Wednesday, June 29, 2011

COLIN GILLIES TO PLAY LESS AS CAREER ENTERS NEW PHASE

       COLIN GILLIES in action. Image by courtesy of Andy Forman.

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Earlier this month - in the Douglas Park pro-am to be precise - Colin Gillies became the first man to reach Tartan Tour career earnings of £500,000.
Colin has long been the holder of the record and he keeps raising the bar just that bit higher for the next generation and maybe the one after that to try to reach it.
But the 1983 Scottish boys champion, who will be 45 on August 1, is not thinking of adding considerably more to his record figure, as he explains:
"I moved back to Kingsfield in March and am involved in a great set-up there - excellent facilities for tuition - and I'm starting a new venture involving golf/ executive travel," said Gillies who has scored 125 victories on the Tartan Tour since he turned pro in 1984.
"I plan to slow down on the playing side and pursue the opportunities I have with Kingsfieldgolf.com
"I will honour my playing commitments this season but plan to greatly reduce my schedule. Old Injuries are now beginning to catch up with me, a situation which has encouraged me to look at different areas of the golf industry to further my career.

"I have excellent opportunities at Kingsfieldgolf.com which has first-class facilities for coaching, including a nine-hole course, short game, putting greens, Gasp Lab and Trackman Launch Monitor.
"We are currently also setting up a golf travel side to the facility for which i have recently purchased a new vehicle."
Colin won the Scottish PGA Order of Merit title in 2001, having been Scottish professional champion in 1995 and 1998.

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SGU NAME SQUAD FOR EUROPEAN BOYS TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP


NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE SCOTTISH GOLF UNION

Current SGU Boys Order of Merit leader Greig Marchbank has been rewarded for his fine form this season with a place in the Scotland team for next week’s European boys' team championship in Prague, Czechoslovakia next week (July 5 to 9).
Marchbank, from Dumfries and County GC, won the recent Junior Tour event at Cardrona with an impressive six-under par aggregate of 282 and has built up a significant lead in the boys’ standings after a string of fine performances throughout 2011, including a share of second place in the Golf Data Lab Scottish Youths Championship.
Liberton’s Anthony Blaney, second behind Marchbank in the rankings, also earns his first taste of European team action. The 17-year-old played a key role in the Lothians team’s defence of the Scottish Boys Area Championship earlier this month and also finished runner-up to Marchbank in the Junior Tour event at Cardrona.
Joining him will be Lothians team-mate Grant Forrest, the former Scottish Boys Champion and current Boys Order of Merit number three, while (Kilmarnock) Barassie’s Jack McDonald will be the most experienced player in the six-man team having competed in the previous two European Championships and Boys’ Home Internationals.
Eamon Bradley (Mount Ellen), fourth in the boys’ rankings and who finished seventh in the East of Scotland Open Championship at the weekend, is another debutant in the team, with St Andrews rising star Ewan Scott, winner of the opening Junior Tour event of the season, completing the line-up. Scott, the former English Boys U14s champion, will be the youngest member of the team, having recently turned 16.
The Championship begins on Tuesday at the Prague City Golf Club, with two rounds of stroke play qualifying before the top eight teams compete for the title in the first flight of match play.
Defending champions Denmark have dominated the tournament in recent years and will be aiming for their fourth win out of the last five years, while the Scots are looking for their first win in the event since 2000, when Martin Laird featured in the winning side and will be hoping to improve on last season’s tenth place finish.

The full Scotland team, sponsored by Aberdeen Asset Management and TaylorMade-adidas Golf, is:

Anthony Blaney (Liberton)
Eamon Bradley (Mount Ellen)
Grant Forrest (Craigielaw)
Jack McDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie)
Greig Marchbank (Dumfries & County)
Ewan Scott (St Andrews)








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O'HARA JUST OUTSIDE TOP TEN IN GERMANY

Motherwell's Paul O'Hara is lying joint 12th after two rounds of this week's EPD (German PGA) Tour event, the Haus Bey Classic.
O'Hara has had rounds of 73 and 70 for a one-over-par tally of 143 - nine shots behind the leader, former British amateur champion Reinier Saxton from the Netherlands. He has scored 66 and 68 for eight-under 134 and leads by two from Germany's Allen John (65-71).
A total of 53 players made the cut with two-round totals of 151 or better
 

