CRAIG GROUP TO SPONSOR ROOKIE PRO JAMES BYRNE

            JAMES BYRNE IN WALKER CUP ACTION.  Image by Rob Eyton-Jones


NEWS RELEASEAberdeen ’s Craig Group, a global shipping and energy services firm, has entered a sponsorship agreement with one of Scotland’s top young local golfers, James Byrne, who is currently competing in the Singapore Open.
The 22-year-old, who was born in Gorleston, England, but relocated to Banchory three weeks later and has lived there ever since, played a key role in the recent Great Britain and Ireland’s Walker Cup victory over the United States.
He has also recently enjoyed a top-30 finish in the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles, as well as a top-50 finish in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
Golf has been central to James’ life for several years - since 2005 he has represented Scotland at every age group and has enjoyed a very successful amateur career, including a win at the 2007 Scottish Boys’ Strokeplay Championship and four wins on the Scottish Order of Merit circuit.
Last year, the Arizona State University graduate finished runner-up in the British Amateur Championship and in recognition of his successful season he was awarded Scottish Amateur Golfer of the Year 2010.
James said he is particularly pleased to have secured sponsorship from The Craig Group.
He said: “I’m really grateful for the overwhelming support being shown by The Craig Group – if it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t be able to compete in distant locations nor afford the coaching and caddying help that I need.
“I have an extremely exciting and busy year ahead and am looking forward to the challenge of competing against the best golfers in the world.”
Commenting on the sponsorship, chairman and managing director of The Craig Group, Douglas Craig, said: “The Craig Group is delighted to help James get the best possible start in his professional golfing career. As a local family business it’s important to support the community and one part of that is encouraging and supporting the golfing talent in the North East of Scotland.
“We have always been supportive of golf, in particular young and up-coming golfers, and James is a credit to the sport.
“I wish him every success in the future.”
James missed the cut in the Singapore Open today but moves on to the Iskandar Johor Open in Malaysia from November 17 to 20. Then it will be the JBWere Australian Masters in December.
The Craig Group continues to sponsor Aberdeen PGA European Tour Pro Richie Ramsay while the Kings Links Golf Centre, which is owned by the Craig Group, continues to sponsor Aberdeen golfer Scott Henderson, underlining its commitment to the region’s more experienced players.
Kings Links Golf Centre, the largest independent facility of its kind in the North East, continues to attract thousands of golfers each year looking to take advantage of the PGA professional instructors, such as Paul Girvan, Steve Craig, Gary Lochhead and Katie Thomson, to give expert advice on the game

North-east Golfers Alliance close doors on admitting new members

There are now 140 members of the North-east Golfers Alliance so no further new members will be admitted during the rest of the 2011-2012 season.

SALTMAN, FINDLAY AND McLEAN CLEAR FIRST ALPS Q HURDLE

By COLIN FARQUHARSON Colin@scottishgolfview.com  Zack Saltman (Archerfield Links) and the North-east pair of Jordan Findlay (Fraserburgh) and Peterhead's Philip McLean have qualified comfortably for next week's Final Stage of the Alps Tour Qualifying School in Italy.   In the Stage 1 36-hole eliminator over the Toscana course, Saltman, second overnight, finished joint sixth on level par 142 (69-73) while Findlay, pictured, (72-71) and McLean (73-70) finished joint eighth on 143 of the 48 qualifiers. Saltman had an adventurous round after a double bogey 6 at the second hole. He went on to birdie the long sixth, the short 13th and the long 18th but bogeyed the 14th, 15th and 17th in halves of 37 and 36. Findlay  signed off in style with birdies at the long 15th, short 16th and long 18th to come home in 32 for his second-round 71. McLean, who is still an amateur, had three birdies in a row from the 10th in an inward half of 33 for a one-under-par 70 today. John Henry (Clydebank) missed out by a shot with 81 and 75 for 156 and 49th place. Brother of Scott Henry, who has been a success on the Alps Tour in the regular season past, had an eagle 2 at the 296yd 12th and a birdie at the 17th but against that he had a double bogey 6 at the 10th and single shots dropped at the fourth, fifth, seventh, 14th and 18th in halves of 39 and 36. Carnoustie's Keir McNicoll had scores of 78 and 79 for 157 and joint 51st place. McNicoll bogeyed the first three holes then had a double bogey at the fourth before bogeying the fifth to stand six over par for the day on the sixth tee. He also bogeyed the seventh on his way to a demoralising 43 blows for the outward half. After a double bogey at the 12th, Keir showed a glimpse of his true potential by covering the last six holes in two under par, thanks to birdies at the 16th and 18th. Saltman, Findlay and McLean will be joined in the Final Q School over 54 holes at Toscana and Punta Alta courses from Monday to Wednesday next week  by fellow Scots Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck), David Law (Hazlehead), Kris Nicol (Fraserburgh) and Ross Kellett (Colville Park) who were exempt from the Stage 1 event. Only the leading 35 and ties will gain unconditional places on next year's Alps Tour. Two of the three rounds will be over the Toscana lay-out, including the decisive third round, which will suit Saltman, Findlay and McLean after making the first grade this week over that course. ALPS TOUR QUALIFYING SCHOOL Stage 1 - Italy LEADING FINAL TOTALS TOSCANA COURSE Par 142 (2x71) 139 Dominque Nouailhac (Fra) 67 72. 140 Adrien Monnier (Fra) (am) 71 69, Jerome Lando Casanova (Fra) 71 79. Scots scores 142 Zack Saltman (Archerfield Links) 69 73 (T6). 143 Jordan Findlay (Fraserburgh) 72 71, Philip McLean (Peterhead) (am) 73 70 (T8). Missed the cut (leading 48 qualified) 156 John Henry (Clydebank) 81 75 (49th). 157 Keir McNicoll (Carnoustie) 78 79 (T51). PUNTA ALA COURSE Par 144 (2x72) 143 Anthony Pailler (Fra) 70 73, Enrico De Nitto (Ita) (am) 75 68. 144 Francesco Testa (Ita) (am) 73 71. Selected scores: 146 Jack Clarke (Eng) 71 75. 147 Warren Harmiston (Eng) 73 74, Adam Gray (Eng) 72 75. TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES ON THE ALPS TOUR WEBSITE CLICK HERE

