WRIGHT WINS FINAL EPD TOUR EVENT, SAXTON WINS MERIT TITLE

FROM THE EPD (German PGA) TOUR WEBSITE
It was his goal to be finally number one of the Order of Merit – and he achieved it: Dutchman Reinier Saxton, 23, finished the Fulda EPD Tour Championship 2011 presented by JOB AG in second place behind the tournament winner, Englishman, Darren Wright at Hunfeld, Germany today.
This strong performance at the GC Hofgut Praforst and respectively the 4200 euro prize money was good enough for Saxton, a former winner of the British amateur title, to jump to the top of the table at the end of the season.
With a total prize money of almost 35.000 euro, Saxton, who was the only player to win three tournaments on the EPD Tour this year, finally took the crown. He profit also from the absence of German Maximilian Glauert who missed the final competition because of backache.

Coming home on tied 3rd place also German Sebastian Buhl earned enough money to overtake Glauert in the rankings and finish the year as Order of Merit runner-up.
Saxton, Buhl, Glauert as well as Christoph Günther and Dennis Küpper reached the Top 5 and so got the ticket for European Challenge Tour 2012. Allen John, ranked sixth in the final EPD Tour order of merit, still has a chance to climb one step higher: If one of the Top-5-players reaches the final stage of Qualifying School and makes the cut there, John moves up.
The winner at the Fulda EPD Tour Championship, the final event of the season, today was Darren Wright. The 22 year old Englishman from Portsmouth ran hot on the last nine holes and finally had a score of 14 under 202 (67, 68, 67), one stroke better than Saxton.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 216 (3x72) prize money in euros.
202 Darren Wright (England) 67 68 67 (7,000)
203 Reinier Saxton (Netherlands) 68 67 68 (4,200)
204 Lee Corfield (England) 72 65 67, Seb Buhl (Germany) 72 66 66 (2,450 each).
SELECTED TOTALS
209 Ben Parker (England) 74 66 67 (T11) (945)
211 Rob Harris (England) 70 72 69 (T14) (718)
216 David James (Scotland) 73 70 73 (T27) (506).

EPD TOUR FINAL ORDER OF MERIT
Top five advance to European Challenge Tour 2012
1 Reinier Saxton (Netherlands) 34,809.
2 Seb Buhl (Germany) 32,656.
3 Max Glauert (Germany) 31,173.
4 Christoph Gunther (Germany) 24,502.
5 Dennis Kupper (Germany) 19,914.

CRERAR'S TEAM WIN PRESTWICK COUNTBACK

GOLF COPY CREDIT CAL CARSON GOLF AGENCY QUERIES TO COLIN FARQUHARSON TEL 01224 869782   ANDREW CRERAR'S TEAM WIN MHF PRO-AM AT PRESTWICK ON COUNTBACK   Panmure Golf Club professional Andrew Crerar's team pipped that of Royal Troon GC professional  Kieron Stevenson on a card play-off after they had tied on eight-under-par 63 at the end of the Mental Health Foundation pro-am at Prestwick Golf Club today (Monday). No individual professional scores or prize money was recorded. Crerar's team represented RJD Partners and consisted of David McLellan (handicap 15), Sandy Dudgeon (13) and Richard Drover (10). Stevenson's team represented Hillhouse Quarries and were Andrew Vernon (handicap 18), Robert McNaughton (10) and Graham O'Boyle (18). The card play-off went down to the last six holes before Andrew Crerar's team prevailed.   MENTAL HEALTH FOUNDATION PRO-AM Prestwick Golf Club. Par 71 63 Andrew Crerar (Panmure) and David McLellan (15), Sandy Dudgeon (13), Richard Drover (10) (RJD Partners) (better last six holes); Kieron Stevenson (Royal Troon) and Andrew Vernon (18), Robert McNaughton (10), Graham O'Boyle (18) (Hillhouse Quarries). Other scores: 64 Callum Nicoll and Prestwick GC; Fraser Mann and Spiers & Jeffrey team. 66 Derek Watters and Eclipse Contract Cleaning; Jonathan Lomas and Bowmore Boozers; Frank Rennie and Neil Howie team. 68 Stephen Gray and Graeme McDonald team; Mark King and J Milligan team; Nigel Scott-Smith and Southside Strollers; Paul Wardell and The Weir Group. ends

