TERRY MATHIESON WINS EAST ALLIANCE WITH SUPERB 65

By ALAN GREENSHIELDS

Edinburgh and East of Scotland Alliance secretary

The East Alliance secured a break in the weather today with Craigielaw open for play again after the closure on Monday due to lying water.

A field of 97 attempted to capture the Tom Galloway Trophy and early starter assistant pro Terry Mathieson, pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency, of Dunbar carded a superb 65 to lift the trophy. A brace of 2s in the outward nine saw him at the turn in 33 and three 3s to finish (birdie, par, eagle) added a 32 homeward half for a 6 under par round.

His nearest challenger was Kingsknowe pro Chris Morris whose inward 31 shots secured a four under par 67.

Third place was shared by Elie assistant David Patrick and West Lothian professional Alan Reid with 69s.

Top Handicap Prize was shared with net 68s by William Miller (Falkirk Tryst), playing off seven, and Justin White (Harrison), less four of a handicap.
Third place went to Steven Doyle (Gifford) with net 69 off five.
Trainee prize went to Daniel Wood of Eyemouth with a scratch 70.
The Senior Prize, with net 71s, was shared by Jim Greenan (Duddingston) off 10  and David McKean (Cardrona) off six.
The Scratch Order of Merit now has only two events to go before places are secured for the championship at Gullane Nos 2 and 3 on March 23.
Chris Morris has increased his lead over Scott Catlin by 4pts but Borders player Mike Thomson has moved up to third.
Top 5 are:
1 Chris Morris (Kingsknowe) 485
2 Scott Catlin (Greenburn) 480
3 Mike Thomson (Torwoodlee) 461.5
4 Andrew Marshall (Houston GR) 444.5
5 Stuart Callan (Bathgate) 437.5


The Handicap Order of Merit now has a new leader in Justin White and the top 5 are -
1 Justin White (Harrison) 114
2 Stuart Brown (Glencorse)111

3 Graeme Johnston (Glenbervie) 103.5

4 George Wither (Lothianburn) 95

5 Alan Young (Lochend) 94

The East Alliance travels to Whitekirk for their next outing in two weeks - February 23.

E-mail: secretary.eesga@talktalk.net

PRIZEWINNERS AT CRAIGIELAW
Scratch
1st £100 Mathieson Terry Dunbar 65
2nd £80 Morris Chris Kingsknowe 67
T3rd £50 Patrick David Elie 69
T3rd £50 Reid Alan West Lothian 69
T5th £10 Catlin Scott Greenburn 70
T5th £10 Wardell Paul Whitekirk 70
Handicap
(vouchers)
T1st £90 Miller William Falkirk Tryst 68
T1st £90 White Justin Harrison (Braids) 68
3rd £60 Doyle Steven Gifford 69
4th £40 Airens Daniel Falkirk Tryst 70
T5th £10 Graham David Lochend 71
T5th £10 Lamb Jordan Peebles 71
Trainee Professional
£20 Wood Daniel Eyemouth 70
Senior
(vouchers)
£10 Greenan Jim Duddingston 71
£10 McKean David Cardrona 71

LEADING SCRATCH SCORES AT CRAIGIELAW
Par 71
Mathieson Terry Dunbar Trainee 65
Morris Chris Kingsknowe Professional 67
Patrick David Elie Trainee 69
Reid Alan West Lothian Professional 69
Catlin Scott Greenburn Professional 70
Wardell Paul Whitekirk Professional 70
Wood Daniel Eyemouth Trainee 70
Callan Stuart Bathgate Professional 71
Oldcorn Andrew King's Acre Professional 71
Thomson Mike Torwoodlee Amateur 71
Buckley Ryan Craigielaw Trainee 72
Imlah Craig Peebles Professional 72
Lamb Stevie Broomieknowe Professional 72
Neill Ross Drumpellier Professional 72
White Justin Harrison (Braids) Amateur 72
Robson Mike Harrison (Braids) Amateur 73
Taylor Ian Royal Burgess Amateur 73
Doyle Steven Gifford Amateur 74
Fraser Colin Peebles Amateur 74
Gordon Craig Edinburgh Golf Cen Professional 74
Grieve Scott Turnhouse Professional 74
McGarvey Sean Glencorse Amateur 74
Munro Donny Kingsknowe Amateur 74
Wight Andrew Glencorse Senior 74
Wither George Lothianburn Amateur 74
Graham David Lochend Amateur 75
Knowles Scott Kingsknowe Amateur 75
Marshall Andrew Houston G.R. Professional 75
McLean Alastair Duddingston Professional 75
Melville Iain Glencorse Amateur 75
Miller William Falkirk Tryst Amateur 75

