Tuesday, December 13, 2011

R AND A GIVES BRAZILIAN JUNIOR GOLF A £50,000 BOOST


FROM THE R AND A WEBSITE
The most extensive junior programme in the history of Brazilian golf will launch in the New Year, thanks to support from The R and A.
The Brazilian Golf Confederation (CBG) will receive £50,000 towards a scheme that will introduce thousands of youngsters aged between seven and 14 to the game.
The first stage of the programme will take the game into schools by providing training and funding for golf lessons led by trained PE teachers during sports classes. Those who show interest and ability will then go onto more advanced coaching sessions at local clubs with golf professionals.
Brazil is currently home to around 100 courses and 14,000 golfers although the potential for the sport’s growth is huge, given the country’s rapid economic development and golf’s re-introduction at the Rio 2016 Olympics.
Duncan Weir, pictured, The R and A’s Director of Golf Development, said: “Golf’s popularity is growing steadily in the country and by targeting this programme at youngsters I am sure we will see many more Brazilians develop a lifelong love of the game.
“The increased quality and profile of golf throughout South America was clear to see during the recent Copa los Andes at Rio’s Gavea Golf Club. I’m sure this programme will produce players who will one day compete in the Copa themselves.”
The first phase of the programme will see more than 600 youngsters, who otherwise would not have the opportunity, get the chance to try the sport between now and 2015.

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ONLY THREE SCOTS SURVIVE QUALIFYING SCHOOL ROUND 4 CUT



By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Six Scots felt the pain in Spain today - Callum Macaulay, the Saltman brothers Elliot and Lloyd, Scott Drummond, Alastair Forsyth and Alan McLean.
Only three - Steven O'Hara (pictured left), Gary Orr and Chris Doak - of the nine competing for their European Tour futures are still in with a chance of gaining pass marks from the Final Qualifying School at PGA Catalunya Golf Resort, near Girona in the north-east of Spain.
The fourth round cut to the leading 70 players fell at four-under-par 280 - the lowest in the history of the final eliminator.
Macaulay, the 2008 Scottish amateur champion who helped Scotland win the Eisenhower Trophy that year, missed the cut by just one shot with a two-under 68 over the shorter course for a total of three-under-par 281. The Tullallan man birdied the long 10th and 12th and needed just one more birdie to get through to the decisive last two rounds .... but he could only par his last six holes.
Elliot Saltman had a four-under 66, his best of the four, but a total of one-under 283 was three too many.
Shropshire-born Scott Drummond,. PGA champion at Wentworth in 2004, failed to make the grade on 285 although he packed six birdies into a closing 68.
Alastair Forsyth was the surprise non-qualifier on 286. Three rounds of 70 had him on course to match the projected cut mark. A fourth 70 in a row would have done the trick but he slumped to a four-over 76 after going bogey-bogey-double bogey at the seventh, eighth and ninth for 40 to the turn.
Glasgow-born Alan McLean, who lives in Canada. finished joint 120th with a 70 for three-over 287.
The saddest sight of the fourth day, when the playing conditions were ideal with no wind, was Lloyd Saltman finishing with a nine-over-par 79 for a 10-over par total of 294 which gave him an official placing of joint 144th in a field of 156.
The Lothians man, whose amateur brilliance sadly did not make the transfer with him to the pro ranks, had three double bogeys, five bogeys and an eagle 3 at the 10th in halves of 42-37.
Of the three Scots still in the hunt for one of the 30 players' European Tour cards up for grabs after two more rounds over the par-72 course, Motherwell's Steven O'Hara looks the best bet to make the grade. After a slow start last Saturday with a 73, he has been "flying" with rounds of 67, 65 and 68 to be joint 11th on 11-under-par 273. He had five birdies in a front-nine 31 and added another after the turn.
Gary Orr will gain pass marks if he maintains his steady run of sub-70 scores - 68, 69, 69 and 69 to be joint 20th on nine-under 275.
Former Northern Open champion Chris Doak slipped down to a share of 34th place with his worst round so far, a par 72 for 277. Late birdies at the 15th and short 16th kept him in the hunt to improve four places over the last two days.
England's Sam Hutsby (71 for 16-under 268) and Andy Sullivan (72 for 270) are still there in the top two positions.
LEADING QUALFIERS FOR LAST TWO ROUNDS
Par 284 (2x72, 2x70)
268 Sam Hutsby (Eng) 60 69 68 71
270 Andy Sullivan (Eng) 65 66 67 72.
271 Branden Grace (SAf) 68 68 65 70, Victor Riu (Fra) 67 69 66 69, David Dixon (Eng) 74 65 63 69.
272 Richard Bland (Eng) 67 72 65 68, Guillaume Cambis (Fra) 66 69 68 69, David McKenzie (Aus) 69 64 68 71, Adrian Otaegui (Spa) 68 69 69 66, Bernd Ritthammer (Ger) 65 71 68 68
273 Darren Fichardt (SAf) 66 73 66 68, Lloyd Kennedy (Eng) 68 66 70 69, Steven O'Hara (Sco) 73 67 65 68, Jordan Gibb (Eng) 69 68 67 69.
274 Benn Barham (Eng) 65 70 66 73, Jordi Garcia (Spa) 71 64 66 73, Peter Gustafsson (Swe) 70 63 66 75, Thomas Norret (Den) 71 67 62 74, Knut Borsheim (Nor) 66 71 69 68.
OTHER SCOTS QUALIFIERS
274 Gary Orr 68 69 69 69 (T20).
277 Chris Doak 71 68 66 72 (T34)


