GERMANY'S GUNTHER WINS FIRST EPD TOUR EVENT BY THREE

FROM THE EPD TOUR WEB SITE
Belek,Turkey. Germany's Christoph Günther has made a brilliant start to the EPD Tour season. The 35-year-old from Oberammergau secured victory at the Tat Golf Classic, the opening event of the new season, with a total of 10 under par 206 (66, 69, 71).
He won by three shots from another German, Maximilian Glauert.
Motherwell's Paul O'Hara had a disappointing last round of 75 after opening with two rounds of 73 over the par-72 lay-out. Today the Scot had bogeys at the fourth, fifth, 15th, 16th and 17th and only two birdies, at the ninth and long 18th, to offset that in halves of 37 and 38.
It was O'Hara's worst inward half of the three days. He finished joint 28th on 221 and earned 351 Euros.

TO READ ALL THE FINAL TOTALS ON THE EPD WEBSITE

CHECK HERE

JACK'S THE LAD IN NEW SOUTH WALES MEDAL FIRST ROUND

FROM THE NEW SOUTH WALES GOLF ASSOCIATION WEBSITE
The hottest day in Sydney,  this (Australian) summer has greeted players on Day 1 of the 2011 NSW Medal at Cumberland and Liverpool Golf Clubs today.
England's Jack Senior, from Heysham, has started the event in sensational fashion and leads the 280-strong field with a seven under par 65 around the Cumberland lay-out. Another Englishman, Andy Sullivan from Nuneaton, Warwickshire, has continued his recent form to shoot a six under par 66 to be in second place.
(Editor: All in all it was a good day for the touring England squad. Laurie Cantor is joint third on 67 and Stiggy Hodgson tied for ninth place on 68. Former British boys champion Tom Lewis had a 70).
Five players are tied for third across both courses, sitting on five under.
Players will now switch courses for their second round of 18 holes on Thursday, with those who played at Liverpool today contesting Cumberland, and vice versa.

TO READ ALL THE SCORES ON THE NSW GA WEBSITE

CLICK HERE

SHADBOLT'S 67 SETS PACE IN HI5 PRO TOUR OPENING DAY

FROM THE Hi5 PRO TOUR WEBSITE
The 2011 Hi5 Pro Tour season got underway today at the Oliva Nova Golf and Beach Resort in Oliva, Spain.
It was Tom Shadbolt from England who fired a bogey-free round at the Seve Ballesteros-designed course and is the current leader at five under par 67.
Shadbolt holds a one-shot lead over countryman James Busby and Sebastian Garcia of Spain, both who shot fine 68s.
Denmark's Joachim Hansen and England's James Watts are tied for fourth place on 70.
In the women's division, amateur Merlin Palm from Estonia fired a 72 and holds an eight-shot lead from former Welsh amateur international Rhyn Wyn Thomas.
Round 2 of the 54 hole event will start tomorrow at 9am local time.
FIRST-ROUND SCORES
Par 72
1 SHADBOLT, Tom (England) 67
T2 GARCIA RODRIGUEZ, Sebastian (Spain) 68 
T2 BUSBY, James (England) 68
T4 HANSEN, Joachim (Denmark) 70 
T4 WATTS, James (England) 70 
T6 BENZ, Ken (Switzerland) 71 
T6 SUURSALU, Mark (Estonia) 71 
8 CARRILES, Jose Manuel (Spain) 72
T9 BARRY-WALSH, Ed (England) 73 
T9 RUIZ FONHOF, Xavier 73
T11 OLIPHANT, James (Netherlands) 74
T11 BEADLE, Scott (England) 74.
T13 HOUSBY, James (England) 77
T13 DEBOUB, Mus (Netherlands) 77
T15 PÕLDMA, Egert (Estonia) 78
T15 McCANCE, Stuart (England) 78 
T15 QUESADA, Javier (Spain) 78.
18 BOLUFER, Francisco (Spain) 81

T19 PALM, Marten (am) (Estonia) 83 
T19 RAMOS, Alejandro (Spain) 83
21 PINTOR SMITH, Francisco (Spain) 84
WOMEN
72 Merlin Palm (Estonia).
80 Rhian Wyn Thomas (Wales).
83 Brunu Kunzli (Switzerland). 

LETHAM GRANGE CLOSES DOWN: STAFF

lET

Letham Grange Hotel, near Arbroath, with two golf courses - closed until further notice (image by Cal Carson Golf Agency).

