Tuesday, October 04, 2011

Scots struggle to get in Qualifying School picture at Frilford Heath

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
England's Dale Whitnell was leading the field after the opening round of The European Tour Qualifying School First Stage Section D in Frilford Heath following a five under par score of 64.
The former Walker Cup player made his professional debut on The European Tour at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in October 2009, finishing 36th and then bettered that by coming fourth at the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek in South Africa, the first event of The 2010 Race to Dubai.
He is now looking to return to The European Tour and didn’t do his chances any harm as he is one shot clear of fellow Englishman Martin Lemesurier and Rikard Karlberg of Sweden, who both carded for rounds of 68.
Other notable names at Frilford Heath included stars of the 2011 Walker Cup Stiggy Hodgson, who was tied 25th after a one over par 73, and his team-mate at Royal Aberdeen Golf Club Paul Cutler, who carded a disappointing round of 77.
The target this week is 25th place and ties and there will be a cut after the third round.
The Scots have a lot of work to do if any of them are going to go forward to Stage 2 in Spain. Scores today were:
74 Greg Paterson (St Andrews New).
75 Ross Kellett (Colville Park).
77 Keir McNicoll (Carnoustie), David Law (Hazlehead).
78 Ian Redford (St Andrews).
82 Mark Hillson (Craigielaw).

+Walker Cup Scot James Byrne did not fare much better than his compatriots who went to Frilford Heath. Byrne had a 74 in the first round of the Q School Stage 1 event at Ribagolfe near Lisbon.

ALL THE SCORES AT FRILFORD HEATH

First Round Scores from the European Tour Qualifying School – First Qualifying Stage Section D, Frilford Heath, Abingdon, par 72.

67 D Whitnell (Eng)
68 M Lemesurier (Eng), R Karlberg (Swe) 
70 J Cunliffe (RSA), M Sell (Eng), L Robinson (Eng), D Griffiths (Eng) 
71 T Hatton (Eng), S Matton (Eng) , S Lilly (Eng) , J Watts (Eng) , T King (am) (Eng) , L Noott (am) (Eng) , C Hinton (am) (Eng)
72 K Pratt (Aus), J Westwood (Eng) , J Oliphant (Eng) , L O'Neill (Eng) , M Staunton (Irl) , J Banbury (Eng) , W Johnson (Eng) , M Jager (Aus) , J Kavanagh (Eng), C Gill (Eng)
73 I Brown (Eng) , S Dhaduk (Pak) , W Bennett (Eng) , S Mitchell (Eng) , S Hodgson (Eng) , E Pepperell (Eng) , B Phillips (Wal) , R Laino (Eng) , N Jones (Ber) , B Stow(am) (Eng)
74 P Woodbury (USA) , S Fallon (Eng) , T Denton (USA) , S McAnally (Eng) , E Porter (Aus) , A Wootton (Eng) , R Tipping (RSA) , S McDonagh (Eng) , G Woodman (Eng) , D Higgins (Irl) , D Perrett (Eng) , J Webber (Eng) , T Burden (Eng) , G Paterson (am) (Sco) 
75 D Thomas (Eng) , M Kelly (Irl) , A Butterfield (Eng) , T Vickers (Eng) , N Cheetham (Eng) , M Allen (Eng) , W Harmston (Eng) , J Poulton (Eng) , L Burns (Eng) , L Mason (Eng) , D Lernihan (Irl) , D Thomas (Wal) , H Sayin (am) (Tur) , M Allen (am) (Eng) , R Kellett (am) (Sco) , T Adcock (am) (Eng)
76 R Edwards (Aus) , J Evans (Eng) , M Mackman (Eng) , D Seymour (Eng) , T Boys (Eng) , M Smith (Eng) , A Carson (Eng) , N Howell (Eng) , K Crossland (Eng) , R Harrison (Eng)
77 S Grewal (Eng) , K McNicoll (Sco) , D White (Eng) , P Cutler (Nir) , L Bangerter (Eng) , M Davenport (Eng) , D Law (Sco) , D Rickwood (am) (Eng) 
78 L Canter (Eng) , J Horn (Eng) , J Feather (Eng) , N Brennan (Irl) , F Jewsbury (Eng) , I Redford (Sco) , C Von Borsig (USA) , B Vongvanij (USA) , M Chamberlain (Eng) , J Galante (Esp) , A Mawji (Eng) 
79 J Ashton (Eng) , B O'Dell (Eng) , P Newman (Eng) , M Smith (am) (Eng)
80 J Carter (Eng) , W Roebuck (Eng) , G Gancedo Onieva (Esp) , D Gwilliam (Eng) , P Bannon (Can)
81 M Hodgson (Aus) , M McCormack (Eng) , B Cummings (Eng)
82 M Hillson (Sco) , M Floyd (Eng) 
83 R Gurney (Eng) , R Carter (Eng) , N Smith (Eng)
95 M Packard (Eng).

