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ALAN LOCKHART WINS MIDLAND ALLIANCE AT LUNDIN LINKS

Ladybank assistant professional Alan Lockhart scored another win on the Midland Golfers Alliance circuit with a fine round of four-under-par 67 at Lundin Links, Fife today.
He had three shots to spare over PGA Cup player Craig Matheson (Falkirk Tryst).
The handicap section was won with net 64 off 10 of a handicap by Chris. Westland from Alloa.
LEADING SCRATCH
Par 71
67 Alan Lockhart (Ladybank) ap.
70 Craig Matheson (Falkirk Tryst) ap.
71 Keith Bruce (Edzell).
72 Gary Tough (Edzell), Ron Walker (Lundin), Alistair Webster (Edzell).
73 Jamie Stevenson (Braehead) p.
73 Paul Brookes (Pitreavie) p.
74 Jim Watt (Edzell), Paul Jamieson (Dunblane) p, M McKenzie (Forfar) ap, Chris Westland (Alloa)


LEADING HANDICAP

64 Chris Westland (Alloa) (10).
67 Ian Mason (St Andrews New Club) (7).
69 Neil Ballingall (Lundin) (7).
69 Dennis Redford (Murrayshall) (7).
71 J Rankine (Scotscraig) (8), J Watt (Edzell) (2), R Baldie (Crieff) (7), C Wallace (Caird Park) (10), G Hume (The Duke's) (7).
72 G Tough (Edzell) (scr), S Andrews (Ladybank) (9), R. Redpath (Scotscraig) (5), G Jenkins (Crieff) (13).


Qualifiers for the JTC Interiors Express at Arbroath in April
R Walker, J Watt.

Qualifier for the McQueen Shield
 Ian Mason.


Next meeting is at Arbroath on Thursday, February 3 (tee reserved 8.30am to 12.30).

WALLACE BOOTH REPORTS FOR SCOTTISHGOLFVIEW.COM

I am going to play in next week's Hooters Tour event and then go back to Augusta. I am also planning on playing an Etour event at Hilton Head in the middle of February.
I will then be in Augusta for another month and then come back home to Scotland in the middle of March.
I am going to be playing on the EuroPro Tour and hopefully get some Challenge Tour Invites.

WALLACE BOOTH
Meantime in the United States

+The Editor would welcome snippets of news - like Wallace Booth's note above - from any Scottish tour pro, male or female, about what they are doing and what they are planning to do. The golfing public are interested.
E-mail the information to Colin@scottishgolfview.com
If you have a picture to go with the news, so much the better.

WHAT MAKES A GOOD DRIVER?

By GRAHAM DALLAS As a Clubmaker I know what is important about a driver. A shaft to match the player's swing speed, fitted so that the spine is aligned down the line, grip that fits the player's hand size and any head that weighs around 208 grams. This is consistent and has been for a long time but consistency doesn’t make you buy a new driver every year and if you don’t buy a new driver every year then the major manufacturers don’t sell the volumes they need to satisfy their shareholders. Cynical? Sure but let’s look at the marketing over the years.
In my early days in golf the throughbore club arrived: a driver with no hozel. Clubmakers pointed out that this was a weakness and shafts would break but we were told this wouldn’t happen. We would get more feel with throughbore. Well, I saw many clubs with broken shafts over the next few years and I’ve yet to meet a player who says they get more feel from throughbore clubs.
Next came a revolution in the graphite shaft, the bubble. Much was made of it. It was the new way forward for several years before we reverted back to standard shafts. It was followed by the fat shaft but it too has faded in the last few years.
Then we have tungsten weights on the sole of the club, 25% of the total club weight. Can’t remember the reasons for this but I heard the Tour players hated it and it was gone in about one year.
Then the big one. If the adverts were to be believed, the golf industry had rewritten the laws of physics - drivers with 27 sweetspots. Now the sweet spot is determined by the centre of gravity and it is logical to assume that if there is one centre of gravity, then there will be one sweet spot.
Newton and Einstein must have been turning in their graves. I note these claims have now been dropped.
Once the manufacturers could not go on increasing the size of the head the problem of what can we do next was solved by the shape of the head. The square-headed driver, and increased MOI. We were told it would be very difficult to hit these clubs off line. Right! Let’s leave it there.
Then we were getting movable weights on the clubs and told we could change the flight of ball by moving the weights. I note they never told us how many degrees we could expect from different configurations and I haven’t met a golfer who changed the shape of his shot by changing the weights.
Recently the big boys have been forced to offer top brand shafts as alternatives to their own brands as customers have become more aware of the shaft's importance and the shafts used by the best players. The shafts used by the top players are extortionate.
There is one currently on the market that I can’t buy for less than £200, I have to mark that up and then fit it. We are looking at £300 fitted to the head. Yet it is being sold on a current driver, complete with the head, for under £150. Or is it?
One thing I can say for certain is the shafts they use are not the same as the ones I have to pay so much for and that I am told are fitted in the tour players' clubs.
How do I know this? Well if you look closely at the shafts, they say designed exclusively for so and so (the manufacturer's name). So if the shaft is exclusive to them, then it is not the same shaft as that being promoted by the shaft manufacturers and sold to me.
So where does this leave us? For me we are no further on that we were 10 years ago. What makes a good club is one that you can feel the head when you swing, has a shaft that kicks for your swing speed (that is properly fitted) and a grip which matches your hand size.
What this will give you is a club you can grip properly, feel when you swing and kicks at impact. The goalposts haven’t moved, just as your handicap doesn’t fall every time you buy a new driver.
There’s no easy way to get better. Properly-fitted equipment will give you the best chance to improve but hard work and good counsel is the cheapest, best and most satisfying way to improve your game.

