Sunday, May 29, 2011

BRADLEY BEATS PALMER IN PLAY-OFF FOR "BYRON NELSON"

FROM THE GOLF.COM WEBSITE
iRVING, Texas (AP) — Keegan Bradley won the Byron Nelson Championship for his first US PGA Tour victory, parring the first hole of a play-off with Ryan Palmer on Sunday.
Bradley, the nephew of LPGA Tour great Pat Bradley, sank a 2-foot par putt at the 419-yard 18th hole in the playoff. Palmer's approach went into the water and he made a bogey with a 13-foot putt.
About an hour earlier, Bradley finished his closing round of 2-under 68 with a par at No. 18, dropping into a squat and hopping a few times in frustration when his 10-foot birdie chance slid by the hole.
Palmer (72) and Bradley finished at 3-under 277, the highest winning score on the US PGA Tour this year. It was the fifth play-off in six weeks.
"I don't know what to say. I'm so happy, I can't believe this just happened," Bradley said. "This is a dream come true. I've waited for this my whole life."
The US Tour rookie's aunt won 31 tournaments, including six majors. The first victory for the Vermont native who played at St. John's came nine days before his 25th birthday.
On the 172-yard 17th hole, Bradley sank a 12 1/2-foot par-saving putt and responded with an emphatic fist pump. After Bradley tapped in his par putt at No. 18, third-round leader Palmer was in one of the five groups still playing.
Bradley then sat for a few minutes before going to the practice range to prepare for a play-off that almost wasn't necessary for him to become the US PGA Tour's sixth first-time winning this season.
Ryuji Imada (71) and Joe Ogilvie (70) finished a stroke back at 2 under. Imada bogeyed three of his last four holes after getting to 5 under.
Defending Nelson champion Jason Day (67) was fifth at 1 under. Only five players finished under par this week at TPC Four Seasons. There were brutal scoring conditions the last three days, particularly for both weekend rounds when the wind was sustained at 25 mph with gusts howling near 40.
It was the highest finishing score for the Nelson since the tournament moved to its current location in 1983.
After Palmer blasted from a greenside bunker to 3 feet for a birdie at the 523-yard 16th hole to get back to 3 under, he gave that stroke right back when he missed a 7-foot par putt at No. 17.
Palmer forced the playoff with a 6-foot birdie putt at No. 18, where there was only one other birdie all day. When the putt dropped, Palmer punched his right fist in the air and then raised both arms over his head.
Bradley and Palmer then played No. 18 again, both going way right with their tee shots to start the playoff.
Tournament volunteers quickly dismantled and moved a temporary lemonade stand to give Bradley a line of sight to the green and avoid the necessity for a drop.
Bradley's approach was dangerously close to sliding off the side of the green into the water, but stayed up. Palmer went in the same direction but his ball didn't stay dry.
Imada was 5 under after his 11-foot birdie putt trickled in at the 170-yard 13th, then blasted out of a greenside bunker to inside a foot at 14th to save par. He missed a 3-foot par chance at No. 17 and then was unable to save par again out of a bunker on the closing hole.
Sergio Garcia, the 2004 Nelson champion who hasn't won since 2008 and hasn't locked up a spot this year in the U.S. Open and British Open, began the day one stroke off the lead and in the final group.
Garcia missed a 4-foot par putt on the opening hole, then slammed his putter down on his bag walking off after his bogey putt. Things only got worse from there on way to a closing 77. He had a double bogey at the par-4 fourth hole after needing four shots to go the final 12 feet - his first chip rolled back to his feet and he ended with a double bogey.
Day, the runner-up at this year's Masters, had his fourth top-10 finish in his last five tournaments.
After a bogey-free front nine with three birdies to get to 1 under for the tournament, Day was even par over a seven-hole stretch without a par on any of the holes. His birdie at No. 10 got him to 2 under before consecutive bogeys, a birdie, a double bogey and then consecutive birdies.
Teenage amateur Jordan Spieth had a rough finish. The 17-year-old player closed with two double bogeys and two bogeys for a 7-over 77 to finish at 6 over - 10 strokes higher than he shot last year at TPC Four Seasons.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 280 (4x70
277 Keegan Bradley (US) 66 71 72 68, Ryan Palmer (US) 65 67 73 72 (Bradley won play-off).
278 Joe Ogilvie (US) 66 70 72 70, Ryuji Imada (Japan) 69 68 70 71.
279 Jason Day (Australia) 72 71 69 67.
Selected total
283 Sergio Garcia (Spain) 66 66 74 77 (T20).

