TAYLOR-MADE ACE TAKES IAN THRO LADYBANK PLAY-OFF

By COLIN FARQUHARSON Colin@scottishgolfview.com  Drumpellier Park, Coatbridge pro Ian Taylor, a Ryder Cup referee, produced a hole in one to get through a play-off at Ladybank GC, Fife today and figure among the 11 qualifiers for the Glenmuir PGA club professional championship at a Cheshire venue in  August. Taylor, a member of the PGA's Rules Panel who officiated at Celtic Manor two years ago, shot a level par 71 alongside Craig Matheson (Falkirk Tryst), Stephen Lamb (Macdonald Cardrona), Norman Huguet (Musselburgh), Mark Loftus (Mearns Castle Golf Academy) and Richard Valentine (Craigielaw). Off they went in a six-man play-off for the last three qualifiers' places. Taylor produced his trump card, an ace, at the 156yd eighth hole, the second hole of the sudden-death play-off. Valentine and Loftus were eliminated early, leaving PGA Cup player Matheson, Huguet and Lamb to continue their battle for the last two places. Lamb claimed one of them with a birdie at the fourth extra hole and the Matheson v Huguet "match" ended with success for Huguet at the fifth extra hole. The eight qualifiers at the end of regulation play were Ian Graham (Crow Wood), Jonathan Cliff (Murrayfield), Gareth Wright (West Linton) and Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs) on two-under-par 69 plus Scott Herald (Mearns Castle), Alastair Forrow (Whitecraigs), Kevin Phillips (Winterfield) and Andrew Fullen (Largs) on 70. Those on 69 earned £312 each, those on 70 £62 apiece. The Glenmuir PGA Club Professional Championship, in which the leading players gain selection to the GB and I  team to play their American counterparts in the biennial PGA Cup, will be staged aty De Vere Carden Park from August 7 to 10. FROM THE PGA WEBSITE A new belly putter has hit the right spot for an Edinburgh PGA professional who has qualified for his first Glenmuir PGA Professional Championship. Jonathan Cliff, head pro at Murrayfield Golf Club, was among a quartet topping the Ladybank qualifier with two-under-par 69s in the Peugeot-supported event. Joining the 35-year-old at the top of the leader board were Crow Wood Golf Club's Ian Graham, Robert Arnott from Bishopbriggs Golf Range and West Linton's Gareth Wright who continues his good start to the season following his wire-to-wire victory in the Optical Express 54-hole Order of Merit tournament at Dundonald Links in April. The quartet all earned a place in the championship final at De Vere Carden Park from August 7-10 where they will compete for a £78,000 prize fund. There was a play-off between six players for the last three spots which went to Drumpellier pro Ian Taylor, who aced the 156-yard par three eighth hole to book his place, Stephen Lamb (Macdonald Cardrona) and Norman Huguet (Musselburgh). JONCliff (pictured) secured his passage with some straight driving around the demanding Ladybank course which helped yield three birdies but it was a new found confidence on the greens that pleased him most. "I've been playing quite well recently and have just put a new belly putter in the bag that has made me a lot more comfortable," he said. "It's made me feel calmer and more relaxed and rather than worrying about hitting bad putts I am thinking about holing putts which makes a big difference. "Ladybank is a challenging course with small greens and tight fairways. It's one where you have to think your way around so I'm delighted to get through and make it to my first Glenmuir final." Cliff, who three years ago was the top PGA Assistant of the Year, was enjoying a rare foray onto the fairways with much of his time tied up with helping his Edinburgh club develop a thriving membership including younger members. One of the highlights has been nurturing a bustling junior section which now numbers in the region of 220 including 75 aged seven to 11. "We have done it through junior coaching and going out into local schools and opening the junior membership," explained Cliff. "It's good to see, we have tried to build on what has gone before and realise that developing a junior section is key to the future of the club." TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES AND SCORECARDS ON THE PGA WEBSITE CLICK HERE