LEE WESTWOOD (70) BEST OF BRITS IN HONDA CLASSIC WINDS

Lee Westwood shot a par-matching 70 in a gale-swept first round of the Honda Classic at the PGA National's Champion Course (7,158yd) at Palm Beach Gardens, Florida today.
He was joint ninth at the end of the day, three shots behind US pacemaker Spencer Levin who had only one bogey, at the short fifth and four birdies, at the long third and three par-4 holes around the turn , the ninth, 11th and 12th.
Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy, Edoardo Molinari and Graeme McDowell all shot three-over-par 73s.
Ian Poulter, beaten in the first round of the defence of his Accenture match-play crown in the Arizona desert last week, did not fare much better. He had a 74, but even that was one better than Open champion Louis Oosthuizen.
Ross Fisher struggled to a 76 and Brian Davis had a 78.
First prize is $1,008,000.
LEADERBOARD
Par 70
67 Spencer Levin (US).
68 Stuart Appleby (Australia), Charl Schwartzel (S Africa), Kyle Stanley (US), Greg Chalmers (Australia), Y E Yang (S Korea).
69 Jeff Overton (US), Matt Kuchar (US).
Selected scores:
70 Lee Westwood (England), Alex Cejka (Germany) (T9).
73 Luke Donald (England), Rory McIlroy (N Ireland), Edoardo Molinari (Italy), Graeme McDowell (N Ireland) (T45).
74 Henrik Stenson (Sweden), Ian Poulter (England).
75 Louis Oosthuizen (S Afica), Ernie Els (S Africa).
76 Ross Fisher (England).
78 Brian Davis (England).

CHECK OUT ALL THE SCORES AND SCORECARDS ON  US PGA TOUR WEBSITE

CLICK HERE

HONDA CLASSIC SCORES SOAR IN RAGING WIND

FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE
By KEVIN GARSIDE
A birdie at the last saw Lee Westwood end as he started. At level par he was one of the better ones. On a day when the wind raged at the PGA Championship Course, in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, the Honda Classic was more an exercise in wrestling with bears than golf.
South Korean rookie Sunghoon Kang was 13 over after 14 holes. His final four holes, covered in one over par, were a comparative triumph. Defending champion Camilo Villegas carded a nine-over 79. Adam Scott twice put the ball in water at the 15th en route to an eight. Carnage.
Accenture Match Play champion Luke Donald took a 7 at the 10th, his second, to go three over. At that point he was four adrift of playing partner Rory McIlroy, who birdied the first. It says much about his attitude and balanced approach that when they walked off the course he was still three over, the same as McIlroy.
The Ulsterman found himself at the centre of another Tiger Woods brouhaha following a magazine article presented under his byline in which he repeated recent criticisms of the fallen idol. The publication, Sports Illustrated trades on its impeccable editorial standards and anti-spin stance, which added ballast to his comments.
McIlroy claimed that he did not authorise the use of his byline, and that the opinions offered were in answer to interview questions rather than volunteered.
For the record McIlroy wants it known that in his opinion Woods is the best that has ever played the game and, though not the player he was, McIlroy is not discounting the possibility that he might again reach great heights.
McIlroy launched his defence on Twitter. “Hate that the media thinks I’m taking jabs at Tiger all the time. Best that’s ever lived. Ever. Just not playing his best at the minute. If he plays his best we’re all screwed. Hard to dodge the Tiger questions when you get 10 every interview you do.”
American Spencer Levin was the early clubhouse leader after carding a three-under 67. Westwood, who was tied for ninth at the close of the day, needs a top-three finish to reclaim the world No 1 ranking surrendered to Martin Kaymer last week.
“A 70 today feels like a good score. It was very windy out there and played tough,” Westwood said.
His playing partners and management stablemates, Ernie Els and Louis Oosthuizen, would agree. Both finished at five over par.

CRAIBSTONE STAFF AND MEMBERS LEFT IN THE DARK

E-mail from Justin Thomas:

ex-Craibstone Golf Centre employee

As a staff member working alongside Iain Buchan at Craibstone Golf Centre, the handling of the golf club has been somewhat disgusting.

Jobs at risk, members left in the dark and no response from the administrators ... it was a complete circus from the start.

We have been waiting from the beginning  of December to know if we had a club and, more importantly, a “job.”

I still truly think if we had known something before Christmas we might have had a chance to buy the club as members.