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TOM WATSON WINS US SENIOR PGA CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF

FROM THE GOLF.COM WEBSITE
LOUISVILLE, Kentucky. (AP) — Tom Watson summoned up some of his old major magic, holing a 3ft birdie putt on the first play-off hole to beat David Eger in the United States Senior PGA Championship on Sunday.
The 61-year-old Watson, pictured, down a shot with four holes left in regulation, became the oldest player to win a major since the seniors tour was created in 1980.
Watson closed with a 2-under 70 to finish at 10-under 278 and capture his 14th career major, six since turning 50 to go with five British Opens, two Masters and a U.S. Open.
Perhaps better known as a rules official than as a player, Eger closed with a 67.
Both Eger and Watson missed short birdie putts on the 72nd green that would have won it in regulation, Eger pulling a 6-footer and Watson pushing one from 4 feet.
Watson went for the green with his rescue-club second shot on the playoff hole, the 18th, but it came up short and in the deep and gaping bunker that fronts the green. Eger had caught a bad break when his drive came to rest in a grassy finger on the edge of a large bunker along the left side of the fairway. He hit a layup and then a wedge to 10 feet, but missed the birdie attempt.
Taking little time after blasting out of the sand to 3 feet, Watson calmly stroked in the winner while a large gallery cheered and applauded.
Kiyoshi Murota, who had at least a share of the lead after each of the first three rounds, closed with a 72 and was alone in third, a shot out of the play-off.
Five days before he turns 66, four-time Senior PGA winner Hale Irwin had a double bogey and two bogeys in a 73 that left him at 8 under.
Eduardo Romero (68), the benefactor of a lucky bounce off the rocks that turned a bogey into a birdie at the 13th hole, and Peter Senior (69) were at 7 under. Nick Price shot a 72 and to finish another stroke back.
Steve Pate, who turned 50 on Thursday to qualify for his first senior event, closed with a 69 and was at 5 under along with Corey Pavin (70) and Loren Roberts (72).
Watson became the third-oldest winner of a Champions Tour event. The victory came 10 years, 2 days after he won his other Senior PGA Championship at Ridgewood Country Club in 2001. Watson captured his first major since 2007.
The 59-year-old Eger has played the Champions Tour full-time for a decade. But he's perhaps best known as a top rules official for the PGA Tour and U.S. Golf Association from 1982-95. He never finished better than a tie for fifth in 75 PGA Tour starts between 1979 and 1981. He regained his amateur status and was a three-time Walker Cupper during his days as a golf administrator. Since turning pro at 50, he has won four times on the Champions Tour, including this year's Liberty Mutual Legends.
Much like the Indy 500, the leader changed every few minutes. Playing partners Irwin and Murota shared the lead until Murota was assessed a one-stroke penalty for a double-hit on a chip shot at the third hole.
Irwin clutched the lead for the next three holes before making double at the difficult sixth when he hit a shot from the rough into a greenside bunker and failed to get up and down. That mistake dropped him into a tie at 8 under with Eger, Watson and Murota. Watson then took the lead by himself with a birdie at the seventh hole.
Eger, playing two holes ahead of the lead group, pulled even with Watson by chipping to 15 feet and making the birdie putt at 10. They shared the lead, together or with others, for the next four holes while they traded pars.
Eger then grabbed the top spot by rolling in a short birdie putt at the 15th. But he turned right around and gave it back on the next hole when his approach came up short of the green and he made bogey.
An instant later, Watson stroked in an 18-footer for birdie from the first cut behind the 15th green go up by a shot.
Eger responded with a 7-foot birdie putt at the uphill 16th to even things up once again.
After first Eger and then Watson missed easy birdie putts that would have given them a win, they headed for the extra hole.
As has been the case 13 times before, Watson had what it took to capture another major.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72)
278 David Eger (US) 74 68 69 67, Tom Watson (US) 70 70 68 70 (Watson won play-off).
279 Kiyoshi Murota (Japan) 66 67 74 72.
280 Hale Irwin (US) 69 68 70 73.
281 Eduardo Romero (Argentina) 73 67 72 69, Peter Senior (Australia) 73 68 71 69.
282 Nick Price (Zimbabwe) 67 70 73 72.