SCOTTISH ALLIANCE CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW

Entries are well down for the Scottish Golfers' Alliance championship which tees off at Buchanan Castle Golf Club tomorrow. "We have had considerably fewer  entries than in previous years - 78 this year compared to 104 last year and 144 the previous year, therefore our prize list has to reflect the lack of entries," said organiser John Carrell, the West of Scotland Alliance secretary. "Our main professional prize will be £800  with our top amateur voucher prize being worth £300. Our total prize fund will be £4,555. "I think the professional prize is very good, considering there is half the number of professionals competing compared with last year." He is a little bit worried about the championship being marred by bad weather. "I feel our big problem will be with the weather. Showers are forecast for Tuesday, heavier rain for Wednesday and high winds for Thursday. It really is going to be a testing three days," said John Carrell. Title holder Jordan Findlay, pictured above by Cal Carson Golf Agency, won at Murcar Links 12 months ago as an amateur. He turned professional a week or two ago. He is a late entry to the competition. Although the draw has been made there are still four spaces on the start list. If anyone want to join the field even now, they should call 07766 397701 or 07761 270828. The championship is over 54 holes with one round each day.

KENNY PERRY PLAYS ON AFTER SISTER'S DEATH - AND WINS

FROM THE US CHAMPIONS' TOUR WEBSITE
CARY, NORTH CAROLINA (AP) -- After nearly withdrawing following his sister's death, Kenny Perry won the SAS Championship on Sunday for his first Champions Tour title.
Kay Perry died Saturday night after a long fight with breast cancer. She died two years to the day after the death of their mother, Mildred Perry, also to cancer.
"When I heard the news last night, it was a long night," Perry said. "I didn't sleep a lot, thought about just getting on a plane and heading home. "But Dad was great. He called me, he said, 'Son, you just need to go out there and represent Kay today.'"
He did, making a 30-foot eagle putt on the par-5 17th en route to a 2-under 70 and a one-stroke victory over Jeff Sluman and John Huston.
"I was very calm all day. I had no nerves," Perry said. "Normally, I'm a little jumpy, a little jittery, tense. Today, I was just -- I felt like I was on a low. I was really down. I was kind of depressed, and my swing was in rhythm. It wasn't fast, and I had great control of the golf ball."
The 51-year-old Perry, a 14-time winner on the US PGA Tour, had an 11-under 205 total -- the highest winning score in tournament history -- on the Prestonwood Country Club course.
Sluman also finished with a 70, and Huston shot a 71.
Perry rallied after making a double-bogey 7 on the 12th hole after hitting his approach shot into the water. He also had a double bogey in the first round.
"Normally, I get pretty frustrated and pretty upset over that type of deal, and they get to me inside," said Perry, the fifth first-time winner this year. "I was able to just plod along, just play along."
"I really wasn't thinking a lot about winning. I just wanted to make her proud and somehow, you know, the eagle fell in the bottom of the cup on 17, and I felt like I know they are watching. I felt like I had some help up there. Excited to win, but I'd rather have my sister back."
Sluman said the weather made play difficult for the second straight day.
"We're not used to that cold and blustery kind of north, northwest wind, and it makes the golf course set up extremely difficult," Sluman said. "It was at least 2 to 3 shots tougher (than Friday). (And) with no humidity, it really dries the greens out, and the greens were, from Friday until today, 3 feet faster."
Russ Cochran, the 2010 winner, had a 71 to finish fourth at 8 under, a stroke ahead of Fred Couples (70).
Tom Lehman (72) tied for 12th at 4 under. He maintained his lead in Charles Schwab Cup race and the $1 million payday. Mark Calcavecchia tied for the low round of the day with a 68 to tied for 10th at 5 under. He picked up 53 points and remained in second place in the Schwab Cup race, 398 points behind.

