NORTH OF SCOTLAND OPEN AMATEUR STROKE-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP

DAVID BLAIR TROPHY

NAIRN DUNBAR GOLF CLUB

HALFWAY SCOREDBOARD AND SUNDAY TEE TIMES

WEATHER: QUITE WINDY. Par 144 (2x72) CSS 74 74

7.30 and 12.00 Stephen Neilson (Dunbar) 76 79 155
                      Graham Murray (Cullen) 77 78 155

7.39 and 12.09 Alister Hain (Ladybank) 78 77 155
                     Jamie Reid (Cruden Bay) 78 77 155

7.48 and 12.18 Alan Anderson (Bruntsfield Links) 81 74 155
                      Andrew Hepburn (Fraserburgh) 73 81 154

7.57 and 12.27 Adam Dunton (McDonald Ellon) 70 83 153
                      Ross Jack (Alness) 71 82 153

8.06 and 12.36 Graeme Robertson (Glenbervie) 78 75 153
                       Michael Buchan (Cruden Bay) 79 74 153

8.15 and 12.45: Bruce Thomson (Inverness) 73 79 152
                        Alexander Culverwell (Dunbar) 72 79 151

8.24 and 12.54: Freddie Brown (Nairn Dunbar) 73 78 151
                       Alisdair MacLennan (Kings Acre) 74 77 151

8.33 and 13.03: Paul Sheilds (Kirkhill) 74 77 151
                        Ryan Bain (Strathlene) 74 77 151

8.42 and 13.12: Mark Ross (Elgin) 75 76 151
                       Scott Ritchie (New Zealand) 77 74 151

8.51 and 13.21: Gordon Munro (Fraserburgh) 78 73 151
                       Tom Dingwall (Nairn Dunbar) 78 73 151

9.00 and 13.30: Michael Gray (Lanark) 79 72 151
                        Kevin Thomson (Moray) 73 70 150

9.09 and 13.39 Ewan Forbes (Inverness) 73 76 149
                        Bryan Fotheringham (Inverness) 74 75 149

9.18 and 13.48 Rodger Clarke (Moray) 74 75 149
                       Gordon Stevenson (Whitecraigs) 74 75 149

9.27 and 13.57 Bobby Rushford (Grangemouth) 76 73 149
                      Fraser McKenna (Balmore) 76 72 148

9.36 and 14.06 Justin Duff (Fraserburgh) 72 75 147
                       John Duff (Newmachar) 73 74 147

9.45 and 14.14 Scott Borrowman (Dollar) 74 73 147
                       Daniel Kay (Dunbar) 75 72 147

9.54 and 14.24 Jack MacDonald (Kilmarnock Barassie) 70 76 146
                       Jordan Milne (Elgin) 75 71 146

10.03 and 14.33 Kris Nicol (Fraserburgh) 68 76 144
                         Greg Watson (Meldrum House) 71 73 144

10.12 and 14.42 Lawrence Allan (Alva) 74 67 141
                         Peter Latimer (St Andrews New) 71 69 140

10.21 and 14.51 Philip McLean (Peterhead) 68 71 139
                       James White (Lundin) 69 70 139

PLAYERS WHO MISSED THE CUT (155 and better qualified)

156 Neil McWilliam (Elgin) 81 75, Chris Gaittens (Fortrose and Rosemarkie) 83 75, Conor O'Neil (Pollok) 76 80.
157 Allan Cameron (Inverness) 76 81, Ross Proctor (Forres) 81 76, Alister Ferguson (Dunfermline) 76 81, John Mitchell (Fraserburgh) 81 76.
158 Michael Daily (Erskine) 79 79.
160 Lyle McAlpine (Royal Dornoch) 75 85.
161 Kevin Matheson (Royal Dornoch) 79 83
162 Kevin Duncan (McDonald Ellon) 73 89, Lewis Reid (Fortrose and Rosemarkie) 79 83, Andrew Campbell (Murcar Links) 75 87.
164 Jamie Treasurer (Inverness) 82 82.
166 Mark Brand (Cullen) 90 76.
169 Alisdair Ross (Fort William) 82 87.
171 Daniel Holden (Royal Dornoch) 91 80.
179 Graeme Anderson (Keith) 88 91.

NRs Cameron Nelson (Nairn) 80 NR, Euan Polson (Brora) 74 NR, Douglas Thorburn (Thurso) 81 NR, Chris Stuart (Moray) NR, Richard Barr (Newmachar) NR.
Withdrew: Chris Lawton (Falkirk Tryst) 79 wd, Ross McKen (Newburgh on Ythan) 82 wd.
No show: James Hendrick (Pollok).

STEPHEN MURAY TO BE TEACHING PROFESSIONAL AT CRAIBSTONE

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY CRAIBSTONE GOLF

PGA professional Stephen Murray is to join Craibstone Golf Club at Bucksburn, near Aberdeen as teaching professional.