There has been silence from the “owners “ and the administrators on the handling of this matter from the start. It has been the most harrowing experience I have witnessed.

To watch Craibstone close, empty the pro shop and watch the greenkeeper close the gates is beyond belief.

All 600 members are still  wanting to play this lovely parkland course and, of course, the staff want to keep their jobs.

It’s a sad day for North-east golf. Every member I have spoken to over the last few weeks feels the same way.

Where is the justice?

On a lighter note I only wish the surname of the owner was TRUMP, then this would not be happening, well not behind closed doors anyway!

Justin Thomas

Ex-Craibstone

 SCROLL DOWN TO READ COLIN FARQUHARSON'S

ARTICLE ON CRAIBSTONE CLOSING AS GOLF COURSE

McKENNA, DICK AND LARKIN FAIL TO QUALIFY IN SPAIN

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com

Royal Aberdeen's Scott Larkin, Allyn Dick (Kingsknowe) and Fraser McKenna (Balmore), pictured, have all failed to qualify for the match-play stages of the Spanish international men's amateur golf championship at Real Golf Club El Prat.

But the fourth Scot in the big field, Peter Latimer (St Andrews) still has a sporting chance of making the 32 qualifiers.

McKenna, in with a chance after a first-round 74, slumped to a 79 for 153, one, maybe two shots too many.
Larkin had rounds of 83 and 82 for 165.
Dick scored 81 and 77 for 158.
The qualifiers for the match-play will not be finalised until six players, including Latimer, complete their second qualifying rounds on Friday morning. Latimer had a 76 in the first round and needs to score 75 or better to get under the projected cut mark of 152 (not all the players already on 152 will get through even if that is the limit total).
Eddie Pepperell, the recent English winner of the Portuguese international men's amateur title, has missed the cut. He totalled 153 with rounds of 77 and 76.
LEADING COMPLETED TOTALS

Par 144 (2x72)

143 Gary Stal (France) 72 71.

144 Marcel Schneider (Germany) 69 75, Adrian Otaegui Jauregui (Spain) 69 75.

Selected totals:

148 Paul Lockwood (England) 76 72, Darren Wright (England) 74 74, Tom Lewis (England) 72 76 (T6).

149 Stiggy Hodgson (England) 72 77 (T12).

151 James Frazer (Wales) 77 74, Paul Dunne (Ireland) 75 76, Craig Hinton (England) 75 76, Alan Dunbar (Ireland) 74 77, Laurie Canter (England) 74 77.

152 Steven Brown (England) 79 73, Dermot McElroy (Ireland) 76 76, Jack Senior (England) 75 77 (T28).

+As it stands only five of the 12 players on 152 overight will qualify.

DEFINITELY MISSED THE CUT

153 Eddie Pepperell (England) 77 76, Alex Christie (England) 76 77, Fraser McKenna (Scotland) 74 79.

154 Andrew Cooley (England) 75 79.

155 Wayne Telford (Ireland) 80 75, Luke Lennox (Ireland) 77 78, Chris Selfridge (Ireland) 75 80.

156 Oliver Farr (Wales) 79 77, Paul Cutler (Ireland) 76 80.

157 Warren Harmston (England) 83 74, Jack Heasman (England) 78 69, Jonathan Bell (England) 78 79, Rhys Pugh (Wales) 75 82.

158 Allyn Dick (Scotland) 81 77, Richard O'Donovan (Ireland) 81 77.

160 Andrew Hogan (Ireland) 84 76, Tyrrell Hatton (England) 79 81.

164 Jeff Hopkins (Ireland) 83 81.

165 Scott Larkin (Scotland) 83 82.

169 Nick Newbold (England) 80 89.

171 Sam Claridge (England) 89 82.

+Players still to complete second round on Friday morning include Peter Latimer (Scotland), first round 76, and Ross Mitchell (England), first round 90.

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES ON THE SPANISH FEDERATION WEBSITE

CLICK HERE

TO VIEW THE MATCH-PLAY CHART AFTER THE SECOND-ROUND PLAY IS COMPLETED TOMORROW MORNING

CLICK HERE

AYRSHIRE LEGEND JACK CANNON DIES AT 93

R and A chief executive Peter Dawson (left) and Jack Cannon.

