PHILIP MCLEAN IS THREE SHOTS CLEAR AT DUNDONALD LINKS

Peterhead's Philip McLean is well placed to advance to Stage 2 of the European Tour Qualifying School system.
After Tuesday's play was abandoned because of gale-force winds and rain sweeping over the Dundonald Links in Ayrshire, the small field for the Stage 1 event had to play two rounds today to make up for lost time.
McLean, at one time a contender for a place in the GB and I Walker Cup team, is leading the field with scores of 69 and 70 for 139. SGU Order of Merit winner James White (Lundin) (69-73) and Ulsterman Johnnie Caldwell (69-73) are three shots behind on 142.
SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
139 P McLean (am) (Sco) 69 70,
142 J Caldwell (Nir) 69 73, J White (am) (Sco) 69 73,
143 M Penny (Eng) 71 72,
145 S McMonagle (Irl) 71 74,
146 D Wright (Eng) 75 71, A O'Callaghan (Irl) 74 72,
147 M Collins (Irl) 76 71, G Murphy (Irl) 72 75, M Dowling (am) (Aus) 69 78,
148 N Fenwick (Sco) 74 74,
149 P McKechnie (Sco) 72 77, M Hooper (Eng) 77 72, M Kerr (Sco) 71 78, D Sugrue (Irl) 75 74, N Fox (Irl) 76 73, R Dixon (Sco) 70 79, S McAllister (Sco) 76 73, G Brown (Sco) 73 76, M Lowe (Eng) 73 76,
150 D Smith (Eng) 77 73, T Sherreard (Eng) 75 75, G Fox (Sco) 73 77, K McAlpine (Sco) 74 76, B Struthers (am) (USA) 75 75,
151 L Clarke (Eng) 74 77, K Nicol (Sco) 73 78, M Lavelle (Irl) 76 75, E Ramsay (Sco) 76 75, J Findlay (Sco) 76 75,
153 G Cowan (Eng) 78 75, D Schultz (USA) 78 75, D Clark (Eng) 72 81, P O'Keeffe (Irl) 77 76,
154 M Bush (Eng) 77 77, J Wilkinson (Eng) 77 77, J Housby (Eng) 80 74, R Cameron (Sco) 73 81,
155 S Taylor (Sco) 79 76, S Reekie (Sco) 77 78, P Badawy (USA) 77 78, J Jeong (Kor) 77 78, J Wilson (am) (Eng) 82 73, S Crookall-Nixon(am) (Eng) 75 80,
156 S Whiffin (Eng) 81 75, J Campbell (Eng) 79 77, C Matheson (Sco) 77 79, R Smith (am) (Eng) 74 82,
158 C Simpson (Eng) 78 80, E Gibbs (USA) 78 80, P O'Hara (Sco) 82 76,
159 I Colquhoun (Sco) 79 80,
160 M Isaacs (Sco) 79 81, S McCance (Eng) 77 83, L McGowan (am) (Sco) 78 82,
161 S Clark (Sco) 78 83, M Kanev (Bul) 80 81,
162 I Hall (Irl) 82 80, S Pyle (Sco) 83 79, C Lidyard (Eng) 79 83,
163 A McCabe (Eng) 87 76,
166 D Chapman (Eng) 84 82,
167 A Holt (Eng) 80 87, S Mackie (Sco) 82 85,
169 M Rubber (Eng) 88 81, (Hun);









