JOEL HOPWOOD'S LONG DRIVE WINS HIM ALLIANCE AT BRAEMAR

Carnegie Club assistant professional Joel Hopwood made the long trip down from Skibo Castle, near Dornoch to Braemar and was rewarded by winning the top scratch prize in today's North-east Golfers' Alliance meeting at the Royal Deeside club.

Hopwood, pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency, shot a two-over-par 67 to win by one shot from two amateurs from the Auchmill club, John Nicolson with a 68 and his brother Brian with a 69 at the head of a field of 63.

Senior George Paterson (Northern) won the Class 1 handicap with a net 70 off one, while Tommy Collie (Kemnay) won Class 2 with a net 66 off 11.
LEADING SCRATCH
Par 65. SS 65. CSS 65
67 Joel Hopwood (Skibo Castle).
68 John Nicolson (Auchmill).
69 Brian Nicolson (Auchmill).
70 David Brown (Kemnay), John Duff (Newmachar).
71 Fraser Clark (Newmachar), George Paterson (Northern), Martin Lawrence (Newmachar).
73 Keil Beveridge (Inchmarlo), Colin Nelson (MacKenzie Club).
74 Craig Carnegie (Kemnay).
76 Phil Morrison (Oldmeldrum).

77 Tommy Collie (Kemnay).

78 Manson Merchant (Newmachar).

79 David Wilson (Duff House Royal), John Kinsella (Braemar), Keith Watson (Deeside), John Forrest (Murcar Links).

80 David Mackay (Caledonian), John Dalgarno (Hazlehead), Jim Duncan (Newburgh).

81 Brian Harper (Newburgh), Hamish McNaughton (Cruden Bay), Jackie Forrest (Northern).

82 John Hamilton (Murcar Links), Jim Scott (Peterculter).

83 Robert Lamb (Newmachar), Charlie Cassie (Nigg Bay), Mike Booth (Kemnay).

84 Gary Home (Northern), Mike Smith, Jim Murray.

85 Mike Brown, Raymond Brown.

87 Alister Graham.

89 Derek Randall, David Bisset.

90 Peter Cheyne, Leslie Roger.

94 Paul Cornfield, Colin Farquhar.

NRs Graham Allan, Colin Clark.

HANDICAP

Class 1 - George Paterson (Northern) (1) 70; Phil Morrison (Deeside) (5), Craig Carnegie (Kemnay) (3), John Dalgarno (Hazlehead) (9) 71; John Kinsella (Braemar) (7) 72.

Class 2 - Tommy Collie (Kemnay) (11) 66; Mike Smith (Inverurie) (16) 68; Hamish McNaughton (Cruden Bay) (11) 70; Mike Booth (Kemnay) (12), Jim Scott (Peterculter) (11) 71; Gary Homer (Northern) (12) 72.