TO VIEW ALL THE FINAL TOTALS

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FROM THE NATIONWIDE TOUR WEBSITE
By Dave Senko, PGA TOUR staff
MIDLAND, Texas -- It took Danny Lee just 19 starts on Nationwide Tour to capture his first professional title. The 21-year-old native of Seoul, South Korea, brought up in New Zealand, made a par on the first play-off hole to defeat fellow rookie Harris English, a member of the US Walker Cup team at Royal Aberdeen, at the WNB Golf Classic. His 72-hole total of 18-under-par 270 included a final-round 6-under-par 66 and it earned him a cheque for $94,500.
Lee had started the day six strokes behind 54-hole leader B.J. Staten, but when Staten stumbled to a 4-over-par 40 on the front nine, it opened the door. As many as five players led or shared the lead at various points during the day but it was Lee and English who emerged from the crowded leaderboard to get into the playoff.
In the playoff, Lee's tee shot hit a tree and kicked right but he fortunately had a clear shot to the flag. His second landed in the greenside bunker, but he hit a near-perfect shot to within a foot of the hole. He tapped in for the win. English found himself in trouble off the tee. He hit his drive behind some trees and was forced to punch out. He hit his third to about seven feet, but missed his par putt opening the door for Lee, who sank his winning putt.
"It feels great to win again," said Lee, the 2008 U.S. Amateur champion. I haven't won a tournament since I won the 2009 Johnnie Walker Classic and it's a great feeling. It's not easy to win and I worked really hard with my uncle and my coach for this. I'm really happy it worked."
English was seeking his second win on the Nationwide Tour in 2011. He won the Children's Hospital Invitational in July as an amateur and turned professional before last week's Soboba Golf Classic where he finished T49.
"I didn't hit my tee shot where I wanted to in the playoff. I tried to get a good angle at the flag but kind of got a bad break but that's what happens," English said.
"I gave myself a chance for par and that's all I could get. I started off a little slow today with a bogey at No. 1 but the eagle at No. 12 really got me going and got me back in it and I kind of cruised in from there. Overall, it was a good day. I was just glad I was in it."
With his second-place finish, English earned $56,700 and he moved to 79th on the 2011 money list.
By overcoming Staten's six-stroke deficit, Lee set a new tournament mark for the best come-from-behind victory in the events' history, surpassing the four strokes Brad Adamonis made up the final day in 2007.
Staten had started the day with a two-stroke margin over Gavin Coles, but made bogeys on holes 3-4-5 and another on No. 9. He finished with a 5-over-par 77.
"I didn't hit it well today and I got out of my tempo and then you start pressing," said Staten. "I just didn't make anything all day. It's unfortunate because you've got to put four rounds together out here or you're not going to win."
WNB Golf Classic News and Notes: Danny Lee will travel to South Korea on Monday to compete in the Korea Open.... Lee is now 4th on the money list with $271,700.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72)
270 Danny Lee (New Zealand) 64 72 68 66, Harris English (US) 69 70 62 69 (Lee won sudden-death play-off).
272 Garth Mulloy (S Africa) 67 74 67 64.
273 Bob Heintz (US) 65 73 69 66, Craig Bowden (US) 65 71 66 71, Gavin Coles (Australia) 66 69 65 73.
SELECTED SCORES
276 Gary Christian (England) 70 66 72 68 (T14)
281 Russell Knox (Scotland) 71 69 72 69 (T36)
MISSED THE CUT
142 Greg Owen (England) 73 69.
145 Matthew Richardson (England) 67 78.

