RAYMOND CHEYNE WINS ABERDEEN LINKS SENIORS TITLE

Bon-Accord veteran Raymond Cheyne today added to his collection of Aberdeen Links golf championships' titles. Winner over the years twice of the main event, the Links scratch championship, and once in the low-handicap champion,ship, Raymond has now won the Links seniors' title. He overcame a two-stroke starting deficit to overhaul playing partner Ally Fiddes (Northern) over the second and final round with a very good round of 70 for a total of 145. Fiddes was runner-up on 147 (73-74) with John Murphy (Northern) third on 154 (77-77) Northern's Jim Muir, playing off 13, won the Fred Sutherland Shield with a net total of 135, finishing a shot ahead of Bill McKay (Bon Accord) (19) with D J Hampton (Caledonian) (13) third on 137. The Vic Bon Trophy for the over-70s was won by George Forbes (Caledonian) who, playing off 10, came storming through the field with a net 62 for a total of 137 to take the title from clubmate E Mitchell (19) who finished second on 138, and A W Mathieson (Bon-Accord) (17), also on 138 but with the poorer second round. ABERDEEN LINKS SENIORS CHAMPIONSHIP LEADING FINAL TOTALS 145  R A Cheyne (Bon-Accord) 75 70. 146 A Fiddes (Northern) 73 74. 154 J Murphy (Northern) 77 77. FRED SUTHERLAND SHIELD Handicap 135 J Muir (Northern) (13) 66 69. 136 W McKay (Bon-Accord) (19) 67 69. 137 D J Hampton (Caledonian)(13) 68 69. VIC BON TROPHY  (Over 70s) Handicap 137 G Forbes (Caledonian) (10) 75 62. 138 E Mitchell (Caledonian) (19) 76 62, A W Mathieson (Bon-Accord) (17) 69 69.

SPANIARD LEADS BY FOUR IN EUROPEAN MID-AMATEUR CHSHIP

Jacobo Cestino (Spain) has opened up a four-stroke lead after two rounds of the European men's mid-amateur championship at Sola Golf Club, Norway.
Cestino, whose handicap of +2.5 is one of the lowest in the field, has had a pair of one-under-par 71s for a two-under-par tally 0f 142.

His nearest challenge is Finland's Jani Michelsson with scores of 72 and 74.

There are no Scottish competitors in the field.

The leading English player is Philip Meadows in joint 11th place with scores of 75 and 76 for 151.

LEADERBOARD

Par 144 (2x72)

142 Jacobo Cestino (Spain) 71 71.

146 Jani Michelsson (Finland) 72 74.

147 Morten Findsen Schou (Denmark) 71 76..

148 Helmut Konrad (Austraia) 77 71, Franz Pfoestl(Italy) 76 62.

LEADING ENGLISH SCORES

151 Philip Meadows 75 76 (T11).

155 Barry Downing 78 77, Roger Roper 77 78 (T22).

158 Paul Le Chevalier 81 77 (T32).

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES ON THE EGA CHAMPIONSHIP WEBSITE

CLICK HERE

KRIS NICOL HEADS SCOTTISH CHALLENGE IN ST ANDREWS LINKS

Fraserburgh's Kris Nicol headed the Scottish challenge with a three-under-par round of 68 over the New Course in the first round of the St Andrews Links Trophy.

He ended the first day sharing third place with former British boys champion Tom Lewis (Welwyn Garden City), two shots behind the leader from Truro, Cornwall, Rhys Enoch, pictured right, who shot a sparkling 66.
Enoch, who played in the recent GBandI Walker Cup squad practice at Royal Aberdeen, is a student at East Tennessee State University, the same college attended in the past by Scottish champion Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) and former British boys champion Jordan Findlay (Fraserburgh).

In second place on 67 is South American Franco Romero.

The quality international field will play their second round over the Old Course on Saturday, at the end of which the leading 40 players and ties will go on to play the final 36 holes over the Old Course on Sunday.
LEADERBOARD

FIRST ROUND - NEW COURSE

Par 71

66 Rhys Enoch (Truro).

67 Franco Romero (Argentina).

68 Tom Lewis (Welwyn Garden City), Kris Nicol (Fraserburgh).

69 Ben Campbell (Australia).

OTHER SCOTS' SCORES

71 Paul Shields (Kirkhill), Scott Gibson (Southerness) (T8).
72 Peter Latimer (St Andrews New), Sam Binning (Ranfurly Caslte), Allyn Dick (Kingsknowe), Jordan Findlay (Fraserburgh), Graeme Robertson (Glenbervie), Gordon Stevenson (Whitecraigs), James White (Lundin) (T26).
73 Brian Soutar (Leven), Greg Paterson (St Andrews New) (T40).
75 Philip McLean (Peterhead), Glenn Campbell (Blairgowrie), Ewan Scott (St Andrews), Kyle McClung (Wigtownshire Co) (T75).
76 Ross Kellett (Colville Park), Conor O'Neil (Pollok), David Law (Hazlehead) (T90).
77 Mark Halliday (Royal Aberdeen), Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck), Scott Crichton (Aberdour) (T101).
78 Ian Bell (Scotscraig) (T113).
79 Ross Bell (Downfield), Steven Rennie (Drumpellier) (T125).
80 Ross Coull (Edzell) (T131).
81 Zander Culverwell (Dunbar) (T137).
84 Greg Nicolson (Mortonhall) (141st).
88 Paul Gault (Westerwood) (144th).

JASON CONTINUES GOLDEN START TO PRO-AM SEASON

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Colin@scottishgolfview.com

Jason McCreadie maintained his early-season form by winning the Cawder pro-am today (Friday). On a day of glorious sunshine the Largs-based Buchanan Castle professional shot a five-under-par 65 (33-32) to win the £1,377 top prize by one shot from another in-form player, Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills), and Dunbar's Neil Fenwick..