BOOK YOUR TICKET NOW FOR THE 2012 SENIOR OPEN AT TURNBERRY

Turnberry's Ailsa links, venue for the 2012 Senior Open Championship. Image by courtesy  of Getty Images (c).

NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY  THE EUROPEAN TOUR
Turnberry has produced many of golf’s most iconic moments over the years and you can now reserve your ticket to be there for the next chapter in its illustrious history when the famous Ailsa Course hosts The Senior Open Championship presented by Rolex from July 26-29, 2012.
From the ‘Duel in the Sun’ between Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus at The 1977 Open Championship to Greg Norman’s 63 in 1986, Nick Price’s 50ft eagle putt in 1994 and 59 year old Watson’s play-off defeat to Stewart Cink in 2009, Turnberry has provided the backdrop for some golden moments for many of the players who will contest the 26th edition of The Senior Open Championship.
Golf enthusiasts, young and old, hoping to see some of the game’s greatest players in action can now take advantage of some superb advance ticketing offers this winter by booking their place at Scotland’s only Major Championship in the 2012 season, which is co-owned by the European Senior Tour and The R and A.
Record crowds of more than 41,000 attended The Senior Open Championship’s last visit to Ayrshire in 2008 at Royal Troon Golf Club so now is the time to reserve your ticket and ensure you will be there watching the next piece of history being made in Scotland, the Home of Golf.
Substantial reductions are now available over the winter on tickets purchased via www.europeantour.com/tickets, with advanced season tickets frozen for 2012 at 2011 prices.
Season passes can now be purchased in advance for £60, a saving of £10 on the gate price, while any one day passes can be reserved for £18, a significant discount on the gate price of £25.
Spectators taking advantage of this winter offer will also have the added incentive of a new initiative this year which allows all pre-booked ticket holders to go online and secure priority reserved car parking at Turnberry for no additional charge.
Johnnie Cole-Hamilton, Assistant Director of Championships for The R&A, said on behalf of the Championship: “With The Senior Open Championship being the only Major Championship to be played in Scotland in 2012 we are expecting demand for tickets to be high so now is the time for golf fans to book their tickets and ensure they do not miss the chance to watch some of the game’s icons on a course rich with history, not only in terms of The Open Championship but also The Senior Open’s six previous visits.”
It will be the seventh time that Turnberry has hosted The Senior Open Championship – the most of any venue on the roster. The Ailsa Course hosted the first four editions of The Senior Open Championship, with Englishman Neil Coles claiming the inaugural title in 1987, South African Gary Player in 1988 and 1990, and New Zealand’s Bob Charles in 1989.
Watson defeated Englishman Carl Mason in a play-off in 2003 to complete a Senior Open and Open Championship double at Turnberry, before another American, Loren Roberts, triumphed when the Championship was last played over the Ailsa Course in 2006.
The Senior Open Championship is co-owned by the European Senior Tour and The R and A and was won in 2011 by American Russ Cochran at Walton Heath Golf Club.

To order on the internet, click on www.europeantour.com/tickets or telephone +44(0)800 0232557.

