J S INTERNATIONAL SIGN MONTY FOR GOLFING GIFTS LINE

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY I M G
The initial launch will be targeted throughout UK high street stores in time for Christmas 2011.
Bijal Patani, MD of J S International said: “This is very exciting for us. Colin Montgomerie is one of the most successful golfers of all time and after the recent Ryder Cup victory and the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award, Colin was a brand we wanted to work with.
"Colin’s name and image is instantly recognisable for golfer’s as well non golfers. We look forward to introducing the Colin Montgomerie branded product range throughout Europe.”
Colin Montgomerie turned professional in 1987 and is one of the most recognisable sportsmen of his generation. In 1993 he became Europe’s number one, a position he retained for an unprecedented run of seven years. With a record of eight European Order of Merit wins, Colin was awarded an OBE in 2004 and was Captain of the winning 2010 European Ryder Cup team. He was also awarded the 2010 BBC Sports Personality ‘Coach of the Year Award’.
Colin Montgomerie said: “I am delighted to partner with J S International and I look forward to a long and productive relationship. Working closely with JS International, we will create a range of golfing gifts that all golfers from beginners to professionals can use.”
J S International Ltd, based in Watford, is one of the largest distributors of golf accessories and equipment in Europe. J S International has signed a license agreement, in a deal brokered by IMG Licensing, with Ryder Cup legend, Colin Montgomerie to create a range of golfing gifts and accessories that will be launched throughout Europe.

MIDLAND ALLIANCE WASHED OUT AT CHARLETON

The Midland Golfers’ Alliance meeting today at Charleton golf course, Fife was abandoned due to excessive rain and flooding.
Next meeting is the Scotscraig pro-am on Thursday, February 24, sponsored by Hi-Tech Acoustic Services Ltd


