BON ACCORD BEAT PETERCULTER IN MAITLAND SHIELD FINAL

Bon Accord won the City of Aberdeen men's foursomes tournament for the Maitland Shield at Peterculter Golf Club tonight. They beat the host club by a combined margin of four holes in the double foursomes format.
Bon Accord's experienced lead-off pair of Links champion Barrie Edmond and former tour professional Neil Mitchell finished one up on Peterculter's Phil Robb and Murray Bowman.
Bon Accord's second pairing of Matt Greig and Graham Somers beat Gary Watson and Fraser Downie by three holes.
Details: 
BON ACCORD bt PETERCULTER by four holes.
Barrie Edmond, Neil Mitchell 1, Phil Robb, Murray Bowman 0.
Matt Greig, Graham Somers 3, Gary Watson, Fraser Downie 0.

IAN BROTHERSTON FINISHES EIGHTH IN IRISH SENIORS

Ian Brotherston from Dumfries finished the leading Scot in eighth place in the Irish senior men's amateur open championship at Rosslare today.
He had rounds of 83, 76 and 75 for a 54-hole total of 234. 
Ian finished six shots behind the winner, H Smyth (Mourne) who scored 78, 75 and 75 for 228.


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DONALD JOINED IN WENTWORTH LEAD BY MANASSERO, QUIROS

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE

Players, spectators and officials were all decked out in blue at the BMW PGA Championship to honour Seve Ballesteros - and much of the scoring was the same colour on a testing second day at Wentworth Club, Surrey.

Overnight leader Luke Donald – so immaculate in his sparkling 64 on day one – compiled a one over par 72, despite far calmer weather conditions.

Tees were put back and some stiff pin placements kept scoring in check all day, and Donald’s six under par total kept him in the lead – albeit shared with big-hitting Alvaro Quiros and Italian teenager Matteo Manassero.

Lee Westwood, needing to finish ahead of Donald to prevent his compatriot snatching the World Number One spot, reduced the arrears from eight shots to five with a two under par 69.

Manassero continued to belie his tender years with a composed one under par round, and his maturity certainly enthused Donald.

“I'm impressed with him in general,” said the 33 year old. “I think to have done as well as he has done at such a young age is very impressive. I suppose he has a somewhat similar game to me - he doesn't overpower courses.”

Quiros produced an impressive 67 - only Martin Wiegele's 65 was better - and the Spaniard was delighted to rocket up the leaderboard with birdies at his last three holes on a day dedicated to his compatriot.

The Omega Dubai Desert Classic winner produced some touches of Seve magic over the closing stretch, holing a monster putt at the 16th, chipping in at the next and finishing with a magnificent bunker shot to five feet.

“It's halfway - we still have two rounds to play and a lot of things good and bad to do,” he said. “I hit a few really bad shots from the tee, but at the same time, I holed two or three very long putts, which in general, I've been always on the proper side of the green if I miss it, except on 17.

“I've been playing very, very safe, so I think it's a good thing, having in consideration the bad weather and the greens, how hard are the greens, they are tough and quick. It's a good strategy, probably is giving me bonuses without hitting the ball great.”

Manassero, who praised the record 25,472 people in attendance for their support, had a close shave at the last when, after going for the green in two, his approach clipped a tree and bounced inches from the water. Not only did the 18 year old survive, but he went on to make birdie.

“I didn't deserve to be there, a bit lucky to not go in the water, I admit that,” he said. “But the way I played that, it was two shots. I played it well - I've been a bit unlucky and then lucky with the bounce, because it could have been in the water, and I was still chipping 30 yards away with not a very difficult chip.

“I'm happy about 70 today - it wasn't easy. The flags I think were trickier and it was a more difficult course. Even if it wasn't as windy as yesterday, it wasn't easy to score, and not many low scoring today.

“So I'm happy about my round, especially because I haven't played as well as yesterday but I still shoot under par, which is important on a course like this.

“It was a very big crowd today. It was a great day, I had so much crowd, it's big fun. It happens just one time on The European Tour, and it's in Wentworth - that's why I think it's so special.”

