ALEXANDER TROPHY TEE TIMES AT TULLIAN ON JULY 2

CHRIS DOAK SETS SPEY VALLEY PACE WITH AN EIGHT-UNDER 63

BY MICHAEL GIBBONS
European Tour Deputy Chief Press Officerymgibbons@europeantour.com
Inspired by watching the putting technique of Australian Jason Day, Scotland’s Chris Doak produced a brilliant course record 63 at the Macdonald Spey Valley Golf Resort to take control of the Scottish Hydro Challenge.
The 33 year old, a member of the recently formed Team Scottish Hydro, has been playing beautifully for the past few weeks but had been hampered by putting woes until he decided to take a leaf out of Day’s book, having watched the Aussie putt his way to second place behind Rory McIlroy in last week’s US Open Championship at Congressional.
His new technique, allied to his outstanding display of ball-striking, ensured Doak would charge to the top of the leaderboard with an eight under par 63 at Spey Valley – two strokes better than Swedish rookie Jesper Kennegard, and three clear of South African youngster Allan Versfield with a further eight players tied on four under par.
Doak is no stranger to the Spey Valley Golf Course having won the Northern Open, one of the Tartan Tour’s most prestigious events, here in 2008.
“I won the Northern Open here in 2008 so I do love the course, it’s a great course,” said Doak.
“My game has been in great shape and it’s great to be playing at home this week. I think that’s helped. I had been struggling with the putting quite a lot but I made a change in my routine today and it seems to have worked.
“I was getting the pace first and then having a quick look at the line and getting putter behind the ball and just letting it go. I got the idea from watching Jason Day at the US Open. I was struggling with the line but that seems to be helping.”
Kennegard, meanwhile, could not have got his professional career off to a much better start than his six under par 65 effort. The Swede was playing his first round as a professional at Spey Valley, having recently graduated from Arizona State University – the same College that produced Phuil Mickelson and Paul Casey – in America.
“It is a very good start, especially as I was one over after the first hole, but I managed to get things going and made seven birdies after that so it was a very nice way to start the tournament.
“I have been a professional for a week and this is my first tournament as a professional so I have to be pretty pleased with that. I was at College in Arizona State and had four great years there. I was always going to turn professional straight after college and I also knew that I would be able to get some invitations on the Challenge Tour so I kind of knew what I was going to do as soon as I graduated.
“Obviously I know what the Challenge Tour is but you have to make your own judgements once you get here. The set-up here is good and the golf course is very good. It is not quite the weather I became accustomed to in Arizona but we get some pretty bad weather in Sweden so that shouldn’t be a problem.
“I think the Challenge Tour is a great place for me to start. You look a the guys who have come through it recently, guys like Kaymer, Quiros, Molinari - they have all come through the Challenge Tour so I think it’s a good path to try and follow.”
Versfield is another man making his Challenge Tour debut this week and the young South African showed many signs of the classy game that has seen him perform well on his native Sunshine Tour of late.
His five under 66 saw him sneak one stroke clear of the eight men tied on four under that includes home players Greig Hutcheon and Elliott Saltman but Doak’s excellent performance put his fellow countrymen, and indeed the rest of the field, in the shade.
FIRST ROUND SCOREBOARD
Par 71. Yardage 7,100
63 C Doak (Sco),
65 J Kennegard (Swe),
66 A Versfeld (RSA),
67 S Little (Eng), D Lloyd (RSA), J Grillon (Fra), G Murphy (Irl), G Hutcheon (Sco), A Marshall (Eng), E Saltman (Sco), E Dubois (Fra),
68 P Archer (Eng), G Adell (Swe), A Pavan (Ita), M Lundberg (Swe), G Dear (Sco), B Evans (Eng), B Åkesson (Swe), M Evans (Eng), L Jensen (Den), R Wallis (Eng), J Lima (Por), M Kramer (Ger), A Butterfield (Eng),
69 M Delpodio (Ita), M Southgate (Eng), G Houston (Wal), C Russo (Fra), J Estevez (Arg), C Moriarty (Irl), A Canete (Arg), O Whiteley (Eng), M Baldwin (Eng), D Vancsik (Arg), C Ford (Eng), J Van Der Vaart (Ned), J Abbott (Eng), M Kerr (Sco), S Walker (Eng), F Colombo (Ita), J Doherty (Sco), M Both (Aus),