It was McCreadie's second win of the season and he has also achieved five top-10 finishes. He has earned more than £3,800 so far.

Jason got it to six under par with an eagle at the 11th and birdies at the first, ninth, 12th and 13th before he dropped his only shot, at the 15th.

McKechnie held the clubhouse lead with a 66 for quite some time. He had a flawless round with an eagle at the 11th and birdies at the ninth and 12th his only deviations from par.

McKechnie has won twice this season and has now four other top 10 finishes to his credit this year.

Fenwick's 66 included two 2s among his six birdies and two bogeys..

The last pro (Craig Matheson of Falkirk Tryst) and team (Geason Training) to finish after 8.30pm won the pro-am team prize with a net total of 16-under-par 124 but only after a card countback against Mark Kerr (Murrayfield) and the OKD Insurance team of Robert Nicol (handicap 18), Greig Reid (15) and John Cooper (7) who had been the long-time clubhouse leaders, also with a 124 total.

Matheson's men - Ian Kilpatrick (8), Craig Johnstone (12) and Paul cowley (10) - won it on the better inward half.

Leading pro scores

Par 70

65 Jason McCreadie (Buchanan Castle) £1,377.

66 Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills), Neil Fenwick (Dunbar) £963 each..

67 Mark Kerr (Murrayfield) £619.

68 Jonathan Lomas (unatt), James McKinnon (Irvine), Graeme Brown (Montrose Links) £222 each..

69 Steven Tayloor (Bothwell Castle), Mark King (Kingsfield), Chreis Kelly (Cawder) £266 each.

70 Paul Wardell (Whitekirk), Christopher Currie (Caldwell) £199 each.

71 Spencer Edwards (Carrick on Loch Lomond), David Orr (East Renrewshire), Patrick Walker (St Andrews Links GA), Craig Matheson (Falkirk Tryst) £158 each.

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES ON THE PGA SCOTLAND WEBSITE

CLICK HERE

PAVAN LEADS BY SEVEN SHOTS IN CHALLENGE TOUR

By SARAH GWYNN
European Challenge Tour Press Officer

Italian Andrea Pavan holds a staggering seven-shot lead at the halfway stage of the Kärnten Golf Open presented by Mazda after carding an eight under par 64 in the second round.

The 22 year old had seven birdies, one bogey and an eagle – holing his approach on the par four 13th - to add to his nine under par 63 in the first round, and at 17 under he is streets ahead of Englishman Chris Paisley and Austrian Roland Steiner, who are both at ten under after rounds of 65 and 68 respectively.

Germany’s Christoph Günther, who won here two years ago, and Swede Bjorn Åkesson are another shot back at nine under.

Despite tearing up Golf Club Klagenfurt-Seltenheim for the second day running to comfortably beat the season’s previous best 36-hole score of ten under, Pavan refused to get carried away by his sizeable lead.

“It’s good but it’s only halfway,” said the Rome resident who turned professional last year. “I drove the ball really well and only missed a couple of fairways today, and not by much. At the end of the round yesterday I was feeling like I couldn’t control my ball flight very well, but it was better today.

“On the 13th I had a 119-metre approach and played it straight at the pin. It drifted a bit right and spun back in the hole – although I couldn’t see it at the time as I was slightly below the hole. The guy in the green was clapping so I knew it was close, then Pierre (Relecom) said to me, ‘Dude, you holed it’.

“I made a three-putt on the sixth which was annoying as I was in the middle of the fairway and if you’re on the fairway on this course you’ve got a good chance for birdie. But I hit it long and left – still on the green – and then mis-hit my putt so it was still two or three metres short, then I missed the second one.

“That was a disappointing bogey, but at the end of the day I’m happy because I kept my head when things weren’t going well. I just stayed calm. I holed a couple of long putts – on the 11th and the ninth – but I missed a couple of short ones too.

“It’s only halfway so I’ll just try and play my game and not even count my score, just try and make as many birdies as I can. Hopefully I can keep playing the way I am. My game has worked very well the first two days so I’ll be playing the same at the weekend and I think patience will be the key.”

Earlier Paisley, playing in the €160,000 event on a sponsor’s invitation, set the clubhouse lead with a seven under par 65. The 25 year old was part of the Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup team in 2009 and is currently leading the Alps Tour Order of Merit.

He said: “I played a lot better than I did yesterday. Yesterday I really struggled and still managed to shoot three under somehow. Today I hit it really well and didn’t have any bogeys and holed a few good putts, so I’m very happy.

“It’s strange because first thing this morning it was raining heavily and I thought it was going to be a long day. I only hit a few balls to warm up and I was just hoping it would stop raining, and luckily it did. I hit a few really nice shots down the first couple of holes and I got some confidence going from that.”

Steiner, who coincidentally also holed his second shot for eagle at the 13th, felt his round was tarnished by a bogey at the last.

“It was a stupid bogey and annoying because I birdied the eighth and it gave me confidence,” he said. “I had a lot of chances today but didn’t hole many putts. I was four under after five holes but from then on I couldn’t take my opportunities.

“You have to say well done to Andrea, and it just shows those kind of scores are possible on this course. We saw it two years ago and last year with players scoring 62, 63. It is good for the sport but for me personally I hope he doesn’t continue scoring like this.”

Günther, who posted a course record 62 en route to his 2009 victory, is pleased to be in contention once again – albeit a few more shots behind the leader than he would have liked.

