Monday, June 20, 2011

SCOTLAND SQUAD NAMED FOR EUROPEAN TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE SCOTTISH GOLF UNIONAmateur Championship runner-up Michael Stewart has been named in a strong Scotland line-up that will contest the European Men’s Amateur Team Championship at Oceanico Victoria in Vilamoura, Portugal next month (5 – 9 July).
Stewart narrowly missed out on a place in The Open Championship and US Masters with defeat in Saturday’s final to the Australian Bryden Macpherson, but the 21-year-old from Troon will be aiming to land his second winner’s medal in the Europeans having played a key role in Scotland’s victory in Wales two years ago.
Joining Stewart in the six-man side is St Andrews New’s Greg Paterson, who also enjoyed a great run at Hillside last week before losing out to Macpherson at the semi-final stages. James Byrne, silver medallist in the 2010 Amateur Championship and Scotland’s highest ranked amateur on the world stage, is also selected alongside Colville Park’s Ross Kellett, another member of the victorious 2009 Scottish side.
Former Scottish Boys and Men’s champion David Law is selected for his European team championship debut, having enjoyed a successful start to the season by winning the Northern Amateur Open and finishing runner-up in the South African Stroke Play Championship.
Law’s North East team-mate Kris Nicol, one of five Scots to reach the last 64 match play stage The Amateur Championship before losing out by one hole to Frenchman Adrien Saddier in the opening round, also gets the nod for his second successive European team appearance.
“We’ve had a lot of players performing well just now and fighting for a place in the team so it hasn’t been an easy decision but we believe the six guys selected give Scotland as good a chance as any side of winning,” said Ian Rae, the SGU’s national coach.
“The players will go into the championship full of confidence and there’s great experience among them of winning big events. We’ve had great support this season and this team is hungry to another big result.” he added.
The leading eight nations from the two rounds of stroke play qualifying will earn a place in the top flight of the match play stages, with England defending the crown they won last year in Sweden.
The Scotland team, sponsored by Aberdeen Asset Management and TaylorMade-adidas Golf, is:
1. James Byrne (Banchory)
2. Ross Kellett (Colville Park)
3. David Law (Hazlehead)
4. Kris Nicol (Fraserburgh)
5. Greg Paterson (New Club, St Andrews)
6. Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck)
Non playing captain: Scott Knowles


