John Henry makes impressive debut at West of Scotland Alliance

WEST OF SCOTLAND ALLIANCE REPORT
From Margaret Carrell.What a difference a week makes! Hot on the heels of the abandoned Scottish Alliance Championship, I am pleased to report the West Alliance travelled to sunny, yes I did say sunny Largs Kelburn today for a fantastic fixture. The most sunshine we have seen since the start of our season way back in the middle of September.
As we arrived the greenkeeping staff were preparing the course for our visit, the course was in excellent condition considering it had been closed for the last two days.
A big thank you to everyone who made our visit a memorable day.
Scratch was won by John Henry from Clydebank and District, joining us for the first time today and scoring an impressive 69.
He was followed by three players sharing second place on 71 - Barry Campbell (Vale of Leven), James Hendrick (Pollok) and Fraser McKenna (Balmore).
Handicap Scores
1st place - Peter Kinloch (Cardross) net 69.
2nd equal - Jonathan D'Aguilar (Glasgow), Sean Kelly (Esporta Dougalston) and Keiran Stark (Crow Wood) all net 70.
Senior Scores
1st place - James Kinloch (Cardross) net 73.
2nd place - Andrew Sturton (Forrester Park) net 74.

Special mention to one of our young players Allan Todd from Turnberry who had an albatross at the par-5 third

Next West of Scotland Alliance competition will be held on Wednesday,  October 26 at Dundonald Links. Anyone wishing to join us can contact the Secretary on www.westalliance.co.uk

SCOT DUNN NEEDS CHOCOLATE OVERDOSE TO KEEP GOING

FROM THE MENA GOLF TOUR WEBSITE
By Viren Varma
DUBAI – Peter Richardson, 27, a former England boy international from Carlisle, can sense a possible victory going into the final round of the Shaikh Maktoum Dubai Open, the third event on the MENA Golf Tour, after producing another superb round at Al Badia Golf Club today.
Richardson, who played on the US college circuit as a student at Purdue University earlier in the 2000s,  followed his sizzling 66 on the opening day with a tidy 68 to go 10-under for the tournament to maintain his stranglehold on the $50,000 event.
Snapping at his heels, two shots behind, is his compatriot Dale Marmion, who closed with back-to-back rounds of 68. Aadil Jehangir of Pakistan, Morocco’s Faycal Serghini and England's Chris Chamberlain and ex-pat Scot Simon Dunn headed the chasing pack on seven under par 137.
With just three shots separating the top six, the prognosis for the final day points to an exciting finish. On ‘moving day,’ as the terminology goes, nobody moved more noticeably than the young Englishman Charles Tetlow, who matched the day’s second best score of 67 to go level-par for the tournament. Moroccan ace Serghini, Chamberlain and Sean McNamara of the US were the three other players who signed off with a 67 each to charge back into contention.
It was Richardson who held centre-stage with another impeccable performance.
“I have put myself in a good position. Let’s see how things unfold in the final round,” he said, adding: “My game plan will, however, remain the same: hit as many greens as possible and make putts.”
England’s Marmion attributed his second 68 on the trot to staying patient on the course. “The key to posting good numbers on this beautiful course is to avoid going into hazards – and there are many. You have to be patient."
The Middle East North Africa (MENA) Tour, he said, is pretty well organised.
 “I have played all over the world, and can tell from my experience that it has the potential to grow. I will try and encourage fellow golfers to be part of this tour.”
Scots-born Simon Dunn, who is just three shots off the pace, endured what he called a “strange day” before shooting an eventful 66. “My blood sugar level dropped dramatically and I needed heavy intake of chocolates to keep going,” said Dunn who, at one stage, went seven under for the day when he holed from 98 yards on the 17th, but dropped a shot on the 18th after hitting his wedge into water.
Playing with a broken bone in his right foot, Zane Scotland struggled to a level-par 72.
“When injury keeps weighing on your head, it’s too difficult to concentrate and string together a good round. I still managed to finish the round and that was a big plus.”
The cut was made at six-over-par 150 with top 40 professionals and 11 amateurs making it to the final round.
LEADING SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 144 (2x72)
134 Peter Richardson (Eng) 66 68
136 Dale Marmion (Eng) 68 68
137 Aadil Jehangir (Pak) 68 69, Faycal Sherghini (Mor) 70 67, Chris Chamberlain (Eng) 70 67, Simon Dunn (Sco) 71 66
140 Brian Njoroge (Ken) 69 71, Lindsay Renolds (Can) 70 70, Ross Canavan (Eng) 72 68, Shafiq Masih (Pak) 71 69, Gary Birch (Ger) 70 70, Sean McNamara (US) 73 67, Ganeev Giddie (Ken) 72 68
141 Zane Scotland (Eng) 69 72, Shahid Murtaza Ahmed (Pak) 68 73, Jonathan Porteous (Sco) 71 70
142 Cennydd Mills (Wal) 68 74, Greg Nicolson (Sco) 70 72
143 Ahmed Al Musharrekh (UAE) (am) 72 71, Ubi Michael Eteng (Nig) 70 73, Jake Shepherd (Eng) 71 72
144 Trevor Marshall (NZ) 72 72, Geoff Lound (Aus) 74 70, Anil Shah (Ken) 69 75, Charles Tetlow (Eng) 77 67
145 Khalid Yousuf (UAE) (am), Nasser Yacoob (Bahrain) (am) 71 74, Paul King (Eng) (am) 74 71