“I was a bit shaky at first and I always find the front nine tougher,” he said. “Once I got to the tenth tee I knew I could make some birdies and I did. I’m just happy to be here for the weekend and be in with a chance – you never know.

“When I finished today I said to my caddie I thought I’d be four or five shots off the lead, but in fact it’s eight shots.”
A total of 69 players made the cut with 36-hole tallies of two-under-par 142 or better. They included five Scots - Callum Macaulay (67-138), Andrew McArthur (66-140), Chris Doak (68-140), Gavin Dear (70-142) and Alastair Forsyth (72-142).
The only Scots to miss out were John Gallagher (70-144) and Jack Doherty (74-148). Carnoustie's Eric Ramsay withdrew after a first-round 80.

SECOND ROUND TOTALS

Par 144 (2x72)

127 A Pavan (Ita) 63 64

134 R Steiner (Aut) 66 68, C Paisley (Eng) 69 65

135 B Åkesson (Swe) 65 70, C Günther (Ger) 65 70

136 P Edberg (Swe) 70 66,K Eriksson (Swe) 69 67, M Ford (Eng) 67 69, D Denison (Eng) 68 68

137 M Erlandsson (Swe) 69 68, J Billot (Fra) 70 67, L Jensen (Den) 70 67, S Little (Eng) 71 66, E Dubois (Fra) 70 67

138 C Carranza (Arg) 69 69, B Barham (Eng) 69 69, J Garcia (Esp) 69 69, W Besseling (Ned) 69 69, M Southgate (Eng) 65 73, T Remkes (Ned) 68 70, C Macaulay (Sco) 71 67, R Santos (Por) 68 70, D Whitnell (Eng) 71 67,

139 S Harrington (USA) 69 70, B Grace (RSA) 67 72, J Estevez (Arg) 69 70, J Hansen (Den) 69 70, A Butterfield (Eng) 71 68, G Watremez (Bel) 70 69, N Bertasio (Ita) 68 71

140 A McArthur (Sco) 74 66, M Larsson (Swe) 71 69, F Ruprecht (Aut) 71 69, C Doak (Sco) 72 68, A Johnston (Eng) 70 70, A Haindl (RSA) 72 68, J Abbate (Arg) 70 70, D Perrier (Fra) 69 71, R Hjelm (Den) 69 71, M Baldwin (Eng) 72 68, A Maestroni (Ita) 71 69, C Lloyd (Eng) 71 69, J Campillo (Esp) 71 69, G Molteni (Ita) 67 73

141 A Tampion (Aus) 71 70, B Ritthammer (Ger) 72 69, H Bacher (Aut) 70 71, A Ahokas (Fin) 71 70, D Brooks (Eng) 68 73, B Hafthorsson (Isl) 70 71, F Praegant (Aut) 71 70, L Westerberg (Swe) 71 70, M Trappel (am) (Aut) 69 72,

142 S Jeppesen (Swe) 71 71, R Kind (Ned) 71 71, D Lokke (Den) 69 73, N Lombardi (Ita) 74 68, A Forsyth (Sco) 70 72, G Dear (Sco) 72 70, A Bruschi (Ita) 70 72, A Högberg (Swe) 70 72, C Pfau (Aut) 67 75, P Del Grosso (Arg) 70 72, M Cryer (Eng) 72 70, J Legarrea (Esp) 70 72, E Canonica (Ita) 75 67, F Svanberg (Sui) 71 71, J Heath (Eng) 69 73, J Grillon (Fra) 71 71.

MISSED THE CUT
143 M Cobo (Esp) 73 70, V Almstrom (Swe) 73 70, D Wuensche (Ger) 73 70, M Bliss (Can) 70 73, M Kieffer (Ger) 71 72, C Ford (Eng) 66 77, A Bossert (Sui) 71 72, A Perrino (Ita) 73 70, J Van Der Vaart (Ned) 71 72, J Moul (Eng) 71 72, N Kearney (Irl) 72 71

144 N Bollini (USA) 71 73, A Signor (Ita) 72 72, J Lagergren (Swe) 67 77, E Bertheussen (Nor) 74 70, T Feyrsinger (Aut) 73 71, J Little (Eng) 75 69, S Thornton (Irl) 70 74, J Gallagher (Sco) 74 70, A Chopard (Sui) 70 74, M Palm (Swe) 75 69, M Vibe-Hastrup (Den) 73 71, O David (Fra) 73 71, J Maurer (Aut) 73 71, M Laskey (Wal) 75 69, T Leon (USA) 73 71, J Lopez Lazaro (Fra) 76 68, J Hepworth (Eng) 76 68

145 K Sullivan (Wal) 72 73, A Bihan (Fra) 73 72, J Ruth (Eng) 75 70, I Ridgway (Eng) 74 71, U Weinhandl (Aut) 72 73, M McGeady (Irl) 74 71,

146 N Meitinger (Ger) 73 73, W Rieder (Aut) 73 73, B Reiter (Aut) 74 72, E Kofstad (Nor) 75 71, J Robinson (Eng) 69 77, F Pogatschnigg (Aut) 73 73, M Moser (Aut) 72 74

147 C Vigano (Ita) 73 74, E Pepperell (Eng) 75 72, I Keenan (Eng) 70 77, L Astl (Aut) 74 73, K Le Sager (Fra) 72 75, L Nemecz (am) (Aut) 74 73,

148 B Miarka (Ger) 75 73, A Domingo (Esp) 72 76, J Caldwell (Nir) 74 74, W Roebuck (Eng) 72 76, P Relecom (Bel) 73 75, J Doherty (Sco) 74 74, A Tadini (Ita) 75 73, A Jacobsson (Swe) 76 72, M Bothma (RSA) 72 76, J Palmer (Eng) 72 76, J Roos (RSA) 76 72, S McHenry (Aus) 76 72, G Murphy (Irl) 71 77, J Barnes (Eng) 73 75, R Neil-Jones (Eng) 72 76, L Bjerregaard (am) (Den) 75 73, B Neumayer (am) (Aut) 74 74,