TEE TIMES:
8.30 M. Pirie M. Niven D. Spaven A. MacKay


8.38 A. Lockhart S. Graham E. Rae C. Brunton


8.46 R. Walker K. Fraser S. Herd E. Gourley


8.54 P. Wytrazek G. Muir H. Haldane D. Adamson


9.02 G. McLeod J. Roy N. McLeod A. Saunders


9.10 T. Melville J. Black R. Ford J. Rankin


9.18 C. Mackie B. Liddle L. Ewart P. Murphy


9.26 N. McGill I. Henderson W. Smeaton J. Gray


9.34 B. Smith I. Mitchell I. McMurray A. Farquharson


9.42 G. Jenkins W. Crosbie S. Miller R. Baldie


9.50 R. Stewart R. Barton J. Irwin G. Wilkie


9.58 S. McLaren A. MacDairmid K. MacKenzie R. Laughlan


10.06 M. MacKenzie E. Wilson S. Andrews G. Milne


10.14 D. McKay M. Scobbie S. Mitchell J. Gray


10.22 D. Seivwright G. Taylor D. Ritchie E. Starritt


10.30 A. Webster K. Bruce R, Brownhill A. Smith


10.38 W. Murray D. Mitchell W. Miller G. Paton


10.46 P. Jamieson J. Crawford C. Gribble C. Ferguson


10.54 K. Salmoni H. Grant D. Fordyce J. McIntyre


11.02 C. Donnelly F. McKay J. Milne J. Milne


11.10 A. Duncan D. Redford C. Wallace A. Douglas


11.18 C. Nugent B. Black R. De Rose T. McKenna


11.26 P. Brookes R. Malcolm C. Westland J. Rennie


11.34 R. Bell S. Marshall A. Thomson A. N . Other


11.42 J. Stevenson M. Gilmour J. Stevenson K. Kilgour


11.50 K. Hutton T. Anderson D. Thomson D. Morrison


11.58 S. Clark A. Mason D. Mason R. Lamont


12.06 A. Martin M. Fraser G. Hume R. Tait


12.14 K. Harper L. Irving A. Cameron W. Farquharson


12.22 C. Armstrong J. Edmiston D. West G. White


12.30 J. Thorburn J. Paisley R. Keir G. Crighton


12.38 D. Adams A. McEwan J. Brown J. Cree(jnr)


12.46 K. Keegan A. Herd C. Marr J. Cree(snr)


12.54 C. Matheson J. Wilson P. Rhind M. Watkin


1.02 L. Sutherland M. Brown R. McDonald G. Cant


1.10 A. Piatkowski J. Breen W. Herron E. Sherry


1.18 G. Mitchell A. Aitken D. Anderson D. Black


1.26 T. Jamieson R. McLean G. Mathieson M. Phillips














Lee Sutherland
PGA Professional

PAUL O'HARA SHARES THE LEAD IN MOROCCO

Motherwell's Paul O'Hara has made a good start to the Atlas Pro Tour's Samanah Open at the Jack Nicklaus-designed Samanah course at Marrakech in Morocco.
The Scot is figuring in a three-way tie for the lead on four-under-par 68 with German pro Marcel Haremza and Italian amateur Nino Bertasio.
The only other Scot in the field of 120 players is Neil Fenwick. He had a four-over-par 76 to go into Day 2 sharing 63rd place.

READ ALL THE SCORES ON THE ATLAS PRO TOUR SITE

CLICK HERE

SPANISH Hi5 PRO TOUR SECOND-ROUND SCOREBOARD

LA PERALEJA OPEN
Par 144 (2x72)
134 James Maw (England) 68 66.
137 Pablo del Grosso (Argentina) 70 67.
139 Jonathan Caldwell (N Ireland) 70 69, Alex Belt (England) 71 68.
Selected scores:
143 Jack Doherty (Scotland) 72 71 (T13).
144 Paul Doherty (Scotland) 73 71 (T23).

MISSED THE CUT (147 or better qualified)
150 Shaun McAllister (Scotland) 73 77 (T35).
154 Zack Saltman (Scotland) 75 79 (T54).

TO READ ALL THE SCORES
CLICK HERE

NORTH-EAST ALLIANCE TEE TIMES FOR WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23

FRASERBURGH GOLF CLUB

08.15 - A Campbell - R Fitzpatrick - free (available).
08.22 - C Carnegie - C Cassie - B Harper.
8.29 - S Scott - G Geddes - C Ord.
08.36 - free - free- free.
08.43 - C Nelson - J Dalgarno - P Anderson.
08.50 - L Prouse – free - free.
08.57 - G Allan – P Cornfield – B Nicolson.
09.04 - l Rodgers - J Hamilton – M Rendall.
09.11 - J Roberts - K Duncan - J Reid.
09.18 - D Mackay - J Borthwick - S Kennedy.
09.25 - S Mackie - free - free.
09.32 - J Mackintosh - T Slater - J McPherson.
09.39 - M Brown - R Brown - G Paterson.
09.46 - D Phillip - J Duncan - P McIntosh.
09.53 - A K Pirie - L Fowler - D Fleming.
10.00 -  M Smith - I Grant - H McNaughton.
10.07 - M Merchant - R Lamb - J Duff.
10.14 - J Forrest - M Stewart - D Leslie.
10.21 - G Homer - B Lumsden - B Lumsden junior.
10.28 - J Lumsden - C Farquhar - S Elrick.
10.35 - I Strachan - D Lawrie - D Bingham.
10.42 - D Bisset - J Murray - M Rogers.

10.49 - J Jessiman - F Bisset - S Larkin
10.56 - J Short - M Ord - S Higgins.
11.03 - A Graham - M Forster - G Munro.
11.10 -  S Chalmers - C Stewart - R Orr.
11.17 -  T Collie - M Lawrie- T Turner
11.24 - free- free- free
11.31 - Laura Murray - K Beveridge - free.