LEADING NET SCORES AT CRAIGIELAW
Miller William Falkirk Tryst 75 7 68
White Justin Harrison (Braids) 72 4 68
Doyle Steven Gifford 74 5 69
Airens Daniel Falkirk Tryst 79 9 70
Graham David Lochend  75 4 71
Greenan Jim Duddingston Senior 81 10 71
Lamb Jordan Peebles 77 6 71
McKean David Cardrona Senior 77 6 71
Brown Stuart Glencorse 77 5 72
Munro Donny Kingsknowe 74 2 72
Robson Mike Harrison (Braids) 73 1 72
Taylor Ian Royal Burgess  73 1 72
Thomson Mike Torwoodlee  71 +1 72
Wight Andrew Glencorse Senior 74 2 72
Young Alan Lochend 79 7 72
Forsyth Walter Peebles  81 8 73
Knowles Scott Kingsknowe  75 2 73
Ramsay Lee West Lothian  76 3 73
Ritchie Peter Bathgate Senior 82 9 73
Stavert Iain Duddingston  77 4 73
Stewart Duncan Craigielaw 82 9 73
Wither George Lothianburn 74 1 73
Bell Gordon Gullane Senior 77 3 74
Black George Torwoodlee  78 4 74
Cordery Thomas Musselburgh 76 2 74
Fraser Colin Peebles  74 0 74
Laing William Prestonfield 81 7 74
Louden Michael Glencorse 78 4 74
McGarvey Sean Glencorse  74 0 74
Melville Iain Glencorse  75 1 74
Rothney Andrew Deer Park  76 2 74
Skinner Grant Glencorse  78 4 74
Boyle Tony Glenbervie 79 4 75
Grant Ronald Baberton Senior 81 6 75
Leggate Philip Musselburgh  82 7 75
Wilson Gerry Musselburgh  86 11 75
Chaplin Mark Deer Park  76 0 76
Fish Derek Glenbervie  76 0 76
Gibson Les Glenbervie Senior 86 10 76
Jeavons Ian Dunbar  81 5 76
McKenzie Alex Lothianburn 81 5 76
Morton Wilson Dunbar 80 4 76
Wardlaw Stuart Harburn Senior 86 10 76
Denham John Torwoodlee Senior 83 6 77
Downing Andy Duddingston 91 14 77
Fraser Hugh Niddry Castle  78 1 77
Jeffrey Peter Duddingston 87 10 77
Masterton John Mortonhall  83 6 77
Morris Jamie Peebles  76 -1 77
Rae Colin Pumpherston Senior 85 8 77
Rankeillor James Baberton Senior 86 9 77

ENGLAND WALKER CUP HOPES IMPRESSIVE IN AUSTRALIA

The GB and I Walker Cup selectors for September's match at Royal Aberdeen must be impressed with the achievements of the English Golf Union squad who have been in Australia for the past few weeks. Andy Sullivan (Nuneaton) and Jack Senior (Heysham) have scored outstanding wins in individual tournaments.
Now the England’s squad Down Under have completed two excellent days of golf with a 13-5 victory over Australia in the 2011 Ashes at the stunning Elanora Country Club near Sydney’s northern beaches.
Leading 6-3 after the opening day, England continued their morning foursomes dominance today to extend their lead to 8-4.
Rory Bourke (Victoria) and Kalem Richardson (Tasmania) won their match 2 and 1 against England's Neil Raymond and David Coupland but the New South Wales pairing of Brett Drewitt and Jake Higginbottom lost 2 and 1 to Sullivan and Stiggy Hodgson, while Tim Hart (Queensland) and Daniel Bringolf (New South Wales) also lost 2 and 1 to Senior and Darren Wright.
Australia needed to win at least four of the afternoon singles matches to level the score but the English players put the result beyond doubt with strong wins by Ben Loughrey (5 and 3) and Darren Wright (5 and 3).=
Rory Bourke was the only Australian to be undefeated for the day, winning his singles match by one hole against Neil Raymond.
Results: (Australian players first)
Foursomes:
B Drewitt and  J Higginbottom lost to S Hodgson and A Sullivan 2 and 1
R Bourke and  K Richardson defeated D Coupland and N Raymond 2 and 1
D Bringolf and T Hart lost to J Senior and D Wright 2 and 1