TEE TIMES FOR TURRIFF NEXT WEDNESDAY

March number - Tee Time - Starting Tee - Player's Name - Handicap - Home Club.
1 08:15 1 Campbell, Andrew (1) Bratton, Ian (0) Esson, Gary (0)
Murcar Newburgh-on-Ythan Portlethen
2 08:22 1 Cassie, Charlie (5) Watson, Keith (5) Morrison, Phil (5)
Nigg Bay Deeside Oldmeldrum
3 08:29 1 Mackay, David (6) Mitchell, Graham (5) Kinsella, John (7)
Newmachar Braemar Braemar
4 08:36 1 Harper, Brian (5) Leslie, Grant (10) Forrest, John (7)
Newburgh-on-Ythan Newburgh-on-Ythan Murcar
5 08:43 1 Fitzpatrick, Ryan (0) Dempster, Craig (0) Duff, John (+2)
Inchmarlo Murcar Newmachar
6 08:50 1 Nelson, Colin (0) Dalgarno, John (9) Prouse, Lawrence (5)
Mackenzie Golf Hazlehead Hazlehead
7 08:57 1 Philip, Charlie (13) Lawrence, Martin (0) Clark, Fraser (0)
Newmachar Newmachar Newmachar
8 09:04 1 Paterson, George (1) Scott, Jim (11) Keith, Neil (5)
Northern Peterculter Newmachar
9 09:11 1 Roulston, Harry (7) Rendell, Michel (13) Booth, Mike (12)
Stonehaven Stonehaven Kemnay
10 09:18 1 Hamilton, John (6) Roger, Leslie (12) Kennedy, Steve (11)
Murcar Royal Aberdeen Craibstone
11 09:25 1 Grant, Ian (18) Smith, Mike (16) Forster, Martin (7)
Keith Inverurie Cruden Bay
12 09:32 1 Merchant, Manson (6) Lamb, Robert (3) Kennedy, Euan (1)
Newmachar Newmachar Newmachar
13 09:39 1 Lumsden, Jim (14) Cheyne, Peter (9) Farquhar, Colin (18)
Auchmill Northern Auchmill
14 09:46 1 Brown, Mike (18) Brown, Raymond (12) Davidson, S (13)
Newburgh-on-Ythan Newburgh-on-Ythan Northern
15 09:53 1 Duncan, Jim (4) McNaughton, Hamish (11) ............................
Newburgh-on-Ythan Cruden Bay ................
16 10:00 1 Chisholm, Neish (12) Forrest, Jackie (9) McIntosh, Paul (4)
Kemnay Northern Newburgh-on-Ythan
17 10:07 1 Jessiman, John (14) Petrie, Alister (10) ............................
Oldmeldrum Oldmeldrum
18 10:14 1 ............................ ............................ ............................
................ ................ ................
19 10:21 1 ............................ ............................ ............................
................ ................ ................
20 10:28 1 Homer, Gary (12) Lumsden, Ben (13) ............................
Northern Northern ................
21 10:35 1 Kinloch, Jim (2) Kinloch, Peter (6) Pirie, Alexander (2)
Glasgow Gailes Glasgow Gailes Hazlehead
22 10:42 1 Fowler, Les (6) ............................ ............................
Royal Aberdeen ................ ................
23 10:49 1 Brown, David (0) Collie, Tommy (11) Lawrie, Mark (7)
Kemnay Kemnay Kemnay
24 10:56 1 Wright, Dick (12) Stephen, Kenny (15) ............................
Northern Northern ................
25 11:03 1 Randall, Derek (12) Murray, Jim (10) Bisset, David (7)
Banchory Banchory Banchory
26 11:10 1 Smith, Ian D (8) Clark, Colin (0) Leslie, David (5)
North east of Scotland Golfing Mackenzie golf Northern
27 11:17 1 Turner, Joss (8) Guthrie, Peter (9) ............................
Kemnay Peterculter ................
28 11:24 1 ............................ ............................ ............................
................ ................ ................
29 11:31 1 David Mackay (Caledonian) (7), Jim Gall (Caledonian) (15), Stewart  Finnie (Caledonian) (0).

30 11:38 1 Willie McKenzie (Berryhill Driving Range) (0), Martin May (Cruden Bay) (6).

31 11:45 1 ............................ ............................ ............................
................ ................ ................
32 11:52 1 ............................ ............................ ............................................ ................ ................
33 11:59 1 ............................ ............................ ............................

34 12:06 1 ............................ ............................ ............................

35 12:13 1 Graham Allan (Newmachar) (12) ............................

36 12:20 1 David Wilson (Duff House Royal) (6), Paul Cornfield (Auchmill) (15), Brian Nicolson (Auchmill) (1)

37 12:27 1 .....


UNHAPPY HAT-TRICK FOR EDINBURGH AND EAST OF SCOTLAND

 ALLIANCE - MONSOON RAIN KOs WEST LOTHIAN MEETING

Bad weather struck us for the third week in a row with the outing at West Lothian being abandoned today with only 27 of the 64 strong field completing their round. Monsoon-type weather early afternoon flooded most of the greens in a matter of minutes.
With Bathgate and West Lothian having been victims of the difficult weather conditions we are currently looking at options of re-scheduling the competitions.
This side of 2012 our only options are November and with reduced daylight it is perhaps only practical to re-schedule one of the events. A suitable venue will also need to considered.
In the meantime we jave positive thoughts for a break in the weather for the next outing at Liberton next Wednesday.