Michael Gibbons

Deputy Chief Press Officer

European Tour

Wentworth Drive | Virginia Water | Surrey | GU25 4LX | UNITED KINGDOM

SCOTLAND SENIORS LOSE 6-3 TO ENGLAND AT WOODHALL SPA

FROM THE ENGLISH GOLF UNION WEBSITE
Old rivals Ireland and England will decide the destination of the Senior Home Internationals title at Woodhall Spa tomorrow after the Irish completed a comprehensive victory over Wales, while England dug deep to overcome Scotland.
It is a repeat of last year’s final of the European Seniors Team Championship at Fairhaven when England overcame the odds to lift the title when the Irish were firm favourites.
This time Ireland will be seeking a fourth successive title, while England is looking for their first success since 2007 at Caldy, the last occasion they were hosts.
Reflecting that tomorrow will be a repeat of last year’s European final, England captain Richard Palmer said: “It would be lovely to think the result might be the same. But the Irish are incredible strong, the strongest in European in my opinion, but we have proved we can beat them.”
With the Irish having already completed a 7-2 victory over Wales, for most of the afternoon Scotland seemed set to follow suit against an off-colour England outfit.
Starting 1-2 down from the foursomes, they were boosted by an 8 and 6 victory by the reliable Roy Smethurst over David Miller, the Crewe man hitting every fairway, missing just one green and being an approximate three under par at the end.
Then Alan Squires added to England’s tally by coming back from 2-down with five to play against Ian Brotherston by winning the last four holes played.
But with Adrian Donkersley losing 4 and 3 to Fraser McCluskey and the three other matches in contention, you would have got long odds on an England win.
Yet, Andrew Stracey overcame a late wobble to beat Robert Stewart 2 and 1, while Charlie Banks was involved in a battle royal with Scotland’s John Fraser.
The Scot was 2-up with six to play but Banks birdied 13 and 14 to go all-square and they came to the last still level. Both faced birdie putts but after Fraser’s ten foot effort rimmed the cup, Banks sank his for another birdie to win.
That saw England over the line but in the final game Chris Reynolds performed another rescue act, coming from 2-down after four holes to beat Gordon MacDonald 3 and 1, thanks to birdies on the 15th and 17th holes.
After completing a clean sweep in the three morning foursomes, Ireland were not going to loosen their grip and significant wins from Hugh Smyth and Garth McGimpsey ensured a second successive victory.
“That was a good win,” said Irish captain Barry Doyle. “We set the foundation by winning all three foursomes which always makes life easier when you do that.
“However we got off to a slow start in the singles but improved as the afternoon progressed. A fourth successive title sounds nice but we’ve got to play the old enemy, England, on their own stamping ground which won’t be easy.”
With a 3-0 lead from the morning and needing just two more wins from the six singles, the Irish were seen home by Smyth and McGimpsey.
Despite losing the first hole against Welsh captain Phil Jones, Smyth won the next five to be 4-up through six and he continued to apply the pressure, winning the ninth and 12th for a 7 and 6 victory.
So it was left to McGimpsey, the former Walker Cup player and captain, to seal Ireland’s success by beating Robert Broad 4 and 3, McGimpsey taking the lead on the second and gradually increasing it until the end came on the 15th green.
Even then the Irish didn’t relax. Although Jeff Thomas gave Wales their first point with a 2 and 1 win over Arthur Pierse in the top match, Maurice Kelly overcame an early deficit to beat Keith Stimpson 5 and 4, while Michael Coote gradually gained momentum to ease to a 3 and 2 win over Nigel Evans.
In the other single, Paul Bloomfield found himself 4-up after six holes against Adrian Morrow only to be pegged back to one after 12. But the Welshman maintained that advantage to complete a one hole victory and subjecting Morrow to his first defeat of the week.

RESULTS
Day 1
IRELAND 5, SCOTLAND 4
ENGLAND 5, WALES 4
Day 2
IRELAND 7, WALES 2
ENGLAND 6, SCOTLAND 3

PROS LEAD AT NORTH-EAST ALLIANCE AT KEMNAY

Professionals Martin Lawrence (Newmachar) and Ian Bratton (Newburgh on Ythan) headed the scoresheet at today's (Wed) North-east Golfers' Alliance competition at Kemnay. They both had 72s to finish two shots clear of Ryan Fitzpatrick (Inchmarlo) with Brian Harper (Newburgh) and Craig Carnegie (Kemnay) next on 76. Harper, who has five of a handicap, won the Class 1 handicap section with a net 71. Tommy Collie (Kemnay) won the Class 1 handicap with a net 72 off 11. Leading scores today: SCRATCH 72 Martin Lawrence (Newmachar), Ian Bratton (Newburgh on Ythan). 74 Ryan Fitzpatrick (Inchmarlo). 76 Brian Harper (Newburgh on Ythan), Craig Carnegie (Kemnay). 77 David Brown (Kemnay), Paul Simpson (Aboyne), Colin Nelson (Mackenzie Club). HANDICAP Class 1 - Brian Harper (Newburgh on Ythan) (5) 71. Class 2 - Tommy Collie (Kemnay) (11). ends

