GLASGOW OPEN YOUTHS CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL TOTALS

VENUE: RALSTON GOLF CLUB

CSS 71 71
140 Fraser Grant (Ralston) 73 67 
143 Jamie Savage (Cawder) 74 69
144 Scott Robertson (Hazelhead) 74 70
144 James Hendrick (Pollok) 70 74
145 Craig Pirie (Millport) 74 71
145 Scott Turnbull (Millport) 73 72 
145 Blair Dalgleish (Ralston) 70 75 
146 Graeme McDougall (Bishopbriggs) 75 71
146 Calum McLean (Cowglen) 75 71
146 Reece Mitchell (Downfield) 74 72 
146 Greg Nicoll (Glenbervie) 69 77 
147 Craig Anderson (Sandyhills) 76 71 
148 Jack Brown (Cathcart Castle) 76 72 
148 Scott Wearing (Bishopbriggs) 71 77 
149 Declan Hayes (Hamilton) 77 72 
149 Ross Anderson (Stonehaven) 76 73 
150 G Stirling (Caldwell) 76 74 
151 E Waugh (Whitecraigs 76 75
151 Gary Foley (Ralston 73 78
152 Ross Dallas (Kirriemuir 78 74 
152 S Watt (Old Ranfurly 76 76 
152 Connar Cook (Caird Park 76 76 
152 D Slack (Gourock 75 77
153 Antonio O'Donnell (Whinhill) 77 76 
153 Callum McKay (Grange) 74 79
155 A McDougall (Elderslie) 82 73
155 Darius Kunecki (Callander) 78 77 
156 H Nelson (Stirling) 81 75 
156 Grant Joss (Royal Aberdeen) 80 76 
156 Andrew Cunningham (Ranfurly Castle) 74 82 
157 Jordan Bryce (Strathaven) 80 77
157 Andrew Grant (Dunblane New) 80 77
158 S Cameron (Renfrew) 81 77 
159 Alistair Lauder (Paisley) 81 78
161 Jamie Auchenvole (Glenbervie) 80  81 
161 Cameron Buist (Dunblane New) 78 83 
162 D Conway (Stirling) 83 79
162 Callum Rennie (Brechin) 79 83 
166 Andrew McDonald (Whinhill) 85 81 
166 Andrew Borg (Falkirk) 83 83
167 Jack McKirdy (Rothesay) 86 81 
NR Johnny Reid (Drumpellier) 76 + NR 75
147 D Docherty (Paisley) 72 75 
151 Liam Haldane (Stirling 74 77
NR Callum Harrison (Carluke) NR NR 
NR Declan Dooey (Colville Park) NR NR

