CONNOR NEIL STEPS INTO PERTH AND KINROSS SPOTLIGHT

Blairgowrie's Rodney Neil (who plays off four, by the way) is a lucky man to have TWO teenage sons who are very good golfers. We hear most about 15-year-old Bradley who plays off +1 and later this week will be competing in the European Young Masters in Hungary as one of Scotland's four representatives in this Under-16 years tournament.
But this past weekend, it was the turn of Bradley's 18-year-old brother Connor who plays off scratch, to step into the spotlight. He won the Perth and Kinross  men's county summer meeting at Crieff with a two-under-par round of 69.
Connor, pictured right, also recently won the King James VI club's boys' open and was second at the Craigie Hill boys' open earlier in the month.
Connor also recently retained the Blairgowrie boys' club championship.

In the P and K summer meeting, Neil Cameron carded a fine 71 less 3 for 68 and picked up first prize in Section A. Harry Uibokand won the Section B prize.
A total of 86 players attended on the day out of an expected 96 . The CSS was 72.
It is hoped that more P and K golfers will make room in their diaries for the Autumn Meeting at Kinross on September 25th.

These meetings are for ALL the county’s men golfers NOT JUST those with a low handicap.

Results:
Scratch: C Neil 69; E J Lindsay, T White 71

Handicap - Class 1 (scr to 8): N Cameron 3) 68; I McLeod, J Seaton 69; J Duncan 70; A Easton 71.

Class 2 (9 to 28): H Uibokand 71; N Cairney, W Wilson 73; D Thomson,  J Lockhart 74.

THREE SHARE LEAD IN SENIORS' MATCH-PLAY QUALIFYING ROUND

Broomieknowe's David Gardner, Ian Taylor (Royal Burgess) and Gordon MacDonald (Callander) shared the lead with par 71s at the end of the first qualifying round in the Scottish senior men's amateur match-play championship at Monifieth links today.
They are a shot ahead of the "local hero" Ian Hutcheon, Stephen Ellis (Innellan) and Fraser McCluskey (Royal Burgess).
The leading 32 players after Tuesday's second stroke-play round will qualify for the match-play stages.
Last year's champion Tony Stafford (Gleneagles) is injured and unable to defend the title.
The qualifying mark should be in the region of 158/159 with the leading 32 scoring 79 or better on the first day.
First qualifying round
Par 71 CSS 72
71 David Gardner (Broomieknowe)
71 Ian Taylor (Royal Burgess)
71 Gordon MacDonald (Callander)
72Stephen Ellis (Innellan)
72 Ian C Hutcheon (Monifieth)
72 Fraser McCluskey (Royal Burgess)
73 Graham Cox (Pollok)
73 Bill Erskine (Kilsyth Lennox)
74 Keith Bruce (Edzell)
74 Ian Gillan (Bishopbriggs)
74 George Rodaks (Moffat)
74 Jalil Aman (Grangemouth)
74 Alex Ritchie (Bothwell Castle)
75 Jim Watt (Edzell)
75 David J Miller (Kilmarnock Barassie) 
76 Norman MacLeod (St Andrews)
76 Alistair Fiddes (Deeside)
76 Andrew Campbell (Kinross)
76 Gordon Doig (Southerness)
76 Derek Murphy (Kinross)
76 Colin Christy (Kilmacolm)
77 Iain Stewart (Kilmarnock Barassie)
77 Sandy Pirie (Hazlehead
77 David J Smith (Stirling)
77 Scott MacDonald (Dunfermline)
77 Sandy Fairweather (Caledonia)
78 Ron McDonald (Monifieth Golf Links
78 Bob Stewart (Tulliallan)
78 Ron Walker (Arbroath Artisan)
78 John J Johnston (Lanark)
79 Charles Brown (Auchterarder)
79 Brian Smith (Kilmacolm)
79 Keith Howie (West Kilbride)
79 James T Johnston (Northumberland)
79 Denis McQuade (Glenbervie)
80 Richard T Gray (Cowglen)
80 John W McDonald (Cowglen)
80 James Kinloch (Cardross)
80 Brian Kidd (Panmure)
81 David A Millar (St Andrews New)
81 Ian Brotherston (Dumfries and County)
81 Fraser Sharp (Boat-of-Garten)
81 David Downie (Kirriemuir) 
81 Peter Kinloch (Cardross)
82 Tom Carson (Lockerbie)
82 Gordon Thomson (Bearsden)
83 Donald Moore (Hong Kong)
83 Alan Nelson (Banchory)
84 John Hamilton (Murcar Links)
84 Jim Campbell (Panmure)
88 Brian Highley (Buchanan Castle)
89 Sandy Quinn (Stirling)