11.38 - free - free - free
11.43 -free - free - free
11.52 – D McKay - J Gall - S Finnie
11.59 - N K Parker - G Stevely - M Booth.
12.06 - Sean Lawrie - Steve Lawrie - C Law.
12.15 - J Hopwood - R O’Donnell - M Jenkins.
12.22 - D Wilson - free - free.

DAVID LAW, SCOTT GIBSON'S BIG JUMP UP WORLD RANKINGS

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottish golfview.com

David Law's performance in last week's South African open amateur stroke-play championship - he led throughout before being beaten in a play-off for the title - has lifted the Aberdonian, pictured right, 178 places to No 521 in this week's updated RandA World Amateur Golf Rankings.

Southerness youngster Scott Gibson, pictured left, who finished joint fifth in the event, has gone up 157 places to No 590.

Fraserburgh's Kris Nicol, who finished joint eighth in South Africa, has been rewarded with a rise of 31 places to No 201.
Banchory's James Byrne remains No 15 in the WAGR of which the leading 13 places are filled by United States players - most of whom will form the team to play Great Britain and Ireland in the Walker Cup match at Royal Aberdeen in September.

The only other Scot in the top 100 is national champion Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) at No 51, down two places from last week.

SCOTS IN RandA WORLD AMATEUR RANKINGS' TOP 750
15 James Byrne (no change).
51 Michael Stewart (down 2 from last week).
159 Stuart Ballingall (no change).
167 Ross Kellett (no change).
201 Kris Nicol (+31).
290 Scott Crichton (+7).
322 Scott Larkin (+7).
365 Brian Soutar (+7).
416 James White (-49).
450 Paul Shields (+50).
477 Greg Paterson (+33).
482 Allyn Dick (+4).
496 Steven Rennie (+3).
521 David Law (+178).
564 Philip McLean (+48).
590 Scott Gib son (+157).
645 James Ross (+9).
699 Gordon Yates (-1).
741 Grant Forrest (+4).
745 Gordon Stevenson (+4).
347 Peter Latimer (+9)

SCOTT LARKIN WINS SECOND NE ALLIANCE IN THREE WEEKS

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Colin@scottishgolfview.com

Royal Aberdeen’s Scott Larkin won his second North-east Golfers’ Alliance competition in three weeks with a par-matching round of 71 (37-34) in thoroughly unpleasant conditions of wind and rain at Murcar Links today.

“That’s the best ball-striking round I’ve had since I was runner-up to Greig Hutcheon in the Northern Open last September,” said 24-year-old Larkin, pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency, who has a +3 rating as an amateur and played on the US college circuit for four years.

“But my putting was pretty poor. I was putting for birdies at just about every hole from seventh and holed only one, for a 2 at the short 16^th.”

Larkin, a little bit unlucky not to be in the SGU Elite Squad, still feels he could break into the reckoning for a Walker Cup place in September by winning a big tournament, such as the Lytham Trophy.

“On my game, I know I could do it and I’ll be a full-time amateur for the rest of the year so I should be able to give myself a chance.”

Larkin won the Alliance honours on the day by two strokes from fellow amateurs John Duff (Newmachar) (37-36) and Auchmill’s John Nicolson (38-35.

Alfie Smith (Turriff) was the leading senior (55 years and over) with a scratch 74 but his joint fourth place in the overall scratch list would probably free up the seniors' £10 voucher to go to Scottish senior cap George Paterson (Northern) who had a 75.
(Later info: Both Alfie Smith and George Paterson figured on the scratch prize list which, under the rule that nobody can win two prizes, means that the seniors' £10 voucher will go to the next best senior on the scratch list. I have to admit, that in the absence of a "master list" of members who have owned up to being aged 55 and over, I cannot say who that is. It may be the 2011-2012 Alliance season before we get that list of seniors)
George Paterson had the proverbial "game of two halves." He was out in 42, losing two balls at the third hole, which cost him an 8, but coming home in two-under-par 33 with birdies at the 11th, 12th and 14th, marred only by a bogey at the 16th. His good run had actually been triggered by his first birdie of the day at the ninth. 