CHRIS KELLY AND MICHAEL STEWART TOP SCOTS AT CREWE Q

By COLIN FARQUHARSON Colin@scottishgolfview.com  Tartan Tour player Chris Kelly (Cawder) and Walker Cup hero Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck), still an amateur, were the best placed Scots at the end of the first round at Wychwood Park GC, Crewe of the European Tour Qualifying School Stage 1 Section B eliminator today. Kelly, pictured, shot a three-under-par 69 to be tied sixth and Stewart a 70 to be joint ninth. Greig Hutcheon (Banchory), Duncan Stewart (Grantown on Spey), Elgin exile and former Scottish youths champion Joel Hendry, home from his US base, and Paul Doherty, a past Scottish boys title holder, all hit the par 72 mark. Stephen Gray (Hayston) and Lee Harper (Archerfield Links) had 74s while Jason McCreadie (Buchanan Castle) and Zack Saltman (Archerfield Links) both had 75s. Scott Henderson (Kings Links), once upon a time the European Tour Rookie of the Year, had a 76. Benny Ahlenback of Sweden led the way with a brilliant opening eight under par 64. That put him two strokes clear of Englishman Steven Uzzell with two Americans, Dodge Kemmer and Patrick Kidd, handily placed a further shot back on five under par over the Crewe layout. A total of 109 players are taking part, hoping to secure one of the precious tickets to the Second Qualifying Stage which will take place over four courses in Spain in the first week in December and then, if successful, to the Final six-round examination at PGA Catalunya Resort from December 10-16. The top 25 and ties after the fourth round at Wychwood Park on Friday  will progress through to the Second Qualifying Stage. ALL THE FIRST ROUND SCORES  Par 72 64 B Ahlenback (Swe)  66 S Uzzell (Eng)  67 D Kemmer (US) , P Reed (US)  68 J Dransfield  (Eng) 69 P Kaensche  (Nor), B Martin (Eng), Chris Kelly (Cawder)  70 H Leon (Chi), P Richardson (Eng), G Woolgar (Eng) , R Gildersleeve (US) , A Versfeld (SAf) , S Brown (Eng), G Benson (Eng), K Harper (Eng), Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) (am), A Cooley  (Eng) (am), J Timmis (Eng) (am).  71 A Shakespear (Eng), D Palm (Swe) , A Laing (Imn) , T Mordt  (SAf) , D Marmion (Eng), A Georgiou (SAf), S Arnold  (Aus) , I Pyman (Eng), J Senior (Eng) 72 D Mooney (Nir), Greig Hutcheon (Sco), N James (Wal), A Stott (Eng) , M Ureta  (Chi) , Duncan Stewart (Sco), A Evans (Eng), J Morgan  (Eng) , D Lloyd (SAf), Paul Doherty (Vale Hotel), Joel Hendry (Sco), S Merry  (Tri) , I Ridgway  (Eng) , J Howarth (Eng) , A Chesters (am) (Eng) , R Bentham (Wal) )(am)  73 D Wardrop  (Eng), Clarke Lutton (Sco), P Grannell (Eng) , J White (Eng), R Wallis (Eng) , A Palmer (Eng) , G Parker (Eng) , K Garwood (Eng) , J Need (Eng) , M McAlpine (Nir) (am), J Bartlett (Eng) (am) 74 Stephen Gray (Hayston), P Maddy (Eng), C Farrelly (Eng), Tom Higson (Sco), R Hearty (Eng), Lee Harper (Archerfield Links), C Elliot (Eng) , L Ferreira (SAf)  75 R Tagg (Eng) , A Jones (Eng) , N McCarthy  (Eng) , J Shepherd  (Eng) , Z Scotland  (Eng) , R O'Neill (Eng) , Jason McCreadie (Buchanan Castle), Zack Saltman (Archerfield Links), S Jackson (Eng) , D Coupland (Eng) (am), O Farr (Wal) (am) 76 C Hughes (Nir) , R Oliver (Nir) , B Briscoe (Wal) , R Newman  (Eng) , Scott Henderson (Sco), A Hodkinson (Eng) , Y Ali  (Eng) , S Griffiths (Eng), B Fowles (Eng)  77 N Redfern (Eng) , M Swales (Eng) , S Tooth (Eng) , J Bland (Eng)   78 A Seve Ruia (Eng) , J Burns (Eng) , D Rawluk (Irl) , R Leonard (Eng), R Whitelock  (Eng) , I Winstanley (Eng) , C Durnian (Eng) , A Hogan (Irl) (am)  79 M Pearson (Eng) , J Mason  (Eng) , D James (Eng) , M Armitage (Eng) , A Runcie (Wal) , J McCormick (Eng) (am),  80 J Mumford (Eng) , O Smith (Eng), S Maurits (Ned)   81 N Els (SAf) , M Sparrow (Eng)

LATE ENTRY BENJAMIN SETS PACE AT FLEESENSEE Q SCHOOL

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Benjamin Wuttke’s last minute decision to confirm his entry to the European Tour Qualifying School looks to have paid off after he took the lead after round one at Fleesensee Golf and Country Club today.

The German only completed his entry yesterday and his determination shone through as he opened with a six under par 66 to lead compatriot Tomek Dogil and Swede Matthias Johansson by a stroke in the First Qualifying Stage – Section B.

A total of 92 players lined up at Fleesensee Golf and Country Club, a European Tour Course, all hoping to secure safe passage to the Second Qualifying Stage in Spain in December, and then, ultimately, to the Final Stage at PGA Golf de Catalunya.

Day one saw 29 players get the better of the impressive course with a sub-par round, no mean feat on the championship Schloss Course rated as one of the Top Three in Germany by “Golf Magazine” characterised by large, undulating greens and rolling fairways.

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES

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NEW COACH, NEW SWING FOR PADRAIG HARRINGTON

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE

Padraig Harrington will unveil a new golf swing to the world at this week’s Austrian Golf Open presented by Lyoness.

The Irishman, speaking ahead of a charity Pro-Am event at the Diamond Country Club, revealed that he will be putting the swing changes he has been working on with new coach Pete Cowen into full practice when he tees off on Thursday afternoon.

“My game has been up and down all year as everyone knows but I have seen a lot of positives recently,” said the three-time Major Champion.

“I recently changed coach and have been making a few changes to my swing which people will see this week. The main change that I think people will notice is that the backswing will be wider and shorter.”

Harrington is well known to be a pathological practiser on ranges around the world, and the 39 year old is desperate to take his new swing into the hugely competitive environment that is a European Tour event.

