SUCCESSFUL SEASON FOR BROAD CAIRN SERVICES GOLFER

Issued on behalf of Broad Cairn Services
by Innes Associates
Scottish professional golfer Stephen Gray has won this year’s Scottish PGA Region Order of Merit and finished top of the Scottish money list. Sponsored by Aberdeen-based Broad Cairn Services, the Kirkintilloch golfer put in a consistent performance throughout 2011 to clinch the titles.
Gray, who turned professional in 1996 and has spent the past 15 years attached to Hayston Golf Club, finished in the top five in 34 of the 49 tournaments he took part in 2011.
This included nine first place finishes, seven seconds and six thirds. It was this consistency that saw him win the 2011 Scottish Order of Merit by 52 points and again amass the greatest earnings of any golfer playing on the 2011 Tartan Tour, having also topped the 2010 money list.
The Order of Merit is used to determine the leading players over the course of the season. Points are awarded at each qualifying tournament with the five best scores counting towards the overall Order of Merit.
Gray finished first in the 2011 Order of Merit after winning the Northern Links Callaway Challenge and Kerr Investments Pro-Am, and finishing second in the Northern Open, third in the Rowallan Skycaddie Challenge and fourth in the Deer Park Masters.
Broad Cairn Services, which is an independent energy services provider, has sponsored Gray for a number of years after spotting his potential – during 2011 he played under the firm’s CairnToul Well Equipment Services brand. In addition to his 2011 Tartan Tour successes, Gray holds the course records at Royal Dornoch, with an eight-under par round of 62, and at Inverness Golf Club, with a score of 61 – eight-under par.
Tony Brady, Broad Cairn Services’ project manager, said: “Stephen has played exceptionally over the past season putting in consistent performances at tournament after tournament. Winning both the Order of Merit and the money list is very well deserved and illustrates the depth of talent that he has.
“Everyone at Broad Cairn Services is extremely proud of what Stephen has achieved this season and of the association that we have with him.”
Stephen said: “This past season has been a fantastic one for me and winning the Order of Merit and again topping the money list is a huge achievement. I must thank Broad Cairn Services for its continued support and assistance over the course of the season.”
Founded in 2003, Broad Cairn Services Group is focused on developing an energy services business which provides sustainable, independent solutions which improve efficiency and integrity to exploration and production companies in the energy sector.
For further information on Broad Cairn Services and its subsidiaries, visit www.broadcairn.com or telephone 0845 213 0271.

OLAZABAL HAS HIGH HOPES FOR YOUNG COUNTRYMAN OTAEGUI

Things are looking up for winners of the British boys' open amateur championship.

There are still many more who do not go onwards and upwards in golf after taking the Under-18s' crown but Tom Lewis has not done too badly for himself since winning the British boys in 2009 and now, 19-year-old Spaniard, Adrian Otaegui, British boys championship winner at Kilmarnock Barassie last year, and Matthew Nixon from Lancashire, winner of the British boys title at Royal Aberdeen in 2006, are set to join predecessors Pablo Martin (2001) and Rhys Davies (2003) on the European Tour in 2012.

Both came through the recent Tour Q-School. For Otaegui it was his first attempt. 

FROM THE SKY SPORTS.COM WEBSITE

Having turned 19 on November 12, Adrian will be the second youngest card holder on tour next year behind Junior Ryder Cup partner and good friend Matteo Manassero from Italy. 

Ryder Cup skipper and Spanish "great" Jose Maria Olazabal has high hopes that Otaegui will quickly make a name for himself in the big league of pro golf.

"I know Adrian well and have trained with him on a quite few occasions. He is already a very good golfer, if still young and learning," said Olazabal.

"He is strong with his irons and has a fantastic short game. He is a really promising player, but still has to work hard, particularly to hit with more power off the tee, which in the modern game is vital."

Fluent in Spanish, French and English, Otaegui is originally from the Basque region of Spain but recently moved with his family to France.

His father Javier will continue to caddie for the youngster as he begins life on tour, with South Africa the likely destination for his 2012 debut.

"I am looking forward to playing the European Tour in 2012," said Otaegui. "I have learned a lot on the Challenge Tour this year since I turned professional. Tour School was great, but now the hard work begins in a couple of weeks."