Graham Dallas
Dundee Golf Shop
Golfsmith’s Scottish Clubmaker of the year 2004

EDFORS LEADS WITH EIGHT-UNDER 64 AT VOLVO CHAMPIONS

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Swede Johan Edfors set the pace at the inaugural Volvo Golf Champions in Bahrain with an eight under par 64 today.
The 35-year-old newly-wed leads by two from compatriot Peter Hanson, Ryder Cup Italian Francesco Molinari, England's Graeme Storm and Spaniard Pablo Larrazabal.
Sergio Garcia is just one further back after a bogey-free start to his season and Paul Casey - the highest-ranked player in the field at ninth in the world - also shot 67.
Edfors, married last month, won three times in 2006, but has failed to add to his tally in more than 100 European Tour events since then.
However, he took advantage of the calmer early conditions with nine birdies, his only mistake coming on the short 16th.
After establishing the record mark for the new European Tour venue, he said: "My iron play was really superb and I had a bunch of chances from around 15 feet.
"I think I am a lot better player than five years ago, but the results have not really shown that.”
Storm missed the cut by one in Abu Dhabi, and said: "I've done a lot of gym work trying to get the body in the right shape to get the swing in the right place.
"When the EGU (English Golf Union) said you need to get fit I just laughed at them, but I wish I'd listened - I wouldn't be having the shoulder problem I've had because I'd be more flexible.
"The Tour physio guys are probably sick of the sight of me and I've only been out for a week."
Big-hitting Spaniard Alvaro Quiros also made nine birdies, but trips to the water on both the 18th and seventh cost him double bogeys and that added up to a five under 67.
Quiros was playing with Garcia and talented Italian teenager Matteo Manassero and they all finished on the same mark as Casey.
Casey matched the front-nine 31 by Edfors, thanks to a closing eagle, and he stated: "The 258yd five-wood was the best swing I made all day. There were times when I wasn't sure I would shoot under par, so it was just a wonderful way to finish."
For Garcia, now down at 80th in the Official World Golf Ranking, it was his best score on The European Tour for just over 12 months.
He began 2010 with rounds of 66-67 in Abu Dhabi, but they proved a false dawn as he did not manage a top-three finish all year.
Manassero, still three months away from his 18th birthday, became The European Tour's youngest ever winner in Spain last October and his day was spoiled only by a missed 18in putt on the first.
Colin Montgomerie became a victim of his own course design at the 408yd fifth, going from the desert into a hazard and running up a triple bogey 7 in his 72.

LEADERBOARD
Par 72
64 Johan Edfors (Sweden)
66 Pablo Larrazabal (Spain), Peter Hanson (Sweden), Francexco Molinari (Italy), Graeme Storm (England).

SCOTS' SCORES
Par 36-36
68 Paul Lawrie 35-33 (jt 14).
70 Stephen Gallacher 34-36 (jt 36th).
71 Gary Orr 35-36 (jt 51st).
72 Richie Ramsay 37-35, Colin Montgomerie 38-34 (jt 67th).
74 Marc Warren 41-33 (jt 85th).