Murray hails from Aberdeen. Having played golf since the age of three, Stephen turned professional at seventeen and had the advantage of beginning his pro golf career under the wing of Bruce Davidson at the Kings Links Golf Shop.
During his early career Stephen, pictured right, had the chance to develop his golfing attributes by shadowing some of Scotland's top teaching and playing staff, professionals like Paul Girvan (ex Walker Cup player), Bruce Davidson (Professional Emeritus), David Thompson (ex-European Tour member), Scott Henderson (European Tour Rookie 1997) and Paul Lawrie (1999 Open champion) picking up invaluable teaching and playing tips.
After spending nearly five years learning his trade, Stephen moved on to Murcar Links Golf Club where he was appointed as Senior Assistant Professional. After two years, the opportunity arose to become the Head Teaching Professional at Kippie Lodge. After an extremely busy year, teaching a broad spectrum of golfing abilities, from fellow PGA Professionals to complete beginners, Stephen was once again on the move. He joined Kemnay Golf Club where he was tasked with looking after the corporate and club members' needs.
In 2005 Stephen joined the Aspire Golf Centre at Ardoe on the South Deeside Road near Aberdeen. He established himself and the reputation of Aspire as being one of the finest teaching facilities in Scotland. S
tephen was appointed Head PGA Professional at Aspire in 2008 when he also became TPI certified.
Murray is acknowledged as one of Scotland’s leading emerging golf coaches. He is recognised for his ability to pinpoint and treat the root cause of what causes inefficient and ineffective golf. Teaching a broad spectrum of players, from tour pros and Scottish amateur internationals to low handicap amateurs, down to beginners.
His straightforward factual approach is based on the philosophy of simplifying the fundamentals of the golf swing and its construction and clearly focusing on the key reason behind why a pupil's golf swing performs as it does. His qualification as a TPI golf fitness instructor as well as the time spent with the European Tour’s leading sports bio mechanist, Dr Paul Hurrion, has further expanded his knowledge.
From experience at all levels, Stephen has recognised that players need consistency and that this is best achieved by simplifying aspects of the game that can often become over complicated.
Stephen also believes strongly in the importance of the short game and putting. Simplifying key areas of the game and using specific improvement techniques to overcome specific weaknesses are among many of the facets of the game that are reviewed.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Murray's appointment is another significant step in the "recovery" of Craibstone Golf Club under the new ownership of Marshall Leisure following the closure of the golf club and course earlier this year when the previous owners went bankrupt.
With Billy Sim attracted back to the North-east from Spain where he was a director of golf at Hacienda del Alamo to be its Golf Operations Manager, the Craibstone Golf Club membership has been rebuilt to a healthy figure between 400 and 500 and the course is being used regularly for corporate ouotings. The catering faciliies at the club have been stepped up and are open to non-members and non-golfers.

COUPLES LEADS IN FIRST EVENT SINCE BACK OP IN GERMANY

FROM THE GOLF.COM WEBSITE
HARRISON, New York (AP) — Fred Couples shot a 5-under 66 on Friday to take a one-stroke lead after the second round of the United States Senior Players Championship, the Champions Tour's final major of the season.
Couples is at 8 under for the tournament and trying for his fifth Champions Tour victory. Playing in his first event since undergoing non-traditional back treatment six weeks ago in Germany, Couples has put together two solid rounds at Westchester Country Club's tree-lined West Course.
"I drove the ball very well," Couples said. "I didn't make many mistakes. ... I don't want to say I left any out there. I did miss a couple but I made a few too, so it was a good day."
Couples turned in his best two opening rounds since the Northern Trust Open in California in February. After a seventh-place finish there, Couples struggled in his next three tournaments, which led him to have the procedure.
Peter Senior remains in second at 7 under after a second-round 69. Corey Pavin is third at 6 under after a second-round 69. John Cook is fourth at 5 under after a second-round 68, one stroke ahead of defending champion Mark O'Meara. O'Meara shot a 70 and is in a three-way tie at 4 under with first-round leader Jeff Sluman (73) and Morris Hatalsky (67).
Gary Hallberg, who tied with Senior in the first round, fell seven strokes behind with a 75.
Couples seemed headed toward a strong round Thursday but faltered on the back nine. He was in danger of a repeat after bogeying No. 12 but rescued the round with birdies on the 13th and 15th holes, sinking putts of 15 and eight feet.
"To be in contention is good for me, to go out Saturday and kind of get the feeling of having to hit a good shot here, make a putt there or get it up and down," Couples said. "So I'm in good spirits about the way I'm feeling and playing."
Senior trailed Couples by two strokes for most of the back nine, but after Couples' final birdie, he was at least three strokes back.
"It's always good to be in a position like this. I've had some opportunities this year and hopefully one weekend I'm going to come through," Senior said. "We've got a lot of good players up at the top so it's going to be a good weekend."
Pavin finished below par for the 18th time in 19 rounds, hitting the fairway all 14 times. That set him up for birdie on No. 14 after bogeying the previous two holes, but Pavin could not get closer to the lead.
"I played well when I've been around the lead," said Pavin, who has yet to win a Champions Tour event. "It's just that someone has always played a little bit better."
Sluman was unable to duplicate his impressive first round of 65, when he was the only player to birdie holes No. 12-14. Sluman made par on those holes, finished without a birdie and bogeyed the ninth and 16th holes.