NORTH OF SCOTLAND JUNIOR OPEN ON SUNDAY - late entries accepted

Late entries will be accepted on 01463 713334 for the NORTH of SCOTLAND JUNIOR OPEN to be played on Loch Ness New Golf Course, Castle Heather, Inverness on Sunday (July 24).
Competitors will tee of in threes at 7-minute intervals and are from the host club unless otherwise stated.
Abbreviations: I, Inverness ; Strm, Stromness; T, Torvean; Cr, Craigielaw; Tob, Tobermory; Murr, Murrayfield; E, Elgin; ND, Nairn Dunbar; Lyb, Lybster


9.0 S. Parkinson (Strm), B. Anderson (I), R. Franssen (I); A. Keith (Strm), L. Fraser, A. McAleer; D. Bruce, J. Farquar; R. Baxter, C. Hay, J. Gillan; C. Grant, C. Franssen, S. MacLeod;
10.0 M. Schinkel (Strm), H. Young; C.Mathieson (T), G. Bennett (I).
11.0 C. MacMillan (I), J. Elder (ND), M. Britochek (ND)
12.0 W. MacCrone (Tob), E. McIntosh (Murr); C. Kerr (E), R. MacCrone (Tob); A.MacLean (Cr), A. Boyd (Lyb).

R AND A TO TAKE A LOOK AT ROYAL PORTRUSH'S OPEN CLAIMS

They'll have to change the Portrush welcome sign -- Darren Clarke also lives in the Northern Ireland town.

FROM THE PGA E-BULLETIN
Calls to take the Open Championship back to Royal Portrush Golf Club in Northern Ireland have intensified after Darren Clarke's victory at Sandwich.
Royal Portrush staged The Open won by Max Faulkner in 1951 - the only time so far in the tournament's long history that it has been held outside England or Scotland.
The R and A have long claimed that the course on the North Antrim coast, whilst undoubtedly up to standard as a test of golf, does not currently have the infrastructure to rejoin the Open rota.
However, in light of Clarke's win which follows on the heels of major successes for Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy, R and A chief executive Peter Dawson has admitted the organisation will revisit the issue.
"I think we're all very aware of the fact that three winners from Northern Ireland increases the interest level in this," stated Dawson.
Asked what Portrush needs that it does not currently have he replied: "I don't know yet until we've had another look at it, to be honest.
"The usual mixture of a great course and plenty of infrastructure, combined with a prospect of commercial success, is what's needed.
"No doubt about the golf course at Portrush, although there might be one or two things one would do, but the other two are what we have to look at.
"I don't want to start a hare running on this, other than we are going to take a closer look."
New Open champion Clarke, who grew up playing Royal Portrush, added: "At the moment they (the R and A) can't see a way of having it there, so it's very tough.
"I wish there was some way around it and I hope at some stage in the future they will find a way around it because the golf course is every bit as good as any of the Open venues.
"It's good enough to be in the Open rota. Hopefully they will figure a way around the logistics if they possibly can."

+Royal Portrush staged the British women's open amateur championship in June this year. It is about an hour's drive from Belfast to that part of Northern Ireland.