Singles:
Drewitt lost to Senior 2 and 1.
Hart lost to Sullivan 2 and 1
Higginbottom lost to Wright 5 and 3
Bourke bt Raymond 1 hole.
Richardson lost to Loughrey 5 and 3
Bringolf lost to Coupland 2 and 1

Final score:
England 13, Australia 5

TEE TIMES FOR NORTH-EAST ALLIANCE AT MURCAR LINKS

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16

08.15 R Fitzpatrick - A Campbell - "free" (i.e. available).

08.22 C Carnegie - B Harper - C Cassie.

08.29 S Scott - G Geddes - C Ord.

08.36 R Lamb - M Merchant - J Duff.

08.43 C Nelson - J Dalgarno - P Anderson.

08.50 L Prouse - L Roger - "free"

08.57 D McKay - J Hamilton - M Rendall

09.04 A J Smith - S Kennedy - G Allan.

09.11 J Roberts - K Duncan - J Reid.

09.18 D Philip - J Duncan - P McIntosh.

09.25 M Brown - R Brown - I Bratton.

09.32 J McIntosh - T Slater - J McPherson.

09.39 H McNaughton - D Bingham - M Smith.

09.46 D A Fleming - L Fowler - A K Pirie.

09.53 M F Rogers - J Murray - D Bisset

10.00 M Ord - J Short - S Higgins.

10.07 J Forrest - N Stewart - D Leslie.

10.14 B Lumsden - G Homer - B Lumsden junior.

10.21 J Lumsden - C Farquhar - S Elrick.

10.28 J Borthwick - D Lawrie - I Strachan.

10.35 A Graham - F Bisset - S Larkin.

10.42 M Forster - J Jessiman - A Petrie.

10.49 H Love - P Pugh - "free"

10.56 G Mundie - "free" - "free"

11.03 S Chalmers - C Stewart - C Brindley.

11.10 "Free" - "free" - "free"

11.17 T Collie - M Lawrie - R Orr

11.24 "Free" - "free" - "free"

11.31 "Free" - "free" - "free"