RENFREWSHIRE YOUTH TEAM IN WITH A CHANCE OF WEST TITLE

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE RENFREWSHIRE GOLF UNION
Turnberry.db@gmail.com
Youth teams from Glasgow and Renfrewshire ignored the wind and rain at Cathkin Braes GC to fight it out for points in the West of Scotland Youth League.
With the A team match cancelled, Renfrewshire called in Alistair MacDougall (Elderslie) as a last minute replacement and he had a narrow victory over Glasgow’s Youth Open Champion, Fraser Grant from Ralston GC. Then the experience of Cawder’s Jamie Savage was just good enough for a one hole win over Gavin Stirling (Caldwell).
The match remained equally balanced as Jordan Grant (Renfrew) battled for a half then Whinhill’s Anton O’Donnell put Renfrewshire ahead beating Calum McLean 2 and 1.
Glasgow’s Blair Cooper, Alan Walker and Christie Gray all won against DavidDocherty (Paisley), Ewan Waugh (Whitecraigs and Adam Bogle (Old Ranfurly) leaving Renfrewshire needing three wins for full points.
First, Stephen Mullen (Greenock) recorded a 4 and 3 win over Ralston’s John Grant then Old Ranfurly’s Stuart Watt continued his good form with a 5 and 4 victory over Blair Crabb (Williamwood).
This left Bryan Robertson from Renfrew GC out on the course against twice club champion Jack Brown from Cathcart Castle GC. With a great display of controlled golf Bryan won 2 up for a narrow win – 5 ½ - 4 ½ - and a precious away win for Renfrewshire in its bid for the title.

