PAUL REILLY WINS RENFREWSHIRE BOYS' CHAMPIONS' TITLE

REPORT BY Graham McGee - Renfrewshire Golf Union boys' team manager
The final of the 2011 Renfrewshire Golf Union Boys Champion of Champions took place on Sunday at Paisley Golf Club between Alasdair McDougall (Elderslie Golf Club) and Paul Reilly (Lochwinnoch Golf Club).
In a keenly contested match, played in tricky windy conditions, Paul Reilly defeated Alasdair McDougall by 3 and 1.
Alasdair opened brightly and was two up after three holes. However, a mixture of mistakes by Alasdair and birdies by Paul, saw Paul one up on the ninth tee. A birdie by Alasdair at that hole  and the game was all square at the turn.
Poor putting by Alasdair on 11 and Paul went one up again, only for Alasdair to birdie 12 to square the match.
The next two holes were to prove decisive as Paul went par-birdie to go two up with four to play. The 15th was halved in par, before two fine birdies on 16 left Alasdair with a mountain to climb.
From the tee at 17 Paul hit the front of the green while Alasdair missed to the left, and from a poor lie was unable to get the ball close, finally conceding the hole and the match.
The game was played in great spirit with Paul being one under par for the round. Both boys are a credit to Renfrewshire Golf and I am sure we will hear more of both of them in the future.

EGER AND McNULTY WIN LEGENDS BETTER BALL AFTER PLAY-OFF

FROM THE GOLF.COM WEBSITE
SAVANNAH, Georgia (AP) — The putt to extend the play-off looked like a tap-in to Kenny Perry. Maybe 14 inches. His opponents saw it as somewhat longer. Closer to 3 feet, they said.
Bottom line: Perry missed.
As a result, David Eger and Mark McNulty won the better-ball Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf on the second play-off hole Sunday against Perry and Scott Hoch.
Eger and McNulty, who started four shots off the lead in the 54-hole event at The Club at Savannah Harbour, shot 11-under 61 in the final round for 27-under 189. Perry and Hoch shot 64 to get into the play-off.
Second-round co-leaders Wayne Levi and Keith Fergus finished with 66 for 26-under 190, tied for third with Russ Cochran and Mark Weibe (60), David Frost and Michael Allen (62), Corey Pavin and Tom Lehman (64) and Ian Baker-Finch and Joe Ozaki (64).
In the play-off, both teams settled for par on the 18th, a 457-yard, par-4. They returned to play the hole again. This time, all four players failed to hold the sloped green with their approaches but all chipped fairly close.
But it ended when, after McNulty tapped in for par, Hoch and Perry both missed short putts to extend the match - Perry's ball lipping out.
"It's a 14-inch putt that you don't even think much of," Perry said. "But, when it's all on the line, things change and I pushed it and it didn't go in. So typical.
"It's the only bogey we made all week. We didn't come close to making a bogey all week and then to do that in a play-off ...."
McNulty said afterward that Perry's ball was outside his, which he estimated to be about three feet from the cup. Still, it was a putt nearly everyone figured Perry could easily tap in.
"I was very surprised," Eger said. "I never expected Kenny to miss that putt."
Perry-Hoch came to the final hole at 27-under, tied with McNulty-Eger, who had been in the clubhouse for nearly an hour. Perry's birdie putt for the outright lead from about 30 feet hit the right edge of the cup but wouldn't fall.
"You know, it's a tough hole and I thought I made birdie to win the thing," Perry said. "Hit the prettiest putt I've ever seen. Thought it would go in and didn't. Just wasn't meant to be."
Eger had made a putt of nearly 40 feet on the final hole of regulation to get his team into the play-off.
"We had nearly an hour to wait to see if our score would hold up," Eger said. "We sat outside, in the shade near the clubhouse. We didn't want to go inside and get too cooled off by the air conditioning."
Perry, who played in only two US Champions (Seniors) Tour events in 2010, is still considered a rookie on the senior circuit. This was his second senior event this season and his first Legends.
"It was a great week," he said. "I mean, I knew, I thought starting out today, I had 28 (under) in my head. I said, 'We've got to get to 28 somehow.' When we got to 27 with two to play, I thought, 'Man, we're going to be able to do this thing.' And we just came up one short."
It was the third consecutive year the Legends has been decided by a play-off on the island lay-out in the Savannah River, each time going two extra holes.
Eger and McNulty each earned $230,000 for the win. Lehman remained atop the Schwab Cup standings with 850 points, 290 ahead of John Cook who withdrew after teammate Joey Sindelar hurt his back and was unable to continue.
Sandy Lyle and Australian Peter Senior were tied for the lead with one round to go but slipped down to a T8 finish with scores of 63, 61 and 67 for 25-under-par 191.