“It is starting to feel good and I am really looking forward to getting out and competing here this week to gauge where my game is at and how I play in tournament conditions with the changes.

“I tend to overdo things when I practice, so coming out here this week will help me to moderate things and see where I am with the golf swing in tournament play.”

While Harrington will be focused on his on-course performance, he is also delighted to be in Austria for the first time in his career.

He said: “I was thinking about that the other day and it is quite strange when you consider that I have probably played in every other European country. I certainly can’t think of another one that I haven’t played in.

“The facilities here are great, the course looks very enjoyable so I am looking forward to competing and hopefully getting in contention this week.”

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Colin@scottishgolfview.com

Duddingston's Tom Buchanan won the £100 prize for heading the 14 players who go through from the second 18-hole qualifying competition at Crieff Golf Club to the Scottish PGA Championship over the Kings Course, Gleneagles from October 10 to 13.

Buchanan shot a two-under-par 69 with birdies at the second, third, long sixth and 14th. He bogeyed the long fifth and short 13th in finishing two shots clear of second-placed Steven Dunsmore (Falkirk Tryst).

Dunsmore birdied the short first, long sixth and par-4 10th. He bogeyed the seventh, long ninth and par-4 16th.

As was the case in the first eliminator at the same venue on Monday, 74 was the cut-off point for the 14 qualifiers.

On that mark there was a play-off between five players for the last three places. They went to Iain Stoddart (Uphall), Gordon Stewart (Cawder) and Christopher McMaster (Panmure).

The play-off losers, Grant Smith (Gleneagles) and Jonathan Cliff (Mortonhall), are the first and second alternates respectively for the main event.

Qualifiers, apart from Buchanan, Dunsmore and the play-off winners, were Andrew Jowett (Gleneagles), Alastair Mackenzie (Renaissance Club, Scott Garrett (Irvine), Christopher Russell (Dunbar) and Paul Brookes (Pitreavie - all on 72 - and Ross Dixon (Renaissance Club), Paul Wardell (Whitekirk), Ian Brown (Newent) and Graham Forbes (Gourock), all on 73.

Biggest name among the non-qualifiers was Deeside's Peter Smith, a former Northern Open champion and winner of a PGA seniors' event earlier this season.

SCOTTISH PGA CHAMPIONSHIP - 2nd qualifying competition

Crieff Golf Club

QUALIFIERS

Par 71

69 Tom Buchanan (Duddingston).

71 Steven Dunsmore (Falkirk Tryst).

72 Andrew Jowett (Gleneagles), Alastair Mackenzie (Renaissance Club), Scott Garrett (Irvine, Christopher Russell (Dunbar), Paul Brookes (Pitreavie).

73 Ross Dixon (Renaissance Club), Paul Wardell (Whitekirk), Ian Brown (Newent), Graham Forbes (Gourock).

74 (after play-off) Iain Stoddart (Uphall), Gordon Stewart (Cawder), Christopher McMaster (Panmure).

FAILED TO QUALIFY

74 (after play-off) Grant Smith (Gleneagles) (1st alternate), Jonathan Cliff (Mortonhall) (2nd alternate).

75 Lindsay Mann (Carnoustie Golf Links) (3rd alternate), Neil Colquhoun (Merchants of Edinburgh) (4th alternate), Derek Watters (Gourock) (5th alternate), Ewan Grimes (Carrick on Loch Lomond) (6th alternate).

76 Mattew Burtt (Helensburgh), Paul Gallacher (Dalmuyir), Andrew Rollo (Moray), Michael Sweenie (Turnberry), Alan Stuart (Aspire), Andrew Burns (Shotts), Stuart Reekie (Blairgowrie), Sean Thomson (Renaissance Club).

Selected score:

78 Peter Smith (Deeside).

CELEBRITIES GALORE AT NEXT WEEK'S DUNHILL LINKS CH/SHIP

NEWS RELEASE
Some of the best known and most enthusiastic amateur golfers join a world-class field of professionals, led by three of this year’s major championship winners, Darren Clarke, Rory McIlroy and Charl Schwartzel, for next week’s prestigious Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
Celebrities from the world of entertainment include film and TV stars Hugh Grant, Kyle MacLachlan and John O’Hurley.  Also taking part are rock music legends Don Felder of the Eagles, Huey Lewis and Bon Jovi drummer Tico Torres, plus popular radio presenter Chris Evans.
A quartet of Britain’s sporting knights – Sir Ian Botham, Sir Bobby Charlton, Sir Matthew Pinsent and Sir Steve Redgrave - lead a locker room full of sporting heroes, including Dutch football legends Johan Cruyff and Ruud Gullit, former England player Jamie Redknapp and Scottish defender Alan Hansen.
A strong team of cricketers will be teeing up next week. In addition to Sir Ian Botham, there will be current England captain Andrew Strauss and former captain Michael Vaughan, England Test players Allan Lamb and Mark Nicholas, plus Steve Waugh and Shane Warne of Australia. The immensely popular former British tennis No 1 Tim Henman will be back, along with rugby giants Morné du Plessis and Hugo Porta, Austri an downhill ski legend Franz Klammer and ten-time world surfing champion Kelly Slater.
The amateurs will be playing in one of the strongest fields ever assembled for the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. In addition to Darren Clarke, who won an emotional Open Championship at the age of 42 in July, fellow Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy, runaway winner of the US Open, and US Masters champion Charl Schwartzel from South Africa, the line-up includes current world No 1 and No 2, Luke Donald and Lee Westwood, and major championship winners Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Padraig Harrington, Martin Kaymer, Graeme McDowell and Louis Oosthuizen.
Defending champion Martin Kaymer, who last year also won the US PGA Championship at Whistling Straits and headed the European Tour money list, will be bidding to become the first golfer to win back-to-back Alfred Dunhill Links titles.
The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, which c elebrates links golf at its finest, is played over three of the world’s best known and respected links courses – the Old Course at St Andrews, the Championship Course at Carnoustie and the highly regarded Kingsbarns Golf Links. 
With a prize fund of US$5 million, the championship incorporates two separate competitions - an individual professional tournament for the world's leading golfers and a team event in which the professionals are paired with some of the most celebrated amateur golfers which creates a unique atmosphere.Entrance to the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship will be FREE at all three courses on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
A ticket price of £15 (concessionary £10) will be charged for the final day’s play over the Old Course on Sunday, October 2.  Entry for under 16s and students is free.   Tickets are available through the ticket hotline on 0870 010 9021 or at the entrance gates. 

Website: http://www.alfreddunhilllinks.com

EUROPE LEAD AMERICANS 5-1 AFTER OPENING FOURSOMES

EDITOR'S NOTE: There is, at the moment, a technical fault which is preventing us from putting articles up on www.kirkwoodgolf.co.uk  Normally the following Ping Junior Solheim Cup report would appear there. But, as that is physically impossible, we thought you should have the chance to read it on www.scottishgolfview.com

FROM COLIN CALLANDER 

Ping Junior Solheim Cup Officer

Europe claimed a comprehensive 5-1 lead over the Americans after the opening foursomes at the PING Junior Solheim Cup match played at Knightsbrook Hotel Spa and Golf Resort in Trim, Co. Meath, Ireland this morning.

The home side lost the top match when England’s Lauren Taylor and Charley  Hull went down by 2 and 1 to Mariah Stackhouse and Jaye Marie Green but drew level when Sweden’s Emma Nilsson and Amy Boulden from Wales defeated Kyung Kim and Summar Roachall by 4 and 3.

The Maguire twins, Lisa and Leona, watched by a large and patriotic crowd, claimed Europe’s second point of the morning when they defeated Emma Talley and McKenzie Talbert on the final green.

Further victories by Manon Gidali and Celine Boutier, Emilie Alonso and Luna Sobron and Antonia Scherer and Margaux Vanmol gave Europe a four- point advantage heading into the six afternoon fourball matches.

“It’s a great start,” said the European captain, Lotta Neumann, a winner of both the British and US Women’s Open Championships. “We played very well but there’s still a long way to go.

“I’m delighted about how things went this morning but we need to do the same this afternoon.

“It would be nice to take a good lead into the singles because we all know how tough they can be.”

“It’s not the start we were looking for but I’m sure we can fight back this afternoon,” said US Captain, Meg Mallon.

“I was happy with the pairings but it didn’t quite work out the way we wanted it to. There was a lot of great golf played out there by both sides. They just finished it off a little bit better than we did.”  

The match featuring the Maguire twins against Emma Talley and McKenzie Talbert was indicative of how close most of the matches were. 

The American duo went one up with a birdie two on the 142-yard par-3 third hole but the home favourites bounced back straight away with a birdie on the 494-yard par-5 fifth. 

Thereafter, the two sides swapped six holes before the Irish duo went one up with a birdie on the 523-yard par-5 17^th and then closed out the match with a regulation par-3 on the 153-yard final hole.