11.38 Steve Lawrie - Sean Lawrie - C Law.

11.43 D McKay - J Gall - S Finnie.

11.52 N K Parker - G Stevely - M Booth

12.01 J Nicolson - B Nicolson - P Cornfield.

12.07 S Mackie - R O'Donnell - J Hopwood.

12.15 D Wilson - M Jenkins - "free."

I'M NOT TOO OLD - I STILL FEEL I CAN WIN TOURNAMENTS - TIGER

FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE
By Kevin Garside, in Dubai
The pristine acres of the Emirates Golf Club were largely empty save for a few invited guests. Behind him, shuffling into position, a small gallery of onlookers craned privileged necks to get an unobstructed view of Woods at work.
Welcome to golfing rehab Dubai style, a regal environment of exaggerated control in which the sport’s most precious species can move around in relative freedom. Woods is moving away at warp speed from the toxic frenzy of a year ago. He no longer has the bearing of a cornered animal. The trauma has gone from his eyes. Though his swing is still under reconstruction, the karma is restored.
His appearance in Dubai has shot an extra thousand volts through the European Tour. It got him cheap at £2 million.
As ever, it was standing room only when the cameras rolled. The Woods press conference has long been pointless as a forum for sourcing news. That is not the purpose. Woods is an event all his own. It is enough that he enters our space. He does not have to speak to mean something to us.
His body of work is out there. We know what he is: arguably the greatest golfer there has ever been, indisputably the most filmed, photographed and talked about, the kind of subject for whom Andy Warhol might have defied his maker and hung around to capture had he known what was coming.
The question is what kind of subject would Warhol be tracing today – a player of relevance or a museum piece? Though Woods claims that he is not too old to win again at 35, he is walking a line between acceptance and rejection as far as the golfing priesthood is concerned and thus arrives in Dubai at a fascinating career juncture.
The game has moved on since his 14th and last major victory in 2008. A cluster of big-hitting twentysomethings has sprung from the locker room to reset the game’s parameters. Woods must respond to golf’s new wave and persuade the cynics he has it in him to contend again.
Woods says he can. “I still feel I can win golf tournaments. I’m not that old. I figure I’ve got some years ahead of me. I don’t always win. I’ve certainly lost a lot more tournaments than I’ve won. But it’s the goal every week you tee up and that doesn’t change.”
Woods has not won since Australia in November 2009. This fallow stretch does not break new ground. He has been through similar periods before during episodes of serious swing surgery. The difference this time is the imperfect light in which his personal flaws have cast him. He is through the worst, no doubt, but there is no way of knowing how the changes will impact on his future.
At Torrey Pines a fortnight ago, his first event of the year, his swing changes unravelled under tournament pressure after an encouraging start.
“Certainly it was frustrating that I didn’t perform the way I know I could. I’ve been here before. It takes time. I went through, as I said, a two-year period where I didn’t do anything and a year-and-a-half period where I didn’t do anything. You don’t make changes and just start winning a bunch of golf tournaments. It was good to have these problems show themselves under tournament atmosphere.”
The organisers of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic ramped the challenged a degree or two by placing Woods, ranked three in the world, alongside No 1 Lee Westwood and No 2 Kaymer in the opening rounds.
While Westwood is still feeling his way into the season, Kaymer is already a winner. That success down the desert road in Abu Dhabi two weeks ago was the kind of muscular pounding once routinely administered by Woods. The two have never shared a tee. Kaymer froze a little in the arc lights of Ryder Cup scrutiny and sees this as the ultimate test of his game. Westwood is an old chum with enough miles on the clock not to be phased by the Hollywood nature of the day. Should he prosper in this company the Woods legend will acquire fresh legs. If not, he will stand a little shorter on Monday morning.
“It will be fun to get out there and play because I haven’t played with him [Kaymer],” Woods said. “Hopefully it won’t be the last time.”

MIGUEL ANGEL MARTIN LEADS Hi5 PRO TOUR EVENT BY THREE

FROM THE SPANISH Hi5 PRO TOUR WEBSITE
Miguel Angel Martin posted a spectacular 64 today and now enjoys a three- shot lead going into the final round of the 2011 El Valle Open near the city of Murcia, Spain.
The Spanish European Tour veteran's round included an eagle and five birdies and not a single bogey. He is on 12-under-par 130. Weather conditions were perfect today with bright blue skies, warm temperatures and virtually no wind.
What the players did have to face were extremely slick greens, as the El Valle course was prepared as for a regular European Tour event with greens measuring close to 12 on the stimpmeter.
The cut for the top 40 players came in at +3 (145 or better qualified) with a field that included several highly notable names such as Sam Hutsby, Mark Mouland and new European tour member, Florian Fritsch of Germany.
Currently in second place by himself at nine-under 133 is Jonathan Caldwell of Ireland who shot 66 today. In joint third place are Scotland's Jack Doherty (67-69), Carlos Garcia (ESP)and James Busby (ENG), all at -6 after 36 holes.
Swanston's John Gallagher dropped out of the hunt with a one-over-par 72 for 139 and is sharing ninth place.
Jack Doherty's younger brother Paul, once the Scottish boys' match-play champion, survived the cut with nothing to spare, after rounds of 72 and 73 for 145.
Scots who missed the cut were Shaun McAllister (Craigielaw) (70 for 147), Ian Redford (78 for 152) and Zack Saltman (80 for 159).
The fine high pressure system that has been in Spain the past 10 days is forecasted to continue for the next few days.