South African Thomas Aiken matched Quiros’ 67 to claim a share of fourth place alongside BMW International Open winner David Horsey and Spain’s José Manuel Lara on four under par.
The cut fell at four-over-par 146, two-round totals at the mark or better qualified for the weekend action.
Steven  O'Hara birdied the last for a 71 and 145 to make it with a shot to spare. The top two Scots were Scott Jamieson and Peter Whiteford, both on the 140 mark.

Notes

LUKE DONALD – 136 (-6)

Second consecutive year he has led after 36 holes. His opening 36 hole total was the same as 12 months ago.

MATTEO MANASSERO – 136 (-6)

First Italian to lead the Championship since Costantino Rocca won in 1996. Aged 18 years and 38 days is the youngest player to lead or share the lead in BMW PGA Championship history.

ALAVARO QUIROS – 136 (-6)

His round of 67 is his lowest in the BMW PGA Championship.

THOMAS AIKEN – 138 (-4)

Looking to win for the second time this season, following the Open de Espana. Should he win, it would be South Africa’s 100th European Tour win.

MARTIN WIEGELE 142 (Level)

His second round of 65 (-6) is the lowest of the day.

GREIG HUTCHEON – 145 (+3)

The Banchory Golf Club tour pro is the leading club professional after 36 holes.

HALFWAY LEADERBOARD

Par 142 (2x71)

136 Luke Donald (England) 74 72, Alvaro Quiros (Spain) 69 67, Matteo Manassero (Italy) 66 70.

138 Jose Manuel Lara (Spain) 68 70, David Horsey (England) 70 687, Thomas Aiken (S Africa) 76 67.

139 Simon Dyson (England) 7` 68.

140 Scott Jamieson (Scotland) 71 68, Felipe Aquilar 70 70, Peter Whiteford (Scotland) 71 69, Thomas Levet (France) 69 71.

+Two-round totals of 146 or better qualified for the weekend rounds.

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FLEETWOOD LEADS BY TWO SHOTS AT ROYAL WATERLOO

From Challenge Tour Press Officer Paul Symes

Rising star Tommy Fleetwood enhanced his burgeoning reputation with a stellar round of 65 to surge into the lead at the midway stage of the Telenet Trophy in Belgium today.

The precociously talented 20 year old from Southport opened up a two-shot advantage over the rest of the field after reeling off seven birdies and an eagle at the fifth hole to move to six under par at Royal Waterloo Golf Club near Brussels

Were it not for a lapse in concentration on the third hole, where he contrived to make a double bogey from the middle of the fairway, Fleetwood would have entered the weekend with a better than even chance of securing his first Challenge Tour title, having finished runner-up twice – including once as an amateur – last year.

But the former Walker Cup player, whose victory at last year’s English Amateur Championship was the highlight of a superb amateur career, was keen to take the positives from a display of ball-striking which he judged to be as clean as any in his fledgling professional career.

He said: “It was much more enjoyable today than yesterday, once the rain had stopped after about the sixth hole. If you were hitting it well, which I was, then there was definitely a score to be had out there today.

“The double on the third was ridiculous really, especially as I’d played so well up until that point. I leaked my approach into the bunker, took two shots from the sand, and then duffed my next chip. I walked off the green wondering how I’d managed to make a double when I should’ve been looking at a birdie.

“At that point, I thought to myself: ‘No wonder you haven’t won yet!’ It was so frustrating. I actually got off to a slightly dogdy start but made a few good up and downs, then when I’d got my ball under control I go and run up a double out of nowhere. If I’d made a four – which is what I’d expect to do eight times out of ten – I would’ve shot a 62, and been five strokes clear instead.

“But I guess it’s all part of growing up and developing as a golfer. I’m beginning to make lots of birdies now and my putting’s really improved, so if I can cut out the mistakes then I’ll really be in business.”

England’s Jason Palmer climbed into contention with a round of 70 to join Italian Federico Colombo and his compatriot Oliver Whiteley in a share of second place on four under par.

The lowest score of the day was provided by Sweden’s Klas Eriksson, who shaved 15 shots off his first round total in a course record round of 64 to climb 121 places to a tie for 16th.

Overnight leader Grant Jackson of England slipped back to a share of fifth place on three under par after struggling in a round of 74.