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ROSS CAMERON SPREADEAGLES EUROPRO TOUR FIELD WITH 63



By COLIN FARQUHARSON
McDonald Ellon Golf Club tour pro Ross Cameron shot the round of his life - a nine-under-par 63 - to spreadeagle the field and lead by thee shots at the end of this week's PGA EuroPro Tour event at Ballymena, Northern Ireland - the Galgorm Castle Northern Ireland Open.
It's a three-round event with a £10,000 first prize and Cameron, pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency, put himself in the pole position with a flawless round of one eagle (at the ninth) and seven birdies (the second, long third, fourth, 10th, 16th, 17th and 18th in halves of 31 (five under) and 32 (four under).
He leads by three shots from James Busby (The Shropshire), Chris Hanson from Huddersfield and Graeme Clark of Doncaster.
Second best Scot in joint 14th place is Shaun McAllister (Craigielaw) on 69 with Duncan Stewart (Grantown on Spey) tied 27th on 71, a shot ahead of Zack Saltman (Archerfield Links), Kevin McAlpine (Alyth), John Gallagher (Swanston) and Lee Harper (Archerfield Links), joint 41st on 72.  
LEADING FIRST-ROUND SCORES
Par 72
63 Ross Cameron (McDonald Ellon).
66 James Busby (The Shropshire), Chris Hanson (Woodsome Hall), Graeme Clark (Donaster).
67 Ian Ridgeway (England).
68 David Hughes (Ireland), Ben Jones (Betchworth Park), Liam O'Neill (Keighley), John Kelly (Ireland), Stuart Archibald (England), David R Jones (England), Brendon McCarroll (Ireland), Noel Fox (Ireland).
Other Scots scores:
69 Shaun McAllister (Craigielaw) (T14).
71 Duncan Stewart (Grantown on Spey) (T27).
72 Zack Saltman (Archerfield), Kevin McAlpine (Alyth), John Gallagher (Swanston), Lee Harper (Archerfield) (T41).
73 John Henry (Clydebank and Dist) (T63).
74 Paul Doherty (Vale Hotel), Chris Kelly (Cawder) (T78).
75 Ian Redford (St Andrews New).
80 Keir McNicolll (Carnoustie) (T118).
90 Eric Walker (Burntisland) (128th)

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SCOTT MACDONALD 13 SHOTS OFF THE PACE IN TITLE DEFENCE

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com 
Former Walker Cup player Scott MacDonald (Dunfermline) has left himself with a lot of ground to make up if he is to retain the Scottish senior men's open amateur stroke-play championship at Irvine Bogside Golf Club, Ayrshire this week.
Scott, pictured, returned a 12-over-par score of 83 in the first round of the 54-hole championship for over-55s today (Wed)
He trails leader Robbie Fulker (Kilmarnock Barassie) by 13 strokes.
Fulker surged three shots clear of the field with a three-birdie, two-bogey round of one-under-par 70. He bogeyed the long second but got under par with birdies at the seventh and ninth to turn in one-under 35.
A bogey at the 17th knocked him down to par but he finished on a high by birdieing the 18th.
So who is Robbie Fulker? I am told that is a past captain (2009) of Kilmarnock Barassie ... a former Ayrshire country player and a retired schoolteacher. He has won the Barassie club championship several times, the last in 2010.
Two England-based players are among the trio  sharing second place on 73 - Douglas Cameron (Moor Park), Charles Banks (Stanon on the Wolds) and Derek Murphy from Kinross.
Former champions Ian Hutcheon (Monifieth) and Gordon MacDonald (Callander) made solid starts with 74 apiece.
LEADING FIRST-ROUND SCORES
Par 71
70 Robbie Fulker (Kilmarnock Barassie).
73 Douglas Cameron (Moor Park), Chalres Banks (Stanton on the Wolds), Derek Murphy (Kinross).
74 Lindsay Gordon (Turnhouse), Alistair Fiddes (Murcar Links), David Brown (Irvine Ravenspark), Bob Humble (Kilspindie), Michael Wigley (Royal North Devon), Fraser McClusky (Royal Burgess), David Miller (Kilmarnock Barassie), Ian Hutcheon (Monifieth), Alan Harrington (Western Gailes), Gordon MacDonald (Callander).
75 Michael Jenkins (Duff House Royal), Glyn Rees (Fleetwood), Adrian Donkersley (Gerrards Cross), John Fraser (Royal Burgess), Gordon Mair (Birvine Bogside), Billy Mitchell (Hankley Common), David Smith (Stirling).
76 Michael Wilson (Strathpeffer Spa), John Johnston (Lanark), John Baldwin (Sunningale), Roy Smethurst (Crewe), James Gardner (Broomieknowe), Peter Jamieson (Cathkin Braes).
77 Richard Gray (Cowglen), Mike Wilde (Camberley Heath), Stephen Whymark (Woodbridge), Dave Jessup (Rochester and Cobham Park), Ian Brotherston (Dumfries and Co), Rich Tolly (US), George Rodaks (Moffat).
78 Jim Watt (Edzell), Keith Morris (Camberley Heath), Tony Stafford (Gleneagles), Keith Bruce (Edzell), Gerry Boobis (Ravelston).
79 Jalil Aman (Grangemouth), David Gillespie (Turnhouse), David Millar (St Andrews New), Steve Rhorer (US), Robert Fox (Royal Lytham), Colin Christy (Kilmacolm), Hugh Kinniburgh (Lanark), Robert Stewart (Tulliallan).
80 Williams Brown (Strathaven), Paul Gault (Westerwood), Denis Martin (Newbiggin), Glyn Hughes (Church Stretton), John Ashton (Prestwck St Nicholas), Alan McEwan (Western Gailes), David Lane (Goring and Streatley), Stephen Ellis (Innellan), Alan Ferguson (Drumpellier), John Willis (Carlisle), Kenneth Thomson (Bramall Park).
Selected scores:
82 Sandy Pirie (Hazlehead).
83 Scott MacDonald (Dunfermline).

