Netherlands v Sweden in European senior men's team championship

In the absence of the four home countries - who say they only afford to play in the European senior championships every second year - the final of the European senior men's team championship at Troia Golf Club, Portugal on Saturday will feature Netherlands v Sweden.
Results of today's semi-finals:
Netherlands 3, Finland 2
Sweden 3, Spain 2

TORRANCE AND LANE LEAD THE WAY ON 67 AT WOBURN

PLAY IT AGAIN, SAM! Sam Torrance in action at Woburn today. Image by courtesy of
©Getty Images

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE

The two most experienced golfers in the history of European golf, Sam Torrance and Barry Lane, lead the Travis Perkins plc Senior Masters after they both shot excellent rounds of 67 to take to the top of the leaderboard at Woburn Golf Club.

Torrance and Lane have amassed an incredible 1,381 European Tour appearances between them and they will both be looking to add more silverware to their bulging trophy cabinets this weekend after storming to a joint overnight lead on five under.

“I’m ecstatic, it’s been a while since I’ve had a good start in a tournament so it was good to get off to a good start this week and I’m delighted,” said Torrance, whose superb round came courtesy of a birdie-birdie-eagle run on the ninth, 10th and 11th holes before two more birdies on the 17th and 18th
The former Ryder Cup Captain’s round, witnessed by bumper crowds on a glorious day at the Duke’s Course at Woburn, was made even more remarkable by the fact that he was forced to withdraw from Thursday’s Pro-Am after suffering a knee injury and almost withdrew from the tournament.

“It happened in the Pro-Am going down the first fairway, I had been fine practising for an hour and half before I went out and I was walking down the fairway and it just locked,” said the 58 year old from Ayrshire.

“I actually went into the bunker in the second and I couldn’t get out, I had to get somebody to help me out so I came in and had some treatment last night.

“I was tentative at the beginning of the round and wasn’t really committing but I kept plugging away and played beautifully.”

Lane, meanwhile, continued a purple patch which saw him win the Cleveland/Srixon Scottish Senior Open just two weeks ago, propelling him to second place in the Senior Tour Order of Merit in the process.

The Englishman got his bogey-free round off to the perfect start with a birdie on the first, followed by four more at the fourth, eighth, 14th and 18th holes.

“It was the same in the Pro-Am, I had five birdies and no bogeys so I’m delighted, although I’m not anticipating having no bogeys all week!” said Lane. “It’s nice to be playing well though and to keep my form going from Scotland.”

Boonchu Ruangkit, fresh from collecting his John Jacobs Trophy, Rolex Player of the Year Award and Rookie of the Year Award for the 2010 season at Thursday evening’s annual Senior Tour Awards Dinner, was one shot back on four under after carding a 68.

Carl Mason, chasing a third Travis Perkins plc Senior Masters title, was another shot back alongside Gordon Brand Junior on three under, while former Masters Champion Ian Woosnam is among the eight-strong chasing pack on two under
par.

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ENGLAND TEAM FOR UNDER-16 MATCH AGAINST WALES

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE ENGLISH GOLF UNION
England will field three youngsters new to international match play golf in the annual under 16 match against Wales at Crewe Golf Club on Sunday (September 4).
The newcomers are Cameron Massey (Chorlton cum Hardy, Cheshire), Jake Spearpoint (Littlestone, Kent) and Ashton Turner (Kenwick Park, Lincolnshire). The rest of the team is Harry Ellis (Meon Valley), Haydn McCullen (Delamere Forest, Cheshire), Jack Singh-Brar (Bramshaw, Hampshire), Pavan Sagoo (Ealing, Middlesex) and Nick Ward (Redbourn, Hertfordshire).
Massey finished tied 21st in this year’s McGregor Trophy and reached the last 64 of the British Boys. Spearpoint tied 11th in last year’s McGregor Trophy and equal sixth in this year’s South East Boys Qualifying and he also represented the EGU in the Harder German Masters earlier this summer.
Turner finished tied third in last year’s Reid Trophy, fifth in the recent Douglas Johns Trophy and was a member of the Lincolnshire team that won the Boys County Championship last week.
Ellis made his under 16 international debut against Scotland last year when he was the Hampshire Junior Champion, while Sagoo and Ward, a former Hertfordshire champion, both played in last year’s match against Wales.
McCullen enjoyed high finishes in the Reid Trophy in 2009, when he was tied sixth, and 2010 when he was equal fifth. He was also runner-up in the Douglas Johns Trophy and made his international debut at under 16 level in the recent match with Spain.
Singh-Brar has won a string of junior titles in Hampshire as well as the Hazards Salver for the best performance by a GB&I player aged under 16 in this year’s Carris Trophy. He has also been prominent in the Douglas Johns Trophy in the past two years, finishing second in 2010 and tie third this year and earned his first under 16 cap recently against Spain.
The match with Wales will consist of four foursomes and eight singles.