SECOND-ROUND TOTALS

Par 144 (2x72)

138 T Fleetwood (Eng) 73 65

140 O Whiteley (Eng) 68 72, F Colombo (Ita) 71 69, J Palmer (Eng) 70 70

141 G Jackson (Eng) 67 74, M Lundberg (Swe) 71 70, D Vanegas (Col) 68 73, R Santos (Por) 68 73, B Miarka (Ger) 73 68

142 L Jensen (Den) 74 68, A Tampion (Aus) 70 72, G Adell (Swe) 71 71, B Åkesson (Swe) 71 71, D Lokke (Den) 71 71, C Brazillier (Fra) 74 68, C Paisley (Eng) 71 71

143 D Denison (Eng) 71 72, K Eriksson (Swe) 79 64, B Grace (RSA) 68 75, A McArthur (Sco) 72 71, J Lima (Por) 72 71, A Pavan (Ita) 72 71, S Davis (Eng) 75 68, G Dear (Sco) 72 71, A Canete (Arg) 71 72,

144 P Golding (Eng) 73 71, B Evans (Eng) 74 70, J Garcia (Esp) 70 74, A Haindl (RSA) 73 71, B Hafthorsson (Isl) 75 69, J Guerrier (Fra) 75 69, A Hansen (Den) 71 73, R De Sousa (Sui) 73 71, N Vanhootegem (Bel) 71 73, H Bacher (Aut) 77 67, B Chapellan (Fra) 74 70, K Hesbois (am) (Bel) 76 68,

145 A Maestroni (Ita) 76 69, C Moriarty (Irl) 77 68, J Legarrea (Esp) 73 72, S Bebb (Wal) 75 70, M Baldwin (Eng) 72 73, G Molteni (Ita) 73 72, L Canter (Eng) 71 74, S Hutsby (Eng) 73 72, J Grillon (Fra) 73 72, M Lorenzo-Vera (Fra) 73 72, A Signor (Ita) 72 73,

146 B Barham (Eng) 76 70, N Lombardi (Ita) 75 71, I Keenan (Eng) 72 74, E Bertheussen (Nor) 74 72, C Mivis (Bel) 72 74, L Richard (Bel) 73 73, J Doherty (Sco) 74 72, J Hepworth (Eng) 75 71, C Doak (Sco) 74 72, A Perrino (Ita) 77 69, M Warren (Sco) 71 75, P Archer (Eng) 72 74, P Relecom (Bel) 74 72, M Kieffer (Ger) 75 71, J Quesne (Fra) 78 68, S Robinson (Eng) 70 76, J Garcia Pinto (Esp) 75 71,

SCOTS WHO MISSED THE CUT
147 C Macaulay 74 73.

149 A Coltart 77 72.

CHRIS KELLY WINS GLENEAGLES CHARITY PRO-AM WITH A 67

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com

Cawder’s Chris Kelly, one of the later starters, swept past longtime clubhouse leaders Mark Davis (Thorndon Park) and Gary McFarlane (Clober) to win the Teddy Bear charity pro-am  with a four-under-par round of 67 over the King’s Course at Gleneagles Hotel today.

No prize money was at stake. All the pros received the same flat appearance fee.

Kelly knew he had Davis and McFarlane’s 67s to beat and he did it with a seven-birdie round including halves of 33 (two under par) and 34 (two under). Level with the clubhouse leaders on the 14^th tee, Kelly covered the last five holes in two under par with go-ahead birdies at the 14^th and 18^th.

McFarlane had an eagle 3 at the 18^th  in halves of 36 and 33 while Essex man Davis had only one bogey, at the fourth in halves of 35 and 34.

Welshman Gareth Wright (West Linton) came in late with a 69 (35-34) to make it a triple tie for third place.

Former England footballer Alan Shearer played in the pro-am and his team, with Philip Harrison as pro, was one of three tied at the top of the leaderboard with 14-under-par totals of 128.

On the countback, the No 1 place went to pro Mark Davis (Thorndon Park) and the Akzo Nobel No 2 team of Guy Williams (handicap 18), Alistair McAulay (18) and Phllip Jones (8).