SELECTED TOTALS
288 Mark Mouland (Wales) 68 72 72 74 (T22).
289 Roger Chapman (England) 73 70 74 72 (T27).
297 Barry Lane (England) 71 75 76 75, Des Smyth (Ireland) 70 73 76 78 (T50).
299 Christopher Williams (England) 74 74 76 75 (T60).
305 Ross Drummond (Scotland) 77 71 79 78 (T76).

MISSED THE CUT (148 or better qualified)
151 Sam Torrance (Scotland) 79 72.

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NEWS FROM WELSH OPEN YOUTHS CHAMPIONSHIP

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BIG WIN FOR DUNBARTONSHIRE BOYS AGAINST LANARKSHIRE

Dunbartonshire boys had a resounding 7-1 victory today at Vale of Leven over Lanarkshire boys in their first West of scotland League fixture of 2011.

RESULTS
Under-18s
1. Cameron Farrell (Cardross) bt Jordan Bryce (Strathaven) 5 and 4.
2. Craig Chalmers (Lenzie) bt James Steven (Bothwell Castle) 2 holes.
3. Gavin Roger (Clober) bt Ross Gillan (Torrance) 2 and 1.
4. Euan Ferguson (Bearsden) bt Ross McLeish (Torrance) 6 and 5.

Under-16s
1. Robert Johnston ( Helensburgh)' lost to Innes Ferguson (Drumpellier) 4 and 3.
2. Keiran McHale (Clydebank) bt Calum Connacher (Wishaw) 3 and 2.
3. Cameron Kirkwood (Bearsden) bt Matt Brennan (Kirkhill) 8 and 7.
4. Chris Maclean (Clydebank) bt Jay Hainie (Bothwell) 4 and 3.

