsay, Anders Hansen (Denmark), David Howell, David Horsey, Thongchai Jaidee (Thailand), Ricardo Gonzalez (Argentina), Thammanoon Srirot (Thailand), Jamie Donaldson, Tano Goya (Argentina), Gregory Bourdy (France), Joong Kyung Mo (S Korea)
67 Hennie Otto (S Africa), Gareth Maybin, Matteo Manassero (Italy), Sung Lee (S Korea), Udorn Duangdecha (Thailand), James Morrison, Mardan Mamat (Singapore), Anthony Kang (US), Juvic Pagunsan (Philippines), David Drysdale, Marcus Both (Australia), Kodai Ichihara (Japan), Fabrizio Zanotti (Paraguay), Ian Poulter, Anirban Lahiri (India), Bradley Dredge
68 Ben Leong (Malaysia), Simon Griffiths, Chinnarat Phadungsil (Thailand), Prom Meesawat (Thailand), Scott Barr (Australia), Shane Lowry, Michael Hoey, Marcus Fraser (Australia), Y.E. Yang (S Korea), Scott Strange (Australia), Wen-Tang Lin (Taipei), Shiv Shankar Prasad Chowrasia (Ind), Stephen Gallacher, Paul Lawrie, Gaganjeet Bhullar (India), Jean-Francois Lucquin (Fra), Jyoti Randhawa (India), Kunal Bhasin (India)
69 Unho Park (Australia), Peter Hedblom (Sweden), Mark Purser (New Zealand), Pablo Larrazabal (Spain), Graeme Storm, Felipe Aguilar (Chile), Pariya Junhasavasdikul (Thailand), John Daly (US), Robert Rock, Alastair Forsyth, Chapchai Nirat (Thailand), Gregory Havret (France), Christian Cevaer (Fra), Steve Webster, Chris Wood, Jeppe Huldahl (Den), Shiv Kapur (India), Colin Montgomerie, Yih-shin Chan (Taipei), Brad Smith, Jbe Kruger (Rsa), Iain Steel (Mal), Paul McGinley, Thomas Levet (France)
70 Timothy Tang (Hong Kong), Seung-yul Noh (S Korea), Kwanchai Tannin (Hong Kong), Peter Lawrie, David S Johnson (US), Christian Nilsson (Swe), David Gleeson (Aus), Nick Dougherty, Chawalit Plaphol (Thailand), Simon Khan, Jason Knutzon (US), Tony Carolan (Aus), Matthew Rosenfeld (US), Angelo Que (Phi), Danny Chia (Malaysia), Mark Foster
71 In-choon Hwang (S Korea), Soren Kjeldsen (Denmark), Mikael Lundberg (Sweden), Wei Chih Lu (Tha), Mars Pucay (Philippines), Alexander Noren (Sweden), Gerald Rosales (Philippines), Michael Jonzon (Sweden), Darren Beck (Aus), Charl Schwartzel (S Africa), Thaworn Wiratchant (Thailand), Lian-Wei Zhang (Chn), Rikard Karlberg (Swe), Daniel Vancsik (Argentina), Himmat Rai (Ind), Richard Finch, Ignacio Garrido (Spain), Ariel Canete (Argentina), Antonio Lascuna (Phi), Ross McGowan
72 Hirotaro Naito (Japan), Thomas Aiken (S Africa), Ben Fox (US), Darren Clarke, Wen-chong Liang (China), Jose Manuel Lara (Spain), A Siddikur (Ban), Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spain), Rick Kulacz (Australia), Niclas Fasth (Swe), Peter Karmis (S Africa), Jovick Lee (Hong Kong)
73 C Muniyappa (India), Woon Man Wong (Hkg), Keith Horne (Rsa), Shinichi Mizuno (Hkg), Andrew Dodt (Aus), Chih-bing Lam (Sin), Chris Rodgers
74 Derek Fung (Hkg), Shaaban Hussin (Mal), Wen-hong Lin (Chn)
75 C J Gatto (US), Digvijay Singh (India)
76 William Fung wai kuen (Hong Kong)
79 Gavin Flint (Australia)
82 Alexander Cheng (Hong Kong)
RTD: Thomas Bjorn (Denmark)


GRAEME McDOWELL'S CUP OF WOE ... £250 excess baggage!