TO READ ALL THE SCORES AND CHECK THE SCORECARDS
ON THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE

CLICK HERE

ANDY SULLIVAN SHARES LEAD IN NEW SOUTH WALES MEDAL

FROM THE NEW SOUTH WALES GOLF ASSOCIATION WEBSITE
On an astonishing second day of play in the 2011 NSW Medal, two players have blitzed the field.
Last years NSW Amateur Champion, 17-year-old Jake Higginbottom (The Australian Golf Club) shot an incredible nine under at Cumberland Golf Club today (amazingly still three shots off the Club Record). His round included two eagles on the 2nd and 9th holes and five birdies.
Not to be outdone, Englishman Andy Sullivan (Nuneaton) shot eight under at Liverpool, which sees him share the lead with Higginbottom going into the final day’s play of the 2011 NSW Medal.
The pair will be hard to catch, leading the field by seven shots. However it should see a great finish, with them going head-to-head playing together in the leading group.
Despite the soaring temperatures, the good scores continued throughout the day at Cumberland. Josh Cabban (Concord) shot a solid six under (66), while Brett Drewitt (Long Reef) and Dimi Papadatos (Toukley) both had five under (67).
At Liverpool scores were equally as impressive with Sullivan’s eight under, five under from Grant Thomas (Moore Park) and Fidel Concepion (Lynwood).
The International contingent of players continued their form on Day 2 with six players sitting in the top ten at the end of day’s play.

TO READ ALL THE SCORES

CLICK HERE

SWISS ROOKIE PRO WINS Hi5 PRO TOUR EVENT IN THE RAIN

FROM THE Hi5 PRO TOUR WEBSITE
The final day saw the rain in Spain come and it posed a great challenge for the international field at the 2011 Oliva Nova Open in the Murcia region of south-east Spain.
The rain started early in the morning and continued throughout the entire day, Hi5 Pro Tour officials had a tough job but managed, with squeegees. to complete the 54-hole event at Oliva Nova.
Tournament Director Wayne Hachey and his team kept the competition going. “We could have easily said, the day is cancelled, but my partner Nigel German and I are committed to preparing these young players for the main tour and we know they will face these conditions.
"We were literally pushed to the limit today but it would be totally unfair to the players who fought all day through the tough conditions and then to have the day cancelled. However, we still have to maintain FAIR conditions for all players” commented Hachey.
In the end it was Ken Benz, a newly-turned professional from Zurich, Switzerland who played in fine fashion to win despite the torrential rain. Ken stared the day one shot off the lead, but birdied three out of the first four holes to take the lead from Denmark's Joachim Hansen and England's James Watts, the joint leaders after two rounds.
Benz was rock solid today with his performance and his only mistake came at the 17th where he double bogeyed the par 5, but he quickly answered with another birdie on the 18th.
Benz’s final round of 69 included five birdies in very adverse weather conditions and gave him a comfortable three-stroke winning margin from Hansen.
Tied for third was Spain's European Tour veteran Jose Manuel Carriles who scored the only other sub par round of the day with a 71 and James Watts from England. They both finished on four-under-par.
In the ladies division, Estonia amateur Merlin Palm was the decisive winner with rounds of 72, 78 and 82 for a seven-stroke winning margin from Welsh player Rhian Wyn Thomas. There were only three female competitors.



TO READ ALL THE MEN'S FINAL TOTALS
CLICK HERE

WOMEN'S FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)
232 Merlin Palm (Estonia) 72 78 82.
239 Rhian Wyn Thomas (Wales) 80 80 79.
247 Bruno Kunzli (Switzerland) 82 80 84.