149 R De Sousa (Sui) 80 69, S Piaget (Mon) 73 76, M Delpodio (Ita) 76 73, N Fox (Irl) 71 78, L Kennedy (Eng) 71 78, G Lockerbie (Eng) 79 70, J Bragulat (Esp) 70 79, H Amin (am) (Aut) 74 75,

150 I Urquizu (Esp) 76 74, D Vanegas (Col) 74 76,

151 J Colomo (Esp) 74 77, B Chapellan (Fra) 75 76, L Claverie (Esp) 78 73,

152 T Stewart (Aus) 72 80, C Korbler (am) (Aut) 74 78,

153 P Kaensche (Nor) 76 77,

154 M Kramer (Ger) 75 79, M Dam (Den) 81 73,

155 C Farrelly (Eng) 75 80,

157 A Friestad (Nor) 77 80,

159 T Ferreira (RSA) 79 80

** E Ramsay (Sco) 81 withdrew, S Clark (Eng) 80 retired.

ALEX NOREN LEADS BUT GRAEME McDOWELL IS ON HIS TAIL

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE

Sweden's Alex Noren took over the lead in the Saab Wales Open with a second successive 67 – but he has defending champion Graeme McDowell only one behind.

The former Omega European Masters champion, who is looking forward to his US Open Championship debut - indeed his first Major in America - in two weeks after making it through with a stroke to spare at Walton Heath.

The 28 year old from Stockholm said: "I've always dreamed of playing a US Open and I'm so happy - so happy. It's such an energy boost."

He birdied four of the last five holes to take over at the top from South African Keith Horne, who after starting with a 64 failed to conjure up a single birdie in his 73.

Noren, who had wrongly predicted the second round leading total being nine or ten under after finishing his round in the morning session, added: “It plays so long. It's just like you used to hit a lot of wedges, but today seven iron, six iron, five iron, and it just keeps on going. You can play pretty safe, but you'll have long putts, and difficult putts, and if you want to make birdies, it's pretty tough.”

McDowell also had four birdies in five holes, in his case from the eighth, and just as important was his recovery from under the lip of a bunker to two feet at the short tenth.

"One of the boys said Seve would have been proud of that one," he said. "I'm on a course I enjoy and in a position I enjoy.

"This is absolutely perfect for the US Open (he defends there as well in a fortnight). I said I just wanted to get in the mix and get the juices flowing and it's kind of mission accomplished."

Welshman Jamie Donaldson is in joint third with France's Victor Dubuisson, but Phillip Price - another of the home contingent - had a real setback when he was going well.

On-course television commentator Howard Clark thought Price, one under at the time, had driven from in front of the tee at the 15th.

When it was checked on video a two shot penalty was imposed and he had to go back to the tee to play it again. He birdied it second time, but it meant a bogey on the card and he finished level par.

In the same group Ryder Cup star Ross Fisher endured an outward 44 and with a 79 for seven over he is certain to remain outside the world's top 50 and looks like missing the US Open.

“I played really good,” said Donaldson, who is still seeking his maiden European Tour title. “I probably played better today than I did yesterday but yesterday I played really well.

“It was just tough today because of the wind. Played the first eight or nine holes into, so it was a matter of keeping your score, making pars really. It was just a matter of grinding until the wind turned, and you had a lot more holes on the back nine downwind.”
SCOTSWATCH 

Peter Whiteford, Greig Hutcheon, David Drysdale and Elliot Saltman were the only Scottish qualifiers for the final two rounds at Celtic Manor this weekend.

Whiteford, with a pair of 70s, is sharing 15th place at halfway - another good performance. Tartan Tour man Hutcheon, with a a pair of 72s for 144, also deserves a big hand for hitting the cut-off limit right on the button. He is joint 52nd.
David Drysdale made it safely enough with a pair of 71s for 142 and is joint 22nd. Elliot Saltman had a 70 for 143 and is joint 41st.
Aberdonian Richie Ramsay is out after an amazing meltdown in his second which cost him 83 shots - 13 more than his first-round, one-under-par 70.

Ramsay was out in 39 and home in 44.

He had a double bogey 5 at the short 13th, a double bogey 7 at the long 14th and a double bogey 6 at the 15th before he dropped only one shot the 16th. That was a dreadful run of seven shots cascaded from par over four successive holes.

Scots on the way home - Gary Orr (77-145), George Murray (73-148), Lloyd Saltmnan (75-148), Scott Jamieson (71-149), Steven O'Hara (76-150), Scott Drummond (79-150), Stephen Gallacher (73-151), Paul Lawrie (76-151), Richie Ramsay (83-153), Colin Montgomerie (79-157).