SCOTS WHO MISSED THE CUT (280 or better qualified)
281 Callum Macaulay 71 72 70 68 (T71).
283 Elliot Saltman 74 69 74 66 (T83).
285 Scott Drummond 75 66 76 68 (T101).
286 Alastair Forsyth 70 70 70 76 (T113).
287 Alan McLean 78 78 71 70 (T120).
294 Lloyd Saltman 77 67 71 79 (T144).

+Those who missed the cut are eligible for Category 12 membership of the Challenge Tour in 2012

+The entry fee for the 2011 European Tour Qualifying School was £1,350. Add in the cost of travelling to and staying at different venues for Stages 1, 2 and 3, and it's a lot of money if not down the drain, spent in vain in pursuit of a place on the European Tour.

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SAM KEEPS PLAYING IT AGAIN TO MAINTAIN Q SCHOOL LEAD

By SARAH GWYNN
European Tour Press Officer
Sam Hutsby remained the man to catch at The European Tour Qualifying School Final Stage after carding a one under par 71 in the fourth round at PGA Catalunya Resort, in Spain.
The Englishman, pictured left by courtesy of Getty Images(c), who was runner-up here in 2009, moved to 16 under par to lead by two from compatriot Andy Sullivan, and is on course for a return to the highest level, having played last season on the Challenge Tour after losing his European Tour card by one place in The 2010 Race to Dubai.
South African Branden Grace, England’s David Dixon and Frenchman Victor Riu share third place on 13 under par as 70 players made the cut to play the final two rounds.
On another day of perfect conditions in northern Spain, Hutsby made a fine start with birdies at the first, third and fourth holes on the Stadium Course before bogeys at the sixth and tenth halted his progress. He picked up shots at the 12th and 15th, but two bogeys in his last three holes gave him a frustrating finish.
“I got off to a great start and so did Andy [Sullivan], so we were bouncing off each other early on,” said the 23 year old. “It looked like we were going to run away with it, which would have been nice. But there were some tough flags out there today, and I got a bit greedy on the sixth hole and ended up paying the price.
“It’s disappointing not to have broken 70 again, because my goal was to shoot six rounds in the 60s. But I’m still in a great position, so if I can smooth out some of the rougher edges and cut out the silly mistakes, I should be there or thereabouts at the end.
“I’m enjoying my battle with Andy. He was really making me work hard for my lead at the start. He hardly put a foot wrong at the start of the day, although we both hit a few wayward drives coming home. It’s been a long week already so fatigue may have played a part, but the last few holes are pretty tough.”
Like Hutsby in 2009, Sullivan represented Great Britain and Ireland in the Walker Cup this year, turning professional shortly after starring in the victory over the United States at Royal Aberdeen Golf Club in September.
He also endured a disappointing finish with a double-bogey six at the 18th, and said: “I got off to a flying start again, three under through three, then just stuttered a bit with a couple of poor drives. But I got it back again with a good fight back. I was happy with that.
“Then on the last a poor drive meant I dropped two shots but I’m in a great position going into the last two days, so there are loads of positives.
“I'm enjoying pro life at the moment and this week. Playing with Sam, who I know pretty well, has been really enjoyable. I think we are driving each other on a little bit - not that I’m paying too much attention to his game - but we are keeping each other going.
“I’ve not put any pressure on myself this week. I definitely haven’t set myself any expectations. I just want to go out there and give it my best shot and see where I finish. It is tough. A normal tournament is four rounds so we’d be finished by now. Physically it’s quite tiring, but you just have to keep going.”
It was another solid day for Grace, who played on The European Tour in 2009 before losing his card. The 23 year old had four birdies and two bogeys, but was disappointed not to make more progress.
“I’m feeling very good about my game but it was also a bit frustrating today, because the putts just didn’t want to drop,” he said. “My putt on the last summed it up really – I just missed a birdie putt from about eight feet, which was about the fourth missed putt from that range in the last six holes.
“You need a positive frame of mind – if you just try to hold your position and get a bit negative, you can come unstuck. I can make life much easier with a good round tomorrow, and I feel like I’m close to going pretty low.”
Frenchman Guillaume Cambis, who was joint winner at Costa Ballena in last week’s Second Stage, is one of five players at 12 under.
“I’m really, really exhausted,” Cambis said. “It has been a two long weeks. It’s my first time here so I’m happy to be up there, but it could have been better. I want to finish in the top ten this week, so if I play well I can do it. I need to concentrate for the 36 holes now because I'm really tired.”
The highlight of the day came from Knut Borsheim who, remarkably, had a hole-in-one for the second day running. The Norwegian aced the 205-yard 14th on the Tour Course yesterday with a five iron, and used the same club to ace the 206-yard 16th on the Stadium Course today. He is the first player to have two hole-in-ones in the same Qualifying School Final Stage.
The four under par cut mark (280) is the lowest 72-hole cut in the history of the Qualifying School. Last year’s Final Stage winner Simon Wakefield missed out, as did three-time European Tour champion Nick Dougherty, former Ryder Cup Swede Jarmo Sandelin, Chris Paisley, Paul Broadhurst and Lloyd Saltman.
Jamie Elson had the best round of the day – a seven under par 63 on the Tour Course to reach six under par overall.

QUALIFIERS FOR LAST TWO ROUNDS
Par 284 (2x72, 2 x70) 