LEADERBOARD
Par 142 (2x71)
130 Miguel Angel Martin (Spain) 66 64.
133 Jonathan Caldwell (Ireland) 67 66.
135 Jack Doherty (Scotland) 67 69.
Selected scores:
139 John Gallagher (Scotland) 66 72 (T9).
145 Paul Doherty (Scotland) 72 73 (T39).
SCOTS WHO MISSED THE CUT (145 or better qualified)
147 Shaun McAllister 77 70.
152 Ian Redford 74 78.
159 Zack Saltman 79 80.
CHECK OUT ALL THE SECOND-ROUND TOTALS AND SCORECARDS


CLICK HERE

DAVID LAW LEADS BY ONE AT HALFWAY IN S AFRICAN CHSHIP

FROM THE SOUTH AFRICAN GOLF ASSOCIATIONA WEBSITE
Overnight leader David Law from Aberdeen opened a yawning four-shot gap in the morning but found his advantage cut to just one by the end of the second round of the South African Amateur stroke-play championship at the Mount Edgecombe course today.
Playing in the last match of the day, French international Alexander Levy matched the  Scottish pacemaker's five-under-par 67 to finish the first half of the 72-hole tournnament a stroke behind Law, perched at 13-under-par 131.
Local favourite Jared Harvey produced a seven-under-par 65 to launch within striking distance of the leaders. He joined South Africa’s number one, Danie Van Tonder, who also clocked in with a 67, on 10-under-par 134.
Law came to within two shots of matching the tournament’s 36-hole record, set by Dean Lambert with rounds of 62 and 67 at Oppenheimer Park in 2001. He slipped just once, three-putting on 18 for a pesky bogey.
“I still can’t manage to find a round without a bogey,” Law mused immediately after his round, but then consoled himself with the fact that he produced two rounds of rare quality to lead the tournament.
“Conditions were a wee bit calmer out there today,” he said. “I was very solid from tee to green and didn’t put myself into any trouble.”
Although Law described his round as "pretty boring" compared to the eagle and hole-in-one in the first round dished up, his putting was precise enough to convert six of those chances into birdies.
“Just the putter was a little cold,” he said. “I’m playing nice, but it could have been lower. You want to go out there and try to get yourself as far away from the field as possible, so it’s a great place to be.
“It’s certainly something to build on for the last two rounds.”
As expected, Levy is right up there in the fight, but the anchor for the winning French team at the 2010 Eisenhower trophy admitted he found the going tough after the turn.
The Frenchman stormed out of the blocks with bogey at the second, sandwiched among a string of four birdies over the first five holes. He completed the outward nine in 32 but limped home in 35.
“I started fast but I got just too tired on the back nine, because it’s too hot,” protested Levy.“Maybe tomorrow, the breeze will come back. That will be much better.”
But the Frenchman was quick to point out that there were two rounds left and the tournament wasn’t over by a long stretch. “There are 36 holes left, so it’s anyone’s tournament. Me, of course I will try to win. So will Law and every South African here.”
Harvey erased a bogey at his second hole with successive birdies and an eagle but still finds himself with all the chasing to do in the final two rounds.
“I was out of the running yesterday and edgy when I started this morning, but that little run settled me down,” said the 22-year-old from Umhlanga. “Now I just have to keep the momentum going.”
Although scoring on average improved by three shots in mild conditions, not even a 20 shot swing was enough to lift Michael Dixon above the cut-line.
The Bryanston-based golfer retaliated with a second 68 but still finished on six-over-par, two shots over the cut set at 148.
But Law will have a chance again in the third round to try for that bogey-free round again and maybe, wrap up the tournament in his favour. “Today, I really thought I had it,” he said. “There’s always tomorrow.”
There were several other good performances by the Scots squad who are in South Africa for an eight-week stay.
Paul Shields' 65 was one of the lowest rounds of the day. He came back in 32nd and is sharing 14th position on 139 with Scottish champion Michael Stewart (71-68) and Fraserburgh's Kris Nicol (71-68).
Southerness youngster Scott Gibson is second only to David Law in the Scottish hit parade. Scott is in joint eighth place on 137 with rounds of 69 and 68 (33-35.
Ross Kellett also broke 70 with a 68 to be joitn 20th on 141 alongside Greg Paterson (71-709) and Peterhead's Philip McLean (71-70).
Scottish Alliance champion Jordan Findlay from Fraserburgh made the cut right on the limit mark of 148 with a second-rund 73. An outward half of 35 seemed to suggest he would make it with something to spare but the second nine cost him 38 shots and put the pressure on over the closing holes.
James White (Lundin) was the only Scot to miss the cut. He had not one but a pair of 7s in a second-round 78 for 150, two shots to many.