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DAVID PATRICK WINS HILTON PARK YOUNG PROS' COMPETITION

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Leven-based former Walker Cup player David Patrick (Elie Sports Centre) scores his first win of the Tartan Tour season in the Hilton Park Young Pros' tournament over the Allander course today.
Patrick earned the £400 first prize - boosting his tournament earnings this year to close on £5,000 - with a one-under-par round of 68 which included birdies at the long third, sixth, 14th and 16th. The only blemishes on his card were a double bogey 5 at the short 17th, when he had looked set to finish three or four under par, and a bogey at the second in halves of 34 (one under par) and 34 (par).
Patrick won by a shot from two players on the 69 mark, Graham Mackay (Prestonfield) and Graeme Brown (Montrose). A card countback decided any ties within the top six and the runner-up prize of £325 went to Mackay and third placed £275 to Brown.  Both players had come home in 34. Mackay's fourth birdie of the day, at the 18th, robbed Brown of outright second place.
The cash prize list covered the top 21 and there were other golf equipment prizes. Scores from 73 down were out of the money.
Clare-Marie Carlton (Playsport Golf) finished highest - joint 28th - of the female trainees with a 75, one shot ahead of Heather MacRae, who recently joined the Gleneagles staff, former Curtis Cup player Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon) and Emma Fairnie (Gullane).
LEADING SCORES
Par 69
68 David Patrick (Elie Sports Centre) £400.
69 Graham Mackay (Prestonfield) £325, Graeme Brown (Montrose Links) £275.
70 Gregor Wright (Ladybank) £225, Ewan MacPherson (Auchterarder) £200, Ross MacLeod (Eastwood) £175, Joel Hopwood (Carnegie Club, Skibo Castle) £150.
71 Sean Thompson (Renaissance Club), Craig Knowles (Panmure) £135 each.
72 Alistair Brown (Whitecraigs), Cameron Tortolano (Stirling), Matthew Burtt (Helensburgh), Craig Armstrong (Burntisland), Christopher Robinson (Dumfries and Galloway) £100 each.
73 Brian Gibson (Carrick on Loch Lomond), Graham Forbes (Gourock), Lewis Burnett (Adam Hunter Golf), Ian Anderson (Colville Park), Malcolm Murray (Bearsden Golf Range), Ross Neill (Drumpellier), Daniel Wood (Eyemouth) £18 each.
Selected scores:
75 Clare-Marie Carlton (Playsport Golf) (T28).
76 Heather MacRae (Gleneagles), Michele Thomson (McDonald Ellon), Emma Fairnie (Gullane) (T31).
78 Nicola Melville (Nicola Melville Golf) (T43).

