ENGLISH UNDER-16 BOYS' OPEN STROKE-PLAY FOR McGregor Trophy

Bradley Neil (Blairgowrie), the leading Scot, in action at South Moor GC today (image by courtesy of Tom Ward Photography).

SOUTH MOOR GOLF CLUB, DURHAM

FIRST ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 72 (35-37).  Yardage 6,273
69 Tobias Roberts (Lancaster), Bradley Moore (Kedleston Park).
70 Albert Sanchez (Spain).
71 Bradley Neil (Blairgowrie), Johannes Schwab (Austria), Ben Hutchison (Howley Hall), Jarand Ekeland Amqy (Norway), Lewis George (Delamere Forest), Jack Hermeston (City of Newcastle), Dan Garner (Romford).

OTHER SCOTS' SCORES
72 Connor Syme (Dumfries and Co), Ewen Ferguson (Bearsden), Calum Hill (Tantallon) T11).
74 Euan Walker (Kilmarnock Barassie) (T31).
75 Fraser Davren (Williamwood), Alexander Wilson (Gullane) (T46).
76 Scott Ewan (St Andrews) (T55).
78 Euan Bowden (The Glen), Bemjamin Kinsley (St Andrews) (T78).
81 Andrew Fray (Crieff) (T105)

LAURIE PHILLIPS LEADS AT CRUDEN BAY

Early starter and tournament favourite Laurie Phillips leads after the first round of the 75th Challenge Cup 4-Day Open at Cruden Bay sponsored by Steadfast Scotland.
In typical bright and breezy links conditions the home player, pictured, had five birdies in his round of 67 which included 2s at the par 3 fourth and 11th holes. Laurie leads by shot shot from McDonald Golf Club’s Chris Gilbert whose eagle 2 at the eighth helped him to a 2 under par 68.
In Handicap Section 1 Cruden Bay junior Stuart Sherwood leads the way with a net 68, and on the same score another home player, Doug Davidson leads handicap section 2.
The multi-national field of players were hugely complimentary on the condition and presentation of the Cruden Bay course.


Robbie Stewart
PGA Director of Golf
Cruden Bay Golf Club

CRAIBSTONE SUMMER ALLIANCE ON WEDNESDAY

The tee will be open from 8am to 2pm tomorrow (Wednesday) for the Craibstone Golf Club Summer Alliance meeting at the Bucksburn venue. The 18-hole competition is open to amateurs and professionals. Entry fee is £15 or £10 for Craibstone members. Maximum handicap for a man is 20 and for a woman 30. Tee times can be reserve by calling 01224 716 777 or Golf Operations Manager Billy Sim on 075533 47143 Catering is available in the Craibstone golf club all day and is not restricted to members.

CARNWATH 36-HOLE MEN'S OPEN ON SATURDAY

Carnwath Golf Club are staging their annual 36 hole scratch open on Saturday July 16. Handicap limit is 7 and entries can be made over phone to Carnwath professional David Park on 01555 840023

Paul O'Hara won this prestigous tournament three times in a row before he turned professional.
Usual scratch and handicap prizes and the Lockhart de Robeck Trophy.
It is also a counting event for Lanarkshire Order of Merit Salver.
Willie Sharpe
President
Lanarkshire Golf Association

DUFF'S PHENOMENAL 61 AT NEWMACHAR BUT CAN IT BE A RECORD?

By COLIN FARQUHARSON Colin@scottishgolfview.com  Newmachar Golf Club member John Duff had a phenomenal round of 11-under-par 61 over Swailend, the club's No 2 course, also designed by Dave Thomas, at the weekend. Duff's figures were: OUT: 3 4 4 3 3 3 3 4 4 - 31 IN: 3 3 2 3 4 4 4 4 3 - 30 That scorecard contains one eagle (at the 11th) and nine birdies (first, third, fourth, sixth, eighth, 12th, 13th, 14th and 18th) and not a single bogey. He almost holed his second shot at the 18th which would have given him a 60. The Swailend course measures 6,388yd and has a par of 72 and a Standard Scratch of 71. It was opened in June 1997. The previous lowest score over the Swailend course was a 64 by Martin Lawrence who is now an assistant professional at Newmachar GC. That was achieved in September 2008. The question is whether Duff's round can and should be recognised as a course record. The R and A recommend that course records should be restricted to individual stroke-play medal rounds and not include par, bogey or Stableford rounds. Duff was competing in a Newmachar club Stableford competition when he returned his 61. But it transpires that Lawrence's 64, which has been recognised for the best part of three years, was also achieved in a Stableford points round.  The Newmachar Golf Club committee will meet later this week to decide whether or not to recognise Duff's 61 as the new Swailend record. John was a member of the Newmachar Golf Club team who won the Northern Counties Cup at Royal Dornoch last year. He already has a +2 handicap.