268 S Hutsby (Eng) 60 69 68 71
270 A Sullivan (Eng) 65 66 67 72
271 V Riu (Fra) 67 69 66 69; B Grace (RSA) 68 68 65 70; D Dixon (Eng) 74 65 63 69
272 D McKenzie (Aus) 69 64 68 71; R Bland (Eng) 67 72 65 68; B Ritthammer (Ger) 65 71 68 68; A Otaegui  (Esp) 68 69 69 66; G Cambis  (Fra) 66 69 68 69;
273 S O'Hara (Sco) 73 67 65 68; L Kennedy  (Eng) 68 66 70 69; J Gibb (Eng) 69 68 67 69; D Fichardt (RSA) 66 73 66 68
274 K Borsheim (Nor) 66 71 69 68; B Barham (Eng) 65 70 66 73; J Garcia  (Esp) 71 64 66 73; P Gustafsson (Swe) 70 63 66 75; T Nørret (Den) 71 67 62 74
275 J Hugo (RSA) 65 71 70 69; J Lagergren (Swe) 66 71 67 71; A Bernadet  (Fra) 68 69 69 69; G Orr (Sco) 68 69 69 69; M Lafeber (Ned) 69 67 69 70;
276 H Soon-Sang (SKor) 68 72 65 71; A Tampion  (Aus) 65 73 68 70; E Kofstad (Nor) 66 68 70 72; W Abery (RSA) 69 65 67 75; P Dwyer (Eng) 67 69 68 72; M Nixon (Eng) 68 69 67 72; T Sluiter  (Ned) 63 75 68 70; A Marshall (Eng) 68 71 68 69; A Ahokas (Fin) 74 66 64 72
277 A Parr (Can) 72 66 67 72; M Carlsson  (Swe) 66 70 66 75; C Doak (Sco) 71 68 66 72; M Haastrup  (Den) 74 67 72 64; A Snobeck  (Fra) 67 72 66 72; A Byeong-Hun (SKor) 70 70 65 72; M Lundberg (Swe) 70 68 66 73
278 W Besseling  (Ned) 74 63 69 72; J Garcia Pinto (Esp) 71 63 72 72; J Hansen  (Den) 67 67 71 73; B Parker  (Eng) 69 67 70 72; J Guerrier  (Fra) 68 66 71 73; D Vancsik (Arg) 68 68 69 73; J Elson  (Eng) 74 67 74 63; A Haindl (RSA) 71 67 70 70; A Tadini (Ita) 69 70 70 69
279 J Walters (RSA) 73 70 70 66; S Benson (Eng) 72 71 70 66; R Saxton (Ned) 70 66 65 78; H Bacher (Aut) 71 68 70 70; A Domingo (Esp) 71 67 67 74; T Remkes (Ned) 73 69 72 65; J Wahlqvist (Swe) 71 69 68 71; F McGuirk  (Eng) 76 69 68 66; C Brazillier  (Fra) 65 74 67 73; E Grillo (Arg) 73 68 70 68; T Van Der Walt (RSA) 69 74 72 64
280 M Southgate  (Eng) 70 68 71 71; M Tullo (Chi) 73 69 72 66; R Quiros  (Esp) 65 69 72 74; M Madsen  (Den) 71 71 71 67; S Buhl (Ger) 68 72 66 74; S Pinckney (USA) 66 73 70 71; R Dinwiddie  (Eng) 67 71 67 75; S Jeppesen  (Swe) 73 70 70 67; B Chapellan (Fra) 70 69 69 72; S Kim (SKor) 68 71 68 73