STRATHPEFFER MAN IS NORTH DISTRICT SENIORS CHAMPION

Strathpeffer's Michael Wilson today won the North District seniors' golf championship for the Macallan Trophy at Invergordon Golf Club.
Wilson shot a 71 - matching the CSS of the day - to win by a single stroke from runner-up Douglas Brodie (Nairn Dunbar) with Bert Nicholson (Royal Dornoch) third with a 74 in a field of 66.

PRIZEWINNERSLeading scratch (CSS 71)
71 Michael Wilson (Strathpeffer).
72 Douglas Brodie (Nairn Dunbar).
74 Bert Nicholson (Royal Dornoch)
Category A (55 to 64 years)
Scratch - Philip Bannerman (Strathpeffer) 76 (better last nine).
Handicap - Eyval Milne (Elgin) (18) 71; Jimmy Innis (Elgin) (5) 72; Willie Donnelly (Fortrose and Rosemarkie) (6) 73.
Category B (65 to 70 years)
Scratch - Robin Wilson (Brora) 77.
Handicap - Tom Jamieson (Royal Dornoch 70 (better last nine); Simon Stokes (Invergordon) (19) 70 (better last 3); William Christie (Muir of Ord) (13) 70.
Category C (71 years +)
Scratch - Bryce Milne (Elgin) 79.
Handicap - Kenneth Gillanders (Muir of Ord) (16) 71; William MacDonald (Invergordon) (19) 72; Douglas Campbell (Muir of Ord) (16) 74 (better last 6).

RORY McILROY IN FOUR-WAY SHARE OF LEAD IN SWITZERLAND

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE

Joint leader Rory McIlroy is enjoying the thrill of competing with some of The European Tour’s brightest stars at the top of the Omega European Masters leaderboard in Switzerland. 

The US Open champion fired a second round 69 at Crans-sur-Sierre to join Irish Open winner Simon Dyson, his fellow Englishman Gary Boyd and Welshman Jamie Donaldson on eight under.
World No 5 Martin Kaymer is among those only one further back, along with overnight leader Nick Dougherty – who will feature at the weekend for the first time in 22 starts – as well as South African Jaco Van Zyl, England’s Danny Willett and Paraguay’s Fabrizio Zanotti, while World No 2 Lee Westwood is a shot further back on six under par.
“To have the top guys up there – Lee’s at six, Martin’s at seven and I’m at eight, it’s a great leaderboard,” said McIlroy.
“Then you have Simon Dyson who won in Ireland and Gary Boyd who is looking for his first win and is playing well recently and Jamie Donaldson is very consistent all year. It’s a good leaderboard and great to see the top guys up at the head of affairs. Hopefully we can play some good golf over the weekend and give the crowd some excitement.”
McIlroy believed his round could have been even better, adding: "I gave myself a lot of chances and wasn't able to convert them, which was pretty frustrating.”
The 22 year old Northern Irishman, back in action three weeks after injuring his arm against a tree root at the US PGA Championship, made an eagle two on the driveable seventh, but gave the strokes back with a seven at the long ninth, driving into trouble and then three-putting from only four feet.
His only deviation from par on the back nine was a birdie at the 516 yard 15th, and even there he missed a 14 foot eagle opportunity.
Dyson, trying to follow up his Irish Open success a month ago, shot 68 and commented: "I played solid again and if I keep on like that hopefully I will be right in the mix again.
"The game's as good as it's ever been."
Dougherty, only too aware that he had missed his previous 21 cuts going back to last November, added a 72 to his opening 63.
That dropped the 29 year old to joint fifth, but only a stroke behind as he tries to re-ignite his career and save himself from a return to Qualifying School at the end of the season.
Dougherty admitted: "I had two things in my head - the tournament and getting the monkey of not making a cut off my back.
"I didn't play as well and I had a few iffy breaks, but I suppose you get what you deserve.
"Hopefully I can play with a bit more flair and flamboyance tomorrow. It was a little cagey."
Meanwhile Boyd (69) and Donaldson (66) are chasing their first European Tour titles, but while 24 year old Boyd is in just his second full season on the circuit, 35 year old Donaldson has played approaching 250 events going back a decade.

Former World Nos Kaymer and Westwood are only one and two shots back respectively.

Kaymer, round in 70 after double-bogeying the 16th when leading, was pleading for the sort of luck that playing partner Louis Oosthuizen had on the long 14th.

Last year's Open Champion was heading out of bounds with his second shot when it struck a photographer. He birdied the hole and made the cut with nothing to spare at two under.

Westwood had a 69, while current Open champion Darren Clarke - out of bounds for his double bogey on the fourth - fell back to four under with a 71.