STEPHEN DODD WINS FOURTH WELSH PGA TITLE

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE PGA
Stephen Dodd wrapped up his fourth Welsh National PGA Professional Championship title with ease over the windswept fairways of his ‘home’ club Southerndown.
The European Tour campaigner, playing with a spare set of clubs from his garage, secured a three-shot success in the Ryder Cup Europe supported event after carding a second round three-under-par 67 for a winning four-under-par 136 total.
Matthew Tottey (North Wales Golf Club) took second place after a two-under-par 68 eased to him one-under for the tournament, with Liam Bond (Marriott St Pierre) finishing third after a final day 73 took him to three-over.
Dodd, winner of the title 1995, 2001 and 2007, was more than satisfied with his two days’ work as he prepares to return to the rigours of the European Tour and the Portuguese Masters this week as he attempts to retain his card.
The three-time Tour winner was rarely troubled. He dropped a shot at the second, which he regained instantly at the third, before an eagle at the sixth and a trio of birdies from the ninth gave him a commanding lead despite dropped shot at the seventh. He had further bogeys at 14 and 18, which were tempered by a birdie at the 15th.
The win moved the 45-year-old to within two of Sid Mouland’s record six titles and alongside Craig DeFoy in third on the all-time winners list.
“I’m pleased as it’s been tough conditions the past two days and I did what I set out to achieve and hopefully there’s a few more titles still to come,” said Dodd.
“I had a good middle of the round from the sixth to the 12th with three birdies and an eagle, which gave me a bit of cushion and made the last few holes easier.
“It’s nice to come back and catch up with a few of lads and see a few people as you don’t get much opportunity playing on Tour, which is now my priority.
“I got what I wanted out of the week and hopefully I can take some of that form into Portugal. I’ve played a lot of events but not made that many cuts so it’s nice to get some golf in some tough conditions, so hopefully I’ve learned something and can take that forward into the coming weeks.”
Runner-up Matthew Tottey, whose round comprised four birdies and two bogeys, admitted his disappointment at missing out on the title but took plenty of positives from his performance after a challenging year.
“I’m a little bit disappointed as I felt I hit the ball really well from tee to green but just didn’t really hole the putts that I needed to around the turn,” he said.
“Stephen played really well and holed the putts at the right time and he got away from me a bit but it was a good battle, I just came up a little bit short at the end.
“But it’s been a transitional year and it’s nice to see some of the hard work starting to pay off.”
Five bogeys and two birdies were the story for Bond, who is also facing a battle to retain his European Tour card and avoid a return to Qualifying school next month.
However, the event was more than useful as he prepares for the final weeks of the European Tour season. He said: “I was quite pleased with the way played over the two days.
“I didn’t putt very well today to keep the momentum going, which was frustrating more than anything else.
“It was still tough and testing out there but Stephen played well so he was going to be hard to beat. He’s a member here too, so he knows where to put the ball.
“But I’m quite happy with my game and I’ve got three weeks off now without a tournament and then it’s off to South Africa to try and keep my card.”
The tournament also decided the make-up of the three-man Wales team competing in next month’s PGAs of Europe International Team Championships in Portugal. Making the plane are stalwarts Simon Edwards (Windermere) and Andrew Barnett (North Wales Golf Range) along with debutant Matthew Parsley (Holywell).
Also celebrating was Glyn Davies, who took the Senior Welsh National PGA Professional title.
+Picture at top of article by courtesy of Michael Lewis of Getty Images (c).

FINAL TOTALS
Par 140 (2x70)
136 Stephen Dodd (unatt) 69 67
139 Matthew Tottey (North Wales GC) 71 68
143 Liam Bond (Marriott St Pierre) 70 73
144 Simon Edwards (Windermere) 73 71
146 Matthew Parsley (Holywell) 79 67
147 Trevor Jones (Whipsnade) 76 71, Richard Dinsdale (Parc Golf Academy) 75 72, Andrew Humphreys (Llanymynech) 74 73, Joe Ferguson (Celtic Manor) 74 73
148 Andrew Barnett (North Wales GR) 79 69, David Wood (St Clere’s Hall) 78 70, Adam Constable (Cardiff) 76 72

A full rundown of scores can be found at: http://pgagbi.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/pgagbi11/event/pgagbi11672/contest/1/leaderboard.htm

KERR MAKES HIS MARK WITH A 66 TO BE GLENEAGLES LEADER BY 3

                MARK KERR CLICKETY-CLICKS AT GLENEAGLES TODAY. Image by Andy Forman

By RON MARSHALL, PGA Scottish Region Press Officer
"There's something about this course that I love" was Mark Kerr's understandably rosy observation as he signed for a five-under 66, striding into a three-shot lead at the halfway stage of the Gleneagles PGA Scottish Championship over the King's Course.
A blistering, bogey-free back nine, boasting five birdies, established the 29-year-old, who's attached to Murrayfield Golf Club, as the man to beat going into the third round. But the recent death of his father has lent perspective to Kerr's attitude to the game.
"After everything that's happened recently I'm using golf as a release so it would be nice to do well this week. I've been emotionally low for the last four or five weeks. I'd considered missing the final European Tour school (in Spain in December) but Robert (Carson, his caddie) has taken that week off work, and I didn't want him hanging around for nothing."