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES

CLICK HERE

STEVEN O'HARA AND OLIVER FISHER SHARE CZECH OPEN LEAD

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
England’s Oliver Fisher and Scotland’s Steven O’Hara moved two clear of the field after three rounds of the Czech Open at Prosper Golf Resort.
O’Hara charged from outside the top ten at the start of the day with a sparkling 65 to reach ten under, where he was joined late in the day by Fisher, who signed for a 68.
The pair were two clear of halfway leader Mikael Lundberg, last year’s runner-up Gary Boyd and India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar, who signed for a best-of-the-day 64.
Fisher made just one cut in his first 21 events this season, but showed signs of improvement by finishing 35th in Sweden and 45th in Ireland last month.
The 22 year old birdied the ninth from ten feet to turn in 34, holed his approach to the 11th for eagle and came back from a bogey at the 12th by birdieing the 16th from eight feet.
“I’m really enjoying my golf at the moment, and I’ve got a great caddie on the bag,” said Fisher.
“I had a lot of fun out there – it’s where you want to be, not struggling to make the cut. It’s been a while since I’ve led a tournament, but I’m holding it together pretty well at the moment.
“I’m looking forward to it tomorrow. I’ve always held my own whenever I’ve been in contention in the past. Obviously I haven’t won before, but I’ve given myself a good chance tomorrow, and that’s all I can ask for. My game’s good enough, and I just want to have fun.
“There are times this season when I haven’t enjoyed being out there, so I’m going to make the most of it now. I’ve just got to stay in the present. What will be, will be.”
O’Hara’s good form was also somewhat out of the blue – the 31 year old Motherwell man having missed five consecutive cuts coming into the event.
His round was bogey-free with seven birdies, including a fine approach to six feet at the seventh.
“I started [the season] really well, then went through a funny patch where I wasn’t striking the ball well,” he said. “But I’ve been striking it very well for the past two or three months, just haven’t been making any putts.
“I’ve been making my fair share this week, and my scores have reflected that. My driving and greens in regulation stats have been pretty good, so if I could just become even an average putter, I probably wouldn’t be struggling like I have done. I’ve been guilty of changing my putter every other week in the past, but I’ve found one I like and I’m in a good groove on the greens now, so I think I’m just going to stick with it.”
Bhullar – who like Fisher carded an eagle two, his coming with an 80 yard wedge shot at the 13th – revealed the good weather had made him feel at home.
“I’ve played The Open at Turnberry in 2009 and the Omega European Masters for the past two years, and the weather hasn’t been great. But this week it’s been perfect, and it feels like heaven on earth. I’m loving it,” he said.
England’s Boyd was delighted to keep himself in the hunt with an inward 32.
“I was probably on my way out of the tournament after shooting two over on the front nine, especially with the guys behind me making birdies,” he said. “But I holed a nice putt on the tenth, and that kind of kick-started my recovery.
“I had a good finish again today with birdies at three of the last five holes, and I also lipped out on 17. The three-putt on 16 didn’t help, but it was nice to roll one in on the last.”

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES ON THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE

CLICK HERE

FOWLER AND LANE TIED FOR LEAD IN SCOTTISH SENIOR OPEN

REPORT BY
Michael Gibbons, European Tour Deputy Chief Press Officer
 mgibbons@europeantour.com
Peter Fowler and Barry Lane will go into the final round of the Cleveland Golf / Srixon Scottish Senior Open tied at the top of a fascinating leaderboard that includes an American tourist, the most successful European Senior golfer of all time, a links golf specialist and a former Masters Champion.
For American tourist read Gary Koch, the former US PGA Tour champion who is now better known as the face of NBC Television’s golf coverage in the USA; while Carl Mason, Des Smyth and Ian Woosnam represent the Senior Tour’s most successful player, the links legend and the Green Jacket winner.
It is a truly intriguing leaderboard, with Lane and Fowler leading the way on eight under after respective second round scores of 69 and 71 round the Torrance course at Fairmont St Andrews.
Koch carded a best-of-the-day 68 to move into second spot on seven under, while Mason (69) shares fourth place with Smyth (69) on five under with Woosnam (70) a shot further back.
The quality on the packed leaderboard is not lost on Fowler as the Australian looks to secure a third Senior Tour win of the year that would go a long way to helping him secure the Order of Merit title in his second season on the circuit.
“It was a tough finish with the bogey on 18 today but I am in a good position overall,” said the amiable Australian.
“It would be great to win my third tournament of the year here at the Home of Golf but I will take a win anywhere to be honest. Obviously I am in a good position here and on the Order of Merit but you just have to look around me on the leaderboard here and the Order of Merit to see the quality of players you are up against.
“Guys like Barry Lane, Carl Mason and Woosie are all proven winners and still such good players that it will be tough to come out on top here and at the end of the season.”
With Scotland’s chances of producing a home winner fading fast – Andrew Oldcorn and Ross Drummond lead the way on two under par - Lane is hoping to offer the excellent crowds at Fairmont St Andrews a popular alternative.
The defending champion loves playing in Scotland, having won his first European Tour title at the 1988 Scottish Open before making his Senior Tour breakthrough in the Home of Golf last year.
“I just love playing in Scotland, especially links golf,” said Lane. “It’s just a lot more fun and when you get a breeze going as we had today and you have to use your imagination and create a lot more shots.
“The crowds have always been kind to me up here and I just have a real nice affinity with the people up here. I’m not sure if, as an Englishman, I am allowed to wear tartan but I am going to have a little treat for them tomorrow with the tartan trousers on – I’ll do anything for a bit of support!”
While Oldcorn and Drummond will carry the faintest hopes of a home winner in the final round over the Torrance Course at Fairmont St Andrews, two of their more illustrious compatriots saw their title hopes disappear.
A pair of second round four over par 76s dwarfed the chances of Sam Torrance – designer of this week’s championship lay-out – and Sandy Lyle providing the St Andrews with the winner they craved.
But, with Barry in his tartan ‘breeks’, the class act that is Peter Fowler and the hugely entertaining Koch, Mason, Smyth and Woosnam fighting it out for the title, the home crowds in golf’s spiritual home could do a lot worse than spend their day in the company of legends doing battle for a prestigious Senior Tour title.