FROM THE DUNDEE COURIER WEBSITE
By GRAEME BLETCHER and GRAEME STRACHAN
Sacked staff from an Angus golf and country estate have hit out at the way they have been treated following the shock shutdown and are seeking answers from the men at the top.
The Letham Grange Hotel, near Arbroath, and its two 18-hole courses closed with immediate effect last week due to a fresh legal contest over ownership.
A notice posted on the front door of the hotel by Letham Grange directors Neil Rimmer and Paul Rodgers says they hope the legal issues will be resolved but the hotel and the golf courses will remain closed until the litigation is concluded.
It is understood 10 members of staff have lost their jobs. Some have been there for over 13 years. One told The Courier the way they have been treated was "incredibly disappointing."
"On Thursday night I checked my bank balance and found I had been given a random amount of money that was much lower than my usual salary," he said. "On Friday all of the staff were taken into the general manager's office and given the same letter saying that the business was going to cease trading.
"We were not given a P45, no wage slip, no contact details and the general manager refused to give us a personal phone number. Now I don't have anyway of finding out what is going on.
"It is incredibly disappointing that they would treat their staff this way. We got empty promises of a phone call from the general managers to keep us informed but it hasn't happened."
Rumours of closure had been circulating around the business for several years, but Friday's announcement came as a major shock to staff members.
Taiwanese businessman Dong Guang (Peter) Liu has sought to take possession of the property, claiming it is his, and legal proceedings went through all levels of the Scottish courts system and to the House of Lords.
Letham Grange Management Company Ltd was appointed to run the hotel following the outcome of the original liquidators' litigation with Mr Liu in February 2009 and invested £300,000 to modernise it after years of stagnation resulting from the long-running and highly complex legal tussle over ownership.
Refurbishments include upgrading bedrooms, opening a new brasserie and bar, and improving drainage on the Old and Glens golf courses. There is now further litigation and the directors have failed to secure investment to keep trading.
The staff member continued, "I went to Citizens Advice and they told me to write a letter but I have no address or contact details."
Employees are now planning to send letters out via recorded delivery to the company's registered address in Ashburton, Devon, in a bid to get answers.
Those made redundant include kitchen and bar workers and four greenkeepers.
Golfers were told to cease playing and leave the course immediately at around 10am on Friday, with greenkeepers instructed to take in flag poles and other course equipment.
The statement made by directors last week said the action was not taken lightly and results from the contract to operate the hotel being terminated after shareholders stated they were unable to continue to fund the operation.
"It is hoped that ultimately these matters will be resolved," it read. "However, in the meantime the hotel and golf courses will now remain closed until such a time as the litigation is finally concluded."

PAUL LAWRIE SIGNS SPONSORSHIP DEAL WITH HUNTING ENERGY

NEWS RELEASE

1999 Open Champion Paul Lawrie has signed a sponsorship agreement with Hunting Energy Services International, a global energy service provider to leading national and international oil and gas companies.

Lawrie, from Aberdeen in the North East of Scotland, has won arguably the most prestigious trophy in golf, the claret jug, following his triumph at the Open Championships in 1999.  He has since won four further events on the European Tour with victories in Spain, Qatar, Wales and Scotland, as well as representing the European Ryder Cup team in 1999.

Hunting’s interest in Paul Lawrie was highlighted following the recent acquisition of Welltonic Ltd, a long term supporter of the sportsman.  The partnership between Paul Lawrie and Hunting delivers across three key areas for the company:

1) enhancing its brand profile worldwide through a series of branding opportunities;

2) providing high-end networking events for client entertaining and business development fulfilment, and, most importantly,

3) driving employee engagement through support for the Paul Lawrie Foundation and youth sport in general.

In addition to maximising its own marketing investment, Hunting will work closely with the Paul Lawrie Foundation to identify areas where it can add further value to its operations.

Bruce Ferguson (Managing Director, Hunting Energy Services International) commented:  “Paul is an excellent ambassador for golf and we are delighted to announce this new partnership, supporting both the glory and grassroots elements of the sport, through his work in the wider community with the Paul Lawrie Foundation.  The Foundation encourages participation and fair competition in a range of sports and Hunting is pleased to support Paul’s enthusiasm in giving something back to the local community.”