70 M Cryer (Eng), F Praegant (Aut), A Hansen (Den), S McAllister (Sco), S Bebb (Wal), C Carranza (Arg), A Bruschi (Ita), J Quesne (Fra), T Stewart (Aus), H Norlander (Swe), R De Sousa (Sui), C Lee (Sco), E Kofstad (Nor), L Canter (Eng), J Roos (RSA), S Tiley (Eng), J Palmer (Eng), N McCarthy (Eng), C Monasterio (Arg), P Gustafsson (Swe), G Lockerbie (Eng),

71 L Kennedy (Eng), B Barham (Eng), R Hjelm (Den), N Lemke (Swe), E Bertheussen (Nor), A Snobeck (Fra), P Relecom (Bel), A Bernadet (Fra), A McArthur (Sco), T Fleetwood (Eng), C Macaulay (Sco), A Perrino (Ita),

72 S Drummond (Sco), E Wood (Sco), P Dwyer (Eng), S Thornton (Irl), S Duncan (Sco), A Ahokas (Fin), G Jackson (Eng), N Meitinger (Ger), M Larsson (Swe), S Davis (Eng), T Feyrsinger (Aut), G Cowan (Eng), D Perrier (Fra), J Lagergren (Swe), R Santos (Por), J Heath (Eng), J Lopez Lazaro (Fra), C Gane (Eng), B Grace (RSA), J Morgan (Eng), J Hepworth (Eng), P Broadhurst (Eng),

73 C Brazillier (Fra), A Maestroni (Ita), W Besseling (Ned), F Calmels (Fra), K Eriksson (Swe), M Ruiz (Par), M Ford (Eng), C Paisley (Eng), W Schauman (Swe), L Westerberg (Swe), A Willey (Eng), C Lloyd (Eng), S Hutsby (Eng), R Wingardh (Swe), C Suneson (Esp), J Moul (Eng), T Ferreira (RSA), M Kieffer (Ger),
74 S Henderson (Sco), M Morris (Eng), P Baker (Eng), P Del Grosso (Arg), GMolteni (Ita), J Gallagher (Sco), N Bertasio (Ita), M Warren (Sco), F Valera (Esp), T Whitehouse (Eng), R Kind (Ned), M Vibe-Hastrup (Den), B Ritthammer (Ger), J Guerrier (Fra), B Hebert (Fra), D Stewart (Sco),
75 P Kaensche (Nor), T Shadbolt (Eng), R Dixon (Sco), E Ramsay (Sco), M Bothma (RSA), I Keenan (Eng), J Bragulat (Esp), R Blaum (USA), J Robinson (Eng),
76 D Denison (Eng), V Riu (Fra), R Cameron (Sco),
77 J Harris (Eng), E Canonica (Ita), B Miarka (Ger), J Freeman (Eng), A Belt (Eng), K McAlpine (Sco),
78 K Sullivan (Wal), P Smith (Sco), D Brooks (Eng),
79 A Tampion (Aus), K McNicoll (Sco), N Fenwick (Sco),
80 R O'Hanlon (Eng),

CLOBER'S GAVIN ROGER IS WEST BOYS' MATCH-PLAY CHAMPION

Gavin Roger (Clober), the No 3 qualifier, beat top seed and West of Scotland boys' stroke-play champion Jamie Savage (Cawder) by 4 and 3 in the final at Drumpellier GC of the West of Scotland boys' match-play championship.
In the semi-finals, Savage beat No 5 seed George Duncan (Windyhill) by 5 and 4, while Roger beat the 16th qualifier Stuart Cameron (Renfrew) at the 19th.