SECOND-ROUND LEADERBOARD

Par 142 (2x71)

134 Alexander Noren (Sweden) 67 67.

135 Graeme McDowell (N Ireland) 67 68.

136 Victor Dubuisson (France) 68 68.

137 Barry Lane (England) 68 69, Keith Horn (S Africa) 68 73, Peter Hanson (Sweden) 65 72.

SELECTED SCORES

140 Peter Whiteford (Scotland) 70 70 (T15).
142 David Drysdale (Scotland) 71 71 (T22).
143 Elliot Saltman (Scotland) 73 70 (T41)

144 Greig Hutcheon (Scotland) 72 72 (T52)

SCOTS WHO MISSED THE CUT (144 or better qualified)

145 Gary Orr 73 72.

148 George Murray 75 73, Lloyd Saltman 73 75.
149 Scott Jamieson 78 71.

150 Scott Drummond 71 79, Steven O'Hara 74 76.

151 Stephen Gallacher 78 73, Paul Lawrie 75 76.

153 Richie Ramsay 70 83.

157 Colin Montgomerie 78 79.

OLDCORN A SHOT OFF THE PACE IN HANDA SENIORS MASTERS

By STEVE TODD
European Seniors Tour Press Officer
Peter Fowler and Mike Harwood both fired five under par opening rounds of 68 to make it an Australian tie at the top of the leaderboard in the ISPS Handa Senior Masters presented by The Stapleford Forum.
Harwood set the target after carding six birdies and just the single bogey on the 13th hole before Fowler, playing in the group behind, matched it posting five birdies and holing a 20ft eagle putt on the par five second hole.
The friends, who practice together, are sharing a house close to the Stapleford Park course in Melton Mowbray, and will now be paired in the final group for the second round after establishing a one-stroke lead over Scotland’s Andrew Oldcorn (picture above by courtesy of Getty Images). 
“This is a good course for Peter as well as me so he will be hard to beat,” said Harwood. “He will do well this week. We play together every practice round and are staying together this week so it will be good fun to play together tomorrow.”
Both players are looking to build on strong starts to the 2011 season, Harwood having recorded top five finishes in Australia and Brunei and Fowler so far posting three top ten finishes including runner up to Sandy Lyle the ISPS Handa Senior World Championship presented by Mission Hills China.
Harwood could also have finished in the top 20 in last week’s US Senior PGA Championship had it not been for a final round triple bogey on the 16th hole followed by wrongly signing for a par on the 17th when he made birdie, meaning he lost four shots in two holes for a 72 to drop to 39th position.
“I played very well last week and when you play well over there against really good players it gives you a lift mentally coming in here,” said Harwood.
“I’ve made some really good changes to my game which are working. Visually you wouldn’t see them but I’ve played really well the last six months. My scoring average is probably in the high 60s which is where I want it to be.”
Fowler, who also made the cut in last week’s US Senior PGA Championship, is also optimistic about his chances of a maiden European Senior Tour title over the weekend.
“I had a good practice last week so I’m feeling pretty good in my second tournament back after a month off,” said Fowler, who turns 51 next Thursday.
“You have to be able to score well and I didn’t do that last week and finished 66th so putting well is key to having a really good tournament and I did that today. I’m not surprised that Mike Harwood is up there as he’s great at scoring.
“Mike is a good friend and we’ve known each other a long time. It’s always fun to play together. The last time we did was in the Tasmania Open earlier this year. He beat me that day so it’s my turn tomorrow.”
Putting pressure on the two Australians will be Oldcorn, who would have also tied at the top of the leaderboard had it not been for a closing bogey. That meant he signed for a 69, which included a fine run of four consecutive birdies from the fourth hole.
“The front nine I had a great chance to have a really low one which I felt was in there today with the way I putted before the turn,” said the 2001 PGA Champion. “I had probably more chances on the back nine and missed every one of them then I bogeyed the last. So it’s disappointing to finish like that but overall I would have taken 69 to start with.”
Englishman David J Russell is a further shot back in fourth place on three under par while Welshman Mark Mouland, the highest finishing European on his debut in last week’s US Senior PGA Championship, is one of five players on two under par.
Ian Woosnam, the former World Number One, closed with a double bogey six to sign for a level par 73 having birdied the 15th and 16th holes.
Another former Ryder Cup Captain, Sam Torrance, is a shot further back in a share of 28th place after a one over par opening round 74, alongside Carl Mason, winner of a record breaking 24 Senior Tour titles.
FIRST-ROUND SCOREBOARD
Par 73
68 M Harwood (Aus), P Fowler (Aus) 
69 A Oldcorn (Sco)
70 D Russell (Eng)
71 D Cambridge (Jam) , D O'Sullivan (Irl) , R Davis (Aus) , M Mouland (Wal) , D Smyth (Irl) ,
72 B Cameron (Eng) , B Longmuir (Sco) , B Ruangkit (Tha) , J Quiros (Esp) , B Lincoln (RSA) , J Rhodes (Eng) ,
73 P Mitchell (Eng) , K Tomori (Jpn) , S Van Vuuren (RSA) , J Chillas (Sco) , G Brand Jnr (Sco) , B Smit (RSA) , I Woosnam (Wal) , L Carbonetti (Arg) , M Bembridge (Eng) , G Wolstenholme (Eng) , M Belsham (Eng) , G Ralph (Eng) ,
74 S Torrance (Sco) , M Cunning (USA) , J Stuart (USA) , C Williams (RSA) , W Grady (Aus) , D Merriman (Aus) , C Mason (Eng) , D Good (Aus) , A Fernandez (Chi) , H Carbonetti (Arg) ,
75 G Ryall (Eng) , F Mann (Sco) , A Sowa (Arg) , S Bennett (Eng) , J Rivero (Esp) , J Stansberry (USA) , L Stephen (Aus) ,
76 D Durnian (Eng) , P Dahlberg (Swe) , G Brand (Eng) , M Moreno (Esp) , A Franco (Par)
77 A Murray (Eng), R Drummond (Sco)
78 J Bruner (USA), T Johnstone (Zim) , A Sherborne (Eng) , P Errity (Irl) , G Banister (Aus)
79 K Spurgeon (Eng) , C Rocca (Ita) , G Manson (Aut) 
80 J Gould (Eng) , J Heggarty (Nir) , M Piñero (Esp) , N Job (Eng) 
81 I Mosey (Eng) , G Cali (Ita) 
82 B Larratt (Eng) , D Johnson (USA) , J Harrison (Eng) , N Ratcliffe (Aus) , E Polland (Nir)
84 B Stevens (Eng)
86 A Garrido (Esp)