 (from the DailyRecord.co.uk sport website)
Graeme McDowell won't be flying Cathay Pacific again in a hurry after being charged £250 excess baggage for taking the US Open trophy on his flight from Singapore to Hong Kong.
He said: "It leaves a sour taste. I only brought it so people could admire it and perhaps take inspiration from my victory."62 Mark Brown (New Zealand)

Kevin Cademy-Taylor new Performance Development Manager

SGU junior coaching posts for Adam

Hunter, Neil Marr

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE SCOTTISH GOLF UNION
The Scottish Golf Union has appointed Adam Hunter and Neil Marr, picured right, to the roles of Head Coaches for its national Under-16s and Under-18s boys’ squads with Northumberland’s Kevin Cademy-Taylor recruited to the new role of Performance Development Manager.
Following the departure earlier this year of national junior coach Spencer Henderson to the Turkish Golf Federation, a review of the SGU’s performance programmes and team structure has been undertaken with the changes now in place. Hunter will take charge of the Scottish Boys Under-16s squad coaching while Marr will be working with the national Under-18s squad, both on a part-time basis.

The post of Performance Development Manager has been created by the SGU and SLGA to oversee the Scottish Golf Academy programme and develop closer links with Area, County and club coaching programmes, with Cademy-Taylor beginning his role next February.
Adam Hunter, pictured left, is one of the country’s most respected coaches. Having coached Paul Lawrie when he won the 1999 Open Championship, Hunter has been a Scottish Golf Academy coach for the past six years and the former Portuguese Open Champion counts Lawrie and fellow European Tour star Gary Orr as current pupils.
The 47-year-old, whose main base is Mearns Castle Golf Academy in Glasgow, also coaches Conor O’Neil, this year’s SGU Boys Order of Merit champion as well as a number of the country’s most promising young golfers.
Neil Marr, the Head Professional at Meldrum House Hotel and Golf Club, Oldmeldrum, Aberdeenshire, has helped develop some of Scotland’s brightest golfing prospects, including the 2009 national men’s and boys champion David Law and coaches four of the six players who helped the North-east to victory in this year’s Moneygate Scottish area team championship.
Neil has been Scottish Golf Academy coach for the Grampian region since 2004, working with a number of Scotland’s international junior sides during that time.
Cademy-Taylor brings a wealth of experience from a variety of playing and coaching roles in England. He was the first appointment to the voluntary role of EGU North Region Manager, working on their Development Programme as well as managing the English U18s boys’ team.
An honourary life member of Slaley Hall, he was named England’s Volunteer Coach of the Year in 2010 after helping Northumberland win the Northern Counties title for the first time in 17 years.
Steve Paulding, Performance Manager for Scottish Golf, welcomed the trio of new appointments:
“Having undertaken an exhaustive selection process we are delighted to welcome Kevin, Adam and Neil into these new roles in what is an exciting development for Scottish Golf. Each of them brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to their respective roles and ensures we will continue to enhance the support we offer to the country’s best young players.”
“With the new positions in place we can support our Areas, Counties and clubs more effectively allowing us to further improve the flow of young talent coming through clubs into our Academies and onto our national squads.”
“Both Adam and Neil have worked with our young players for many years with great track records while Kevin comes with a great pedigree from the North East of England where he has enjoyed success at county and national level.” he added.

 Review ends SGU coaching 'stigma', says happy Adam Hunter

FROM THE SPORT.SCOTSMAN.COM WEBSITE
By MARTIN DEMPSTER
Adam Hunter, who coached Paul Lawrie when he became Open champion, has urged critics of the Scottish Golf Union's coaching methods to lay off after an independent review discovered there was no evidence of method coaching being used.

TO READ MARTIN DEMPSTER'S INTERVIEW IN FULL ON SPORT.SCOTSMAN.COM,

CLICK HERE