Willie Sharpe
President
Lanarkshire Golf Association

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AUSSIE TAMPION WINS CHALLENGE TOUR EVENT IN BELGIUM

From Challenge Tour Press Officer Paul Symes 
Fewer than six months after he came closing to quitting the game altogether, Australian Andrew Tampion lifted his second Challenge Tour title at the Telenet Trophy in Belgium today. .
Having earned less than €10,000 after making just four cuts on The European Tour last season, Tampion returned to his native Melbourne, packed his clubs away in the garage for three months, and instead turned his hand to the building trade to try to make ends meet.
But the decision to return to Europe last month and give his career one last shot paid handsome dividends when he closed with a stunning round of 66 to prevail by one stroke at Royal Waterloo Golf Club near Brussels.
Tampion started the day five shots off the pacesetters, but blitzed through the field with eight birdies to set the clubhouse target on eight under par.
With joint overnight leaders Jason Palmer of England and Portugal’s Ricardo Santos both struggling to maintain the sparkling form they had shown on the third day, it was left instead to Oliver Whiteley – who had himself recently taken an extended break from the game – to mount the most serious challenge.
But after Whiteley’s birdie putt on the 18th green had rolled agonisingly past the hole, the trophy – and with it a much-needed cheque for €25,600 which moved him to 12th place in the Challenge Tour Rankings – was Tampion’s to cherish.
The 26 year old, who also came from five strokes behind when he won the Challenge of Ireland in 2008, said:
“I played pretty well all week, but until today just hadn’t got much out of my rounds. So it’d been a frustrating week, and maybe I was due a decent score today. I just went out there with the mindset of trying to give myself as many chances as possible.
"It wasn’t until I’d walked off the 18th green that it dawned on me that I might actually win the tournament. Even then, I didn’t think eight under was going to be enough to win, but I’m obviously delighted it was.
“I had very low expectations coming into the week, so nobody’s more surprised than I am. Last season was pretty tough, to say the least. I missed a few cuts in a row, and my confidence was just shot to pieces. I didn’t really want to play the game any more, and for the first three months of the year I didn’t actually touch a club.
"I went and did some building work with a few friends, and I really enjoyed it. It was nice to sleep in my own bed every night and pick up a regular cheque. But some friends and family persuaded me to give the game one last go, and I’m pretty pleased that I did.”
Whiteley also exceeded his own expectations with a runner-up finish on his first competitive outing for six months.
The Englishman, who closed with a round of 71, said: “Finishing with two pars was slightly annoying because I’ve finished birdie-birdie for the last two days, although I holed a good par putt on the 17th. It was only from three feet, but when you haven’t earned anything for a while and could do with the money, the knees were starting to knock a little bit.
“I thought my birdie putt on the last was in, but it just fell away at the last minute. But if anything that probably made it a bit easier to take, because if I’d hit a poor putt it might’ve left a sour taste in the mouth. So overall I’ve got to be delighted with how I’ve played after six months off, because if you’d offered me second place at the start of the week, I would’ve definitely taken it.”
FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72)
280 A Tampion (Aus) 70 72 72 66,
281 O Whiteley (Eng) 68 72 70 71,
282 C Brazillier (Fra) 74 68 69 71, B Chapellan (Fra) 74 70 73 65, J Lima (Por) 72 71 67 72, R Santos (Por) 68 73 68 73,
283 B Grace (RSA) 68 75 68 72, S Davis (Eng) 75 68 70 70, J Palmer (Eng) 70 70 69 74, A Maestroni (Ita) 76 69 70 68, D Lokke (Den) 71 71 71 70,
284 T Fleetwood (Eng) 73 65 74 72, C Paisley (Eng) 71 71 71 71, B Åkesson (Swe) 71 71 76 66,
285 A Canete (Arg) 71 72 73 69,
286 H Bacher (Aut) 77 67 71 71, K Eriksson (Swe) 79 64 71 72, J Garcia Pinto (Esp) 75 71 71 69, C Doak (Sco) 74 72 72 68,
287 L Jensen (Den) 74 68 76 69, D Denison (Eng) 71 72 72 72, J Garcia (Esp) 70 74 71 72, B Barham (Eng) 76 70 72 69, J Quesne (Fra) 78 68 73 68,
288 A Haindl (RSA) 73 71 73 71, F Colombo (Ita) 71 69 72 76, M Lundberg (Swe) 71 70 71 76, M Lorenzo-Vera (Fra) 73 72 71 72, B Hafthorsson (Isl) 75 69 72 72, P Relecom (Bel) 74 72 66 76, A Hansen (Den) 71 73 72 72,
289 P Archer (Eng) 72 74 73 70, A Pavan (Ita) 72 71 71 75, A McArthur (Sco) 72 71 72 74, G Molteni (Ita) 73 72 72 72, D Vanegas (Col) 68 73 72 76,
290 L Canter (Eng) 71 74 70 75, M Kieffer (Ger) 75 71 71 73, E Bertheussen (Nor) 74 72 73 71, N Vanhootegem (Bel) 71 73 73 73, J Guerrier (Fra) 75 69 73 73, B Evans (Eng) 74 70 70 76,
291 S Hutsby (Eng) 73 72 74 72, B Miarka (Ger) 73 68 75 75, A Perrino (Ita) 77 69 70 75, M Warren (Sco) 71 75 70 75, G Adell (Swe) 71 71 76 73, R De Sousa (Sui) 73 71 73 74,
292 C Mivis (Bel) 72 74 73 73, C Moriarty (Irl) 77 68 69 78, G Dear (Sco) 72 71 74 75, A Signor (Ita) 72 73 76 71, L Richard (Bel) 73 73 73 73, J Legarrea (Esp) 73 72 74 73, J Doherty (Sco) 74 72 76 70,
293 P Golding (Eng) 73 71 78 71,
294 M Baldwin (Eng) 72 73 76 73,
295 S Bebb (Wal) 75 70 74 76, J Grillon (Fra) 73 72 74 76, K Hesbois (am) (Bel) 76 68 75 76,
296 S Robinson (Eng) 70 76 73 77,
297 G Jackson (Eng) 67 74 80 76, I Keenan (Eng) 72 74 74 77, J Hepworth (Eng) 75 71 74 77,
301 N Lombardi (Ita) 75 71 80 75,

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GORDON SMITH WINS GLAMIS QUAICH WITH A 68 AT EDZELL

Downfield's Gordon Smith won the Glamis Quaich open tournament at a windy and wet Edzell Golf Club with a brilliant round of three-under-par 68 - three shots ahead of home course player Ross Coull with Gary Duncan (Carnoustie Caledonia) taking third place with a 75 (better inward half).