LEADING HALFWAY SCORES
Par 142 (2x71)
134 Simon Dyson (England) 66 68, Gary Boyd (England) 65 69, Jamie Donaldson (Wales) 68 66, Rory McIlroy (N Ireland) 65 69.
135 Nick Dougherty (England) 63 72, Danny Willett (England) 71 64, Martin Kaymer (Germany) 65 70, Jaco Van Zyl (S Africa) 67 68, Fabrizio Zanotti (Paraguay) 69 66

SCOTS' SCORES
136 Stephen Gallacher 70 66 (T10)
138 Paul Lawrie 69 69 (T24()
139 George Murray 70 69, Gary Orr 69 70 (T39)
140 Richie Ramsay 70 70, Streven O'Hara 73 67 (T52).

MISSED THE CUT (140 or better qualified)
142 Peter Whiteford 74 68, Colin Montgomerie 76 66
144 Marc Warren 75 69
145 David Drysdale 68 77
154 Scott Jamieson 75 79.

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LAW WINS NORTHERN OPEN - PERFECT ANSWER TO CUP SNUB

A DOUBLE HANDFUL: David Law with the Aberdeen Asset Management Northern Open championship trophy AND the Bookless Cup that goes to the leading amateur.

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Aberdonian David Law today became the first amateur to win the Aberdeen Asset Management Northern Open golf championship since his Hazlehead clubmate Sandy Pirie in 1970 when he headed the field of the Tartan Tour's best pros and his amateur international peers with a 14-under-par total of 266 at the Meldrum House hotel course at Oldmeldrum, Aberdeenshire.
Only once has a Northern Open, where four rounds have been completed, been won with a lower score - 264 by Peter Smith at a fast-running Murcar Links in the summer of 1992.
Law is also almost certainly, at 20 years of age, the youngest ever winner of the tournament which was first played in 1934 (when the winning total by Jack McLean was 294).
And yet the so talented Law is only first reserve for the GB and I team to play the United States in the Walker Cup match next weekend over the Balgownie links - where David won the 2009 Scottish boys championship before also winning the Scottish men's amateur championship at Royal Troon that summer.
Scottish champion again this year, Law might well have asked: "What more did I have to do to get a Walker Cup cap?"
But he didn't. The quiet, mild-mannered player did not want to get involved in a discussion about whether or not the R and A selectors had made a colossal blunder in leaving him on the sidelines.
All he would say was:
"The timing of this is more important to other people than it is to me. 
“To win a pro event as an amateur is a great honour. It’s my first major strokeplay victory (his three national amateur wins have all been match-play) and to play against guys like this and beat them is a big boost. It’s nice to go out and win an event like this at home in front of so many friends and family.”
Forecasts of a shoot-out finish between as many as 10 or 12 players clustered around the lead at halfway were way off the mark.
Law, joint 10th at halfway, three shots off the pace, simply blew the opposition away with a brilliant eight-under-par third round of 62 - which is certainly the lowest score ever over the parkland course but cannot be recognised as a record because preferred lies were in operation.
That bogey-free, eight-birdie round saw the Boy David surge three shots clear with 18 holes to play. He wobbled a little bit in the lead early in his final round with bogeys at the second and seventh but a birdie at the long fifth had helped to steady the ship and he pulled clear again with birdies at the ninth, 10th and 12th followed by six solid pars down the home straight.
He finished with a 68, his fourth sub-par round in succession for 266. Next week, David gets a chance to measure himself against a higher class of oppositon - the European Tour no less - in the KLM Open in the Netherlands.
Hayston pro Stephen Gray, one of the top men on the Tartan Tour this year, finished runner-up with a pair of Friday rounds of 67 for 268. Gray was six under par for the last 36 holes and early in the fourth round it looked as if he might be making a winning charge.
He birdied the first, third, fourth and seventh while Law was missing a step or two but Gray lost his momentum with a bogey at the ninth - to be out in three-under 32 - and then he fell into the doldrums and could do no better than level par for the last nine holes in level par with a bogey at the 15th and a birdie at the 16th.
But, with Law being an amateur - soon to be a pro, Gray collected the first professional prize of £4,000 - his biggest by far this season. Remarkably it was the Glasgow man's 24th top-5 finish this season and put him well clear at the top of the Tartan Tour cash table with a tally of £22,805.
Former senior footballer Neil Fenwick (Dunbar) finished a further two shots back with last-day rounds of 68 for 270. He earned £3,000.
Fourth was former Walker Cup player David Patrick (Elie Sports Club) with closing rounds of 67 and 70 for 271 and a £2,250 cheque. Bogeys at the short sixth and seventh took the wheels off any possible charge at the leader.
Stirling student Graeme Robertson (Glenbervie), joint halfway leader alongside Welshman Gareth Wright (West Linton), finished a creditable fifth on 272 with last-day rounds of 69 and 70. He's off to play in the European universities championships in Slovenia next week.
Wright, having helped to make much of the running, faded with a final round of two-over 72 for 274 and finished joint eighth.
James Byrne, the Banchory man, who is in the Walker Cup team of 10 - and deservedly so - finished tied 14th. He went off the boil with final rounds of 72 and 70, two over par for the day, having covered the first 36 holes on Wednesday and Thursday in an accumulative five under par.
Defending champion Greig Hutcheon (Banchory) never recovered from having playing partner Byrne knock the ball regularly 30 yards past him off the tee over the first two rounds - only kidding, Greig, but it was you who told me about it!
Hutch saved his best for last, closing with a 67 for 278 and a share of 16th place. But he has lost the No 1 position in the money table now to Gray. Greig has won £19,644.