FINALIST FINDLAY NOT SEEDED for NEXT WEEK'S SCOTTISH AMATEUR

Twelve months after reaching the final of the Scottish amateur championship at Gullane, Fraserburgh's Jordan Findlay finds himself unseeded for the SGU's flagship match-play tournament at Western Gailes Golf Club, Ayrshire next week.
Findlay went on to win the Scottish Alliance championship over Newburgh and Murcar Links last autumn.
He is a former British boys' championand was also beaten in the final of the British boys championship the following year.
Although Fraserburgh's Kris Nicol is seeded No 3, the seeding has not been kind to Buchan players.
Apart from Findlay, Peterhead's Philip McLean is not named as one of the eight seeds.
Winner of the Newlands Trophy 72-hole SGU Order of Merit event at Lanark on Sunday for the second year in a row, Allyn Dick (Kingsknowe) is also not seeded.
Hazlehead's David Law, Scottish boys' and men's champion in 2009, is seeded No 5.
The eight players who are seeded to reach the quarter-finals are:

1 Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck).
2 James Byrne (Banchory).
3 Kris Nicol (Fraserburgh).
4 Greg Paterson (St Andrews New).
5 David Law (Hazlehead).
6 Ross Kellett (Colville Park).
7 James White (Lundin).
8 Paul Shields (Kirkhill).

OPEN CHAMPION CLARKE EARNS £2million BONUS FROM SPONSORS

Darren Clarke's extraordinary week continued when Newcastle chairman Mike Ashley paid out a £2m bonus to the Open winner. With a £900,000 cheque from Open champion organisers, the R and A,  for winning his first Major at the age of 42, Clarke also scooped £2m from sponsors Dunlop, who are owned by Ashley.

With the celebrations in full swing, Clarke did not sleep before a morning press conference to mark his triumph, and the 16-stone Ulsterman admitted that a planned WeightWatchers diet programme, which he was due to start immediately after the Open, might have to be put on hold.

"I'm supposed to be on WeightWatchers tomorrow," Clarke after winning at Sandwich.

"With my manager Chubby Chandler on it, I can't get away from listening about it. I'm staying at Chubby's apartment, so I'm going to eat and drink as much as I want tonight. I think there's five points for every pint of Guinness but this could be a bad week for me to try to start.

"I've no idea how much weight I'm going to lose, we'll see.

"I'll probably get bored with it after a week and give up."

Earlier in the week Clarke had joked that his weight might actually be better for his golf game.

He joked: “Chubby has always said that I play better when I’m fat, and obviously I’ve been adhering to that theory this week.”

Clarke has proven one of the most popular champions in Open history.

The Northern Irishman lost his wife, Heather, to cancer in 2006, only to come back to golf a month later as a wildcard pick for the Ryder Cup, and play an instrumental part in winning the tournament in Ireland.

He was second in the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year competition later that year.

Clarke paid tribute to her in his victory speech.

"There's obviously somebody who is watching down from up above and I know she'd be very proud of me.

"But I think she'd be more proud of our two boys Tyrone and Conor.

"It's been a long journey to get here. I'm 42 and I'm not getting any younger. But I've got here in the end.

"It's been a dream since I've been a kid to win The Open. It just feels incredible right now."
Eurosport

SAM STRACHAN and NORTH-EAST YOUTHS ARE THE WINNERS at OLDMELDRUM

Sam Strachan (Murcar Links) won the individual first prize in the inter-district youths' stroke-play tournament tournament at Oldmeldrum Golf Club yesterday.

Sam, pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency, had rounds of 67 and 69 for 136 - five strokes ahead of three players: Downfield's Reece Mitchell (70-71), Cullen's Nick MacAndrew (69-72) and, another Downfield player, Matthew Reid (68-73). On a comparison of their second rounds, Mitchell was placed second, MacAndrew third and Reid fourth.

The CSS was 70 in the morning and 72 in the afternoon.

North-east retained the Templeton Trophy for the team event with a combined score of 1019, against 1048 of Angus. North only had seven players and when one was later disqualified for having playing from out of bounds, they could not return the required number of scores.