==================================================

Ayrshire golfing legend Jack Cannon has died at the age of 93. A member of Irvine Golf Club, Cannon and his good friends Hammy McInally and Jimmy Walker, were the county's version of the "Great Triumvirate."
They all hailed from the small mining village of Bartonholm which, at one time, was close to the 15th hole of the Irvine (Bogside) golf course.

Four times Ayrshire champion and winner of many other West Of Scotland events and local titles, it was in 1969, at the age of 52, that Jack Cannon won the Scottish Amateur Championship over the Old Course at Troon, beating Alan Hall by 6 and 4 in the final. He was and still is the oldest player ever to win the national title, a feat which saw him capped for Scotland in 1969 and again in 1974.
He held a scratch handicap for over 45 years and represented Ayrshire in county matches for 50 years. His last appearance was in 1985 when he was well into his 60s.
One of his proudest golfing moments came in 1969 when he partnered his son Ian to victory for Irvine Golf Club in The Evening Times Scottish Foursomes at Dunbar, the fourth occassion in which Jack was in a winning pairing in the event.
In his latter competitive years, Jack won the British Seniors Amateur Championship in 1980 at Prestwick St Nicholas as well as winning the Scottish Seniors Championship in the same year at Royal Burgess and being joint winner of that championship on two further occassions, in 1978 at Glasgow (Killermont) and again in 1982 at Royal Burgess.
In 1971 Cannon, McInally and Walker presented their Scottish amateur championship medals - numbering eight in total - to Irvine Golf Club who have them on display in the clubhouse.

+Picture at the top of the page shows R and A chief executive Peter Dawson with Jack Cannon at Irvine Golf Club, which co-hosted the 2003 British amateur championship stroke-play qualifying rounds with Royal Troon. Image by Cal Carson Golf Agency.

ALAN LOCKHART WINS MIDLAND ALLIANCE AT KIRKCALDY

By LEE SUTHERLAND
This week the Midland Golfers’ Alliance held the J B Motor Co. team competition at Kirkcaldy Golf Club.
Continuing his great run of form, Ladybank assistant pro Alan Lockhart led the way in the scratch section with a level par score of 70.
Downfield nine-handicapper Ian Mitchell won the handicap top prize by three shots with a net 67.
Ian also helped his Downfield team of Ian McMurray (10) and Arthur Farquharson (11) to win the J B Motors team competition with a score of 60.
Leading Scratch scores
70 A Lockhart (Ladybank) ap.
71 A J Webster (Edzell) p.
72 P Jamieson (Dunblane New) p, R Stewart (Tulliallan).
73 G Jenkins (Crieff).
74 C Armstrong (Burntisland) ap.
75 K Bruce (Edzell),
76 I Mitchell (Downfield), P Brookes (Pitreavie) p, G. Milne (Aberdour).
Leading Handicap Scores
67 I. Mitchell (Downfield) (9).
70 G. Jenkins (Crieff) (3).
71 A. Farquharson (Downfield) (11), I Henderson (Cragie Hill) (6)
72 J Irwin (Muckhart) (8), R Stewart (Tulliallan) (scr), K Bruce (Edzell) (3), G Milne (Aberdour) (4), A McEwan (Carnoustie) (14).
73 R Taylor (Crieff) (4), G White (Burntisland) (14).
J B Motors Team Competition
60 I Mitchell (Downfield) (9), I McMurray (Downfield) (10), A Farquharson (Downfield) (11).
61, D. Adams (Carnoustie) (7), J. Cree (Carnoustie) (11), A McEwan (Carnoustie) (14).
63 P Brookes (Pitreavie) p, C Westland (Alloa) (9), G White (Burntisland) (14).
Qualifiers for J T C Interiors Express Championship in April at Arbroath
I Mitchell (Downfield) (9)
G Milne (Aberdour) (4)
S Graham (Arbroath) (3)
R Taylor (Crieff) (4)
Qualifier for the J T C McQueen Shield at Arbroath Links in April
I Mitchell (Downfield) (9)
Next Week's Meeting
Wednesday, March 9.
Burntisland Pro Am
Sponsored by E. Sherry
Tee reserved: 8.30 - 1.30
Lee Sutherland

MIDLAND ALLIANCE: BURNTISLAND PRO-AM

Sponsored by E. Sherry
TEE TIMES FOR WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9

8.30 M. Pirie, M. Niven, D. Spaven, A. MacKay.
8.40 A. Lockhart, S. Cargill, E. Rae, S. Graham
8.50 P. Wytrazek, H. Haldane, G. Muir, J. Wilson