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES

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McKECHNIE, CALDWELL ONLY PAR-BEATERS IN SPRINT FINAL

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com

Braid Hills' Paul McKechnie, pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency, edged a shot ahead of the select field at halfway with a wind-cheating, two-under-par 69 in the Sprint to St Andrews Final over The Duke's Course today.
Only one other player broke the par of 71 - Christopher Currie (Caldwell) whose round of 70 included four birdies in a row from the third.
The field of 35 players - Heather MacRae withdrew - qualified for the 36-hole final through a series of 18-hole competitions.
McKechnie had to build his score before the closing holes which saw far more bogeys than birdies. Paul birdied the short third, long sixth, seventh and long 11th, having bogeyed the second and fhe fifth.
He parred the last seven holes, which was no mean feat, given the conditions.
With next week's Gleneagles Scottish PGA championship ringing down the curtain on the Tartan Tour season, McKechnie, who is third in the money table with a total of £21,731, could, in theory, still catch Stephen Gray (Hayston), leader with £31,645, by winning the £2,000 prize in the current event and the £8,000 reward next week.
Gray did not qualify for the "Sprint" final.
Greig Hutcheon (Banchory), second in the money table with £23,715, will have to make his move at Gleneagles because an opening 78 in the Sprint to St Andrews leaves him with a lot of ground to make up over Tuesday's final round if he is to make the "Sprint" prize list which stops after the top 15 and ties.

SPRINT TO ST ANDREWS FINAL
The Duke's Course, St Andrews
FIRST ROUND
Par 71
69 Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills).
70 Christopher Currie (Caldwell).
71 Alan Lockhart (Ladybank), Kenneth Hutton (Downfield), Craig Ronald (Carluke).
73 Neil Fenwick (Dunbar), David Patrick (Elie SC), Alan Tait (Marriott Dalmahoy), Gareth Wright (West Linton).
74 Mark Loftus (Adam Hunter Golf), Greg McBain (Gamola Golf).
75 Stuart Reekie (Blairgowrie), Tom Buchanan (Duddingston).
76 Lindsay Mann (Carnoustie GL), David Orr (East Renfrewshire), Graham Fox (Rowallan Castle), Graeme Brown (Montrose GL).
77 Garry Forrester (St Andrews GS), Stephen Lamb (Macdonald Cardrona), Ross Cameron (McDonald Ellon), Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs), Alastair Mackenzie (Renaissance Club).
78 Scott Hendeerson (Kings Links), Jason McCreadie (Buchanan Castle), Steven Duncan (Carnoustie GL), Craig Matheson (Falkirk Tryst), Mark Kerr (Murrayfield), Scott Grieve (Turnhouse), James McKinnon (Irvine), Greig Hutcheon (Banchory.
80 James McGhee (Duddingston).
81 Ross Dixon (Renaissance Club).
83 Fraser Clarke (Newmachar), Christopher Russell (Dunbar).
Withdrew - Heather MacRae (Gleneagles Hotel).
Retired - Stephen McAllister (Renaissance Club).

TOP SIX IN TARTAN TOUR MONEY TABLE
1 Stephen Gray (Hayston), events 77, £31,645.
2 Greig Hutcheon (Banchory), events 60, £25,715.
3 Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills), events 81, £21,731.
4 Scott Henderson (Kings Links), events 75, £18,869.
5 Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs GR), events 77, £18,554.
6 Graham Fox (Rowallan Castle), events 87, £18,583.

QUALIFYING VENUES NAMED FOR 2012 SENIOR OPEN AT TURNBERRY

NEWS RELEASE

 The three qualifying venues for The 2012 Senior Open Championship presented by Rolex were announced today, with Dundonald Links, Kilmarnock Barassie Golf Club and Turnberry’s Kintyre Course hosting an estimated 300 hopefuls hoping to seal a spot in the Championship on the Ailsa course at Turnberry.

The 18-hole qualifier will be played across the three courses on Monday, July 23 ahead of the star-studded Senior Open Championship presented by Rolex from July 26-29.

It will give non-exempt players the chance to join some of golf’s great names in the Championship with the hope of reproducing the performance of Pete Oakley in 2004, who came through qualifying before going on to win the Championship at Royal Portrush.