TIGER WOODS' 'SALAD DAYS MIGHT BE BEHIND HIM' - Forbes Magazine

FROM THE GOLF.COM WEBSITE
Forbes Magazine says Tiger won't make a financial comeback –- unless he does as a winning golfer.
In May, Forbes listed Tiger Woods as the world's richest athlete, with $75 million in earnings in the previous 12 months.
A new article on Forbes titled "Aging Tiger Woods Unlikely to Reach Peak Earnings Again" hints that Tiger's salad days might be behind them. However, the actual story is more confident in Tiger's earning potential than the headline suggests.
"People love a personal comeback story," said Paul Pierson, a partner at Carbone Smolan Agency in New York, "so I think he can get close to the [earnings] levels prior to his troubles but I'd be surprised if he surpassed them."
The "aging" Tiger Woods turns 36 on December 30.

Teaching pro at historic Scottish club convicted in drug deal
At Royal Musselburgh Golf Club in Scotland, the pro had something for more than just your slice. Scotsman.com has the details:
Kenneth Glen, 25, who worked as the assistant professional at the Royal Musselburgh Golf Club in Prestonpans, pleaded guilty at the High Court in Edinburgh to charges of supplying cocaine.
The gang were targeted by Operation Tine, a police surveillance operation, which has identified £2m of cash and property to be seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
Detectives believed up to 20 people were part of the supply network, and several "couriers" have already been jailed after being caught with drugs.
Glen, of Dalkeith, admitted supplying cocaine for personal use at various locations across Scotland between February and November last year, including at the Royal Musselburgh club.
Earlier in the trial, Kevin Gould, 37, a chef at the Royal Musselburgh club, told how he bought hundreds of pounds worth of cocaine from Glen, often doing the deals at the course’s pro shop.
Defence advocate Neil Murray QC told the court that Glen had no previous convictions. He added: “His career is now totally trashed.”
Sentence was deferred until January 17 for reports.

POPOVIC IS TOP OF THE CLASS AT THE AUSSIE TOUR SCHOOL

FROM THE PGA OF AUSTRALIA WEBSITE 
After three rounds of golf the Final Stage of Qualifying School for the PGA Tour of Australasia has wrapped up at the Peninsula Golf and Country Club.
With an impressive last round performance an under pressure Daniel Popovic claimed the win from playing partner and overnight leader Jason Scrivener.
“I got off to a really solid start hitting some good shots to make a few birdies on the par fives,” said Popovic.
“I played a bit safe after that and made a couple of bogeys on the back nine but holed really good birdie putts on 15 and 16 to put the pressure on Jason.
“I finished with a bogey on the 17th but hit some really good shots on 18 to get the win.”
With scores of 68, 67 and 71 for a tournament total of 10-under the card Popovic believed his putting was the reason for his success.
“I have been hitting it good all year but this week the putts just started going in.
“Two days ago I had a putting lesson with Richard Cooney from Roseanna Golf Club and that turned my putting around.”
Yet another reason for his win could be the course; Popovic, who spent 2011 playing on the Alps Tour in Europe, was suitably impressed with the Peninsula Golf and Country Club’s North Course.
“The course has been in amazing condition, it was my first time playing it and I would rate in my top five courses.”
This year has been a learning experience for Popovic with his win today placing him in a good position to take on the 2012 PGA Tour of Australasia season.
“Playing in Europe made me more mature as a golfer, it made me organise myself a lot more and learn how to prepare myself as a professional.
“After today I know that I can handle myself relatively well under pressure and it has been a great week to finish of the year.
For Jason Scrivener who was bogey free after two rounds and entered today’s final round tournament leader the dream run was not to last.
A mixed final round that included three bogeys, a double bogey and four birdies saw him sign for a one-over 73, yet is still enough to earn him a tour card for the 2012 season.
The nearest in the field to Popovic and Scrivener were Hamish Robertson (NZ), Andrew Kelly (VIC) and James Carr (WA) at 5-under the card.
All 62 players that teed it up today have earned themselves status on the PGA Tour of Australasia for the 2012 season.
Jin Jeong, who beat Banchory's James Byrne in the 36-hole final of last year's British amateur championship at Muirfield, finished T13 on level par 216 with scores of 74, 70 and 72.

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