TO ACCESS ALL THE FINAL TOTALS ON THE US CHAMPIONS TOUR WEBSITE

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HUGH HUNTER'S CLACKMANNAN COUNTY NEWS

SUCCESFUL SPRING MEETING
The Clackmannan county spring meeting, played over Schawpark and Braehead courses, was well supported. Almost 200 local golfers took part, representing all six clubs in the Clackmannan Golf Union.
Stars of the day in the First Division at Alloa Golf Club were P Adams who took the top handicap prize with a net 65 from an eleven handicap. County match- play champion Michael Robertson (Alva) sent out a signal that he will be a force to be reckoned with in 2011 when he scored a scratch 69, four shots ahead of a chasing pack of golfers.
In the second division over the Braehead course, scoring was low and the top scores all came from non-Braehead players. N Grant led the way with a net 64, with S Hepburn one shot behind.
Hopefully many local golfers will have had a taste for the 2011 golf season and they will get another chance at the end of May in the Summer Meeting. Entry sheets are already with clubs.

Clackmannan senior boys champion Lawrence Allan receives the Mossman Trophy from Hugh Hunter of Clackmannan Golf Union. Runner-up Reyner Kennedy is pictured left.

 LAWRENCE ON COURSE FOR THE DOUBLE
The 2011 Clackmannan county boys' championship was held at Alloa Golf Club  and a smallish entry of around 20 enjoyed themselves and contested the two boys' stroke-play events for the Mossman Trophy (Senior Boys) and Drysdale Trophy (Junior Boys).
Alva’s Lawrence Allan was the favourite for the Senior Trophy and he duly came up with a magnificent round of 68 - probably one of the lowest scores to par ever in the event. His two halves of 34 contained no fewer than six birdies, two of them at the most difficult holes on the course, the eighth and 12th.
Nearest contender Reyner Kennedy (also Alva) was 10 shots behind.
In the Junior Boys' event, Brian Macadam returned an excellent scratch score of 77 to lift the trophy by six shots.
RESULTS
SENIOR BOYS
Scratch
1 Lawrence Allan (Alva) 68
2 Reyner Kennedy (Alva) 78
Handicap Prizes--- Jordan Struthers, Calum Graham

JUNIOR BOYS
Scratch
1 Brian Macadam (Braehead) 77
2 Calum Reid (Tillicoultry) 83
Handicap - Joshua Hatcher (Tillicoultry) 92-25 = 67
Jonathan Clark (Tillicoultry) 86-17=69

Clackmannan junior boys' championship prizewinners on parade as Hugh Hunter presents the Drysdale Trophy to Brian Macadam.

 COUNTY BOYS' MATCH-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
The top scores qualified for the 2011 events. However, due to the low entry, the Handicap match-play championship will not be played in 2011. Round 1 starts at Tulliallan on May 2 at 5pm and the ties are below
Senior Boys - Lawrence Allan v Reyner Kennedy, Scott Beattie v Steven Watson, Callum Graham v Jordan Struthers, Rikki Alexander v Calum Boyd.
Junior Boys - Brian Macadam v Jamie McEwan, Calum Reid v Joshua Hatcher, Gregor McEwan v Ross Bundy, Jonathan Clark v Angus Boyd.

TOP TEAM SPOT FOR LAWRENCE
Alva’s Lawrence Allan will represent Scotland in a top squad of eight boys and two girls at the prestigious Fairhaven Junior Open played over 72 holes at the Lancashire club from Friday to Sunday this coming weekend. He has a chance to make a mark in a top-class field of UK Junior golfers.