TEAM TOTALS
1019 NORTH-EAST 504 515
1048 ANGUS 527 521
No Return: NORTH 507 NR

INDIVIDUAL TOTALS
CSS 70 72
136 Sam Strachan (Inverallochy) 67 69.
141 Reece Mitchell (Downfield) 70 71 (placed 2nd with better 2nd round), Nick MacAndrew (Cullen) 69 72 (placed third with better second round), Matthew Reid (Downfield) 68 73.
143 Kyle Godsman (Hopeman) 69 74.
144 Rodger Clark (Moray) 75 69, Stuart Connell (Inverness) 74 70.
146 Scott Robertson (Hazlehead) 71 75.
147 Tom Dingwall (Nairn Dunbar) 66 81, Sean Lawrie (Portlethen) 72 75.
149 Daniel Thompsett (Aboyne) 75 74.
150 Mark Thomson (Grange) 76 74, Grant Bowman (Monifieth) 75 75.
151 Dan Lawrence (Ballumbie Castle) 77 74, Ryan Bain (Strathlene) 75 76.
152 Jamie Treasurer (Inverness) 74 78.
154 Jamie Reid (Cruden Bay) 80 74.
155 Kyle McAlpine (Invergordon) 74 81.
156 Gordon Munro (Fraserburgh) 75 81.
157 Connor Cook (Caird Park) 81 76.
158 Andy Todd (Grange) 80 78.
165 Callum McKay (Grange) 86 79.
Disq - Cameron Nelson (Inverness) 75 DQ

PAUL McKECHNIE STRIKES AGAIN IN BOTHWELL CASTLE PRO-AM

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Paul McKechnie scored his fifth pro-am victory of the year at Bothwell Castle Golf Club this week. Underlining the Braid Hills' man's consistency in 2011 it is also his 17th top-5 finish and his 21st top-10 placing this year on the PGA Scotland domestic circuit.
His cash prize for a one-shot victory with a five-under-par, bogey-free round of 65 was £1,138.99, boosting his season's earnings to $13,755 from 28 events, cementing his place as the Tartan Tour's leadig money-winner in 2011.
McKechnie, pictured above by Cal Carson Golf Agency, birdied the long first, the fifth, 10th, 15th and long 18th.
Joint runners-up on 66 were Steven Taylor (Bothwell Castle) with a bag of eight birdies, including the last four in a row - pity about the four shots dropped from the sixth to the ninth - Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs), who birdied the last three, Stephen Gray (Hayston) who had an eagle 3 at the last, and Banchory's Greig Hutcheon whose only bogey, at the short 17th, cost him outright second place, and Chris Kelly (Cawder).
All five received £571.62.
Mark King (Kingsfield) led the Deans Civil Engineers trio of Steven Deans (handicap 12), Alan Sinclair (5) and Jennifer Robertson (7) to victory in the pro-am team event with a net score of 15-under-par 55.
TOP 20 PRO SCORES
Par 70
65 Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills) £1,138.99.
66 Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs), Steven Taylor (Bothwell Castle), Stephen Gray (Hayston), Chris Kelly (Cawder) and Greig Hutcheon (Banchory) £571.62 each.
67 Alan Lockhart (Ladybank), James McGhee (Duddingston), Craig Matheson (Falkirk Tryst), Graham Fox (East Kilbride) £239.14 each.
68 David Orr (East Renfrewshire), Ross Dixon (Renaissance Club) £165.01 each.
69 Steven Duncan (unatt), Alan Purdie (Kingsbarns), Graeme Brown (Montrose Links), David Patrick (Elie Sports Club), Scott Henderson (Kings Links), Colin Gillies (Kingsfield) £119.57 each.
70 James McKinnon (Irvine), Graham Mackay (Prestonfield) £74.13 each.