CLEVELAND GOLF/SRIXON SCOTTISH SENIOR MEN'S OPEN

Fairmont St Andrews' Torrance Course
SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 144 (2x72) Yardage: 6811
136 B Lane (Eng) 67 69, P Fowler (Aus) 65 71
137 G Koch (USA) 69 68
139 C Mason (Eng) 70 69, D Smyth (Irl) 70 69
140 I Woosnam (Wal) 70 70
141 G Manson (Aut) 69 72, J Harrison (Eng) 69 72, J Quiros (Esp) 71 70, B Cameron (Eng) 71 70
142 M James (Eng) 71 71, B Lincoln (RSA) 70 72, R Drummond (Sco) 72 70, A Oldcorn (Sco) 70 72, P Curry (Eng) 71 71
143 L Carbonetti (Arg) 69 74, G Wolstenholme (Eng) 69 74
144 C Williams (RSA) 74 70, J Bruner (USA) 67 77, N Job (Eng) 72 72, G Ryall (Eng) 73 71, M Farry (Fra) 74 70
145 R Chapman (Eng) 70 75, D Johnson (USA) 73 72, D Russell (Eng) 73 72, T Thelen (USA) 72 73, P Smith (Sco) 71 74, S Van Vuuren (RSA) 71 74, B Longmuir (Sco) 70 75
146 C Rocca (Ita) 71 75, A Murray (Eng) 74 72, G Brand Jnr (Sco) 71 75, H Carbonetti (Arg) 71 75, T Johnstone (Zim) 71 75, M Belsham (Eng) 73 73
147 J Gould (Eng) 74 73, J Stuart (USA) 74 73, J Chillas (Sco) 71 76, A Sherborne (Eng) 72 75, G Ralph (Eng) 73 74
148 S Torrance (Sco) 72 76, A Sowa (Arg) 73 75
149 E Polland (Nir) 74 75, F Mann (Sco) 74 75, A Forsbrand (Swe) 71 78, E Darcy (Irl) 75 74, K Spurgeon (Eng) 74 75, A Fernandez (Chi) 72 77,
150 M Clayton (Aus) 73 77, N Ratcliffe (Aus) 75 75, G Banister (Aus) 71 79, B Smit (RSA) 78 72, S Lyle (Sco) 74 76, D O'Sullivan (Irl) 73 77
151 D Durnian (Eng) 76 75, M Mouland (Wal) 73 78, D Hospital (Esp) 72 79, P Mitchell (Eng) 77 74, J Heggarty (Nir) 73 78, J Rhodes (Eng) 75 76, G Cali (Ita) 75 76
152 G Brand (Eng) 73 79
153 V Garcia (Esp) 76 77
154 C Grenier (Aut) 77 77, M Moreno (Esp) 78 76, M Briggs (Eng) 76 78
156 I Mosey (Eng) 76 80
157 D Cambridge (Jam) 74 83,
158 M Piñero (Esp) 77 81, P Dahlberg (Swe) 77 81
161 M Bembridge (Eng) 81 80, A Garrido (Esp) 78 83, G Hopkins (USA) 81 80
181 R Hopkins (USA) 92 89