The conditions were so bad that the percentage of No Returns and No Shows in the field of 74 was over the 30 mark.
Chris Brindley (Banchory), winner of Class 2 of the handicap with a net 71 off 12 of a handicap, tells me that he three-putted six times. Chris, by the way, tells me that he is a "senior golfer" - and he has the aches and pains to prove it.

 

LEADING SCRATCH

Par 71

71 S Larkin (Royal Aberdeen).

73 J Duff (Newmachar), J Nicolson (Auchmill).

74 A J Smith (Turriff) s

75 G Paterson (Northern) s, S Chalmers (Banchory) p, Sean Lawrie (Portlethen).

76 C Law (Kings Links) p, J Hopwood (Carnegie) p.

77 A Campbell (Deeside), M Merchant (Newmachar), J Calam (Myrus) p, Laura Murray (Alford).

78 R Fitzpatrick (Inchmarlo) p, R O’Donnell (Oldmeldrum).

79 J Reid (Cruden Bay), D A Fleming (Portlethen), K Beveridge (Inchmarlo) p. 

82 S Mackie (Auchmill), G Munro (Fraserburgh).

83 G Geddes (Auchmill), L Prouse (Hazlehead), M Booth (Kemnay), N K Parker (Murcar Links) s.

84 C Ord (Auchmill), J Forrest (Northern) s.

85 C Cassie (Nigg Bay), C Brindley (Banchory) s, D McKay (Caledonian) s.

86 R Brown (Inverurie), R Orr (Kemnay), G Stevely (Murcar Links)

87 B Harper (Newburgh), H McNaughton (Cruden Bay), G Homer (Northern).

88 J Dalgarno (Hazlehead), A Graham (Banchory).

89 L Roger (Royal Aberdeen) s, J Mackintosh (Auchmill) s, D Bisset (Banchory) s, Steve Lawrie (Portlethen).

91 S Kennedy (Craibstone).

92 J L Gall (Caledonian) s.

93 B Lumsden (Northern).

94 D Philip (Newburgh).

95 M F R Rogers (Kemnay) s.

98 M Brown (Inverurie).

 

SCRATCH PRIZEWINNERS

1 Scott Larkin; 2 John Nicolson and John Duff; 4 A J Smith; 5 Sean Lawrie, George Paterson, Steve Chalmers.

HANDICAP PRIZEWINNERS
Class 1

71 M Merchant (Newmachar) (5).
74 D A Fleming (Portlethen) (5).
75 R O'Donnell (Oldmeldrum) (3).
76 J Forrest (Northern) (8), A Campbell (Deeside) (1).
Class 2
71 C Brindley (Banchory) (12).
72 M Booth (Kemnay) (11), R Brown (Inverurie) (14).
73 N K Parker (Murcar Links) (10).
74 R Orr (Kemnay) (12), C Ord (Auchmill) (10).

LEADING SENIOR SCRATCH SCORES (unofficial list)
74 A J Smith (Turriff).
75 G Paterson (Northern).
83 N K Parker (Murcar Links).
84 J Forrest (Northern).
85 D McKay (Caledonian), C Brindley (Banchory).

*If you are a senior golfer, i.e. aged 55 or over, and your name does not have an 's' after it in the full list of scratch scores above, please E-mail Colin@scottishgolfview.com to that effect.

 MURCAR LINKS SCORECARD: PAR 71. Yardage 6,516
OUT: 4-4-4-5-3-4-4-4-4--36. IN: 4-4-3-4-5-4-3-4-4--35

SCOTT LARKIN 71
OUT: 4-5-4-4-3-5-4-4-4--37. IN: 4-4-3-4-5-4-2-4-4--34.

JOHN DUFF 73
OUT: 4-4-4-4-4-4-5-4-4--37. IN: 5-4-3-4-5-4-3-4-4--36.