ENGLISH GOLF UNION DATES, VENUES FOR 2013

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE ENGLISH GOLF UNION
The English Golf Union will visit long established clubs as well as pastures new for their two blue riband events in 2013.
In the 2013 fixtures just released, Frilford Heath in Oxfordshire will host the English Amateur Championship in July while the Brabazon Trophy will be played at The London Club in Kent in June.
Among the other venues for 2013, six will be hosting an EGU championship or finals for the first time.
The testing courses at Frilford Heath near Abingdon have been popular venues for EGU events as well as for the R and A and the LGU. The 2013 English Championship, on July 29–August 3, will be the second occasion that it has staged the event, the last begin in 1987 when Kevin Weeks beat Bobby Eggo from the Channel Islands in an all-Hampshire Union final.
More recently, it staged the English Seniors Championship in 2003 and the England v France international in 2008.
However, The London Club is new to the EGU and will be hosting the Brabazon Trophy on 26th – 29th June, 2013. Situated close to Brands Hatch, it opened in 1993 and has been the venue for several European Tour events in recent years but is keen to be involved with the amateur game
The two qualifying venues for the Brabazon will be new to the event, the Southern Qualifier being at Enmore Park in Somerset while Pleasington, near Blackburn, will host the Northern Qualifier, both in May.
The increasingly popular English Seniors Championship will head to the south west in early June to Bristol and Clifton and nearby Long Ashton. Both clubs have entertained EGU events, Bristol and Clifton hosting the Champion Club Tournament in 1992 and the Under 14 Championship for the Reid Trophy in 2005 which Eddie Pepperell won, while the Under 18 Championship for the Carris Trophy was played at Long Ashton in 1991.
The Mid Amateur Championship for the Logan Trophy will visit one of the oldest clubs in the country – formed in 1879 - but new to EGU events when it calls at The Worcestershire from July 5 to 7.
As far as the junior competitions are concerned, the Under 16 Championship for the McGregor Trophy, will be played on 16th – 18th July at Seacroft near Skegness which hosted the Logan Trophy in 1995, the Carris Trophy visits West Lancashire, scene of the Brabazon Trophy in 2004, in late July, while North Hants, which played host for the Champion Club Tournament two years ago, will stage the Reid Trophy in early August.
The English Schools Team Championship, which moves to a regular venue of the Bracken Course at Woodhall Spa this year, is again scheduled for EGU headquarters in 2013 on 10th July.
In 2013, the Champion Club event visits Dudsbury in Dorset, scene of the McGregor Trophy in 2004 when Oliver Fisher was champion, while the Junior Champion Club will be played over its regular venue of the Bracken Course at Woodhall Spa.
The team events played towards the second half of the 2013 season sees the Boys County Finals staged at Kedleston Park on 27th – 29th August, marking the centenary of the Derbyshire County Union, while the County Championship Finals are at Minchinhampton on 27th – 29th September.
The Gloucestershire club has staged two EGU events in recent years, the Logan Trophy in 2007, which current England captain Colin Edwards won, and the inaugural Seniors County Finals in 2005 when Cheshire took the title. The Seniors County Finals in 2013 will be staged at the RAC Club in Surrey, another first-time venue for the EGU.
The Junior, Seniors and County Champions Tournament will, as usual, be played at EGU headquarters at Woodhall Spa on 21st – 22nd September, while England host the Home Internationals that year at Ganton on 14th – 16th August.
The 2013 fixture list is:
May 14: Brabazon Southern Qualifying, Enmore Park
May 21: Brabazon Northern Qualifying, Pleasington
June 5-7: English Seniors Championship, Bristol and Clifton and Long Ashton
June 26-29: Brabazon Trophy, The London Club
July 5-7: Mid-Amateur Championship, The Worcestershire
July 10: English Schools Championship, Woodhall Spa (Bracken Course)
July 16-18: Under 16 Championship, Seacroft
July 23-26: Under 18 Championship, West Lancashire
July 29-Aug 3English Amateur Championship, Frilford Heath (Red and Blue)
August 6-8: Under 14 Championship, North Hants
August 10-11: EGU Gold Medal, Woodhall Spa (Hotchkin Course)
August 14-16 Home Internationals, Ganton
August 24-25: Junior Champion Club, Woodhall Spa (Bracken Course)
August 27-29: Boys County Finals, Kedleston Park
September 14-15: Champion Club, Dudsbury
September 21-22: Junior, Seniors and County Champions Tournament, Woodhall Spa (Hotchkin Course)
September 27-29: Mens County Finals, Minchinhampton
October 8-10: Seniors County Finals, The RAC Club

For further information please contact:
Lynne Fraser, EGU Marketing and PR Manager
Email: lfraser@englishgolfunion.org
Tel: 01526 354500