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NEW TROPHY UNVEILED FOR BARCLAYS SCOTTISH OPEN





NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE EUROPEAN TOUR 
A new era in the distinguished history of the Barclays Scottish Open will begin when the championship moves north from Loch Lomond to Castle Stuart Golf Links near Inverness from July 7-10.
And as a prelude to the tenth edition of the prestigious event with Barclays as title sponsor, a brand new trophy befitting  the world class calibre of the event  –appropriately designed and fashioned exclusively in Scotland by Hamilton and Inches – was unveiled in Edinburgh today by Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond. 
The First Minister visited the flagship store of Hamilton and Inches, Scotland’s leading luxury jeweller and silversmith, where he, along with George O’Grady, Chief Executive of The European Tour, and Ian Stuart, Head of Barclays Corporate UK, were met by Stephen Paterson, Managing Director of Hamilton  Inches. 
The superb new Barclays Scottish Open trophy, which is a traditional Scottish Quaich - or drinking vessel - a historic symbol of Scottish welcome and hospitality, will be presented to the 2011 Barclays Scottish Open champion on Sunday, July 10.
 First Minister Alex Salmond said: "Scotland is known worldwide as the home of golf, and the Barclays Scottish Open is another chance to showcase some of the best of Scotland to the rest of the world. The eyes of millions of golf fans across the globe will be on the tournament's new home at Castle Stuart as some of the game's top names compete on this spectacular course.
 "This beautiful new trophy takes the form of a quaich, a traditional symbol of the warm welcome for which Scotland is renowned. It has been designed and made exclusively here in Scotland, reflecting the very best of our country's artistic inspiration and craftsmanship. It is a world class trophy for a world class event."
 O’Grady commented: “The Barclays Scottish Open has a long and celebrated heritage, and from next month the championship will also have a challenging links venue on the shores of the Moray Firth and an impressive new trophy by Hamilton and Inches, both entirely in keeping with the stature of the event.
“We are delighted that the First Minister is so supportive of what has become a truly world class golf tournament during a decade of Barclays sponsorship, and of the Tour’s exciting first venture to the Highlands of Scotland. The trophy is a symbol of friendship and hospitality and we will extend a very warm welcome to everyone visiting Castle Stuart for the 2011 Barclays Scottish Open next month.”
Ian Stuart, Head of Barclays Corporate UK, said: “We are very grateful for the support we have received from the Scottish public and the First Minister to stage the Barclays Scottish Open in Inverness.  We are now looking forward with great anticipation to the start of the tournament at the beautiful Castle Stuart Golf Links. We have a field boasting some of the world’s finest golfing talents who will be watched by a passionate and knowledgeable crowd. This expertly crafted trophy is a wonderful commemoration of this important event on the golfing calendar.”
Hamilton and Inches' Managing Director, Stephen Paterson said: "We are absolutely delighted and honoured to have been given the opportunity to make this trophy which befits such a special event. We are also pleased that the trophy is being made here in Scotland, the ancestral home of golf. The finished product is contemporary yet timeless and we feel will always be well received at any of the future locations of the tournament."
Designed and produced at the Company's workshops above their showroom in Edinburgh, the new trophy is the product of months of hard work and creativity. 
Hamilton and Inches' in-house designer, Nicola Williams produced designs for a traditional Scottish Quaich; lidded and set with the emblem of the Scottish Open and a symbol of welcome and hospitality. Nicola's designs were then brought to life using a team of silversmiths, chasers, engravers and polishers headed up by workshop manager Jon Hunt, who has over 30 years’ experience in the industry.
The bowl has been made from a single sheet of sterling silver that has been handspun, raised and then beaten to create a hammered and more contemporary finish. 
The lid consists of  stylised and inter-twined Scottish thistles  which have been cut out of the silver and "chased" to create a three-dimensional  effect across the top.  The inside of the bowl is gilded with 18ct yellow gold and can be seen through the pierced design of the quaich lid. The entire trophy sits on a large round base of polished Scottish Elm and weighs over seven kilograms.

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GEORGE RUTHERFORD TURNS THE CLOCK BACK AT BRORA


James Braid tournament winners. Left to right – Neil Cameron (Kidd Cup), George Rutherford (Royal Marine Hotel Trophy), Shaun Ashe (Braid Trophy) Richard Perry (St. Andrews New GC), Malcolm Campbell (Captain James Braid Society), Ken Lorimer (Captain Brora GC) Chris Mailley (Howey Trophy). Picture by Robin Wilson

By ROBIN WILSON
Brora's Howey Cup almost went back to its first winner of fifty years ago, George Rutherford (Blairgowrie) when the now 68-year-old fired an almost flawless card of 17 pars and just one bogey in the second round of the James Braid Open at Brora last weekend.

But the regular visitor to Brora had the consolation of winning the sponsor's Royal Marine Hotel Trophy as overall best net scorer with a 131 total from his now six handicap.

Leaving school at age 18, George Rutherford spent his teenage summer days on Aberdeen golf courses. His father Gordon Rutherford, a native of Helmsdale, had become a schoolmaster in Aberdeen. Before heading to the family home in Helmsdale for the August holidays of 1961, young George won the Aberdeen Summer Medal at Balnagask with a score of 68 .
On arrival in Sutherland he made his first mark with a third place in the Golspie tournament before his next outing at Brora where he became the first scratch winner of the Howey Cup.
Previously this Brora trophy had been awarded to the local member with the best net aggregate. Rutherford became the youngest winner of the cup with rounds of 73 and 72. His father was also a competent golfer and when his son was winning at Brora in 1961, he finished in fourth place.
Now residing in Perth, George Rutherford continues to be a well kent and popular face at Brora tournaments and is now also a Brora member in addition to his home club Blairgowrie.
Rutherford's first round 73, net 67 last Saturday sent him out in the second round chasing the leading net total of 135, achieved by local Neil Cameron (6) with Rutherford's aim more on a good second round net score than a challenge for the scratch.
Cameron, a former greenkeeper apprentice at Brora and now employed at next week's Barclay's Scottish Open venue, Castle Stuart, had his sights on a good scratch finish after his first round 75 when, in round two, he stormed to the turn in 31 with birdies at the first, second, sixth and eighth holes.
He remained four under par until running into bunker trouble at the short 13th hole and coming away with a triple bogey 6. Another 6 followed and with a two bogey ending holes to his round he signed off with gross 72, net 66 , but leading the net returns on 135 before overtaken by 68 year old Rutherford's amazing second round gross 70, net 64 for 131.
Royal Dornoch's Chris Mailley retained the Howey Cup, following up his first round three under par 66 with a second round 73 to squeeze home by a shot from local head greenkeeper James MacBeath.
Paired together their second round became an almost match-play shoot out with MacBeath making up four of Mailley's first round lead after 17 holes But the Dornoch visitor was able to match the local's par three on the final hole to scrape home by one. Rutherford's renaissance second round of 70 pulled him up into a remarkable third scratch place.
The winner of the Braid Trophy, confined to James Braid Society members, was the club vice-captain, Shaun Ashe on a better second round net score from Braid member Richard Perry (St Andrews New). Ashe and the the other winners were presented with their prizes by the captain of the James Braid Society, Malcolm Campbell.
RESULTS
Scratch
(CSS home 69/69) Away
Howey Cup
139 C Mailley (Royal Dornoch) 66 73
140 J G MacBeath 71 69
143 G M Rutherford (Blairgowrie) 73 70
144 C Nelson (The Nairn) 71 73, R G Mackay (Fortrose) 75 69
145 I S Powell (Murcar Links) 73 72, D Holden (RDGC) 71 74
146 D Joel (Inverness) 77 69, D W R Chalmers (Panmure) 73 73.