MISSED THE CUT
281 J Knutzon (USA) 70 70 69 72; D Higgins (Irl) 65 72 74 70; C Monasterio (Arg) 71 72 70 68; P Archer (Eng) 73 65 72 71; C Macaulay  (Sco) 76 67 70 68; M Crespi  (Ita) 67 69 76 69; J Ruth  (Eng) 72 74 71 64; C Lloyd (Eng) 69 74 74 64
282 J Sandelin (Swe) 71 72 68 71; J Levermore (Eng) 73 67 68 74; A Canete (Arg) 71 72 73 66; A Garcia-Heredia (Esp) 72 66 71 73
283 J Morgan  (Eng) 73 68 75 67; M Kieffer (Ger) 70 67 76 70; C Paisley  (Eng) 67 71 73 72; T Argonz (Arg) 69 74 72 68; P Broadhurst (Eng) 72 70 72 69; E Saltman  (Sco) 74 69 74 66; D Brooks (Eng) 70 68 67 78; T Mordt  (RSA) 69 71 72 71; T Hatton (Eng) 72 72 74 65; M Eliasson (Swe) 72 70 76 65
284 M Rominger  (Sui) 74 70 70 70; E Canonica (Ita) 69 73 75 67; A Michael (RSA) 67 76 72 69; F Delamontagne  (Fra) 68 74 75 67; X Poncelet  (Fra) 73 69 77 65; J Bäckström (Swe) 72 66 69 77; M Siddikur  (Ban) 73 73 69 69; A Kang (USA) 73 68 71 72
285 F Fritsch  (Ger) 75 73 69 68; C Devlin (Nir) 73 71 73 68; A Perrino  (Ita) 68 73 74 70; S Drummond (Sco) 75 66 76 68; N Meitinger  (Ger) 68 69 71 77; M Lorenzo-Vera  (Fra) 70 70 70 75; S Wakefield (Eng) 71 74 73 67; A Da Silva (Bra) 70 71 70 74; J Huldahl (Den) 77 72 70 66; J Zapata (Arg) 70 71 77 67; P Oriol (Esp) 68 76 72 69; F De Vries  (Ned) 68 76 76 65
286 O Henningsson  (Swe) 73 66 71 76; A Forsyth (Sco) 70 70 70 76; J Haeggman (Swe) 69 75 75 67; L Goddard  (Eng) 69 76 74 67; A Velasco (Esp) 72 74 71 69; P Richardson (Eng) 72 71 74 69; U Weinhandl (Aut) 69 71 70 76;
287 A McLean (Sco) 68 78 71 70; D Gaunt (Aus) 73 72 75 67; T Ferreira  (RSA) 71 70 71 75; R Echenique (Arg) 70 73 76 68; N Dougherty  (Eng) 70 73 75 69;
288 A Hartø  (Den) 74 70 75 69;
289 M Quiros (Esp) 75 73 71 70; A Townsend (Aus) 73 73 75 68; L Jensen (Den) 81 65 75 68; A Versfeld (RSA) 70 77 71 71;
290 G Clark (Eng) 70 75 78 67; A Lahiri (Ind) 70 76 74 70; D Wright (Eng) 68 73 78 71;
291 D Bransdon (Aus) 70 73 76 72; W Ormsby (Aus) 74 67 75 75; M Molina (Arg) 71 69 75 76; B Mannix (Eng) 74 76 68 73;
292 P Reed (USA) 64 80 75 73; J Robinson (Eng) 75 68 76 73;
293 J Caldwell  (Nir) 78 68 76 71; M Ford (Eng) 67 78 80 68; T Leon (USA) 67 76 76 74; C McNamara (Irl) 78 73 73 69; B Evans  (Eng) 72 70 79 72;
294 J Lima  (Por) 72 73 82 67; L Saltman (Sco) 77 67 71 79;
295 S Matton (Eng) 74 73 77 71;
296 D Smith (Eng) 75 70 75 76;
297 L Tintera  (Cze) 72 82 75 68;
Withdrew: A Kaleka  (Fra) 77 71 76 WD; M Erlandsson (Swe) 71 72 79 WD; C Russo (Fra) 72 75 77 WD; J Etulain  (Arg) 77 77 74 WD; F Praegant (Aut) 77 69 79 WD.
Retired: G Emerson (Eng) 79 74 Ret, M Vibe-Hastrup  (Den) 69 77 ret, C Suneson (Esp) 70 78 ret.