TOMMY GAINEY LEADS BY THREE AT WYNDHAM CHAMPIONSHIP

FROM THE GOLF.COM WEBSITE
GREENSBORO, North Carolina (AP) — For all that Tommy Gainey says has gone wrong in the Wyndham Championship, he must be doing something right.
His tee shots have been rocky, his irons have given him trouble, he's fighting a nagging wrist injury - and the South Carolina player called Tommy Two Gloves has one of the best two-round scores in the history of the tournament.
Gainey shot a 5-under 65 on Friday to reach 12-under 128 and take a three-stroke lead in the final event before the start of the PGA Tour's postseason.
He shared the first-round lead with Jeff Quinney, then had six birdies in polishing off the second-best 36-hole score in tournament history.
Ernie Els (66), Webb Simpson (65), Stuart Appleby (67) and Daniel Summerhays (65) were 9 under, and Jim Furyk (67), Alexandre Rocha (66), Paul Casey (67) and Retief Goosen (65) were another stroke back.
After making five birdies and an eagle a day earlier to match his career best with a 63, Gainey said he was "going to light it up" against the fresh greens he would face Friday morning.
It didn't happen quite like that, but he did turn in another solid round that kept him in contention for his first US PGA Tour victory.
Starting on the back nine, Gainey had his first bogey of the tournament on the par-4 11th. Then, he warmed up. He birdied four of his final nine holes and closed his round with consecutive birdies, rolling in a 13-foot putt on No. 9 to finish.
A sprained left wrist he sustained hitting out of the rough last month in the Canadian Open has made it tougher to keep his tee shots in the fairways and hampered his work with the irons.
"It's just hard to make birdies when you keep putting yourself ... in the rough," Gainey said. "It's not high, but it's thick. Just settles straight down, and you've just got to go after it, and the harder you swing at it to get it out, just the more shock that goes into the wrist."
Still, only Carl Pettersson, at 125 in 2008, has been better than Gainey through 36 holes at Donald Ross-designed Sedgefield Country Club.
"I haven't really accomplished anything in two days," Gainey said. "The only thing I've accomplished is, I've set myself up in good shape going into the weekend. But, still, there's a lot that can happen in one day ... but two days, that's like an eternity in a golf tournament. I'm trying to do the same thing I did these first two days tomorrow."
Will MacKenzie began the day four strokes off the pace, but moved up the leaderboard with eagles on both of the course's par-5 holes, Nos. 5 and 15, during his 65. The one-time prodigy from Greenville, North Carolina, is trying to reclaim his US PGA Tour card after losing it last year, and the Wyndham represents one of his last chances to do that.
"For me to get my tour card back some possible way, through (the) Nationwide Tour or just have a freak week, obviously I'm going to have to have a humongous week," MacKenzie said. "I can't be that top 25 guy and string it together. I've only got here and maybe another event, if I'm lucky, so I'm going to have to win or come in second."
Quinney, who has conditional status on the tour, is facing a similarly desperate situation, playing for both his card and a spot in the FedEx Cup playoffs. He arrived at No. 215 in the standings and needed a high finish to crack the top 125 and make the playoffs, but he slipped off the pace after his triple bogey on the par-4 11th.
Numerous others are playing for their more immediate futures.
The field is littered with players trying to play their way off the bubble and into golf's postseason, which begins next week at The Barclays in New Jersey.
Among those who made it to the weekend: Padraig Harrington, No. 130 on the points list, birdied two of the final four holes for a 68 to make the cut of 3 under. No. 121 Heath Slocum and No. 125 Camilo Villegas shot 64s, with Slocum's round highlighted by streaks of three and four birdies.
"Look at the order of names, everybody around me seems to be in the same position with me," Harrington said. "Obviously, I'm going to (need to) have a good weekend in order to get through."
Els, at No. 126, charged up the leaderboard with three birdies in a late five-hole span.
"I've got quite a large goal for me this week, and you know, I'm feeling like, fine, my game is turning around a little bit," Els said.
And while Derek Lamely didn't make the cut and won't make the playoffs, the 31-year-old is leaving Sedgefield with quite the parting gift: a lifetime of vacations at Wyndham properties for his hole-in-one on the 165-yard 16th.