Handicap (Kidd Cup)
135 N Cameron (Brora) (6) 69 66
136 R Sutherland (Brora) (9) 66 70
137 D Holden (RDGC) (4) 67 70
139 B Nicholson (RDGC) (4) 72 67
140 D Joel (Inverness) (4) 74 66


Overall net; Royal Marine Hotel Trophy - G Rutherford (Blairgowrie)(6) 131 (67 64).
Braid Trophy - S Ashe (Brora) (13) 147 (79 68).


Mixed Foursomes Tournament prizewinners (left to right): George Sutherland, Angela Sutherland, Sheila Lorimer, Ken Lorimer, Ann Roberson (Lady Captain), Angela Grant, Dawn Powell, Gail Sutherland (Assistant Manager, Royal Marine Hotel), Morag Sutherland and Lesley Beaney. Behind, Liam MacDonald-MacLeod and Michael Maclean. Picture by Robin Wilson.

The Braid weekend at Brora continued on Sunday when in a repeat of their 2007 success mother and son Dawn and Ian Powell won the mixed foursomes competition, heading the entry of forty couples with a nett card of 67.
The family partnership, Dawn a local member and her son, a member at Aberdeen's Murcar Links Golf Club and former winner of the Clynelish Salver and Howey Cup, also had the best scratch score of 76 in a rainy morning but when the weather cleared to give excellent playing conditions only two other couples got below 80.

With a better last nine holes in their 78, father and daughter Dougall and Jemma Chalmers (Panmure), also the scratch winners in 2007, won the scratch Links Trophy for a second time. They relegated locals Angela Grant and Liam MacDonald-MacLeod to second place. With a gross 82 local members George and Morag Sutherland were third scratch.
Runners up to the Powells in the handicap section were another all local pair, Rikki Mackay and Angela Sutherland.

RESULTS
Scratch
J Chalmers and D Chalmers (Panmure) 78 (bih), A Grant and L MacDonald-MacLeod (Brora) 78. M L Sutherland and G F Sutherland (Brora) 78
Handicap
D Powell (Brora) and I S Powell (Murcar Links) (9) 67; A Sutherland and R Mackay (Brora) (19½) 68½; S and K Lorimer (Brora) (20½) 70½; B and B Maitland (Fraserburgh) (19) 72; L Beaney and M MacLean (Brora) (10) 73.

Tain Club Championship


Two non-resident members, Ross Jack (Alness) and Fraser Fotheringham (Nairn), hold the first two seeded places in this week's J and I Carpets Tain Club Championship.

Jack, the silver medallist in the recent Ross-shire County Championship, led the way into last Monday night's first round draw with a qualifying score of 142.
Fotheringham is second seed on 148 by virtue of his better second round in the same total with the top local qualifier Munro Ferries. Fourth seed was Kevin Smith on 150.
The first of the the scratch-play rounds was played on Monday without the holder Alan Everett who could not defend his title due to a return to work in Aberdeen.
The results were:
 R Jack bt E Morrison; J Dundas lost to B Mackenzie; B Ferries lost to I Cowper; G Bell bt K Smith; M Ferries bt C Ilett; D Custerson lost to N Dobie; J Innes bt G MacKintosh; M Ross lost to F Fotheringham.
Shock of the first round was the defeat of the number five seed, Billy Ferries. Ferries was on a high after recording an albatross two at the long 13th hole in Saturday's qualifying round holing out with a three iron. But he was at the receiving end of an albatross at the same hole in his match against Ian Cowper when Cowper holed out in two with a three wood!.











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TIGER WOODS ALMOST CERTAIN TO MISS OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE
By Kevin Garside
Tiger Woods is almost certain to miss the Open Championship at Royal St George’s in a fortnight after admitting last night that there was no timetable for his return to golf.