Also on 128 were the Corum Properties team whose pro was Alastair Forrow (Whitecraigs)

ALL THE PRO SCORES

Par 71

67 Chris Kelly (Cawder).

69 Mark Davis (Thorndon Park), Gary McFarlane (Clober), Gareth Wright (West Linton).

70 Mark King (Kingsfield), Graham Fox (East Kilbride).

71 Russell Smith (Gleneagles Hotel), David Orr (East Renfrewshire), Ross Dixon (Renaissance Club), Nigel Scott-Smith (Palacerigg), Mark Kerr (Murrayfield), Lindsay Mann (Carnoustie).

72 Steven Dunsmore (Falkirk Tryst), Alan Tait (Marriott Hotel, Dalmahoy).

73 Steven Taylor (Bothwell Castle), Campbell Elliot (Haggs Castle), Stephen Gray (Hayston), Jonathan Lomas (unatt), Donald McKay (Wellsgreen), William Colquhoun (Dundonald Links).

74 Alastair Forrow (Whitecraigs), Steven Richard (Lee on the Solent), John Greaves (Glasgow), Spencer Edwards (Carrick on Loch Lomond).

75 Stuart Bayne (Archerfield Links), Philip Walton (Ireland), Thomas Eckford (Ranfurly Castle), David Armitage (Renaissance Club).

76 Philip Harrison (Wildwood).

77 Gordon Stewart (Cawder.

78 Lee Harper (Archerfield Links), Guy Redford (Dundonald Links), Simon McLean (Airdrie).

82 Andrew Meikle (Archerfield Lilnks)…

87 Iain Darroch (West Kilbride).

SUPER SULLIVAN (65) SPREADEAGLES BLAIRGOWRIE FIELD

FROM THE SGU WEBSITE

Andrew Sullivan from Nuneaton, Warwickshire fired a superb seven-under par 65 to open up a two-shot lead over Leven’s James White on the opening day of the Carrick Neill Scottish Stroke Play Championship at Blairgowrie today.

The 24-year-old Walker Cup squad player, pictured by Tom Ward Photography, got off to the perfect start by rolling in a 10-foot putt for eagle at the first hole and further birdies at the second, seventh and eighth propelled the Nuneaton man to five-under par at the turn.

Three more birdies at the 10th, 11th and 16th put Sullivan in sight of Glenn Campbell’s Lansdowne course record of 64, but trouble followed at the penultimate hole when he inadvertently played the wrong ball for his second shot after finding the trees with his drive. 

The England international, who had an outstanding winter on the Australian circuit, ncurred a two-shot penalty but recovered to sink a 40-foot putt for an unlikely bogey 6, before parring the last for an opening round of 65.

“The ball was lying exactly where I thought I hit my tee shot and it was the same ball and number as I was playing. It was only when I was preparing to play my third shot that I noticed a green dot on the ball, which I didn’t have on my own ball,” said Sullivan, currently placed at 15 in the world amateur rankings.

Scotland Men’s Elite Squad member James White (Leven) opened his campaign with an impressive five-under par 67, which included a run of four consecutive birdies from the fifth hole. He dropped a shot at the ninth, but birdies at the 12th and 15th put the Fifer back on track to lead the home contingent on day one.

“I played steady all the way round and I’m very pleased to get off to a good start. The course is fairly tight which suits my game and I focused on keeping the ball in play, hitting a lot of three irons of the tee,” said White, a recent Business Studies graduate from the University of Stirling.

“It’s nice not to have any exams to worry about this season as this time last year as I was studying. I can now concentrate fully on my golf and I’ve been playing well since coming back from South Africa. The work I did over there is really paying off and my game is really sharp.” he added.

Kirkhill’s Paul Shields, runner-up in the South African Amateur Championship earlier this season, is well placed after a bogey-free round of 69 and he was joined on the same mark by North-east golfer Adam Dunton (McDonald Ellon), who produced an outstanding run of six consecutive threes from the ninth hole, and 2010 Scottish Boys Champion Grant Forrest, who birdied 15 and 16. 

South African Rae Mackie, Australian Daniel Nisbet, Jonathan Watt (Brokenhurst Manor) and Ben Loughrey (Wrag Burn) also finished the day three-under par.