Alan Greenshields
Secretary/Treasurer
Edinburgh and East of Scotland Golfers' Alliance

Michael Stewart has nightmare 83 in 2nd round of Q School Stage 1

Walker Cup hero Michael Stewart's hopes of making it through the Qualifying School process to a place on the European Tour next season are not looking so bright after a nightmare second round of 83, 13 shots worse than his first round in the First Stage Section B event over four rounds at Wychwood Park Golf Club, Crewe.
Twenty-five players and ties at the end of the tournament will go forward to Stage 2 at four venues in southern Spain next month.
But first there is a cut after Thursday's third round at Wychwood Park.
That will be the the leading 25 and ties PLUS all those within SEVEN shots of the players in joint 25th place after 54 holes.
Stewart is well outside the leading 25, leading by Englishman Steven Uzzell on eight-under-par 136 (66-70) but currently joint 23rd takes in those on 145, including Banchory's Greig Hutcheon (72-73). So Stewart is eight shots adrift of that mark.
It is clear that the young man from Ayrshire needs to shoot something like his first-round 70 or better to make the cut and keep his European Tour dream hopes alive by qualifying for Stage 2.
Chris Kelly is the leading Scot at Wychwood Park with 69 and 74 for 143 which sees him in joint 11th place overnight.
Then comes Hutcheon on 145, followed by Paul Doherty on 147 (72-75).
Zack Saltman (75-73) and Lee Harper (74-74) are on 148, one shot ahead of Scott Henderson (76-73), Stephen Gray (74-75) and Duncan Stewart (72-77).
Jason McCreadie (75-78) and Michael Stewart (70-83) are languishing on 153.
Scores from round two of the Qualifying School First Stage Section B at Golfclub Fleesensee and Wychwood Park.

WYCHWOOD PARK GC, CREWE
SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 144 (2x72)
136 S Uzzell (Eng) 66 70,
139 D Kemmer (USA) 67 72,
140 P Reed (USA) 67 73,
141 S Brown (Eng) 70 71, J Bartlett (am) (Eng) 73 68,
142 L Ferreira (RSA) 74 68, B Ahlenback (Swe) 64 78, A Cooley (am) (Eng) 70 72, J Timmis (am) (Eng) 70 72, J Senior (Eng) 71 71,
143 C Kelly (Sco) 69 74, A Versfeld (RSA) 70 73, I Pyman (Eng) 71 72, I Ridgway (Eng) 72 71, P Richardson (Eng) 70 73, A Chesters (am) (Eng) 72 71,
144 J Dransfield (Eng) 68 76, R Gildersleeve (USA) 70 74, J Morgan (Eng) 72 72, G Woolgar (Eng) 70 74, H Leon (Chi) 70 74, P Kaensche (Nor) 69 75,
145 J Howarth (Eng) 72 73, G Hutcheon (Sco) 72 73, D Wardrop (Eng) 73 72, M Ureta (Chi) 72 73, T Mordt (RSA) 71 74, R Oliver (Nir) 76 69,
146 A Evans (Eng) 72 74, K Harper (Eng) 70 76, D Marmion (Eng) 71 75, J White (Eng) 73 73,
147 A Shakespear (Eng) 71 76, R Wallis (Eng) 73 74, B Briscoe (Wal) 76 71, P Doherty (Sco) 72 75, A Palmer (Eng) 73 74, J Shepherd (Eng) 75 72, A Georgiou (RSA) 71 76, R Bentham (am) (Wal) 72 75,
148 Z Saltman (Sco) 75 73, P Grannell (Eng) 73 75, P Maddy (Eng) 74 74, A Stott (Eng) 72 76, L Harper (Sco) 74 74, K Garwood (Eng) 73 75, B Martin (Eng) 69 79, D Palm (Swe) 71 77, B Fowles (Eng) 76 72, J Hendry (Sco) 72 76,
149 S Henderson (Sco) 76 73, A Jones (Eng) 75 74, S Gray (Sco) 74 75, D Lloyd (RSA) 72 77, Z Scotland (Eng) 75 74, D Stewart (Sco) 72 77, D Mooney (Nir) 72 77, S Merry (Tri) 72 77, D Coupland (am) (Eng) 75 74,
150 A Hodkinson (Eng) 76 74, A Laing (Imn) 71 79, I Winstanley (Eng) 78 72, S Arnold (Aus) 71 79, G Parker (Eng) 73 77, R O'Neill (Eng) 75 75, R Newman (Eng) 76 74, M McAlpine (am) (Nir) 73 77, O Farr (am) (Wal) 75 75,
151 Y Ali (Eng) 76 75, N McCarthy (Eng) 75 76, J Need (Eng) 73 78,
152 S Griffiths (Eng) 76 76, N James (Wal) 72 80, C Elliot (Eng) 74 78, R Hearty (Eng) 74 78, T Higson (Sco) 74 78, R Tagg (Eng) 75 77
153 R Whitelock (Eng) 78 75, S Tooth (Eng) 77 76, R Leonard (Eng) 78 75, M Armitage (Eng) 79 74, J McCreadie (Sco) 75 78, G Benson (Eng) 70 83, M Stewart (am) (Sco) 70 83,
154 C Lutton (Sco) 73 81, S Maurits (Ned) 80 74, S Jackson (Eng) 75 79,
155 D James (Eng) 79 76,
156 D Rawluk (Irl) 78 78, C Farrelly (Eng) 74 82, C Hughes (Nir) 76 80, N Els (RSA) 81 75, A Hogan (am) (Irl) 78 78,
157 N Redfern (Eng) 77 80, M Pearson (Eng) 79 78, A Runcie (Wal) 79 78,
158 J Mumford (Eng) 80 78, J Burns (Eng) 78 80, O Smith (Eng) 80 78,
159 J Bland (Eng) 77 82, C Durnian (Eng) 78 81,
161 J McCormick (am) (Eng) 79 82,
162 M Swales (Eng) 77 85,
163 A Seve Ruia (Eng) 78 85,
164 A Vergari (Ita) 82 82,
165 M Sparrow (Eng) 81 84,
167 J Mason (Eng) 79 88
182 H Macleod (am) (Aus) 91 91,
** B Paterson (am) (Eng) DQ 0,