JOHN NICOLSON 73
OUT: 4-5-4-5-3-5-5-4-3--38. IN: 4-4-3-5-3-4-4-4-4--35.

ALFIE SMITH 74
OUT: 5-4-4-5-4-5-4-4-4--39. IN: 3-4-3-5-5-4-3-4-4--35.

STEVE CHALMERS 75
OUT: 5-4-4-5-3-5-4-5-3--38. IN: 4-4-2-4-7-4-3-4-5--37

GEORGE PATERSON 75
OUT: 4-4-8-6-3-5-5-4-3--42. IN: 4-3-2-4-4-4--4-4-4--32.

SEAN LAWRIE 75
OUT: 5-4-3-4-3-6-5-5-4--39. IN: 4-5-3-4-5-4-3-4-4--36

KAYMER, MANASSERO TO PLAY IN US TRANSITIONS CHAMPIONSHIP

PALM HARBOR, Florida (AP) — US PGA champion Martin Kaymer and 17-year-old Matteo Manassero have accepted exemptions to play in the Transitions Championship at Innisbrook during the Florida swing on the US PGA Tour
The tournament also offered an exemption to Dubai winner Alvaro Quiros, one of golf's longest hitters.
The Transitions Championship will be played March 17-20. Jim Furyk is the defending champion of a tournament that quietly has attracted one of the stronger fields leading to the Masters.
Kaymer is ranked No. 2 and will be playing Innisbrook for the first time.

Meanwhile, Francesco Molinari of Italy says he will play in the Match Play Championship. Molinari won the HSBC Champions last year and is No. 17 in the world ranking. He had planned to skip the World Golf Championship because his wife was expecting their first child. She gave birth to a boy on February 6, so Molinari says he's going to Arizona.
The Italian announced the news on Twitter: "Decision made, leaving Sunday for Tucson. Looking forward to the Matchplay!"
He lost in the first round last year to Zach Johnson.
Molinari's decision means all 64 eligible players intend to play at Dove Mountain. The tournament begins on February 23.

JACKSONVILLE, Florida - Phil Mickelson was planning a Spanish menu for the Champions Dinner at the Masters to honour two-time champion Seve Ballesteros until realising the Spaniard was not healthy enough to travel.
Mickelson said he had been in contact with Ballesteros, hopeful that he would be able to return to Augusta National this year despite his ongoing battle with brain cancer.
"I just sent him an E-mail saying that if he were able to come, and feeling healthy enough to be able to make this tournament, I would love to have the dinner be something that he would like -- a Spanish dish of paella or whatever he thought would be appropriate," Mickelson said. "I wanted to kind of honour him."
Mickelson said some E-mails he received since indicate that Ballesteros will not be able to make it.
"Our thoughts and prayers are going to be with him that evening," Mickelson said.
Ballesteros was diagnosed with brain cancer in the autumn of 2008, a year after he announced his retirement from golf at an emotional press conference at Carnoustie during the Open.
The Spaniard remains an inspiration, and spoke by telephone to Europe's Ryder Cup team before the matches in Wales last year, which Europe won over the United States.
Mickelson has a special connection to Ballesteros, beyond their imagination to escape trouble on the golf course. Mickelson was 9 when he first watched the Masters, which Ballesteros won for his first green jacket. He recalls telling his mother that day, "I want to win that tournament. I want to be like that and win this event."
Mickelson won the Masters last year with a daring shot through the pine trees on the par-5 13th that set up a birdie and carried him to a 67 and a three-shot victory over Lee Westwood.
Without Ballesteros in attendance, Mickelson said he would honour past champions by going heavy on beef -- further evidence that his attempt at being a vegetarian was, as he said last month, "doomed to fail."
"I learned one thing over the years," Mickelson said. "Many of the past champions, they love beef and they love meat. I plan on having a trio of different meats, whether it be bison or venison or just filet."
He also said he would serve plenty of green vegetables.
The defending champion hosts the Tuesday night dinner at the Masters and is responsible for picking up the bill.