HUGH HUNTER'S CLACKMANNAN COUNTY NEWS

SUCCESS FOR CLACKMANNAN GOLFERS
Following on from Jamie Stevenson’s sixth place and Ken Thomson’s third equal place recently in the Midland Alliance event at Alyth recently, Clackmannan county  golfers Bob Stewart (Tulliallan) and Ray Barton (Alloa) teamed up with L Bushby (Blairgowrie) and A McEwan (Carnoustie) to take the top team prize in the Midland Alliance Pro Am at Ladybank last week.
With the best two net scores counting, they finished on 130, to give them a two shot win. Normally, a team consists of three amateurs teamed with a professional, but in their case Bob, as the low handicap amateur, took on the professional role, leading the team well.
In the scratch section Braehead professional Jamie Stevenson shared second place with a level par 71, one shot behind the leading score of 70.
The 54 hole 2011 Scottish Alliance Championships take place this week at Buchanan Castle, and five local golfers: R Stewart (Tulliallan), R Barton, A Glass, C Westland, K Thomson (all Alloa) will be competing in the field of over 70 drawn from all the Alliance golfers in Scotland.

GLENEAGLES CHANCE FOR LOCAL BOY GOLFERS

The Highland Spring Junior Masters Final takes place this weekend over the Queen's course, Gleneagles. Eighty-one qualifiers (51 boys, 30 girls) will compete for the 2011 title, and Clackmannan boys Gregor McEwan and Brian McAdam (both Alloa) will be hoping for a good performance in the handicap event.
The number of junior club golfers in the county is diminishing. Hopefully, local Clubs will be taking some initiatives to recruit new Junior members.

DAVID LAW TURNS PRO AND SIGNS UP WITH 4SPORTS AGENCY

NEWS RELEASE

London - Scottish amateur champion David Law from Aberdeen has signed a long term, exclusive representation contract with 4SPORTS and ENTERTAINMENT, the leading Swiss sports management agency.

Law, a member of Hazlehead Golf Club, has turned to the professional ranks of the game following a stellar amateur career. The 20-year-old has been a key member of the Scottish elite squads over the last five years and has numerous prestigious titles to his name.

With a number of impressive results as an U16, followed by some U18 International honours, Law quickly established himself as one of Scotland’s finest young amateurs. He had a number of victories on the boys' amateur circuits including the Scottish Junior tour, and the North-east boys' championship.
In 2009 came one of David’s finest achievements to date which saw him capture the boys and men’s Scottish amateur championships in the same year, a feat which went down in history. He rounded off this outstanding year by winning the Scottish boys' order of merit.
After another consistent season in 2010, David started 2011 full of confidence and quickly produced some fine results with a second place finish in the South African Open. He went on to win the Northern amateur also held in the Southern hemisphere. He was victorious once again in the Scottish men’s amateur championship, and a few weeks later won a professional event, the Aberdeen Asset Management Northern Open on the Tartan tour.
David will play his first event as a professional at the Hero Indian Open, one of the leading events on the Asian Tour, from October 13 to 16.
David, a member of the Paul Lawrie Foundation team, commented, ‘I am really pleased to be signing with 4Sports as I've got to know them well over several years as they manage Paul Lawrie and I've been lucky to be part of his Foundation.
"I'm excited about playing my first professional event in India which I'm sure will be a fascinating and memorable experience. After the successful year I've had I feel ready to make the transition and join the professional ranks. I also want to take this opportunity to thank the Scottish Golf Union who have supported me for the past six years."

+ 4SPORTS and ENTERTAINMENT is one of Europe’s leading athlete management and sports sponsorship agencies. Based in Baar, Switzerland, it also has offices in Montreal, London and Angelholm. It offers a full management service to over 150 professional athletes from the world of ice hockey and golf to ski-ing and snowboarding.