PROVAN SALVER 2011
The Clackmannan men's team travelled to Thornton last weekend in a last ditch attempt to retain the Provan Salver. It didn’t work out as the team crashed to a 7-1 defeat by Fife. The only crumb of comfort was a win by Dollar’s Scott Borrowman against top Scottish player Peter Latimer by 3 and 2.
The other team members lost by similar margins to leave Clackmannan near the bottom of the League.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS
Open events this weekend are the Carlsberg Open at Tillicoultry, Buick Trophy at Alloa and a Mixed Open at Braehead, while next week is the start of the County Foursomes Team tournament at Dollar.

CALUM STEWART WINS SPENCE TROPHY AT NORTH BOYS

Calum Stewart, centre, and the rest of the leading prizewinners at Tain on Sunday.

By ROBIN WILSON
Brora's Calum Stewart (17), in his final season of under-18 boys' golf,  put to rest his three-year wait to land a junior title when, at Tain on Sunday, he captured the Spence Trophy as winner of the North of Scotland boys' championship by four shots with rounds of 73 and 75.

While the North East District entry was curtailed to only one (Craig Bain Strathlene), due to the northerly venue, there was a strong North District presence - the previous week's Scottish boys' championship quarter finalist, Craig Oram (Nairn Dunbar), clubmate Freddie Brown, Kingussie's Jordan Shaw, Peter Sangster (Thurso) and defending champion Ross Proctor (Forres).
Since winning the Youths Invitational when only 15 at Hopeman in 2009, Stewart enjoyed most of his success at under-16 level where he was a silver medallist in the European Junior Masters in France, silver medallist as leading qualifier in the Carnegie Shield and elected team captain of the Scottish Under-16 team.
But as a 17-year-old and entering fourth year at school and all the extra pressures that entails he has had a mixed time and it is hoped that last Sunday's success will inspire a turning point.
A fairly strong wind gusted across the Tain links for most of the day and the morning CSS remained at 72. Stewart, from his one handicap, matched the first round CSS with gross 73 (36-37), one birdie at the par five 13th hole and four dropped shots, 7th, 14th, 15th and 18th holes to lead by four from a surprise challenger, Rory Asher (7) (The Nairn), followed by Brown (1) 78 and Shaw (2)78
The first round leader shed half of his lead at the opening hole of his second round. A pulled tee shot found a poor lie and his recovery struck one of the fence posts guarding the road that crosses the fairway 80 yards short of the green from where four more shots were taken to mount a double bogey 6.
The stumble did not linger and he reached the turn in 38 but their was another fright awaiting on the 11th tee (The Alps) from where he went out of bounds after starting back into the wind with a bogey 5 at the 10th hole. But with confidence restored he made birdie with the second ball and dropped just one more shot to par, again at the difficult 14th hole following his birdie at the previous par five to get home in 37 for 75.
Coming nearest to Stewart's 148 aggregate with the best score of the day, a second round 72 (38/34), was the in-form Oram for 152 followed by his club mate Brown who added a second round 75 for 153 as Shaw repeated his first round 78 for 156 and fourth place.
Young Asher's second-round 80 earned him the Under-16 scratch title and from neighbouring Nairn Dunbar, Cameron McLeod, handicap 18, swept home with a net aggregate of 138 (65/73).
LEADING SCRATCH TOTALS
 CSS 72,72.
148 C Stewart (Brora) (73/75).
152 C Oram (Nairn Dunbar) (80/72).
153 F Brown (Nairn Dunbar) (78/75).
156 J Shaw (Kingussie) (78/78).
157 R Asher (The Nairn) (77/80).
158 C Dixon (Hopeman) (80/78).
160 P Sangster (Thurso) (84/76).
161 S Murray (Inverness) (83/78).
162 A Ross (Fort William) (78/84).
163 M Dingwall (Forres) (83/80).