Lawrie was also delighted to welcome Hunting into his portfolio of sponsors and is pleased to be working closely with another company whose Head Office is in his home town of Aberdeen.  He stated:
“I’m delighted to start a relationship with Hunting, and look forward to working closely with them to develop the Paul Lawrie Foundation, as I know that they are keen to support the wider community in Aberdeen.”The agreement will see Lawrie wearing the Hunting corporate logo on his collar in the coming year.



KAYMER SAYS McILROY MISSING 'LITTLE BIT EXTRA' AT MOMENT

FROM THE BELFAST TELEGRAPH WEBSITE
Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson tee it up at The Farmers Insurance Open in Torrey Pines this week ... but you'll have to wait until next week's Qatar Masters to see the World No 1 and No 2 in action.
If you'd said that a couple of years back, the men in white would have come knocking at your door.
Yet there they are, Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer, the pride of Europe, sitting on top of the world rankings ... not to mention Graeme McDowell in fourth, Rory McIlroy seventh, Paul Casey ninth, Luke Donald 10th and Ian Poulter 12th.
It's tragic that Woods, now third in the world, had to wound his family and himself so badly for equilibrium to be restored in global golf.

Yet now that it is, the outlook for the game could hardly be better ... especially in Europe.

For natural winners, look no further than guys like Westwood, Kaymer and McDowell.

And Rory McIlroy? Inevitably, the jury's still out on the 21-year-old, although he is the most naturally gifted and exciting young player in the world.

When he's hot, McIlroy's unstoppable. When he's not, he staggers under the weight of unfair expectation.

As for Kaymer, it’s tempting to compare him to Michael Schumacher, though appearances are deceptive. Imperious on the course, the 26-year-old golfer marries humility with trademark German frankness.

So when he was asked if he was surprised McIlroy had not won more, Kaymer said: “Yes, I am very, very surprised.”

He then went on: “When I came on Tour I was 21. I learned a lot about myself. The last five years travelling on Tour, working with different people, dealing with the media, have helped me to mature as a golfer.

“I don't want to say Rory's not mature. In fact, I think he's very mature for his age. But I think just that little bit extra is missing at the minute.

“But, you know, if you give him a couple more years on Tour, especially when he plays a bit more in America, which is different for us as well, his prime will come. He will be one of the best players in the world. I definitely think he will be No 1!”

McIlroy's circumstances are much changed in 2011 yet the greatest transformation is psychological.

He explained: “I expect a lot this year, though really the one goal I've set myself is simply to work hard. There were times last year where I didn't feel I gave it 100 per cent.

“As a professional sportsman, you can't do that,” he admitted.

“I'm talking about teeing off on a Sunday morning at nine (tournament leaders tee off much later), when you don't really have a chance to win. Sometimes I found it hard to get motivated in those circumstances and didn't give it my all.

“So you set a goal every day and try to achieve that.”

And McDowell has taken a similar outlook.

“I can sometimes show impatience if a course is there for the taking or when I'm playing very well. It's something I have to learn to control.”

It's refreshing when guys like McIlroy and McDowell find it so hard to compromise or settle for second best. Maybe that's the European way!


THIS WEEK'S WORLD TOP 10

1. (1) Lee Westwood (England) 8.69 average points
2. (3) Martin Kaymer (Germany) 8.09
3. (2) Tiger Woods (US) 7.13
4. (4) Graeme McDowell (N Ireland) 6.42
5. (6) Steve Stricker (US) 6.02
6 (5) Phil Mickelson 5.99
7. (12) Rory McIlroy (N Ireland) 5.93
8. (7) Jim Furyk (US) 5.65
9. (8) Paul Casey (England) 5.63
10. (9) Luke Donald (England) 5.
+Last week's ranking in brackets.

REST OF TOP 20
11 Ernie Els (S Africa).
12 Ian Poulter (England).
13 Matt Kuchar (US).
14 Retief Goosen (S Africa).
15 Francesco Molinari (Italy).
16 Dustin Johnson (US).
17 Robert Karlsson (Denmark).
18 Louis Oosthuizen (S Africa).
19 Edoardo Molinari (Italy).
20 Tim Clark (S Africa).

SCOTS IN TOP 150
47 Martin Laird.
89 Stephen Gallacher.
91 Michael Sim.
148 Richie Ramsay

Selected Scot253 Paul Lawrie