The host club’s Glenn Campbell, fresh from his win at last weekend’s Blairgowrie 36-hole open, began his quest for the title with a solid two-under par 70 with the highest ranked player in the field, Australian Matthew Steiger a further shot back on 71. 

Peterhead’s Philip McLean was also on one-under alongside North-east team-mate Kris Nicol (Fraserburgh), while their Scotland team-mate Ross Kellett (Colville Park) shot a level par 72 in a round which included a holed sand wedge from 80 yards for eagle at the eighth.

FIRST ROUND LEADERBOARD

Par 72

65 Andy Sullivan (Nuneaton).

67 James White (Lundin).

69 Paul Shields (Kirkhill), Ben Loughrey (Wragg Barn), Adam Dunton (McDonald Ellon), Jonathan Watt (Brokenhurst Manor), Rae Mackie (S Africa), Daniel Nisbet (Australia), Grant Forrest (Craigielaw). .

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"New" Wentworth is no longer fun golf, says "headless" Ian Poulter

FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE
By KEVIN GARSIDE

A ''fuming'' Ian Poulter is by no means a certain starter at Wentworth next year after another painful experience in the European Tour's flagship event.

Poulter's hopes of following his World Match Play victory last Sunday with the BMW PGA Championship title nosedived when he finished his second round today with a double bogey 7.

But it was not just the 539yd 18th and its controversial new stream in front of the green that led the Ryder Cup star to giving vent to his feelings.

On whether he will be back in 12 months' time Poulter said: ''Who knows? I don't know what I'm going to do. I've got no idea.

''I'll speak freely - many others may not. I don't like this golf course. Period. End of story.

''I don't have a problem with tough golf courses and level par (his halfway total after a 74) is hanging in there.

''But I'm walking off the golf course and I'm absolutely headless. Absolutely fuming. It's not fun golf. You're watching, you tell me. Is it fun?''

Poulter stayed away in 2008 and 2009 because of his poor record and the state of the West Course greens, but millions were then spent on improving the conditions and toughening it up.

''I've loved this golf course from a kid. You could be five shots back and had a chance, but you can't finish eagle-eagle (now).

''That's the re-design. They got what they want.''

Poulter's pitch to the par five last spun into the hazard and he then failed to get up and down with his next attempt.

Twenty minutes later Korean Noh Seung-yul had an 11 on the same hole, while two groups ahead of Poulter his 2008 Ryder Cup partner Justin Rose ran up a quadruple bogey 9 on the 17th.

That did not even involve going out of bounds. He drove right into a bush, had to go back to the tee because he thought it was his best option, clipped a tree with his next drive and once down near the new-look green thinned one chip and duffed another.

Paul Casey, who played with Poulter the first two days and is one over after a 71, said: ''I used to really enjoy playing this golf course and now it's a grind.

''I think Richard Csring (the billionaire owner), from what I've heard, was perhaps wanting something like level par to win.

''Well he might get that, but does that make it entertaining?

''One of the beautiful things about Wentworth (he too attended as a child) is always the great finish and the fact that guys could finish with maybe four threes (two birdies, two eagles) and shoot up that leaderboard.

''It's very, very difficult now.''

Ernie Els, the man called in by Wentworth to make the changes, responded to the comments by saying: "Wentworth is now a fair and honest test of golf.

"I can understand people saying things in the heat of the moment. A guy comes off the 18th when he's just made double and he's going to be hot.

"What they say two minutes after finishing might not be indicative of what they think two hours later. Players who do not have a good time on the 18th will have a go.

"But you have to look at the overall picture. I believe you will not find better surfaces to putt on anywhere in the world at the moment, but unfortunately you only hear the negative comments and very little positive.

"It's two weeks before the US Open, it's the Tour's flagship event and should be played on a major championship style lay-out.

"This course is by no means unfair. It was last year, but it is not this. It is a true test of the game."

SCOREBOARD TO COME 

JOHN DALY THE LATEST DROP-OUT AT WENTWORTH

John Daly has become the fourth player to withdraw from the BMW PGA Championship, pulling out after 14 holes of today's second round because of a hip injury.

The two-time major winner was 12 over and set to miss the cut at Wentworth.

Jose Maria Olazabal (back), Paul Waring (hand) and Robert-Jan Derksen (rib) dropped out of the tournament in Thursday's opening round.