9.00 J. Paisley D. Mason A, Mason R. Kier
9.10 K. MacKenzie D. Ritchie B. Beaumont E. Starritt
9.20 P. Brookes R. McLean C. Westland H. Hunter
9.30 R. Stewart R. Barton J. Irwin G. Wilkie
9.40 W. Mackie M. Scobbie J. Gray S. Mitchell
9.50 A. Webster K. Bruce R. Brwnhill A. Smith

10.00 P. Jamieson J. Crawford C. Gribble A. N. Other
10.10 C. Mackie R. Ford B. Liddle J. Ranki
10.20 A. N. Other I. Mitchell I. McMurray A. Farquharson
10.30 C. Matheson A. Duncan D. Huchison D. Redford
10.40 W. Murray N. Dalrimple D. Sievwright G. Taylor
10.50 N. Cameron L. Irvine W. Farquharson A. Cameron

11.00 D. McKay D. Black N. Westbrook D. Patrick
11.10 K. Hutton T. Anderson B. Bruce D. Morrison
11.20 R. Bell S. Marshall A. Thomson A. N. Other
11.30 L. Terras S. Knight G. Henderson A. Aitken
11.40 K. Salmoni H. Grant H. Cowbrough J. McIntyre
11.50 H. Kennedy M. Watkin R. Lamont G. Milne

12.10 A. Martin M. Fraser R. Tait G. Hume
12.20 C. Armstrong D. West J. Edmiston G. White
12.30 L. Sutherland G. Cant J. Brown G. Muir
12.40 M. Phillips C. Wallace S. Andrews C. Marr
12.50 D. Adams J. Ward A. Herd J. Cree.

1.10 A. Piatkowski, J. Breen, W. Herron, E. Sherry.
1.20 T. Jamieson, C. Ferguson, J. Burns, G. Mathieson.

Lee Sutherland
Ballumbie Castle professional

FLYING DUTCHMAN WINS FROM CHRIS PAISLEY IN SPAIN

Dutchman Tim Sluiter shot a brilliant final round of nine-under-par 63 to win this week's Spanish Hi5 Pro Tour event, the El Plantio Open, in the Murcia region of south-east Spain.
Sluiter totalled 11 under par 205 with rounds of 69, 73 and 63.
Former Walker Cup player Chris Paisley from the North-east of England finished runner-up, three shots behind on 208 with scores of 66, 71 and 71.

TO READ ALL THE FINAL TOTALS

CLICK HERE

STEWART v SHIELDS IN SOUTH AFRICAN MATCH-PLAY FINAL

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

 Colin@scottishgolfview.com

The Scottish Golf Union Elite Squad's extended break in South Africa is paying off big time.

The final of the South African amateur match-play championship at Vaal de Grace will be contested by two Scots - Scottish champion Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck), pictured left, and Paul Shields, from Kirkhill Golf Club, Cambuslang,  pictured below.

In an action replay of the Allied Surveyors Scottish championship final at Gullane last summer, Stewart beat former British boys champion Jordan Findlay at the 19th while Shields beat the last surviving South Africa, Jacques Kruyswijk by 4 and 2.

A couple of weeks ago David Law (Hazlehead) led almost throughout before being beaten in a play-off for the South African open amateur stroke-play title.
 Stewart v Findlay was a classic match-play tie with Fraserburgh's Findlay, the Scottish Alliance champion, going two up after five holes. Stewart won back the ninth to be one down at the turn but Findlay looked to have taken a grip on the outsome when he won the 12th and 13th to be three up on the 14th tee.
But Stewart is not Scottish match-play champion for nothing! He won the 14th, 16th and 18th to square the match, then the 19th for victory.
Shields, winner of the North of Scotland open amateur stroke-play championship at Inverness last season - his biggest win todate after twice being beaten finalist in the Scottish boys' match-play championship, lost only one hole, the fifth, in his semi-final against Kruyswijk.
All square after five, Shields won the eighth, 10th and 15th to establish a three-hole lead, winning the match on the 16th green.

The Stewart v Shields final will be a repeat of the 2008 Scottish boys' championship final at Southerness where Michael won the title with an 8 and 7 victory.

Today's results:

QUARTER-FINALS

Jacques Kruyswijk (S Africa) bt Stephen Pienaar (S Africa) 4 and 2.

Paul Shields (Scotland) bt Audrey Barnard (S Africa) at 22nd.