OTHER DETAILS (CSS 74, reduction only)
HANDICAP
1 John Carlin (Logie) (4) 73 (bih).
2 Scott Graham (Arbroath) (2) 73 (bih).


CAMPERDOWN SHIELD
HANDICAP
1 C Morrison (Camperdown) (9) 76 (bih).
2 B McLanders (Logie) (15) 76.
SCRATCH
1 T Feeney (Logie) 89

CSS + 3 74 R/O
er

ear Colin--result of above competitions played at a windy and wet Edzell course.  Won with a magnificent 3 under par 68 by Gordon Smith (Downfield)
Results
          Glamis Quaich
                               1--Gordon Smith (Downfield)---68
                               2--Ross Coull (Edzell)--71
                               3--Gary Duncan (Car/Cal)--75 bih
 
                     H/cap  1--John Carlin (Logie)  77--4--73 bih
                                2--Scott Graham (Arbroath)  75--2--73 bih
 
           Camperdown Shield
                               1--C Morrison (Camperdown)   85--9--76 bih  (winner)
                               2--B McLanders (Logie)    91-15-76
 
                     S/cr    T. Feeney (Logie)   89
 
CSS + 3  74 R/O
 
Colin I would be obliged if you will forward to the Courier
 
 
                                                                         Bill
Bill

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DONALD WORLD NO 1 AFTER BEATING WESTWOOD IN PLAY-OFF

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Luke Donald captured The European Tour's flagship event at Wentworth Club, Surrey  after a titanic final round battle with Lee Westwood at the BMW PGA Championship today.
The World Number One and World Number Two traded blows all day, and Westwood's 68 drew him level with his compatriot after 72 holes.
But for the first time in his career it is now Donald (pictured) atop the Official World Golf Ranking. After pitching his third to six feet at the first extra hole, he looked on as Westwood spun his into the water.
Westwood took a double bogey 7 and Donald won the €750,000 first prize with a birdie 4.
In regulation play Donald was left with a 30 footer for victory on the final hole after Westwood, playing in the group ahead, had missed from 6ft, but his two-putt par meant they tied on the total of 278.
Westwood was two behind at the start of the day, but went one in front with a front nine 33 and was two clear when he birdied the 15th following a brilliant approach within three feet.
However, he then bogeyed the next and Donald hit his approach to a foot to draw level.
Simon Dyson signed for a closing 69 to finish four under and create the first all-English one-two-three in the event since 1974.
Marcus Fraser, Raphaël Jacquelin and Shane Lowry tied for fourth on two under, while a shot further back there was a first top-ten finish for Colin Montgomerie since the 2008 Alstom Open de France.
Record crowds of 93,404 enjoyed some spectacular action over the four days, nearly 5,000 more than attended in 2010.
Donald, who revealed his wife Diane is expecting their second child in November, said: “Looking back to the birth of my first child, Elle, my golf has only gone from strength-to-strength. It's been a real blessing to become a father, it's given me a lot more responsibility I think as a person. I've grown up - I've become a better person.
“My daughter is the best, she sleeps 12 hours every night. It's nice to come home even when you finish second or don't quite close out a tournament; when you've got her little face smiling back at me, you're able to forget things pretty quickly. She really is an inspiration to me.”
Westwood said: "It's amazing it went in the water, but it shouldn't have gone into a play-off.
"I had a good chance at 17 going in with a three iron (pushed right) and on the last I just misread it.
"The finish was a bit iffy I suppose, so that's the reason I finished second. Not because I lost the play-off - they are volatile - but because I didn't take my chances."
The high-class field included all four current Major Champions, seven of the game's top nine and all but the injured Padraig Harrington of the winning Ryder Cup Team last year.
Although Westwood was so close to achieving a third successive stroke play victory, nobody can say that his Celtic Manor Resort teammate does not deserve top spot.
This was Donald's ninth successive top-ten finish, a run that began with his victory at the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play in Arizona in February.
The 33 year old also became the third successive English player to win after Paul Casey and Simon Khan, who Donald narrowly missed out to 12 months ago after taking a 7 at the 17th.
“They are gone,” he said, when asked if his win banished the memories of that day.
Donald then admitted that when the "runner-up" was called up at the prize giving he very nearly stepped forward instead of Westwood.
Luke, the leading money-winner on the US PGA Tour this year, was second at the Volvo World Match Play Championship in Spain last week and at the Heritage tournament after a play-off in South Carolina last month. On both occasions a win would have made him Number One.
“It feels great obviously,” he added. “I’ve been the runner-up a few times in my career, a few times this year, and to obviously come through in these circumstances in one of the biggest tournaments in the world, going head-to-head with Lee, is pretty special.
“It doesn't get much better. I'm not sure if there will ever be a case where Number One and Number Two in the world are playing off for the tournament, but also a chance for the Number One ranking in the world. A unique history I think has been made, and glad to be a part of it.”