Daly's withdrawal leaves one American in the field -- 489th-ranked Anthony Kang, who shot a 6-over 77 on Thursday and is battling to qualify for the weekend.

Daly is scheduled to play in the Wales Open next week at Celtic Manor, but it is unclear if the injury will rule him out.

OVERTON SETS PACE WITH A 64 IN BYRON NELSON CHAMPIONSHIP

IRVING, Texas (AP) — When the par putt dropped for Jeff Overton on the second hole early in the Byron Nelson Championship, things suddenly seemed to be going in the right direction for him again.

"That broke a lot and I thought I missed it, and it actually went in," Overton said about the 10-footer on the 220-yard par-3 hole. "And next thing, I was able to hit a lot of great shots and strike out early. I never had a chance of making bogey from there. "

Overton went on to a bogey-free 6-under 64 on Thursday to take the first-round lead at the Nelson, a stroke better than Ryan Palmer.

After that breaker on No. 2, Overton made consecutive birdies. He then started his back nine with four birdies in a seven-hole stretch for his best score in 15 career rounds at the Nelson, even after his 22-foot birdie try on the closing hole lipped out.

Among his three runner-up finishes last season, when Overton was on the Ryder Cup team, was at the Nelson.

"It's nice having confidence because of last year," Overton said. "I knew I played well. I just wanted to keep things rolling."

Sergio Garcia, who withdrew from a British Open qualifier this week and didn't even play a practice round at TPC Four Seasons because of an infected fingernail on his left hand, was in a group of nine players two strokes back after opening 66s.

The infection on Garcia's ring finger made it difficult to grip a club. His finger was sore a few days ago that he thought he might not even be able to play.

How about this for a cure for Garcia? Antibiotic cream, draining the infection, seeing the new "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie and an opening eagle.

"It's funny how golf is sometimes. Yeah, rarely practise at all and then we get there," Garcia said about holing a sand wedge from 116 yards on his first hole, the 418-yard 10th. "I hit it and I saw guys on the green saying 'In' and I thought, 'Perfect!' I couldn't have started in a better way."

Garcia, the 2004 Nelson champion who hasn't won since 2008, had only one bogey.

The TPC greens were pelted by hail described as half the size of baseballs during storms Tuesday night. Crews worked on the greens before and after a pro-am Wednesday.

During the opening round Thursday, players were allowed to treat hail damage as a ball mark that they could repair. They also took advantage of lift, clean and place being in effect because of potential damage to other areas of the course.

Garcia said he fixed several divots on every hole, but said the greens were OK.

Dustin Johnson, who played with Garcia, was in the group at 66 along with Jeff Quinney, Scott Piercy, Will Strickler, Chris Riley, Josh Teater, Joe Ogilvie and Keegan Bradley.

Overton has made the cut in all but one of his previous 13 tournaments this season, but has finished better than 20th only once. That was sixth at the Honda Classic in March, and he's had his missed cut and finished no better than 26th since then.
"I hope this is the beginning of a good streak for me," Overton said. "I've been hitting it really well the last three or four weeks, just have not made my putts all year."

Palmer has made the cut only once in his seven previous Nelson appearances. This week, he is using a new set of irons and letting his caddie, James Edmondson, call all his shots.

"All I did is get on each tee and waited until he told me what to do. He told me what side of the tee box to get on, and what side he wanted me to be on, what target he wanted me to hit, and it was my job to hit the shot," Palmer said. "I think there is something there because I was really relaxed and calm and at ease. It came easy, it seemed like."

The greens weren't any problem for Johnson. His double bogey on his second hole, the 329-yard 11th, came after he hooked his drive into the water going for the green and then hit his fourth shot over the green.

He was bogey-free the rest of the round, starting with a 21-foot birdie at No. 12 and a 22-footer at No. 14. His six birdie putts averaged more than 19 feet each - the shortest was 8 with a long of 35 feet.

Johnson, who has finished second- and third-place finishes this season, was under par for the eighth time in his last nine rounds at the Nelson.

"The greens were great, so, you know, I got to give props to the grounds crew," Johnson said. "They did a really good job of getting the greens ready, especially after that hail storm. You've definitely got to give them a hand."

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