GREAT SCOTT INCENTIVE FOR BOYS' FIELD AT NAIRN DUNBAR

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY SCOTTISH
GOLF UNION
By ROSS DUNCAN
Scotland’s leading golfer on the European Tour this season, Scott Jamieson, will provide the inspiration for the 144 talented youngsters lining up at Nairn Dunbar this week contesting the Scottish Under-18  boys' stroke-play championship (Tuesday to Thursday).
Jamieson, ranked number 36 in the Race to Dubai in his debut season on the top tier, won the boys' stroke play title 10 years ago at Lanark in 2001 and the country’s rising young stars will be hoping to emulate his success in the Highlands as they bid to make their own mark in the game.
(Jamieson is pictured left by Cal Carson Golf Agency during his successful amateur career, which included victory in the 2001 Scottish boys' stroke-play at Lanark).
Among the likely contenders will be reigning Scottish boys' match-play champion David Wilson (Troon Welbeck), who captured the title in dramatic fashion back in April with a win at the 38th hole, while Liam Johnston (Dumfries County) will be looking to make amends for losing that final at Dunbar with a win this week.
Craigielaw’s Grant Forrest, winner of the match play in 2009, enjoyed a good performance in the Scottish boys' stroke-play championship over his home course 12 months ago, finishing seventh, and has his sights set on emulating former clubmate Lloyd Saltman, who took the title back in 2003.
Last year’s champion was Finland’s Linus Vaisanen and five of his young countrymen will line up in this year’s field, with the 2008 champion, Kilmarnock Barassie’s Jack McDonald looking for his second national boys’ stroke-play title in his final season as a junior.
Greig Marchbank, who leads the SGU boys’ Order of Merit, will be hoping to cap a fine season in style with a national championship win, while Liberton’s Anthony Blaney, second in the rankings, can close the gap at the top with victory this week.
The rippling links and tight fairways of this beautiful course overlooking the Moray Firth will present a great challenge to the 144-strong field and as club secretary Jim Gibson explains, the course has introduced a number of important changes since it last hosted the event in 1999.
“Since Barry Hume won the same event here 12 years ago there have been many significant developments, including the addition of new fairway bunkers and improved putting surfaces. These are part of an ongoing programme of improvements that have taken Nairn Dunbar from being a good course to a great course,” said Gibson.
“Members and visitors alike have been raving about our greens this season. We have new piece of kit, called a Greens Iron, which gives the greens extra pace and improved roll and I’m sure we’ll be making them as quick as we can for the boys.” he added.
The championship takes place over 72 holes with the leading 40 players and ties qualifying at the end of play on Wednesday for Thursday’s final two rounds. The first round gets underway at 7am tomorrow (Tuesday) morning.

TO VIEW THE TEE TIMES AT NAIRN DUNBAR

CLICK HERE

IRELAND'S HEROES HEAD IRISH OPEN AT KILLARNEY NEXT WEEK

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE EUROPEAN TOUR 

Irish golf fans will be able to give their two reigning Major Champions a rousing homecoming to remember when Darren Clarke and Rory McIlroy tee it up in the Irish Open presented by Discover Ireland at Killarney Golf and Fishing Club next week.

Clarke’s emotional victory in The Open Championship at Royal St George’s on Sunday meant historic back-to-back Major triumphs for Northern Ireland, following McIlroy’s record breaking eight shot victory in the US Open Championship last month.

Now Ireland’s golfing public will be able to demonstrate their typically vocal support and appreciation for both Major Champions in their national Open, ensuring a wonderful festival atmosphere in Co. Kerry on Bank Holiday weekend in Ireland (July 28-31).

Clarke and McIlroy will also be joined by Padraig Harrington and Graeme McDowell, Ireland’s two other recent Major Champions, for what is set to be a celebration of the country’s remarkable achievements on the world stage over the last four years, which was sparked by Harrington’s 2007 Open Championship win.

“The Irish Open promises to be extra special this year with Rory and I bringing back the US Open Trophy and the Claret Jug,” said Clarke.

 “We always enjoy an amazing reception from the fans in Ireland but I’ve got a feeling next week could be like nothing we’ve seen before. We are both really looking forward to coming home and celebrating Irish golf’s achievements and we will both be hoping to win the Irish Open to give the fans yet another reason to celebrate.”

McIlroy added: “Darren’s magnificent victory at Royal St George’s means the Irish Open will be even more of a celebration next week.  

“The reception I received last month when I brought the US Open Trophy home was unbelievable and I’m sure it will be even better in Killarney when Darren also has the Claret Jug with him. It’s an amazing time for Irish golf at the moment and I’m sure the fans will help make the Irish Open a truly special event.”