Golfclub Fleesensee
135 C Lange (Den) 68 67,
136 J Ruth (Eng) 70 66,
138 M Eliasson (Swe) 69 69, A Fischer (Ger) 71 67, P Mejow (Ger) 69 69, F Christensen (Swe) 69 69, B Wuttke (Ger) 66 72,
139 C Schwierz (Ger) 68 71,
140 J Glennemo (Swe) 68 72, A Andersson (Swe) 68 72, M Johansson (Swe) 67 73, F McGuirk (Eng) 71 69, R Svensson (Swe) 73 67, D Froreich (Ger) 73 67,
141 S Piaget (Mon) 72 69, A McLean (Sco) 71 70, M Larsson (Swe) 70 71, L Bjerregaard (Den) 72 69, J Lerchedahl (Den) 73 68, J Wahlqvist (Swe) 73 68, A Kirstein (am) (Ger) 72 69,
142 V Flatau (Swe) 72 70, D Lokke (Den) 69 73, C Pfau (Aut) 73 69, T Petersson (Swe) 69 73, R Mattila (Fin) 70 72, S Grant (Irl) 70 72, T Dogil (Ger) 67 75, T Remkes (Ned) 68 74,
143 F Fihn (Swe) 68 75, D Wuensche (Ger) 72 71, J Sheffield (Eng) 71 72,
144 A Knappe (Ger) 71 73, D Küpper (Ger) 71 73, A Johansson (Swe) 72 72, N Glans (Swe) 73 71, M Novy (Cze) 72 72,
145 M Brenner (Ger) 73 72, M Salminen (Fin) 70 75, L Corfield (Eng) 72 73, R Hie (Ina) 73 72, B Miarka (Ger) 72 73, B Reiter (Aut) 75 70, O Sigurdsson (Isl) 72 73, C Braunig (am) (Ger) 73 72,
146 I Griffiths (Wal) 76 70, M Suursalu (Est) 73 73, M Haremza (Ger) 73 73, W Barnes (Eng) 74 72, A Björk (Swe) 72 74, J Winther (Den) 72 74,
147 J Colomo (Esp) 75 72, J Magnusson (Swe) 74 73, D Oakey (USA) 73 74, C Curley (Irl) 72 75, C Aronsen (Nor) 71 76,
148 S Gross Jr (Ger) 71 77, R Askstrand (Swe) 74 74, S Franklin (Irl) 72 76, O Tubb (Can) 72 76, H Lipsanen (Fin) 70 78, M Ervasti (Fin) 74 74, J Drongstrup (Den) 77 71, F Becker (Ger) 76 72, T Sørensen (am) (Den) 73 75,
149 T Machleid (Ger) 79 70, M Kramer (Ger) 74 75, K Mortensen (Den) 74 75, D Schmieding (am) (USA) 71 78,
150 G Birch Jr (Ger) 76 74, W Schauman (Swe) 79 71, O Suhr (Den) 79 71, H Beins (am) (Ger) 75 75,
151 F Quicker (Swe) 77 74, S Schmidt (Ger) 75 76, M Palm (Swe) 78 73, S Nilsson (Swe) 74 77, M Merks (am) (Ger) 75 76,
152 J Ryba (Cze) 74 78, T Gissurarson (Isl) 76 76, A Hortal (am) (Esp) 75 77,
153 E Bertheussen (Nor) 77 76, C Hurter (Ger) 74 79,
154 J Lupprian (Ger) 77 77, S Gundorph (Den) 78 76, J Neuendorf (Ger) 76 78, E Penin (Fra) 79 75,
159 P Gabsa (am) (Ger) 81 78,
161 O Lebl (Cze) 81 80, S Forsstrom (Swe) 79 82,
167 D Carrera (Esp) 86 81,
176 B Sommer (Ger) 89 87