The first match, featuring English duo, Charley Hull and Lauren Taylor, against Mariah Stackhouse and Jaye Maria Green was equally closely contested. The home pair won the 374-yard par-4 first and there was never more than one hole in it until the Americans went two up with a birdie on the 377-yard par-4 11^th. The English girls fought back to all square by the 14^th but the American duo finished strongly with two birdies over the next three holes

Some of the best golf of the morning was played in the bottom match where German champion, Antonia Scherer and Belgian Margaux Vanmol, the reigning British Girls’ champion, were three under par when they defeated Karen Chung and Alison Lee on the 15^th hole.

The contest continues with six fourball matches followed by 12 singles tomorrow (Wednesday) morning.

Foursomes Results

Europe 5, United States 1

(Europe names first)

Lauren Taylor and Charley Hull lost to Mariah Stackhouse and Jaye Marie Green 2 and 1.

Lisa Maguire and Leona Maguire bt Emma Talley and McKenzie Talbert 1 hole

 Amy Boulden and Emma Nilsson bt Kyung Kim and Summar Roachell 4 and 3.

 Manon Gidali and Celine Boutier bt Esther Lee and Gabriella Then 1 hole

Emilie Alonso and Luna Sobron bt Lindsey Weaver and Ashlan Ramsay 2 holes

Antonia Scherer and Margaux Vanmol bt Karen Chung and Alison Lee 4 and 3.

AFTERNOON FOUR-BALL PAIRINGS

Lisa Maguire and Charley Hull v Lindsey Weaver and Mariah Stackhouse

Amy Boulden and Emma Nilsson v Jaye Maria Green and Ashlan Ramsay

Leona Maguire and Lauren Taylor v Kyung Kim and Karen Chung

Emilie Alonso and Antonia Scherer v McKenzie Talbert and Summar Roachell

Manon Gidali and Celine Boutier v Alison Lee and Esther Lee

Margaux Vanmol and Luna Sabron v Gabriella Then and Emma Talley 

BARCLAYS END SPONSORSHIP OF SCOTTISH OPEN

The European Tour is looking for a new sponsor for the Scottish Open following Barclays' decision not to renew its sponsorship of the tournament which was played for the first time at Castle Stuart this year after a long association with Loch Lomond.

The European Tour says the 30th Scottish Open will keep its prime July date in the week preceding the Open Championship.

Tim Peat, Managing Director, Barclays Capital, said: “Barclays has been proud to be the title sponsor of the Scottish Open for the last decade. We made our decision reluctantly based on current market factors.

"Through our sponsorship of Phil Mickelson, The Barclays (tournament) in the USA and The Barclays Singapore Open, an event co-sanctioned by The European Tour, we will continue to have a significant presence in professional golf.”

MADRAS TOO STRONG FOR BELL BAXTER IN FPS' GOLF MATCH

               David Scott (Madras FP), right, receives the trophy from Jim Farmer (Bell Baxter FP)


NEWS RELEASE
Madras College, St Andrews staged a strong singles comeback to win the annual Former Pupils' golf  match against Bell Baxter High School, Cupar at The Duke's Course, St Andrews yesterday.
Trailing 3.5 to 2.5 after the morning foursomes and better-ball matches, Madras FPs came through impressively 4.5 to 1.5 in the singles to win the match 7 points to 5.
This is the second staging of the event that saw Bell Baxter prevail last year.
The match was conceived in 2009 through a discussion between former pupils and PGA professionals Mike Braidwood and Jim Farmer who was then the PGA captain, to celebrate the fact that both schools have produced a number of PGA professionals.
“We are delighted to win the match today and level things off at one match a piece” said Madras FPs' non-playing captain David Scott, Director of Golf at The Duke's, who hosted the matches.
RESULTS (all matches over nine holes)
(Madras FPs names first)

Foursomes

Craig Mackie and Paul McGregor bt Jim Farmer and Andy Reid 2 holes.
David Gilchrist and Gordon Landsburgh lost to Sandy Smith and Stuart Smart 2 and 1
Stuart Syme and Michael Braidwood bt Jacky Montgomery and Paul Wytrazek 2 and 1

Better ball

Craig Mackie and Paul McGregor lost to Jim Farmer and Andy Reid 4 and 3.
David Gilchrist and Gordon Landsburgh lost to Sandy Smith and Stuart Smart 1 hole.
Stuart Syme and Michael Braidwood halved Jacky Montgomery and Paul Wytrazek

Singles

Michael Braidwood bt Jim Farmer 2 holes.
Dave Gilchrist halved with Andy Reid.
Gordon Landsburgh bt Jack Montgomery 2 and 1.
Stuart Syme bt Sandy Smith 1 hole.
Craig Mackie halved with Paul Wytrazek
Paul McGregor halved with Stuart Smart
Final result:
Madras College FPs 7, Bell Baxter FPs 5