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES

CLICK HERE

NORTH OF SCOTLAND SENIORS OPEN SCOREBOARD AT ELGIN

Gross Gross Gross
Name CLUB AGE H/CAP Rd 1 Rd 2 Total
Par 69 CSS 71 71
GORDON MACDONALD CALLANDER 63 1 68 70 138
ROB SMITH NAIRN 50 0 68 72 140
GRAHAM BELL DOWNFIELD 52 -2 70 72 142
BOB STEWART TULLIALLAN 60 1 70 72 142
JOHN FRASER ROYAL BURGESS 59 0 72 71 143
GEORGE BLAIR HADDINGTON 55 1 73 72 145
BRIAN CHRISTIE COMRIE 57 5 73 72 145
ALISDAIR MacGREGOR HAZLEHEAD 55 3 75 71 146
JOHN W MCDONALD COWGLEN 56 2 75 71 146
DAVID J MILLER BARASSIE 56 1 74 72 146
JIM WATT EDZELL 60 2 73 73 146
DAVID IMRIE THORNTON 54 1 72 74 146
PHIL DEMPSEY TULLIALLAN 51 2 76 71 147
JOHN W JOHNSTON ROYAL ABERDEEN 62 2 76 72 148
LINDSAY GORDON TURNHOUSE 60 1 75 73 148
LINDSAY BLAIR GRANGEMOUTH 54 2 81 68 149
ALAN O'NEILL WEST LOTHIAN 53 1 75 74 149
PATRICK SMITH MORAY 63 4 75 74 149
GRAHAM COX POLLOK 55 -1 75 74 149
JAMES T JOHNSTON NORTHUMBERLAND 58 3 73 76 149
COLIN CHRISTY KILMACOLM 61 1 80 70 150
GLYN REES FLEETWOOD 61 1 75 75 150
DAVID GARDNER BROOMIEKNOWE 56 0 75 75 150
ALISTAIR TAYLOR TURNHOUSE 56 4 77 74 151
JOHN SIM DUFF HOUSE ROYAL 61 5 75 76 151
PATRICK TOMISSON NAIRN 64 3 74 77 151
DAVID TAYLOR DUNFERMLINE 55 1 72 79 151
BILL METHVEN ROYAL ABERDEEN 61 5 72 79 151
WILLIAM BARCLAY DOWNFIELD 56 5 76 76 152
IAN TAYLOR ROYAL BURGESS 60 2 73 79 152
TOM CARSON LOCKERBIE 65 5 79 74 153
FRASER SHARP BOAT OF GARTEN 62 5 78 75 153
IAN FRASER DUMFRIES & COUNTY 52 2 77 76 153
HENRY THOMPSON IRVINE 52 1 80 74 154
MICHAEL WILSON STRATHPEFFER SPA 56 1 78 76 154
ANDREW BRODIE GLASGOW 65 5 77 77 154
GORDON GRAY NEWMACHER 69 6 77 77 154
JOHN CUNNINGHAM FRASERBURGH 53 3 77 77 154
ALAN ROSS NORTHUMBERLAND 59 3 76 78 154
GORDON DOIG SOUTHERNESS 59 4 80 75 155
SANDY PIRIE HAZLEHEAD 69 2 78 77 155
ALAN HOGG DUNDAS PARKS 51 0 78 77 155
DOM McLAUGHLIN CROW WOOD 61 5 75 80 155
DAVID A MILLAR NEW CLUB 66 4 81 75 156
JAMES KINLOCH CARDROSS 65 3 80 76 156
BRIAN GRIEVE KING JAMES VI 66 2 78 78 156
KEITH BRUCE EDZELL 62 3 77 79 156
GARY ABEL ELGIN 56 6 74 82 156
ALEX RITCHIE BOTHWELL CASTLE 59 4 80 77 157
COLIN MAVOR ELGIN 53 7 79 78 157
BERT NICHOLSON ROYAL DORNOCH 63 3 79 78 157
GEORGE RODAKS MOFFAT 62 1 81 77 158
IAN GOURLAY STRATHAVEN 55 5 80 78 158
RICHARD T GRAY COWGLEN 56 3 80 78 158
COLIN MOIR WORKSOP 69 5 79 79 158
RICHARD GOODALE ABERDOUR 64 8 78 80 158
JAMES GRANT ROYAL MONTROSE 64 5 77 81 158
CHARLES BROWN AUCHTERARDER 65 6 75 83 158
KEITH HOWIE WEST KILBRIDE 65 5 82 78 160
PETER KINLOCH CARDROSS 65 6 81 79 160
JIM BUNTING BALLOCHMYLE 67 6 81 79 160
DAVID SHIELDS DUNBLANE NEW 50 0 78 82 160
ANDREW CAMPBELL KINROSS 65 3 75 85 160
JAMES INGRAM BOAT OF GARTEN 63 6 83 78 161
ERIC LINDSAY BLAIRGOWRIE 53 2 83 78 161
IAN KERR KILMACOLM 54 6 82 79 161
ALISTAIR FIDDES MURCAR LINKS 59 3 80 81 161
DAVID HALKERSTON NEW CLUB 58 7 84 78 162
LEE BUSHBY BLAIRGOWRIE 61 7 83 79 162
KEN THOMSON BRAMALL PARK 65 4 81 81 162
JOHN DUFF MORTONHALL 55 4 80 82 162
IAN PEDDIE TULLIALLAN 71 7 83 80 163
JOHN BROADFOOT TURNBERRY 63 4 83 80 163
JIM PATON KIRKINTILLOCH 63 4 80 83 163
TOM GRAY LANARK 70 7 85 79 164
DAVID NELSON ABOYNE 68 6 83 81 164
RAY BARTON TULLIALLAN 68 9 86 79 165
JOHN RUSSELL MONARCH DUNES 58 3 83 82 165
ALAN NELSON BANCHORY 61 6 82 83 165
TREVOR BENNETT GREAT BARR 66 6 82 83 165
RONNIE GRANT CALEDONIAN 75 6 82 85 167
COLIN GRANT LARGS 60 6 82 85 167
DOUG ADAMS DUNBAR 58 6 80 88 168
RICHARD SCOTT DOWNFIELD 52 6 85 84 169
DOUG GREENHALGH NEW CLUB 59 9 82 87 169
SANDY FAIRWEATHER CALEDONIA 65 4 80 89 169
DENIS MCQUADE GLENBERVIE 60 5 83 87 170
BERNARD LITTLE GLASGOW 58 8 85 88 173
LES FOWLER ROYAL ABERDEEN 63 6 84 89 173
PETER HIGGINS NEW CLUB 55 8 87 89 176
MICHAEL MATHER BALLATER 70 10 87 89 176
PETER TAIT NEWBATTLE 75 8 85 92 177
NEISH CHISHOLM KEMNAY 60 12 90 88 178
JOHN HARRISON NEWMACHER 74 9 92 90 182

YOU CAN WATCH HIGHLIGHTS FROM SCOTTISH AMATEUR

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE SCOTTISH GOLF UNIONSGU TV is now showing highlights of last month’s Scottish Amateur Championship, featuring some of the best action from our flagship event at the magnificent Western Gailes links on the scenic Ayrshire coast.
North East golfer David Law from Hazlehead made history yet again by becoming the first player since Charlie Green in the early 80s to win multiple titles, as he captured his second championship win in the space of three years, beating Dunbar’s Daniel Kay in the final.
Footage is provided by We Film Golf with commentary from Craig Martin.