LEADERBOARD
Par 144 (2x72)
131 David Law 64 67.
132 Alexander Levy 65 67.
134 Jared Harvey 69 65, Danie Van Tonder 67 67.
135 Stephen Pienaar 69 66.
136 Daniel Hammond 71 65, Edouard Espana 68 68.

REST OF SCOTS' SCORES
137 Scott Gibson 69 68 (33-35) (T8).
139 Michael Stewart 71 68 (35-33, Paul Shields 74 65 (33-32), Kris Nicol 71 68 (36-32) (T14).
141 Ross Kellett 73 68 (34-34), Greg Paterson 71 70 (34-36), Philip McLean 71 70 (34-36) (T20).
148 Jordan Findlay 75 73 (35-38).
MISSED THE CUT (148 or better qualified)
150 James White 72 78 (40-38).
TO CHECK OUT ALL ON THE SCORES AND SCORECARDS
ON THE SOUTH AFRICAN GOLF ASSOCIATION WEBSITE

CLICK HERE

IAN BRATTON'S 64 WINS NE ALLIANCE AT EDZELL

Ian Bratton: what a difference a week makes!

By COLIN FARQUHARSON (Colin@scottishgolfview.com)
Newburgh club professional Ian Bratton scored his second North-east Golfers’ Alliance win of the year over a short Edzell Golf Club winter course today.

Bratton, a winner of the event at his home course on January 5, was bemoaning only last week at Montrose how badly he was playing. But he found his touch again with a 64, seven under the summer par of 71.

He had a bag of one eagle (at the 15th) and eight birdies in halves of 32 (four under par) and 32 (three under). Bogeys at the second, 13th and 14th did not prevent him heading a field of 89 by one shot from Kippie Lodge pro Craig Stewart who missed a tiddler at the 17th for his only bogey and also a 3ft birdie putt at the last which would have tied clubhouse leader Bratton. Stewart’s halves were 32-33.
Chris Law (Kings Links), older brother of David, winner of the Scottish boys’ and men’s amateur match-play titles in 2009, had his best finish since he turned pro recently, coming third with a 66 (33-33).
Chris had a very tidy, bogey-free card of six 3s and 12 4s.
It was the first professional 1-2-3 finish to a North-east Alliance for some time, explained to some extent by the fact that the district’s star amateurs are meantime in South Africa with the SGU Elite Squad.

CLUBHOUSE CHAT
Professional gardener Nigel Parker (Murcar Links) has not had much to smile about since his 4x4 and trailer, containing all his tools, old and some brand new, were stolen before his very eyes in a "posh" neighbourhood of Aberdeen a few weeks back ... and burned to a frazzle after being abandoned at Hazlehead: £10,000 worth up in smoke, literally.
It took a great golf round at Edzell today to put the smile back on big Nigel's face - a gross 70 (37-33) for a net round of 60. His score was the best scratch by a senior (aged 55 and over) and the lowest in Class 2 of the handicap section.
As no player can win more than one prize, the organisers gave the bigger reward for winning Class 2 to Nigel and divided the senior prize (for a 72) between Les Fowler (Royal Aberdeen) and David McKay (Caledonian).
Retired Hazlehead professional Ian Smith - who had a creditable round of 76 in his first game of golf for three months - thinks there should be a weekly Super Senior Prize, perhaps for over-70-year-olds or even over-75-year-olds (like him!). Any seconders?
Ian also made the point that I should mention who has won the senior prize in the weekly competitions. Point taken. And that service started today!

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE SLOW PLAYERS?
Yours truly was able to get home in daylight from today's Alliance meeting at Edzell because a field of 89 got round and back in the clubhouse, all before 3.50pm. Amazing! It doesn't seem all that long ago there were complaints every week about slow play. Did the "snails" not rejoin for the 2010-11 season or did the message finally get through to everybody?