GRAY CLIMBS BACK TO FINISH JT THIRD AMD COLLECT £1,560

Hayston's Stephen Gray finished in a creditable five-way tie for  third place in the PGA EuroPro Tour event at Burhill Golf Club, Surrey, thanks to a third and final round of three-under-par 69 for a one-under-par total of 215 which earned him £1,560. Gray was joint third after a first-round 68 but dropped down the field with a second-day 78. He had five birdies and two bogeys as he climbed through the field to finish four shots behind the winner of the £10,000 first prize, Basingstoke-based Stuart Archibald who survived a double bogey 6 at the 15th to total five-under 211 and win by a shot from runner-up Graeme Clark (Doncaster) (71-67-74). Clark earned £5,000. Scott Henry will be rueing his opening 76 because he was four under par for the last 36 holes with rounds of 69 and 71 for level par 216. He tied for eighth place. His final round included four birdies and a double bogey 6 at the seventh. Henry's payslip amounted to £775. Ellon's Ross Cameron, joint leader with an opening 67, faded with rounds of 76 and 79 to finish joint 31st on 222. He had a nightmare outward half in his final round with an 8 at the par-5 second and a 10 at the par-5 fifth in amassing 44 shots to the turn. He did stop the rot with 35 for the second nine but a £275 pay-out was a disappointing return after such a bright start to the tournament.  Duncan Stewart (Grantown on Spey) finished joint 47th with rounds of 75, 69 and 80 for 224. Stewart's final round included an eagle 3 at the 13th but also double bogeys at the seventh, short eighth and 14th. Duncan earned £210.    LEADING FINAL TOTALS Par 216 (3x72) 211 Stuart Archibald (England) 68 69 74 (£10,000). 212 Graeme Clark (Doncaster) 71 67 74 (£5,000). 215 Stephen Gray (Hayston) 68 78 69, Darryn Lloyd (Wales) 72 74 69, Thomas Shadbolt (Brocket Hall) 74 71 70, Simon Lilly (Wellingborough) 72 71 72, Neil Rowlands (Welcombe) 72 70 73 (£1,560 each). Selected totals 216 Scott Henry (The Carrick on Loch Lomond) 76 69 71 (T8) (£775). 222 Ross Cameron (McDonald Ellon) 67 76 79 (T31) (£275). 224 Duncan Stewart (Grantown on Spey) 75 69 80 (T47) (£210).

CRAIBSTONE ALLIANCE OPENS TEE OFF ON WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolview.com
A reminder that if you are looking for a competitive round on a Wednesday and you are within reach of Craibstone Golf Club, on the northwest suburbs of Aberdeen - behind the Scottish Agriculture College at Craibstone - then the Craibstone Alliance open competitions are for you.
The first one is on Wednesday, June 8 - and they will be held at Craibstone every Wednesday until the North-east Alliance's 2011-2012 season tees off in mid-September.

CRAIBSTONE ALLIANCE OPENS
Eighteen holes stroke-play.
Tee times available from 8am to 2pm.
Can be booked by phoning Golf Operations Manager Billy Sim on 075533 47143 or the clubhouse number, 01224 716777.
Open to male (handicap maximum 20) and female (handicap maximum 30) amateurs, no age minimum or limit.
Also open to professionals and amateur professionals.
Prizes within each category depending on the number of entries.
Entry fee: £15 or £10 for Craibstone Golf Club members.
(Normal visitors' green fee is £35 per round).
Catering now available again in the "Brimmond Bistro" in the refurbished Craibstone clubhouse from 9.30am to 6.30pm seven days a week.

E-mail from Joel Hopwood

Assistant pro at Carnegie Club, Skibo Castle(a regular competitor and a winner on the NE Alliance circuit).

Hi Colin,
Sounds great, I’ll try to spread the word and I’ll be there as much as I can, despite the distance to Aberdeen from Skibo Castle.
I have to play in the Rowallan SkyCaddie two-day pro-am next Wednesday-Thursday but I'm almost a dead cert to play at Craibstone the rest of the Wednesdays over the summer. £100 a week sounds good to me! Ha, Ha!
Regards,
Joel




Colin Farquharson replies
Joel, 
It will only be "£100 a week" if the Craibstone Alliance gets 80 to 100 (or even more) entries a week.


SPREAD THE WORD ... THAT'S THE KEY TO
THE SUCCESS OF THE CRAIBSTONE ALLIANCE OPENS

CULTS HOTEL ABERDEEN PENNANT LEAGUE RESULTS

Played Thursday night

Home club: Peterculter

RESULT

PETERCULTER 1, PORTLETHEN 4

Peterculter names first
Phil Robb / Murray Bowman lost to Iain Craik / Graham Innes 1 hole.
Donald MacDonald / Andrew Carrell lost to Clark Brechin / James Hunter 1 hole.
Gary Watson / Frazer Downie bt Ryan Penny / Sean Lawrie 4 and 2.
Duncan McLean / Martin Aitken lost to Stephen Cook / Ryan Donaldson 1 hole
George McAndrew / Steve Yule lost to Lewis Shand / Keith Horne Porty 4 and 3.Fraser Downie (Peterculter) holed out with a five-iron for an albatross 2 at the Par 5 fifth in his match. All the players commented on how well presented the course was and in particular the smooth greens which were a joy to putt on.
Dean Vannet
Peterculter Golf Manager
PGA Professional


TUESDAY NIGHT'S RESULT
At Balgownie

ROYAL ABERDEEN  3.5, STONEHAVEN 1.5

D Macandrew jnr / A Reith halved with N Irvine / G Adamson
D Macandrew snr / W Barclay lost to B Ferguson / B McGillivray 1 hole.
E Laird / M Black bt G Graham / A Cruickshank 5 and 3.
M Wilson / D Purdie bt P Lindeman / S Murray 2 and 1.