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 284 (4x71). Prizemoney in Euros
278 Luke Donald (England) 64 72 72 70, Lee Westwood (England) 72 69 69 68 Donald (750,000) bt Westwood (520,000) at first hole of sudden death play-off).
280 Simon Dyson(England) 71 68 72 69 (281,700).
282 Marcus Fraser (Australia) 70 72 73 67, Raphael Jacquelin (France) 72 70 69 71, Shane Lowry (Ireland) 74 72 69 67 (191,000 each).
283 Jamie Donaldson (Wales) 71 71 72 69, Johan Edfors (Sweden) 66 75 71 71, David Horsey 70 68 74 71, Matteo Manassero (Italy) 66 70 72 75, Colin Montgomerie (Scotland) 69 76 71 68, Peter Whiteford (Scotland) 71 69 73 70 (99,750 each).
SELECTED TOTALS
285 Ernie Els (S Africa) 75 68 72 70 (T16) (621,100).
286 Ian Poulter (England) 68 74 73 71 (T18) (53,400).
287 Paul Casey (England) 72 71 71 72, Rory McIlroy (N Ireland) 76 70 68 73 (T24) (44,100 each).
294 Steven O'Hara (Scotland) 74 71 71 78 (T50) (13,838).
300 Greig Hutcheon (Scotland) 74 71 79 76 (T62) (11,250).
303 Scott Jamieson (Scotland) 71 69 85 78 (65th) (10,350).

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BARRIE BLISTERS ABERDEEN LINKS CHAMPIONSHIP WITH A 64

Bon Accord's Barrie Edmond, showing no signs of a week-long successful campaign to win the Maitland Shield, began his defence of the Aberdeen Links championship with a superb round of 64, six under the CSS, in Saturday's first qualifying round.
Barrie, pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency, leads by four shots from Caledonian's Lee Morrice and B Reid.
Neil Mitchell, another of the Bon Accord quartet who won the City of Aberdeen foursomes at Peterculter on Friday night, is lying fourth on 70. And another Bon Accord Maitland Shield hero, Matt Greig, is sharing fifth place on 72 with that old Links championship warhorse, Alex Cruickshank.

SCOREBOARD
ABERDEEN LINKS CHAMPIONSHIP
First qualifying round (CSS 70)
LEADING SCORES
64 B.Edmond (BA).
68 L Morrice (C), B Reid (C).
70 N Mitchell (BA).
72 I Welsh (BA), M.Greig (BA), A. Cruickshank (C).,
73 A Haining (BA), M Beattie (C), J Annand (BA), R Evett (N), R Young (BA), S Finnie (C).
74 A Fiddes (N), M Smith (BA).

MURRAY CUP
(CSS 69)
63 N Rose (N) (24).
64 R Buchan (N) (19).
68 W Guyan (BA) (10), T Butler (N) (12), C Murphy (BA) (16).
69 J Muir (N) (13), G F Webster (N) (18), N Christie (BA) (18).