The former world No 1 has yet to swing a club since walking off the course after just nine holes of the Players Championship at Sawgrass six weeks ago after injuring his left leg.
Although he is walking freely and has been practising on the putting green, his left knee and Achilles are not yet strong enough to progress to using his other clubs and his chances of making the Open, which starts on July 14, remain slim.
“I will come back when I am 100 per cent. I don’t know when that is going to be. I’ve been through this before. I have missed major championships before. Missing the US Open was really tough. I have to learn from what I did at the Players and not come back before I am ready,” Woods said, speaking at the AT and T Championship in Philadelphia.
“There won’t be a 50/50 call this time. I won’t come back until I have had the chance to practise properly, and get my body in shape. I won’t come back just to show up. I’m coming back to win.”

Woods conceded that it was a risk to return for the Players Championship, just five weeks after a sustaining his injuries on the Saturday of the Masters. “In retrospect it was a borderline call. I made that call and unfortunately I hurt myself.
“This time around it is different. I’m setting no timetable. I’m getting stronger but I don’t know when I will be back. I’m just playing it by ear. I’ve played hurt before. That’s part of playing sports.

“I felt this was the same thing. Unfortunately I pushed it too hard. I’m not going to do that again. I’m being smarter this time. I’ve broken my leg and played, but that is not exactly smart. I’m using a different approach. It’s open ended.”

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SCOTT HENDERSON BEATEN IN OPEN QUALIFYING PLAY-OFF


TO VIEW ALL THE OPEN LOCAL QUALIFYING SCORES ON THE R AND A WEBSITE

CLICK HERE
By COLIN FARQUHARSON
No Scots figured among the 12 successful competitors in the two-round Open Final Local Qualifying which spilled over into Wednesday after bad weather forced lengthy delays at the four Kent venues - Littlestone, Princes, Royal Cinque Ports and Rye.
The nearest any Scot got to qualifying for the Open championship at Royal St George's GC next month was Aberdonian Scott Henderson. He was one of four players who tied for second place on four-under-par 144 at Royal Cinque Ports on Tuesday evening.
Scott had rounds of 69 and 71, finishing only one shot behind the leading qualifier, amateur Craig Hinton (The Oxfordshire) with scores of 69 and 80.
Henderson, Andrew Johnston (North Middlesex), Simon Lilly (Wellingborough) and Alex Christie (Tyrrells Wood) were the four play-off participants for the last two qualifying places at Royal Cinque Ports.
Their play-off began Tuesday evening, was halted by darkness, and finished on Wednesday morning with Johnston and Lilly going forward to the main event at the expense of Henderson and Christie.
 