G Webster / R Patterson bt S Guzik / R Anderson 2 and 1

And so the complete lists of results for Week 1 of the Cults Hotel Aberdeen Pennant League were:
DEESIDE 2.5, B0N ACCORD 2.5.
NEWMACHAR 4, HAZLEHEAD 1.
NIGG BAY 3, CALEDONIAN 2.
NORTHERN 1, AUCHMILL 4.
PETERCULTER 1, PORTLETHEN 4.
ROYAL ABERDEEN 3.5, STONEHAVEN 1.5

Club officials are requested to E-mail their Pennant League results to Colin@scottishgolfview ASAP after the match has been played.
We will publish weekly tables but we need all the results if we are going to do that.
Colin Farquharson

LETTERS hire Master Clubmaker for new workshop in ST ANDREWS

Scott Thomson and Peter McAlla (right) at the John Letters Shop at 9 Albany Place, North Street in St Andrews.

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY PURE SPORTS MARKETING

John Letters, Scotland’s finest clubmaker since 1918, has secured the services of Peter McCalla as the full-time Master Clubmaker for the new Workshop in St Andrews.

A 254yd drive from the 18^th Green of the Old Course, the new workshop is now fully operational and occupies an enviable position (at 9 Albany Place) on North Street where it is the only place in the home of golf where clubs can be professionally custom built and repaired on site.

Peter, pictured above with Scott Thomson at the John Letters Shop in St Andrews and (right) on his own,  brings a wealth of experience to the John Letters team, having been a PGA professional for 34 years. He started his career as a greenkeeper at Glenbervie golf club, where he caddied for John Panton, a John Letters Staff player, who represented Great Britain three times in the Ryder Cup.

However, it was at Hazlehead Golf Club where Peter, as well as being an assistant golf professional, first learnt the basic clubmaking skills under Ian Smith. Learning to make woods and irons in an ‘old school’ style, Peter also had the opportunity to learn many of his clubmaking skills from Alistair Johnson at JB Halleys in St Andrews.

As a club professional at Westhill Golf Club near Aberdeen, Peter actually signed as a John Letters staff player before moving to Brodick in the Isle of Arran. For the past 25 years, Peter has been running his own Pro Shop where he has handmade woods, putters and replica long-nose scared neck woods under the Goatfell brand.

Commenting on his appointment, Peter said: “I’m thrilled to be returning to my first love – that of making golf clubs and I’m looking forward to being a part of the John Letters team in the home of golf.” 

Under the Stewardship of John Andrew, John Letters of Scotland are making big steps to regain the title as the finest clubmaker in golf and the Showroom and Workshop are a continuation of the brands commitment to reconnect with its Scottish heritage.

The new Workshop will enable John Letters to combine the latest performance technologies with their finest clubmaking traditions and expertise to hand assemble and custom-build its 2011 range of products in Scotland. With the majority of golf equipment manufacturers assembling their equipment in the Far East, John Letters are bucking the trend of brands and with Peter’s expertise will be hand-assembling and custom-fitting products in Scotland in a bid to ensure the most-exacting standards on each John Letters product; including the recently re-launched Master Model irons and much-coveted Tour Black wedges.

For further details please visit www.johnletters.com

 NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE EUROPEAN TOUR

Luke Donald has been named The 2011 Race to Dubai European Tour Golfer of the Month for May following an astonishing sequence of success culminating with a victory in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Club with which he claimed the Number One position in the Official World Golf Ranking.

Donald, who receives an engraved alms dish and a jeroboam of Moët and  Chandon champagne, finished tied fourth in the Players Championship on the US PGA Tour and runner-up in the Volvo World Match Play Championship before leading from start to finish, following an opening 64, to claim the BMW PGA Championship – The European Tour’s flagship tournament – and the €750,000 first prize.

In winning on the West Course with a birdie 4 at the first extra hole of a play-off against Lee Westwood, Donald claimed his second win on The 2011 European Tour International Schedule – he captured the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in February – and strengthened his position at the top of The Race to Dubai with €2,581,495.

Donald is pictured above with the BMW PGA Championship trophy by courtesy of Getty Images.

Ian Poulter, who won the Volvo World Match Play Championship at Finca Cortesin by beating Donald 2 and 1 in the final, Thomas Aiken (Open de España), Darren Clarke (Iberdrola Open) and Michael Hoey (Madeira Islands Open) were other winners during another remarkable month which closed with Westwood and Donald duelling over 73 holes for World Number One honours and seven of the top ten in the Official World Golf Ranking being European Tour Members.

The judging panel – which comprised members of the Association of Golf Writers as well as commentators from radio and television – acknowledged Donald’s spectacular consistency as well as his determination to become the number one golfer in the world.

Iain Carter, Golf Correspondent of BBC Radio Five Live, said: “Luke Donald is living his life on the leaderboard. He enjoyed another fabulous month, following an extraordinary run of success, and by winning the BMW PGA Championship he realised two objectives – winning a tournament he watched every year as a youngster, and to be recognised as the best golfer in the world. He has fully earned his Number One status and he is unanimously our choice of Golfer of the Month.”