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES IN THE STAGE 1 ELIMINATOR AT RIBABOLFE, NEAR LISBON TODAY

CLICK HERE

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E-mail from Stephen Gray
Leading money-winner on the Tartan Tour

Just a wee note to let you know that I didn't play at the Sprint to St Andrews Final as i did not qualify.
You chose to write "Gray opted to play at a pro am at Prestwick" in your report about Paul McKechnie. I chose not to play in the EUROPRO FINALS this week as I was wanting to rest this week to prepare for the Scottish PGA Championship at Gleneagles next week.
It's been a bit of a hectic season trying to play Europro Tour and all the Tartan Tour events.
As for the Prestwick pro-am, I was a late invite and was there trying to raise money for the Mental Health Foundation.

Stephen Gray

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AMATEUR WELSH FIRST-ROUND LEADER AT SCOTTISH ALLIANCE

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Cathkin Braes scratch player Alan Welsh leads the field with a one-under-par 71 after the first round of the Scottish Alliance championship at Buchanan Castle Golf Club, near Drymen.
Welsh topped the pros despite four-putting the last green. With a net 71, Alan also shares the lead in the handicap returns with Ian Cameron (Crow Wood) - so a good day for the West Alliance who are the hosts and organisers of this year's 54-hole tournament.
Welsh's nearest rivals, a shot behind on par 72 are defending champion Jordan Findlay (Fraserburgh) and +1 amateur James Hendrick (Pollok).
It was Findlay's first competititve round since he turned pro recently.
Alan Glass, who plays off 13 at Alloa Golf Club, had a hole in one at the 149yd eighth. He finished with a gross 86, net 73.
With heavy overnight rain forecast, organisers John and Margaret Carrell have made contingency plans for a two or four-hour delay in starting times for the second round.
If any delay is more than four hours, the championship will be reduced to 36 holes with the second and final round on Thursday (when gale-force winds are forecast!).
The number for competitors to call after 7am is 01360 660629 to find out if starting times have been put back.


FIRST ROUND SCRATCH SCORES
Par 72
71 Alan Welsh (Cathkin Braes).
72 James Hendrick (Pollok), Jordan Findlay (Fraserburgh).
73 James Johnston (Greenburn), David Ferguson (Paisley), Andrew Marshall (Houston), Ross Neill (Drumpellier), Jamie McKay (North Gailes), Kris Nicol (Fraserburgh).
74 David McLure (North Gailes), Joel Hopwood (Carnegie-Skibo).
75 Paul Jamieson (Dunblane New), Hugh Fraser (Niddry), George Wither (Lothianburn),-
76 Barry Campbell (Vale of Leven), Ian Graham (Crow Wood), Ryan Buckley (Craigielaw), Andy Fullen (Largs), James Kinloch (Cardross), Malcolm McPhee (Bishopbriggs), Mike Robson (Harrison), John Fowler (Hayston), Ian Cameron (Crow Wood).
77 James Smallwood (Fereneze), Ryan McCafferty (Fereneze), Len Grindrod (Falkirk Tryst).
78 David Snodgrass (Hilton Park), George Findlay (Ballumbie Castle)..
79 Ewan Grimes (The Carrick).
80 Scott Catlin (Greenburn), Andrew Rothney (Deer Park).
81 Graeme Johnston (Glenbervie), Alan Todd (Turnberry), Jordan Gallagher (Dullatur)..
82 Andrew Sturton (Forrester Park), James Ingram (Boat of Garten), David McKay (Newmachar), Neil McGarva (Kilmacolm), Bob Stewart (Tulliallan).
83 Shaun Clark (Elie), Graham Milne (Aberdour), Jim Duncan (Newburgh on Ythan).
84 Raymond Barton (Alloa), David Wilson (Duff House Royal).
85 Alistair McDonald (Dunnikier Park), Douglas Martin (Crow Wood), Peter Kinloch (Cardross), Stuart Baker (Hilton Park), Charles Cassie (Nigg Bay), Donald Munro (Kingsknowe).
86 Lee Sutherland (Ballumbie Castle), Alan Glass (Alloa), Michael Carrigan (Greenburn), Steve Middleton (Bonnyton).
87 Jonathan D'Aguillar (Glasgow).
88 Robert Marshall (Greenburn), Justin White (Harrison)..
89 Philip Leggate (Musselburgh), Chris Westland (Alloa).
90 David Nelson (Aboyne).
94 Alistair Graham (Aboyne).
95 Peter Guthrie (Peterculter), Peter Jeffrey (Duddingston), John T Anderson (Kingsknowe).
96 Brian Robertson (Forrester Park), John Kinsella (Braemar)
97 Alistair Douglas (Caird Park), Ron Comber (Uphall).
98 Kenneth Thomson (Alloa).
99 John Junior (Hilton Park).
101 Robert McGinty (Vale of Leven).
105 Alexander Bruce (Moray), John Muirden (Leven).
No Returns: William Marr (West Lothan), Gilbert Wilkie (Muckhart), Hugh Burns (Troon Welbeck).