SCOTT HENDERSON TAKES £5,000 PRIZE AT SKIBO

By COLIN FARQUHARSON Colin@scottishgolfview.com  Scott Henderson once won the Northern Open at Cruden Bay when it was blowing a gale on the final day. That bad weather expertise resurfaced in the Carnegie Invitational over the Carnegie Links at Skibo Castle, near Dornoch today, enabling him to win the £5,000 first prize - his biggest pay cheque for some time - with a second-round, five-over-par 76 for a three-over total of 145. Birdies were an endangered species in the awful conditions of wind and rain and damage limitation was the name of the game. Henderson double bogeyed the 10th and bogeyed the seventh, 12th 14th and 18th. But he was able to get a solitary birdie at the 17th and that was to prove vital in the end - because the Aberdonian won by one shot from Hayston's Stephen Gray. Gray totalled a 77 for 146. He had his one birdie - at the third - early in his round but he bogeyed the first, sixth, seventh, ninth, 11th, 12th and 16th. One bogey too many to tie with Henderson but £3,500 for finishing runner-up was a very acceptable consolation prize. Local knowledge of the course and how to play in it awful conditions worked wonders for local pro staff member Jody Rostock. While Henderson and Gray took seven and eight shots respectively more than they did on Tuesday, Rostock actually improved from a 76 to a one-over 72. He had TWO birdies on his card - at the seventh and 18th and had only three bogeys, at the 11th, 13th and 16th. He earned £2,833 for a splendid effort alongside the cream of the Tartan Tour. Such is the depth of prize fund in the Carnegie Invitational that another local staff pro, Joel Hopwood finished last on 166, after a nightmare 91 in the second round, but his prize was £1,800 - nice work if you can get it! CARNEGIE INVITATIONAL Carnegie Links, Skibo Castle, nr Dornoch PRO TOTALS (Par 142: 2 x 71) 145 Scott Henderson (Kings Links) 69 76 (£5,000). 146 Stephen Gray (Hayston) 69 77 (£4,250). 148 Jody Rostock (Carnegie Club) 76 72 (£3,500). 149 Mark King (Kingsfield) 75 75, Jason McCreadie (Buchanan Castle) 72 77, Colin Gillies (Kingsfield) 72 77 (£2,833 each). 150 Greig Hutcheon (Banchory) 73 77 (£2,450). 152 Peter Smith (Deeside) 75 77 (£2,350). 155 Craig Ronald (Carluke) 74 81 (£2,250). 158 Fraser Mann (Musselburgh) 77 81 (£2,200). 159 Gordon Law (Uphall) 76 83, David Thomson (Carnegie Club) 77 82 (£2,125 each). 160 Stephen McAllister (Renaissance Club) 78 82 (£2,000). 161 Fraser Cromarty (Castle Stuart) 82 79 (£1,900). 169 Joel Hopwood (Carnegie Club) 78 91 (£1,800). ends