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Stuart Appleby's back pain may rule out defence of Aussie Masters

Defending champion Stuart Appleby may be forced to pull out of this week's Australian Masters in Melbourne.
Chronic pain in his lower back is troubling the nine-time US PGA Tour winner ahead of the tournament at the Victoria Club where Appleby scored a one-shot victory 12 months ago.
"I haven't done many withdrawals prior to first rounds," said the 40-year-old, whose rivals this week include world No 1 Luke Donald.
"I don't know my body well enough to know whether I can manufacture something from an ad hoc swing or whether it's a futile fight that I need to try another day.
"I'll make that decision closer to the time."
Appleby also revealed that he wasn't 100% when he won at Victoria GC last year although he didn't have to contend with constant pain.
"I could actually still play and still turn my body around but this year it's been touchy," he said.
"I think that's been boiling all year. I hope I can get on top of that in the next 24 hours to get me to the first tee."
Appleby has endured a season of struggle on the US PGA Tour in 2011, missing 11 cuts, scoring just a single top 10 finish and twice withdrawing from tournaments after the opening round.
Back in his homeland, he missed the cut in the Australian Open the week before he watched the Internationals lose the Presidents Cup to the US while he was tied 19th in the Aussie PGA.
His victory in last year's Australian PGA was his first win on home soil for nine years.

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COMPETITION ON OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP WEBSITE

FROM THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP WEBSITE
The snow may be falling but that doesn't mean the golf has to stop! Follow the link below to our addictive new longest drive game and see if you can help Open mascot Morris top the distance charts over Lytham's frosty fairways.
Share the game and your scores with friends via Facebook and Twitter or pit yourself against the very best on our daily and overall leaderboards.
As if playing for the love of the game wasn't enough, the longest drive posted on the leaderboard by Christmas Day will win a pair of Season Tickets (worth £460) for next year's Open Championship at Royal Lytham and St Annes.
If you fail to top the charts don't worry. All submitted scores will be entered into a free prize draw for daily tickets for The Open 2012.
PLAY NOW TO WIN OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP TICKETS