LEADING NET SCORES
71 Ian Cameron (Crow Wood) (5), Alan Welsh (Cathkin Braes) (scr).
72 James Johnston (Greenburn) (1), David Ferguson (Paisley) (1).
73 James Kinloch (Cardross) (3), Hugh Fraser (Niddry) (1), Alan Glass (Alloa) (13), James Hendrick (Pollok) (+1).
74 George Wither (Lothianburn) (1).

***DUE to the severe weather warning, the Scottish Golf Union has cancelled the Belhaven Best Captains & Secretaries Championship Grand Final, scheduled for Pollok GC on Wednesday (October 5).

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ROOKIE PRO GREG NICOLSON STRUGGLING BUT MAKES THE CUT


By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@cottishgolfview.com 
Edinburgh's Greg Nicolson, pictured, is finding that life as a professional golfer can be a bit of a slog at times. After turning pro a week past Monday in Abu Dhabi and finishing in the top 10 with the help of an ace in the first event of the MENA Tour, the Mortonhall member is lying joint 36th in this week's 54-hole tournament, the Ras Al Khaimah Classic at Tower Links Golf Club in the United Arab Emirates.
He made the cut with three shots to spare after rounds of 77 and 75 for 152. But he is a long way off the lead, presently held by another rookie pro, Londoner Jake Shepherd, 21, who is on 10-under-par 134 with a couple of 67s and five shots clear of the field.
Other Scots in the field are Ross Bain (71 for 145), Simon Dunn (73 for 146) and Fraser McLaughlan (76 for 155). The last named made the last day's play with nothing to spare.
Leading second-round totals
Par 144 (2x72)
134 Jake Shepherd (Eng) 67 67.
139 Yasin Ali (Eng) 72 67, Peter Richardson (Eng) 72 67, Ahmed-Reda Rhazali (Mor) 67 72.
140 Matloob Ahmed (Pak) 73 67, Ross Canavan (Eng) 73 67.
141 Lindsay Reynolds (Can) 71 70.
Scots' scores
145 Ross Bain 74 71 (T12)
146 Simon Dunn 73 73 (14th).
152 Greg Nicolson 77 75 (T36).
155 Fraser McLaughlan 79 76 (T49).
  

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PAUL McKECHNIE WINS SPRINT TO ST ANDREWS