Ross Duncan
Marketing, Media and  Sponsorship Manager
SCOTTISH GOLF UNION



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IAN WOOSNAM WINS ON SENIORS TOUR IN GERMANY

By SCOTT CROCKETT
European Tour Chief Press Officer
Ian Woosnam produced a swashbuckling performance reminiscent of his years of dominance on The European Tour to storm to victory in the Berenberg Bank Masters on the European Senior Tour.
Two shots off the pace at the start of the day, the diminutive Welshman carded a sensational final round 66 at Cologne Golf und Land Club to cruise through the field and bank his fourth Senior Tour title with a nine under par winning total of 207.
Chilean Angel Fernandez took second place on 209 after his closing 68 while American Tim Thelen – one of the three overnight leaders alongside Englishmen Barry Lane and Mark James – was third on 211. But the day, and the tournament, belonged to the 1991 Masters Tournament champion.
“I played really, really well and I am delighted,” said Woosnam for whom the title was his first Senior Tour win in over two years since he claimed the 2009 Irish Seniors Open at Ballybunion. “I didn’t make many mistakes out there either which was crucial and as a result I didn’t put myself under too much pressure.
“I have to say I have been playing pretty well for a long time now but the last two couple of golf courses we have played didn’t really suit me because they were a bit hard and bouncy,” added the 53 year old Welshman who pocketed the winners’ cheque for €60,000 (£53,069) to move up to third on the Order of Merit.
“However, as soon as I saw this course I knew it was right up my street and I knew if I could drive the ball a little bit better than I had been of late then I knew I had a chance. I managed to do that and you saw the outcome.”
Aside from a dropped shot at the seventh hole where he missed the green with his approach shot, Woosnam was flawless in his front nine of 34 and when he added two further birdies at the tenth and 11th, he was out on his own in front.
Overnight leaders Thelen, Lane and James, in the final group, could only watch from behind as the Welshman pulled away, unable to mount a serious assault, leaving Chilean Fernandez as the 2006 European Ryder Cup Captain’s only serious challenger.
The 56 year old from Santiago birdied the 11th and the 13th but could make no more inroads on the Cologne course’s par as the tournament reached its crucial stage, his closing birdie four on the 18th mererly cementing his runners-up place.
The win represented Woosnam’s second career success in Germany, following his win in the German Open at Nippenburg in 1996 which, by an incredibly coincidence, was also over 54 holes – the European Tour event that year being cut short by inclement weather.
“I think it is very fair to say I love three round tournaments in Germany, they’ve been pretty good to me,” said Woosnam. “The only difference was that I was a few more under par back then than I was this week!”
That week, 15 years ago, Germany’s favourite son Bernhard Langer finished 37th and the 2004 Ryder Cup captain and tournament host trailed the Welshman once again, this time finishing in a share of 11th place on one over par 217.
“I started with two bogeys which is never ideal,” said Langer. “I was trailing and needed a fast start but got completely the opposite and as a result I was battling hard just trying to get back into things.
“I am pleased I played this week as it was good to get back into competitive action after being out for three months with my thumb injury. To be honest, it is still not quite right and as a result I feel I can’t hit down firmly into the ball properly.
“But I will play next week in the BMW International Open on The European Tour and then have a couple of weeks off to prepare for my defence of the Senior Open Championship at Walton Heath. We have three Senior Majors in a row then so I want to be in as good a shape as possible for all of those.”
FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72)
207 I Woosnam (Wal) 71 70 66,
209 A Fernandez (Chi) 69 72 68,
211 T Thelen (USA) 65 74 72,
212 B Smit (RSA) 71 70 71,
213 M James (Eng) 67 72 74, B Lane (Eng) 69 70 74, J Rivero (Esp) 70 71 72
215 A Oldcorn (Sco) 73 75 67, D Hospital (Esp) 74 73 68,
216 B Ruangkit (Tha) 71 72 73
217 M Harwood (Aus) 71 70 76, J Quiros (Esp) 70 73 74, B Langer (Ger) 69 73 75, L Carbonetti (Arg) 68 75 74
218 B Lincoln (RSA) 71 72 75, G Banister (Aus) 74 72 72, D Frost (RSA) 72 76 70, J Gould (Eng) 75 70 73, R Drummond (Sco) 72 75 71
219 M Farry (Fra) 73 76 70, G Wolstenholme (Eng) 68 76 75, J Bland (RSA) 74 72 73, S Torrance (Sco) 72 70 77, D O'Sullivan (Irl) 74 70 75
220 A Franco (Par) 74 71 75, G Manson (Aut) 73 72 75, B Cameron (Eng) 72 75 73, B Longmuir (Sco) 71 78 71, D Russell (Eng) 74 75 71, J Harrison (Eng) 75 75 70, T Johnstone (Zim) 73 70 77
221 M Mouland (Wal) 71 73 77, P Fowler (Aus) 70 75 76, D Durnian (Eng) 73 73 75, R Davis (Aus) 72 75 74
222 K Spurgeon (Eng) 75 74 73, A Sowa (Arg) 74 74 74, M Piñero (Esp) 75 76 71, K Tomori (Jpn) 73 75 74
223 J Rhodes (Eng) 77 74 72, N Job (Eng) 73 78 72, G Cali (Ita) 74 77 72, C Mason (Eng) 78 72 73, S Van Vuuren (RSA) 73 75 75
224 M Cunning (USA) 71 74 79, F Mann (Sco) 73 73 78
225 H Carbonetti (Arg) 73 76 76, P Mitchell (Eng) 71 78 76, G Brand (Eng) 72 76 77, D Merriman (Aus) 75 73 77, C Williams (RSA) 75 78 72
226 G Ryall (Eng) 66 75 85, G Ralph (Eng) 73 75 78
227 M Clayton (Aus) 75 74 78, J Stuart (USA) 79 71 77, J Chillas (Sco) 70 80 77
228 D Cambridge (Jam) 72 79 77, D Smyth (Irl) 77 75 76, C Rocca (Ita) 76 75 77, P Dahlberg (Swe) 71 78 79, M Belsham (Eng) 74 72 82
229 T Giedeon (Ger) 76 78 75, J Bruner (USA) 74 79 76
231 A Sherborne (Eng) 74 75 82, N Ratcliffe (Aus) 74 81 76
233 A Forsbrand (Swe) 85 73 75, S Lyle (Sco) 76 82 75
234 M Moreno (Esp) 77 78 79
236 D Blakeman (Eng) 83 76 77, A Garrido (Esp) 79 81 76
238 M Bembridge (Eng) 77 80 81
** C O'Connor Jnr (Irl) 75 85 withdrew