INAUGURAL NAIRN GOLF FESTIVAL APRIL 11 to 15

NEWS RELEASE
The North of Scotland is eagerly anticipating the start of the golfing season after it was confirmed the Moray Firth will host two prominent golfing events during 2011.
The European Tour’s decision to hold the Barclays Scottish Open at Castle Stuart Golf Links adds to an already exciting schedule which tees off with the inaugural Nairn Golf Festival (www.nairngolffestival.co.uk) to be held at the Nairn and Nairn Dunbar Golf Clubs.
Commenting on the news, Alister Asher, chairman of the Nairn Golf Festival Committee, said the decision will have a profound effect on the area.
“The European Tour’s announcement means 2011 will be a remarkable year for golf in the Highlands. It is, after all, an outstanding place to live and work, and with the Scottish Open and The Nairn Golf Festival featuring prominently, this year should see even more people enjoying this extraordinary stretch of coastline.”
Timed to coincide with the start of the golfing season, the Nairn Golf Festival incorporates a host of activities and events designed to help avid players and beginners prepare for the season ahead. Including a busy schedule of social fixtures, practical advice and opportunities to play two of the finest courses in the Highlands, the Festival combines fun, play and tuition.
Of particular note is an evening with Karl Morris, the mind coach to Ryder Cup hero Graeme McDowell and Open Championship winner Louis Oosthuizen who claims he can lower your score without changing your swing.
In addition, a drinks reception, a R and A-hosted rules quiz night and gala dinner will ensure the golfing banter will continue past sundown.
But it is the opportunity to learn from the best in the game that will appeal to fervent golfers looking to cut their handicap.
“We’ve brought together some of the biggest names in golf who, along with a team of experienced golf pros, will provide unparalleled guidance on how to improve your game,” said Asher.
“Flexibility is key however. There are a variety of events planned so that both groups and individuals will find something to suit their taste. The golf, combined with a busy social diary, will make Nairn a great place to visit. After all, we want to welcome as many golfers as possible to one of the country’s finest golfing coasts.”
The Nairn Golf Festival will take place between the 11th – 15th April. For booking information and a full programme of events, please visit the recently updated website www.nairngolffestival.co.uk.

+Packages, set at £249 per person, vary but typically include two rounds of golf at The Nairn Golf Club, two rounds of golf at Nairn Dunbar Golf Club, use of facilities at both clubs throughout the week, a welcome drinks reception at Golf View Hotel, golf clinics, a golf psychology evening with Dr Karl Morris, a rules night and a final night golf dinner with prominent speakers Eric Davidson and Campbell Elliot.
+Top coaching professionals are available all week for lessons to help individuals sharpen up their game.
+Also included in the programme are specialist clinics, club checks and new tech demonstrations offering golfers plenty of opportunities to get the best out of their existing set-up and their hands on the very latest gear.
+Nairn is only 10 minutes from Inverness airport with links all over the UK through Flybe and EasyJet.
+For more information, please visit www.nairngolffestival.co.uk












Press release distributed by The Word Association
www.thewordassociation.biz

WRIGHT AND CURRIE WIN WINTER SERIES AT TURNBERRY KINTYRE

Gareth Wright and Chris Currie won the Tartan Tour's Winter Series event over the Kintyre course at Turnberry.
West Linton pro Wright, runner-up in last year's Scottish PGA championship, and his Caldwell partner Currie fired an eight-under 64 in the four-ball, better-ball format.
The duo pipped Lanark's Alan White and Stephen Gray of Hayston on a card countback over the last six holes after they had finished tied at the top.


FULL SCOREBOARD
Par 72
1 Currie/Wright  64 (won on card countback) £700.
2 White/Gray 64 £500.
T3 Fox/Patrick 67 £275.
T3 Kelly/MacRae 67 £275.
T5 Pender/Stevely 68 £100.
T5 Wardell/Mann 68 £100.
T7 Brookes/Stevenson  69
T7 Edwards/Sharp 69
T7 Murdoch/Robinson 69
T7 Ronald/McCreadie  69
T11 Gibson/Matthews 71
T11 Russell/Russell 71
T11 Savage/Everett  71
T11 Smallwood/McCaffrey  71
T15 Drabble/Meikle 72
T15 McNab/Addison 72
17 Baxter/McLean 74
18 Fullen/Robinson 76