NORTH-EAST DISTRICT HANDICAP CHAMPIONHIP ON JULY 3

The 2nd North-east District Championship will be held at Ballater Golf Club on Sunday, July 3. Tee times are available by phoning district secretary George Young on 07590 983153

FORMER NE AND SGU PRESIDENT DENNIS MILLER DIES AT 81

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Dennis Miller, one of the leading figures in North-east and Scottish amateur golfer for a number of years, has died at his Aberdeen home. He was 81. A former secretary of Hazlehead Golf Club, he graduated to become secretary of the North-east District and later was president of the North-east District and the Scottish Golf Union.
A busy man, Miller was responsible for reducing the term of office of the SGU presidency from two years to one. He was the first to serve only one year - perhaps he could not spare any longer than that because of his many other business interests.
He was a member of the R and A and served on Stewart Spence's Doug Sanders European and World junior championships' committee.
Dennis did not suffer fools gladly but the success of North-east male amateur golfers in recent years could be traced back to his time as NE District secretary.
He also was a director of Aberdeen Football Club for several years.
Mike Pocock, a past president of the NE District, writes:"I would like to pay tribute to Dennis Miller a past president of both the district and the SGU, who was instrumental in putting in place in the North East a number of the initiatives that has seen the area at the fore front of Scottish golf recently. He was a true gentleman and will be sadly missed by all who knew him. Our thoughts are with his family at this sad time."

STENSON BACK IN FORM TO LEAD BMW INTERNATIONAL OPEN

FROM THE EUROPEAD TOUR WEBSITE
Back-to-form Swede Henrik Stenson set the first day pace at the BMW International Open in Munich after firing an eight under par 64 to lead England's Gary Boyd by one.
The former Ryder Cup star has fallen from fourth in the Official World Golf Ranking to outside the top 130 in the last two years, but was on the leaderboard for much of last week’s US Open Championship in Washington.Still wearing a bandage on his finger after cutting it during the final round at Congressional Country Club, Stenson overcame some torrential afternoon downpours to grab an eagle and seven birdies.
"I don't think you will find a player who's been out here ten to 15 years who has not had some rough times," he said.
"We all go through ups and downs. I've been struggling with my game a little bit, but it's hard to put my finger on what it's been."I played a lot better last week. My confidence is still not as high as it can be, but I'm working away trying to do the things that are going to lead me back."
Boyd was joint runner-up in the BMW Italian Open two weeks ago and, like Rory McIlroy in America, broke 70 in all four rounds.
The 24 year old, first man off and playing in much the best conditions of the day, grabbed eight birdies and would have finished the round alongside Stenson but for missing the green with a pitch to his final hole and taking a bogey six.
Boyd, whose round included a 40 footer on the short 17th, said: "I holed some great putts when I needed to and that's been the difference the last couple of weeks.
"I've been working a lot on pace - the hole never comes to the ball, does it?
“Obviously the last hole was disappointing to finish with a six on a par five when I was in good position after my second shot. But I felt good on the golf course today and I'm looking forward to the next three rounds."
Compatriot Danny Willett, a team-mate of McIlroy at the 2007 Walker Cup, and Aberdeen's 1999 Open Champion Paul Lawrie had 66s to share third place with South African Jbe Kruger and Dutchman Tim Sluiter.
Twice US Open Champion Retief Goosen is two strokes further back and Sergio Garcia returned a 69, while on his 48th birthday - and on his return from commentating on McIlroy's amazing eight shot triumph - Colin Montgomerie managed a two under 70.
Alongside last year's Ryder Cup Captain are World Number Three Martin Kaymer, American star Dustin Johnson, defending champion David Horsey and 18 year old Italian Matteo Manassero.
Paul Casey would have been inside the top ten but for one hole, the 441 yard seventh.
Four under with three to play he hooked into thick rough, moved the ball only a few yards with his first two hacks at it, went over the fairway, then into a greenside bunker and eventually walked off with a quadruple-bogey 8, signing for a 72.
Tournament Leaderboard
Par 72
1 STENSON, Henrik SWE 1-8
2 BOYD, Gary ENG 18 -7
T3 SLUITER, Tim NED 18 -6
T3 WILLETT, Danny ENG 18 -6
T3 KRUGER, Jbe RSA 18 -6
T3 LAWRIE, Paul SCO 18 -6









