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GLASGOW BOYS' BIG WIN OVER LANARKSHIRE BOYS

Lanarkshire v Glasgow Boys West of Scotland Inter County League

Glasgow boys had a resounding 7-1 victory on Sunday over Lanarkshire boys at Hamilton Golf Club in the second round of matches in the West of Scotland inter-area league.
Results:
Under 18
1. Craig Ross Kirkhill beat Ryan Strain Cathkin 2 holes
2. Jonathan Ruiz Drumpellier lost to Jack Brown Cathcart 3 and 2.
3. Blair Scott Hamilton lost to Calum McLean Cowglen 1 hole
4. Cameron Graham Hamilton lost to Craig Anderson Sandyhills 4 and 3.


Under 16

1. Jay Hainie Bothwell lost to Scott Clark Haggs Castle 1 hole
2. Matthew Brennen Kirkhill lost to Gordon Yule Bishopbriggs 5 and 4.
3. Calum Connacher Wishaw lost to Alan Waugh Cowglen 4 and 3.
4. James Allison Torrance lost to Neil McArthur Bishopbriggs 5 and 4.

Willie Sharpe
 Lanarkshire President

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GREIG HUTCHEON WINS EDZELL PRO-AM

Banchory's Greig Hutcheon did not have to travel far to win a £931 first prize on Sunday - over the hills and down to Edzell for the Angus club's annual pro-am.
Greig's six-under-par round of 65 got him first place by a single shot from David Patrick (Elie), who won £745.

LEADING PRO SCORES
Par 71
65 Greig Hutcheon (Banchory) £931.
66 David Patrick (Elie) £745.
67 Graeme Brown (Montrose Links) £559.
68 Alan Lockhart (Ladybank), Stephen Gray (Hayston), Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills), Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs), Jason McCreadie (Buchanan Castle) (£286 each).

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RORY McILROY WINS US OPEN BY ASTONISHING EIGHT STROKES

FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE
By KEVIN GARSIDE
Say hello to the youngest US Open champion since the great Bobby Jones in 1923. Rory McIlroy is the anti-Woods, smiling his way into the hearts of America, spreading joy after the tears of Augusta
Genuflect at the feet of the man responsible for the lowest aggregate in the history of this event; 16 under par. Pay your respects to a player that might yet redefine what is possible in this sport. As he walked up the 18th to deafening acclaim, nothing seemed beyond Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy.

This is not the hyperbole of the unhinged but the views of the slain and of the man who set the bar highest. Yes, even Jack Nicklaus, he of 18 major championships, is on board, expressing disbelief at what he had seen from his front room in Florida. He might have been watching Star Trek for four days, such was the incredulity of this story line.

The eight-shot lead with which McIlroy started the last day was intact at the close, only the name of the player in second changed, Australia’s Jason Day supplanting the hitherto indefatigable South Korean YE Yang.

The putt that sealed McIlroy’s first major, a par from all of six inches, earned a hug from dad and detonated the inner fireworks. And not just in him.