http://www.4sports.ch/
www.4sportsgolf.com

KEVIN NA SCORES FIRST WIN ON US PGA TOUR

FROM THE GOLF.COM WEBSITE
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Kevin Na won the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open on Sunday for his first US PGA Tour title, birdieing Nos. 15-17 to pull away for a two-stroke victory over Nick Watney.
The 28-year-old Na closed with a 6-under 65 for a tournament-record 23-under 261 total at TPC Summlerin in the Fall Series opener. Watney, a two-time winner this year, shot a 67.
Tied for the lead with Watney entering the round, Na sealed the breakthrough victory with a 42-foot birdie putt on the par-3 17th. Na and Watney both parred the par-4 18th.
"I'm just very excited about my first win," said Na, who starting playing golf a year after his family moved to the United States from South Korea when he was 8. "It wasn't easy. Nick was coming right behind me. It looked like any time he was going to make a move, and I tried the best that I could to stay one step ahead of him. I think the putt on 17 basically sealed the deal for me."
The winner had five birdies and a bogey on the front nine to reach 21 under. He parred the first four holes on the back nine, then dropped a stroke on the par-3 14th to fall into a tie with Watney.
"I hit a terrible shot on 14," Na said. "I should have backed off. I always back off, but I felt, 'I'm going to hit this.' And I hit a terrible shot and made bogey.
"To bounce back after that bogey, to hit that chip to 3 feet - I had a great chip from down there - I was able to relax a little bit. Then I had a great two-putt for birdie on the next hole. It gave me a one-shot lead. I told myself par, par, you're going to win this golf tournament."
Na pulled ahead with his birdie on the par-4 15th and both players birdied the par-5 16th.
"Fifteen was definitely disappointing to not make birdie," Watney said. "I would love to have that bunker shot back. ... Sixteen, I played very nice. Seventeen, I hit a good shot then he made a 40-footer. That kind of stuff happens when you win. It's tough to beat.
"One thing I relearned this week was how serious I was taking it, how badly I wanted to play well the last couple of months. That doesn't always translate into good golf, so this week I came here with no expectations. I took it very easy and played pretty nice."
Tommy Gainey and Paul Goydos had 68s to tie for third at 18 under, and David Hearn (65), Carl Pettersson (68), Jhonattan Vegas (68), Tim Herron (69) and Spencer Levin (68) followed at 17 under.
Na and Watney broke the record by two strokes in the event that switched from 90 to 72 holes in 2004.
"On this golf course you have to get off to a good start," said Na, who earned $792,000. "The reason why is because like all the guys out here say, 'You have to go low, and if you're not making birdies, somebody else is.' So, if you're even par through six you feel like you're two shots behind everybody, and it puts more pressure into your back nine.
"I was able to get off to a great start and stay ahead of the game, and I think that was the key for me to be cruising through to the victory. The third hole, I made it off the fringe and I said, 'I'm 3 under through four; this is looking really good.'

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 284 (4x71)
Players from US unless stated
261 Kevin Na 67 63 66 65.
263 Nick Watney 65 67 64 67.
266 Tommy Gainey 67 67 64 68, Paul Goydos 66 66 66 68.
Selected scores:
273 Martin Laird (Scotland) 70 66 66 71 (T40)

MISSED THE CUT
143 Michael Sim (Scotland/Australia) 70 73.

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES

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TIGER WOODS DROPS OUT OF WORLD TOP 50

Tiger Woods is out of the top 50 in the world ranking for the first time in nearly 15 years.
Woods, who hasn't won in nearly two years, was assured of dropping from the top 50 when Louis Oosthuizen finished in a three-way tie for fifth in the Dunhill Links Championship.
That ends a streak of 778 consecutive weeks inside the top 50, dating to when Woods was No. 61 on Oct. 13, 1996.
Woods, who has not played since missing the cut at the PGA Championship, returns to competition this week at the Frys.com Open at CordeValle in northern California.

TOP 10 IN WORLD PRO RANKINGS
1 Luke Donald (England).
2 Lee Westwood (England).
3 Rory McIlroy (N Ireland).
4 Steve Stricker (United States).
5 Dustin Johnson (United States).
6 Martin Kaymer (Germany).
7 Jason Day (Australia).
8 Adam Scott (Australia).
9 Matt Kuchar (United States)
10 Phil Mickelson (United States).