Another 29-year-old, and a man of many jobs, Chris Currie, pictured right by courtesy of Andy Forman, seems to have found his niche, that of golf professional, as he marched into second place. His four-under 67 left him with an aggregate of 137.
Having worked in Clydebank as a local authority gardener, greenkeeper, printer and delivery man, Currie, on the advice of Stewart Savage, the local pro at Clydebank Dalmuir where Currie learned the game, applied for an assistant's job - and got it - at Caldwell, whose head pro is former British Assistants' champion, Craig Everett.
First out yesterday with overnight leader, Graham Fox (who shot a level-par 71 for 139), Currie reckoned it was a massive benefit to be out early on greens that would become progressively more difficult to read.
"The greens staff have done a great job considering the rain recently. My putting's been excellent, and my ball-striking through the bag's pretty good."
Currie, who's never had a lesson in his life - "I'm pretty much a feel player" - carded four birdies and an eagle (the latter a drive to two feet at the 260yd par-4), offset by two bogeys.
The top 40 and ties will contest the final 36 holes over Wednesday and Thursday.

QUALIFIERS FOR LAST TWO ROUNDS
Par 142 (2x71) +147 or better qualified.
134 Mark Kerr (Murrayfield) 68 66.
137 Christopher Currie (Caldwell) 70 67.
139 Graham Fox (Rowallan Castle) 68 71, Alan Lockhart (Ladybank) 71 69, James McKinnon (Irvine) 68 71, Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs) 71 68.
140 Greig Hutcheon (Banchory) 70 70.
141 Scott Henderson (Kings Links) 72 69, Gareth Wright (West Linton) 71 70, Mark King (Kingsfield) 71 70, Chris Kelly (Cawder) 70 71.
143 Jason McCreadie (Buchanan Castle) 69 74, Stephen Gray (Hayston) 72 71, Craig Ronald (Carluke) 71 72.
144 Paul Wardell (Whitekirk) 72 72, Alan Reid (West Lothian) 69 75, David Orr (East Renfrewshire) 70 74, Neil Fenwick (Dunbar) 73 71.
145 Michael Rae (Alyth) 75 70, Ronan Rafferty (Roxburghe) 72 73, Samuel Cairns (Colville Park) 72 73, James McGhee (Duddingston) 71 74, Steven Duncan (Carnoustie Golf Links) 74 71, Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills) 72 73, Graeme Brown (Montrose Golf Links) 71 74.
146 Kenny Hutton (Downfield0 72 72, Craig Matheson (Falkirk Tryst) 73 73, Alastair Mackenzie (Renaissance Club) 73 73, Colin Gillies (Kingsfield) 73 73, Tom Buchanan (Duddingston) 72 74, Ross Cameron (McDonald Ellon) 75 75.
147 Scott Herald (Adam Hunter Golf) 76 71, Stepehen McAllister (Renaissance Club) 74 73, Grant Smith (Gleneagles Hotel) 71 76, Nigel Scott-Smith (Palacerigg) 69 78, Andrew Crerar (Panmure) 74 73, Ian Brown (Newent) 72 75, David Patrick (Elie SC) 75 72.