To walk with McIlroy at Congressional has been to witness a new dawn; in golf certainly and maybe in sport.
 The 22 year-old has in his own characteristic and beautiful way returned effortless grace to the centre of the golfing enterprise. His swing has been deconstructed by the experts and adjudged to be as perfect a motion as might be achieved, a thing of bio-mechanical wonder, transforming complexity into art. Nicklaus observed that he was way ahead of him at the same age.
And on the inside, too, there is a generous, soul-refreshingly free of artifice, one that sees the good in life not bad. McIlroy is the kind of lad who lets others pass through doors first, who says please and thank you. And he has utterly lit up the US Open, almost perceptibly drawing a line under the Tiger years of ruthless, death-mask diplomacy.

McIlroy is the anti-Woods, smiling his way into the hearts of America, spreading joy after the tears of Augusta.

The 111th U.S Open has been a memorable championship, not great. McIlroy’s dominance has seen to that. In successive rounds McIlroy imposed his authority with leads of three shots, six and eight. He draped US Open history all over Congressional; the quickest to 10 under par, 26 holes; the lowest totals for 36 and 54 holes, 131 and 199 respectively; the first to stand at 14 under par. He did not post a bogey until the last hole of the second day. His double at the 18th after finding the water with a marginal error out of the rough denied him the lowest 36 hole total at any major (129).

What we have witnessed is the boy becoming the man. The insouciant gambol across Augusta 10 weeks ago could not survive the attack on his temperament. We might view that as the last expression of youth. Cast your eyes back 11 months to St Andrews, where McIlroy opened with a 63 only to give it all back the very next day in the wind, posting an 80. A month later at the US PGA he had a putt on the last hole to make the play-off with Martin Kaymer and Bubba Watson and missed.

And then to Augusta, where a share of the lead on the first day progressed to a halfway lead of two shots and a four-shot advantage with a round to play. We might have been talking about the Rory slam here. Some saw those mistakes as a sign of terminal flaws. His critics held his career ledger up to the light and saw two wins in four years as a professional.

And so it was that he arrived at the Congressional with his championship credentials under review. One did not need a telescope to see the first question coming after his scintillating opening round of 65. After the Masters, could he protect a lead in a major?
The question did not go away after his second-round 66, and it was there again after he had engineered his eight-shot lead. The comparison with Augusta, said his inquisitor, was unavoidable.
McIlroy’s answer was impressive. “I know what I need to do. At Augusta, it was all a little bit new to me, going into the final round with the lead. I didn’t know whether to be defensive, aggressive, go for it, not go for it, but now I know. I have a clear mind.”

The proof of that came early yesterday with a birdie at the first. That is how to answer questions about nerves. Another at the fourth took him to 16 under par, a ridiculous 10 shots clear.

At Augusta his four-shot overnight lead had reduced to two before he had reached the second green. Here McIlroy was never under pressure. The morning was a lazy affair, chatting easily over breakfast with his father, Gerry, Lee Westwood and members of his management team.

His first engagement at the course was with the cameras, a brief exchange at the side of the putting green. Then a few practice putts and over to the range to loosen the shoulders.

A crowd had stayed behind to share the moment and cheer the champion-elect on to the stage.

“Go Rory, it’s yours all day, baby.” McIlroy tipped his cap and moved to his bay.

His walk appeared practised, the gait of a man who had been this way before, which he had of course. Only this time he was moving with a sense of purpose not fear. Asked how his boy had coped with the build-up compared with the experience at the Masters his mentor, Stuart Cage, said “Chalk and cheese.” Cage then received a text from his wife, which he shared.
“Stop scratching.  I can see you on TV.”
Jokes are all the rage when your man is about to walk through golf history’s door."
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 284 (4x71)
268 Rory McIlroy 65 66 68 69 ($1,440,000).
276 Jason Day 71 72 65 68 ($865,000).
278 Kevin Chappell 76 67 69 66, Robert Garrigus 70 70 68 70, Lee Westwood 75 68 65 70, Y E Yang 68 69 70 71 ($364,241).
279 Sergio Garcia 69 71 69 70, Peter Hanson 72 71 69 67 ($220,416 each).
280 Louis Oosthuizen 69 73 71 67, Charl Schwartzel 68 74 72 66 ($192,962 each).

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