Click here to watch highlights


Ross Duncan
Marketing, Media and Sponsorship Manager
SCOTTISH GOLF UNION

FOWLER'S FINE FORM CONTINUES IN SCOTTISH SENIOR OPEN

 

Peter Fowler’s fine run of recent form continued in the opening round of the Cleveland Golf/Srixon Scottish Senior Open as the Australian eagled the last hole for a flawless 65 to lead by two strokes at Fairmont St Andrews.

Fresh from a share of seventh place in last month’s Senior Open Championship, which followed his second victory of 2011 in the Bad Ragaz PGA Seniors Championship, Fowler currently sits second on the European Senior Tour Order of Merit.

With leader Tom Watson unlikely to play in the minimum five events required to qualify for the Order of Merit, Fowler is very much the frontrunner in the race to win the John Jacobs Trophy and the 52 year old is on course for another strong performance in Scotland.

Fowler produced a stunning finish over Fairmont St Andrew’s Torrance Course, holing a huge 55ft birdie putt on the 17th before closing with a 15ft eagle putt to finish the first round seven under par, two strokes clear of American Jerry Bruner and defending champion Barry Lane.

Playing alongside former Masters Champion and World Number One Ian Woosnam and Scot Gordon Brand Jnr, Fowler said he was hoping to improve on his tied fifth place finish in the event last year.

“The game’s in pretty good shape right now and we had a perfect day here for golf,” said the 1993 BMW International Open winner. “The greens are superb and when they are like that I feel I can do well with my putting.

“The greens are a little bit softer than last year due to the rain we’ve had and the course is not as fiery. All together it’s great for playing golf and it’s a course I really enjoy. It was great playing alongside Woosie and Gordon too – they both have great swings.”

While Fowler, the only multiple winner on the Senior Tour so far in 2011, can strengthen his Order of Merit aspirations this week, he insists he is only focused on continuing to play well as he pursues his third victory of the year following the ISPS Handa Senior Masters presented by The Stapleford Forum and his win in Bad Ragaz, Switzerland.

“The Order of Merit thing is there in the background, of course, but I’m just trying to keep on working on my game,” he said. “I’ve been round long enough over the years to know you just have to go out there and play golf and let the other things take care of themself.”

Similarly second place Bruner, who fired a flawless 67, is also trying to keep in the moment after admitting that his decision to retire at the end of the 2011 has detracted from his focus so far this season.

The usually consistent American is without a top 20 finish this campaign and is 66th on the Order of Merit but as he looking for a dazzling finale to his 13 year stint on the Senior Tour.

“I’ve been letting everyone know that I’m retiring at the end of the season and I think I became a little too involved with that,” he said. “I’ve been going through the motions and I spoke to a friend who told me I need to keep playing until the end of the year and worry about next year then.

“I’ve had a bit of an attitude change since that phone call and it has worked. Now I know what I have to do again this year and I feel like my old self.  I wasn’t getting in a bad mood if I shot a bad round or hit a bad shot but I am now and it’s like I used to be.  

“I’ve had a great time on the Senior Tour over the past 13 years, seeing the world and meeting some great people but I’ve had enough now. It would be nice to go out with a bang and that’s what I’m trying to do here.”

Bruner also credited his change in fortune to some hard work on his putting, which resulted in a spectacular showing on the greens in Scotland as his round ignited with three birdies in a row from the eighth hole and further shots picked up on the 14th and 15th holes.

“I sank five putts of more than 12ft today so I was very happy with my putter,” said Bruner. “I did a lot of work back in Los Angeles during the break and it’s feeling really good.”

Former Ryder Cup player Lane is tied in second with Bruner after a 67 that included six birdies and just the one bogey on the seventh hole.

Lane’s four stroke victory last year – his maiden Senior Tour title – came 22 years after he also captured his first European Tour title in Scotland, winning the 1988 Scottish Open.

Like Fowler, Lane has been in a rich vein of form, finishing as leading European in The Senior Open Championship in fifth place, with top 20 finishes either side of that on The European Tour in Scotland and Ireland.

Five players are tied for fourth place on three under par, including Englishman Gary Wolstenholme who leads the race for the Senior Tour Rookie of the Year, while Woosnam is a shot further back in tied ninth on two under par after a 70.

Another former Ryder Cup Captain, Sam Torrance, who helped redesign the Fairmont St Andrews Course, is level par after the first round, while fellow Scot Sandy Lyle, who is making his debut in the event, opened with a two over par 74.