SCROLL DOWN TO READ THE REVISED TOP TEN IN THE PGA SCOTLAND MONEY-WINNERS' LIST.

FINAL TOTALS

Par 280 (4x70)

266 David Law (Hazlehead) (am) 67 69 62 68.

268 Stephen Gray (Hayston) 69 65 67 67 (£4,000).

270 Neil Fenwick (Dunbar) 67 67 68 68 (£3,000)

271 David Patrick (Elie Sports Club) 67 67 67 70 (£2,250)

272 Graeme Robertson (Glenbervie) (am) 66 67 69 70.

273 Scott Henderson (Kings Links) 67 69 70 67, James McKinnon (Irvine) 74 66 68 65 (£1,625 each).

274 Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills) 67 71 70 66, Gareth Wright (West Linton) 65 68 69 72 (£1,125 each).

275 Craig Matheson (Falkirk Tryst) 68 70 67 70, Chris Kelly (Cawder) 68 66 71 70 (£750 each)

276 Jason McCreadie (Buchanan Castle) 68 68 69 71 (£600), Philip McLean (Peterhead) (am) 69 67 69 71.

277 Ross Kellett (Colville Park) (am) 70 68 68 71, James Byrne (Banchory) 67 68 72 70.

278 Mark Kerr (unatt) 66 72 70 70, Alan Reid (West Lothian) 65 71 69 73, Greig Hutcheon (Banchory) 68 73 70 67 (£508 each).

279 William Colquhoun (Dundonald Links) 66 70 72 71, Alan Lockhart (Ladybank) 68 72 67 72, David Orr (East Renfrewshire) 68 72 70 69 (£425 each).

280 Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs) 73 67 75 65, Stuart Williamson (West Kilbride) 72 67 69 73 (£362 each)

281 James McGhee (Duddingston) 69 73 70 69, Graham Fox (Rowallan Castle) 70 69 73 69, Peter Smith (Deeside) 70 69 70 72 (£300 each).

282 Ross Dixon (Renaissance Club) 68 68 70 76 (£260)

283 Graeme Brown (Montrose Links) 67 71 72 73, Steven Taylor (Bothwell Castle) 68 70 74 71, Fraser McKenna (Balmore) 73 70 68 72, Lee Harper (Archerfield Links)) 69 71 71 72, Scott Crichton (Aberdour) (am) 68 66 75 74, Daniel Kay (Dunbar) (am) 69 65 72 77.

284 James White (Lundin) (am) 67 73 73 71 (pros £230 each).

285 Mark Loftus (Adam Hunter Golf) 71 68 75 71, Jonathan Lomas (unatt) 69 70 74 72 (£195 each), Paul Shields (Kirkhill) (am) 71 73 72 69.

286 Jonathan Porteous (Craigielaw) 76 68 71 71, Andrew Crerar (Panmure) 68 76 71 71, Greg McBain (Gamola Golf) 66 72 77 71, Colin Gillies (Kingsfield) 71 72 71 72, Kris Nicol (Fraserburgh) (am) 68 67 80 71, Christopher Currie (Caldwell) 71 69 72 74 (pros £175 each)

287 Alan Tait (Marriott Dalmahoy) 76 68 75 68 (£160), Nick Robson (Meldrum House) (am) 72 71 69 75.

289 Ian Taylor (Drumpellier) 71 72 69 77, Scott Grieve (Turnhouse) 72 70 75 72 (£158 each)

293 Steven Duncan (Carnoustie) 71 72 73 77, Kenneth Hutton (Downfield) 70 72 73 78 (£156 each).

295 Callum Trahan (Meldrum House) (am) 67 76 74 78

296 James Erskine (Portpatrick Dunskey) 72 72 74 78, Alastair Mackenzie (Renaisance Club) 68 73 76 79 (£154 each).

TARTAN TOUR MONEY TABLE
1 Stephen Gray £22,805.
2 Greig Hutcheon £19,644.
3 Paul McKechnie £19,288.
4 Robert Arnott £17,752.
5 Graham Fox £17,589.
6 Chris Kelly £16,136
7 David Patrick £13,268.
8 Scott Henderson £12,487.
9 Jason McCreadie £11,950.
10 Graeme Brown £11.642.