Michael Stewart (Scotland) bt Muzi Methunzwi (S Africa) 3 and 2.

Jordan Findlay (Scotland) bt D J Du Plessis (S Africa) 2 holes.

SEMI-FINALS

Shields bt Kruyswijk 3 and 2.

Stewart bt Findlay at 19th.

JOHN DALY SUES HONDA CLASSIC ORGANISERS OVER SNAPPER

FROM THE GOLF.COM WEBSITE
John Daly is sueing organisers of the Honda Classic, claiming he injured himself while trying to stop his backswing after being distracted by a fan taking his picture while he was playing in the tournament.
The two-time major winner filed a complaint in a Florida court on Wednesday seeking $15,000 in damages, alleging he aggravated an old injury as a female patron took a flash picture of him during the 2007 edition of the tournament.
Under the rules of entry for the tournament, spectators are prevented from taking cameras on to the course.
Daly, who withdrew from the tournament, alleges in the complaint that security was negligent because they allowed her on the course with a camera and failed to remove her after he told them she had a camera.
At the time of the incident, the woman was a resident of the complex where the tournament was being held and it was not clear whether she went through standard security screening.
In 2008, Daly smashed a spectator's camera into a tree when the individual tried to take his photograph at the Australian Open in Sydney.
The American, whose outlandish attire and booming drives have been a massive drawcard wherever he plays, has steadily slipped down the world rankings since he won the 1991 US PGA Championship and the 1995 Open at St Andrews. 
He has not won a tournament since 2004 but has rarely been out of the headlines since he has spent most of his adult life struggling with alcohol, anti-depressants, gambling, binge eating and divorces.

CRAIBSTONE GOLF CENTRE - WHAT HAPPENS TO 500+ MEMBERS?

Craibstone Golf Course ... to be returned to parkland?

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Colin@scottishgolfview.com

Craibstone Golf Centre at Bucksburn near Aberdeen is closed - almost certainly never to open again.

That was the clubhouse talk at yesterday's North-east Alliance competition at Newburgh.

Quite a few Craibstone members play in the Alliance. The golf club, apparently, has over 500 members. So what's going to happen to them?

Without a home club to administer their handicaps, the Craibstone members are in limbo.
Then there's the professional staff at the Centre and the greenkeepers. Not easy to find new places of employment in the current economic climate.

It's the second golf course in the Aberdeen area to cease operations. The first was East Aberdeenshire Golf Centre on the opposite side of the Aberdeen to Ellon Road from Balmedie. It closed because it was a pay-and-play course that was not popular with the public.

The owner's plan there - subject to planning permission - is to build houses. I understand, again from clubhouse chat, that the new owner of the Craibstone Golf Centre and 18-hole course, when the deal is completed, may have a similar, long-term plan in mind, after returning the course to the parkland it was not so long ago  ... before the Scottish  Agricultural College were given a substantial chunk of Lottery money (our money) to build the course little over a decade ago on its Craibstone Estate.
I looked up my files to check out the level of grant aid given to the SAC in late 1997 and it was £517,000 from the Lottery Fund plus £100,000 from the R and A.

The course was designed by Greens of Scotland and  constructed by Oldmeldrum man Graeme Webster's Glen Andrews company.

The SAC talked about running greenkeeping and golf course management courses based at the Craibstone Golf Centre. It never happened. Cupar's Elmwood College was never challenged for its market-leading position in that branch of golf.   
The 18-hole course opened to the public in the autumn of 1999 - but within five years the Scottish Agricultural College, who had received so much money to build it, had put it on the market with a price tag of "offers in excess of £665,000" for a package which also included the clubhouse, office block, woodland, sheds and two former steadings.
So what happened to the grand plan?
London and Scotland Golf Courses (LSGW), who bought the course and its attachments, recently went into provisional liquidation with debts of more than £500,000. LSGW were apparently based at Letham Grange - yet another golfing disaster story!
And so the Craibstone Golf Centre came up for sale again, this time at a "guide price" of £450,000. The selling agent, Savills, have let it be known that they are currently negotiating with one of several bidders but his identity is not being revealed meantime. 

When the course was sold for the first time, bearing in mind the amount of public money used to construct it, there should have been a conditional clause that it remained a golf course for at least 50 years to thwart any potential housing developer.

Too late now!

Any comments? You can E-mail your view to Colin@scottishgolfview.com if you don't mind it being published.