164 C Franssen (Inverness) (83/81), R Proctor (Forres) (82/82).

Under 16 Scratch

158 R Asher. (The Nairn).
161 S Murray (Inverness).
162 A Ross (Fort William)

Handicap

C McLeod (Nairn Dunbar) (18) 138.
T Ross (Reay) (16) 141.
F Asher (The Nairn) (16), G Munro (Reay) (16) 143.

SQUADS NAMED FOR SCOTTISH AREA TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP

Fife's team for the Moneygate Scottish men's area team championship at Prestwick and Prestwick St Nicholas on May 14 and 15 is:


James White (Lundin)
Brian Soutar (Leven)
Greg Paterson (St Andrews New)
Peter Latimer (St Andrews New)
Scott Crichton (Aberdour)
Scott Stewart-Cation (The Dukes)

Lanarkshire team is:
Ross Kellet (Colville Park)
Paul Shields (Kirkhill)
Steven Rennie (Drumpellier)
Robert Jenkins (Crow Wood)
Stewart Henderson (Hamilton)
Scott Douglas (Drumpellier)

South will be represented by:
Michael Grunwell (Powfoot)
Kyle Mc Clung (Wigtownshire County)
Liam Johnston (Dumfries and County)
Clark Riddick (Southerness)
Scott Gibson (Southerness)
Iain Thomson (Powfoot)

Clackmannanshire's team is:
James Aitken (Alloa), capt.
Lawrence Allan (Alva).
Scott Borrowman (Dollar)
Darren Hulston (Dollar)
Scott Moffat (Braehead)
Ian Ross (Alloa).

Lothians' line-up for the Scottish area team championship is in the melting pot after a 12-6 defeat by Northumberland in their annual friendly contest at Newbattle.
The foursomes were shared 3-3 but Northumberland took the singles 9-3.

District teams can be sent to Colin@scottishgolfview.com for publication 

SCOTT ROBERTSON WINS PHILLIPS TROPHY ON COUNTBACK

GEORGE YOUNG REPORTS
North-east District SGU secretary
Sunday's two-round Phillips Trophy tournament was played on as calm a day as you could get for Peterhead.
Very encouraging to have a few youngsters in the field - Lewis Mutch (Duff House Royal), Daniel Thompsett (Aboyne), Craig Lawrie (Deeside) and 13 year old Dylan Smith (Alford).

With Craig playing, dad Paul followed him round in the morning before hitting some balls on the practice ground and picking him up again towards the end of his second round. Probably the first time the majority of the players have been watched by a former Open champion!

Scott Robertson (Hazlehead), who had a 70 in the morning followed by a superb 66, won on the better second round from Adam Dunton (McDonald) (66-70).
John Mitchell and Jordan Findlay both Fraserburgh finished tied third with the evergreen Nick Robson (Meldrum House) fifth.