NORTHERN COUNTIES CUP AT LOSSIEMOUTH PREVIEW

By ROBIN WILSON 

In relation to the eight founder clubs who subscribed at the beginning of the 20th  century to purchase the Northern Counties Cup, and first competition played for in 1900 at Royal Aberdeen Golf Club, Newmachar Golf Club are the youngest club now taking part and with their first win in 1997,  seven years after their formation , they have beginning( today) at the Moray Golf Club, Lossiemouth, the opportunity to write their name into the history of the competition.

Newmachar first joined the names of illustrious winners with  Craig Thomson, Alistair Crombie, Jim Hardie and John Cramond as their winning team at Peterhead in 1997 then after winning for a second time last year at Royal Dornoch, with the line up of Chris Simpson, John Duff, Mark McKechnie and Richard Barr, the East Aberdeenshire club has the chance to leave their mark at Moray from today (Thursday) until Saturday by winning the 100^th competition for the oldest inter club cup in the North.  

While the competition celebrated its centenary  inauguration at Royal Aberdeen in 2000 the competition was suspended during the two World Wars meaning there have been only 99 occasions the cup was contested and is it by coincidence that the young Newmachar club have drawn one of the founder clubs, The Orkney Golf Club, Kirkwall, in Thursday's first round to leave a lasting mark. 

The fist round draw of 40 teams has also thrown up some interesting first round fixtures. Two of Inverness's three clubs have been paired against each other, the private Inverness Golf Club against its municipal neighbour, Torvean.  Royal Dornoch who hold the record number of wins in the past 99 competitions, 21in all, open against an Elgin second team. Elgin with nine wins are closing in on Inverness and Nairn who are both on eleven wins.  Royal Aberdeen have a bye into round two and await a derby tie against either Deeside or Newmachar's second team. There are other early North East clashes today with the second teams of Cruden Bay and Royal Aberdeen meeting in round two and Ellon taking on Banchory.

MARK LOFTUS LEADS WITH 69 IN TOUGH CONDITIONS AT CARDROSS

NEWS RELEASE
At the end of day one, Mark Loftus leads the fifth event on the Optical Express Pro Golf Tour held at Whitekirk Golf Club, near North Berwick.
Loftus, 32, attached to The Adam Hunter Golf Foundation based at Mearns Castle Golf Academy, shot a terrific three under par 69 in extremely tough conditions to hold a one-shot lead over John Henry of Clydebank and District Golf Club and local professional, Paul Wardell.
Loftus carded five birdies and had two bogeys at the third and the seventeenth, a tough par three.
Play was temporarily halted as the weather took a turn for the worse. Former Scottish PGA Champion, Loftus commented, “I am disappointed to have bogeyed the 17th hole, but obviously delighted to have finished under par in these conditions.”
Four players are a further shot back in third on 71, including another former Scottish PGA champion, David Orr of East Renfrewshire.
Braid Hill’s Paul McKechnie, who has won two of the previous four events on the Tour this year, cannot be ruled out from lifting a hat trick of titles. He is sitting menacingly on a level par 72.
Murrayfield’s Mark Kerr said after his four over par 76, “After getting through Qualifying School at Dundonald last week, I am delighted to be getting more competitive golf this week and I am hoping to attend the final event at Irvine in a couple of weeks time.”
Alan Tait, Tournament Director commented, “Given the conditions, we were delighted to get the first round played today, as at one point we thought completion would be unlikely. I was also amazed at the quality of scoring considering what the players faced out there today. ”
The draw for Day 2 can be viewed online at www.opticalexpresspgt.com/draw-and-results.html