SCOREBOARD
SCRATCH
Par 71.
64 Ian Bratton (Newburgh).
65 Craig Stewart (Kippie Lodge).
66 Chris Law (Kings Links).
67 Brian Nicolson (Auchmill), John Duff (Newmachar).
68 Gary Geddes (Auchmill), Robert Lamb (Newmachar).
69 Colin Nelson (MacKenzie Club), Scott Larkin (Royal Aberdeen).
70 Brian Harper (Newburgh), John Nicolson (Auchmill), Fergus Bisset (Banchory), Nigel Parker (Murcar Links).
71 Laurence Prouse (Hazlehead), Steven Chalmers (Banchory), Stewart Finnie (Caledonian), Robert O’Donnell (Oldmeldrum), Keil Beveridge (Inchmarlo).
72 David Mackay (Newmachar), Paul McIntosh (Newburgh). Gordon Munro (Fraserburgh), Les Fowler (Royal Aberdeen), David McKay (Caledonian).
73 Albert Smith (Turriff), Charles Cassie (Nigg Bay), Joel Hopwood (Carnegie), David Leslie (Westhill), Colin Duffus (Kemnay), Mark Lawrie (Kemnay), Jim Murray (Banchory), George Stevely (Murcar Links).
74 Grant Leslie (Newburgh), John Duncan (Newburgh), David Fleming (Portlethen), David Wilson (Duff House Royal), Sean Lawrie (Portlethen).
75 Benny Lumsden (Northern), John Roberts (Cruden Bay).
76 Steve Scott (Auchmill), Raymond Brown (Inverurie), Alistair Graham (Aboyne), Alistair Petrie (Oldmeldum), Ian Smith (Hazlehead).

77 Craig Carnegie (Kemnay), John Short (Peterculter), Norman Stewart (Northern), Martin Forster (Cruden Bay), Chris Brindley (Banchory).

78 John Dalgarno (Hazlehead), John Hamilton (Murcar Links), Leslie Roger (Royal Aberdeen), Jackie Forrest (Northern), Tom Collie (Kemnay).

79 Steven Kennedy (Craibstone), John Borthwick (Craibstone), Paul Cornfield (Auchmill), Ian Strachan (Royal Aberdeen), Mike Ord (Royal Aberdeen), Mike Rogers (Kemnay), Mike Booth (Kemnay), David Bisset (Banchory).

80 Colin Ord (Auchmill), David Bingham (Newburgh), Stuart Higgins (Royal Aberdeen), David Philip (Newburgh), Jim Lumsden (Auchmill), Don Lawrie (Inchmarlo).

LEADING NET SCORES
CLASS 1
62 Gary Geddes (Auchmill) (6).
64 J Murray (Banchory) (9), R Lamb (Newmachar) (4).
65 B Harper (Newburgh) (5), D McKay (Caledonian) (7) 75.
CLASS 2
60 N K Parker (Murcar Links) (10).
61 B Lumsden (Northern) (14).
62 R Brown (Inverurie) (14), G Stevely (Murcar Links) (11).
63 G Leslie (Newburgh) (11).

LEADING SENIOR SCRATCH SCORES
55 years and over
70 N K Parker (Murcar Links)
72 L Fowler (Royal Aberdeen), D McKay (Caledonian).
76 A Petrie (Oldmeldrum), I D Smith (Hazlehead).
77 N Stewart (Northern).

EDZELL PAR OF 71 - OUT: 4-4-4-4-4-3-4-4-5--36. IN: 4-4-4-4-3-4-4-3-5--35
+The use of winter greens shortens the Edzell course considerably, probably to around a par of 68 or 69, maybe less. But in the absence of a winter course scorecard (as Montrose Links have!), we just have to go with the spring-summer-autumn scorecard and par.