FINAL TOTALS
Par 140 (2x70). CSS 71 71
Scott Robertson (Hazlehead) 70 66 136 (won on better second round).
Adam Dunton (McDonald) 66 70 136
John Mitchell (Fraserburgh) 69 68 137
Jordan Findlay (Fraserburgh) 66 71 137
Nick Robson (Meldrum House) 66 72 138
Laurie Phillips (Cruden Bay) 70 69 139
Matthew Greig (Bon Accord)  72 68 140
Greg Ingram (Inverurie)  70 141
Daniel Thompsett (Aboyne)  69 72 141
Nick MacAndrew (Cullen) 71 71 142
Donald MacAndrew (Royal Aberdeen) 70 72 142
Kevin Duncan (McDonald) 70 73 143
Neil Mitchell (Bon Accord)  71 72 143
Barrie Edmond (Bon Accord) 69 75 144
Bryan Innes (Murcar Links) 75 68 145
Neale Barnes (Deeside) 70 75 145
Adam Strachan (Hazlehead) 75 71 146
Ronnie Brechin (Murcar Links) 74 72 146
Ross McKen (Newburgh) 75 72 147
Duncan Raitt (Murcar Links) 73 74 147
Gordon Munro (Fraserburgh)72 75 148
Christopher Forman (Peterhead) 76 72 148
Michael Buchan (Cruden Bay) 74 74 148
Ian Welsh (Nigg Bay) 75 73 148
Anthony Bews (Murcar Links) 78 70 148
Greg Watson (Meldrum House) 75 74 149
Lewis Mutch (Duff House Royal) 75 74 149
Fraser Milne (Fraserburgh) 72 77 149
Greg Kennedy (Hazlehead)74 76 150
Ross Young (Nigg Bay) 77 73 150
Neil McKinnon (Murcar Links) 74 76 150
John Godward (McDonald) 76 75 151
Barry Mitchell (Murcar Links) 75 76 151
Neil Melvin (Oldmeldrum) 79 73 152
Sam Griffiths (Royal Aberdeen)74 78 152
Iain Galbraith (Murcar Links) 78 74 152
Kyle Nelson (Murcar Links) 76 76 152
Mark Watson (Murcar Links) 73 81 154
Duncan Shepherd (Royal Aberdeen 5 73 81 154
Calum McCombie (Meldrum House) 80 75 155
Craig Lawrie (Deeside) 78 78 156
Andrew Hepburn (Fraserburgh) 76 83 159
Ryan McKinnon (Peterculter) 80 79 159
Scott Green (Meldrum House) 84 85 165
Graeme Leslie (Nigg Bay) 82 86 168
Dylan Smith (Alford) 91 84 175
Lachie McKinnon (Peterculter)  85 No Return
Colin Brodie (Meldrum House) 73 No Return
Ian Rodgers (Meldrum House) 86 No Return
Stewart McCulloch (Cruden Bay) 75 No Return
Chris Gilbert (McDonald) No Return
Robbie Cross (Peterhead) 82 Withdrew
Andy Campbell (Murcar Links) 84 Withdrew

NORTH OF SCOTLAND BOYS CHAMPION AT TAIN G C

Scratch Aggregate for HR Spence Trophy. Sponsored by J and C Fotheringham.
CSS - Rounds 1 and 2: 72.
1st Calum Stewart (Brora) 73 + 75 = 148.
2nd Craig Oram (Nairn Dunbar) 80 + 72 = 152
3rd Freddie Brown (Nairn Dunbar ) 78 + 75 = 153
4th Jordan Shaw (Kingussie) 78 + 78 = 156
5th Cameron Dixon (Hopeman) 80 + 78 = 158
6th Peter Sangster (Thurso) 84 + 76 = 160

Lowest Scratch Aggregate U16 (as at 00.00 on 1st Jan 2011)
1st Rory Asher (The Nairn) 77 + 80 = 158
2nd Scott Murray (Inverness) 83 + 78 = 161
3rd Alisdair Ross (Fort William) 78 + 84 = 162


Lowest Handicap Aggregate
1st Cameron McLeod (Nairn Dunbar) (18) 138. 
2nd Tom Ross (Reay) (16) 141.
3rd Finlay Asher (The Nairn) (17) 143 (better last round) 

WILLIE SHARPE'S LANARKSHIRE COUNTY NEWS

Lanarkshire president Willie Sharpe with the leading prizewinners. James Steven is third from the left.

James Steven of Bothwell Castle won the Lanarkshire boys’ spring meeting on Sunday at Carnwath with a superb scratch 66 four under par. He pipped his Lanarkshire team-mate, Craig Ross of Kirkhill, who scored 67.
James was level par through 13 holes but made four birdies in last five holes for a storming finish.
Craig Ross, who won the tournament two years ago, was left to rue several missed short putts.
Main Prize-Winners
Scratch
1. James Steven Bothwell Castle 66
2. Craig Ross Kirkhill 67
3. John Laird Mouse Valley 72 (better last 3 holes)
4. Craig Forbes Mouse Valley 72 (better last 6 holes).
5. Jonathan Ruiz Drumpellier 72


Handicap
1. Alan Thomson Mouse Valley 72-9 61
2. Marcus Cullen Wishaw 73-11 62
3. Blair Pollock Colville Park 77-14 63
4. David Cleland Hamilton 74-10 64


71 entries. CSS 69 PAR 70