SENIORS
(CSS 67)
SCRATCH
73 A Fiddes (N).
74 D Coull (N).
75 R A Cheyne (BA), D McKay (C).
77 J Murphy (N).
HANDICAP
63 D Coull (N) (11).
66 J Muir (N) (13), R Ludlam (BA) (20).
67 F Watson (BA) (20), E Yeats (C) (19), W McKay (BA) (23).


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SULLIVAN'S GRANDSTAND FINISH WINS SCOTTISH STROKE-PLAY


 And the winner is - Andrew Sullivan from England, pictured by Kenny Smith, holding aloft the Scottish men's open amateur stroke-play championship trophy at Blairgowrie today.


FROM THE SCOTTISH GOLF UNION WEBSITE
England international Andrew Sullivan from Nuneaton Golf Club, Warwickshire  produced a spectacular birdie-eagle-birdie finish to clinch the Carrick Neill Scottish men's open amateur stroke-play championship title in a dramatic finale over the  Blairgowrie Lansdowne course today.
The 24-year-old Walker Cup hopeful’s final round 69 gave him a six-under par aggregate of 282, one shot clear of fellow England cap Steven Brown (Wentworth) with Scotland Men’s Elite Squad member Paul Shields (Kirkhill), pictured below) in third place.

The lead changed hands several times during an exciting final round and just as it looked like Brown would be the man walking away with the trophy, it was Sullivan’s stunning final burst which edged him back to the top of the leaderboard on the final green.
Sullivan, who held the lead after both the first and second rounds, holed 10-foot birdie putt on the 16th to put himself back into contention on three-under, before drilling a rescue club 263 yards to 20-feet to set up an eagle three at the 17th. Needing a final hole birdie to win, he hit a towering 7-iron to four feet and calmly rolled in the putt to become the sixth Englishman to lift the title.
“That’s definitely my best finish to a round in those circumstances,” said an elated Sullivan, who finished sixth in the Welsh Stroke Play and eighth in the Lytham Trophy. “I struggled a bit after a good start but saw I was still in contention going into the back nine and said to myself just to keep it going. I saw Steven (Brown) had moved up to five-under so knew I had to go for it and managed to pull it off.”
“Hopefully it’ll help me get back up to Scotland for the Walker Cup in September.” he added.
Brown, who went into the final round tied second with Sullivan behind Glenbervie’s Graeme Robertson, posted a fine two-under par closing round of 70 to clinch the runners-up spot, having moved onto the outright lead with a brace of birdies on 16 and 17, however Robertson’s challenge came unstuck with a crippling nine at the par-4 sixth hole.
Kirkhill’s Paul Shields had shared the lead with Sullivan and Brown midway through the back nine, but he was left to rue missed birdie chances at 15, 16 and 17, before bogeying the last for a final round 72 to finish on 286.
Shields said: “I knew that if I didn’t drop shots at the start of the back nine I would be in contention as that stretch was playing really tough. I had good chances at 15, 16 and 17 to make birdie but unfortunately the putts didn’t drop and that’s really what cost me. However, I’m delighted with my performance this week and hopefully a big win is just around the corner.”
Craigie Hill’s Daniel Young closed on 288 for fourth spot, one head of the host club’s Glenn Campbell and Australian Daniel Nisbet. Former Scotland Boys cap Young, fresh from completing his second year at Lynn University posted a final round 74 to follow up an impressive two-under par 70 this morning to secure his best finish on the national stage.
Glaswegian Mark Bookless enjoyed another good Blairgowrie performance, sharing seventh spot on 291, while Scotland international Ross Kellett (Colville Park) was among a group of six players tied in tenth spot on 292.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72). SSS 74. CSS 74-75-75-76
282 Andrew Sullivan (Nuneaton) 65 71 77 69.
283 Steven Brown (Wentworth) 73 67 73 70.
286 Paul Shields (Kirkhill) 69 73 72 72.
288 Daniel Young (Craigie Hill) 71 73 70 74.
289 Glenn Campbell (Blairgowrie) 70 70 76 73, Daniel Nisbet (Australia) 68 68 77 75.

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