DAVID LAW SHOOTS A 62 TO GO THREE CLEAR IN NORTHERN OPEN

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Colin@scottishgolfview.com

Scottish amateur champion twice in three years, David Law is on the brink of a major victory after being snubbed by the RandA selectors of the GB and I team for the Walker Cup match at Royal Aberdeen in eight days' time.

The 20-year-old Aberdonian, a member at the municipal Hazlehead Golf Club, shot a magnificent third-round 62 - eight under par - for a tally of 12-under 198 to lead the Aberdeen Asset Management Northern Open championship by three shots with 18 holes to play this afternoon at Meldrum House Hotel golf course, Oldmeldrum in Aberdeenshire.
His score was three shots lower than anyone else has managed in the tournament so far but it cannot be recognised as a record because preferred lies are in operation.
Law won the Scottish boys match-play championship over the Walker Cup course - Balgownie links - in the spring of 2009 and several months later won the Scottish men's amateur championship at Royal Troon ... the first man to complete such a title double.
This summer Law won the Scottish amateur title again in Ayrshire, at Western Gailes. He was named first reserve to the G B and I team of 10 to play the Americans despite a much loftier World Ranking than Irishman Alan Dunbar who was chosen.
Law, who finished joint fifth in the Aberdeen Asset Management Northern Open last year, is in line to be the first amateur to win the Northern Open since Sandy Pirie, another Hazlehead GC player, did so in 1970 at Cruden Bay. Pirie did gain the Walker Cup that has eluded Law in his stellar amateur career. Sandy played in the 1967 match.
Law will soon turn pro and he will be playing in next week's European Tour event, the KLM Open, on an invitation secured by his mentor, 1999 Open champion Paul Lawrie as a member of the Paul Lawrie Foundation team.
In joint second place at Meldrum House are a former Walker Cup player, David Patrick, the pro at Elie Sports Club, and Hayston's Stephen Gray, one of the most successful Tartan Tour pros over the past season or two.
Both Patrick and Gray shot third-round 67s - Patrick's third in a row - for 201.

in joint fourth place on 202 are joint overnight leaders, Welshman Gareth Wright, a pro attached to West Linton where his father is the club pro, and Stirling University student Graeme Robertson (Graeme Robertson), and also Dunbar's Neil Fenwick.

Wright and Robertson both shot 69s and Fenwick a 68.

THIRD-ROUND LEADERBOARD

Par 210 (3x70)

198 David Law (Hazlehead) (amateur) 67 69 62.
201 David Patrick (Elie Sport Clubs) 67 67 67, Stephen Gray (Hayston) 69 65 67.
202 Neil Fenwick (Dunbar) 67 67 69, Gareth Wright (West Linton) 65 68 69, Graeme Robertson (Glenbervie) 66 67 69.

TO VIEW ALL THE THIRD-ROUND TOTALS AND ALSO THE LIVE SCORING SERVICE FROM THE FINAL ROUND

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AMERICANS FLY INTO EDINBURGH FOR WALKER CUP MATCH

WALKER CUP WARRIORS: United States team with the trophy at Edinburgh Airport. From left to right: Blayne Barber, Patrick Rodgers, Harris English, Jordan Speith, Nathan Smith, Kelly Kraft, Russell Henley, Chris Williams, Jim Holtgrieve, Patrick Cantlay and Peter Uihlein.
Editor's Note: I didn't remember the Walker Cup was THAT big a trophy!