OLDCORN HEADS ALLIANCE FIELD OF 102 AT THE GLEN

FROM ALAN GREENSHIELDS
Edinburgh and East of Scotland Alliance secretary
A healthy number of 102 players headed to North Berwick (The Glen) yesterday to contest The Berwickshire Trophy which was played in testing conditions - stiff breeze with a cool bite to it.
Winner of the trophy with a score of 69 was tour professional Andrew Oldcorn of Kings Acre. His one under par score was also the best scratch score of the day.
Peebles duo Jamie Morris and Colin Fraser were next in the prize list for scratch scores. Jamie was second with a 72 and Colin shared third with a 73. Professionals Andy Marshall (Houston DR) and Alan Reid (West Linton) were the others sharing third scratch.
Top handicap prize winner on the day was Alex McKenzie of Lothianburn (75 less 5, net 70. Second place went to Justin White of Harrison (75 less 4, net 71) and 3rd place was filled by Wilson Morton of Dunbar (76 less 4, net 72).
Trainee prize went to Daniel Wood of Eyemouth with a scratch score of 74 and the Senior prize was won by William Smith of Harburn with a net 74.
The Scratch Order of Merit is still closely contested. Latest placings:
1. Chris Morris (Kingsknowe) 426 pts
2. Scott Catlin (Greenburn) 425 pts
3. Andy Marshall (Houston DR) 412 pts
New Leader in Handicap Order of Merit
1. Graeme Johnston (Glenbervie) 103.5 pts
2. Stuart Brown (Glenbervie) 97 pts
3. Justin White (Harrison) 89.5 pts.

Next Edinburgh and East of Scotland Alliance outing is in two weeks at Craigielaw.

PRIZEWINNERS AT THE GLEN
Scratch
1st £100: Andrew Oldcorn (Kings Acre) 69
2nd £80: Jame Morris (Peebles) 72
T3rd £40: Colin Fraser (Peebles) 73
T3rd £40: Andrew Marshall (Houston DR) 73
T3rd £40: Alan Reid (West Linton) 73
Handicap
Vouchers
1st £100: Alex McKenzie (Lothianburn) 70
2nd £80: Justin White (Harrison) 71
3rd £60: Wilson Morton (Dunbar) 72
4th £40: Scott Knowles (Kingsknowe) 73
T5th £5: Mark Chaplin (Deer Park) 74
T5th £5: Graeme Johnston (Glenbervie) 74
T5th £5: Ian Stavert (Duddingston) 74
T5th £5: Duncan Stewart (Craigielaw) 74
T5th £5: Ian Taylor (Royal Burgess) 74

Trainee Prize
Professional £20: Daniel Wood (Eyemouth) 74
Senior Prize
£20: William Smith (Harburn) 74

 Alan Greenshields
Secretary/Treasurer
Edinburgh and East of Scotland Golfers' Alliance
Alliance Mobile: 07814 983582
E-mail: secretary.eesga@talktalk.net

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO 2000 BARASSIE HERO LEE RHIND?

FROM HUGH HUNTER
Past President of the Scottish Golf Union
Reference the recent Scottishgolfview article about the 2000 European youths championship at Barassie.

The details are all in the SGU Year Book for 2001 but, unfortunately, no individual scores/results are given. The Scotland team were fourth in the stroke-play qualifying. Lee Rhind (Editor's note: Whatever happened to him?), pictured, was the hero. He shot six birdies in seven holes to guarantee the Scots a quarter-final place.

Scotland played Ireland - Graeme McDowell and all! - in the match-play, losing the foursomes 2-0 but came back in the singles to win overall by 4-3.
Scotland played Sweden in the semi-final winnng the foursomes 2-0 but Sweden clawed back and Scotland won again by 4-3
England beat Wales 5-2 in the other semi-final

In the Scotland v England final, England won the foursomes and led 3-2 needing only one further win. The last two singles ties went to extra holes. Barry Hume won at the 20th to level the overall scoreline at 3-3.

In the last match - Joel Hendry v Tom Whitehouse - the 20th was halved in birdie 3s, Hendry holing from 6ft. At the 21st, Whitehouse holed a long putt to win and make England the 2000 European youths team champions.

Gordon Whyte was the captain of the Scotland team. However, the all- important detail you might want is missing - Who played Graeme McDowell? Think you would have to phone one of the team.

What the report doesn't tell you is that the Scotland team all dyed their hair red (a la Steven O'Hara). This caused more than a few raised eyebrows!

The final championship rankings were:

1 England, 2 Scotland, 3 Wales, 4 Sweden, 5 Denmark, 6 Finland, 7 Ireland, 8 Italy (down to 17 teams).

Hugh Hunter