CLICK HERE

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LUKE DONALD PROVES THAT SKILL WILL CONQUER LONGER HITTERS

FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE
By OLIVER BROWN
It was approaching midnight at Chubby Chandler’s end-of-season party and Luke Donald’s iPhone appeared to be going into meltdown. Messages of congratulation arrived from Michael Owen, Graeme McDowell and Aaron Baddeley almost faster than he could reply to them.
The quiet man of golf, picture by Tom Ward Photography, glad-handed by all-comers after his momentous feat in winning the European Tour and US PGA Tour money lists in the same season, was being heralded as a star.
Donald, arriving for the festivities on Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah island, prepared to celebrate. Chandler, as head of International Sports Management, has acquired a reputation for throwing the best shindigs around and this occasion would not disappoint.
As if on cue, Lee Westwood, top ISM client and the man whom Donald supplanted as world No 1 earlier this season, threw a matey arm around his rival before acclaiming him as “the best golfer in the bar”.
Of that, there could be no doubt. Any gauge you cared to read on Monday bore out the story of Donald’s supremacy. For 12 months he has been not simply the leading money-winner on both sides of the Atlantic, but the most accurate driver, the leading player in strokeplay average, and emphatically the best putter.
As Masters champion Charl Schwartzel told him: “You took consistency to a new level.” Finally, the world was waking up to the remorseless success of Donald, the human metronome.
Aptly, Donald was unable to rest on Monday, even in the aftermath of his greatest accomplishment. “Can’t wait to see my girls,” he wrote on Twitter, referring to wife Diane and his two daughters, Elle and Sophia, all at home in Chicago. But he had long since agreed to travel from Dubai to Melbourne for this week’s Australian Masters. For those wedded to the pursuit of perfection, there could be no respite.
The last time Donald, who was 34 last week, had headed Down Under was as a 17-year-old amateur, competing in the Lake Macquarie amateur event in New South Wales. His latest journey afforded him an opportunity to reflect upon everything that has happened in the 17 years since: his move to America, his phenomenal record in college golf, his breakthrough on the US PGA Tour and the belated recognition of his standing as the best player on the planet.
Of course, the reminders of his wait for a victory in the majors will persist. But in a sense Donald, by the completion of his remarkable double at the Dubai World Championship, has already done enough to win over his detractors.
Not least, he has proved it can be possible to dominate this fiendishly difficult game without brute strength off the tee. His average driving distance of 282 yards puts him 145th in the European Tour standings – 30 yards behind that of the champion in Dubai, Spain’s Álvaro Quirós.
What Donald lacks in power, though, he more than compensates for in guile and a gossamer touch around the greens. Performing a self-mocking muscle flex for the cameras, he said: “I’m sure there are golfers out there who have looked at my success and figured out that you don’t need to hit it a hundred miles.”
Instead, pure discipline has propelled Donald to the top. Last night the odds on him winning the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year award next Thursday had shortened to 12-1. Those on him claiming a maiden major in 2012 were even lower, at 4-1. In this vein of form, Donald should be worth anybody’s flutter.

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JIMMY GUNN WINS ON ARIZONA SATELLITE TOUR

GOLF COPY
Dornoch exile Jimmy Gunn won the final event of the year on the All-American Professional Golf Tour at Scottsdale, Arizona on Monday.
Gunn earned $1,450 for a round of three-under-par 68 which saw him finish three shots clear of the field of 32 players in the 18-hole competition at Troon North Golf Club.
Runner-up was Andrew Putnam, who was a contender for a place in this year's US Walker Cup team, with a 71 which earned him $850. Putnam's brother did play for the 2005 US Walker Cup team and is now a pro on the US Tour.
Joint third on 72 were two recent winners on this satellite circuit, Chris Kamin and Ryan Dillan who each received $700.
The All-American Pro Tour starts its 2012 season with a three-round tournament at Longbow Golf Club, Mesa in Arizona from January 11 to 13.
+Membership of the All-American Pro Tour costs $875 annually. Entry fee per competition varies from $295 for a member and $345 for a non-member.  
 

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