FROM THE R AND A WEBSITE
  Walker Cup squad member Tom Lewis has earned a return to Royal St George’s, two years after winning the Boys Amateur Championship.
The 20-year-old, from Sir Nick Faldo’s home club of Welwyn Garden City, signed for rounds of 63 and 65 to finish three strokes clear of the field at Rye.
“I really wanted to make it this year, especially after winning the Boys in 2009,” said Lewis, who won the St Andrews Links Trophy on the Old Course, as well as reaching the quarter-finals of the Amateur Championship, earlier this month.
“When I lost in the last eight of the Amateur, I thought my chance had gone. But I hit the ball so well today that I knew I had another opportunity, and I was really happy to get the job done.
“Amateurs have done so well in recent years, so I don’t see any reason why I shouldn’t be up there challenging for a place in the top ten. I know that it’s a big step up, but I’ve played a lot of links golf, this year, and I’m comfortable at Royal St George’s, so, if I play as well as I can, I’ve got every chance of competing.”
The remaining two qualifiers at Rye were 23-year-old Oxford Golf Centre assistant professional Adam Wootton and Mark Laskey, also from Welwyn Garden City, who earned his Open berth in a play-off against the Netherlands’ Inder Van Weerelt on Wednesday morning.
At Prince’s, home professional Francis McGuirk used local knowledge to make sure of his place at neighbouring Royal St George’s. McGuirk, 37, returned a 36-hole total of 139, five under par, to finish tied-second, two shots behind Windermere’s Simon Edwards, who finished last in last year’s Open at St Andrews.
“I’m back in work at the pro shop at 7am in the morning and have a six-hour drive in between times,” said Wales’ Edwards, “but it’ll be a happy drive home all the same.”
Hertfordshire professional Tom Shadbolt, 23, remarkably a third qualifier born in Welwyn Garden City, took the remaining place, tied with McGuirk on five-under-par 137.
Meanwhile, 2005 US Open Champion Michael Campbell missed out on qualification by just one stroke, after bogeying his final two holes.
“This, the process of having to qualify, is a very humbling experience for me,” said the New Zealander. “Having won a Major, and having enjoyed the exemptions that come with it for quite a few years, there’s a danger of taking all that for granted, but this experience certainly focuses your attention and gets your mind back on the job.
“It was a strange experience hiring a local caddy for 36 holes and playing with no ropes for crowd control. It’s something I don’t really want to get used to.”
LFQ at Royal Cinque Ports was led by another amateur, Craig Hinton, whose five-under-par total of 139 was good enough to finish one stroke clear of fellow qualifiers Andrew Johnston of North Middlesex and Wellingborough’s Simon Lilly, both of whom came through a four-man play-off.
Hinton, who, in February, was in intensive care for a week after being diagnosed with myopericarditis, an inflammation of the heart, said: “The doctors said it would take six months to a year to get over [the illness] but I progressed well. After everything I’ve been through, it’s unbelievable to be in The Open. It’s hard to take in.”
Last of the venues to complete qualifying was Littlestone, where play finished just before midday on Wednesday. Two-time European Tour winner Markus Brier of Austria and Lee Corfield of Burnham and Berrow came through a five-man play-off to claim their places at golf’s oldest Major, but it was Tudor Park’s Andy Smith who led the field by one, on a four-under-par total of 138.
Underlining why Local Final Qualifying is of such value to The Open Championship, Smith said: I really cannot believe this has happened to me. I only entered qualifying this year because the events were in Kent. I haven’t got much money at the moment and I have been doing all kinds of part-time jobs to keep myself going — labouring, landscape gardening for one of my friends, and a bit of work as a carpenter’s mate.
“I’m even using borrowed clubs this week, with one wedge that I found in my garage at home and another wedge that was in the lost property room at Tudor Park. My own irons and wedges are non-conforming, so I’ve had to borrow a set from a member. I only used them for the first time in practice last week, when I paid £25 to come down here for an extra practice round.
“It’s just like everything has been meant to be, and on the course I felt as if things would be okay. It’s incredible. I’m in a daze.”
OPEN LOCAL FINAL QUALIFYING
Qualifiers for Open championship
LITTLESTONEPar 142 (2x71)
138 Andy Smith (Tudor Park) 70 68.
139 Markus Brier (Austria) 69 70, Lee Corfield (Burnham and Berrow) 70 69.
Eliminated after play-off on 139: Chris Paisley (Stocksfield) 69 70, Jack Bartlett (Worthing) (am) 67 72, Dale Whitnell (Five Lakes) 68 71.
PRINCES
Par 144 (2x72)
137 Simon Edwards (Windermere) 68 69.
139 Thomas Shadbolt (Brocket Hall) 66 73, Francis McGuirk (Princes) 68 71.
ROYAL CINQUE PORTS
Par 144 (2x72)
139 Craig Hinton (The Oxfordshire) (am) 69 70.
140 Andrew Johnston (North Middlesex) 66 74, Simon Lilly (Wellingborough) 70 70.
Eliminated after play-off on 140: Scott Henderson (Kings Links) 69 71, Alex Christie (Tyrrells Wood) 72 68.
RYE
Par 136 (2x68)
128 Tom Lewis (Welwyn Garden City) 63 65.
131 Adam Wooton (Oxford Golf Centre) 63 68.
133 Tom Laskey (The Shire, London) 65 68.
Eliminated after play-off on 133: Inder Van Weerelt (Netherlands) 65 68.

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HUGH HUNTER'S CLACKMANNAN COUNTY NEWS

BIG WEEK FOR BOB


Top Clackmannan county senior golfer Bob Stewart (Tulliallan) is in action this week at Irvine in the Scottish seniors championship, a title he won in 2007 at Elgin.
Bob leads the 2011 Seniors Order of Merit with 335 points, thanks to a run of good form, and, of course, he will be hoping this will continue. Close behind Bob is Graham Bell (Downfield) with 322 points, and they are both lead the rest of the Scottish Senior golfers by about 60 points.
Phil Dempsey, also Tulliallan, is further back in 19th place with 82.5 points.


WEE COUNTY CHALLENGE IN THE SCOTISH AMATEUR.


For the Scottish amateur championship, to be held at Western Gailes at the end of July, the entry of 256 contains four locals representing four of the local Clubs.
Double Clackmannan junior champion Lawrence Allan (Alva) has his first go at the event, and is joined by Jamie Aitken (Alloa), big-hitting Scott Moffat, the Clackmannan match-play champion, representing Braehead, and finally Scott Borrowman (Dollar) who reached the later stages of the event in 2008 - the year that Callum Macaulay won at Carnoustie.
In the R and A World rankings, Lawrence has just moved ahead of Scott with a ranking of 2096. Among Scottish golfers, he is ranked 67th--- pretty good in a golfing population of well over 100,000.


MISSED CUT FOR CALLUM

After a run of reasonable golf scoring on the Challenge Tour, Tulliallan’s Callum Macaulay just missed out on another pay day at the Scottish Hydro Challenge at Spey Valley. He missed the cut by several shots with a four-over-par score of 146 (71-75).
Callum moves to the next Challenge Tour event, to be played at the Swedish National golf course near Stockholm this week. It’s a serious test of golf, measuring just over 7,400 yards with two holes measuring over 600 yards (eighth at 639yds and 18th at 601yds).
He will be hoping to move his Challenge Tour ranking of around 70 towards the top twenty.