Steve Todd

Press Officer

European Tour

CLEVELAND GOLF/SRIXON SCOTTISH SENIOR MEN'S OPEN

FIRST ROUND SCOREBOARD65 P Fowler (Aus) ,
67 J Bruner (USA) , B Lane (Eng) ,
69 G Wolstenholme (Eng) , G Koch (USA) , G Manson (Aut) , L Carbonetti (Arg) , J Harrison (Eng) ,
70 R Chapman (Eng) , B Lincoln (RSA) , D Smyth (Irl) , C Mason (Eng) , A Oldcorn (Sco) , B Longmuir (Sco) , I Woosnam (Wal) ,
71 H Carbonetti (Arg) , J Chillas (Sco) , T Johnstone (Zim) , P Smith (Sco) , G Brand Jnr (Sco) , M James (Eng) , P Curry (Eng) , B Cameron (Eng) , S Van Vuuren (RSA) , C Rocca (Ita) , J Quiros (Esp) , G Banister (Aus) , A Forsbrand (Swe) ,
72 N Job (Eng) , A Sherborne (Eng) , S Torrance (Sco) , T Thelen (USA) , D Hospital (Esp) , A Fernandez (Chi) , R Drummond (Sco) ,
73 M Clayton (Aus) , A Sowa (Arg) , M Mouland (Wal) , D O'Sullivan (Irl) , M Belsham (Eng) , J Heggarty (Nir) , G Ryall (Eng) , G Brand (Eng) , G Ralph (Eng) , D Johnson (USA) , D Russell (Eng) ,
74 C Williams (RSA) , K Spurgeon (Eng) , E Polland (Nir) , A Murray (Eng) , S Lyle (Sco) , F Mann (Sco) , M Farry (Fra) , D Cambridge (Jam) , J Stuart (USA) , J Gould (Eng) ,
75 G Cali (Ita) , N Ratcliffe (Aus) , J Rhodes (Eng) , E Darcy (Irl) ,
76 V Garcia (Esp) , D Durnian (Eng) , I Mosey (Eng) , M Briggs (Eng) ,
77 M Piñero (Esp) , P Mitchell (Eng) , C Grenier (Aut) , P Dahlberg (Swe) ,
78 B Smit (RSA) , M Moreno (Esp) , A Garrido (Esp) ,
81 M Bembridge (Eng) , G Hopkins (USA) ,
92 R Hopkins (USA) ,

LUNDBERG AND LARA SHARED HALFWAY LEAD IN CZECH OPEN

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Sweden’s Mikael Lundberg moved into a share of the lead at the Czech Open in only his third European Tour appearance of the season as he joined José Manuel Lara on seven under par.
The two-time European Tour winner lost his playing card last season and has been mostly plying his trade on The Challenge Tour in 2011.
But with several big names taking a week off after two weeks in America, Lundberg took full advantage as he reached three under after 15 holes to add to his opening 68.
Lara signed for a four under par 68 to advance to seven under at Prosper Golf Resort, his round concluding with a brilliant 50 foot birdie putt at the ninth - his last.
The Spaniard, who won his second European Tour title at last year’s Austrian GolfOpen, turned in a one over 37 but ripped apart the front nine with five birdies in a brilliant inward 31.
“I played really well on my back nine,” he said. “I struggled a little bit early on because of the wind, but then made five birdies on my back nine, which added up to a good round. So I’m very happy.”
High winds led to difficult scoring and there was almost an hour and a half’s play lost to a mid-afternoon thunderstorm – preventing Lundberg and several others from finishing their rounds.
But Lara felt the break actually eased playing conditions somewhat.
“It [the wind] was coming from all directions, but mainly from left to right. It also made it difficult to read the putts, because you weren’t sure how much the wind was going to affect the ball. So it was very tricky, and I was happy when it died down later in the round.
“The course was a little bit softer than before. And then when the wind came down, the scoring conditions were almost perfect.
“I’m playing well. I just need to keep doing what I’ve been doing for the first two days, and hopefully it will be good enough. We’ll see.”
England’s Oliver Fisher, who only made one cut in his first 21 starts before finishing 35th in Sweden and 45th in Ireland last month, moved into a share of third with a five under par 67.
He was joined on six under by Ireland's Damien McGrane and last year’s runner-up Gary Boyd, with Irishman Shane Lowry, Argentina’s Tano Goya, Italy’s Lorenzo Gagli and Spain’s Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño – the latter making a welcome return to form after missing most of the season through injury - one further back.
Boyd, whose approach to ninth was within three feet to pick up a fourth shot in five holes, revealed his involvement in a play-off with Hanson and Peter Lawrie last year had left him in good stead.
“It feels like me and Peter are defending champions this week with Peter Hanson not being here,” he said. “This golf course suits us both, and I knew my game was in good shape coming into the week, so it’s been nice to back that up with two good scores. I’m enjoying myself.”
Fisher added: “I’ve had my highs and lows this year, but that’s just the nature of the game. I’ve made the cut in the last three tournaments now, so we’re definitely moving in the right direction.”  
Former Volvo China Open winner McGrane’s 71 saw him mix three bogeys and two birdies on the way out, before an improved bogey-free 34 on the way in.
“We got the best of the weather, there’s no doubt about that,” said McGrane, who like Lara, Lundberg, Boyd and Fisher was in the afternoon wave.
“A round of 71 was a reasonable performance, although I probably played a bit better than that. It was funny day out there, and a lot can go wrong on a day like today. I made a lot of birdie chances coming in, but just couldn’t hole the putts. But I hit good putts, so I’m reasonably happy with my performance.”
SECOND-ROUND SCOREBOARD