OPTICAL EXPRESS PRO GOLF TOUR
Whitekirk Golf Club, East Lothian
FIRST-ROUND SCOREBOARD
Par 72
69 Mark Loftus (Adam Hunter Golf).
70 John Henry (Clydebank and District), Paul Wardell (Whitekirk).
71 Alan Lockhart (Ladybank), David Orr (East Renfrewshire), James McGhee (Duddingston), Keir McNicoll (Carnoustie).
72 Kevin McAlpine (Alyth), Neil Fenwick (Dunbar), Graham Fox (Rowallan Castle), Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills).
73 Shaun McAllister (Craigielaw), Chris Currie (Caldwell), Steve Johnson (Roxburghe), Steven Duncan (Carnoustie).
74 Stewart Savage (Dalmuir), Lorne Kelly, Graham Rankin.
75 Jamie Carver (unatt), Nigel Scott-Smith (Turnhouse).
76 Ben Irving, Fraser Grant (am), Craig Gordon (Edinburgh Golf Centre), Mark Kerr (Murrayfield).
78 Ian Redford, Peter Latimer (St Andrews New) (am), Campbell Elliott (Haggs Castle), Carl Thompson.
79 Barry Campbell, Andrew McIntyre, Ed Wood (Crow Wood), Eric Ramsay (Carnoustie).
80 Jonathan Mallon, Lindsay Mann (Carnoustie).
81 Eric Walker.
82 Craig Matheson (Falkirk Tryst), David Roger (Windyhill), Michael Patterson (Kilmacolm).
NR John Gallagher (Swanston).

IRONMAN CRAIG LEE HEADS SCOTS CHALLENGE TOUR BID

By SCOTT CROCKETT

European Tour Chief Press Officer

Craig Lee, Scottish golf’s own ironman, will lead the Scottish charge this week for the ALLIANZ Golf Open Grand Toulouse on the European Challenge Tour.

The 34 year old from Stirling has, incredibly, competed in 19 of the 20 Challenge Tour events of the 2011 season, the only tournament he missed being the Karnten Golf Open in Austria at the beginning of June.

Such a show of stamina has helped Lee (pictured) to his current position of 13th place on the Rankings – the top ranked Scot on the list – and within sight of the top 20 at the end of the season who will win a card for The 2012 European Tour International Schedule.

Another good showing this week in the southwest of France will strengthen the former Scottish boys stroke-play champion’s claims, alongside the five other Scots in the field:  rookie James Byrne, Gavin Dear, Chris Doak, Jack Doherty and Jamie McLeary.

However they are up against a strong field, all vying for the lion’s share of the €160,000 prize fund in this, the fifth last counting event of the 2011 Challenge Tour season.

Included in that number is another stamina specialist, England’s Phil Archer, who despite being, at 39, one of the elder statesmen on the Challenge Tour, still retains a keen appetite for the game as he will prove in this, his seventh tournament outing on the spin in his attempt to return to The European Tour where he played from 2005 to 2010.

Archer’s best season on The European Tour was in 2007 where he finished second on three occasions and also helped Great Britain and Ireland retain The Seve Trophy. He admitted such success has given him added impetus to return to the big time.

“I think your expectations are higher because I know my abilities and I know what I can do,” he said. “I have age and experience on my side and hopefully that will help me in the run-in but I am still learning about the game and the mental side of the game too. You are never too old to stop learning.”

Should Archer triumph this week, it would complete an excellent September for English golfers on the European Challenge Tour with Tommy Fleetwood having won the Kazakhstan Open to move to the top of the Rankings, and Sam Little having triumphed last week in the M2M Russian Challenge Cup to move to sixth.

However, there is an impressive array of Continental European talent lined up all with their eye on the lion’s share of the €160,000 prize fund, including Frenchman Charles-Edouard Russo, who has finished in the top six in the tournament in the past two seasons, and Germany’s Nicolas Meitinger, who won the ALLIANZ Challenge de France in Paris in May.

Another Frenchman keen to make an impact is Michael Lorenzo-Vera, who topped the Challenge Tour Rankings in 2007 as the Number One graduate, and who heads to Toulouse in fine fettle on the back of a highly encouraging performance at last week’s M2M Russian Challenge Cup, where he finished in a tie for 11th place.