US SENIOR MEN'S AMATEUR CHAMPION SIMSON ADVANCES

FROM THE USGA WEBSITE
By Christina Lance, USGA
Manakin-Sabot, Virginia – Defending champion Paul Simson, 60, of Raleigh, N.C., notched two more victories in Tuesday’s second and third rounds of match play at the 2011 USGA Senior Amateur Championship, being conducted at 6,829-yard, par-72 Kinloch Golf Club in Manakin-Sabot, Virginia.
Also advancing were brothers Stanford Lee, 59, and Louis Lee, 55, both of Heber Springs, Ark. They will meet in Wednesday morning’s quarterfinal round, the first time in the history of the USGA Senior Amateur that two brothers will play each other.
Louis Lee, playing in his first competitive golf event since 1985, lost the opening hole of his third-round match with Steve Poulson, 55, of Draper, Utah. Consecutive birdies on the fourth and fifth holes swung the match to Lee’s favour and he rolled from there, taking a 5-and-4 victory.
“I’m in uncharted waters,” said Lee, who defeated 2009 Senior Amateur runner-up Patrick Tallent in the morning’s second round. “But it’s fun, and I’ve proven some things to myself. I’m a little tougher than I thought I was.”
Lee had to be convinced by his older brother, Stanford, to even enter the championship qualifier. Wednesday morning, older brother will meet younger brother with a berth in the Senior Amateur semifinals on the line.
Stanford Lee, the 2007 Senior Amateur champion, survived a furious charge from Tony Green, 59, of Kingsport, Tenn., to win in 19 holes. Lee carried a 2-up lead to the par-4 15th, but Green’s eagle on 15, along with a clutch holeout for another eagle on the par-4 18th, sent the match to extra holes.
“I quit breathing about the middle of the fairway on 18 when he holed it,” said Lee, who defeated 2002 Mid-Amateur champion George Zahringer earlier in the day.
Green’s second shot on the 19th hole came up 30 feet short of the hole. With the quarterfinals on the line, Lee hit his 8-iron approach to six inches to clinch the meeting with his brother.
“We play a lot together,” said Stanford Lee of his brother, “and it’s 50/50. So whoever has the hand tomorrow will win and the other one will stay around caddie for him.”
Simson never trailed during his 3-and-1 victory over Emile Vaughan, 55, of Pike Road, Ala., but Vaughan never allowed him to build more than a two-hole advantage.
After making bogey out of the water on the par-3 14th to send the match back to all square, Simson’s 12-foot birdie putt on the 15th hole sparked a comeback. He quickly won the ensuing two holes to take the victory.
“The whole back nine, I played pretty well,” said Simson, a five-time winner of the North Carolina Senior Amateur. “I made some pretty clutch putts, so that was good.”
Simson, who took stroke-play medalist honours (leading qualifier), has yet to have a match go the full 18 holes. His match with Vaughan marked the first time Simson had gone past the 16th hole since stroke-play qualifying.
“It was nice to see how I would respond with a little more heat on me than I’ve had,” said Simson. “I’m very pleased that my putting and short game and the sum of my game started to come together.”
To advance to the third round, Simson handily dispatched Sam Till Jr., 58, of Fort Wayne, Ind., by a 5-and-4 margin in the morning’s second-round action.
Simson will face Philip Pleat in the quarterfinals. Pleat, 55, of Nashua, N.H., advanced with a 5-and-4 victory over Jack Vardaman in the second round and a 2-and-1 defeat of Andrew Congdon in the third round.
Also advancing was 56-year-old Chip Lutz, of Reading, Pa., who is attempting to join Simson as the only two men to win the USGA Senior Amateur, Canadian Men’s Senior and British Seniors Open Amateur Championships in the same season.
Lutz followed his extra-holes victory in the first round with another marathon match in the second. He needed the full 18 holes in his 2-up victory over Kent Frandsen, 60, of Lebanon, Ind.
“I managed to get a whole round in again, so at least I’m getting my money’s worth,” said Lutz, who needed 20 holes to win his first-round match with Ian Harris.
His third-round experience was a little easier, as Lutz defeated Hunter Nelson, 58, of Houston, Texas, 3 and 1.
Lutz, a semifinalist at the 2010 championship, will face fellow 2010 semifinalist Jeff Burda in the quarterfinals. Burda advanced with an easy 7-and-5 victory in the second round over Michael Booker, 56, of The Woodlands, Texas, and an equally smooth 6-and-4 win over Richard Marlowe, 60, of Youngstown, Ohio, in the third round.
Rounding out the quarterfinalists were William Thomas Doughtie, 58, of Amarillo, Texas, who eliminated Tim Miller and 2009 runner-up John Grace, and Ronald Kilby, who defeated 2009 champion Vinny Giles and David Anthony.
The quarterfinal and semi-final rounds will be conducted on Wednesday. The championship is scheduled to conclude with an 18-hole final on Thursday.
RESULTS
Kinloch Golf Club. Par 72. Yardage 6,821.
Second Round
Upper Bracket
Paul Simson, Raleigh, N.C. (139) def. Sam Till Jr., Fort Wayne, Ind. (148), 5 and 4
Emile Vaughan, Pike Road, Ala. (146) def. Joe Viechnicki, Bethlehem, Pa. (146), 5 and 4
Andrew Congdon, Great Barrington, Mass. (144) def. Pat Vincelli, Rosemount, Minn. (147), 5 and 3
Philip Pleat, Nashua, N.H. (144) def. Jack Vardaman, Washington, D.C. (147), 5 and 4
Chip Lutz, Reading, Pa. (142) def. Kent Frandsen, Lebanon, Ind. (148), 2 up =
Hunter Nelson, Houston, Texas (150) def. Pat O'Donnell, Happy Valley, Ore. (146), 7 and 6
Richard Marlowe, Canfield, Ohio (149) def. Raymond Thompson, Drexel Hill, Pa. (142), 2 up
Jeff Burda, Modesto, Calif. (147) def. Michael Booker, The Woodlands, Texas (150), 7 and 5
Lower Bracket
William Thomas Doughtie, Amarillo, Texas (151) def. Tim Miller, Kokomo, Ind. (148), 1 up
John Grace, Fort Worth, Texas (150) def. Bill Leonard, Kennesaw, Ga. (146), 3 and 1
Ronald Kilby, McAllen, Texas (143) def. Vinny Giles, Richmond, Va. (147), 20 holes
David Anthony, Jacksonville, Fla. (145) def. John Sajevic, Fremont, Neb. (149), 3 and 2
Steve Poulson, Draper, Utah (148) def. Mike Rice, Houston, Texas (151), 3 and 2
Louis Lee, Heber Springs, Ark. (150) def. Patrick Tallent, Vienna, Va. (146), 1 up
Stanford Lee, Heber Springs, Ark. (149) def. George Zahringer, New York, N.Y. (143), 5 and 4
Tony Green, Kingsport, Tenn. (147) def. James Pearson, Charlotte, N.C. (145), 1 up