More than 82,000 people flocked to Killarney Golf and Fishing Club last year when England’s Ross Fisher held off a final day Harrington charge to capture the title. 

Tickets to The Irish Open presented by Discover Ireland are available NOW on www.europeantour.com/tickets, but time is running out for one lucky fan to have the chance of a lifetime by winning a place alongside McIlroy in the Pro-Am on Wednesday, 27 July.

Anyone purchasing a ticket, aged 16 years old or over on July 27, 2011 – and in possession of an official handicap - can enter the prize draw to play alongside McIlroy. The competition closes for entries at midnight on Wednesday 20th July, 2011. European Tour Terms and Conditions apply.

POST-OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP WORLD PRO RANKINGS

1 LUKE DONALD (England)
2 LEE WESTWOOD (England)
3 MARTIN KAYMER (Germany)
4 RORY McILROY (N Ireland)
5 STEVE STRICKER (US)
6 PHIL MICKELSON (US)
7 DUSTIN JOHNSON (US)
8 MATT KUCHAR (US)
9 JASON DAY (Australia)
10 NICK WATNEY (US)
11 GRAEME McDOWELL (N Ireland)
12 CHARL SCHWARTZEL (S Africa)
13 K J CHOI (S Korea)
14 BUBBA WATSON (US)
15 PAUL CASEY (England)
16 IAN POULTER (England)
17 ADAM SCOTT (Australia)
18 HUNTER MAHAN (US)
219 ROBERT KARLSSON (Sweden)
20 TIGER WOODS (US)
21 RETIEF GOOSEN (S Africa)
22 JIM FURYK (US)
23 FRANCESCO MOLINARI (Italy)
24 ALVARO QUIROS (Spain)
25 ERNIE ELS (S Africa)

TO VIEW ALL THE WORLD PRO RANKINGS

CLICK HERE

NATIONWIDE TOUR WINNER KNOX NOW HEADING FOR BIG LEAGUE

No slipping on a banana skin for Russell Knox, pictured with his Nationwide Tour tournament victory trophy (From the Nationwide Tour website).

By Joe Chemycz, US Nationwide Tour Staff
MAINEVILLE, Ohio --Scotland's Russell Knox put the pedal to the metal on Sunday and cruised to his first career victory at the Nationwide Tour's Chiquita Classic. The 26-year old from Inverness began the day with a one-stroke lead and was nearly flawless in posting a 6-under-par 66, good for a three-stroke win and a first-place cheque of $99,000. The victory moved him from No. 27 to No. 5 on the season money, which isn't bad for a guy who started the year with no place to play.
Editor's Note: If Knox maintains a top-25 position on the US Nationwide Tour money table he will automatically gain promotion to the US PGA Tour at the end of the season, joining fellow Scots Martin Laird and Aberdeen-born Michael Sim in the Big League).
"This is the best day of my life, 100 times over," said Knox as he hoisted the silver hardware. "This is very exciting for me because it's my first trophy. On the mini-tours we just get a cheque."
Knox (a prolific money-winner on the satellite Hooters Tour circuit for the past three, started this season as a Nationwide Tour Monday qualifier, got into an event, finished second to win enough money to gain regular Nationwide Tour starts -  and is now in a position to challenge for a berth on the US PGA Tour next year.
"I knew this was possible," said Knox on his sudden successes. "I've played well the last three years since turning pro. I've worked hard and dedicated my whole life to playing professional golf."
The day and the week belonged to Knox, who was never seriously challenged during the final 18 holes at TPC River's Bend.
"I'm super, super happy," he said, not being able to contain his smile. "There are so many good players out here and you have to bring it every week,"
Knox not only brought it, but he owned it this week statistically. He was third in fairways hit, first in greens in regulation and tied for first in putting. He also tied for first with the most birdies (28) and had the fewest bogeys (3) of anyone in the field.
"It's been an unbelievable week," he said.
Knox took his one-stroke lead after 54 holes and stretched it to four by the time he made the turn thanks to birdies at Nos. 3, 4, 6, 7 and 8.
"I always like to get under par before I get over par," he said. "I think I was fortunate that the other guys didn't shoot good scores today. I thought they were all coming at me."
His closest challengers never got off the starting line. Knox kept the pressure on and rolled in another birdie at No. 11 to get to 24-under par.
"My goal was to get to 25-under today," he said. "I thought that was a pretty good number. I definitely expected several players to play well. I knew that at any point any of these guys could catch on fire. I fully expected not to be in the lead at some point, but I guess that never happened."
It didn't because Knox hit nearly every fairway (6 of 7) and every green (8 of 9) on the back nine.
"I was trying to get it on the greens because I felt so good putting," he said. "It took a lot of pressure off me trying to hit it in there close."
Another birdie at No. 15 pushed him to his number (25) and all he needed from there were three solid pars to close it out.
"I tried to stay aggressive," he said. "I was just trying to stay calm and finish the race."
• Russell Knox enjoyed early success this season but hadn't had a top-25 finish since early May:

4/17/11 Fresh Express Classic T2 65 68 66 199 (-11) $52,800 11
5/01/11 South Georgia Classic T44 73 69 76 70 288 (E) $2284.72 12
5/08/11 Stadion Classic at UGA T18 73 67 71 69 280 (-4) $7,443.33 12
5/22/11 BMW Charity Pro-Am T48 72 63 68 75 278 (-8) $2,100.00 14
6/05/11 Melwood Prince George's CUT 73 69 142 (E) 18
6/12/11 The Rex Hospital Open T34 70 68 73 68 279 (-5) $2,608.57 22
6/19/11 Preferred Wichita Open CUT 72 69 141 (-1) 26
7/17/11 Chiquita Classic 1 68 66 63 66 263 (-25) $99,000 5

With his win Russell Knox:
• Collects a first-place cheque for $99,000
• Earns Full-Exempt status for the rest of 2011 and all of 2012
• Moves from No. 27 to No. 5 on the Nationwide Tourmoney list
• Collects his first Nationwide Tour win at the age of 26 years, 26 days
• Becomes the third player in his 20s to win on Tour this year -- Ted Potter, Jr. and Russell Henley
• Becomes the 7th 54-hole leader/co-leader to hold on to win this year

BAD WEATHER OPEN IS A BIG TURN-OFF FOR RORY McILROY

By Martyn Herman
SANDWICH, Kent (Reuters) - By the end of a punishing weekend, weather-beaten Rory McIlroy's heart was not really in the Open any more with the Northern Irishman admitting it was "not his kind of golf."
The 22-year-old had begun the tournament as favourite to follow up his U.S. Open triumph with a second major in a month on the Royal St George's layout but a combination of the elements and the humpy links layout left him bamboozled.
He reached the weekend in level par but once the winds began to flatten the grass amid howl around the temporary grandstands dotting the course, his challenge faded with a soggy 74 on Saturday and then a closing 73 to leave him seven-over for the tournament.
When the wind blew his ball at the seventh as he was addressing a birdie putt, prompting a one-stroke penalty that resulted in a bogey six, he had every reason to curse the weather demons that had teased him all weekend.
"I got a bit down when my ball moved on seven today," he said. "You're looking at an eight-foot birdie putt and then all of a sudden it's for a par and then you're a bit scrambled and you miss it and end up making bogey."
Despite loyal support from the packed galleries following him around, he was already going through the motions by the time he bogeyed the 17th and 18th to complete his misery.
It was all a far cry from last month at Congressional when he was in a class of his own to win by eight strokes -- a victory most believe will be the first of many majors.
Despite growing up in windy links golf country his future British Open hopes remain under a cloud after his hopes were blown away for the second year in succession.
"I'm not a fan of golf tournaments that the outcome is predicted so much by the weather," was McIlroy's honest appraisal of his disappointing showing.
"It's not my sort of golf. Yeah, I'm disappointed with the way I finished obviously, but I'll just have to wait until next year to try and make a good run at this tournament.
"Now I'm looking forward to getting back playing in Akron, playing the PGA and getting back into some nice conditions."
That was the cue for a cloudburst to erupt over the course, making it difficult for him to make himself heard over the rain drumming on to the roof of the interview tent.
The irony, was not lost on McIlroy, who at least maintained his sense of humour.
"It's either that or just wait for a year when the weather is nice," McIlroy said when asked if he would have to change his playing style to win the British Open.
"I mean, my game is suited for basically every golf course and most conditions, but these conditions I just don't enjoy playing in really. That's the bottom line. I'd rather play when it's 80 degrees and sunny and not much wind.
"There's no point in changing your game for one week a year."
World number four McIlroy has already been made favourite for the year's fourth major, the PGA in Atlanta, and said he would be working hard to iron out any kinks in his swing after the battering he took in Sandwich.
"Hopefully if the weather is decent at home, I'm going to spend a few days getting my swing back to where it needs to be," said McIlroy.
"The wind sort of messes it up a little bit, so I'll work for two or three days just working on my swing and getting it back into a nice groove, and then I'll take it easy and head to the Irish Open next week or the week after."