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE R AND A

The United States Walker Cup team flew into Edinburgh Airport today with a week to prepare for the 43rd Walker Cup Match against Great Britain and Ireland at Royal Aberdeen Golf Club on September `10 and 11.
“We are really excited to be here,” said US Team Captain, Jim Holtgrieve. “This is where golf began and I know from my experiences in the game just what the sport means to the people of Scotland.”
Holtgrieve added, “The guys are all excited, we know it’s going to be a closely fought match but we are looking forward to playing a great golf course in front of a knowledgeable crowd.”
Team USA includes the reigning US Amateur Champion, Kelly Kraft, World No. 1, Patrick Cantlay and the 2010 US Amateur Champion, Peter Uihlein.
The biennial contest will see GB and I attempt to win back the trophy from the USA, who won it on home soil in 2009 with a 16 ½ - 9 ½ victory at Merion Golf Club, Pennsylvania.
On each of the two days of competition, there will be four morning foursomes matches, followed by afternoon singles ties. On Saturday 10 September, there will be eight singles matches, while on Sunday, all 10 players from each team will go head-to-head.
The match, dominated in its early years by the USA, is becoming more finely balanced. Over the last ten contests both teams have enjoyed three victories in succession with the USA counting six wins to GB and I’s four in the same period.
The teams line up with nine players each in the top 100 of the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) with the top three players in the world representing the USA.
The USA Team is led by non-playing Captain, Jim Holtgrieve and includes Blayne Barber (WAGR No. 55), Patrick Cantlay (WAGR No.1), Harris English (WAGR No. 6), Russell Henley (WAGR No. 24), Kelly Kraft (WAGR No. 13), Patrick Rodgers (WAGR No. 3) Nathan Smith (WAGR No. 114), Jordan Spieth (WAGR No. 2), Peter Uihlein (WAGR No. 4) and Chris Williams (WAGR No.11).
The Royal Aberdeen Course offers spectators free parking and tented village catering facilities with tickets available online at www.randa.org or by calling 01334 460000.

Further details and full player profiles for both teams can be found at www.randa.org.

DRUMPELLIER MEN'S HANDICAP OPEN ON SATURDAY, SEPT 18

FROM WILSON BRYSON
Can you please publish details of a forthcoming brand new handicap event this year to your website?
It’s the inaugural Drumpellier men's handicap open competition (18 holes) for players with handicaps 6 – 18 ( max )
Details:
Sat 18th September

please see link to Drumpellier website for entry form, details and conditions : http://www.drumpelliergolf.co.uk/


Entries : Drumpellier secretary 01236 424139 or email : admin@drumpelliergolf.co.uk
Prize fund conditions:
Overall winner £170 voucher with additional vouchers for each of the 6-12 handicap, and 13 – 18 handicap classes.

Please bring a current handicap certificate

This promises to be a great event on one of the premier courses in Lanarkshire

Wilson Bryson

SENIOR TOUR PAY TRIBUTE TO LATE ALEX HAY AT WOBURN HOME

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
The European Senior Tour has been paying tribute to the late Alex Hay at this week’s Travis Perkins plc Senior Masters.
Hay, a much respected Scottish PGA professional who rose from club professional to Managing Director at Woburn Golf and Country Club and also forged one of the most recognisable commentary partnerships in sport alongside Peter Alliss as part of the BBC golf team, sadly passed away aged 78 last July.
But his legend lived on this week at the venue, and indeed tournament, with which he became synonymous down the years, having played an important role in the development of the Buckinghamshire club.
Former Ryder Cup Captain Ian Woosnam was one of many stars leading the tributes to Hay.
“I knew Alex for 30 years and he was always a great man to be around, he was always full of life and full of stories,” said the Welshman.
“It’s pretty sad that he’s not around this year as this club and this tournament meant a lot to himself and his wife, but he will be remembered for a long time around here and in the golf world in general.”
Six-time Walker Cup player Gary Wolstenholme said: “I knew Alex very well because I did a lot of commentary for the BBC, and last year I actually gave Alex a lift back after the Senior Tour dinner on the Thursday night.
“He was one of those real gentleman, in the sense that he was a gentle man, he always had a good story, always had a nice opinion, always an interesting man to speak to and we miss him.
“It’s very sad that he won’t be here this year and I think he’s well remembered by a lot of people. He and Peter Alliss were so entertaining when they were together at a dinner table and when commentating on the BBC, and there was always something to laugh at.”
Mark James, Europe’s Captain at The 1999 Ryder Cup, said: “I worked with Alex and he was always a pleasure to work with, he was very congenial and friendly and any time I come here now I will think of Alex because he was such a big part of this club.”
Sam Torrance, who captained Europe at The 2002 Ryder Cup, said: “It’s so sad that Alex is not with us this week. I loved Alex and knew him for a long time from the BBC and from Woburn and he was a great man who always had a nice word to say.”
Andy Stubbs, Managing Director of the European Senior Tour, said: “As we look forward to a great week at Woburn, it is quite sad that we are without Alex Hay, who was a fantastic supporter of the Senior Tour and the Travis Perkins plc Senior Masters.
“Alex was of course a pioneer in his own way, having been one of the first professionals to become Managing Director of a golf club, and he will be missed by all involved at Woburn this week.”