The 33 year old Englishman was also named The Race to Dubai European Tour Golfer of the Month for February and, along with other season winners so far; Martin Kaymer (January), Paul Lawrie (March) and Charl Schwartzel (April), he will be considered for The 2011 Race to Dubai European Tour Golfer of the Year Award which was won jointly by Graeme McDowell and Kaymer in 2010.

IFQ AT SUNNINGDALE ON MONDAY REMINDS BJORN OF 2003 OPEN

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE R AND A
Next Monday (June 6), Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn will attempt to earn his place at the 2011 Open Championship, at International Final Qualifying (IFQ) Europe. Ten places at golf’s oldest Major are available to the field of 96 players, who will play 36 holes in one day at Sunningdale Golf Club – 18 on the Old Course and 18 on the New.

Bjorn led The Open by one stroke, going into the final day at Sandwich in 2003, before finding trouble on the closing stretch.
The 40-year-old, then just 32, eventually finished in a tie for second place, one shot behind new Champion Ben Curtis, whom he had led by three on the 15th tee. In thirteen Open appearances, Bjorn has registered four top-tens, including another runners-up finish at St Andrews in 2000.

“It would have been nice to have won an Open Championship and get your career on from there, but it didn't happen,” said Bjorn ahead of the Wales Open at Celtic Manor. “I played some of the best golf of my life that week, but I just didn't finish it off. That's what happens in golf. But I don't dwell on it at all.

“I knew in 2003 that the next time The Open Championship is at St George's, I knew it was going to come up, but what can you do about it. I'm grateful that I, in my golf career, have been able to put myself in those positions and know what it's like to be in those positions, because most guys out here never get in that position.”

“Yes, I’m in doubt of qualifying for The Open, so I have to go there [Sunningdale] on Monday and try and do that,” added the 11-time European Tour winner, who won the Qatar Masters earlier this year.

The captain of Europe’s successful 2010 Ryder Cup campaign, Colin Montgomerie, will take his place at IFQ, hoping to earn a 22nd consecutive Open start. 

The eight-time European Tour Order of Merit winner, who finished tied-seventh at last week’s PGA Championship at Wentworth, has a best Open finish of second, which he achieved at St Andrews in 2005. The 47-year-old earned a return to St Andrews, last year, by qualifying through IFQ.

Three shots better than Montgomerie at Wentworth was Simon Dyson, who will also attempt to qualify on Monday. Dyson finished two strokes behind Luke Donald and Lee Westwood, the world numbers one and two, respectively, alone in third place at the PGA Championship. The 33-year-old has played in seven previous Opens, with a best finish of tied-34th in 2005. He did, however, show his undoubted links pedigree in winning the 2009 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

Other notable names in the world-class field include India’s Jeev Milka Singh, Scots Richie Ramsay and Scott Jamieson, and Englishmen Oliver Wilson, 2008 Silver Medalist Chris Wood and David Horsey, who, like Dyson, qualified for the 2008 Open through IFQ Europe.

Play will get underway at 6.30am local time on both the 6,636yd, par-70 Old Course and the 6,729yd, par-69 New Course at Sunningdale.

Live scores and stories will be published on www.Opengolf.com throughout the day.

RORY McILROY SHARES LEAD IN MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE

Rory McIlroy shared the lead at the Memorial Tournament in Dublin, Ohio after he and American Chris Riley produced opening rounds of six-under-par 66.

The Ulsterman was the only foreigner in the top 20 after the first day following his six-under-par performance, which saw him birdie three holes in a row from the sixth to find himself alongside Riley.

"I was really happy with the way I played today," McIlroy said.

"I got off to a little bit of a scrappy start on my front nine, which was the back nine. I got it up and down a few times just to keep myself around one or two under par and then found a few birdies on the way in, which was the bulk of my birdies.

"I'm happy with 66, it's a great way to start the tournament."

The Ryder Cup star added: "This is one of my favourite weeks of the year and one of my favourite golf courses.

"I feel as if it really does set up well for me. I like these sort of golf courses, the likes of here and Akron and Quail Hollow, and I sort of feel as if I'm pretty comfortable on courses like that.

"I'm swinging well, I'm hitting it good, and I'm holing a few putts, so hopefully I can keep it going for the next three days."

A shot behind McIlroy and Riley were Chris DiMarco and Josh Teater after 67s while a group of nine on four under included Rickie Fowler and Stewart Cink.

Luke Donald's two under saw him in a large group tied for 22nd. Justin Rose and Ernie Els were a further shot behind.

FIRST-ROUND LEADERBOARD

Par 72

Players from US unless stated

66 Chris Riley, Rory McIlroy (N Ireland).

67 Chris DiMarco, Josh Teater.

68 Rickie Fowler, Steve Striker, Rocco Mediate, Matt Bettencourt, Ricky Barnes, Dustin Johnson, Stewart Cink, Bryce Molder, Scott Stallings.

SELECTED SCORES
70 Luke Donald (England) (T22).
71 Justin Rose (England), Ernie Els (S Africa) (T35).
72 Phil Mickelson (T52).
73 Brian Davis (England) (T67).
75 Martin Laird (Scotland) (T87).

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES ON THE US PGA TOUR WEBSITE

CLICK HERE

GRAHAM FOX WINS WEST LOTHIAN PRO-AM WITH A 68

Graham Fox (East Kilbride) won the top prize of  £1,149 in the West Lothian pro-am yesterday with a round of three-under-par 68.
Graham had a purple patch of four birdies in a row from the second. His only bogey came at the 13th.

Joint runners-up on 69 were Ross Dixon (Renaissance Club) and Alan Lockhart (Ladybank). They each earned £804.

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES AND THE BREAKDOWN OF PRIZEMONEY ON THE PGA SCOTLAND WEBSITE

CLICK HERE