HUGH HUNTER'S CLACKMANNAN COUNTY NEWS

CLACKMANNAN GOLFERS IN SCOTTISH AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP.


Four out of the six local golf clubs are represented in the Scottish amateur championship next week at the 7,000yd Western Gailes course on the Ayrshire coast.
First in play is Scott Moffat (Braehead) at 7.17 am on the Monday morning. He faces Michael Main (Thornton). The winner of this match could meet the 2010 Scottish amateur champion and No 1 seed Michael Stewart (Troon). Lawrence Allan (Alva) plays James Hendrik (Pollok) at 11.41, and the other two play on Tuesday - Jamie Aitken (Alloa) v Daniel Thompsett (Aboyne) at 8.13 and Scott Borrowman (Dollar) v Thomas Sharkey (Helensburgh) at 11.09. Scott is enjoying a return to form. He has made the last two cuts in SGU Order of Merit events. At the weekend he finished just outside the 20 twenty at Lanark in the Newlands Trophy with a score of 288 (75, 71, 69, 74).
The winning score was 275. His World Amateur ranking is on the up again (at 2163 ) and he is back above Alva’s Lawrence Allan (at 2213). Tulliallan’s Callum Macaulay of course won the Scottish championship at Carnoustie, back in 2008.


BACK ON THE CHALLENGE TOUR
After a weeks break coinciding with the Open Championship, Callum Macaulay is back in action this week at the English Challenge at Stoke by Nayland golf course near Colchester. At present Callum’s Challenge tour ranking is at 64 with just over half the events being played.
His target is to get to the top ten of the rankings for next season, to improve his chance of playing in the European Tour events, and avoid the difficult tour school qualifying. The entry form for the 2011 European Tour School is now available. Entry costs "only" 1,500 Euros!

LONGEST DAY FOR THE BONNY BIRDIES FROM DUNBLANE


Well done to four ladies from Dunblane - Liz Stewart, Maggi Davidson, Eileen McLeod and Claire Milne who set themselves a golf challenge last week to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support in memory of the late Ronnie Frame, former captain of Alloa Golf Club.
The intrepid four started at 5.30am, playing two rounds at Dunblane, one round at Muthill and one round at Schawpark, finishing just after 7pm.
Liz was especially pleased that the weather was kind for their marathon golf “The four of us had a great welcome at the golf clubs. The support at Schawpark was very much appreciated.”


CLACKMANNAN COUNTY STROKE PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP


Clackmannan county secretary Tommy Johnston is pleased that there is a good entry of over 50 for the 36 hole county championship this Saturday at Braehead.
Late entries are being accepted up to and including the day of the competition. From the results, a golf club will represent Clackmannanshire in the Scottish club championship at Falkirk Tryst at the end of September.
Each club has to nominate three players with the best two scores to count. Both Tulliallan and Alloa golf clubs have done well in the past, winning the Scottish final and going on to represent Scotland in the European final.


AND FINALLY
Alert viewers of the Scottish Open at Castle Stuart may have picked up favourable comments from a TV commentator that “Clackmannanshire has a very good course at Alloa, Schawpark,” reinforcing comments made by visiting golfers and golf magazine reviews.