MORRISON EDGES AHEAD OF MOLINARI AT WEATHER-HIT SINGAPORE

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Surrey-based Englishman James Morrison remained the clubhouse leader on 12 under par following a weather-disrupted second day at the Barclays Singapore Open after carding a 68 to head Edoardo Molinari by one stroke at Sentosa Golf Club.
Morrison collected five birdies and two bogeys over the more difficult Serapong course to edge ahead of fellow overnight joint-leader Molinari.
The Italian was two under for the day through ten holes when play was suspended on account of the light following a delay of almost three hours due to lunchtime thunderstorms.
“I have about 20 to 25 foot for the joint lead,” he said. “It is still early in the tournament. I did not play very well today but putted well and two under after ten holes on that course is a very good score.
“I have had bad experiences from rushing late in the evening from previous tournaments so I thought I would leave it. It is not a three or four foot putt just to hole out, it is 25 feet. If I make it great if not move on.”
The 26 year old Englishman began his second round level with Molinari on nine under at the top of the leaderboard but immediately dropped a stroke at the first.
A birdie at the seventh erased the damage but another bogey at the ninth saw Morrison drop to one over on the day.
However, Morrison fought back on the homeward nine, picking up birdies at the 11th, 13th and 14th before the weather intervened.
On the resumption of play, he was able to par the next three holes before an excellent approach to two feet on the par five last brought another birdie and saw him move to 12 under par at the halfway mark.
"This golf course is definitely harder and it can be tough coming from an easier course onto a tougher layout," he said.
"There are some very demanding tee shots out there and it is just a proper golf course, quite demanding in many ways. I didn't play as well today as I did yesterday but I managed to get it round and I am pretty happy with that, especially with a four-under back nine to finish strongly."
Molinari, meanwhile, had birdies at the fifth, seventh and tenth but a bogey at the par three eighth when he missed the green saw him end the day 11 under.
Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño was tied for third on ten under par after the Spaniard blitzed the front nine of the Tanjong course with an eagle and four birdies before a bogey at the eighth set him back. He will return on Saturday morning to complete his inward nine.
Fernandez-Castaño joined Juvic Pagunsan after the Filipino returned an impressive 66 on the Serapong course that featured six birdies and a bogey.
Michael Hoey backed up his opening 67 with a 66 to climb to nine under par.
Four birdies and a double-bogey six at the seventh saw the Northern Irishman go out in 34 but he picked up three more shots coming back before a fine par save on the last after finding the trees on the right from the tee completed a satisfying day's work.
"I didn't hit the ball great in the long game department today but the short game has been really good," he said.
"But I will definitely need to straighten things up off the tee, especially on the Serapong course because it is very tough. I shot four under there yesterday but hit it in the water twice and didn't hit enough fairways."
Hoey joined Anders Hansen, who sank seven birdies in a 64, and Y E Yang in a tie for fifth although the South Korean still has six holes to play.
Justin Rose also lifted himself into contention on eight under following a round of 65.
Following an underwhelming start with a bogey at the first, Rose quickly found his rhythm as a birdie at the third was followed by four in a row from the sixth - a solid birdie putt on the ninth reflecting the Englishman's confidence.
A birdie putt at the 11th just grazed the edge of the hole and he failed to capitalise on an opportunity at the 13th but collected his sixth birdie of the day on the next thanks to another fine approach. Another at the last capped an excellent effort.
"Yeah, good day," Rose said.
"Started with a bogey, I hadn't played the front nine in practice but my caddie walked it and did a good job of mapping it out. It was a lot tighter than I gave it credit for.
"If you drive the ball well then you can play this golf course but if you don't you are going to struggle to make birdies. I bogeyed the first and then seven under from there I was very happy with.
"Two rounds on that other golf course will suit me the way I am playing right now. I feel I am beginning to hit some good putts. I am beginning to scare the hole quite often so it's feeling good."
The projected halfway cut is 139 and better to qualify; 140 and worse to miss it.
Which means that
141 Steven O'Hara 72 69.
149 Paul Lawrie 76 73.
151 James Byrne 70 81

the three Scots who have completed 36 holes will all miss the weekend action.

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES ON THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE

CLICK HERE

TIGER WOODS HAPPY TO LEAD AUSSIE OPEN AT HALFWAY STAGE

FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE
Former world number one Tiger Woods says it feels good to back 'playing properly' as he tops the overnight leaderboard at the halfway stage of the Australian Open at Sydney for the first time this year.
Woods was delighted with his round of 67 to reach the clubhouse at nine under par 135, a shot clear of local veteran Peter O'Malley, whose six-under 66 was the lowest score of the day.
Almost two years since his 95th and last golf title at the Australian Masters, though, most attention was focused on the fortunes of the greatest golfer of the last couple of decades, some say of all time.
"It feels good that I am there playing properly, it's not like I am slashing it all over the place. I am hitting the ball well," Woods said after a seven-birdie, two bogey effort.
"I have hit so many lips these first two days," he added, lamenting several shots he let slip away. "It could have been pretty low."
Woods led the field during the final round of this year's US Masters but the last time he led at the end of a day's play was at his own Chevron World Challenge last December, when he blew a three-shot lead on the final day.
"At Chevron I played with just one kind of shot," he said. "I hit basically a draw for the entire week. Right now I am able to move the ball both ways."
O'Malley was another of the early starters and made good use of his local knowledge and his unorthodox 'eyes shut' putting technique to record a flawless round.
"Being a member, I do play here a lot," the 46 year-old said. "I know where to hit it. The greens are still pretty tricky to read and you have to get the speed right."
O'Malley was particularly pleased not to have missed any putts from within six feet, the range within which he has shut his eyes before the final execution for just over a year.
"It takes away the visual anxiety," he explained. "I am not seeing what the putter is doing so I don't feel any anxiety over it. I just close my eyes and let it flow."
Jason Day, who will celebrate his 24th birthday on Saturday, has been annointed the coming man of Australian golf after finishing second at two majors this year.
He was just pleased not to have embarrassed himself as he fulfilled a childhood dream of playing with Woods after picking up five birdies with just a single blemish on his scorecard of 68 for third place on 137.
"Growing up, he was my idol," Day said. "I had posters of his swing on my wall. I read books about him. He changed my life because I worked harder after I read his book. It is good to see him playing good golf again."
The gusty afternoon wind hampered the efforts of the late starters to overhaul Woods.
American Bubba Watson managed a two-under 70 despite dropping five shots to finish three strokes off the pace alone in fourth place on 138..
Australian overnight leader Jarrod Lyle shot a 74 to drop to a tie for fifth on five-under 139 with four others, including American Nick Watney (73), one of a string of players warming up for next week's Presidents Cup.
Another two, Team International's Robert Allenby and Matt Kuchar of the United States, had their tune-ups for the Royal Melbourne showdown cut short when they missed the cut, which was set at two-over.
Australian Open leaderboard
SECOND ROUND
Par 144 (3x72)
135 Tiger Woods (US) 68 67.
136 Peter O'Malley (Australia) 70 66.
137 Jason Day (Australia) 68 68.
138 Bubba Watson (US) 68 70.
139 Greg Chalmers (Australia) 67 72, Jarrod Lyle (Australia) 75 74, Rohan Blizard (Australia) 69 70, Nick Watney (US) 66 73, Matthew Jones (Australia) 69 70.
140 Joon-woo Choi (South Korea) 73 67

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES ON THE PGA OF AUSTRALIA WEBSITE

CLICK HERE

DROUGHT SEES UNITED STATES GOLF COURSES BURN UP

   Don't complain if the UK golf course you play on is rather wet at this time of the year. The other side of the coin is the drought that has burned up courses across a wide area of the United States. See picture above and story below.

FROM THE UNITED STATES GOLF ASSOCIATION WEBSITE
In 2011, droughts affected a large swathe of the middle of the United States: nearly all of Texas and parts of New Mexico, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Arkansas. These extreme conditions impacted everyday lives as well as numerous industries, including golf.
Summer may have given way to autumn, but the lack of rain persists in many areas in America, and the severity of drought has many consequences. Superintendents in these afflicted areas have faced considerable challenges in order to keep their courses playable. For golfers used to green lay-outs, the drought has required an adjustment in their expectations of how a golf course should look.
If you want to read the whole, interesting article on the USGA website,

CLICK HERE

Proposed amalgamation of Aberdeen Links clubs: Caley side of the story

E-mail from Dean Gardiner
Member of Caledonian Golf Club.

Reference Scottishgolfview article about Caledonian GC members voting against a proposed amalgamation with the other Aberdeen Links golf clubs, Northern and Bon Accord.
I think you are only hearing one part of the story and I think it is sour grapes on the steering committee side. I am a member of Caley and I was at the meeting on Tuesday. There was no Facebook campaign. Most of the guys that voted "No" are older guys that would like a chance to save our club.
There is a lot of history behind Caledonian GC and guys would like a chance to save it. That's all it is:  trying to save our club.
Some people are just taken it a bit personal. The vote has been done, so let's move on. Our captain is leaving his position this year and he has joined a new club, leaving the steering committee so I can't see the point he has about the way the vote went. He is leaving anyway.
If the steering committee had listened months ago they would have know that the Caley members would say "No" to amalgamation.
We have got plans to save the golf club but the steering committee don't know them as we have not told them. First thing after the AGM on December 2, we will form an new council. We have to sit down with some business men in the club and talk through our plans.
With a lot of hard work I think we could do a good job in saving the Caley. Dean Gardiner