By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com   
Braid Hills' Paul McKechnie chalked up his seventh win of the Tartan Tour season in the penultimate event, the Sprint to St Andrews Final over The Duke's Course, today.
McKechnie. the halfway leader, was never really threatened for the £2,000 first prize even though Elie's David Patrick came charging home in five-under-par 30 with a hole in one at the 12th (209yd).
Patrick used a five-iron for the sixth ace of his career. It came in a four-hole run from the 11th to the 14th in which the former Walker Cup player had three birdies and his ace, an eagle. He also birdied the 17th but a bogey at the 16th cost him a play-off.
Patrick finished with a two-under-par 69 for 142, joint runner-up with Downfield's Kenny Hutton who had a pair of 71s. Hutton birdied the short third and long 11th but bogeyed the fifth and 14th. The Dundee man failed to birdie any of the last seven holes in either round - it was even windier for the second round than it had been for the first. 
McKechnie did his "hard work" in a first-round 69 and he could afford to slip to a one-over 72 with birdies at the first, sixth and 11th but a bogey at the first and three shots spilled to par over the last four holes - a double bogey at the par-4 15th and a bogey at the last.
But a one-under-par total of 141 was good enough to see him home by a shot from Patrick and Hutton who won £1,300 each..
Graham Fox (Rowallan Castle) had a second-round 68, the best of the day, and he finished joint fourth on 144 with Gareth Wright (West Linton), Craig Ronald (Carluke) and Christopher Currie (Caldwell), each of them earning £677.
With only next week's Scottish PGA championship at Gleneagles to come, Stephen Gray leads the Tartan Tour money table with £31,645;  Greig Hutcheon is second with £23,823 and Paul McKechnie third with £23,731.
+Picture above, courtesy of PGA Scotland, shows David Scott (left), Director of Golf at The Dukie's Course, presenting Paul McKechnie with his £2,000 cheque.
FINAL TOTALS
Par 142 (2x71)
141 Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills) 69 72 (£2,000).
142 David Patrick (Elie SC) 73 69, Kenny Hutton (Downfield) 71 71 (£1,300 each).
144 Graham Fox (Rowallan Castle) 76 68, Gareth Wright (West Linton) 73 71, Craig Ronald (Carluke) 71 73, Christopher Currie (Caldwell) 70 74 (£677 each).
145 Alan Lockhart (Ladybank) 71 74 (£500).
147 David Orr (East Renfrewshire) 76 71 (£450).
149 Jason McCreadie (Buchanan Castle) 78 71, Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs GR) 77 72, Greg McBain (Gamola Golf) 74 75, Neil Fenwick (Dunbar) 73 76 (£327 each).
150 Greig Hutcheon (Banchory) 78 72, Scott Grieve (Turnhouse) 78 72, Graeme Brown (Montrose GL) 76 74, Tom Buchanan (Duddingston) 75 75 (£107 each).
151 Scott Henderson (Kings Links) 78 73, Craig Gordon (Edinburgh GC) 73 78.
152 James McKinnon (Irvine) 78 74.
153 Ross Cameron (McDonald Ellon) 77 76, Lindsay Mann (Carnoustie GL) 76 77.
154 Mark Kerr (Murrayfield) 78 76, Stuart Reekie (Blairgowrie) 75 79, Mark Loftus (Adam Hunter Golf) 74 80, Alan Tait (Marriott Dalmahoy) 73 81.
155 Alastair Mackenzie (Renaissance Club) 77 78.
158 Christopher Russell (Dunbar) 83 75.
159 Steven Duncan (Carnoustie GL) 78 81, Garry Forrester (St Andrews GS) 77 82.
160 Craig Matheson (Falkirk Tryst) 78 82.
161 James McGhee (Duddingston) 80 81.
172 Fraser Clarke (Newmachar) 83 89.
Disqualified - Ross Dixon (Renaissance Club) 81 -, Stephen Lamb (Cardrona) 77 -.

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CRAIGIELAW ARE SCOTTISH JUNIOR TEAM CHAMPIONS

Craigielaw's Junior Team has become Scottish Junior Team Champions for the fourth time in six years at a wet and windy Cardrona.
Despite missing two of their star players, Grant Forrest and Gabrielle Macdonald, the team of Ollie Duffy (captain), Willem Kerr, Jack Dow, Ewen Donaldson, Lewis Ross and Marcus Cullen, all performed well, narrowly, beating Deeside Golf Club in the 15-team Scottish final.
The Craigielaw junior team will now represent Scotland in the British finals which take place in Spain early in the new year. It should be familiar ground to them, having won the British title on their last visit to the finals in 2009.
Team Manager Gordon Smith said "I take my hat of to our junior team members. I actually think we were a bit fortunate to be at the Scottish final, having just qualified by beating Gullane at home in the last match of the East Lothian Junior Golf League.
"We were missing a couple of our stars at Cardrona but the young players who came in performed really well. I think we will have at least two players at the British finals who were members of the victorious 2009 squad, so our squad in Spain should have a great mix of competitive experience and young talent."

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