AMERICAN MOORE LEADS ON ASIAN DEVELOPMENT TOUR

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE ASIAN TOURCebu, Philippines: Jonathan Moore of the United States stormed into the joint third round lead with an even-par 70 at the Aboitiz Invitational presented by ICTSI on the Asian Development Tour today.
Moore shared the lead with Elmer Salvador of the Philippines, who returned with 71, on three-over-par 213 in the US$65,000 event which is the first ADT tournament to be held in the Philippines.
They will face strong challenges from no fewer than nine players, who are all in for a chance of making a final round title charge.
Moore, a former US Walker Cup player and winner of the Impian Classic in Malaysia in May, shot one birdie against one bogey and a double bogey on the front nine but recovered on the way home with birdies on 11 and 16.
“I’m tied for the lead so that’s good. It’s hard to go out and shoot 63 or 64 on this course. What I’m excited about is I’ve shot better each round and I think if I could do that tomorrow, I’ll have a good chance of winning,” said Moore, currently second on the Order of Merit.
Salvador, who is a former Philippine Open winner, struggled with his putting where he missed several birdie opportunities in a round of three birdies, two bogeys and one double bogey.
“I continued to struggle with my putting, can’t make an up-and-down, I made some good pitch shots but just couldn’t sink them. I wanted to shoot a two-under so I can have a big cushion going into the final round but I just couldn’t make the putts,” said Salvador.
Jay Bayron of the Philippines battled to a 69 to lie in third place, one off the leaders while Rufino Bayron was a further stroke back.
Sri Lanka’s Mithun Perera remained in contention after shooting a 71 to trail the leaders by three shots.
The Aboitiz Invitational is staged in partnership with the Philippine Golf Tour. It is the seventh and penultimate leg of the 2011 ADT season which will reward the top three players from the Order of Merit with Asian Tour cards for 2012.
Leading third round scores
Par 210 (3x70)
213 Jonathan MOORE (USA) 72-71-70, Elmer SALVADOR (PHI) 71-71-71
214 Jay BAYRON (PHI) 71 -74-69
215 Rufino BAYRON (PHI) 73-71-71
216 Antonio LASCUNA (PHI) 73-74-69, Marvin DUMANDAN (PHI) 70-75-71, Mithun PERERA (SRI) 74-71-71, Anthony FERNANDO (PHI) 73-72-71, Cassius CASAS (PHI) 71-73-72
217 Ebarra QUIACHON (PHI) 76-72-69, Jonel ABABA (PHI) 73-73-71
218 T.J. KIM (KOR) 75-75-68, CHANG Tse-Peng (TPE) 75-73-70, Anura ROHANA (SRI) 75-73-70, Ernie RELLON (PHI) 74-72-72

White has SGU Merit title wrapped up as Edward Trophy rings down curtain

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Colin@scottishgolfview.com
James White (Lundin), pictured, winner of the Tennant Cup and the North of Scotland open amateur stroke-play this season, will clinch the SGU Order of Merit title this weekend when the last 72-hole event of the domestic season - the Edward Trophy - is played at Glasgow Gailes.
White's two wins have given him a commanding lead over Graeme Robertson (Glenbervie) who scored his first win in last weekend's South-east District championship.
But Robertson is not playing in the Edward Trophy, presumably leaving at the weekend for Slovenia with the rest of the Stirling University squad for the 2nd European university championships.
Kirkhill's Paul Shields, a distant third in the table, is also not playing in the Glasgow Gailes event.
Other tournament winners this season who are playing in the Edward Trophy are Jordan Findlay (North-East District Open), Scott Crichton (Cameron Corbett Vase), Fraser McKenna (Sutherland Chalice), Ross Bell (Leven Gold Medal) and Allyn Dick (Newlands Trophy).
Daniel Kay (Dunbar), beaten finalist in the Scottish amateur championship and having a good run in the Aberdeen Asset Management Northern Open at Meldrum House, is also in the field alongwith players of the calibre of Ross Kellett (Colville Park).

SGU ORDER OF MERIT TABLE
(from the SGU website)
Number of events played in brackets

1 James White Lundin (12) 879.93
2 Graeme Robertson Glenbervie (13) 768.33
3 Paul Shields Kirkhill (11) 414.00
4 Scott Crichton Aberdour (14) 386.05
5 Greg Paterson St Andrews New (6) 384.10
6 David Law Hazlehead (7) 382.50
7 Adam Dunton McDonald (13) 365.00
8 Daniel Kay Dunbar (11) 334.35
9 Fraser McKenna Balmore (13) 327.50
10 James Ross Royal Burgess (7) 307.50
11 Philip McLean Peterhead (10) 305.00
12 Peter Latimer St Andrews New (14) 295.00
13 Daniel Young Craigie Hill (6) 287.50
14 Michael Stewart Troon Welbeck (5) 285.00
15 Alexander Culverwell Dunbar (14) 267.50
16 Scott Gibson Southerness (5) 261.60
17 Allyn Dick Kingsknowe (11) 223.75
18 Conor O’Neil Pollok (14) 223.10
19 Matthew Clark Kilmacolm (9) 222.50
20 Mark Bookless Sandyhills (12)