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LEE HARPER SHARES EUROPRO TOUR LEAD AT BOVEY CASTLE

Chris Hanson is aiming to become the first golfer in nearly six years to win back-to-back events on the PGA EuroPro Tour.
Hanson, a winner at Bovey Castle last week, moved into contention on the second day of The Rusty’s Travel Classic at Longhirst Hall in Northumberland.
He began the second day five shots behind overnight leader Graeme Clark (Doncaster) but an eagle at the third followed by birdies at the fourth and seventh saw Hanson (Woodsome Hall, Huddersfield) take a share of the lead.
Hanson joins three other players – Lee Harper, Graeme Clark and Trevor Jones – on -4 with one round left.
If Hanson was to finish first tomorrow then he would become the first player to win two successive EuroPro Tour events since Simon Robinson triumphed at Swallow, Suffolk and then at Morley Hayes, Derbyshire in July 2005.
Clark shot a score of 71 (+1) on the second day but ended strongly with birdies at the 17th and 18th to stay in the hunt for the £10,000 top prize.
Scotland’s Harper (Archerfield Links, East Lothian) was an early clubhouse leader on the second day after an inconsistent round of 68 (-2) which included six birdies and four bogeys but took him to -4 for the tournament, and he was later joined on this total by Trevor Jones (Whipsnade Park, Hertfordshire).
James Busby (The Shropshire) produced one of the best rounds of the day with a score of 66 (-4) as he aims for his first Tour victory since August 2009. Busby is currently on -3, the same score as Ireland ’s Tim Rice ( Limerick ) after he shot 69 (-1) today.
Graham Powell (Banstead Downs, Surrey ) began Thursday’s play in second place but a double bogey at the 17th could come back to haunt him, although he is still in the top ten.
The top 50 players and ties have advanced to the final round, but, in tricky conditions, some big names failed to make it.
Dale Marmion, a runner-up last week at Burhill missed out at Longhirst Hall after a round of 83 (+13) on Thursday.
“Wow,” said a stunned Marmion (Eaton, Cheshire ). “Never have I hit the ball half decently and putted and scored so badly. I had some cricket scores out there.”
Zane Scotland (Princes, Kent) began the second day in tied sixth but his hopes were dashed as he went round in 80 (+10) and missed the cut.
SECOND-ROUND LEADERBOARDPar 140 (2x70)
T1 Lee Harper (Archerfield Links) 68 68 136
T1 Graeme Clark (Doncaster) 65 71 136

T1 Trevor Jones (Whipsnade Park) 70 66 136

T1 Chris Hanson (Woodsome Hall) 70 66 136
T5 Tim Rice (Limerick) 68 69 137

T5 James Busby (The Shropshire) 71 66 137

7 Luke Goddard (Hendon 69 69 138

AIMPOINT INVENTOR AT ELMWOOD COLLEGE ON JULY 18 AND 19

By GRAEME McDOWALL
Elmwood College
Mark Sweeney, the inventor of ‘Aimpoint’ is coming to Elmwood College Golf Course on the 18th and 19th of July
AimPoint founder, Mark Sweeney, was named one of golf's Top Innovators by Golf Digest Magazine, and was called "the best kept secret in golf" by the Golf Channel.
Aimpoint is used by many PGA and LPGA tour professionals. However, whether you're a professional golfer, caddie, junior, or amateur golfer, AimPoint Green Reading will transform your game by teaching you the one aspect of putting which is never taught--EXACTLY where to aim.
After going through the AimPoint Green Reading education, you will receive the ‘aimcharts’ which will mean you will never again have to guess at how much a putt breaks.
Learn that putting is predictable and discover the most effective and reliable ways to determine the direction and precise amount of break for any putt!
For more information on the clinics contact Graeme McDowall on 07740644870 or E-mail gmcdowall@elmwood.ac.uk