Third Round
Upper Bracket
Paul Simson, Raleigh, N.C. (139) def. Emile Vaughan, Pike Road, Ala. (146), 3 and 1
Philip Pleat, Nashua, N.H. (144) def. Andrew Congdon, Great Barrington, Mass. (144), 2 and 1
Chip Lutz, Reading, Pa. (142) def. Hunter Nelson, Houston, Texas (150), 3 and 1
Jeff Burda, Modesto, Calif. (147) def. Richard Marlowe, Canfield, Ohio (149), 6 and 4
Lower Bracket
William Thomas Doughtie, Amarillo, Texas (151) def. John Grace, Fort Worth, Texas (150), 2 and 1
Ronald Kilby, McAllen, Texas (143) def. David Anthony, Jacksonville, Fla. (145), 3 and 2
Louis Lee, Heber Springs, Ark. (150) def. Steve Poulson, Draper, Utah (148), 5 and 4
Stanford Lee, Heber Springs, Ark. (149) def. Tony Green, Kingsport, Tenn. (147), 19 holes
WEDNESDAY'S QUARTER-FINALS
8:30 a.m.: Paul Simson, Raleigh, N.C. (139) vs. Philip Pleat, Nashua, N.H. (144)
8:40 a.m.: Chip Lutz, Reading, Pa. (142) vs. Jeff Burda, Modesto, Calif. (147)
8:50 a.m.: William Thomas Doughtie, Amarillo, Texas (151) vs. Ronald Kilby, McAllen, Texas (143)
9 a.m.: Louis Lee, Heber Springs, Ark. (150) vs. Stanford Lee, Heber Springs, Ark. (149)