ON THE LOCAL GOLF SCENE


Two top events are contested locally this weekend - the 2011 County Mixed Fours Team Championship is being held at Dollar on Sunday 3rd July with holders Alloa hoping to retain the trophy.
At Tulliallan on the same day, the Alexander Trophy is being played. This event is open to clubs in Clackmannan and Stirling--- teams of four golfers play ( with the best three scores to count), and it is pleasing to see five out of the six county clubs fielding teams.

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CULTS HOTEL ABERDEEN PENNANT LEAGUE RESULTS

STONEHAVEN 0, BANCHORY 5
At Stonehaven
Stonehaven players' names first

Craig Irvine and Chris Brown lost to Adam Lindsay and Roy Black 6 and 5.
Neil Irvine and Gordon Adamson lost to Fergus Bisset and Jim Christie 2 holes.
Stuart Dempster and Barry McGillivray lost to Ross Gray and Martin Gordon 3 and 2.
Alan Cruickshank and Kein Riddell lost to Steve Cooper and Craig Lindsay 1 hole.
Ross McAllan and Grant Robb lost to Lindsay Smart and Scott Birse 3 and 2.

ROYAL ABERDEEN 4, DEESIDE 1
At Balgownie.
Royal Aberdeen players' names first


Donald Macandrew junior and Steven Buchan bt David Halliday and Alan Ross 4 and 3.
Bill Barclay and Donald Macandrew senior bt Simon Cruickshank and Mark Vass 3 and 1.

Douglas Purdie and Ewan Laird lost to Sandy Hutchison and Tom Rennie 2 and 1.

Austen Buchan and Mike Black bt Andrew Jarvie and Graeme Rennie 2 holes.

Willie Park and Graeme Webster bt John Broadley and Jamie Pryde 1 hole.


CALEDONIAN 3, HAZLEHEAD 2
At Kings Links


R Pirie and S Finnie lost to S Robertson and G Kennedy 1 hole


D Gardiner and L Morrice lost to K Duthie and A K MacGregor 2 holes


W Ross and R Rimmer bt A Strachan and S McIntosh 4 and 3


A Doig and S Allan bt I T Murray and M Allan 3 and 2


S Allison and M Rimmer bt A Robertson and R Ross 1 hole


WILL TRY TO PRODUCE SECTIONAL TABLES ASAP
Editor.

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ELS, LAWRIE HOPING TO BE FIT TO PLAY AT CASTLE STUART

FROM THE SPORT.SCOTSMAN.COM WEBSITE
By Martin Dempster
Former Open champions Ernie Els and Paul Lawrie are both hoping to be fit for next week's Barclays Scottish Open at Castle Stuart despite withdrawing from events they were due to play in this week.
Els has pulled out of the AT and T National event on the US PGA Tour with a slight back strain while Lawrie has scratched from the French Open with a neck injury.

Both are confident they will have recovered in time for next week's event at the new links venue betweem Nairn and Inverness, where Els will be bidding to win the Scottish Open title for the third time - a feat only achieved in the event's history by Ian Woosnam (1987, 1990, 1996).
"I am really looking forward to seeing the Castle Stuart venue - I have heard good things about the course and it promises to be a great week," said Els.
Instead of playing in Paris, Lawrie is having treatment at home in Aberdeen in the hope that he will be fully fit for the first staging of the event at Castle Stuart.
"I've had the injury, which is on the left side of my neck, on and off for a while, but last week at the BMW International Open in Munich it was particularly bad," he said. "I played beautifully in the first round and shot a 66, but then woke up on Friday and the neck was really poor.
"I was hitting shots 20 yards less than I would normally because I couldn't make a proper backswing. If I get it fixed this week I hope it will be okay for the rest of the year."

TO READ MARTIN DEMPSTER'S ARTICLE IN FULL, BUY A COPY OF "THE SCOTSMAN" NEWSPAPER TODAY OR LOG ON TO ITS WEBSITE
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All four days of the Barclays Scottish Open will be broadcast live on BBC Television (July 9 and 10) and Sky Sports (July 7 and 8) with extensive highlights on both channels.
Advance tickets are now on sale for the 2011 Barclays Scottish Open – for full details of ticket offers and other events on The European Tour, please visit www.europeantour.com/tickets or telephone the Ticket Hotline: +44 (0) 800 023 2557; fax +44 141 887 0223.
Please send postal enquiries to European Tour Tickets, Mirren Court Three, 123 Renfrew Court Three, Paisley, PA3 4EA.


For further information on the Barclays Scottish Open contact The European Tour Website: www.europeantour.com or the Official Championship Website: www.barclaysscottishopen.co.uk









About the 2011 Barclays Scottish Open

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