NORTH-EAST ALLIANCE AGM AT AUCHMILL GC ON MONDAY NIGHT

The North-east Golfers' Alliance 2011-2012 season starts next Wednesday at Auchmill Golf Club, Aberdeen.
The Alliance mobile phone number - 07801 819746 - will be switched on from 10am to 4pm next Tuesday to take bookings for tee times the following day.
The NE Alliance annual meeting will be held at Auchmill Golf Club on Monday evening (7.30pm) when entry forms for the Scottish Alliance at Buchanan Castle GC from Tuesday to Thursday, October 4 to 6 will be available

CACK-HANDED JOSH LEADS IN RAIN-HIT NATIONWIDE TOUR EVENT

FROM THE US NATIONWIDE TOUR WEBSITE
By Joe Chemycz, Nationwide Tour Staff
CANONSBURG, Pennsylvania -- For several years Josh Broadaway was simply known as the guy who plays golf cross-handed. But a hot summer run has turned the 33-year old Georgian from novelty to consistent contender.
Broadaway fired a 7-under 64 Thursday afternoon and grabbed the clubhouse lead in the rain-delayed first round of the Mylan Classic.
His eight-birdie effort at the Southpointe Golf Club in suburban Pittsburgh has him two strokes in front of rookie Chris Epperson, who is making only his third start of the year.
Morning thunderstorms halted play for 2hr 20 min, starting at 9am, and the lengthy delay ultimately prevented 57 players from completing the opening round.
Rookie Aaron Goldberg is at 5 under through 13 holes and has the best chance to overtake Broadaway on the leaderboard Friday morning when play resumes.
Defending champion Kevin Kisner heads a list of five players in at 4-under 67. Kisner is joined by Craig Bowden, Jay Williamson, Billy Hurley and Australian Nick Flanagan, who won the 2003 U.S. Amateur at nearby Oakmont Country Club.
Texan Brad Elder is also at 4 under with two holes remaining.
Much of the attention this week is on headliners John Daly and local favourites Rocco Mediate and Steve Wheatcroft, but Broadaway's play, much like his current wardrobe, has heads turning.
Broadaway, finished in a tie for eighth at last week's News Sentinel Open and caught a ride from Knoxville, Tenn., on Daly's bus. During the journey, Daly convinced Broadaway to don some not-so-conservative pants from his Loudmouth Golf collection.
"I'm not sure I have enough solid shirts to wear this week," laughed Broadaway, wearing red-and-white checkered pants. "I might have to go over to his bus and wash some clothes."
Clothing aside, Broadway's no-fear approach has him playing perhaps the best golf of his career. He has four top-10 finishes in his last six starts and he has pushed his way to No. 13 on the money list with eight events left on the schedule. The top-25 money winners at the end of the year will earn PGA TOUR cards for the 2012 season.
"It wasn't really easy," said Broadaway of his day. "I was hitting some loose shots and getting some good breaks."
The breaks helped but Broadaway's effort on the greens has been the key to his resurgence.
"Anytime you're making putts it takes away the pressure off the rest of your game. You don't feel like you have to hit it close all the time," he said. "You can be 'aggressively conservative' where you hit it out there 25 feet because you know you may make one."
A 30-footer at No. 7 for par was the key to the day and the round.
"I was rolling it really good on the putting green today," he said. "It felt really good in my hands early and I got it going. The way my confidence has been lately, as soon as I started seeing a few go in, it was just off to the races."
Epperson, a late finisher from the morning wave, stepped into the lead with a pair of birdies on his final two holes.
"I'm not real worried about the lead or anything," said the 28-year old from South Carolina. "I'm just worried about being here and making the cut. I'm just happy to be here."
Epperson has been waiting most of the year just to get into events. His eligibility ranking coming out of q-school put him near the bottom of the list and kept him from making his first start of the year until the Mexico Open in June.
"There's a website we look at and to see my number being 20 or 30 out, it's tough," he said. "I looked last Friday and I think I was 179 on the list for 156 guys."
Wholesale withdrawls moved Epperson quickly up the list and he finally got the call on Tuesday night that he was in.
"I haven't played a practice round in these events yet," he said. "I've been playing blind. I guess it worked out today. I'm just glad to get a start."
* John Daly birdied Nos. 16 and 17 today and finished with a 2-under 69. He is currently T24.
* Brett Swedberg withdrew during the opening round due to an ankle injury. Phil Tataurangi withdrew during the round due to an elbow injury. Brian Smock (77) withdrew after the round. Edward Loar (68) withdrew after the round. Loar's wife, Melaney, went into labour and he flew home to Dallas.
*Scotland's Russell Knox is not playing in this event but England's Gary Christian and Matthew Richardson are. Christian is T10 after a 68. Richardson well back after a 73

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