IAN BRATTON 64
OUT: 3-5-4-3-3-3-3-4-4--32. IN: 3-4-4-5-4-2-3-3-4--32

CRAIG STEWART 65
OUT: 3-4-3-4-4-3-3-4-4--32. IN: 3-4-4-4-3-3-3-4-5--33

CHRIS LAW 66
OUT: 3-4-4-3-4-3-4-4-4--33. IN: 4-4-4-4-3-3-4-3-4--33

JOHN DUFF 67
OUT: 3-5-3-5-4-4-3-4-4--35. IN: 4-4-3-4-3-4-3-3-4--32

BRIAN NICOLSON 67
OUT: 5-5-3-3-4-3-3-4-4--34. IN: 4-4-4-4-2-3-4-4-4--33

GARY GEDDES 68
OUT: 3-4-5-5-3-3-5-4-4--36. IN: 4-4-3-5-2-3-4-3-4--32

ROBERT LAMB 68
OUT: 5-4-4-5-4-2-4-4-4--36. IN: 3-5-4-4-2-4-3-3-4--32

COLIN NELSON 69. OUT: 36. IN: 33

SCOTT LARKIN 69. OUT: 36. IN: 33

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE EUROPEAN TOUR
Ryder Cup Europe will announce the Host Nation for The 2018 Ryder Cup match between Europe and the United States at Wentworth Club in Surrey, England, on Tuesday, May 17, 2011.
The official announcement comes at the conclusion of the first formal bid process undertaken by Ryder Cup Europe, which commenced at the end of 2008 and involved a comprehensive examination of Bids submitted by France, Germany, Holland, Portugal and Spain.
Richard Hills, Ryder Cup Director, said: “It has been a hugely challenging and stimulating process, taking almost 18 months to complete, and Wentworth Club is a highly appropriate location to announce the Host Nation for The 2018 Ryder Cup .”
France, Germany, Holland, Portugal or Spain will follow Ireland in 2006, Wales in 2010 and the 2014 Host Nation, Scotland, by securing the right to stage the biennial contest in 2018.
Six countries initially submitted bids to host The 2018 Ryder Cup. Sweden withdrew before the Bid Documents were officially lodged with Ryder Cup Europe prior to April 30, 2010. The 2018 Ryder Cup Evaluation Panel then undertook a detailed process to validate the five bids, including site inspections in France, Germany, Holland, Portugal and Spain and, following legal consultation with all countries, each prospective applicant will be required to sign a legally binding Conditional Host Agreement.
Ryder Cup Europe will activate the contract with the successful candidate following the public announcement and Press Conference on May 17.
Hills commented: “We began the bid process with a focussed symposium in London by giving the process the codename of ‘Operation Level Playing Field’, and we believe we have adhered rigidly to that promise we made to the bidding nations.
“We subsequently embarked on a comprehensive process of evaluation and validation of the bids, all of which we recognised as being of quite exceptional quality. The Ryder Cup Evaluation Panel visited all five venues over a three week period in April and May last year to appraise the progress being made by each country and to make site inspections.
“We were impressed by the level of commitment and clarity in the bids presented by France, Germany, Holland, Portugal and Spain as the process unfolded and the meticulous attention to detail in each Bid Document, which carried the unique stamp of each individual country.
“On May 17, we will be able to announce one gold medallist and four silver medallists. All five could have hosted The 2018 Ryder Cup, based on the detail and quality of their bids, and although one country will be successful, we look forward to continuing our close relationships with each one of those five countries in the future.”
Ryder Cup 2018 Bid Director, David MacLaren, added: “At the outset we said that we wanted to make the right sporting decision and the right commercial decision. We then set our five key criteria against which the Bids would ultimately be judged: provision of a world-class golf course; infrastructure required to deliver The Ryder Cup; Government, private and golfing support; Commercial opportunities for Ryder Cup Europe; and the contribution of the Host Nation to the development of golf.”
Wentworth Club played a significant role in the start of The Ryder Cup. The Surrey estate staged an International Challenge Match between the professionals of Great Britain and the United States in 1926, which was won by the hosts 13 ½ - 1 ½ .
Present at the match was the St.Albans seed merchant, Samuel Ryder, who enjoyed the contest so much that he was inspired to donate the solid gold trophy, which is now synonymous with the event. The first official Ryder Cup was played in June 1927 at Worcester Country Club in Massachusetts with the USA registering a 9 ½ - 2 ½ success. Players from Continental Europe became eligible to play in 1979 since when Europe have won eight times, the United States seven times with one match tied.