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ST ANDREWS TO HOST 2015 OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE R AND A
The Open will return to the Home of Golf in 2015 when the 144th Championship is played at St Andrews from 16-19 July.
It will be the 29th time that golf’s oldest Major has been held over the Old Course.
South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen won by seven shots with a 16-under par total of 272 when The Open was last held at St Andrews in 2010.
The R and A’s Chief Executive Peter Dawson said: “We are delighted to announce that The Open will be returning to St Andrews and the historic Old Course in 2015.
“St Andrews has proved time and again that it is perfectly equipped to host The Open and I am certain we will yet again see a worthy winner lift the Claret Jug.
“Players, spectators and officials alike will welcome a return to the game’s spiritual home and I fully expect that we will witness another thrilling Championship.”
Euan Loudon, Chief Executive of St Andrews Links Trust, said: “We are very much looking forward to welcoming The Open Championship back to the Links.
“There is always a special sense of anticipation when The Open is played on the Old Course and it promises to be no different in 2015.
“Almost every great champion in the game has played here and there is no more fitting celebration of the rich heritage of the Home of Golf than hosting golf’s oldest Major Championship.”
In the course of its 28 Opens, St Andrews has often produced Champions who are the best of their generation. Tiger Woods won by eight and five shots in 2000 and 2005 respectively, joining past winners that include J. H. Taylor (1895, 1900), James Braid (1905, 10), Bobby Jones (1927), Peter Thomson (1955), Bobby Locke (1957), Jack Nicklaus (1970, 78), Seve Ballesteros (1984) and Sir Nick Faldo (1990).
Other memorable moments include Nicklaus waving an emotional farewell from the Swilcan Bridge in 2005 as he ended his remarkable career.
Independent research, commissioned jointly by The R and A and EventScotland, found that the 2010 Open Championship delivered a combined £100 million benefit to Scotland, with £40.1 million entering the local economy.

+The Open Championship is golf’s oldest Major. Played since 1860 on British links golf courses, it is the game’s most international Major Championship with qualifying events on every continent. For one week each year, the pursuit of the famous Claret Jug trophy is the focus of the sporting world, followed globally by millions of fans.


Previous winners at St Andrews
2010 Louis Oosthuizen
2005 Tiger Woods
2000 Tiger Woods
1995 John Daly
1990 Nick Faldo
1984 Seve Ballesteros
1978 Jack Nicklaus
1970 Jack Nicklaus
1964 Tony Lema
1960 Kel Nagle
1957 Bobby Locke
1955 Peter Thomson
1946 Sam Snead
1939 Dick Burton
1933 Denny Shute
1927 Bobby Jones
1921 Jock Hutchison
1910 James Braid
1905 James Braid
1900 J.H. Taylor
1895 J.H. Taylor
1891 Hugh Kirkaldy
1888 Jack Burns
1885 Bob Martin
1882 Bob Ferguson
1879 Jamie Anderson
1876 Bob Martin
1873 Tom Kidd

Future Open venues
2012 - 19-22 July, Royal Lytham and St Annes
2013 - 18-21 July, Muirfield
2014 - 17-20 July, Royal Liverpool

2011 OMEGA MISSION HILLS WORLD CUP FIELD

Mission Hills Resort, Hainan Island, China
November 24 to 27
Australia: Brendan Jones, Richard Green
Austria: Florian Praegant, Roland Steiner
Belgium: Nicolas Colsaerts, Jérôme Theunis
Brazil: Lucas Lee, Adilson da Silva
China: Liang Wen-chong, Zhang Xin-jun
Colombia: Camilo Villegas, Manuel Villegas
Denmark: Thomas Björn. Anders Hansen
England: Ian Poulter, Justin Rose
France: Raphaël Jacquelin, Grégory Bourdy
Germany: Alex Cejka, Martin Kaymer
Guatemala: Pablo Acũna, José Toledo
Ireland: Graeme McDowell, Rory McIlroy
Italy: Edoardo Molinari, Francesco Molinari
Japan: Tetsuji Hiratsuka, Yuta Ikeda
Mexico: José de Jesus Rodriguez, Oscar Serna
Netherlands: Robert-Jan Derksen, Joost Luiten
New Zealand: Michael Hendry, Gareth Paddison
Portugal: Hugo Santos, Ricardo Santos
Scotland: Stephen Gallacher. Martin Laird
Singapore: Lam Chih Bing, Mardan Mamat
South Africa: Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel
South Korea: Kim Hyung-Sung, Park Sung-Joon

Spain: Miguel Angel Jiménez, Alvaro Quiros
Sweden: Robert Karlsson, Alex Noren
Thailand: Thongchai Jaidee, Kiradech Aphibarnrat
United States: Matt Kuchar, Gary Woodland
Wales: Rhys Davies, Jamies Donaldson
Zimbabwe: Brendon de Jonge, Bruce McDonald

MY VIEWS UNWELCOME IN SCOTLAND - PGA CHIEF SANDY JONES

FROM THE SCOTSMAN WEBSITE

By MARTIN DEMPSTER

Sandy Jones, the chief executive of the PGA, has said he feels his opinions on Scottish golf are unwelcome in certain quarters and claimed the skills within his organisation are not being utilised in a joint-venture with the game's amateur governing body.

Jones, who cut his teeth in Scotland before moving to The Belfry, has been critical of the Scottish Golf Union in recent years for not giving the PGA a louder voice in the bid to help the country's leading amateurs make a smoother transition into the paid ranks.
He saw it as a step forward when Alan White, chairman of the PGA Scottish Region, got a seat alongside representatives of the SGU, SLGA and Sport Scotland on the board of Scottish Golf Support Limited, the body set up to hand out £1 million of government money over a five-year period to help rookie professionals.

But, in addition to feeling White is encountering difficulties in trying to make his voice heard around that table, Jones said he found it hurtful that his personal input into anything to do with the Scottish game seemed to be disregarded north of the Border.

"I'm passionate about Scotland - that's where I came from and where I'd like to go back to some day. My brief is much wider nowadays. But, as regards the Scottish issue, I sometimes wonder if I should be concentrating on it," he said. "I get the feeling that I'm not particularly welcomed. My intrusions are not welcomed. It's frustrating. It's almost a sadness for me. I get quite hurt (by not being welcomed] when you think maybe I could offer something."

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SCOTTISH PGA CHAMPIONSHIP - ROUND 2 TUESDAY TEE TIMES

KING'S COURSE, GLENEAGLES HOTEL

Spectators welcome - no admission fee, no car parking charges

08:40 Christopher Currie, Graham Fox, Paul Wardell
08:49 Kenneth Hutton, Scott Henderson, Michael Rae
08:58 Gareth Wright, Alan Lockhart, Michael Patterson

09:07 James McKinnon, Greig Hutcheon, Scott Herald
09:16 Mark Kerr, Robert Arnott, Craig Matheson
09:25 Greg McBain, Scott Catlin, Mark King

09:34 Stephen McAllister, Russell Smith, Ronan Rafferty
09:43 Lee Harper, Jonathan Lomas, Gordon Stewart
09:57 Jason McCreadie, Christopher Russell, Grant Smith

10:06 Samuel Cairns, James McGhee, Lee Vannet
10:15 Christopher McMaster, Iain Stoddart, John Ruth
10:24 Fraser Dunlop, Steven Dunsmore, Nigel Scott-Smith

10:33 Steven Duncan, Alastair Mackenzie, Paul Jamieson
10:42 Ross Dixon, Andrew Crerar, Scott Garrett
10:51 Alan Reid, Steven Taylor, Anthony Mackrell

11:00 Craig Gordon, Ian Brown, Gordon Law
11:14 Mark Loftus, David Orr, Andrew Jowett
11:23 Paul McKechnie, Neil Fenwick, Paul Wilson

11:32 Colin Gillies, David Patrick, Graham Forbes
11:41 Campbell Elliott, Stephen Gray, Craig Ronald
11:50 Graeme Brown, Tom Buchanan, Paul Brookes
11:59 Chris Kelly, Iain Colquhoun, Stuart Morrison

12:08 Ross Cameron, Scott Grieve, Joseph McBrearty

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